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War Trilogy #2.5
War Wounded
After being cheated on twice, why would I ever put myself through that crap again? Marriage obviously isn't in the cards for me. Actually, my trust in women and love has pretty much been obliterated. And if I'm being completely honest, I really want nothing to do with it ever again. Relationships? Possibly. Monogamy? Maybe. Love and marriage? Uh, hell no! If you could see me, you’d know I’m giving you the middle finger right now.
Then this little spitfire, who has plagued my dreams, waltzes back into my professional life. She hires me to investigate her dirtbag fiancé, whom she fears is cheating on her. When my findings are revealed, I offer her support and friendship...because I’m a nice guy like that.
Is it possible that she is the one who can heal my damaged heart? Or are the wounds too deep?
*Warning: For mature audiences only. Contains some sensitive situations and graphic sex scenes. Please remember that this is a work of fiction and comes from my own imagination.
***Please Note: This book may be read as a stand-alone, but will be better read within the series so that you could understand and appreciate the characters' back stories. Also, Duke's story is happening in the midst of Dennis and Tucker's story, so when the third book in the trilogy is released, Duke will not have been with Arianna yet. NOT A CLIFFHANGER!
Then this little spitfire, who has plagued my dreams, waltzes back into my professional life. She hires me to investigate her dirtbag fiancé, whom she fears is cheating on her. When my findings are revealed, I offer her support and friendship...because I’m a nice guy like that.
Is it possible that she is the one who can heal my damaged heart? Or are the wounds too deep?
*Warning: For mature audiences only. Contains some sensitive situations and graphic sex scenes. Please remember that this is a work of fiction and comes from my own imagination.
***Please Note: This book may be read as a stand-alone, but will be better read within the series so that you could understand and appreciate the characters' back stories. Also, Duke's story is happening in the midst of Dennis and Tucker's story, so when the third book in the trilogy is released, Duke will not have been with Arianna yet. NOT A CLIFFHANGER!
212 pages, ebook
First published August 18, 2015
12 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Andria Large
34 books877 followersAndria Large is a traditionally published and self-published contemporary romance author. She doesn’t always follow the rules, so you will find both M/F and M/M books mixed into some of her series.
Henry from the Beck Brothers Series was the first book she self-published. Not expecting anything to really come of it, she was shocked to find the book caught wind and readers were asking for more. Writing books was not something she had set out to do. She wrote stories for herself, as a hobby. Now that it has become her career, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Andria grew up in Philadelphia, but now lives in New Jersey with her two daughters and wonderfully supportive husband, who frequently accompanies her at signings. The events that she attends every year are one of her favorite things about being an author. She loves meeting and conversing with her readers, but also enjoys finding new ones.
Andria considers herself open and friendly, so feel free to send her a message if you have a question or just want to chat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 20, 2015
This book is so sweet. We meet Arianna in book 1 & 2 briefly she dated Tucker and Dennis although it didn't work out with either of them.
When Arianna and Duke met in book 2, I think. There was an isntant attraction between the two. I really wanted Duke to have a book I was all for him being gay for you. But I loved that it was with Arianna. 5 Dukey & Beautiful Stars.
It is three weeks until Arianna is to get married where her maid of honor takes pictures of her financée getting touchy, feely with another woman.
So she hires a P.I.
Duke has had bad luck in love. Being married twice and both of them cheating on him. He has given up apart that he can't get Arianna out of his mind. He is hired by Arianna to check on Kyle to see if he is cheating on her. The evidence is devastating.
Arianna breaks up with Kyle and her and Duke go on a non-date where friends kiss, dance in the snow and have a grand time. They get closer. Duke is so insecure when it comes to women and he is a complete softy, all gooey and a huge marschmellow.
Ms. Large knows how to make me a happy bunny with her writing style and story telling. There is always the right amount of angst, not too much. Humor, sexy banter and fabulous chemistry. I don't usually read .5 books because I always feel that it is hard to get all the story in without making it rushed and full of holes. This was not the case.
I even got an epilogue, loved it.
When Arianna and Duke met in book 2, I think. There was an isntant attraction between the two. I really wanted Duke to have a book I was all for him being gay for you. But I loved that it was with Arianna. 5 Dukey & Beautiful Stars.
