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Away From Keyboard #1
Breaking His Code
I can't escape my past. West wants to be my future.
When West, a former SEAL and my online gaming buddy, begged me to meet him IRL (in real life), one word, one touch, one look sent me fleeing like a coward. Back to my keyboard, online gaming, and the deadline that could make or break my whole programming career. Back where I'm safe.
Problem is, West followed.
Forced back into a world I'd rather forget, Cam's the one thing I'm afraid to lose.
My civilian life looks great. On paper. But my business is tanking, and I can't sleep more than a few hours before I jolt awake. Screaming. Shaking. Alone. Out of options, I accept a mission I might not come back from. But when I need Cam most, fear sends her running.
If I survive, can I convince Cam love is worth the risk?
When West, a former SEAL and my online gaming buddy, begged me to meet him IRL (in real life), one word, one touch, one look sent me fleeing like a coward. Back to my keyboard, online gaming, and the deadline that could make or break my whole programming career. Back where I'm safe.
Problem is, West followed.
Forced back into a world I'd rather forget, Cam's the one thing I'm afraid to lose.
My civilian life looks great. On paper. But my business is tanking, and I can't sleep more than a few hours before I jolt awake. Screaming. Shaking. Alone. Out of options, I accept a mission I might not come back from. But when I need Cam most, fear sends her running.
If I survive, can I convince Cam love is worth the risk?
Audible Audio
First published July 24, 2017
About the author
Patricia D. Eddy
81 books901 followersPatricia D. Eddy is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes romance for the beautifully broken.
Fueled by coffee, wine, and Doctor Who episodes on repeat, she brings damaged heroes and heroines together to find their happy ever afters in many different worlds. From military to paranormal to BDSM, her characters are unstoppable forces colliding with such heat, sparks always fly.
Add Patricia's latest releases to your TBR list now!
and
Patricia makes her home in Seattle with her husband and very spoiled cats, and when she’s not writing, she loves working on home improvement projects, especially if they involve power tools.
Her Away From Keyboard series will always be her first love, because that’s where she realized the characters in her head were telling their own stories—and she was just writing them down.
You can find Patricia all over the web:
Website: https://patriciadeddy.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/patriciadeddyauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciadeddy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patriciadeddy
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/patri...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-D.-Ed...
Sign up for Patricia's newsletter to receive a free romantic suspense short story! https://patriciadeddy.com/mailinglist
Fueled by coffee, wine, and Doctor Who episodes on repeat, she brings damaged heroes and heroines together to find their happy ever afters in many different worlds. From military to paranormal to BDSM, her characters are unstoppable forces colliding with such heat, sparks always fly.
Add Patricia's latest releases to your TBR list now!
and
Patricia makes her home in Seattle with her husband and very spoiled cats, and when she’s not writing, she loves working on home improvement projects, especially if they involve power tools.
Her Away From Keyboard series will always be her first love, because that’s where she realized the characters in her head were telling their own stories—and she was just writing them down.
You can find Patricia all over the web:
Website: https://patriciadeddy.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/patriciadeddyauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciadeddy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patriciadeddy
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/patri...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-D.-Ed...
Sign up for Patricia's newsletter to receive a free romantic suspense short story! https://patriciadeddy.com/mailinglist
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February 12, 2025
Breaking His Code is book one in the Away From Keyboard series by Patricia Eddy. I have previously read most of this series. Each book can be read as a stand alone. But I never did go back and read this one even though I’ve owned it for awhile now! Finally I did and really enjoyed it. This is West and Camilla’s book.
Camilla Delgado has been out of the service for ten years. She was an explosives expert but a terrible explosion ended her career and left her injured. Now she uses a cane and is a coder for a security firm owned by her previous commanding officer. Camilla spends her days behind a keyboard and trying to manage her pain. She has established a friendship with a gaming partner. They game or talk nearly every day. But then he tells her he wants to meet in person.
West Sampson retired from active duty six years ago after being seriously injured. Now he owns a Krav Maga studio but with a new trendy fitness center right across the street, his studio is struggling. At the same time, he has developed feelings for the woman he has been talking to constantly and gaming with online the last few months. He desperately wants to meet her and take their friendship to a higher level. But their first meeting doesn’t go well, at all! How can he convince her that he sees her as a sexy strong woman, not the way she thinks he does?
Both West and Cam’s lives are at a stressful point. Cam has a crazy deadline on a huge install they are doing that will send the business into a much higher level. But something keeps going wrong with her code. And she can’t figure out what. West doesn’t know what to do to come up with the money he needs to start a new program at his business. But a voice from his past gives him an option, one he’s not sure he can take.
As these two try to navigate their own lives, they are also trying to figure out if they can be more to each other. This was a fairly quick read and I’m so glad I finally went back to be properly introduced to these two. I have really loved the books I’ve read in this series and highly recommend them all.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Camilla Delgado has been out of the service for ten years. She was an explosives expert but a terrible explosion ended her career and left her injured. Now she uses a cane and is a coder for a security firm owned by her previous commanding officer. Camilla spends her days behind a keyboard and trying to manage her pain. She has established a friendship with a gaming partner. They game or talk nearly every day. But then he tells her he wants to meet in person.
West Sampson retired from active duty six years ago after being seriously injured. Now he owns a Krav Maga studio but with a new trendy fitness center right across the street, his studio is struggling. At the same time, he has developed feelings for the woman he has been talking to constantly and gaming with online the last few months. He desperately wants to meet her and take their friendship to a higher level. But their first meeting doesn’t go well, at all! How can he convince her that he sees her as a sexy strong woman, not the way she thinks he does?
Both West and Cam’s lives are at a stressful point. Cam has a crazy deadline on a huge install they are doing that will send the business into a much higher level. But something keeps going wrong with her code. And she can’t figure out what. West doesn’t know what to do to come up with the money he needs to start a new program at his business. But a voice from his past gives him an option, one he’s not sure he can take.
As these two try to navigate their own lives, they are also trying to figure out if they can be more to each other. This was a fairly quick read and I’m so glad I finally went back to be properly introduced to these two. I have really loved the books I’ve read in this series and highly recommend them all.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
February 4, 2019
Overview:
West & Cam. Standalone but part of a series with recurring characters. Dual POV. Instant attraction but a little bit of a slow burn.
Camilla (Cam)
Cam is a software developer at a security firm and loves the competitive side of gaming, where she has connected with West. She was injured while in the Army and now that she is out of the military, she finds friendship and camaraderie with an online community of vets.
West
Retired SEAL, he now owns his own dojo. But, due to competition right across the street, he is finding it hard to keep his business open. He has some guilt over the way his last mission ended.
Story
West and Cam meet via an online forum for vets, start gaming together and over the course of 6 weeks they build a solid friendship. West asks Cam out for coffee and although Cam has a bit of a “freak out” during their coffee, their attraction just can’t keep them apart.
The story has a tiny bit of suspense and the two main characters are suffering from some PTSD due to their military experiences. They have hot and steamy bedroom scenes when they do get together. I felt like some of the “misunderstandings” were just a way to create drama. They could have been avoided with honest communication.
