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Ellison #1
On Your Six
Elliot Shaw has spent his entire life being exactly the son his father—the four-star General—wants him to be. Controlled. Precise. Closeted. When he arrives at Special Forces Selection, he has one objective: finish first. He cannot afford to want anything else.
Then he meets Hudson Hale.
Hudson is everything Elliot has been trained to suppress. The kind of soldier who runs toward the fire, consequences be damned. He shouldn't be Elliot's type. He shouldn't be Elliot's anything.
What starts as a single reckless night on an overnight assignment becomes six years of stolen weekends and discipline that fails in increments. Through deployments, a wedding, a funeral, and a war zone, Elliot and Hudson keep finding their way back to each other—only to part again as if nothing happened.
It almost works. Except pretending has a price—and sooner or later, somebody has to pay.
On Your Six is a spicy, dual-POV M/M romance with rivals-to-lovers energy and a hard-earned HEA.
Then he meets Hudson Hale.
Hudson is everything Elliot has been trained to suppress. The kind of soldier who runs toward the fire, consequences be damned. He shouldn't be Elliot's type. He shouldn't be Elliot's anything.
What starts as a single reckless night on an overnight assignment becomes six years of stolen weekends and discipline that fails in increments. Through deployments, a wedding, a funeral, and a war zone, Elliot and Hudson keep finding their way back to each other—only to part again as if nothing happened.
It almost works. Except pretending has a price—and sooner or later, somebody has to pay.
On Your Six is a spicy, dual-POV M/M romance with rivals-to-lovers energy and a hard-earned HEA.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2026
About the author
Eleonora Larsen
1 book91 followersCome find me on Instagram. My inbox is always open!
I'm a romance writer, currently working on reducing my excessive use of em-dashes.
I have a Master's in English, which I mostly use to argue with myself about dangling modifiers and comma placement. I haven't voluntarily picked up a classic since finishing my degree—these days it's (MM) romance or nothing. For the plot, obviously.
I live in Scandinavia, where the weather is almost always bad but the romance community is thriving regardless.
I'm a romance writer, currently working on reducing my excessive use of em-dashes.
I have a Master's in English, which I mostly use to argue with myself about dangling modifiers and comma placement. I haven't voluntarily picked up a classic since finishing my degree—these days it's (MM) romance or nothing. For the plot, obviously.
I live in Scandinavia, where the weather is almost always bad but the romance community is thriving regardless.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
July 28, 2026
I enjoyed this so much! I dont know if you could say that this broke any barriers in the romance genre, but I think what it did, it did well and was in such an enjoyably entertaining package that I just had a great time with it. And this being a debut is such an impressive effort and I am excited to see what Larsen writes next!
Hudson Hale, is young, talented and brash and after rounds of testing and evaluations has finally made it through to the Selection, a military training program where those successful are assigned to the best and most esteemed military postings and Hudson wants to come out of the program on top. The biggest barrier to Hudsons ambitions come in the form of the serious, stoic and handsome Elliot Shaw, who with the looming expectations of his father Major General Shaw is equally driven to come out on top.
What starts initially as a rivalry, evolves into a successful partnership, and it’s not long before the draw to each other evolves into something more physical. But Hudson has never been attracted to men before, and they’re getting posted to other ends of the country in a matter of weeks, so whatever exists between them has to end when the program does, right?
I am always a little hesitant about going into military romances because I am not in to them being super patriotic but I cant deny that they are a fun sandbox for adventure and drama. I enjoyed that although this was a military romance, the elements of war and violence were never really the point and a vast majority of its role was to have the boys out in remote wilderness performing field exercises together, facilitating an initial rivalry and as a literary device to keep Hudson and Elliot apart from each other over the course of the book.
The yearning and pining over the years between Hudson and Elliot was delightful and felt very true to the characters, their internal motivations and the barriers present to their relationship. I enjoyed the use of the bi-awakening trope here, mainly in how much of a non-issue it ended up being. I was also under the impression that elements of internalised homophobia were going to be a much bigger plot point and was happy to find that outside of a little sexual awakening, it barely featured as an element at all.
It’s worth being aware that the story spans six years from them meeting at Selection and into their careers and they spend significant portions of that time not together and with varying degrees of contact. As such there is mentions to both characters having intimate experiences with other people, however, except for one brief instance its kept off page. I thought that the intimate interactions Elliot and Hudson had with other people was a device used well to facilitate their character growth, the evolution of their relationship and the importance of the role they had in each other’s life.
While the chemistry between them was hot, I did on a few occasions have to suspend a degree of reality when it came to them hooking up in the field and their general hygiene. I have had the dubious pleasure of having first hand conversations about hygiene practices employed by army guys during field exercises and lets just say that I doubt the reality would be anyway near as hot as it is here lol.
Brief mention that this story does also deal with the content of a terminal cancer diagnosis in a parent, so please be gentle with yourself if this is a sensitive topic.
This was just a delightful little romance that I was happy to escape into and I can see myself coming back for a reread into the future.
Hudson's brain told him to say something real, something that mattered, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. What was he supposed to say? Don't go? Stay in touch? I think I might be in love with you even though that makes no fucking sense?
No. He couldn’t do that. That was never the deal. Besides, Hudson didn't fit into the future The General had mapped out for Shaw—and Shaw wasn't going to choose differently. That much had always been clear, and Hudson wasn’t setting himself up for heartbreak.
Consider following my instagram
Hudson Hale, is young, talented and brash and after rounds of testing and evaluations has finally made it through to the Selection, a military training program where those successful are assigned to the best and most esteemed military postings and Hudson wants to come out of the program on top. The biggest barrier to Hudsons ambitions come in the form of the serious, stoic and handsome Elliot Shaw, who with the looming expectations of his father Major General Shaw is equally driven to come out on top.