It is three weeks until Arianna is to get married where her maid of honor takes pictures of her financée getting touchy, feely with another woman.
So she hires a P.I.
Duke has had bad luck in love. Being married twice and both of them cheating on him. He has given up apart that he can't get Arianna out of his mind. He is hired by Arianna to check on Kyle to see if he is cheating on her. The evidence is devastating.
Arianna breaks up with Kyle and her and Duke go on a non-date where friends kiss, dance in the snow and have a grand time. They get closer. Duke is so insecure when it comes to women and he is a complete softy, all gooey and a huge marschmellow.
Ms. Large knows how to make me a happy bunny with her writing style and story telling. There is always the right amount of angst, not too much. Humor, sexy banter and fabulous chemistry. I don't usually read .5 books because I always feel that it is hard to get all the story in without making it rushed and full of holes. This was not the case.
I even got an epilogue, loved it.
August 19, 2015
Such a good read, I loved it! It was great to get more of Duke's background & I'm glad he got his own story, he deserved it ;) He had a rough go over the years it was kind of heartbreaking & I'm so happy that he can finally be happy, he needed a HEA. Thanks for no cliffhanger on this one Andria ;) Well Done!
August 18, 2015
*I received ARC of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*
The War Trilogy is about Dennis and Tucker, but if love them you have to love Duke too...and this is his story.
Duke's last tour put him in a pretty dark place, then add on two divorces due to unfaithful spouses, and he isn't the most trusting person in the world. He is emotionally broken and has the scars on his wrists to prove it. With the help of Dennis and Tucker we'll start putting his life back together, but that last thing he wants is to ever risk his heart again.
Arianna dated both Dennis and Tucker, but neither was the one for her. She later got engaged and a few weeks before her wedding she hired Duke to follow her fiancé to cure the bad images her best friend had put into her head about him cheating. Let's just say he isn't the most innocent person and when she needs a shoulder to cry on, Duke is the one who tries to make her smile.
"I don't think friends are supposed to kiss like that, she breathes, her eyes still closed.
"What? Friends kiss like that all the time on non-dates," I joke.
War Wounded is filled with heartbreak, pain, cheating others, and a love so sweet only a dance in the snow could relate. Oh, and lots of tips on how to enjoy frosting! Sometimes you just can't help falling in love, even if it scares the hell out of you. And sometimes there is someone you're meant to fight for.
I loved both Duke and Arianna, they had great chemistry throughout the pages. The ending seemed kind of rushed...things go from no to yes in a blink of the eye and then it fast forwards to give us a glimpse of what their future held. A very happy future.
This story does take place in the midst of Dennis and Tucker's story and I'm quite interested to read book #3 to see how it'll intertwine with this one. Not to mention I just really want to read the final book in the series.
My Favorite Laughable Moment: Duke takes good care of his body and the last thing he wants is to add unnecessary calories he'll later have to work harder to burn off, but when you have the hots for a cupcake store owner it's difficult to say no.
"Why don't you try a cupcake?"
"Will it make you feel better?" I smile.
She lets out a small laugh. "Yes, it will."
"Alright, fine."
I open the container and lift out a cupcake. It smells heavenly. I peel back the paper on one side and take a bite. Oh. My God. I close my eyes and groan in pleasure. This is the absolute best cupcake that I've ever had! I swallow and open my eyes then glare at Arianna.
"What?" She laughs.
"I hate you! I hate you and your damn deliciously addicting cupcakes. You're going to make me fat!"
The War Trilogy is about Dennis and Tucker, but if love them you have to love Duke too...and this is his story.
Duke's last tour put him in a pretty dark place, then add on two divorces due to unfaithful spouses, and he isn't the most trusting person in the world. He is emotionally broken and has the scars on his wrists to prove it. With the help of Dennis and Tucker we'll start putting his life back together, but that last thing he wants is to ever risk his heart again.
Arianna dated both Dennis and Tucker, but neither was the one for her. She later got engaged and a few weeks before her wedding she hired Duke to follow her fiancé to cure the bad images her best friend had put into her head about him cheating. Let's just say he isn't the most innocent person and when she needs a shoulder to cry on, Duke is the one who tries to make her smile.