There were a few unresolved issues, but they weren’t critical to the outcome of the story so it was ok. The book moves along well and the secondary characters add some depth to the story. This is a drama (not a light, upbeat story) and most of the characters in the book face some really difficult issues. There is no OW/OM drama and no cheating. This has a HEA, but no epilogue. Overall, a good start to the series.
West & Cam. Standalone but part of a series with recurring characters. Dual POV. Instant attraction but a little bit of a slow burn.
Camilla (Cam)
Cam is a software developer at a security firm and loves the competitive side of gaming, where she has connected with West. She was injured while in the Army and now that she is out of the military, she finds friendship and camaraderie with an online community of vets.
West
Retired SEAL, he now owns his own dojo. But, due to competition right across the street, he is finding it hard to keep his business open. He has some guilt over the way his last mission ended.
Story
West and Cam meet via an online forum for vets, start gaming together and over the course of 6 weeks they build a solid friendship. West asks Cam out for coffee and although Cam has a bit of a “freak out” during their coffee, their attraction just can’t keep them apart.
The story has a tiny bit of suspense and the two main characters are suffering from some PTSD due to their military experiences. They have hot and steamy bedroom scenes when they do get together. I felt like some of the “misunderstandings” were just a way to create drama. They could have been avoided with honest communication.
There were a few unresolved issues, but they weren’t critical to the outcome of the story so it was ok. The book moves along well and the secondary characters add some depth to the story. This is a drama (not a light, upbeat story) and most of the characters in the book face some really difficult issues. There is no OW/OM drama and no cheating. This has a HEA, but no epilogue. Overall, a good start to the series.
August 7, 2021
Sadly BREAKING HIS CODE just didn’t work for me and I’m going to keep this review fairly short because this book really frustrated me and I just want to move on. This was so angsty and so much was going on and I felt like the relationship between West and Cam just felt like it was in the background.
Additionally, Cam really annoyed me because she spends the whole book commiserating over the fact that everyone always leaves her but in reality she pushes everyone away. I understand that a lot of it comes from a dysfunctional childhood and later her injuries from being in the military but that doesn’t change the fact that Cam was terrible to West and her best friend, Lucas. She treats them both like crap and while she does realize it in the very end, I feel like Cam probably needs some serious therapy before she can really handle a relationship.
Overall, this was not for me but if you love angsty romances with wounded and damaged characters then this might work better for you.
Content Warning: Warfare trauma, PTSD, survivor's guilt, nightmares; chronic pain and physical impairment
Additionally, Cam really annoyed me because she spends the whole book commiserating over the fact that everyone always leaves her but in reality she pushes everyone away. I understand that a lot of it comes from a dysfunctional childhood and later her injuries from being in the military but that doesn’t change the fact that Cam was terrible to West and her best friend, Lucas. She treats them both like crap and while she does realize it in the very end, I feel like Cam probably needs some serious therapy before she can really handle a relationship.
Overall, this was not for me but if you love angsty romances with wounded and damaged characters then this might work better for you.
Content Warning: Warfare trauma, PTSD, survivor's guilt, nightmares; chronic pain and physical impairment
August 22, 2026
⚠️This review does contain some little spoilers here and there.⚠️
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
OK voice actors/narrators .
Disability rep.
The heroine and hero are gamers.
The heroine is a computer programmer/coder.
➖ What I disliked:
The pacing is off… too much is dragged out and then some parts are rushed.
Repetitive.
There was just too much angst…. Too many problems and the book is also too depressing… so much trauma dumping.
Too much push and pull.
Not enough showing and too much telling.
Too formulaic in too many places.
The heroine had so many issues going on and so much that she really needed to get therapy for… because some of her behavior towards the hero and some others was just not nice or healthy… Yes she had a awful childhood and also have horrible toxic parents… And she also has PTSD from her time as a explosives expert and the explosion in Afghanistan that ended her career and severely injured her and scarred her and left her scarred for life in many different ways… but her behavior towards the hero and others is just not normal or nice or healthy and is shitty behavior… she really needed therapy for those things to be able to be in a healthy relationship but also just in general to get the help she so obviously needed…. She also needed to stay far away from her parents.. not that this was an issue because they rejected her after her military injury… and they were truly awful people but that does not excuse her being horrible to the hero and other people.
There was so much going on all over the place… and too much focus on the heroines job and her long hours of working and stressing to meet deadlines and stuff like that and also a little too much technical jargon…. All of this made it so that the romance and the relationship between the main characters just either was like an afterthought or like it was just in the background…. and also what was there just felt lackluster and like there was no true bond or connection or really any chemistry and some parts were just rushed and flat and that they all of a sudden just understood each other like they known each other for years and are in love etc. just felt like it came out of nowhere.
Contradicting behavior from the heroine… on one hand she is very guarded and closed off emotionally and in many other ways but she also has deep insecurities about her physical scars and cane … and then she just has this total turn around and she has this insta-lust and insta-love thing going on with the hero …. she has sex with the hero almost immediately after meeting the hero face-to-face for the first time... and also quickly forms a deep emotional dependence with the hero almost immediately after meeting in person, making the sexual transition feel rushed and not earned but also forced.
The sex scenes also feel very detached from the emotional state of the characters and also just odd in many other ways.
The sex scenes also feel like when the main characters became intimate that intimacy could/should have been serving as a kind of breakthrough for their PTSD and trust issues…but instead of that sex is treated as a fast and magic cure for all their trauma…. It is just odd.
The main characters also go from serious and painful talks about their past to then all of a sudden going straight into explicit sex scenes and that is just jarring and off and feels weirdly placed among many other things.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both the main characters.
(Hero= very tall, massive, and heavily muscular /wall of muscle.
And heroine= short/petite, slim.)
So another big size and height difference trope.🙄😴🥱
Even for the romance genre…..
The main characters muscular physique and/or athletic physique do not make sense and neither are they realistic with the way the characters live their lives and their PTSD and other things is their life…
The hero is described as this hulking and towering, very ripped "wall of muscle” but he also suffers from severe, chronic PTSD and insomnia and horrific nightmares that wake him up constantly… And Yes the hero owns a martial arts dojo and he does mention that he works out etc.
But running a martial arts business involves a lot of administrative work, teaching, and holding pads....which would be good cardio but it does not build or maintain a sheer wall of muscle or someone being super ripped/ripped and also people can’t build or even maintain a massive, hyper-muscular physique without deep sleep. Human Growth Hormone is primarily released during deep sleep stages to repair muscle tissue. Because of how the hero is written as in having severe, chronic insomnia and waking up constantly from PTSD nightmares, his body would realistically be in a catabolic state due to elevated cortisol levels and lack of rest…. So the hero would look exhausted, worn down, and deflated, not hyper-shredded…. But there is also so many other things that make the heroes muscular physique or even OTT muscular physique very unrealistic.