What starts initially as a rivalry, evolves into a successful partnership, and it’s not long before the draw to each other evolves into something more physical. But Hudson has never been attracted to men before, and they’re getting posted to other ends of the country in a matter of weeks, so whatever exists between them has to end when the program does, right?
I am always a little hesitant about going into military romances because I am not in to them being super patriotic but I cant deny that they are a fun sandbox for adventure and drama. I enjoyed that although this was a military romance, the elements of war and violence were never really the point and a vast majority of its role was to have the boys out in remote wilderness performing field exercises together, facilitating an initial rivalry and as a literary device to keep Hudson and Elliot apart from each other over the course of the book.
The yearning and pining over the years between Hudson and Elliot was delightful and felt very true to the characters, their internal motivations and the barriers present to their relationship. I enjoyed the use of the bi-awakening trope here, mainly in how much of a non-issue it ended up being. I was also under the impression that elements of internalised homophobia were going to be a much bigger plot point and was happy to find that outside of a little sexual awakening, it barely featured as an element at all.
It’s worth being aware that the story spans six years from them meeting at Selection and into their careers and they spend significant portions of that time not together and with varying degrees of contact. As such there is mentions to both characters having intimate experiences with other people, however, except for one brief instance its kept off page. I thought that the intimate interactions Elliot and Hudson had with other people was a device used well to facilitate their character growth, the evolution of their relationship and the importance of the role they had in each other’s life.
While the chemistry between them was hot, I did on a few occasions have to suspend a degree of reality when it came to them hooking up in the field and their general hygiene. I have had the dubious pleasure of having first hand conversations about hygiene practices employed by army guys during field exercises and lets just say that I doubt the reality would be anyway near as hot as it is here lol.
Brief mention that this story does also deal with the content of a terminal cancer diagnosis in a parent, so please be gentle with yourself if this is a sensitive topic.
This was just a delightful little romance that I was happy to escape into and I can see myself coming back for a reread into the future.
Hudson's brain told him to say something real, something that mattered, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. What was he supposed to say? Don't go? Stay in touch? I think I might be in love with you even though that makes no fucking sense?
No. He couldn’t do that. That was never the deal. Besides, Hudson didn't fit into the future The General had mapped out for Shaw—and Shaw wasn't going to choose differently. That much had always been clear, and Hudson wasn’t setting himself up for heartbreak.
Consider following my instagram
July 31, 2026
I have so many thoughts but I'll try to keep this short. (Now that I finished my review I see I did not succeed, sorry).
The main reason why this "romance" didn't work for me was its inconsistent approach to the characters, their relationship and the military background.
Characters:
Hudson and Elliot were the best in their field, tough soldiers, trained for excellence. You can't give me two MCs who have given their all to be the best, who assess every risk and threat in their professional setting, can't afford to slip for one second but then throw all caution to the wind because of their supposedly irresistible attraction to fuck in storage rooms? I didn't buy it.
Relationship:
After the first part of the book we get time jumps, +1 year later, +1 year later, +1 year later, and these didn't help to convince me of a growing connection between Hudson and Elliot. They are apart for years, hook up with other people left and right (good for them!) because they don't think they'd ever meet again (hello social media and cell phones?), but when they sporadically, unexpectedly meet, feelings start to show up (via fucking, because they do not talk about this thing between them, obviously). THEN they start texting (yay! Cell phones!), and Hudson continues to hook up with other people because he thinks Elliott won't come out to his father.. yeah that sounded like such a flimsy excuse to me. He KNEW Elliot by then. We even have to go along with Hudson connecting with someone (Marco) on his leave with whom he stays every night for weeks because it's easy and feels right AND have to watch them having sex on page?!?? And later Hudson lays all the blame for why they couldn't have been together on Elliot? Lovely, scared Elliot? (I know he is a high profile soldier but come on, how could I not love him??).
Military background:
I don't know anything about the military, fights, strategy and war aside from what we hear on the news daily.
But. Using the military background to create tension and conflict between the characters, using their deployments to strategically separate them and make them fear for each others lives (and their friends' lives) and not acknowledging AT ALL what psychological impact being deployed in war zones, in Afghanistan and Syria might have on these soldiers? Overlooking all the ugly, awful and devastating circumstances of war to write a "will they, won't they" between soldiers doesn't feel right to me. At all.
There were other small issues I had (like: "The cabin was warm from the stove but the air still carried the cold of the mountains." I'm sorry, but... what? How?), the fact that the plot was very predictable (Elliott being needed because he spoke French? Yeah everyone knew what would happen..) or how the author decided to abandon issues they had created earlier because otherwise they would have gotten inconvenient (somebody threatened he knew they were hooking up, but when they started hooking up for real that person suddenly wasn't mentioned anymore?) ....but this review is already too long.
Oh one last thing, though.
Hudson gets back home from his latest war deployment, Elliot (it's his pov in this chapter) and Hudson's sister and Hudson's mom are waiting for Hudson at arrivals. His mom leaves to get coffees (?). Hudson arrives. Hugs Elliot. Hugs his sister. They leave. WHAT???? My son isn't a soldier on deployment (thank god) but nevertheless when he comes home (like, 3 times a year) I hug him for what feels like forever, what do you mean Hudson's loving mother just left to get coffee before even seeing him, and then the author forgot about her?!?!? Give her her much needed hug now that her son is back home, safe! Please and thank you.
The main reason why this "romance" didn't work for me was its inconsistent approach to the characters, their relationship and the military background.
Characters:
Hudson and Elliot were the best in their field, tough soldiers, trained for excellence. You can't give me two MCs who have given their all to be the best, who assess every risk and threat in their professional setting, can't afford to slip for one second but then throw all caution to the wind because of their supposedly irresistible attraction to fuck in storage rooms? I didn't buy it.
