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Anchor Point #6
Once Burned
The Anchor Point stories can be listened to in any order - jump in wherever you'd like!
Captain Mark Thomas’s world has been tossed on its head: A long overdue but still unexpected divorce, a promotion out of left field, last-second orders to a ship where careers go to die. As the dust settles in his new home, he barely recognizes his life, but he sure recognizes the loneliness creeping in.
Diego Ramírez wants nothing to do with the military or its men. Not after the Navy burned him both literally and figuratively, costing him his career, his health, and, ultimately, his green card. Now working illegally in an Anchor Point bar, he keeps the military and its personnel at arm’s length.
But after a single moment of eye contact across the bar, Mark and Diego can’t resist each other. As a one-night stand quickly turns into more, Diego knows he’s playing with fire. Now he can stick around, and let things with Mark inevitably fall apart, or he can run like hell and wonder what might have been. One way or another, Diego knows he’s about to get burned. Again.
Listening length: 7 hrs and 44 mins.
Captain Mark Thomas’s world has been tossed on its head: A long overdue but still unexpected divorce, a promotion out of left field, last-second orders to a ship where careers go to die. As the dust settles in his new home, he barely recognizes his life, but he sure recognizes the loneliness creeping in.
Diego Ramírez wants nothing to do with the military or its men. Not after the Navy burned him both literally and figuratively, costing him his career, his health, and, ultimately, his green card. Now working illegally in an Anchor Point bar, he keeps the military and its personnel at arm’s length.
But after a single moment of eye contact across the bar, Mark and Diego can’t resist each other. As a one-night stand quickly turns into more, Diego knows he’s playing with fire. Now he can stick around, and let things with Mark inevitably fall apart, or he can run like hell and wonder what might have been. One way or another, Diego knows he’s about to get burned. Again.
Listening length: 7 hrs and 44 mins.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 9, 2018
48 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
217 books2,716 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 2, 2018
The fact that I'm reading book 6 of 6 in a series is a big clue considering I have more than a dozen unfinished series waiting their turn.
This was a simple, sweet love story until about 35% when we were let in to the hell that Diego lives with.
So I'm happily reading along, feeling feelz and then...we find out what Diego's dilemma really is.
I try hard to ignore it. I Google search, hoping I'm wrong. Trying desperately to find a way to suspend disbelief.
This is the WHOLE PREMISE of the story. And by 60%, even though I really like both characters, I'm starting to wonder if I can finish the book. I DO understand this is fiction. But unless I'm reading fantasy, I need the basics of the fiction to have a standing in real life.
Alright. At 62% I'm throwing in the towel.
Yup. I'm done. And I'm giving this story a low rating unless/until someone gives me proof I'm wrong about my spoilers.
I'm still IN for the continuing series because it really has been great. But this particular book does not work as is.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
This was a simple, sweet love story until about 35% when we were let in to the hell that Diego lives with.
Someone knocked something over, and glass shattered. One of the employees shoved a shopping cart into the back of a row so it would tuck in like the others, and the metal clang almost sent me out of my crawling skin. An unhappy child shrieked, oblivious to the half-demolished Afghan village he was sending me back to.~Diego
So I'm happily reading along, feeling feelz and then...we find out what Diego's dilemma really is.
I try hard to ignore it. I Google search, hoping I'm wrong. Trying desperately to find a way to suspend disbelief.
This is the WHOLE PREMISE of the story. And by 60%, even though I really like both characters, I'm starting to wonder if I can finish the book. I DO understand this is fiction. But unless I'm reading fantasy, I need the basics of the fiction to have a standing in real life.
Alright. At 62% I'm throwing in the towel.
Yup. I'm done. And I'm giving this story a low rating unless/until someone gives me proof I'm wrong about my spoilers.
I'm still IN for the continuing series because it really has been great. But this particular book does not work as is.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Read
April 9, 2018You know, I requested this before the whole SH and Riptide mess started to unravel on March 8th. I figured I'd give it some time before attempting to read it, waited a few weeks. I couldn't get into it; I found the dialogue repetitive. I don't know if I couldn't get into it because of the writing, the whole mess that erupted, or probably both. This author has always been up and down for me.
DNF, no rating.
DNF, no rating.
March 1, 2018
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
I expected an Anchor Point story about a Naval officer finding romance. But this was not a typical MM romance, nor was it quite like others in this series. The author brought a very important issue to the forefront in this one. I was shocked to learn that members of our armed forces can be deported after having served. And, this includes combat veterans!
In this story, Diego Ramirez was injured in Afghanistan and, while recuperating, his visa expired. Yes, he should have worked on his naturalization papers sooner, but he was recovering from severe physical injuries and PTSD. Plus, he expected to reenlist so there was no rush. But due to a (now defunct) rule, he didn’t pass two physical capability tests in a row—how could he while disabled from that knee injury?—so he was summarily dismissed when his enlistment term ended, leaving him undocumented. Now he can’t even access his VA benefits because VA staff might alert ICE and he’ll be on the way to Mexico.
Diego works “under the table” at the High-&-Tight Gay Nightclub. When the new Executive Officer of the USS Fort Stevens walks in, the attraction is two-way and immediate. Recently divorced, Mark was about to take his twenty-year retirement when he was offered the Captain’s rank and assigned to this ship at Anchor Point. Always attracted to men, now that he’s single, his first foray into the social life in his new town is to find a man to hook up with. But, at first, Diego reinforces his own rule that he doesn’t do Navy guys. Ever. And then, while watching Mark make the rounds of the dance floor, he gives in to his attraction and allows one time.
That one time, of course, leads to many more times and before each man knows it, love is in the air. But that’s not all. Several events trigger Diego’s PTSD, including a scare that ICE is checking IDs where he works, and a military channel commercial that features a scene from a combat zone. The author explores the psychology of the returning vet, the implications and consequences of long-term PTSD, and the issue of how active-duty military can lose their green card and find no resources to help them get naturalized. It’s a huge issue, and a great deal of the book is devoted to it. Awareness is half the battle and I appreciate the author’s work to increase our understanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put it down so that I could take care of real life issues. An interesting subject, intriguing characters, typical hot LA Witt sex scenes, and the possibility of the guys getting their HEA all kept me coming back. I highly recommend this story and it can definitely be read as a standalone if you haven’t explored others in the series yet.
I expected an Anchor Point story about a Naval officer finding romance. But this was not a typical MM romance, nor was it quite like others in this series. The author brought a very important issue to the forefront in this one. I was shocked to learn that members of our armed forces can be deported after having served. And, this includes combat veterans!
In this story, Diego Ramirez was injured in Afghanistan and, while recuperating, his visa expired. Yes, he should have worked on his naturalization papers sooner, but he was recovering from severe physical injuries and PTSD. Plus, he expected to reenlist so there was no rush. But due to a (now defunct) rule, he didn’t pass two physical capability tests in a row—how could he while disabled from that knee injury?—so he was summarily dismissed when his enlistment term ended, leaving him undocumented. Now he can’t even access his VA benefits because VA staff might alert ICE and he’ll be on the way to Mexico.
Diego works “under the table” at the High-&-Tight Gay Nightclub. When the new Executive Officer of the USS Fort Stevens walks in, the attraction is two-way and immediate. Recently divorced, Mark was about to take his twenty-year retirement when he was offered the Captain’s rank and assigned to this ship at Anchor Point. Always attracted to men, now that he’s single, his first foray into the social life in his new town is to find a man to hook up with. But, at first, Diego reinforces his own rule that he doesn’t do Navy guys. Ever. And then, while watching Mark make the rounds of the dance floor, he gives in to his attraction and allows one time.
That one time, of course, leads to many more times and before each man knows it, love is in the air. But that’s not all. Several events trigger Diego’s PTSD, including a scare that ICE is checking IDs where he works, and a military channel commercial that features a scene from a combat zone. The author explores the psychology of the returning vet, the implications and consequences of long-term PTSD, and the issue of how active-duty military can lose their green card and find no resources to help them get naturalized. It’s a huge issue, and a great deal of the book is devoted to it. Awareness is half the battle and I appreciate the author’s work to increase our understanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put it down so that I could take care of real life issues. An interesting subject, intriguing characters, typical hot LA Witt sex scenes, and the possibility of the guys getting their HEA all kept me coming back. I highly recommend this story and it can definitely be read as a standalone if you haven’t explored others in the series yet.
April 9, 2018
Sensual, pensive, and timely!
Once Burned is an emotional romance featuring the recently divorced, newly promoted Captain Mark Thomas, and the wounded, disheartened Diego Ramírez as they discover that some things are worth fighting for and together they can overcome anything.
