Review: A fantastic new series with sexy hot military men!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 2, 2013
I love all kinds of romance, in particular military stories. If they feature gorgeous hunks who have special skill sets and lots of brothers - in arms or blood, well that makes it so much better! Add a strong determined female lead and some conflict or issues and fireworks galore - both in and out of the bedroom and you definitely have a recipe for a great read!Leonardo is the first book in a new series, The Santinis by Melissa Schroeder who is already well known for her Harmless and Harmless Military series among many others. I was provided with the ARC of Leonardo for a frank and honest review, so here goes. The cover of Leonardo is so sinfully sexy and drool worthy. That alone is enough to make you want to pick up the book. When you do start to read, it isn't like Melissa's other military stories, but boy it is still hot and sexy and a great read.In Leonardo, we meet the first of the Santini brothers, Leo. He runs into Maryanne Johnson when he goes to visit his friend who is recovering in hospital and undergoing rehab. The dragon in charge of Jeff's rehab is Maryanne and when Leo first sets eyes on her, he is floored. She isn't the dragon he pictured, rather she is quite the opposite and he recognizes that her bark is much worse than her bite.Add a few hilarious run ins and misunderstandings, where Maryanne manages to get the upper hand and the cool and usually unflappable Leo Santini is rather at a loss. I enjoyed the fact that Leo was floored by a scrap of a female, but he didn't let that get him down. The Santinis and the Johnsons are both military families and this is what has forged all of them and helped them become who they are and also influenced how they behave and for some it has caused some issues. Leo and Maryanne are no different.Leo uses his military know how to wear down the `enemy'. He makes a plan of attack and goes for it. Maryanne on the other hand, despite being military doesn't seem to like military men all that much and it is obvious that she has some issues that hark back to her childhood, her upbringing and the fact that her family members are all in the military, well apart from her and her grandmother who helped raise her and her brothers.The interaction between Leo and Maryanne is sweet and hot and sexy at the same time. Leo is like water dripping on a stone and he worms his way into Maryanne's heart before she even realizes what is happening. She loves that he sees her for who she is and also that he takes the time to really get to know her. Add to this the fact that the sex is super hot with beautiful sensual fireworks explosions and everything is wonderful, until Leo says the LOVE word. The fight that ensues after this is heartbreaking for Leo, Maryanne and the reader. I could feel Leo thinking that everything had just gone south but that he had done all he could at that point. I was also angry with Maryanne for rejecting such a special guy, but on the other hand I could also understand her insecurities were driving her to be that way and that there were obviously issues that she had to work out.Can Maryanne work out her issues or will she lose Leo? What happens when an angry and upset military mama is on the warpath and gunning for Maryanne?This story is a great start to the Santinis series and I cannot wait to read about the rest of the clan. I also hope that there might be a possibility of spinoffs featuring some of the Johnson siblings because they sound like very interesting guys as well. If this story is any indication then this series is going to be another one well worth reading! Well done Ms. Schroeder!