Relationship:
After the first part of the book we get time jumps, +1 year later, +1 year later, +1 year later, and these didn't help to convince me of a growing connection between Hudson and Elliot. They are apart for years, hook up with other people left and right (good for them!) because they don't think they'd ever meet again (hello social media and cell phones?), but when they sporadically, unexpectedly meet, feelings start to show up (via fucking, because they do not talk about this thing between them, obviously). THEN they start texting (yay! Cell phones!), and Hudson continues to hook up with other people because he thinks Elliott won't come out to his father.. yeah that sounded like such a flimsy excuse to me. He KNEW Elliot by then. We even have to go along with Hudson connecting with someone (Marco) on his leave with whom he stays every night for weeks because it's easy and feels right AND have to watch them having sex on page?!?? And later Hudson lays all the blame for why they couldn't have been together on Elliot? Lovely, scared Elliot? (I know he is a high profile soldier but come on, how could I not love him??).
Military background:
I don't know anything about the military, fights, strategy and war aside from what we hear on the news daily.
But. Using the military background to create tension and conflict between the characters, using their deployments to strategically separate them and make them fear for each others lives (and their friends' lives) and not acknowledging AT ALL what psychological impact being deployed in war zones, in Afghanistan and Syria might have on these soldiers? Overlooking all the ugly, awful and devastating circumstances of war to write a "will they, won't they" between soldiers doesn't feel right to me. At all.
There were other small issues I had (like: "The cabin was warm from the stove but the air still carried the cold of the mountains." I'm sorry, but... what? How?), the fact that the plot was very predictable (Elliott being needed because he spoke French? Yeah everyone knew what would happen..) or how the author decided to abandon issues they had created earlier because otherwise they would have gotten inconvenient (somebody threatened he knew they were hooking up, but when they started hooking up for real that person suddenly wasn't mentioned anymore?) ....but this review is already too long.
Oh one last thing, though.
Hudson gets back home from his latest war deployment, Elliot (it's his pov in this chapter) and Hudson's sister and Hudson's mom are waiting for Hudson at arrivals. His mom leaves to get coffees (?). Hudson arrives. Hugs Elliot. Hugs his sister. They leave. WHAT???? My son isn't a soldier on deployment (thank god) but nevertheless when he comes home (like, 3 times a year) I hug him for what feels like forever, what do you mean Hudson's loving mother just left to get coffee before even seeing him, and then the author forgot about her?!?!? Give her her much needed hug now that her son is back home, safe! Please and thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
I'd been hearing about this book for weeks, and I finally had to check it out after a friend wouldn't stop raving about it. This is a sweet, heartfelt military romance that gives you all the mushy feelings.
The forced proximity works really well here. You can feel the tension between Elliott and Hudson immediately, even before you understand exactly what that tension is. I loved watching their relationship develop. The way they slowly revealed theirselves to each other felt natural. The intimate scenes were tender and so sweet.
Watching Elliot’s soft side slowly emerge after a life of being told vulnerability is weakness was really satisfying. He's just such a gentle soul at heart.
The side characters are just as lovable. Reed is the absolute sweetest friend and the best dad. I love how he accepts everyone for who they are despite all their quirks.
As a debut novel, the writing style is great. I really enjoyed the minimal internal dialogue. However, a couple of things felt slightly unrealistic for the situation. The near death experiences felt like they should have caused a little emotional turmoil for our characters, but it seems like it’s brushed over quite quickly like it’s just a casual inconvenience. Also, the avoidance of the relationship developing further started to feel slightly forced after a while, as if there wasn't actually a strong enough reason for it to be occurring so long.
Despite those small critiques, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am definitely planning to continue the series to see where it goes.
The forced proximity works really well here. You can feel the tension between Elliott and Hudson immediately, even before you understand exactly what that tension is. I loved watching their relationship develop. The way they slowly revealed theirselves to each other felt natural. The intimate scenes were tender and so sweet.
Watching Elliot’s soft side slowly emerge after a life of being told vulnerability is weakness was really satisfying. He's just such a gentle soul at heart.
The side characters are just as lovable. Reed is the absolute sweetest friend and the best dad. I love how he accepts everyone for who they are despite all their quirks.
As a debut novel, the writing style is great. I really enjoyed the minimal internal dialogue. However, a couple of things felt slightly unrealistic for the situation. The near death experiences felt like they should have caused a little emotional turmoil for our characters, but it seems like it’s brushed over quite quickly like it’s just a casual inconvenience. Also, the avoidance of the relationship developing further started to feel slightly forced after a while, as if there wasn't actually a strong enough reason for it to be occurring so long.
Despite those small critiques, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am definitely planning to continue the series to see where it goes.
won-t-read-bc-nopes
August 4, 2026The Nopes for me is the story spans 6 years of off/on encounters, including what sounds like fabulous pining/yearning, but both are with other people during all that time. Big no for me, but, if you like reality in your romance, this sounds otherwise wonderful. Read the lovely @Evie's review for the deets: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
@Drache (Angelika)’s review confirmed definite Nope. There is a relationship and on page sex with another character later in the story for one MC (who blames the other for that not working out? WHAT?! 😡🧐). Eww. Very much No.
Have at it, people who are far more sex-positive than me! 🫣😁💕
@Drache (Angelika)’s review confirmed definite Nope. There is a relationship and on page sex with another character later in the story for one MC (who blames the other for that not working out? WHAT?! 😡🧐). Eww. Very much No.
Have at it, people who are far more sex-positive than me! 🫣😁💕
July 19, 2026
I could not get enough of this forbidden romance between selection recruits Elliot Shaw and Hudson Hale. These two have immediate chemistry but due to their position as military recruits their entanglement is nothing short of forbidden and could ruin their careers. This premise was what initially piqued my interest and I was blown away with the characterization and slow burn romance between Hale and Shaw.
Hale and Shaw are opposites in every way; Shaw is closed off, stern and quiet, while Hale is boisterous, extroverted and constantly cracking jokes. Their dynamic makes them the perfect pairing and the more they are forced to interact their apparent chemistry only becomes too much to ignore.