"I don't think friends are supposed to kiss like that, she breathes, her eyes still closed.
"What? Friends kiss like that all the time on non-dates," I joke.
War Wounded is filled with heartbreak, pain, cheating others, and a love so sweet only a dance in the snow could relate. Oh, and lots of tips on how to enjoy frosting! Sometimes you just can't help falling in love, even if it scares the hell out of you. And sometimes there is someone you're meant to fight for.
I loved both Duke and Arianna, they had great chemistry throughout the pages. The ending seemed kind of rushed...things go from no to yes in a blink of the eye and then it fast forwards to give us a glimpse of what their future held. A very happy future.
This story does take place in the midst of Dennis and Tucker's story and I'm quite interested to read book #3 to see how it'll intertwine with this one. Not to mention I just really want to read the final book in the series.
My Favorite Laughable Moment: Duke takes good care of his body and the last thing he wants is to add unnecessary calories he'll later have to work harder to burn off, but when you have the hots for a cupcake store owner it's difficult to say no.
"Why don't you try a cupcake?"
"Will it make you feel better?" I smile.
She lets out a small laugh. "Yes, it will."
"Alright, fine."
I open the container and lift out a cupcake. It smells heavenly. I peel back the paper on one side and take a bite. Oh. My God. I close my eyes and groan in pleasure. This is the absolute best cupcake that I've ever had! I swallow and open my eyes then glare at Arianna.
"What?" She laughs.
"I hate you! I hate you and your damn deliciously addicting cupcakes. You're going to make me fat!"
August 20, 2015
4.5 Stars by Jen Skewes
War Wounded is book 2.5 in the War Trilogy. This is Duke’s story, who happens to be best friends with the two main characters in this series. I loved Duke in the first two books and was so excited to find out that Andria large was writing his story. I fell in love with him even more in this one.
Duke is a vet and after coming home from his last tour he is not the same. But it isn’t just the trauma of everything that he saw that has left him wounded. His two cheating ex-wives have also contributed to his misery. Leaving him not only with a broken heart but a very bitter man when it comes to women. He has issues with trust and vows to never get married again.
Arianna is engaged to be married very soon but something is just not right when it comes to her relationship. She suspects that her fiancé has been cheating on her. Instead of confronting him she hires Duke, who is also a PI, to help her find out for sure. When Duke tells her that her suspicions are correct she ends it with her fiance. Duke and Arianna have met briefly in the past and there is certainly an attraction there. They are friends but slowly become more. But with them both being betrayed by the people they loved, can they both get past their trust issues an be able to love again?
I loved Duke and Arianna together. For one they had great chemistry together. And the scenes between them were hot and sexy. Duke can teach you a few things about how to turn a delicious cupcake into something very HOT. Duke is sweet, funny and oh so sexy. I loved the moments that they shared together. Arianna was just what Duke needed in his life. He had a hard time trusting woman, and rightfully so. But Arianna also knows what he went through. Duke will make you swoon and you will fall in love with Arianna. Yes War Wounded is filled with some heartache but it is also filled with humor, and with moments that will just make you smile. This love story between Duke and Arianna is sweet and sexy and one that I just loved. Another wonderful job by Ms. Large.
August 20, 2015
I have been waiting patiently for Duke's story and it was definitely worth the wait! Another amazing book in this series. I hope we hear more about them in the next book, and really hope Dennis and Tucker get their HEA ❤️❤️❤️
August 18, 2015
Ahh, Duke! Le sigh! Thought he was hot before? Andria turned it up even more! Don't miss this one ;)
August 20, 2015
loved it, loved it....
Duke is such a cutie, in a tough guy kinda way and the Ari both really finally found love and their happy ending..... swoon
Duke is such a cutie, in a tough guy kinda way and the Ari both really finally found love and their happy ending..... swoon
September 2, 2015
I was a little iffy about Duke while reading the other books. This just made me love him and I'm so glad he got his HEA.
September 18, 2015
Just love Duke and sooooo happy for him!! Great cast of characters overall...Really enjoying this series...Looking forward to #3!!