The writing is clear and precise. The characters are diligent, lonely, and skeptical. And the alluring plot is filled with flirty banter, longing, desire, doubt, angst, military politics, PTSD, compassion, support, friendship, and love.
Once Burned is the sixth novel in the Anchor Point series and is not only a smoulderingly sexy read but a thought-provoking one as it tackles and highlights the injustice faced by immigrants who put their lives on the line for the American government only to be unacknowledged, uncompensated, and unsupported when injured and discharged due to a convenient loophole that doesn't recognize them as U.S. citizens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Once Burned is an emotional romance featuring the recently divorced, newly promoted Captain Mark Thomas, and the wounded, disheartened Diego Ramírez as they discover that some things are worth fighting for and together they can overcome anything.
The writing is clear and precise. The characters are diligent, lonely, and skeptical. And the alluring plot is filled with flirty banter, longing, desire, doubt, angst, military politics, PTSD, compassion, support, friendship, and love.
Once Burned is the sixth novel in the Anchor Point series and is not only a smoulderingly sexy read but a thought-provoking one as it tackles and highlights the injustice faced by immigrants who put their lives on the line for the American government only to be unacknowledged, uncompensated, and unsupported when injured and discharged due to a convenient loophole that doesn't recognize them as U.S. citizens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
April 5, 2020
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and this one was definitely my favorite from the series so far and I've only got one and bit more to go in this series before I'm done...full review to follow...soonish...hopefully really soonish!
This is it...that's right of all the books in this series...
This is the one that gave me that "Daaammmnnnn!!!...I love this story" feeling.
There was just a whole lot here that pushed the right buttons for me. Diego is a character who I'm pretty sure has shown up on the fringes in most of these books as he's one of the regular bartenders at 'The High & Tight' but it really wasn't until 'Going Overboard' book #5 that we saw any real interaction with other characters from him. He was Dalton's best friend and they have a bit of a history and Diego also has a bit of a history with the navy. A history that's left him angry, frustrated and bitter.
Diego's problems are multi-faceted but for the most part things stem back to his time in the navy, his green card and his immigrant status. I think this part of the story for me was a bit easier to get through because one I'm was born in Canada so natural citizen and two born in Canada so no prior knowledge of U.S. immigration laws which allowed me to avoid the mental conflict of what the story contained vs what I maybe knew to be fact.
For me Diego's issues were used as a representation of the issues that immigrants can face more in response to the challenge of trying to achieve citizenship in another country more so than as realistic reflection of those challenges.
For me one of the things that I enjoyed most was seeing Diego work through his feelings about the navy and how it contributed to his situation and come to terms with the events of his past so that he could try to build a future.
Captain Mark Thomass is in a very different place in his life and he's had a very different experience with the navy. Mark's career in the navy is winding down and he's getting ready to face retirement when he suddenly finds himself receiving a divorce, a promotion and a ship to command...one would think it was Christmas. Marks a navy man through and through and if the navy's taught him anything it's how to deal so for him...while the divorce may have been a surprise the promotion and the ship were the solution to the dilemma that it created allowing him to move to Anchor Point and start over.
"Once Burned" was a story of opposites attract and starting over. Diego and Mark are two very different people with very different lives and experiences leading to two very different outlooks on life and the navy. Outlooks that more often than not clashed when it came to...you guessed it...the Navy...oh and baseball...come on you didn't really think they'd cheer for the same team now, did you?
I loved the back and forth between these two men as they each found themselves stepping back to look at situations from the other's perspective and found themselves questioning how they thought and felt about things and coming to the realization that more often than not the solution to a situation didn't come from being right or wrong but from compromise.
For me there was a lot of growth for both of these men and sometimes it seemed like one step forward and two steps back but that's a feeling that I think most of us have felt at one time or another in our lives so it was very relatable.
I think this probably would have been a solid 5 star read if the ending had been filled out just a tiny bit more. Compared to the rest of the story I felt like it held a bit of a rushed feeling to it and I admit it I would have liked a bit more happy together Diego and Mark but all in all I connected really well with this story and with Nick J. Russo on board once again for the narration it was a very solid 4+ story and one that I plan on enjoying again in future.
*************************
An audio book of "Once Burned" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is it...that's right of all the books in this series...
This is the one that gave me that "Daaammmnnnn!!!...I love this story" feeling.
There was just a whole lot here that pushed the right buttons for me. Diego is a character who I'm pretty sure has shown up on the fringes in most of these books as he's one of the regular bartenders at 'The High & Tight' but it really wasn't until 'Going Overboard' book #5 that we saw any real interaction with other characters from him. He was Dalton's best friend and they have a bit of a history and Diego also has a bit of a history with the navy. A history that's left him angry, frustrated and bitter.
Diego's problems are multi-faceted but for the most part things stem back to his time in the navy, his green card and his immigrant status. I think this part of the story for me was a bit easier to get through because one I'm was born in Canada so natural citizen and two born in Canada so no prior knowledge of U.S. immigration laws which allowed me to avoid the mental conflict of what the story contained vs what I maybe knew to be fact.
For me Diego's issues were used as a representation of the issues that immigrants can face more in response to the challenge of trying to achieve citizenship in another country more so than as realistic reflection of those challenges.
For me one of the things that I enjoyed most was seeing Diego work through his feelings about the navy and how it contributed to his situation and come to terms with the events of his past so that he could try to build a future.
Captain Mark Thomass is in a very different place in his life and he's had a very different experience with the navy. Mark's career in the navy is winding down and he's getting ready to face retirement when he suddenly finds himself receiving a divorce, a promotion and a ship to command...one would think it was Christmas. Marks a navy man through and through and if the navy's taught him anything it's how to deal so for him...while the divorce may have been a surprise the promotion and the ship were the solution to the dilemma that it created allowing him to move to Anchor Point and start over.
"Once Burned" was a story of opposites attract and starting over. Diego and Mark are two very different people with very different lives and experiences leading to two very different outlooks on life and the navy. Outlooks that more often than not clashed when it came to...you guessed it...the Navy...oh and baseball...come on you didn't really think they'd cheer for the same team now, did you?
I loved the back and forth between these two men as they each found themselves stepping back to look at situations from the other's perspective and found themselves questioning how they thought and felt about things and coming to the realization that more often than not the solution to a situation didn't come from being right or wrong but from compromise.
For me there was a lot of growth for both of these men and sometimes it seemed like one step forward and two steps back but that's a feeling that I think most of us have felt at one time or another in our lives so it was very relatable.
I think this probably would have been a solid 5 star read if the ending had been filled out just a tiny bit more. Compared to the rest of the story I felt like it held a bit of a rushed feeling to it and I admit it I would have liked a bit more happy together Diego and Mark but all in all I connected really well with this story and with Nick J. Russo on board once again for the narration it was a very solid 4+ story and one that I plan on enjoying again in future.
*************************
An audio book of "Once Burned" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2023
L.A. Witt continues to look at some interesting issues that arise as a result of military service (with lots of steam!) Another excellent performance from Nick J. Russo bumps this one up into the 4.5 stars bracket.
April 18, 2018
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Another solid installment! This one is a bit different from what I was expecting. While the other books carried some important themes, this one had a more serious tone and tackled another important issue – military who, for some reason or another, fail to follow through with obtaining citizenship leaving themselves vulnerable to deportation. I had no idea this problem existed, as I assumed you had to be a citizen in order to serve. But, apparently, such is not always the case. It would seem that serving in the military should garner automatic citizenship, but, as with most everything else, there are others who don’t share that idea.
Anyhoo, here, we have Mark, recently divorced and relocated to a new position of leadership extending his military career. While out exploring his newfound relationship status and deciding to check out the sights, Marc heads to the High & Tight where he meets and is immediately attracted to hottie bartender, Diego. Unfortunately, Diego has a no-hookups with military men rule, which puts a wrench in things. But it doesn’t take long for Diego to reverse his decision and make a move.
Now, these guys have amazing chemistry. But, Diego has sound reasoning for his rule, and that, coupled with the many other things he is dealing with, hold him back. He really opened my eyes seeing how he had to live, day to day in fear of losing his job, of being found out by the wrong people and being deported, living with his injuries and PTSD while not being able to get the care he no only earned but deserved, also for the same fear. Through it all though, Diego and Marc’s relationship grows. The no-military issue, aside from the obvious reasons, was heartbreaking as well. It was easy to understand how difficult it was for Diego to be involved on any level with someone who was in, with it being right there, everything the military was to him and took from him. Thankfully, the relationship becomes more important, but not before they go through some bumps in the road.
It takes a while for Marc to fully comprehend Diego’s situation. Once he does, he does everything he can to help. I really liked these guys together and could just about hear Diego’s sexy talk. Important issues aside, this was a really nice love story with a bit of romance thrown in as well. It was another solid installment to the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next and what new tidbits I can learn in the process!