Overall I love this story, I read it in one sitting and I am so glad there will be a sequel because I cannot wait to explore the next phase in their relationship.
Hale and Shaw are opposites in every way; Shaw is closed off, stern and quiet, while Hale is boisterous, extroverted and constantly cracking jokes. Their dynamic makes them the perfect pairing and the more they are forced to interact their apparent chemistry only becomes too much to ignore.
Overall I love this story, I read it in one sitting and I am so glad there will be a sequel because I cannot wait to explore the next phase in their relationship.
August 13, 2026
5⭐️ I loved everything about this book. The angst, the slow burn, the drawn-out, years-long push/pull between Hudson and Elliot. The romance was so sweet and the spice was great.
I even loved the side characters, especially Hudson’s sister Taylor!
The story sort of reminds me of Long Way Home by Nicky James.
I didn’t realize there was going to be a book 2.
This is definitely an author I will read again.
I even loved the side characters, especially Hudson’s sister Taylor!
The story sort of reminds me of Long Way Home by Nicky James.
I didn’t realize there was going to be a book 2.
This is definitely an author I will read again.
July 14, 2026
Oh wow! Another debut that rocked me! The push and pull between the MCs was so intense. I was truly emotional! Definitely a hard earned and well deserved HEA!
June 29, 2026
✨ ARC review ✨
🩶 On Your Six by Eleonora Larsen 🩶
"Does it ever get exhausting? Living up to someone else's expectations?" he asked into the dark. "Every single day."
OH. MY. GOD. 😭 i was NOT expecting this to be such an emotional read but i shed alllll the tears!! i want to say congrats to the author on their debut and i am excited to see what they have planned for the future! here’s the thing about me: i do not usually enjoy military settings when reading. but when a friend suggested that i check this one out, i knew i had to, since we have similar taste in books. WHEW. im soooo glad i listened, because im telling you.. i was just blown away. what a beautiful love story.
On Your Six revolves around Elliot (Shaw), our controlled MC who has his life planned out for him and Hudson (Hale), our more outgoing MC who could honestly probably have a conversation with a wall HAHAHA. they both begin to question themselves after they meet during Selection and start to become close. one thing leads to another and the secret hookups begin 🤭 but what happens when they are both forced to go their separate ways? does it even matter? was it really that serious? i mean, according to Shaw, they aren’t a couple, so probably not. unless…. 👀
the book follows the MCs through the years after Selection, which i absolutely loved. we get to see how they change, how they deal with life, and how they undeniably always find a way back to each other. i won’t go into much detail, because hellooooo ya gotta read the book for yourself!! but there were times i wanted to scream at them to get their shit together, and other times i wanted to cry because i understood why it was so hard for them to accept certain things. like Elliot. he grew so much by the end of the book. btw, he SCARED ME. DONT EVER DO THAT AGAIN. SERIOUSLY.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a SIX STAR read for me! there was absolutely nothing i didn’t like about it, and honestly i wish i had more of these two 🥰
some tidbits:
🩶 rivals to lovers
🩶 amazing side characters (im talking to you, Reed and Taylor 🥹)
🩶 the best banter
🩶 THE YEARNING
🩶 forced proximity
🩶 daddy issues 😅
🩶 bi awakening
🩶 THE TATTOO!! 😭
🩶 On Your Six by Eleonora Larsen 🩶
"Does it ever get exhausting? Living up to someone else's expectations?" he asked into the dark. "Every single day."
OH. MY. GOD. 😭 i was NOT expecting this to be such an emotional read but i shed alllll the tears!! i want to say congrats to the author on their debut and i am excited to see what they have planned for the future! here’s the thing about me: i do not usually enjoy military settings when reading. but when a friend suggested that i check this one out, i knew i had to, since we have similar taste in books. WHEW. im soooo glad i listened, because im telling you.. i was just blown away. what a beautiful love story.
On Your Six revolves around Elliot (Shaw), our controlled MC who has his life planned out for him and Hudson (Hale), our more outgoing MC who could honestly probably have a conversation with a wall HAHAHA. they both begin to question themselves after they meet during Selection and start to become close. one thing leads to another and the secret hookups begin 🤭 but what happens when they are both forced to go their separate ways? does it even matter? was it really that serious? i mean, according to Shaw, they aren’t a couple, so probably not. unless…. 👀
the book follows the MCs through the years after Selection, which i absolutely loved. we get to see how they change, how they deal with life, and how they undeniably always find a way back to each other. i won’t go into much detail, because hellooooo ya gotta read the book for yourself!! but there were times i wanted to scream at them to get their shit together, and other times i wanted to cry because i understood why it was so hard for them to accept certain things. like Elliot. he grew so much by the end of the book. btw, he SCARED ME. DONT EVER DO THAT AGAIN. SERIOUSLY.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a SIX STAR read for me! there was absolutely nothing i didn’t like about it, and honestly i wish i had more of these two 🥰
some tidbits:
🩶 rivals to lovers
🩶 amazing side characters (im talking to you, Reed and Taylor 🥹)
🩶 the best banter
🩶 THE YEARNING
🩶 forced proximity
🩶 daddy issues 😅
🩶 bi awakening
🩶 THE TATTOO!! 😭
July 11, 2026
This is why I read books- emotional and captivating
Absolutely loved the characters and storyline
Absolutely loved the characters and storyline
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️ Det tog kun 3 dage at læse den her bog, da jeg bare ikke kunne lægge den fra mig. Var opslugt af karakterene, følte med dem hele vejen igennem, både det gode og det dårlig🥺
Og lad os ikke glemme the yearning mellem de to
hovedkaraktere, ja tak😩
Og lad os ikke glemme the yearning mellem de to
hovedkaraktere, ja tak😩
July 26, 2026
Wow...this book was such an unexpected surprise. I first saw it on Instagram and was immediately intrigued by the gorgeous cover and the fact that it was a military romance. I had no idea I was going to love it as much as I did. This story completely hooked me from beginning to end with its riveting plot, painfully good slow burn, bi awakening, and incredibly emotional love story.