And the heroines physique also does not make sense… first muscle memory does not work like it is written or portrayed in the book and also the heroine survived a massive blast injury in Afghanistan, and she has severe leg damage, suffers from intense chronic pain, and relies on a cane...and she also has a very sedentary job...yet she is still described with a firm/toned and athletic body.
And of course people with disabilities absolutely can be incredibly fit and muscular, or athletic and many are like in the Paralympics or adaptive sports etc. …. However, it requires more deliberate, specialized, and grueling training than average, alongside careful physical therapy to avoid worsening nerve damage or chronic joint pain. Walking with a cane and sitting at a desk does not automatically grant someone a toned, military-ready body years after they have left the army/service.
The main characters are written like... because they were soldiers or Navy Seals and now are Army Veterans they would have some kind of genetic superpowers that permanently locked their former military physical appearance/physique in place… And also at the same time written to completely ignore the continuous, exhausting daily work it actually takes to maintain an athletic body or muscular physique.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
OK voice actors/narrators .
Disability rep.
The heroine and hero are gamers.
The heroine is a computer programmer/coder.
➖ What I disliked:
The pacing is off… too much is dragged out and then some parts are rushed.
Repetitive.
There was just too much angst…. Too many problems and the book is also too depressing… so much trauma dumping.
Too much push and pull.
Not enough showing and too much telling.
Too formulaic in too many places.
The heroine had so many issues going on and so much that she really needed to get therapy for… because some of her behavior towards the hero and some others was just not nice or healthy… Yes she had a awful childhood and also have horrible toxic parents… And she also has PTSD from her time as a explosives expert and the explosion in Afghanistan that ended her career and severely injured her and scarred her and left her scarred for life in many different ways… but her behavior towards the hero and others is just not normal or nice or healthy and is shitty behavior… she really needed therapy for those things to be able to be in a healthy relationship but also just in general to get the help she so obviously needed…. She also needed to stay far away from her parents.. not that this was an issue because they rejected her after her military injury… and they were truly awful people but that does not excuse her being horrible to the hero and other people.
There was so much going on all over the place… and too much focus on the heroines job and her long hours of working and stressing to meet deadlines and stuff like that and also a little too much technical jargon…. All of this made it so that the romance and the relationship between the main characters just either was like an afterthought or like it was just in the background…. and also what was there just felt lackluster and like there was no true bond or connection or really any chemistry and some parts were just rushed and flat and that they all of a sudden just understood each other like they known each other for years and are in love etc. just felt like it came out of nowhere.
Contradicting behavior from the heroine… on one hand she is very guarded and closed off emotionally and in many other ways but she also has deep insecurities about her physical scars and cane … and then she just has this total turn around and she has this insta-lust and insta-love thing going on with the hero …. she has sex with the hero almost immediately after meeting the hero face-to-face for the first time... and also quickly forms a deep emotional dependence with the hero almost immediately after meeting in person, making the sexual transition feel rushed and not earned but also forced.
The sex scenes also feel very detached from the emotional state of the characters and also just odd in many other ways.
The sex scenes also feel like when the main characters became intimate that intimacy could/should have been serving as a kind of breakthrough for their PTSD and trust issues…but instead of that sex is treated as a fast and magic cure for all their trauma…. It is just odd.
The main characters also go from serious and painful talks about their past to then all of a sudden going straight into explicit sex scenes and that is just jarring and off and feels weirdly placed among many other things.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both the main characters.
(Hero= very tall, massive, and heavily muscular /wall of muscle.
And heroine= short/petite, slim.)
So another big size and height difference trope.🙄😴🥱
Even for the romance genre…..
The main characters muscular physique and/or athletic physique do not make sense and neither are they realistic with the way the characters live their lives and their PTSD and other things is their life…
The hero is described as this hulking and towering, very ripped "wall of muscle” but he also suffers from severe, chronic PTSD and insomnia and horrific nightmares that wake him up constantly… And Yes the hero owns a martial arts dojo and he does mention that he works out etc.
But running a martial arts business involves a lot of administrative work, teaching, and holding pads....which would be good cardio but it does not build or maintain a sheer wall of muscle or someone being super ripped/ripped and also people can’t build or even maintain a massive, hyper-muscular physique without deep sleep. Human Growth Hormone is primarily released during deep sleep stages to repair muscle tissue. Because of how the hero is written as in having severe, chronic insomnia and waking up constantly from PTSD nightmares, his body would realistically be in a catabolic state due to elevated cortisol levels and lack of rest…. So the hero would look exhausted, worn down, and deflated, not hyper-shredded…. But there is also so many other things that make the heroes muscular physique or even OTT muscular physique very unrealistic.
And the heroines physique also does not make sense… first muscle memory does not work like it is written or portrayed in the book and also the heroine survived a massive blast injury in Afghanistan, and she has severe leg damage, suffers from intense chronic pain, and relies on a cane...and she also has a very sedentary job...yet she is still described with a firm/toned and athletic body.
And of course people with disabilities absolutely can be incredibly fit and muscular, or athletic and many are like in the Paralympics or adaptive sports etc. …. However, it requires more deliberate, specialized, and grueling training than average, alongside careful physical therapy to avoid worsening nerve damage or chronic joint pain. Walking with a cane and sitting at a desk does not automatically grant someone a toned, military-ready body years after they have left the army/service.
The main characters are written like... because they were soldiers or Navy Seals and now are Army Veterans they would have some kind of genetic superpowers that permanently locked their former military physical appearance/physique in place… And also at the same time written to completely ignore the continuous, exhausting daily work it actually takes to maintain an athletic body or muscular physique.
April 20, 2019
Cam and West meet on a forum for military vets and began to game together, teasing each other, and basically getting to know one another.
When West asks her to meet him for coffee, she agrees despite her misgivings and then freaks completely out and makes a mess of the whole thing. West isn’t sure what’s going on or what he said or did to cause her to run.
Cam is a strong independent heroine, she has survived a lot and suffered through more. Her past has left her broken both physically and emotionally and she refuses to depend on anyone. That attitude eventually causes fissures in every one of her relationships.
West has his own nightmares even as his current situation is making it impossible to fulfill his dreams. With financial issues at the core of his problems, he looks for alternative methods of easing the burden. When one of his decisions lands him in a firefight, he realizes he may never see the woman he loves again.
While this is definitely a romance, it’s also filled with all kinds of angst that Cam and West both must deal with separately in their lives. There isn’t a lot of Cam and West time as we see them both struggling to fix the problems they face. West’s was pretty straight forward but Cam’s included a much trickier problem and one that landed us with a bit of a twist.
I had a hard time connecting with these characters as a couple due to too little time actually getting to see them together. I loved what I saw of West and would’ve been ecstatic if the problem Cam was facing would have allowed him and his friend Ryker to step in and assist with bringing down the bad guys. Unfortunately, this felt like two stories. Cam’s definitely took over the bulk of the book with her relationships with both her best friend as well as the man that once saved her life.