February 20, 2018
Once Burned is the 6th book in the Anchor Point series, but they can all be read as a stand alone. There is a character from the previous story that pops in now and then and is mentioned a few times, but it doesn't take anything away from the story if you don't know his story. I was really excited to read Diego's story and it didn't disappoint. I actually had no idea that some people who fought for this country and were promised citizenship for their service were later denied citizenship or deported. This was completely new to me and very eye opening.
Diego is former military and also illegally living in the United States in fear of being deported. He was injured while serving but because his visa expired while he was recovering, he can't take advantage of his military medical benefits whithout fear of being deported. He is living with PTSD and in pain from his injuries. Because of everything he went through with the military, he has a rule that he will not date or mess around with anyone in the military. When he meets Mark he decides to break that rule.
Mark is newly divorced and promoted when he moves to Anchor Point. He meets Diego at the local gay bar and there is an instant attraction on both sides. Initially Diego turns him down, but it isn't long before he changes his mind. The chemistry between them is sizzling, and it's not long before something that was just supposed to be a fun time turns into something more. They both have some baggage but they are willing to give it a try.
I really loved the connection between these two. I also loved that Mark's ex-wife wasn't portrayed as "the evil ex' and they were able to remain friends. It was refreshing to read and definitely different from the norm. I also liked that Mark was honest about his past mistakes and wasn't absolutely innocent either when it came to the decline of his marriage. At times, this one did seem to be a bit repetitive but I still really enjoyed the story.
* I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
Diego is former military and also illegally living in the United States in fear of being deported. He was injured while serving but because his visa expired while he was recovering, he can't take advantage of his military medical benefits whithout fear of being deported. He is living with PTSD and in pain from his injuries. Because of everything he went through with the military, he has a rule that he will not date or mess around with anyone in the military. When he meets Mark he decides to break that rule.
Mark is newly divorced and promoted when he moves to Anchor Point. He meets Diego at the local gay bar and there is an instant attraction on both sides. Initially Diego turns him down, but it isn't long before he changes his mind. The chemistry between them is sizzling, and it's not long before something that was just supposed to be a fun time turns into something more. They both have some baggage but they are willing to give it a try.
I really loved the connection between these two. I also loved that Mark's ex-wife wasn't portrayed as "the evil ex' and they were able to remain friends. It was refreshing to read and definitely different from the norm. I also liked that Mark was honest about his past mistakes and wasn't absolutely innocent either when it came to the decline of his marriage. At times, this one did seem to be a bit repetitive but I still really enjoyed the story.
* I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
February 22, 2018
I haven't read the first five books in this series, so when I read this book, I was a little worried about the previous characters. Yeah I found and met Dalton, it was like a spoiler to me, LOL.
But okay, Dalton and Diego didn't worked out. Then came Mark. Apparently they have that 'chemistry', (cough), you know what I mean.
So one night leads to another, and 'suddenly' Mark and Diego couldn't say goodbye and getting addicted to one another.
But yeah, while Mark's previous life and the divorced didn't really bother in this book, Diego's problem with the Navy and his impending deportation made a gap for their relationship and their dreams to be together.
Glad that Mark finally could abused his power for Diego (hey, sometimes power is good for some reason).
The epilogue was kinda seal the deal between them, I hope Mark wouldn't do the same thing to Diego the way he did in his past marriage, because 'that' is a big deal for me.
Maybe this time, Mark will settle down for Diego only. True love, anyone?
This one is fun, the angst wasn't too heavy IMO. So yeah, read this book!
But okay, Dalton and Diego didn't worked out. Then came Mark. Apparently they have that 'chemistry', (cough), you know what I mean.
So one night leads to another, and 'suddenly' Mark and Diego couldn't say goodbye and getting addicted to one another.
But yeah, while Mark's previous life and the divorced didn't really bother in this book, Diego's problem with the Navy and his impending deportation made a gap for their relationship and their dreams to be together.
Glad that Mark finally could abused his power for Diego (hey, sometimes power is good for some reason).
The epilogue was kinda seal the deal between them, I hope Mark wouldn't do the same thing to Diego the way he did in his past marriage, because 'that' is a big deal for me.
Maybe this time, Mark will settle down for Diego only. True love, anyone?
This one is fun, the angst wasn't too heavy IMO. So yeah, read this book!
April 18, 2018
4,5 heart review by Tori (Vicki)
Oh yea! Diego gets a story….
We met Diego in Going Overboard, the fifth book in this series. He is best friends/former fuck-buddies with Dalton (from book 5), and I was very curious about his backstory. We are told that he doesn’t date Navy men, which is what caused his breakup with Dalton, before they really had much of a start. It seems like Diego could easily have fallen for Dalton, if only he could have gotten past the no Navy rule. Now we find out WHY he has this rule. Diego was in the Navy, but was injured, and while he was recovering, he was kicked out, and lost his ability to apply for citizenship. He’s now working under the table, barely keeping himself fed, and still trying to send money to his family. He is barely recovered from his injuries, and has some serious PTSD. He’s unable to go to a doctor or hospital since he can’t afford to pay for it, and although he has benefits coming to him from the Navy, including care at a VA hospital, he’s afraid to go in case the realize he’s not a citizen and deport him. Basically he’s a mess!
Then we have Mark. Mark is very recently divorced, career Navy, recently promoted and posted to a ship that is stationed at Anchor Point. He contributed to the downfall of his marriage by cheating on his wife, both with women and men, and has a healthy fear of commitment. He was going to retire, but when he was given the promotion about the time of his divorce, he decided to just keep going. He gets settled in his new house in Anchor Point, and decides the best thing to do is go get laid! Not having been with a man for awhile, finding some random stranger for a quickie seems like a good plan. He finds the local gay bar, the High-&-Tight, and off he goes.
Where he sees the hot bartender and settles in for some flirting. Only to be turned away, because the guy wants nothing to do with a Navy man! Oh but wait…. maybe he does.
So Diego breaks his rule and goes home with Mark for a bit of fun in the sack. The two proceed to fuck like bunnies, each getting what they need out of their relationship. But as things progress, Diego’s story comes out, and the hidden care-taker in Mark comes out. Back and forth they go for a bit, it seems like they’ll get it sorted out and become a functioning couple, only for Diego to get cold feet and back off. Mark tries to help, and only makes it worse in Diego’s eyes. We see Diego breakdown and have a massive panic attack, and Mark helps him through it. We see them watch football together, go on an overnight trip, and have some really good times together. But it’s all tempered by Diego’s reluctance to commit, and Mark’s fear of fucking up a relationship.
I’ll stop there, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!
I read the first couple of books in this series and liked them, LA Witt is one of my favorite authors, and she is a Navy spouse so when she writes a book about the Navy you know it is authentic. When I found out I was getting to review this 6th book, I binge read the three in the middle I hadn’t read yet, so I went in to this one all up to date on the series. I will say that this was by favorite! My only issue with it, and I noticed the same trend in earlier books was the repetition of a theme. In this one it was Diego’s anti-Navy stance, and Mark’s conviction that he’s bad at relationships. Both of those issues were harped on a little too often for my taste. But otherwise I loved this book! On the surface it seems like just about book about a military man trying to have a relationship with someone not in the service, but once we learn about Diego’s plight it took on a whole different feeling. I was very disturbed by Diego’s story, and was heartbroken to understand that it really happens. I see in the blurb that the author is donating half of her royalties to charities that will help deal with this, which means I’ll go buy this book when it comes out.
As I said, LA Witt knows her military, and I have continued to learn from her books. I really appreciate her accurate descriptions of military life, from the standpoint of the service member, the former service member, and the partner/spouse of the service member. This series of books covers all of it. Some are lighter in angst, this one is not! Diego’s stress and anxiety was difficult to read, and I was stressed right along with him. I love it when a characters emotions affect me like that. I loved Diego, and I was so happy when he finally let his barriers down with Mark. I liked seeing Mark’s transition throughout this book, as he begins to care for Diego emotionally. I loved the physical relationship between them, the sex is obviously hot at first, and remains so, but as they become emotionally connected it gets even better.
I loved this book! Great characters with some good back stories, great sex, an engaging plot, and an ending that was exactly what I wanted for these two. I didn’t like what I learned about yet another way we let down our veterans, but I liked that I learned about, if that makes any sense. I appreciate that the author brought it to our attention, even though I hated knowing that it’s real. Definitely my favorite book of the series. Yes, these can be read as standalone books, but books five and six tie in together with Diego being in each. Book five was my second favorite, so I recommend reading that one as well. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings us! If you have read the others, obviously you have to read this one. If you haven’t read any of them, pick this one up and give it a try! If you are in to books about military characters, you’ll love it.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Oh yea! Diego gets a story….