Hudson and Elliott meet during Army Special Forces training and form an instant connection. Hudson has always considered himself straight, but for the first time in his life, he finds himself undeniably attracted to another man. As they're repeatedly paired together throughout training, their bond deepens into something neither of them can ignore. But with military policies threatening both of their careers if their relationship is discovered, they have no choice but to keep their feelings hidden. The TENSION between these two was everything- and was writtten so well- I couldn't get enough!
The emotional journey these two go on absolutely wrecked me. It was heartbreaking to watch them part ways at the end of selection with no resolution (just a handshake?!), only to reconnect and then drift apart again over the course of six years. I loved how their lives seemed to run in parallel—constantly circling each other without quite intersecting—as they each wrestled with their feelings and questioned whether a future together was ever really possible.
Elliott's character arc was especially moving. Watching him struggle between living the life his father expected of him and choosing the life that truly made him happy was beautifully done. Seeing him slowly let down his walls and decide that Hudson was worth the risk made every bit of the slow burn worthwhile. And Hudson? He was the ultimate golden retriever hero. I loved how he could see through Elliott's serious, stoic exterior and understand the man underneath. His unwavering patience, kindness, and love for Elliott made him impossible not to adore.
The supporting cast was just as memorable. Reed was the absolute best wingman—accepting, supportive, and always cheering them on in their relationship. And Major Okafor's conversation with Elliott had me completely in my feelings.
Part Three had me on the edge of my seat, and the payoff was everything I hoped it would be. The ending delivered such a beautiful, hard-earned HEA. My only complaint is that I wanted a longer epilogue because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Hudson and Elliott.
If you love heartfelt MM romances with emotional depth, compelling suspense, unforgettable characters, and a romance that truly earns its happily ever after, don't sleep on this one.
Tropes:
Military romance
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Bi awakening
Forbidden romance
Second chances
Forced proximity
Emotional angst
Found family
HEA
Hudson and Elliott meet during Army Special Forces training and form an instant connection. Hudson has always considered himself straight, but for the first time in his life, he finds himself undeniably attracted to another man. As they're repeatedly paired together throughout training, their bond deepens into something neither of them can ignore. But with military policies threatening both of their careers if their relationship is discovered, they have no choice but to keep their feelings hidden. The TENSION between these two was everything- and was writtten so well- I couldn't get enough!
The emotional journey these two go on absolutely wrecked me. It was heartbreaking to watch them part ways at the end of selection with no resolution (just a handshake?!), only to reconnect and then drift apart again over the course of six years. I loved how their lives seemed to run in parallel—constantly circling each other without quite intersecting—as they each wrestled with their feelings and questioned whether a future together was ever really possible.
Elliott's character arc was especially moving. Watching him struggle between living the life his father expected of him and choosing the life that truly made him happy was beautifully done. Seeing him slowly let down his walls and decide that Hudson was worth the risk made every bit of the slow burn worthwhile. And Hudson? He was the ultimate golden retriever hero. I loved how he could see through Elliott's serious, stoic exterior and understand the man underneath. His unwavering patience, kindness, and love for Elliott made him impossible not to adore.
The supporting cast was just as memorable. Reed was the absolute best wingman—accepting, supportive, and always cheering them on in their relationship. And Major Okafor's conversation with Elliott had me completely in my feelings.
Part Three had me on the edge of my seat, and the payoff was everything I hoped it would be. The ending delivered such a beautiful, hard-earned HEA. My only complaint is that I wanted a longer epilogue because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Hudson and Elliott.
If you love heartfelt MM romances with emotional depth, compelling suspense, unforgettable characters, and a romance that truly earns its happily ever after, don't sleep on this one.
Tropes:
Military romance
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Bi awakening
Forbidden romance
Second chances
Forced proximity
Emotional angst
Found family
HEA
July 3, 2026
Not finished yet but I'm very much enjoying. The sex scenes have the rare quality of being hot without being cringey.
July 6, 2026
Just what I needed!
Lately mm books are repetitive and this was such a nice change from the rest! I absolutely LOVED Elliot and Hudson. They had such a sweet and intense connection that was shown through every page of this book. I cannot wait to see more from this author.
Lately mm books are repetitive and this was such a nice change from the rest! I absolutely LOVED Elliot and Hudson. They had such a sweet and intense connection that was shown through every page of this book. I cannot wait to see more from this author.
August 23, 2026
Wow, okay. I ate this shit up. Like genuinely devoured this book with a breathlessness that I haven't felt in a hot minute. I also haven't read a good military MM in forever, and I used to be really into them before I understood how cartoonishly evil the military industrial complex actually is. But anyway, systemic critiques aside, this book was incredible.
We meet two (I think?) Army Rangers who are at Selection - which is basically them being put through their paces to get choice assignments. Hudson Hale is wise-cracking, likeable and competitive, while Elliot Shaw is serious, contained and determined - and also the son of a famous general with all the burdens this entails. These two get paired up for various tasks and while Elliot, who is queer but very closeted, cannot stand Hudson at first, he eventually acknowledges that he is pretty attracted to him. Hudson starts out straight and it takes him a while to realize what is happening between them. I wouldn't quite call it enemies to lovers, but they aren't exactly friends either. When it happens though, their chemistry is electric and their very different personalities makes for excellent banter and tension. They embark on this like forbidden secret affair in a very high risk environment and it is delicious. But it has a clear expiration date when they are sent off to opposite sides of the country, and at the time, neither man really understands the significance of their relationship.