Despite that, this is very well written with a fast pace and excellent secondary characters that were well developed. There was so much potential for it to really take off but it seemed to bog down around Cam’s job and her other issues. Perhaps I was expecting something different as this was my first book by this author. However, it really shines when it comes to the military angle, PTSD, some veteran issues, and running code for security software. I’ve heard great things about some of the other books in this series and I do intend to move forward.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
When West asks her to meet him for coffee, she agrees despite her misgivings and then freaks completely out and makes a mess of the whole thing. West isn’t sure what’s going on or what he said or did to cause her to run.
Cam is a strong independent heroine, she has survived a lot and suffered through more. Her past has left her broken both physically and emotionally and she refuses to depend on anyone. That attitude eventually causes fissures in every one of her relationships.
West has his own nightmares even as his current situation is making it impossible to fulfill his dreams. With financial issues at the core of his problems, he looks for alternative methods of easing the burden. When one of his decisions lands him in a firefight, he realizes he may never see the woman he loves again.
While this is definitely a romance, it’s also filled with all kinds of angst that Cam and West both must deal with separately in their lives. There isn’t a lot of Cam and West time as we see them both struggling to fix the problems they face. West’s was pretty straight forward but Cam’s included a much trickier problem and one that landed us with a bit of a twist.
I had a hard time connecting with these characters as a couple due to too little time actually getting to see them together. I loved what I saw of West and would’ve been ecstatic if the problem Cam was facing would have allowed him and his friend Ryker to step in and assist with bringing down the bad guys. Unfortunately, this felt like two stories. Cam’s definitely took over the bulk of the book with her relationships with both her best friend as well as the man that once saved her life.
Despite that, this is very well written with a fast pace and excellent secondary characters that were well developed. There was so much potential for it to really take off but it seemed to bog down around Cam’s job and her other issues. Perhaps I was expecting something different as this was my first book by this author. However, it really shines when it comes to the military angle, PTSD, some veteran issues, and running code for security software. I’ve heard great things about some of the other books in this series and I do intend to move forward.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
September 28, 2023
3.5 stars.
This was so emotionally heavy…
It felt like a big trauma dump the entire book, and don’t get me wrong here, I liked the book. I thought it was pretty well written, and I liked the characters and all their flaws.
But it was missing the ‘romance’ part of the romance for me.
Like. The sex barely even registered, even with it happening multiple times, because I was still waiting for their relationship to feel..I don’t know, locked in?
I just think there is usually a moment or an ‘act’ if you will, in most romance books, where the relationship the characters are developing feels like it clicks. And that’s the moment they are truly a couple and not just dating, ya know?
Maybe that doesn’t make sense. But it’s something I felt like this book was missing, and that abrupt ending did not help matters.
🤷🏻♀️It was a good book. I really enjoyed seeing the realistic (at least it seems like that to me) struggles of a veteran living with physical disabilities and the mental strain of the trauma they endured while serving.
But the romance just wasn’t quite enough for my tastes.
This was so emotionally heavy…
It felt like a big trauma dump the entire book, and don’t get me wrong here, I liked the book. I thought it was pretty well written, and I liked the characters and all their flaws.
But it was missing the ‘romance’ part of the romance for me.
Like. The sex barely even registered, even with it happening multiple times, because I was still waiting for their relationship to feel..I don’t know, locked in?
I just think there is usually a moment or an ‘act’ if you will, in most romance books, where the relationship the characters are developing feels like it clicks. And that’s the moment they are truly a couple and not just dating, ya know?
Maybe that doesn’t make sense. But it’s something I felt like this book was missing, and that abrupt ending did not help matters.
🤷🏻♀️It was a good book. I really enjoyed seeing the realistic (at least it seems like that to me) struggles of a veteran living with physical disabilities and the mental strain of the trauma they endured while serving.
But the romance just wasn’t quite enough for my tastes.
December 3, 2023
I really liked this audiobook. Two great narrators. And I loved the main characters a lot. This was a free "stuff your earbuds" book and I WILL be reading more by this author!
Can's struggle to be vulnerable is tough. And I would have liked to see more growth for her.
There are a lot of things that kinda feel unresolved like her relationship with her family, their future as the hero continues to do some scary stuff, his company, her boss, the antagonist, etc. all that being this book down and not the most satisfying. It is the first of the series so maybe stuff gets resolved elsewhere.
Safety deets
- no other people and we don't really hear about their past partners or experience
- on the low side side of explicit.
- consent is good
- we barely get to see them together and I hope they keep working things out.
Can's struggle to be vulnerable is tough. And I would have liked to see more growth for her.
There are a lot of things that kinda feel unresolved like her relationship with her family, their future as the hero continues to do some scary stuff, his company, her boss, the antagonist, etc. all that being this book down and not the most satisfying. It is the first of the series so maybe stuff gets resolved elsewhere.
Safety deets
- no other people and we don't really hear about their past partners or experience
- on the low side side of explicit.
- consent is good
- we barely get to see them together and I hope they keep working things out.
August 24, 2019
While I had problems with the book, I love the premise of wounded vets, programmers, gamers and mercenaries. The action was odd, the sex scenes were odd. But I’m still willing to read more in the series to see if the author can make this work.
December 19, 2019
This was more computer code and bad guy and drama than a romance.
July 22, 2017
Characters with complex vulnerabilities always grab me by the heart while they draw me right into their story and that's exactly what happened with Cat, West, Royce and several other principal characters in this 5 star read. Cam is a computer programmer in business with her former CO Royce, and when she's not working 12 hour days writing code she's in online chat forums providing much needed morale support for her fellow vets. She's desperately longing for a connection outside of her workaholic existence but she's got physical and emotional scars that seem in surmountable. As tensions rise in both areas of her life there are sudden complications that threaten both her job, her security and the life of someone very dear to her. Part character study and part romantic suspense, I was fully engaged in this story from the first chapter to the last and I recommend it to computer geeks, romantic suspense fans and those who thrive on a gritty heroine who risks it all on a chance for a better tomorrow. I read a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
October 19, 2020
I liked this a lot more than my rating suggests. Patricia D. Eddy nails veteran and coding issues - way to go with the research! - and turns this into a fun but surprisingly dark romantic plot. I'll definitely be reading more by this new to me author. Yet, at only 192 pages, I needed a bit more for a full buy in. I liked the romance, but because the main couple spend about 6 weeks interacting online before meeting in person which we don't see, I wanted more relationship development. We get to experience Cam (short for Camilla) interact more with other veterans on a website she runs called VetNet, than we do with West, hero/romantic lead. Then, because the plot leads them to spending several week apart before the end, I wanted more once they got back together. Overall, a good story and I'm excited about a new author, but I couldn't rate this one higher.
December 30, 2019
2 stars if that. This book was a struggle, even though it is short it took me forever to get through and the payout wasn't worth. I am a little bummed it had such high potential but I was let down.
Cam and her secrets that I spent the whole book waiting to know and I will admit I was shocked at what they were, not what I was expecting. I was shocked at how West and her some how talked over all their secrets in one chapter and none of it shocked them at all.
Overall, its a no from me dawg....