We met Diego in Going Overboard, the fifth book in this series. He is best friends/former fuck-buddies with Dalton (from book 5), and I was very curious about his backstory. We are told that he doesn’t date Navy men, which is what caused his breakup with Dalton, before they really had much of a start. It seems like Diego could easily have fallen for Dalton, if only he could have gotten past the no Navy rule. Now we find out WHY he has this rule. Diego was in the Navy, but was injured, and while he was recovering, he was kicked out, and lost his ability to apply for citizenship. He’s now working under the table, barely keeping himself fed, and still trying to send money to his family. He is barely recovered from his injuries, and has some serious PTSD. He’s unable to go to a doctor or hospital since he can’t afford to pay for it, and although he has benefits coming to him from the Navy, including care at a VA hospital, he’s afraid to go in case the realize he’s not a citizen and deport him. Basically he’s a mess!
Then we have Mark. Mark is very recently divorced, career Navy, recently promoted and posted to a ship that is stationed at Anchor Point. He contributed to the downfall of his marriage by cheating on his wife, both with women and men, and has a healthy fear of commitment. He was going to retire, but when he was given the promotion about the time of his divorce, he decided to just keep going. He gets settled in his new house in Anchor Point, and decides the best thing to do is go get laid! Not having been with a man for awhile, finding some random stranger for a quickie seems like a good plan. He finds the local gay bar, the High-&-Tight, and off he goes.
Where he sees the hot bartender and settles in for some flirting. Only to be turned away, because the guy wants nothing to do with a Navy man! Oh but wait…. maybe he does.
So Diego breaks his rule and goes home with Mark for a bit of fun in the sack. The two proceed to fuck like bunnies, each getting what they need out of their relationship. But as things progress, Diego’s story comes out, and the hidden care-taker in Mark comes out. Back and forth they go for a bit, it seems like they’ll get it sorted out and become a functioning couple, only for Diego to get cold feet and back off. Mark tries to help, and only makes it worse in Diego’s eyes. We see Diego breakdown and have a massive panic attack, and Mark helps him through it. We see them watch football together, go on an overnight trip, and have some really good times together. But it’s all tempered by Diego’s reluctance to commit, and Mark’s fear of fucking up a relationship.
I’ll stop there, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!
I read the first couple of books in this series and liked them, LA Witt is one of my favorite authors, and she is a Navy spouse so when she writes a book about the Navy you know it is authentic. When I found out I was getting to review this 6th book, I binge read the three in the middle I hadn’t read yet, so I went in to this one all up to date on the series. I will say that this was by favorite! My only issue with it, and I noticed the same trend in earlier books was the repetition of a theme. In this one it was Diego’s anti-Navy stance, and Mark’s conviction that he’s bad at relationships. Both of those issues were harped on a little too often for my taste. But otherwise I loved this book! On the surface it seems like just about book about a military man trying to have a relationship with someone not in the service, but once we learn about Diego’s plight it took on a whole different feeling. I was very disturbed by Diego’s story, and was heartbroken to understand that it really happens. I see in the blurb that the author is donating half of her royalties to charities that will help deal with this, which means I’ll go buy this book when it comes out.
As I said, LA Witt knows her military, and I have continued to learn from her books. I really appreciate her accurate descriptions of military life, from the standpoint of the service member, the former service member, and the partner/spouse of the service member. This series of books covers all of it. Some are lighter in angst, this one is not! Diego’s stress and anxiety was difficult to read, and I was stressed right along with him. I love it when a characters emotions affect me like that. I loved Diego, and I was so happy when he finally let his barriers down with Mark. I liked seeing Mark’s transition throughout this book, as he begins to care for Diego emotionally. I loved the physical relationship between them, the sex is obviously hot at first, and remains so, but as they become emotionally connected it gets even better.
I loved this book! Great characters with some good back stories, great sex, an engaging plot, and an ending that was exactly what I wanted for these two. I didn’t like what I learned about yet another way we let down our veterans, but I liked that I learned about, if that makes any sense. I appreciate that the author brought it to our attention, even though I hated knowing that it’s real. Definitely my favorite book of the series. Yes, these can be read as standalone books, but books five and six tie in together with Diego being in each. Book five was my second favorite, so I recommend reading that one as well. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings us! If you have read the others, obviously you have to read this one. If you haven’t read any of them, pick this one up and give it a try! If you are in to books about military characters, you’ll love it.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
September 6, 2018
3.5 stars! 😁I have read all the previous Anchor Point books and especially loved the first few.. hot and angsty. The plot for this one was a little different and put the Navy in a little bit of a negative light since their mistake was the reason for Diego's "undocumented" status. The pain and anxiety someone like that goes through was portrayed very well, on top of that he also had PTSD to contend with.😱 In his world of living day to day walks in Mark, recently promoted and newly transferred to Anchor Point. What starts is just a "fuck-buddy" type of a relationship, but neither is able to keep to the rules and soon they begin to spend more time together including almost every night. However, the uncertainty of Diego's status and health keeps him on the edge. 😟
The story is a little high on anxiety but the passion between the two is quite a treat.😍 For readers who are following the Anchor Point series, this is another enjoyable addition to the collection. 👍
The story is a little high on anxiety but the passion between the two is quite a treat.😍 For readers who are following the Anchor Point series, this is another enjoyable addition to the collection. 👍
April 6, 2018
4.5 Stars
Freshly divorced, after almost 19 yers of marriage, and newly stationed in Anchor Point, a small seaside town, Mark discovers the High~&~Tight, the local gay bar that caters to military guys. There he lays eyes on the bartender, Diego, but when he asks Diego to join him for coffee, Diego turns him down.
Diego doesn’t date military guys, especially the Navy ones. After 8 years of service he was discharged after being hurt in combat. While recovering, his green card expired and now he spends his life in fear of deportation, but as much as he tries, he can’t resist Mark. What could spending one night with Mark possibly hurt? It quickly becomes clear to both men, one night definitely won’t be enough.
I have really loved the couple of stories in this series that I’ve read so far, and Once Burned was no exception. Although this is book six in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone.
While I loved Mark and Diego and I enjoyed their romance, more than anything this book made me angry. It is deplorable that a person can enter this country legally, serve this country, be injured while serving this country and after it is all said and done, because of some unfiled, or perhaps misfiled, paperwork, they have to fear deportation if they try to get a legitimate job or take advantage of the resources, like the V.A., that were rightfully awarded to them for their services. It’s beyond disgusting and I wanted to scream and rage for Diego and the many others out there like him. Although, because this is fiction, everything works out in the end and Mark and Diego get their happy ending, my heart breaks for the real life Diegos out there who aren’t quite so lucky.
As for the romance portion of the story, I absolutely loved it. Mark and Diego were perfect and definitely hot together. They burned up the pages of my iPad, and I absolutely adored them. They were both likable guys who you couldn’t help but root for.
The story is well-written, and although it flowed pretty well, I found it just a bit slow in the middle. Even though it angered me, I loved the premise of the story and the ending was perfectly swoon-worthy! This was a great addition to the series, really enjoyable and definitely recommendable!
*copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 9, 2018
My Review:
Wow...what a really tough subject matter to tackle, but L.A. Witt did it beautifully. This book was wonderful...as is the entire series. Every book, every setup, and every couple are completely different, but I love them all.
This book is about Diego, an illegal who's scraping by, under the table as a bartender at the local gay bar. He spent 8 years in the Navy and got screwed when he got hurt on his last deployment...which sent his entire world and stability into a downward spiral.
Mark is coming off a fairly 'good' divorce. He and his ex are much better as exes than they ever were as spouses. Navy life definitely didn't do them any favors over the years they were married. But now Mark is in a new town with a new job as XO on his ship. It's an all-new world, and he's not real settled into exactly what that means.
Looking for something to do, he heads to the local gay bar to check out the scene. It's been a while since he hooked up with a guy and after his divorce, the idea of something different is good.
Both Mark and Diego have an immediate connection...to the point where Diego ignores his personal rule about 'no Navy guys'.
Because of Diego's history, there is a lot of things sitting out there waiting to be roadblocks for these two. Not only is Diego really embittered toward the Navy, but he has the threat of deportation hanging over his head all the time. He's also battling PTSD and the injury to his leg...neither of which can improve because of his illegal status, Diego can't seek medical help. He's in a huge downward spiral with no obvious way out. I had no idea how the author would fix this all for these two guys.
But in the end, she did it and I loved how the book turned out and the journey the author took us on to get there. It was a gorgeous story and even more amazing...1/2 of the author's royalty will go toward soldiers who are facing the same future as Diego (something that should NEVER happen to those who have willingly put their lives in the line of fire for our freedom!!!!!)