The rest of the book unfolds with them apart more than together, with neither of them able to shake the other, and then having these brief intersecting moments that become more and more significant as the years go on. It's a classic idiots in love story, where both of them are so obviously falling but neither will admit it. They yearn for YEARS. Again, delicious.
I won't say a lot about the end, we get some brief, but really harrowing action and an aching, satisfying conclusion with the promise of more. It was a beautifully crafted story with two distinct and sympathetic characters and it hit every mark I look for in a romance. Brownie points for the author stating explicitly that no AI was used in the creation of the book - I actively look for this now. Anyway, I could not recommend it more and am very eagerly awaiting book 2.
We meet two (I think?) Army Rangers who are at Selection - which is basically them being put through their paces to get choice assignments. Hudson Hale is wise-cracking, likeable and competitive, while Elliot Shaw is serious, contained and determined - and also the son of a famous general with all the burdens this entails. These two get paired up for various tasks and while Elliot, who is queer but very closeted, cannot stand Hudson at first, he eventually acknowledges that he is pretty attracted to him. Hudson starts out straight and it takes him a while to realize what is happening between them. I wouldn't quite call it enemies to lovers, but they aren't exactly friends either. When it happens though, their chemistry is electric and their very different personalities makes for excellent banter and tension. They embark on this like forbidden secret affair in a very high risk environment and it is delicious. But it has a clear expiration date when they are sent off to opposite sides of the country, and at the time, neither man really understands the significance of their relationship.
The rest of the book unfolds with them apart more than together, with neither of them able to shake the other, and then having these brief intersecting moments that become more and more significant as the years go on. It's a classic idiots in love story, where both of them are so obviously falling but neither will admit it. They yearn for YEARS. Again, delicious.
I won't say a lot about the end, we get some brief, but really harrowing action and an aching, satisfying conclusion with the promise of more. It was a beautifully crafted story with two distinct and sympathetic characters and it hit every mark I look for in a romance. Brownie points for the author stating explicitly that no AI was used in the creation of the book - I actively look for this now. Anyway, I could not recommend it more and am very eagerly awaiting book 2.
August 3, 2026
This story was a six 🌟 for me. Absolutely beautifull read with such a well deserved HEA.
"Does it ever get exhausting? Living up to someone else's expectations?" he asked into the dark. "Every single day." Shaw's voice was almost too quiet to hear over the wind. "But that's the deal, isn't it? He's General Shaw. I'm his son. There's a standard to maintain."
So this is a MM militair romance. Elliot has been drilled his whole life to be the perfect son by his "dad" the general. In comes Hudson the goofy sweet golden retriever who turns his whole world upside down. What only was supposed to stay physical in selection year grows into so much more.
"For the first time all week, the thought that followed him wasn't about the board, his father or coming in second. It was about the way Hale's hand had felt around his wrist—and how hard it had been to walk away."
Their banter, chemistry and tension was so well written you could feel it in your body. I was pining and yearning with them.
“Speaking of… Can I ask you about the tattoo again?” “What tattoo?” Elliot knew which. “The 0.5. The one you got after Selection.” He sighed. “Sure. It’s a reminder.” “Of?” “Of the day you beat me at the shooting range by half a second.” Hudson smirked. “You got a tattoo to remind you I kicked your ass?” Elliot rolled his eyes. “No, dumbass. I got a tattoo to remind me of you. Period.” The teasing smirk faltered. “Elliot—” “Don’t make it a thing.” “Please let me make it a thing.”
💚 MM romance
💚 Forbidden love
💚 Hurt/Comfort
💚 Bi-awakening
💚 Militair
💚 Angst
💚 Page turner
"Does it ever get exhausting? Living up to someone else's expectations?" he asked into the dark. "Every single day." Shaw's voice was almost too quiet to hear over the wind. "But that's the deal, isn't it? He's General Shaw. I'm his son. There's a standard to maintain."
So this is a MM militair romance. Elliot has been drilled his whole life to be the perfect son by his "dad" the general. In comes Hudson the goofy sweet golden retriever who turns his whole world upside down. What only was supposed to stay physical in selection year grows into so much more.
"For the first time all week, the thought that followed him wasn't about the board, his father or coming in second. It was about the way Hale's hand had felt around his wrist—and how hard it had been to walk away."
Their banter, chemistry and tension was so well written you could feel it in your body. I was pining and yearning with them.
“Speaking of… Can I ask you about the tattoo again?” “What tattoo?” Elliot knew which. “The 0.5. The one you got after Selection.” He sighed. “Sure. It’s a reminder.” “Of?” “Of the day you beat me at the shooting range by half a second.” Hudson smirked. “You got a tattoo to remind you I kicked your ass?” Elliot rolled his eyes. “No, dumbass. I got a tattoo to remind me of you. Period.” The teasing smirk faltered. “Elliot—” “Don’t make it a thing.” “Please let me make it a thing.”
💚 MM romance
💚 Forbidden love
💚 Hurt/Comfort
💚 Bi-awakening
💚 Militair
💚 Angst
💚 Page turner
August 23, 2026
Egads! Taylor, Hudson's sister, is a gross character. It's not cool, it's not cute. It's wrong in this genre especially to have a character like this. Treating her brother's uncertainty about his sexuality like it's some kind of social science experiment. This book was going well until this insensitive ick factor was put on page.
It goes down hill from Taylor. It's also very Heated Rivalry-esque. Like HR fanfic.
The author loves efficient. He moved efficiently. They moved efficiently. Economically.
And the pages of filler. Plus they are apart for far t o o long.
Why didn't they communicate with a mobile phone instead of the self purgatory they put themselves into? I love some pining but this was crazy. Years of pining. But they don't catch up or try. Reed, their mutual friend, mentioned it, there is such a thing as phones and phone sex, guys.
It goes down hill from Taylor. It's also very Heated Rivalry-esque. Like HR fanfic.
The author loves efficient. He moved efficiently. They moved efficiently. Economically.