August 18, 2015
I haven't read a whole lot of m/f books ever since I started reading m/m, but given that this was next in the trilogy I gave it a read and was happy with it.
February 8, 2016
Loved reading Duke's story. I thought it was very funny what happen to Duke at game night. Ah,what a great first non-date, sigh. We all should be so lucky. I look forward to book #3!!
August 19, 2015
4.5 stars. review coming soon
November 7, 2021
It was ok, nothing more nothing less.
October 11, 2025
Read October 2023
2.5 stars = pretty good, but far-fetched and forgettable
After reading At War, where Duke was a good friend to the MCs, I was interested in his story. Arianna was in it too―she had sex with one MC and dated the other.
🛑 SUMMARY & SPOILERS 🛑
Duke (35), after being married and cheated on twice, vowed never to marry again. To escape bad memories, he moved to New York. After serving 12 years in the Marines, he’s now a private investigator.
Arianna (31) owns a cupcake shop, and is getting married in 2-weeks on Christmas Eve. She's shocked when Jade, her cousin/best friend, says she saw Kyle with another woman. Has all the work overtime and the furtive texting been due to cheating? (Duh 🙄)
Arianna hires Duke and learns Kyle has been cheating, prompting her to call off the wedding. Kyle pleads for another chance, saying he won't do it after they're married. He claims he needed to sleep with others to get it out of his system, before settling down.
The novella moves very quickly with some humor and sweet moments. The main conflict is Duke overcoming past hurts and trusting Arianna, who assures him she wouldn’t hurt him like that.
Kyle causes minor drama. He bumps into the MCs when they're ice skating, knocking them down. It was completely unbelievable because Duke spotted Kyle early on. Clearly, the former military guy now P.I., has no situational awareness.
Arianna's cupcake shop nearly burns down. I thought they'd discover that Kyle did it, but no, she just left an oven mitt in the oven. How lame. 😒
Drama peaks at Christmas when Duke’s mom invites his ex, and Duke’s frustration leads him to curse in front of children before storming out. The couple leaves without explanation. (Duke never explained to his mom why his marriage failed, and didn't talk to her before leaving. ☹️ I was bothered by not seeing them make amends.)
Duke surprises Arianna with a renovated shop, and they move in together. An epilogue shows them married and expecting their first child. HEA.
⭐ Favorite Parts:
▪️ The MCs' "non-date," a carriage ride to the park where they danced.
▪️ Duke holding his baby nephew. 🤗
▪️ The MCs being caught fooling around by Duke's mom. 😆
🧸 Duke is a cinnamon roll hero:
He tries to act tough, and I’m sure he is when he needs to be, but for the most part, the toughness doesn’t really show.
⚡ Arianna, the 'Insta' Queen ⚡
Everything moved really fast. Kyle proposed after only two months together. We fell in love almost instantly.
I know it’s crazy to fall in love with someone so soon after calling off my wedding to another man. It’s only been three weeks since I called him about Kyle, and I’ve only actually spent time with him maybe five days total.
2.5 stars = pretty good, but far-fetched and forgettable
After reading At War, where Duke was a good friend to the MCs, I was interested in his story. Arianna was in it too―she had sex with one MC and dated the other.
🛑 SUMMARY & SPOILERS 🛑
Duke (35), after being married and cheated on twice, vowed never to marry again. To escape bad memories, he moved to New York. After serving 12 years in the Marines, he’s now a private investigator.
Arianna (31) owns a cupcake shop, and is getting married in 2-weeks on Christmas Eve. She's shocked when Jade, her cousin/best friend, says she saw Kyle with another woman. Has all the work overtime and the furtive texting been due to cheating? (Duh 🙄)
Arianna hires Duke and learns Kyle has been cheating, prompting her to call off the wedding. Kyle pleads for another chance, saying he won't do it after they're married. He claims he needed to sleep with others to get it out of his system, before settling down.
The novella moves very quickly with some humor and sweet moments. The main conflict is Duke overcoming past hurts and trusting Arianna, who assures him she wouldn’t hurt him like that.