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Wow...what a really tough subject matter to tackle, but L.A. Witt did it beautifully. This book was wonderful...as is the entire series. Every book, every setup, and every couple are completely different, but I love them all.
This book is about Diego, an illegal who's scraping by, under the table as a bartender at the local gay bar. He spent 8 years in the Navy and got screwed when he got hurt on his last deployment...which sent his entire world and stability into a downward spiral.
Mark is coming off a fairly 'good' divorce. He and his ex are much better as exes than they ever were as spouses. Navy life definitely didn't do them any favors over the years they were married. But now Mark is in a new town with a new job as XO on his ship. It's an all-new world, and he's not real settled into exactly what that means.
Looking for something to do, he heads to the local gay bar to check out the scene. It's been a while since he hooked up with a guy and after his divorce, the idea of something different is good.
Both Mark and Diego have an immediate connection...to the point where Diego ignores his personal rule about 'no Navy guys'.
Because of Diego's history, there is a lot of things sitting out there waiting to be roadblocks for these two. Not only is Diego really embittered toward the Navy, but he has the threat of deportation hanging over his head all the time. He's also battling PTSD and the injury to his leg...neither of which can improve because of his illegal status, Diego can't seek medical help. He's in a huge downward spiral with no obvious way out. I had no idea how the author would fix this all for these two guys.
But in the end, she did it and I loved how the book turned out and the journey the author took us on to get there. It was a gorgeous story and even more amazing...1/2 of the author's royalty will go toward soldiers who are facing the same future as Diego (something that should NEVER happen to those who have willingly put their lives in the line of fire for our freedom!!!!!)
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 22, 2018
I haven't read the first five books in this series, so when I read this book, I was a little worried about the previous characters. Yeah I found and met Dalton, it was like a spoiler to me, LOL.
But okay, Dalton and Diego didn't worked out. Then came Mark. Apparently they have that 'chemistry', (cough), you know what I mean.
So one night leads to another, and 'suddenly' Mark and Diego couldn't say goodbye and getting addicted to one another.
But yeah, while Mark's previous life and the divorced didn't really bother in this book, Diego's problem with the Navy and his impending deportation made a gap for their relationship and their dreams to be together.
Glad that Mark finally could abused his power for Diego (hey, sometimes power is good for some reason).
The epilogue was kinda seal the deal between them, I hope Mark wouldn't do the same thing to Diego the way he did in his past marriage, because 'that' is a big deal for me.
Maybe this time, Mark will settle down for Diego only. True love, anyone?
This one is fun, the angst wasn't too heavy IMO. So yeah, read this book!
April 4, 2018
Once Burned (Anchor Point #6) by L.A. Witt
4 stars
M/M Military romance
Triggers: War injuries, discrimination, PTSD, Bi relationship
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Mark and Diego are an opposites attract type couple when they first meet. Diego is trying to stay under the radar because despite how he was wronged by his country and the military, he wants to be in the US - he wants to be able to support himself and send money home to his family.
Mark is picking up his life and moving forward. He was married and now him and his ex wife are much better friends than they were a couple. It was refreshing to see such a healthy relationship come out of an unhealthy one.
Mark and Diego had a more friendship chemistry - I didn't really get heat from their relationship. However, they were great at distracting each other. I wish they had more chemistry, but watching their relationship develop over time was also something that added to the story a lot.
I liked how Mark and Diego took risks throughout, both for themselves and each other. I think that showed their level of commitment. Overall, this was a good story about redemption, love, loss, acceptance and allowing yourself to believe that there is good out there.
4 stars
M/M Military romance
Triggers: War injuries, discrimination, PTSD, Bi relationship
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Mark and Diego are an opposites attract type couple when they first meet. Diego is trying to stay under the radar because despite how he was wronged by his country and the military, he wants to be in the US - he wants to be able to support himself and send money home to his family.
Mark is picking up his life and moving forward. He was married and now him and his ex wife are much better friends than they were a couple. It was refreshing to see such a healthy relationship come out of an unhealthy one.
Mark and Diego had a more friendship chemistry - I didn't really get heat from their relationship. However, they were great at distracting each other. I wish they had more chemistry, but watching their relationship develop over time was also something that added to the story a lot.
I liked how Mark and Diego took risks throughout, both for themselves and each other. I think that showed their level of commitment. Overall, this was a good story about redemption, love, loss, acceptance and allowing yourself to believe that there is good out there.
March 18, 2019
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Audiobook Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I love this series so much and it keeps being great. Mark is settling into his new home and just looking to get rid of the loneliness brings him so much more. Diego is just trying to survive without letting the military hurt him anymore.
Both of these guys have had problems in the past and had to work through them to give their relationship more traction. I hated that Mark had felt he needed to have sex to keep loneliness at bay for so long but now that he and his ex-wife are on good terms he is able to start seeing where they both went wrong. Diego just keeps getting kicked while he’s down and I was so glad that even though there was some hurt done that Mark was able to help him get his life back on track and find the happiness he was missing.
It was so great to listen to Nick Russo narrating this story as he is one of my favorite narrators and haven’t had many stories by him in a while. He does a great job portraying the characters’ emotions and it makes it easy to connect with them. The different voices he used for the characters helped me keep up with what was going on and get an idea of the characters personality some more.
I like the cover art by LC Chase and it continues follow the pattern for the series.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I love this series so much and it keeps being great. Mark is settling into his new home and just looking to get rid of the loneliness brings him so much more. Diego is just trying to survive without letting the military hurt him anymore.
Both of these guys have had problems in the past and had to work through them to give their relationship more traction. I hated that Mark had felt he needed to have sex to keep loneliness at bay for so long but now that he and his ex-wife are on good terms he is able to start seeing where they both went wrong. Diego just keeps getting kicked while he’s down and I was so glad that even though there was some hurt done that Mark was able to help him get his life back on track and find the happiness he was missing.
It was so great to listen to Nick Russo narrating this story as he is one of my favorite narrators and haven’t had many stories by him in a while. He does a great job portraying the characters’ emotions and it makes it easy to connect with them. The different voices he used for the characters helped me keep up with what was going on and get an idea of the characters personality some more.
I like the cover art by LC Chase and it continues follow the pattern for the series.
December 31, 2023
I enjoyed this military romance story that specifically highlights the plight of immigrants who serve time with the US armed forces and slip through the cracks on the way to trying to get their citizenship. Diego is bitter after serving his time with the Navy and being injured in the line of duty, resulting in his loss of immigration status and becoming an undocumented worker. When he meets Mark, a career Navy man, he knows getting involved with someone currently in the military is a mistake but their mutual attraction leads to him breaking his own rules. I liked how the story played out, the risks and rewards for them both, and the way their happy ending comes about.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
August 17, 2018
Can be read as a standalone. This is my first in this series.
Wow. A book where the mc spend time togother without sex. I miss that so much in books. The guys were just hanging out on the couch in front of the tv or just in bed talking without sex.
Having a scene in a book where the couple talk, kiss and hug, like just hug for the confort of it without it ending up in sex or even sexy or whatever sex thought in their head??! That's worth all the 5 stars in my world.
I don't know shit about US law, especially about immigration, I just know that whatever the country, whatever the law, people in power/with that power can do whatever they want.
I loved this book! Great story, awesome guys.
Wow. A book where the mc spend time togother without sex. I miss that so much in books. The guys were just hanging out on the couch in front of the tv or just in bed talking without sex.
Having a scene in a book where the couple talk, kiss and hug, like just hug for the confort of it without it ending up in sex or even sexy or whatever sex thought in their head??! That's worth all the 5 stars in my world.
I don't know shit about US law, especially about immigration, I just know that whatever the country, whatever the law, people in power/with that power can do whatever they want.
I loved this book! Great story, awesome guys.
April 5, 2018
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I have read all the previous books in this series but it is not necessary to read this book. I hate to say it but this book really missed the mark for me. I really, really do not like just pages and pages of inner monologue. I need dialogue between characters!! I also dislike it when the same thing is repeated over and over again, let's not beat a dead horse folks!!! Thia book had both and it made me lose interest fast. Don't get me wrong the chemistry and sex between Mark and Diego is hot but that wasn't enough for me to love the book. Mark and his poor excuse for cheating and then Diego's unrealistic issue with his green card were the final straws and made this book a not so good one for me.
I have read all the previous books in this series but it is not necessary to read this book. I hate to say it but this book really missed the mark for me. I really, really do not like just pages and pages of inner monologue. I need dialogue between characters!! I also dislike it when the same thing is repeated over and over again, let's not beat a dead horse folks!!! Thia book had both and it made me lose interest fast. Don't get me wrong the chemistry and sex between Mark and Diego is hot but that wasn't enough for me to love the book. Mark and his poor excuse for cheating and then Diego's unrealistic issue with his green card were the final straws and made this book a not so good one for me.