And the pages of filler. Plus they are apart for far t o o long.
Why didn't they communicate with a mobile phone instead of the self purgatory they put themselves into? I love some pining but this was crazy. Years of pining. But they don't catch up or try. Reed, their mutual friend, mentioned it, there is such a thing as phones and phone sex, guys.
August 17, 2026
Never thought I'd enjoy a military romance so much. The push and pull, the 6 years of pining, the dry humour and the sexual tension ... all that made this a really entertaining and enjoyable read. I just wish we could've had an epilogue of sorts at the end, showing us a bit more of Elliott and Hudson in their HEA, but otherwise this was a really strong debut novel
Edit: just found out there's a bonus chapter/epilogue on the author's substack - ahh, so cute !
Edit: just found out there's a bonus chapter/epilogue on the author's substack - ahh, so cute !
July 29, 2026
Yays:
- The opposites attract nature of the characters, they meshed really well and you could feel the chemistry
- The pining on both ends across 6 years of hookups and near misses
- The angst of Elliot's family situation and feeling of "this is all I can hope for"
- Reed as a side character being the kind of friend you hope everyone has
*mild spoiler below!*
Nays:
- Hudsons puppy dog thing got old after 5+ years of wanting 1 man and refusing to use his superior communication skills, and loving family, to be the one to bridge the gap between him & Elliot. Especially knowing that Elliot has NO ONE. And is completely terrified to want more. Instead choosing to spend leave with another man, and breaking Elliot's heart.
- The ending was too abrupt. We had 6 years of pining and then only a few scenes after the I love you's. Would have loved to see what their love looks like even 1 year down the line for a glimpse
- The opposites attract nature of the characters, they meshed really well and you could feel the chemistry
- The pining on both ends across 6 years of hookups and near misses
- The angst of Elliot's family situation and feeling of "this is all I can hope for"
- Reed as a side character being the kind of friend you hope everyone has
*mild spoiler below!*
Nays:
- Hudsons puppy dog thing got old after 5+ years of wanting 1 man and refusing to use his superior communication skills, and loving family, to be the one to bridge the gap between him & Elliot. Especially knowing that Elliot has NO ONE. And is completely terrified to want more. Instead choosing to spend leave with another man, and breaking Elliot's heart.
- The ending was too abrupt. We had 6 years of pining and then only a few scenes after the I love you's. Would have loved to see what their love looks like even 1 year down the line for a glimpse
August 8, 2026
Contender for top read of the year??
July 24, 2026
I literally cannot stand when the MMCs hook up with other people after they have been together and have “fallen in love”. Like if you truly loved that person you wouldn’t go fuck other people! Granted yes they broke up and went their separate ways and have been apart for 3 years but it still pisses me the fuck off. I don’t need to hear about all the different people you fucked in the time you’ve been apart.
DNF at 75%. I can’t do this. Seriously hate it!
Don’t do this shit yo your characters. Especially if they do end up together.
Also, third person writing! I don’t like that either.
DNF at 75%. I can’t do this. Seriously hate it!
Don’t do this shit yo your characters. Especially if they do end up together.
Also, third person writing! I don’t like that either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
This is a military romance, featuring Hudson Hale and Elliot Shaw, and is a standalone book.
Elliot and Hudson are two soldiers who start a secret relationship during training camp and then long for each other for years despite the rules and risks. As their feelings grow, they must decide if they can risk it all and choose each other.
When I say I loved this book, it’s in giant capitals - I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! The pining and longing/yearning, the stolen moments, the building feelings over the years - did I mention the yearning?
This is a debut novel too, and Eleonora knocked it out of the park. Elliot and Hudson are completely drawn to each other and even as they are separated for years, they still don’t move on. It’s spicy, heartfelt, so much is said without words and they do finally get their HEA. YAY!
It’s well worth a read and one of my faves of the year. There is also hinting by the author that there will be a sequel, so stay tuned.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
MM military romance
Special forces training camp
Rivals to friends to more
Controlled x smug
Both closeted
Bi awakening
Secret relationship
Spicy times
First times
Years apart
Pining & longing/yearning
Hurt / Comfort
Parental pressure
Loss of a parent
Reconnection
Stolen moments
Right person, wrong time
Admit feelings
Hard fought HEA
Elliot and Hudson are two soldiers who start a secret relationship during training camp and then long for each other for years despite the rules and risks. As their feelings grow, they must decide if they can risk it all and choose each other.
When I say I loved this book, it’s in giant capitals - I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! The pining and longing/yearning, the stolen moments, the building feelings over the years - did I mention the yearning?
This is a debut novel too, and Eleonora knocked it out of the park. Elliot and Hudson are completely drawn to each other and even as they are separated for years, they still don’t move on. It’s spicy, heartfelt, so much is said without words and they do finally get their HEA. YAY!
It’s well worth a read and one of my faves of the year. There is also hinting by the author that there will be a sequel, so stay tuned.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
MM military romance
Special forces training camp
Rivals to friends to more
Controlled x smug
Both closeted
Bi awakening
Secret relationship
Spicy times
First times
Years apart
Pining & longing/yearning
Hurt / Comfort
Parental pressure
Loss of a parent
Reconnection
Stolen moments
Right person, wrong time
Admit feelings
Hard fought HEA
August 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I was immediately invested in this book. The characters are so well written, and not just the MCs. I genuinely enjoyed the friendships and other relationships we got to see. Each one had a uniqueness to it that really elevated the plot overall.
But I especially loved these guys together. Their journey was heart wrenching and hilarious and hot. I had trouble putting this down. Seeing years of a relationship in one book is usually not my jam, but man this had me hooked. Part 2 was painful every time a year passed between chapters. Part 3 was actually emotional warfare ma’am lol. I was unwell for several chapters and also so freaking happy for the rest.