Cam and her secrets that I spent the whole book waiting to know and I will admit I was shocked at what they were, not what I was expecting. I was shocked at how West and her some how talked over all their secrets in one chapter and none of it shocked them at all.
Overall, its a no from me dawg....
Want to Read
September 21, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/5/2019)! 🎁
May 27, 2018
This was good. I enjoyed this. 2.5 stars. Cam was a great character with a complex backstory and kind disposition. The backstories of all the characters though were emotionally intense. I did find myself a bit confused with what was happening. The author showed rather than told but I think there should've been a bit more explanation about what was going on. I didn't quite understand the situation with Royce or with Lucas. Still, this was a great story and I felt emotionally invested in the characters and their search for happiness. I mostly liked the relationship between West and Cam, although their lack of communication at times irritated me. I did like that they tried to open up to each other. But I kind of felt that there was too much happening in this book. There was the emotional aspect, the tech plot line, the backstories - it was just too much. I think there either needs to be more development or less plot complications. Still it was a nice little read.
September 7, 2019
Language: R (92+ swears, 27+ "f"); Mature Content: R (oral and vaginal sex, sexting); Violence: PG13+ (war memories and PTSD)
I liked the story well enough, and I'm curious to see how Cam and West get through everything, but I didn't want to subject myself to even skim over any more sex scenes. There were three scenes I skipped through before even being halfway through the book, so I put it down. The story wasn't unique or engaging enough for me to have to know how the happily ever after comes about.
I liked the story well enough, and I'm curious to see how Cam and West get through everything, but I didn't want to subject myself to even skim over any more sex scenes. There were three scenes I skipped through before even being halfway through the book, so I put it down. The story wasn't unique or engaging enough for me to have to know how the happily ever after comes about.
December 5, 2019
3.5 stars
Good book about two veterans dealing with PTSD and scars, both emotion and physical, of their time in service. Both home, working. They meets online through online gaming. Grow close and when West asks to meet Cam and her scars get nervous.
Slowly they grow closer, but for every two steps forward there seems to be a step back. When things start happening with her job as a coder she enlist his help and soon lives may be at risk.
Sorry this isnt a great review I read this in Sept but im reviewing it in Dec due to live interfering.
Good book about two veterans dealing with PTSD and scars, both emotion and physical, of their time in service. Both home, working. They meets online through online gaming. Grow close and when West asks to meet Cam and her scars get nervous.
Slowly they grow closer, but for every two steps forward there seems to be a step back. When things start happening with her job as a coder she enlist his help and soon lives may be at risk.
Sorry this isnt a great review I read this in Sept but im reviewing it in Dec due to live interfering.
May 30, 2024
3 DEPRESSING stars.
Nobody is happy. 😢
I'm not a gamer or computer geek so I don't get some of this stuff and find it boring. Lots of characters to keep track of. Lots of BAD attitudes and some cringy scenes. This may not be a good book for me.
Nobody is happy. 😢
I'm not a gamer or computer geek so I don't get some of this stuff and find it boring. Lots of characters to keep track of. Lots of BAD attitudes and some cringy scenes. This may not be a good book for me.
Read
November 15, 2018The author reminds me to state that I have received this book in exchange for an honest review.
She also says, “This has not been proofread yet. There may be the occasional spelling or grammar error. Before the book is released, it will have a full, professional proofread.” I find this statement disappointing. If authors want a favor from me or want me to spend my money on their books, it seems to me that there is an implied contract that what they offer will be in readable condition. At the very least that means it is has been proofread, not merely spellchecked. I feel quite strongly about this.
Going in… Happy to report that despite my fears about the proofreading, I found not a single thing to distress me on that point.
Something that jolts me out of a story is the mention of a name or an event without any context. This happened to me when I read “Royce is late.” Who is Royce, why does it matter if he is late. I found my mind circling back to that instead of concentrating on what I was reading. Three pages later, I still have no idea who Royce is, but West is introduced as a former SEAL and gaming partner. Why not simply insert something that identifies Royce? I am guessing he is her business partner but I don’t like to guess because guesses lead to misunderstandings.
There are several references to Cam’s cane and pain, but no reason is offered until well into the first chapter and she signs onto something called VetNet, which I personally have never heard of but eventually deduce that it is social media for veterans. Is Cam a veteran? I assume so, but I don’t like to make assumptions because assumptions lead to misunderstandings.
Must admit to a certain bemusement over the coffeehouse scene in Chapter Two. At last, I learn she was in the army. She and West “met” on VetNet, have been gaming for a few weeks and now they are meeting for a coffee date. Another customer makes a loud noise, it startles Cam, she drops her coffee mug, splashing coffee all over herself, and falls off her chair when she attempts to pick up a broken piece of the cup. She is so embarrassed she fakes a work emergency and leaves, determined never to see West again, despite her instant and strong physical attraction to him. I don’t understand why she is so embarrassed. We are told that she is, but surely a combat veteran has endured worse things than stained clothing. In fact, we know Cam has because of all the references to her cane and her pain so why not offer an explanation for this embarrassment? Just doesn’t seem real to me. And I still have no idea who Royce is.
Having completed Chapter Three, I have learned that Royce is Cam’s boss. I’ve also learned that Cam, Royce, and West all have PTSD and the reason Cam was so freaked out by the coffee stains and falling off her chair is that she doesn’t wish to appear weak. To which my reaction is that while I am not a Vet, I have known plenty of people with PTSD who have met together in groups and they all cut each other some slack, just as Cam sits slack for HuskyFan on VetNets, which I learned is not an actual thing but a social media thing Cam created. All the explanations seem to sneak in and in the meantime, I am constantly jolted out of the story thinking, “well, why didn’t you just say that when you first mentioned so and so." As in, my boss, Royce, is late. As in VetNet the social media thingie I started, we support each other. As I, I can’t appear weak just because I live in constant pain. Honestly, leaving out such details makes the story confusing to follow.
By Chapter Five, the story is flowing better. I have a much better sense of who people are now and I am not continuing to be jolted out of the story muttering “huh?”
However, in one scene West has gone to Cam’s apartment, bringing Thai and beer. Cam has a positive thought about his beard stubble. I personally hate beard stubble. For one thing, I do not find beard burn a turn on. For another beard stubble feels to me like a failure to commit. Either shave or grow a beard, make up your mind, fella.
There are a lot of hurting people in this book they all seem to talk around their hurt instead of engaging in conversation about it. While I suppose it lends itself to the drama of the story, in some cases it feels forced. Let’s take Cam as an example. Eddy makes it clear that Cam is active in therapy and a support group in VetNet. Ten years in therapy and she is still in the same place, has not made progress, hasn’t resolved her issues, and still has this idea that she can’t appear weak? I really can’t say more because “Spoilers, sweetie,” channeling River Song there for a moment.
Cam’s issues with Royce actively hurt her. Now, I get it that PTSD is not something that just goes away. I am aware that some issues are lifelong. But many of us have PTSD and we have been able to resolve many of the worst of our symptoms.