November 28, 2018
I really loved this. After 'meeting' Diego in book 5, I was glad to see he got his story. He's a sweetheart who got shafted by the Navy and just dealt a raw, wrong deal. He deserved some happiness finally. I really loved his story
November 21, 2019
READ 14 Feb 2019 (★★★½)
**jotted notes from book diary**
Bump up for RL backstory for Diego. Liked realistic/fair treatment of Mark's marriage & rel w/ ex.
More emotional angst but again, follows series formula/style = heavy telling/internal monologuing & repetitive recap. :/
**jotted notes from book diary**
Bump up for RL backstory for Diego. Liked realistic/fair treatment of Mark's marriage & rel w/ ex.
More emotional angst but again, follows series formula/style = heavy telling/internal monologuing & repetitive recap. :/
March 8, 2021
This one made me blubber. Went through a couple of Kleenex. It also made me look up Canada's policy on non-citizens in the armed forces. According to the.gov website, you have to be a citizen, first. So this specific issue doesn't come up.
January 10, 2019
Once Burned, the sixth installment in the Anchor Point series by author L.A. Witt can easily be read as a standalone. Once again we enter the lives of naval men who have sacrificed much for their country and question whether or not it is all worth it in the end. Yet, they stoically forge ahead despite their misgivings and the sometimes reprehensible way in which the government treats its most loyal and brave brothers and sisters. In this case, the author explores the very real dilemma that faces some of our military—the lack of permanent U.S. status and their failure to obtain that citizenship while on active military duty. The question is raised as to what happens to those soldiers who are deployed in hostile military zones and sustain life-threatening injury and are unable to complete the paperwork that will give them their much-needed right to remain in this country. It may seem unbelievable to us, but how often in the past year have we seen story after story on the news about soldiers who have served in the military being deported? Far too often, unfortunately. Once Burned takes both that and the pain and turmoil PTSD have on Diego into account when telling his story.
If he could move on from what he has lost via the Navy’s indifference and unfair assessment, Diego might be happier. He would still be an illegal immigrant and worried that the next inspection at the bar he’s working at might be his ticket to deportation, but he would be happier…maybe. The problem is that Diego finds himself attracted to Mark, a naval career officer, and despite Diego’s vow not to involve himself with a military guy, he is finding it difficult to stay away from Mark and his bed. There is just too much to like about the hesitant, humble soldier. However, Mark represents everything Diego has come to fear and hate, and that is a barrier that Diego may not be able to clear.
Mark is fresh off a divorce from a marriage that had crumbled years before where both he and his wife ended up cheating on each other rather than face the fact that they were not marriage material. Starting over clear across the country, he is the first to admit that he doesn’t do well at relationships. But after meeting Diego and realizing that, in spite of his promise to himself not to rush into things, he really likes the guy. Mark is ready to risk it all to see if they can make it work. These two men fumble their way through a growing relationship that is rife with many minefields such as Diego’s PTSD and hatred of the military, and Mark’s uncertainty as to how to help the man he is falling in love with and not overstep his position in the navy. In the end the real question becomes, can their love survive the mess Diego’s life has become.
The chemistry and private moments between Mark and Diego were so realistic and sincere that their relationship was the real star of this novel. It was definitely believable that Diego could be so anxious and torn apart by his past and the memories that threatened to unhinge him mentally at every turn that he questioned why he should even be with Mark. Mark, on the other hand, wanted to help, but his own insecurity over his failed marriage, and his worry that he would repeat it in a new relationship, became more of his focus than seeing what Diego really needed from him. These men were often like two ships that pass in the night, trying their best to stay on course but often allowing their own uncertainty to derail their course.
My one problem with this novel actually stems from just that plot point. So often I felt that both Diego and Mark worried needlessly over the same issue. I could understand that the author was trying to establish how much Diego was affected by his circumstances, but the too often repetition of the same concerns started to weigh this story down and slow the pacing. Rather than increase my compassion for Diego and his plight, I found myself starting to chafe at what became his rather constant rehashing of the same worries over and over again. After a while, rather than create an air of tension and urgency, I found the repetitive nature of Diego’s stream of consciousness boring and unnecessary. I had gotten the message earlier on and felt the author was pounding the same theme over and over to the detriment of the story itself.
While this was unfortunate, I cannot fault this author’s ability to create intense and realistic characters who worm their way into your heart and stir up real empathy for them and their plight. Once Burned is a good story, a solid hit for those who like reading about men in the military, and an impactful statement on the current political climate and how it affects those who serve to keep us safe.
Reviewed by Sammy
If he could move on from what he has lost via the Navy’s indifference and unfair assessment, Diego might be happier. He would still be an illegal immigrant and worried that the next inspection at the bar he’s working at might be his ticket to deportation, but he would be happier…maybe. The problem is that Diego finds himself attracted to Mark, a naval career officer, and despite Diego’s vow not to involve himself with a military guy, he is finding it difficult to stay away from Mark and his bed. There is just too much to like about the hesitant, humble soldier. However, Mark represents everything Diego has come to fear and hate, and that is a barrier that Diego may not be able to clear.
Mark is fresh off a divorce from a marriage that had crumbled years before where both he and his wife ended up cheating on each other rather than face the fact that they were not marriage material. Starting over clear across the country, he is the first to admit that he doesn’t do well at relationships. But after meeting Diego and realizing that, in spite of his promise to himself not to rush into things, he really likes the guy. Mark is ready to risk it all to see if they can make it work. These two men fumble their way through a growing relationship that is rife with many minefields such as Diego’s PTSD and hatred of the military, and Mark’s uncertainty as to how to help the man he is falling in love with and not overstep his position in the navy. In the end the real question becomes, can their love survive the mess Diego’s life has become.
The chemistry and private moments between Mark and Diego were so realistic and sincere that their relationship was the real star of this novel. It was definitely believable that Diego could be so anxious and torn apart by his past and the memories that threatened to unhinge him mentally at every turn that he questioned why he should even be with Mark. Mark, on the other hand, wanted to help, but his own insecurity over his failed marriage, and his worry that he would repeat it in a new relationship, became more of his focus than seeing what Diego really needed from him. These men were often like two ships that pass in the night, trying their best to stay on course but often allowing their own uncertainty to derail their course.
My one problem with this novel actually stems from just that plot point. So often I felt that both Diego and Mark worried needlessly over the same issue. I could understand that the author was trying to establish how much Diego was affected by his circumstances, but the too often repetition of the same concerns started to weigh this story down and slow the pacing. Rather than increase my compassion for Diego and his plight, I found myself starting to chafe at what became his rather constant rehashing of the same worries over and over again. After a while, rather than create an air of tension and urgency, I found the repetitive nature of Diego’s stream of consciousness boring and unnecessary. I had gotten the message earlier on and felt the author was pounding the same theme over and over to the detriment of the story itself.
While this was unfortunate, I cannot fault this author’s ability to create intense and realistic characters who worm their way into your heart and stir up real empathy for them and their plight. Once Burned is a good story, a solid hit for those who like reading about men in the military, and an impactful statement on the current political climate and how it affects those who serve to keep us safe.
Reviewed by Sammy
April 13, 2018
•*´¨)4.5 stars
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Mark's life changed with his divorce. Finally free to openly explore the other side of his sexuality should have been the icing on the cake. Yet, it all came with another set of issues...a move into management when he should have been thinking of retiring. A move across state. Falling for a man who wanted nothing to do with his kind.
When life handed you lemons...
He should have ran, fast. But no matter how hard he tried, Diego's one night stand was becoming more. Now he found himself thinking in future tense and doing things he had promised never to do. Too many failures and too many issues clouded his life, but Mark was like the sun bursting through the clouds. "Losing Dalton had made me rethink my hang-ups about the military, but it was Mark who had me wanting to actually make peace with my past."
L.A. Witt's continuous sequel in the Anchor Point series just pulls you in to see how these men fall, hard. I am still enjoying the series and look forward to many more. After all, who doesn't love a man in uniform?
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the publisher through Netgalley.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Mark's life changed with his divorce. Finally free to openly explore the other side of his sexuality should have been the icing on the cake. Yet, it all came with another set of issues...a move into management when he should have been thinking of retiring. A move across state. Falling for a man who wanted nothing to do with his kind.
When life handed you lemons...
He should have ran, fast. But no matter how hard he tried, Diego's one night stand was becoming more. Now he found himself thinking in future tense and doing things he had promised never to do. Too many failures and too many issues clouded his life, but Mark was like the sun bursting through the clouds. "Losing Dalton had made me rethink my hang-ups about the military, but it was Mark who had me wanting to actually make peace with my past."
