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They can t deny the heat it s the only thing keeping them alive.

Red Hot & Blue, Book 1

A distracted soldier is a dead solder. That s special operative Trey Williams motto. The last thing he needs in his life is a girlfriend. Problem is, the woman who s been recruited to pose as his wife on a special assignment is proving to be exactly the kind of distraction he can t afford.

Years ago, Carly McAfee turned her back not only on her military career, but the men who come with it. So why did she say yes to a mission that puts her in intimate contact with Trey, under 24/7 surveillance by both bad guys and good? One slip, and they re both dead. It s not long, though, before her body betrays her, followed closely by her heart.

With a terrorist arms deal going down and missing teammate s life on the line, Carly and Trey must throw caution to the wind in the scorching-hot performance of their lives and try not to lose their hearts and minds in the process.

This book has been previously published and has been revised and expanded from its original release.Warning: Contains bad men with big guns and video cameras, and an unmarried couple who need to get naked and get busy acting very married to save both their country and their lives. "

109 pages, ebook

First published January 11, 2007

37 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read

About the author

Cat Johnson

364 books1,764 followers
📚Find Series Reading Order and Book Lists at Cat's site CatJohnson.net

🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net

It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.

Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.

--from the author's website

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5 stars
510 (27%)
4 stars
610 (32%)
3 stars
581 (30%)
2 stars
141 (7%)
1 star
39 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
October 3, 2013

Pretty short read but an enjoyable one. Trey is yummy alpha in a military. Carly is a bad-ass but yet a softie bartender.... throw in a bit of a tinsy tiny love triangle, some international espionage, a rescue and a hot, hot striptease that's caught on surveillance camera make this a perfect shortie read.
Profile Image for Court.
418 reviews50 followers
January 18, 2018
Despite the ending making me go like...



This actually kept me pretty engaged the whole time. Mind you, it is a novella, but it had just enough action to keep me reading. (Despite the two-day duration it took for the characters to fall in love? Hence... the ending bit earlier.)

It's okay; I can live with all of that. I'll full admit to being a slave to military heroes. No shame in my game. Plus, the heroine wasn't unlikable and her working undercover on a spec operation -- super cool.

Looking forward to Jack's story, the southern sweetie.

'Til next time cuties ;)
Profile Image for Bethany.
501 reviews86 followers
October 10, 2012
Trey is hot, hot, hot!!! That was a fun, fast read. I liked how there wasn’t much back story and that it just jumped right into the story. Now I’m ready for Jack. Southern hottie here I come!
Profile Image for AerinLuvs.
283 reviews16 followers
October 26, 2014
Very short delicious story about a military black-ops guy, Trey, who has to go undercover and pretend to be married to distract bad guys. Carly is a former military woman, who now owns and operate a bar where Trey and Jack frequent. Jack is after Carly, and Trey has been in the background watching Jack pursue Carly for years.

Secondary characters Jack, Matt and Jack's brother are mentioned, Jack seems really charming, a good 'ol Southern boy.

Profile Image for Sarah.
248 reviews26 followers
October 25, 2010
I really enjoyed this book, and that really surprised me. Yes, the scenes are contrived and you have to sort of suspend reality, but it was still a good, quick read. You end up feeling so bad for Jimmy even though in the beginning he wasn't seeing her as a woman. I'm actually interested in the rest of the team.
Profile Image for Cyn Mistress Kitty.
1,628 reviews174 followers
March 23, 2015
Loved this story even though it was short. Trey and Carly were great together and mercy, that scene in the hotel while all the bad guys watched was smokin' hot. I just loved Jack too. Can't wait to read his story. I love a sweet talkin' Southern boy. Yummy.

Did a re-read and still liked this story.
Profile Image for Nikki.
972 reviews257 followers
August 19, 2012
I liked this but I wish it had been longer. The characters are good, Trey is hot! I liked Carly and the supporting characters too. The plot was good but I felt like there could have been more to it. The story went pretty fast and the ending was really great, again, I just wish it had been longer. I can't wait to read about the techie, Matt!
Profile Image for Ni_kii.
613 reviews333 followers
Read
May 10, 2011
Trey, Jimmy and Jack are military boys. Navy seals, they see a lot of action so they often need to unwind. Carly's bar is the watering hole of choice for the men of the base, as it's cheap, friendly and the waiting-on staff know not to ask any questions. Of course, another big draw for Jack and Trey is Carly herself, but so far she has been unwilling to play with either of them. Jack is convinced that Carly is "the one", so Trey backs off, no matter how many sparks fly between the two of them.