There is one scene toward the end of the book that I simply can’t believe could ever be real. But again channeling River Song, “Spoilers, sweetie!” If a person has what West has at the end of the book, I fail to understand how he could have done what he did with Cam without some very negative results. Just sayin’.
On the whole, I am glad I read it, especially as it was free. I will give the author a great deal of credit for avoiding a serious mistake that too many romance authors writing about PTSD have made. Eddy understands that the love of a good woman, a good friend, or a good man will not cure anyone’s PTSD and that PTSD is much more complicated than that. On behalf of all with PTSD, thank you.
Something I really enjoyed is that even secondary characters are well-developed with personalities and problems just like real people. I did guess quite early on who the bad guy was, but then that’s pretty much why I gave up reading mysteries because it’s not much fun when I figure it out so early. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I’d be willing to.
Thank you for the introduction to your work, Ms. Eddy.
Going in… Happy to report that despite my fears about the proofreading, I found not a single thing to distress me on that point.
Something that jolts me out of a story is the mention of a name or an event without any context. This happened to me when I read “Royce is late.” Who is Royce, why does it matter if he is late. I found my mind circling back to that instead of concentrating on what I was reading. Three pages later, I still have no idea who Royce is, but West is introduced as a former SEAL and gaming partner. Why not simply insert something that identifies Royce? I am guessing he is her business partner but I don’t like to guess because guesses lead to misunderstandings.
There are several references to Cam’s cane and pain, but no reason is offered until well into the first chapter and she signs onto something called VetNet, which I personally have never heard of but eventually deduce that it is social media for veterans. Is Cam a veteran? I assume so, but I don’t like to make assumptions because assumptions lead to misunderstandings.
Must admit to a certain bemusement over the coffeehouse scene in Chapter Two. At last, I learn she was in the army. She and West “met” on VetNet, have been gaming for a few weeks and now they are meeting for a coffee date. Another customer makes a loud noise, it startles Cam, she drops her coffee mug, splashing coffee all over herself, and falls off her chair when she attempts to pick up a broken piece of the cup. She is so embarrassed she fakes a work emergency and leaves, determined never to see West again, despite her instant and strong physical attraction to him. I don’t understand why she is so embarrassed. We are told that she is, but surely a combat veteran has endured worse things than stained clothing. In fact, we know Cam has because of all the references to her cane and her pain so why not offer an explanation for this embarrassment? Just doesn’t seem real to me. And I still have no idea who Royce is.
Having completed Chapter Three, I have learned that Royce is Cam’s boss. I’ve also learned that Cam, Royce, and West all have PTSD and the reason Cam was so freaked out by the coffee stains and falling off her chair is that she doesn’t wish to appear weak. To which my reaction is that while I am not a Vet, I have known plenty of people with PTSD who have met together in groups and they all cut each other some slack, just as Cam sits slack for HuskyFan on VetNets, which I learned is not an actual thing but a social media thing Cam created. All the explanations seem to sneak in and in the meantime, I am constantly jolted out of the story thinking, “well, why didn’t you just say that when you first mentioned so and so." As in, my boss, Royce, is late. As in VetNet the social media thingie I started, we support each other. As I, I can’t appear weak just because I live in constant pain. Honestly, leaving out such details makes the story confusing to follow.
By Chapter Five, the story is flowing better. I have a much better sense of who people are now and I am not continuing to be jolted out of the story muttering “huh?”
However, in one scene West has gone to Cam’s apartment, bringing Thai and beer. Cam has a positive thought about his beard stubble. I personally hate beard stubble. For one thing, I do not find beard burn a turn on. For another beard stubble feels to me like a failure to commit. Either shave or grow a beard, make up your mind, fella.
There are a lot of hurting people in this book they all seem to talk around their hurt instead of engaging in conversation about it. While I suppose it lends itself to the drama of the story, in some cases it feels forced. Let’s take Cam as an example. Eddy makes it clear that Cam is active in therapy and a support group in VetNet. Ten years in therapy and she is still in the same place, has not made progress, hasn’t resolved her issues, and still has this idea that she can’t appear weak? I really can’t say more because “Spoilers, sweetie,” channeling River Song there for a moment.
Cam’s issues with Royce actively hurt her. Now, I get it that PTSD is not something that just goes away. I am aware that some issues are lifelong. But many of us have PTSD and we have been able to resolve many of the worst of our symptoms.
There is one scene toward the end of the book that I simply can’t believe could ever be real. But again channeling River Song, “Spoilers, sweetie!” If a person has what West has at the end of the book, I fail to understand how he could have done what he did with Cam without some very negative results. Just sayin’.
On the whole, I am glad I read it, especially as it was free. I will give the author a great deal of credit for avoiding a serious mistake that too many romance authors writing about PTSD have made. Eddy understands that the love of a good woman, a good friend, or a good man will not cure anyone’s PTSD and that PTSD is much more complicated than that. On behalf of all with PTSD, thank you.
Something I really enjoyed is that even secondary characters are well-developed with personalities and problems just like real people. I did guess quite early on who the bad guy was, but then that’s pretty much why I gave up reading mysteries because it’s not much fun when I figure it out so early. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I’d be willing to.
Thank you for the introduction to your work, Ms. Eddy.
January 10, 2020
An Amazing Story!💜
An emotional roller coaster and I never wanted to get off.
I love these characters and I’m excited to listen to the entire series. I love that there are so many important issues that are addressed. It’s an exciting page turner!!
The narration was really good!!
This is book 1 but is a standalone.
I highly recommend this book/series.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
An emotional roller coaster and I never wanted to get off.
I love these characters and I’m excited to listen to the entire series. I love that there are so many important issues that are addressed. It’s an exciting page turner!!
The narration was really good!!
This is book 1 but is a standalone.
I highly recommend this book/series.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
September 30, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/09/...
4.5 stars — I came for the latina heroine (for my diversity challenge), I stayed for the awesome narrators, relatively accurate coding references, amazing female software developer, and patient hero.
First, the narrators: Both narrators are new to me, and I enjoyed them both. I LOVED Ms. Zimmerman in particular, she added so much emotion and depth, she easily got me crying at the challenging parts. She was also killer on the different voices for different characters. Mr. Williams had great pacing, but slightly less emotion variance for West. And while his different voices weren’t quite as good as Ms. Zimmerman’s, I thankfully enjoyed his female voices (which can be a sticking point with male narrators).
Oh man, for such a short novel, these characters really packed a punch. I felt the most for Camilla, which is odd because she was riddled with flaws that usually make me want to smack them. She allowed so much of her past to influence all her present day interactions…and while we all do that to a degree, she was doing it to her detriment. She had such a fear of abandonment, that she really kept people at arm’s length. And she did make me growl at her on multiple occasions, particularly with her conflicts with Lucas (sp?) and West. But something about the way that Ms. Eddy wrote her had me understanding her, and still empathizing with her struggles. She was so smart and badass, but her stranglehold on her independence almost lost her some great people.
I LOVED that she was this kickass female programmer, and I appreciated that the coding references were actually not that bad…usually I roll my eyes. I also really loved that we got such an in depth look at quite a few different “aftermath”s of military service. I loved how she participated on the vet net board, trying to help other vets and make sure they knew they were not alone. It really gave a great glimpse into what they go through when they return.
West was pretty awesome too, but I will admit that I didn’t feel like I got to know him quite as well. I loved how persistent he was in his pursuit of Cam. I loved that he could be soooo patient with her, but he also didn’t allow her to walk all over him. He was very forthright. And I appreciated his very real struggles of trying to make his Dojo work, and I LOVED what he was trying to do with its expansion.
And their chemistry was pretty solid, from friendship to steamy. I almost wish we’d gotten more time with them together though…I felt like we got 2 strong separate stories, but I wanted to see how they made their lives work together too.
Lots of great secondary characters, and I can see how this one is shaping into a series. I will definitely be putting more of them on my wishlist. I will admit that I saw the “bad” guy fairly early on, and as my hubby put it: why can’t the heroine have been reading this book? She would have seen it right away! 😉 I really loved how that all shaped up in the end.
So yeah. Gotta love it when you ask for recs, and it turns out SOLID.
4.5 stars — I came for the latina heroine (for my diversity challenge), I stayed for the awesome narrators, relatively accurate coding references, amazing female software developer, and patient hero.
First, the narrators: Both narrators are new to me, and I enjoyed them both. I LOVED Ms. Zimmerman in particular, she added so much emotion and depth, she easily got me crying at the challenging parts. She was also killer on the different voices for different characters. Mr. Williams had great pacing, but slightly less emotion variance for West. And while his different voices weren’t quite as good as Ms. Zimmerman’s, I thankfully enjoyed his female voices (which can be a sticking point with male narrators).
Oh man, for such a short novel, these characters really packed a punch. I felt the most for Camilla, which is odd because she was riddled with flaws that usually make me want to smack them. She allowed so much of her past to influence all her present day interactions…and while we all do that to a degree, she was doing it to her detriment. She had such a fear of abandonment, that she really kept people at arm’s length. And she did make me growl at her on multiple occasions, particularly with her conflicts with Lucas (sp?) and West. But something about the way that Ms. Eddy wrote her had me understanding her, and still empathizing with her struggles. She was so smart and badass, but her stranglehold on her independence almost lost her some great people.
I LOVED that she was this kickass female programmer, and I appreciated that the coding references were actually not that bad…usually I roll my eyes. I also really loved that we got such an in depth look at quite a few different “aftermath”s of military service. I loved how she participated on the vet net board, trying to help other vets and make sure they knew they were not alone. It really gave a great glimpse into what they go through when they return.
West was pretty awesome too, but I will admit that I didn’t feel like I got to know him quite as well. I loved how persistent he was in his pursuit of Cam. I loved that he could be soooo patient with her, but he also didn’t allow her to walk all over him. He was very forthright. And I appreciated his very real struggles of trying to make his Dojo work, and I LOVED what he was trying to do with its expansion.
And their chemistry was pretty solid, from friendship to steamy. I almost wish we’d gotten more time with them together though…I felt like we got 2 strong separate stories, but I wanted to see how they made their lives work together too.
Lots of great secondary characters, and I can see how this one is shaping into a series. I will definitely be putting more of them on my wishlist. I will admit that I saw the “bad” guy fairly early on, and as my hubby put it: why can’t the heroine have been reading this book? She would have seen it right away! 😉 I really loved how that all shaped up in the end.
So yeah. Gotta love it when you ask for recs, and it turns out SOLID.
July 24, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed so much of this reading, it was fast, fresh, and quite interesting, and especially very realistic, but with a touch of excitement and suspense, of the kind of reading that I love. Each of the characters has the own problems, trying to heal their own battle wounds, even the villain came to my heart, although the protagonist exasperated me sometimes with her attitude of "I can take care of myself, and do not need your help", she took a little while to accept that everyone needs help if they want to have a second chance.
This is a book I recommend very much, and I hope you can enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you very much Patricia for this reading, and I look forward to the next book.
Recibí este libro a cambio de una crítica honesta. Es una lectura bastante rápida, una vez que comienzas no puedes parar, es interesante y muy realista, con un toque de emoción y suspenso, como los que me gustan a mi, cada uno de los personajes tienen sus propios problemas, tratando de lidiar con sus heridas de batalla, incluso el villano me llego al corazón, aunque la protagonista me exasperó un poco con su actitud de "yo puedo cuidarme sola, y no necesito tu ayuda", tardó un poquito en aceptar que todos necesitamos ayuda si queremos tener una segunda oportunidad.
Este es un libro que recomiendo muchísimo, y espero que lo disfruten tanto como yo.
Muchísimas gracias Patricia por esta lectura, y espero con ansias el siguiente libro.
I enjoyed so much of this reading, it was fast, fresh, and quite interesting, and especially very realistic, but with a touch of excitement and suspense, of the kind of reading that I love. Each of the characters has the own problems, trying to heal their own battle wounds, even the villain came to my heart, although the protagonist exasperated me sometimes with her attitude of "I can take care of myself, and do not need your help", she took a little while to accept that everyone needs help if they want to have a second chance.
This is a book I recommend very much, and I hope you can enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you very much Patricia for this reading, and I look forward to the next book.
Recibí este libro a cambio de una crítica honesta. Es una lectura bastante rápida, una vez que comienzas no puedes parar, es interesante y muy realista, con un toque de emoción y suspenso, como los que me gustan a mi, cada uno de los personajes tienen sus propios problemas, tratando de lidiar con sus heridas de batalla, incluso el villano me llego al corazón, aunque la protagonista me exasperó un poco con su actitud de "yo puedo cuidarme sola, y no necesito tu ayuda", tardó un poquito en aceptar que todos necesitamos ayuda si queremos tener una segunda oportunidad.
Este es un libro que recomiendo muchísimo, y espero que lo disfruten tanto como yo.
Muchísimas gracias Patricia por esta lectura, y espero con ansias el siguiente libro.
July 25, 2017
Cam: former army explosives specialist. Discharged after an explosion left her with nerve damage on the left side of her body. Now works for her former CO as a programmer for his security firm.
West: former Navy Seal. Retired after one mission that went south and members of his team died. Now owns a gym specializing in PT for amputees and disabled vets.
Both members of the online forum vetnet where they “met”. They now have weekly video game nights and are slowly progressing towards more. But Cam feels like her past will keep her from being available to anyone. Hopefully she can work through her issues because West is smokin hot!
I have not known anyone with PTSD. So for me, reading about these characters and their emotional struggles was fascinating. Though I couldn’t fully understand their pain, I was still very caught up in the drama. Had Cam not had PTSD, I would have wanted to reach into the book and smack her around for being so ridiculously stubborn and selfish. But knowing that made me go a bit easier on this fictional character. Instead I just watched the drama unfold and cringed at her reactions to West. It was frustrating to see her struggle with her confidence. But all of this just goes to show how well written this story was. If the book were bad, I wouldn’t care so much.