L.A. Witt's continuous sequel in the Anchor Point series just pulls you in to see how these men fall, hard. I am still enjoying the series and look forward to many more. After all, who doesn't love a man in uniform?
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the publisher through Netgalley.
October 29, 2018
Loved this addition to the series. Emotional, sexy, riveting. One of the features about this series that I really enjoy is the continuity of spaces and places from book to book and in this one we focus on my fav gay bar, the High-and-Tight!! Diego is a bartender there and I remember his small role in Dalton's book. In this one, Diego meets Mark, an XO recently moved to Anchor Point. Loved these guys hard, especially Diego. Really connected with both but Diego broke my heart "...tears in his eyes stunned me." One of my usual pet peeves with LA Witt is her tendency to be repetitive. We read MULTIPLE TIMES, that Diego does not date military men and that he is done with the Navy. OKAY, we get it. LA writes such mature and realistic men with complicated backgrounds. Diego's issues were heart breaking, particularly in light of the hostile environment for POC in the US these days. Almost made it hard to read. And Mark - gosh he tried so hard. Tried so hard to love Diego and get it right. As always, the HEA just capped the ending to a almost perfect book. "And what was a few hours if this man—this gorgeous, loving, amazing man—was waiting at the end?"
April 8, 2018
Mark is a new Captain in the Navy, something he never expected to be. Recently divorced, he is trying to fit into his new life. He had expected to retire and the promotion had changed his plans.
Diego, working for tips as a bartender, want nothing to do with the Navy. He was wounded in the line of duty and was tossed out of the Navy because he couldn't meet the qualifications to stay in. He lost his green card and is in the US illegally.
When he met Mark, Diego knew getting close him was a mistake, but their chemistry was just to hot to ignore. The more time they spent together, the hotter the relationship became.
There were a lot of issues that created conflict between the men, which I suppose was needed to move the story along, but also seemed to bog it down a bit. I've read all the Anchor Point stories and this is another nice addition to the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Diego, working for tips as a bartender, want nothing to do with the Navy. He was wounded in the line of duty and was tossed out of the Navy because he couldn't meet the qualifications to stay in. He lost his green card and is in the US illegally.
When he met Mark, Diego knew getting close him was a mistake, but their chemistry was just to hot to ignore. The more time they spent together, the hotter the relationship became.
There were a lot of issues that created conflict between the men, which I suppose was needed to move the story along, but also seemed to bog it down a bit. I've read all the Anchor Point stories and this is another nice addition to the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
May 7, 2018
Once Burned, the sixth installment in the Anchor Point series by author L.A. Witt can easily be read as a standalone. Once again we enter the lives of naval men who have sacrificed much for their country and question whether or not it is all worth it in the end. Yet, they stoically forge ahead despite their misgivings and the sometimes reprehensible way in which the government treats its most loyal and brave brothers and sisters. In this case, the author explores the very real dilemma that faces some of our military—the lack of permanent U.S. status and their failure to obtain that citizenship while on active military duty. The question is raised as to what happens to those soldiers who are deployed in hostile military zones and sustain life-threatening injury and are unable to complete the paperwork that will give them their much-needed right to remain in this country. It may seem unbelievable to us, but how often in the past year have we seen story after story on the news about soldiers who have served in the military being deported? Far too often, unfortunately. Once Burned takes both that and the pain and turmoil PTSD have on Diego into account when telling his story.
If he could move on from what he has lost via the Navy’s indifference and unfair assessment, Diego might be happier. He would still be an illegal immigrant and worried that the next inspection at the bar he’s working at might be his ticket to deportation, but he would be happier…maybe. The problem is that Diego finds himself attracted to Mark, a naval career officer, and despite Diego’s vow not to involve himself with a military guy, he is finding it difficult to stay away from Mark and his bed. There is just too much to like about the hesitant, humble soldier. However, Mark represents everything Diego has come to fear and hate, and that is a barrier that Diego may not be able to clear.
Mark is fresh off a divorce from a marriage that had crumbled years before where both he and his wife ended up cheating on each other rather than face the fact that they were not marriage material. Starting over clear across the country, he is the first to admit that he doesn’t do well at relationships. But after meeting Diego and realizing that, in spite of his promise to himself not to rush into things, he really likes the guy. Mark is ready to risk it all to see if they can make it work. These two men fumble their way through a growing relationship that is rife with many minefields such as Diego’s PTSD and hatred of the military, and Mark’s uncertainty as to how to help the man he is falling in love with and not overstep his position in the navy. In the end the real question becomes, can their love survive the mess Diego’s life has become.
The chemistry and private moments between Mark and Diego were so realistic and sincere that their relationship was the real star of this novel. It was definitely believable that Diego could be so anxious and torn apart by his past and the memories that threatened to unhinge him mentally at every turn that he questioned why he should even be with Mark. Mark, on the other hand, wanted to help, but his own insecurity over his failed marriage, and his worry that he would repeat it in a new relationship, became more of his focus than seeing what Diego really needed from him. These men were often like two ships that pass in the night, trying their best to stay on course but often allowing their own uncertainty to derail their course.
My one problem with this novel actually stems from just that plot point. So often I felt that both Diego and Mark worried needlessly over the same issue. I could understand that the author was trying to establish how much Diego was affected by his circumstances, but the too often repetition of the same concerns started to weigh this story down and slow the pacing. Rather than increase my compassion for Diego and his plight, I found myself starting to chafe at what became his rather constant rehashing of the same worries over and over again. After a while, rather than create an air of tension and urgency, I found the repetitive nature of Diego’s stream of consciousness boring and unnecessary. I had gotten the message earlier on and felt the author was pounding the same theme over and over to the detriment of the story itself.
While this was unfortunate, I cannot fault this author’s ability to create intense and realistic characters who worm their way into your heart and stir up real empathy for them and their plight. Once Burned is a good story, a solid hit for those who like reading about men in the military, and an impactful statement on the current political climate and how it affects those who serve to keep us safe.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
If he could move on from what he has lost via the Navy’s indifference and unfair assessment, Diego might be happier. He would still be an illegal immigrant and worried that the next inspection at the bar he’s working at might be his ticket to deportation, but he would be happier…maybe. The problem is that Diego finds himself attracted to Mark, a naval career officer, and despite Diego’s vow not to involve himself with a military guy, he is finding it difficult to stay away from Mark and his bed. There is just too much to like about the hesitant, humble soldier. However, Mark represents everything Diego has come to fear and hate, and that is a barrier that Diego may not be able to clear.
Mark is fresh off a divorce from a marriage that had crumbled years before where both he and his wife ended up cheating on each other rather than face the fact that they were not marriage material. Starting over clear across the country, he is the first to admit that he doesn’t do well at relationships. But after meeting Diego and realizing that, in spite of his promise to himself not to rush into things, he really likes the guy. Mark is ready to risk it all to see if they can make it work. These two men fumble their way through a growing relationship that is rife with many minefields such as Diego’s PTSD and hatred of the military, and Mark’s uncertainty as to how to help the man he is falling in love with and not overstep his position in the navy. In the end the real question becomes, can their love survive the mess Diego’s life has become.
The chemistry and private moments between Mark and Diego were so realistic and sincere that their relationship was the real star of this novel. It was definitely believable that Diego could be so anxious and torn apart by his past and the memories that threatened to unhinge him mentally at every turn that he questioned why he should even be with Mark. Mark, on the other hand, wanted to help, but his own insecurity over his failed marriage, and his worry that he would repeat it in a new relationship, became more of his focus than seeing what Diego really needed from him. These men were often like two ships that pass in the night, trying their best to stay on course but often allowing their own uncertainty to derail their course.
My one problem with this novel actually stems from just that plot point. So often I felt that both Diego and Mark worried needlessly over the same issue. I could understand that the author was trying to establish how much Diego was affected by his circumstances, but the too often repetition of the same concerns started to weigh this story down and slow the pacing. Rather than increase my compassion for Diego and his plight, I found myself starting to chafe at what became his rather constant rehashing of the same worries over and over again. After a while, rather than create an air of tension and urgency, I found the repetitive nature of Diego’s stream of consciousness boring and unnecessary. I had gotten the message earlier on and felt the author was pounding the same theme over and over to the detriment of the story itself.
While this was unfortunate, I cannot fault this author’s ability to create intense and realistic characters who worm their way into your heart and stir up real empathy for them and their plight. Once Burned is a good story, a solid hit for those who like reading about men in the military, and an impactful statement on the current political climate and how it affects those who serve to keep us safe.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
February 19, 2018
ARC reviewed for Netgalley
The good:
50% of the author’s royalties from sales of this book will go to charities that support U.S. Military veterans who have been deported or are at risk of being deported. That’s awesome.