Talk about emotional damage 😅😅 But for real. This was an absolute banger. Go read it right now 👏🏼
🌶️🌶️
I was immediately invested in this book. The characters are so well written, and not just the MCs. I genuinely enjoyed the friendships and other relationships we got to see. Each one had a uniqueness to it that really elevated the plot overall.
But I especially loved these guys together. Their journey was heart wrenching and hilarious and hot. I had trouble putting this down. Seeing years of a relationship in one book is usually not my jam, but man this had me hooked. Part 2 was painful every time a year passed between chapters. Part 3 was actually emotional warfare ma’am lol. I was unwell for several chapters and also so freaking happy for the rest.
Talk about emotional damage 😅😅 But for real. This was an absolute banger. Go read it right now 👏🏼
August 10, 2026
What can I say. I stayed up ALL NIGHT because I literally couldn’t put Elliot and Hudson down. The yearning!!!!! 😭
This was such a rollercoaster of feelings, and that 6 year span made me LIVID!!!!! Like seriously, can you just talk to each other about your feelings??? But that’s also what made this book so interesting and exciting. I was so invested in these two beautiful souls.
Everyone needs to read this one. It totally pulled me out of my reading slump and now I just want MORE!!!!!!!!! More of ELLISON!
This was such a rollercoaster of feelings, and that 6 year span made me LIVID!!!!! Like seriously, can you just talk to each other about your feelings??? But that’s also what made this book so interesting and exciting. I was so invested in these two beautiful souls.
Everyone needs to read this one. It totally pulled me out of my reading slump and now I just want MORE!!!!!!!!! More of ELLISON!
July 28, 2026
Good gawd what a beautiful read
My sweet friend recommended this and I’m SO glad I read it. I absolutely loved both characters. The supporting characters in this book added so much too and the interactions felt so authentic and true to the story. I loved Hudson and Elliot’s angsty journey so much and their hea was so well earned. 💗💗💗
My sweet friend recommended this and I’m SO glad I read it. I absolutely loved both characters. The supporting characters in this book added so much too and the interactions felt so authentic and true to the story. I loved Hudson and Elliot’s angsty journey so much and their hea was so well earned. 💗💗💗
August 10, 2026
What a masterpiece Debut 👏👏👏👏
Please read it and enjoy this marvelous rollercoaster of big emotions
The epilogue is posted on author’s substack.
What a book couldn’t put it down! The tension, the tears, the laughs follow you through all those years
Please read it and enjoy this marvelous rollercoaster of big emotions
The epilogue is posted on author’s substack.
What a book couldn’t put it down! The tension, the tears, the laughs follow you through all those years
August 11, 2026
I've seen this title somewhere in a 'pining of the year' category and decided to give it a go. And... Yes! Now, it's shelved in 'my book of the year' category. It has to be! What a fantastic debut, a beautifully written piece of literature. And yes, the pining. This book gave me subtle 'In memoriam' by Alice Winn vibes, another favourite of mine (rawness, realness and those boys). Literally everything about this story just sings to me. And did I mention the pining?
August 18, 2026
6⭐️ 2🌶️ These two are EVERYTHING.
Need a minute to process.
Full RTC.
So happy their story isn’t over yet.
Need a minute to process.
Full RTC.
So happy their story isn’t over yet.
August 17, 2026
Phenomenal debut novel!! I absolutely loved this story. Enjoyed every minute of Elliott & Hudson’s world. I read the last 25% so slowly because I was not ready for it to be over. Well done!!
July 31, 2026
Hudson + Elliot 🩷🧡
What a wonderful debut.
Two soldiers meet at selection camp and start a secret relationship. But at the end of training, they must parts ways and we (and them) are thrown into six years of longing, missed opportunities, weekend flings. I was rooting for them and was so happy to have them find their hea.
I won’t lie, it took me a minute to get into it. Not sure whether it was the story, the characters, their fast burn (I normally much prefer slowwww burn), or just that it’s third person pov which I don’t read often and therefore took me time to adjust. That being said, once the story hit, it freaking HIT. I was so hooked, so invested and my heart hurt an unexpected amount with each time jump. A somewhat hard earned hea without it being too angsty. I do wish we’d gotten a little more at the end, but I hear a bonus epilogue is coming so looking forward to that.
Overall, a very very strong debut and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
What a wonderful debut.
Two soldiers meet at selection camp and start a secret relationship. But at the end of training, they must parts ways and we (and them) are thrown into six years of longing, missed opportunities, weekend flings. I was rooting for them and was so happy to have them find their hea.
I won’t lie, it took me a minute to get into it. Not sure whether it was the story, the characters, their fast burn (I normally much prefer slowwww burn), or just that it’s third person pov which I don’t read often and therefore took me time to adjust. That being said, once the story hit, it freaking HIT. I was so hooked, so invested and my heart hurt an unexpected amount with each time jump. A somewhat hard earned hea without it being too angsty. I do wish we’d gotten a little more at the end, but I hear a bonus epilogue is coming so looking forward to that.
Overall, a very very strong debut and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
August 1, 2026
Story 4⭐️
Steam 3❤️🔥
Swoon 5🫠
…………………………………
This was my first MM romance book with a military plot and I enjoyed it. The forbidden aspect of it, the secrecy and denial is my thing baby! 🤩🤓
Hudson and Elliot 🪖💪⚡️🫦❤️🔥😶🌫️🫡🫂😨🤯🥺♥️🌟
These two join my ^favourite couples^ club 🔥💞
Steam 3❤️🔥
Swoon 5🫠
…………………………………
This was my first MM romance book with a military plot and I enjoyed it. The forbidden aspect of it, the secrecy and denial is my thing baby! 🤩🤓
Hudson and Elliot 🪖💪⚡️🫦❤️🔥😶🌫️🫡🫂😨🤯🥺♥️🌟
These two join my ^favourite couples^ club 🔥💞
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