Kyle causes minor drama. He bumps into the MCs when they're ice skating, knocking them down. It was completely unbelievable because Duke spotted Kyle early on. Clearly, the former military guy now P.I., has no situational awareness.
Arianna's cupcake shop nearly burns down. I thought they'd discover that Kyle did it, but no, she just left an oven mitt in the oven. How lame. 😒
Drama peaks at Christmas when Duke’s mom invites his ex, and Duke’s frustration leads him to curse in front of children before storming out. The couple leaves without explanation. (Duke never explained to his mom why his marriage failed, and didn't talk to her before leaving. ☹️ I was bothered by not seeing them make amends.)
Duke surprises Arianna with a renovated shop, and they move in together. An epilogue shows them married and expecting their first child. HEA.
⭐ Favorite Parts:
▪️ The MCs' "non-date," a carriage ride to the park where they danced.
▪️ Duke holding his baby nephew. 🤗
▪️ The MCs being caught fooling around by Duke's mom. 😆
🧸 Duke is a cinnamon roll hero:
He tries to act tough, and I’m sure he is when he needs to be, but for the most part, the toughness doesn’t really show.
⚡ Arianna, the 'Insta' Queen ⚡
Everything moved really fast. Kyle proposed after only two months together. We fell in love almost instantly.
I know it’s crazy to fall in love with someone so soon after calling off my wedding to another man. It’s only been three weeks since I called him about Kyle, and I’ve only actually spent time with him maybe five days total.
August 25, 2015
A side story for Duke, best friend of Dennis and Tucker in the War Series.
Duke is a PI and just divorced from wife #2. To say he's been unlucky in love is an understatement. He's not looking for love and it's the last thing he wants right now.
Arianna is only three weeks out from getting married, when her best friend spots her soon to be husband making out with a girl at a club. Unwilling to accept his cheating she hires Duke to find out what is really going on.
I can't really tell you a lot more without giving away most of the plot.
Andria doesn't disappoint thought, giving us a great story, compassionate and charismatic characters with a HEA we can all live with.
Duke is a PI and just divorced from wife #2. To say he's been unlucky in love is an understatement. He's not looking for love and it's the last thing he wants right now.
Arianna is only three weeks out from getting married, when her best friend spots her soon to be husband making out with a girl at a club. Unwilling to accept his cheating she hires Duke to find out what is really going on.
I can't really tell you a lot more without giving away most of the plot.
Andria doesn't disappoint thought, giving us a great story, compassionate and charismatic characters with a HEA we can all live with.
August 21, 2015
Am enjoying this series.
I did enjoy reading Duke and Ari story. You meet Adrianna in the first book with Tucker and Dennis. Tucker was seeing her and broke up with her. Duke meets her through them. Duke is really turned off to marriage. His first wife he married cheated on him while he was deployed with the marines. His second wife of 5 years also cheats on him and he divorces her. He is hired by Ari to check and see if her fiancee is cheating on her and he is extremely attracted to her. He is slowly falling for her but just doesn't think he can do anything but a relationship without marriage. Can't wait for the next book with Dennis and Tucker.
I did enjoy reading Duke and Ari story. You meet Adrianna in the first book with Tucker and Dennis. Tucker was seeing her and broke up with her. Duke meets her through them. Duke is really turned off to marriage. His first wife he married cheated on him while he was deployed with the marines. His second wife of 5 years also cheats on him and he divorces her. He is hired by Ari to check and see if her fiancee is cheating on her and he is extremely attracted to her. He is slowly falling for her but just doesn't think he can do anything but a relationship without marriage. Can't wait for the next book with Dennis and Tucker.
February 23, 2016
Can't proudly say I finished this. It's listed as a M M romance - other than one M M kiss as far as I could tell by flipping through the book, there's absolutely nothing M M romance about this book. If you find it, please tell me where it is?
Do I really need to say that I don't like M F sex in my gay romance books. I kinda tolerated it in the first book by flipping though the Male/female sex part. But not this one. I simply gave up. I kept hoping that Duke was gay, gave up women and found a great guy to fall in love with.
Could I give it less than one star I would.