This book brings a terrible and not often publicized issue some much needed attention: people who fought for this country and were promised citizenship for their service who were later denied citizenship or deported.
Just like book 5, Once Burned can be read as a stand-alone that makes perfect sense without having read the first five books in the series.
The bad:
Repetition. I almost didn’t bother finishing this book because I was sick of re-reading how Mark was military, and Diego couldn’t date someone in the military. I lost count how many times this was rehashed throughout the book, but it became so irritating that I had to start skimming when the same dialogue came up again and again. It was so unnecessary and added nothing to the story except page length.
Where was this dark side Mark kept talking about in his failed relationship to his ex-wife? Yeah, he cheated, but so did she. To me, there was nothing dark or original about that, nor was that enough of a reason for Mark to go around claiming to be awful at relationships. As a character, his problems were nothing compared to Diego’s, so he didn’t have the same presence or weight that Diego did.
The situation that Diego was in was terrible, and I was truly sympathetic, but I also had a big problem with one aspect of his situation: he never once accepted that he was partly responsible for his circumstances. Yes, he was kicked out due to the Navy’s idiotic practice of letting statistics in a computer program decide a person’s fate, and yes, he was severely injured when a lot of this happened to him, but here’s the thing that was brushed over: he had years, YEARS, to complete the paperwork for naturalization, and he didn’t do it. If he wanted citizenship as badly as he claimed, why did he put off doing that one thing that would have guaranteed him that? Remember, he was injured during his second deployment, so he made it unscathed through an entire first deployment and could have done the paperwork any time during or after, and he didn’t. Amidst all of his blaming the Navy for his problems (and 90% of that was completely justified), I would have liked one time, one sentence, where he admits that he is somewhat responsible.
I am not sure what the first four books in this series were like because I’ve never read them, but Once Burned was not as good as Going Overboard, and there was just too much repetition for me to enjoy it.
boysonlybookclub.wordpress.com
The good:
50% of the author’s royalties from sales of this book will go to charities that support U.S. Military veterans who have been deported or are at risk of being deported. That’s awesome.
This book brings a terrible and not often publicized issue some much needed attention: people who fought for this country and were promised citizenship for their service who were later denied citizenship or deported.
Just like book 5, Once Burned can be read as a stand-alone that makes perfect sense without having read the first five books in the series.
The bad:
Repetition. I almost didn’t bother finishing this book because I was sick of re-reading how Mark was military, and Diego couldn’t date someone in the military. I lost count how many times this was rehashed throughout the book, but it became so irritating that I had to start skimming when the same dialogue came up again and again. It was so unnecessary and added nothing to the story except page length.
Where was this dark side Mark kept talking about in his failed relationship to his ex-wife? Yeah, he cheated, but so did she. To me, there was nothing dark or original about that, nor was that enough of a reason for Mark to go around claiming to be awful at relationships. As a character, his problems were nothing compared to Diego’s, so he didn’t have the same presence or weight that Diego did.
The situation that Diego was in was terrible, and I was truly sympathetic, but I also had a big problem with one aspect of his situation: he never once accepted that he was partly responsible for his circumstances. Yes, he was kicked out due to the Navy’s idiotic practice of letting statistics in a computer program decide a person’s fate, and yes, he was severely injured when a lot of this happened to him, but here’s the thing that was brushed over: he had years, YEARS, to complete the paperwork for naturalization, and he didn’t do it. If he wanted citizenship as badly as he claimed, why did he put off doing that one thing that would have guaranteed him that? Remember, he was injured during his second deployment, so he made it unscathed through an entire first deployment and could have done the paperwork any time during or after, and he didn’t. Amidst all of his blaming the Navy for his problems (and 90% of that was completely justified), I would have liked one time, one sentence, where he admits that he is somewhat responsible.
I am not sure what the first four books in this series were like because I’ve never read them, but Once Burned was not as good as Going Overboard, and there was just too much repetition for me to enjoy it.
boysonlybookclub.wordpress.com
February 16, 2018
I’ve loved all the books in this series, and this one’s no exception. It’s well written, well researched and so engaging. I was really intrigued about Diego after being introduced to him in Dalton’s story in Going Overboard, little did we know he was going through such a turbulent time (and that’s an understatement!).
This book tackled some hard and sensitive subjects when talking of what Diego went through in the military and the after-effects he was still suffering with, terribly so, and my heart really went out to him; the agony he went through when he was injured and the resulting PTSD and the threat of being deported was just horrendous and how he was treated was unconscionable. The one shining light in all this mess was Mark, who seemingly had it all going for him career-wise but he’s just come out of a bad marriage―luckily on better terms with his ex-wife now that they were divorced―but there was definitely something missing in his life, until he met Diego. It just seemed so unfair that Diego’s relationship with Mark; the only positive thing in his life, was under threat from circumstances left over from his time in the military, I really felt for him and I too, couldn’t see a way out for him and chance to move forward, get help and have a chance at a future. It seemed like the threat of losing everything pushes both men to desperate measures, surely they’re better fighting together than throwing the towel in and being apart? You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens but I can say it’s quite an emotional read; how one man can serve his country and end up in this position just busted my heart.
This is a great read and a beautiful, honest love story. I know this series will be coming to an end at some point soon but I wish it could go on as I love my Anchor Point boys. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, you won’t be disappointed in this latest instalment.
This book tackled some hard and sensitive subjects when talking of what Diego went through in the military and the after-effects he was still suffering with, terribly so, and my heart really went out to him; the agony he went through when he was injured and the resulting PTSD and the threat of being deported was just horrendous and how he was treated was unconscionable. The one shining light in all this mess was Mark, who seemingly had it all going for him career-wise but he’s just come out of a bad marriage―luckily on better terms with his ex-wife now that they were divorced―but there was definitely something missing in his life, until he met Diego. It just seemed so unfair that Diego’s relationship with Mark; the only positive thing in his life, was under threat from circumstances left over from his time in the military, I really felt for him and I too, couldn’t see a way out for him and chance to move forward, get help and have a chance at a future. It seemed like the threat of losing everything pushes both men to desperate measures, surely they’re better fighting together than throwing the towel in and being apart? You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens but I can say it’s quite an emotional read; how one man can serve his country and end up in this position just busted my heart.
This is a great read and a beautiful, honest love story. I know this series will be coming to an end at some point soon but I wish it could go on as I love my Anchor Point boys. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, you won’t be disappointed in this latest instalment.
April 15, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Mark is newly divorced and recently stationed at Anchor Point, and when he visits a local gay bar, he is drawn to one of the bartenders, Diego, who isn't too keen on dating military guys, especially the Navy kind. There's something about Mark that makes Diego give him a second chance and soon, one night turns into more, however, there are things that might tear them apart.
It took me a bit to warm up to Mark, but once I did, I loved him. He was sweet and supportive and once he realized what was at stake, he was determined to help Diego in any way he could. I loved Diego, even if I got slightly tired and wanted to cuddle him and make it better. My heart broke for him and the situation he found himself in. It's unbelievable that due to some mistake, a man who's served the US and been wounded in action, has to deal with what Diego does. I was appalled at the way Mark's CO thought about it, and it seems to me, that sounds pretty on point to what little I've read/heard about it.
Mark and Diego's chemistry was out of this world and I loved the progression from a one-night stand into more, it felt natural and very organic. I loved that they didn't spend their time just having sex, but just being together, talking and watching TV or whatever.
Overall, Once Burned was a fantastic read! Fast-paced and engaging, with an absolutely perfect ending that had me shedding a few happy tears. I'm already looking forward to book 7! Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Mark is newly divorced and recently stationed at Anchor Point, and when he visits a local gay bar, he is drawn to one of the bartenders, Diego, who isn't too keen on dating military guys, especially the Navy kind. There's something about Mark that makes Diego give him a second chance and soon, one night turns into more, however, there are things that might tear them apart.
It took me a bit to warm up to Mark, but once I did, I loved him. He was sweet and supportive and once he realized what was at stake, he was determined to help Diego in any way he could. I loved Diego, even if I got slightly tired and wanted to cuddle him and make it better. My heart broke for him and the situation he found himself in. It's unbelievable that due to some mistake, a man who's served the US and been wounded in action, has to deal with what Diego does. I was appalled at the way Mark's CO thought about it, and it seems to me, that sounds pretty on point to what little I've read/heard about it.
Mark and Diego's chemistry was out of this world and I loved the progression from a one-night stand into more, it felt natural and very organic. I loved that they didn't spend their time just having sex, but just being together, talking and watching TV or whatever.
Overall, Once Burned was a fantastic read! Fast-paced and engaging, with an absolutely perfect ending that had me shedding a few happy tears. I'm already looking forward to book 7! Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
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