When the military needs a female operative to go undercover as Trey's girlfriend, it seems Carly is perfect for the task. With her military background, she quickly agrees to help out, but little does she realise how up close and personal she will have to get with Trey. After some steamy action, for the sake of their cover and some very unusual voyeurs, is Trey willing to risk his friendship for the girl of his dreams?

This was a very sweet, quick read. I love Cat Johnson's work, and this was no exception. Trey really does make your heart beat faster and your palms a little sweaty...I really do love a man in uniform :D Carly is a fantastically strong character. I liked the chemistry between the two of them and the sex scenes are fabulously steamy....I love a bossy man! I have to say that the stand out character for me was Jack! His one-sided infatuation with Carly was so sweet, and the whole southern Gentleman always does it for me anyhow :D

Well worth a read....but I'm looking forward to Jack!
Profile Image for Mrs. Missive.
284 reviews
April 28, 2011
Seriously Cat Johnson...How did you make a terrorist mission sexy? My inner exhibitionist was doing a supreme jig here. And it's a good thing our hero digs showing off with that whole implanted transmitter bit. (nope, not giving that away, you'll have to read to find out what the heck I'm talking about, but it's very Terminator if you ask me.)

Jack and Trey are best buddies in a super secret military organization. Luckily for them an enterprising young woman named Carly opened a bar near the base so the soldiers had plenty to "do" in their downtime. heh heh. But she doesn't date military men. So of course she's irresistable. (guys just work like that)

This book was a shortie and I finished it in an afternoon. Despite two guys fighting over the same girl, a brother getting kidnapped, Carly getting recruited for a mission, and some serious eavesdropping, this book was a great HEA for me. Like I said, I don't know how Cat did it, becasue if I pick apart the story and regurgitate the pieces, I would not think this book would work. But boy oh boy did it work for me.

I will definitely be reading more by this author, and checking her out at this year's Author's After Dark. 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Krys.
1,353 reviews32 followers
July 29, 2012
I've never been a big "romance" reader (aside from Nora Roberts), so I was unsure what I would think about "Trey". But this book intrigued me from the get-go, the thought of military special ops was appealing to me, and it did not disappoint. You couldn't help but get caught up in the emotions of the characters. From Trey's internal struggle between his loyalty to Jack and his feelings for Carly, to Carly's own unwillingness to fall in love with another military man, the story is captivating from the start.

Overall, "Trey" is a very enjoyable read, and I definitely can't wait to start the next installment, "Jack" to find out what happens next!

My final words on Trey:

NEGATIVE POINTS:
- The one sex scene bordered on pornographic. Thankfully it was short, and did not take away from the overall story.
- The ending seemed a bit "abrupt", like there should have been more, but there wasn't. That was the biggest disappointment.

POSITIVE POINTS:
+ It is a quick, easy & enjoyable read
+ The plot of Trey being special ops. The story was more about their mission than a true romantic novel.
+ The banter between the characters. You felt like you knew them as they seemed more "real".
Profile Image for Jenn.
330 reviews27 followers
April 30, 2013
Wow! Cat Johnson never disappoints on those sex scenes!!! At the end of that little escapade I was beat red, out of breath and desparately fanning myself to cool off! All while tuning out my husband who was laughing hysterically at my reaction, LOL.


I immediately liked Trey! Tall, brooding, handsome...intense. My favorite male adjective! *swoon*


This was a lot shorter than I originally expected, and I must admit that I wish it was longer, but it was a great, hot read!! At only 100 and some-odd pages, this is a great little pick-me-up read on a not so great day!