Do I really need to say that I don't like M F sex in my gay romance books. I kinda tolerated it in the first book by flipping though the Male/female sex part. But not this one. I simply gave up. I kept hoping that Duke was gay, gave up women and found a great guy to fall in love with.
Could I give it less than one star I would.
August 30, 2019
Another fab story from Andria Large, I wasn't entirely sure about Duke when he was first introduced in At War, but by the end of At Peace I loved him, and have really enjoyed reading his and Arianna's story. It had everything I love in an Andria Large book, and so much more!! It was very funny, (Duke's description of giving birth was hilarious!) But it was also sweet, sexy, at times emotional, and really fabulous too. And I would happily recommend it to everyone!
January 20, 2016
Dukey, Dukey...... smart arse, lovable arse!! This is just a sweet read, lots of fluff, humour, dancing in the snow, cupcakes and a large bucket of insta love!! Entertaining to read a little about Duke's background and his whacked out logic when trying to protect himself.....silly boy. ...Arianna really didn't stand a chance!!
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, ending on a HFN with an epilogue that left me with a contented sappy grin.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, ending on a HFN with an epilogue that left me with a contented sappy grin.
February 16, 2016
So glad to see Duke get his HEA!
I have to say that I definitely enjoyed this story! When I first "met" Duke a few books ago, I wasn't sure whether I would like him. Over the last few books he has definitely redeemed himself, which is why I was overjoyed to see that he would get his own story. There was so much more to him than I ever could've imagined. I hope you will check this book out so you can fall in love with him like I did!
I have to say that I definitely enjoyed this story! When I first "met" Duke a few books ago, I wasn't sure whether I would like him. Over the last few books he has definitely redeemed himself, which is why I was overjoyed to see that he would get his own story. There was so much more to him than I ever could've imagined. I hope you will check this book out so you can fall in love with him like I did!
August 25, 2015
I enjoyed meeting these characters in previous books however though the book was great, I felt like it could have been more... Duke's past is sad and the way Arianna helps him through it is great but it just happens so fast, that I was left wanting more... I hope we get to see more of them in book three of the series...
October 9, 2016
I love this series but put this book off as it is a M/F.
But its Duke so I thought why not. So glad I did was not disappointed. I just loved Duke and Arianna together. So happy to see Dukes sense of humour. And he got his HEA I was so happy.
Will definitely read this book again and again along with the others.
But its Duke so I thought why not. So glad I did was not disappointed. I just loved Duke and Arianna together. So happy to see Dukes sense of humour. And he got his HEA I was so happy.
Will definitely read this book again and again along with the others.
September 12, 2015
Enjoyable
Short and sweet. I was able to read it all in one evening and it was an enjoyable read. The main characters in this book were introduced in the At War trilogy ... I am anxiously waiting for book 3 ..
Charo
Short and sweet. I was able to read it all in one evening and it was an enjoyable read. The main characters in this book were introduced in the At War trilogy ... I am anxiously waiting for book 3 ..
Charo
January 1, 2016
War Wounded was good
I've loved this series from the beginning and continue to love it. Duke and Arianna were a cute couple. I just want more of them! Duke had his hear broken twice until he found his match in Arianna.
I've loved this series from the beginning and continue to love it. Duke and Arianna were a cute couple. I just want more of them! Duke had his hear broken twice until he found his match in Arianna.
April 15, 2016
Duke and Arianna story is a sweet but lovely and passionate story that leaves you breathless and emotional.
I loved reading their story. It was such a great book to read.
I loved reading their story. It was such a great book to read.
August 23, 2015
I think Duke has become my favourite Andria Large character (shhhh...don't tell Sebastian. He'll pout). A perfectly sweet HEA for a perfect couple.
September 8, 2015
A Good Read
I really liked this book in the War Trilogy. Duke and Arianna 's story was very good. I really missed reading about what happened with Dennis and Tucker. A good read
I really liked this book in the War Trilogy. Duke and Arianna 's story was very good. I really missed reading about what happened with Dennis and Tucker. A good read
September 30, 2015
Not enough stars to rate this series love it
December 14, 2015
I finally read Duke 's story, and what a story indeed. If I say more there will be spoilers. A great series of books.
December 8, 2015
Predictable and the ending felt extremely rushed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews