Finding Orion by Alyssa Brooks
Lily Burton has been best friends with Hunter ever since they began working together at Ashford Academy. They get along great and have lots of fun when they hang out together. When Hunter tells Lily his exciting news, that he has been chosen to be sent to space by NASA, he expects her to be as thrilled by his announcement as he is. Unfortunately, Lily, a natural worrier, can't help but think of all the dangers involved in going to space. Hunter is a bit angry at Lily, but when Lily asks him if he has done everything he has ever wanted to in life, Hunter assures her he has. As he thinks about the question some more, Hunter realizes he hasn't done one major thing. He hasn't married the woman he loves…Lily! Now he has a new mission: convince Lily to marry him and to love him forever. Conquering Lily's deep-seated fear of military men turns out to be the test of a lifetime. Can Hunter show Lily that despite her concerns, military men make the best husbands of all?

Finding Orion is a great start to this military-themed trilogy. Alyssa Brooks always finds the perfect combination of sensuality and lovers' angst, and Finding Orion is another great example of this. Lily has some personal challenges to work through. Ms. Brooks gives it to the reader straight; all of Lily's fears are presented to the reader and are all legitimate concerns. It is how Lily handles herself in the face of these concerns that make the reader root for her happy-ever-after with Hunter.

Mau Loa Ko'u Aloha (Forever my Love) by Melissa Schroeder
When Mano sees his little sister's best friend Dee Burton again, he is struck dumb by beautiful she has become. He certainly never imagined the geek would grow up to be a beauty. The lust she inspires in him is nerve-wracking because he has never felt lust of this intensity before. But he knows he can't do anything about it. After all, she's off limits by the code of friendship. A drunken dinner together proves to be too much temptation for them both however, and they fall into bed. Mano and Dee are both curious to see if they can make their fling last without getting too serious. But when true emotions get in the way, will Air Force pilot Mano chicken out without telling Dee how he truly feels?

Melissa Schroeder is one of the hottest voices in the emerging field of ebooks and this story proves why. Mano and Dee are full of life and love. Both have hang ups about love but both are strong enough to eventually face their fears and learn from mistakes. Ms. Schroeder has crafted a fine tale of explosive ardor intermingled with a deep and abiding friendship. Set in Hawaii, perfect for exploding passions and desires, Mau Loa Ko'u Aloha is yet another sweet gem in this anthology.

Wounded Hearts by Karen Monroe
Lieutenant Holly Burton is a top notch Navy psychiatrist. Her newest patient is Commander Scott Gilcrist. He needs an evaluation but is most reluctant to respond to Holly's questions. In fact, he's downright rude and overbearing. Scott doesn't believe in the psycho-mumbo jumbo that Holly is spouting. He doesn't need to get in touch with his feelings or discover any underlying irrational fears. He just needs to be okayed for his next mission. And, he needs to bed the luscious Holly. Despite her attraction to Scott, Holly knows it wouldn't be right to be with a patient in anything but a professional sense. Once she discharges him though, all bets are off to Scott's mind. But low and behold, when she least expects it, Holly gets a glimpse into the mind of Scott Gilcrist. But will their desire be enough to convince Holly to risk her heart on a military man?

Perhaps the most intense of the three stories, Karen Monroe nonetheless manages to nicely combine a romantic plot with the scary and all too dangerous world of military missions. Scott, the most emotionally scarred of the three heroes, proves to be a good contrast to the more happy go lucky military men of Mano and Hunter. Holly's concern for him and what he has seen and done is not only touching, but it is all too realistic in a world filled with terrorism and war. But as Karen Monroe so aptly points out, the only true cure for the things we dread is love, and the love that Holly and Scott share is heart wrenching and strong. This story focuses on the realistic, while also keeping the romance alive and well in the hearts of the protagonists. This is a fine ending to the anthology.

All in all, Operation Love is a success. All three of these authors will touch your heart with their stories about love and life. Don't pass this collection up.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Sarah W
July 30, 2005