Now onto Jack! I love me a little Southern Charm!!!
Reason to love Jack:
"Now darlin', just because the crust got a little burnt don't mean you should throw out the whole pie"

Profile Image for Heather in FL.
2,063 reviews
July 1, 2011
This was a cute story. Black ops guy goes undercover as half of a newlywed couple with the girl his best friend is lusting after. To make it look real (there's surveillance) and to distract the bad guys, they get it on. And then, when nobody's watching, they do it again. Trey is trying to be the good guy and give his friend Jack a chance with Carly, so he's trying to pretend he was just doing his duty and it meant nothing. But neither Trey nor Carly can get over their experience... it ultimately ends in an HEA, which I love. But I wanted more sex, lol. I mean I wanted them to get it on when they knew there was no "mission" Trey needed to complete... that he was there and completely in the moment with Carly. The sex they did have was nice, I just wanted more. I'm a little greedy like that I guess! But it's a nice start to a series, and I'll keep reading.
Profile Image for Kellie Maddox-Ward.
753 reviews507 followers
August 7, 2012
Wow this story is not fiction at all is it? *heavy dose of sarcasm*
I mean Trey has been frequenting Carly's bar for 2 years.
For the first time they talk. Trey's friend Jack is trying to get Carly's attention and she asks him questions about her, if he answers correctly she'll go out on a date with him. Jack can't answer any of them. Of course Trey can.
The next day Carly is brought into a top secret mission by the US Army. Of course she has to partner up withTrey
She's then sent overseas with him.
They are needed to give a distraction.
So of course they have sex.
AMAZING DETAILED HOT SEX ( I mean it is Cat Johnson so you get your money’s worth! )
Then are not needed anymore, so are sent home.
When she gets home things go back to normal.... or do they?!


Profile Image for Lori.
378 reviews
January 6, 2011
I really liked the honest emotions I felt from all the characters. They were all very well written. But the idea of the military recruiting a civilian to go in with a special ops team on a dangerous mission in a dangerous country was preposterous to me. (now watch - someone will know that it happens all the time LOL). So a 4 for the characters and a 2 for the story and the implausability of it all.
Profile Image for Jae.
693 reviews178 followers
February 18, 2011
A warning by the author: contains bad men with big guns and video cameras, and an unmarried couple who need to get naked and get busy acting very married to save both their country and their lives.

I loved Trey, the strong and silent kind of a guy. Since this is a Cat Johnson book, I've been expecting lotsa hot sex. And boy, the sex was indeed very HOT. I didn't mind the simple story line though, the bedroom scenes totally compensated it..

I'm moving along to Jack's story now..
Profile Image for J Kiwibooknerd .
1,813 reviews58 followers
August 5, 2013
So the last few days I have been in a really bad FBS aka FREAKING BOOK SLUMP.....Seriously I was like 2 steps away from having to join some program or something as the shakes and depression from not reading a good book in days was starting to set in.... UNTIL....

this sweet, short, hot and sexy read by the talented Cat Johnson. I love military books so this is right up my alley....I cant wait to go read the next few books and hopefully elevate my days of FBS!!! Yipee
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,607 reviews45 followers
May 8, 2016
Uma short story sobre um soldado que parte em resgate de um colega com a mulher por quem nutre uma enorme atração mas não quer sucumbir à mesma: o seu melhor amigo tem um big crush por ela além de que não tem tempo para uma namorada.
No entanto, à medida que a ação se desenvolve Trey parece não conseguir resistir ... ou consegue?
Profile Image for Gigi.
2,148 reviews1,069 followers
March 10, 2015
This was fun and sexy and a great hetro read for a FBI agent lovin' fool like me. Yes, I prefer my FBI boys to like each other, but I'm quickly running out of M/M material and switched to M/F here.

