Model Soldier by Cat Johnson
Red, Hot & Blue, Book 8
Samhain Publishing
Contemporary, Men in Uniform
ISBN: 978-1-60928-854-9
Reviewed by Jo




Emily Price has worked hard for her position and is very excited when her boss places her in charge of the next round of campaign ads for the U. S. Army.  After all it was that same campaign that caused her boss to not only fall in love but marry the man of her dreams – the same military man who was the model for those ads.  So if Emily found herself dreaming about her upcoming meeting with the newest model, who could blame her?

Staff Sergeant David “Hawk” Hawkins let pride make him accept a bet without knowing the facts because he was sure his team couldn’t lose.  Little did Hawk know that the cards were severely stacked against him and his team.  It was bad enough that his team was wiped out in the training session, but then Hawk learned the terms of the bet and could not believe what he had to do.  There was no way he was going to be a model – no way, no how, never going to happen. Too bad his commanding officer was agreeable to the mission.

Emily finally arrived on the base ready and excited to meet Hawk, only to find a hunky and extremely rude male.  That first day was a wake up call and not a good one.  Emily decided she wasn’t going to let Hawk’s attitude ruin the shoot and worked hard to get the perfect shots.  Hawk came to respect Emily and the work she did, even if he still didn’t want to be the model.  The last night of the shoot, Emily and Hawk finally do something about the sparks that had been flying between them the entire time.  After all, Hawk is about to go into war and Emily is headed back to civilization.  Both are back to their normal lives, when a decision made by the heads of the advertising agency has Emily and Hawk not only thrown back together again but it also places Emily in deadly danger.  Hawk gets Emily and others out safely with help from highly placed friends, however once they are apart again, will either be able to accept their time together is really over or will cupid work his magic again on the same campaign?

Two people couldn’t be farther apart in lifestyles and careers only to find a deep and lasting love than Emily and Hawk in Model Soldier.  I had to laugh when Hawk was not only taken in on a bet he could never win but by a “pretty boy” (Hawk’s words) with ulterior motives.  I somehow knew that Emily was going to have a harsh wake up after she was daydreaming about meeting Hawk just because of past history.  Yet, I cheered for her when Emily decided not to let Hawk ruin her job, along with her pipedreams.  It almost seemed like the fates were against Emily and Hawk when they were once again tossed together and the passion came out stronger and then they were torn apart yet again. I began to wonder if their romance would ever have a chance.  However, I found that not even war and misunderstandings could overcome a passion that was meant to be.  I enjoyed watching Emily and Hawk together as they first fought and then loved.  Model Soldier isn’t anyone’s fairy tale, but has the real life bumps and bruises that come with falling in love, combined with the realities of life and war.  A great story and continuation of a series that highlight the men in uniform we all love.