This was definitely a book out of my normal comfort zone genre, but I am glad I read it. I enjoyed the story a lot and definitely recommend it! 4 stars for Breaking His Code
West: former Navy Seal. Retired after one mission that went south and members of his team died. Now owns a gym specializing in PT for amputees and disabled vets.
Both members of the online forum vetnet where they “met”. They now have weekly video game nights and are slowly progressing towards more. But Cam feels like her past will keep her from being available to anyone. Hopefully she can work through her issues because West is smokin hot!
I have not known anyone with PTSD. So for me, reading about these characters and their emotional struggles was fascinating. Though I couldn’t fully understand their pain, I was still very caught up in the drama. Had Cam not had PTSD, I would have wanted to reach into the book and smack her around for being so ridiculously stubborn and selfish. But knowing that made me go a bit easier on this fictional character. Instead I just watched the drama unfold and cringed at her reactions to West. It was frustrating to see her struggle with her confidence. But all of this just goes to show how well written this story was. If the book were bad, I wouldn’t care so much.
This was definitely a book out of my normal comfort zone genre, but I am glad I read it. I enjoyed the story a lot and definitely recommend it! 4 stars for Breaking His Code
November 30, 2021
This was my first book by this author and the first book in the series. It can be read as a standalone. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Both Cam and West have scars from their time in the service. I think the author does an excellent job describing some of the PTSD things the characters are experiencing. Cam also has some scars from her dysfunctional childhood. They both have a lot going in in their personal lives that they are each dealing with separately outside of their relationship with each other. I felt like the book didn't give me enough of their love story. We see how they meet, we experience their physical intimacy with open door bedroom scenes, but I never felt like I got to see them fall in love. The author explains the trust issues Cam has and her reluctance to accept help from anyone. The book covers how Cam and West finally bare their secrets to each other and admit they are in love with each other. I just never felt that love between them.
Overall, this book has a lot of moving storylines with various relationships and work drama the characters experience. However, I felt like the romance was secondary to absolutely everything else. There was just too much missing for me in this one.
Both Cam and West have scars from their time in the service. I think the author does an excellent job describing some of the PTSD things the characters are experiencing. Cam also has some scars from her dysfunctional childhood. They both have a lot going in in their personal lives that they are each dealing with separately outside of their relationship with each other. I felt like the book didn't give me enough of their love story. We see how they meet, we experience their physical intimacy with open door bedroom scenes, but I never felt like I got to see them fall in love. The author explains the trust issues Cam has and her reluctance to accept help from anyone. The book covers how Cam and West finally bare their secrets to each other and admit they are in love with each other. I just never felt that love between them.
Overall, this book has a lot of moving storylines with various relationships and work drama the characters experience. However, I felt like the romance was secondary to absolutely everything else. There was just too much missing for me in this one.
March 30, 2019
This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t particularly good either. It filled a few hours and that’s about it. I just finished it and I already know it will be forgotten rather quickly.
The story had a lot of potential, but the characters spent most of the book pushing each other away. The suspense part of the story wasn’t suspenseful at all. I know who did it before I even completely understood what they did.
For such a forgettable book, there was a lot going on. This was like reading 4 stories at once and the only real thread that sort of tied them together was Cam. There was a story about Cam and Royce, a story about Cam and Lucas, a story about Cam and West, and an allegedly suspense story about Cam and Oversight (her computer program). The romance part was really in the background and seemed like it just got thrown in as an afterthought. Cam and West spent more time away from each other that honestly, I can’t figure out when they actually fell in love. There is also an unraveled thread just hanging there between Cam and her parents, but it doesn’t bother me because the book didn’t draw me in enough to actually care. Like I said, not bad but completely forgettable.
The story had a lot of potential, but the characters spent most of the book pushing each other away. The suspense part of the story wasn’t suspenseful at all. I know who did it before I even completely understood what they did.
For such a forgettable book, there was a lot going on. This was like reading 4 stories at once and the only real thread that sort of tied them together was Cam. There was a story about Cam and Royce, a story about Cam and Lucas, a story about Cam and West, and an allegedly suspense story about Cam and Oversight (her computer program). The romance part was really in the background and seemed like it just got thrown in as an afterthought. Cam and West spent more time away from each other that honestly, I can’t figure out when they actually fell in love. There is also an unraveled thread just hanging there between Cam and her parents, but it doesn’t bother me because the book didn’t draw me in enough to actually care. Like I said, not bad but completely forgettable.
April 27, 2023
Two independent stories where the characters also happen to fall in love. This isn't your usual romance. Setting aside all the representation, I, as a pick-me-woke girl could handle. I could say confidently this reads as either a misfocused romance or a piece of fiction with a b plot romance line. Still the tether between the stories is the romance and how it pushes their independent character development **chef's kiss** WOW.
I would recommend to all those toO cool for romance girlies that really just need to get their heads out of their behinds. Great gateway read!
I would recommend to all those toO cool for romance girlies that really just need to get their heads out of their behinds. Great gateway read!
December 12, 2022
The couple: West and Cam
Romance trope: hacker; romantic suspense
Series: Away From Keyboard
Length: 190 pages
Plot: West and Cam met online where they play first-person shooter games together. But West has been falling in love with the programmer and he finally convinces her to meet in person. Their first date doesn't go well, though, according to Cam, and she's cautious about meeting again. West will keep chipping away at her doubts, but he's having problems of his own. Cam's work starts heating up as well, and their relationship might be over before it even starts.
Commentary: I read another book in this series about West's friend (the one that recruited him for a mission - On His Six) and I really liked it, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I liked this one! Not as much as the other, but still. The only thing that bothered me (and this is a personal preference and I feel this way about all books, not just this one) is that there was too much push/pull. About the third time she pushed him away, I was done giving her any slack. In or out.
Next book in the series: In Her Sights
Romance trope: hacker; romantic suspense
Series: Away From Keyboard
Length: 190 pages
Plot: West and Cam met online where they play first-person shooter games together. But West has been falling in love with the programmer and he finally convinces her to meet in person. Their first date doesn't go well, though, according to Cam, and she's cautious about meeting again. West will keep chipping away at her doubts, but he's having problems of his own. Cam's work starts heating up as well, and their relationship might be over before it even starts.
Commentary: I read another book in this series about West's friend (the one that recruited him for a mission - On His Six) and I really liked it, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I liked this one! Not as much as the other, but still. The only thing that bothered me (and this is a personal preference and I feel this way about all books, not just this one) is that there was too much push/pull. About the third time she pushed him away, I was done giving her any slack. In or out.
Next book in the series: In Her Sights
tbr-already-own
January 29, 2020(included with "Recipe for Danger": A Collection of Military Romantic Suspense Books)
February 26, 2025
So much potential and angst. But where did the plot go. They jumped right into it 20% of the book and the heat wasn’t there. There was no built up.
Urgh. So much potential aaaaaaa
Urgh. So much potential aaaaaaa
July 31, 2026
I enjoy this book a lot, though I do think some of the characters development could be better.
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