Not to shabby!
Profile Image for Jess.
1,075 reviews158 followers
April 21, 2011
Very meh. I might get Jack's book...he was the most interesting character in this one. Overall, didn't connect with the story.
Profile Image for Dawn.
81 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2016
3 Stars*** This was a short hot read, it was an enjoyable and fun read. The plot was good and I'll be reading more of this series to find out more about the other characters!
Profile Image for Daniela.
1,056 reviews
October 19, 2021
(Inglés). (Explícito). Todo en su mayoría fue muy conveniente y me dejaba pensando en que gran casualidad eran las situaciones a las que se enfrentaban Jack, Trey y Carly. Los personajes están bien, nada del otro mundo, momentos en que las cosas se me hacían ridículas de lo absurdas que eran. Al parecer, ellos tres se conocían desde hace un par de años y por alguna razón del destino, Carly es reclutada por los militares para que ayude en una misión y debe hacerse pasar como la nueva esposa ex stripper de Trey para su misión encubierta. Solo que ese momento, Jack trataba de salir con ella, la quería para él y de un momento a otro Trey y Carly deben hacer una distracción para que el resto del equipo rescate al hermano de Jack y para lograrlo, tienen relaciones, puesto que la habitación de hotel de Carly y Trey estaba vigilada con audio y video por parte de los malos y querían que los que vigilaban al hermano se quedaran viendo las cámaras de seguridad del cuarto. Y pues Carly y Trey se sienten mal, cada uno por sus razones.
El caso es que, después de dos días de haber creado la distracción y de estar de regreso al país, ya se estaban declarando amor eterno. De la nada. Fue desconcertante.
Lectura ligera. Narrada en tercera persona y ofrece los puntos de vista de los protagonistas.
Profile Image for Ana Paes.
759 reviews9 followers
September 11, 2021
it just ended out of the blue.
this was not bad, I'm still wrapping my head around what happened here. unfortunately I couldn't find a word in English for the phenomenon of "talaricar", which means when someone steals the person your friend likes, is in love or is dating. So, we can say Trey "talaricou" his best friend here. Therefore, he is a douchebag.
I liked it, it had some "action", it wasn't boring but I felt bad for Jack... He deserved better than this.
Okay, everything was fine EXCEPT the ending. What the hell happened there? it ends when things are starting to get good!!! oh fuck I don't care, the book is good, it has some writing errors but it's cool. I still think it was the tiniest bit racist but what was I expecting from a military-based book?
I'll read the next book because I want to know more about Jack. Trey was a stubborn douche the entire story.

that's it, bye.
Profile Image for Jane.
Author 6 books89 followers
February 4, 2020
I purchased Trey ~ Red, Hot & Blue ~ Book 1 as part of an anthology.

Trey Williams, a special ops member of an elite team is not looking for a girlfriend because he doesn't want the distraction. Carly McAfee, owner of a local bar next to the base gave up her military career, and swore off military men too after a bad experience in her past. Trey is a regular at her bar and they are both attracted to each other despite what they both think they do not want.

Things change when Carly agrees to go on a mission with Trey and his team and thing get intimate when they pose as man and wife. Trey's best friend Jack is also interested in Carly, which adds another problem to the developing desires and relationship. Trey is a great story full of military heroes.
Profile Image for Sue Parker.
1,258 reviews14 followers
January 23, 2020
Trey isn’t looking for a girlfriend but his buddy is. Her name is Carley and she owns the bar they hangout at. Jack’s brother is missing and they need a group to go in undercover and distract his captors so the rest of the team can get him out. Trey ends up going with Carley posing as his wife. They distract the guards alright but at what cost? Will Trey loose Jack as a friend because he is falling for Carley and jack wants her also.
Profile Image for Sharon Ryder Roberts.
1,080 reviews17 followers
February 27, 2021
Loved it, some places in between chapters felt odd though like - One moment they were on a private jet, the next she was dressed like a stripper walking down the stairs! Wished in a way "Trey" made some sort of reaction to her after she came out of the bathroom or what ever after dressing like that... also have her reaction to the clothes in the case! (nada) So much more could of been added to make this a knockout steamy novel, but instead it was rushed. But i still enjoyed it some what.
Profile Image for Melanie Marnell.
4,221 reviews34 followers
June 17, 2023
Trey Williams' best friend and fellow teammate, Jack, has designs on a bar owner, Carly McAfee. She ends up on an undercover mission with Trey where they portray a newlywed couple. They really have to 'sell it' for the hidden room cameras. As you can imagine feelings come into play after a sizzling night together despite their best intentions. But there are also recriminations. The mission is a success, fences are mended and there's an HEA.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews

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