Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: The Only One Who Knows

SERIES: The Only One #1

AUTHOR: L.A. Witt & Cat Grant

PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing

LENGTH: 220 pages

BLURB: Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.

When Navy SEAL training pushed Lieutenant Josh Walker to his limit, Chief David Flint’s stern heart-to-heart—more like boot-to-ass—helped Josh realize his potential. When the holidays found them alone together and sharing a mutual attraction, they couldn’t help breaking a few regulations. And nearly breaking some furniture in the process.

Years after their short-lived fling, Senior Chief Flint returns to SEAL duty and finds himself under the command of the man he’s never been able to forget: Lieutenant Commander Walker. And Josh hasn’t forgotten David, either. Rules be damned, they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Despite their discretion, another SEAL catches on and threatens to expose their relationship, forcing Josh to bend to a blackmailer’s demands to avoid strife within the team just before a dangerous mission. David is the last man he can confide in…and the first to pick up on Josh’s tightly screwed-down stress.

When a life-or-death decision calls Josh’s leadership into question, coming clean could cost him what he values most. His coveted trident…and the man he loves.

WARNING: Contains a pair of Navy SEALs who don’t like playing by the rules, scorching-hot sex between two Alphas who like to be in charge, cursing as only Navy men can curse, lots of camouflage and badassery in the wilds of North Korea, and enough emotion to sink a battleship.

REVIEW:     

This was one hot exciting ride pretty much from the get go.  Flint and Josh meet up in BUDS/S training where Senior Chief Flint seems to be pushing LT Walker harder than any of the other trainees.  Eventually, they learn each other is gay, and things really heat up.  They give in to having a one-night stand that was so full of alpha testosterone, you could hardly breathe.  Chief Flint becomes David, and LT becomes Josh, and the sparks certainly fly.  I loved the dynamics and how everything played out when the battle for dominance finally ended.

The guys then attempt to ignore each other while training finishes up, and they are successful as graduation approaches.  Flint eventually transfers to a new position and is now under Josh’s command.  They eventually decide they don’t want to fight the attraction that has been on each other’s mind during the time they have been apart.  So, they discreetly continue their relationship.  Unfortunately, Benson, one of the team members, learns about them and tries to use the information to his advantage.

Not long after, the team is deployed on a mission to extract a POW, where things really heat up.  Tension is high with the actual mission, as well as Benson’s attitude toward Josh’s ability to lead the team given his feelings for Flint.  The action is exciting and just long enough to keep you interested.  Flint and Josh’s love remains strong, even as they face the many challenges that come with the conclusion of their mission.

This was a fast-paced, engrossing read that I didn’t want to put down.  The writing was solid, just as I expected from these authors.  Hot SEALS that just seem perfect for each other, whose love didn’t falter no matter what they faced.  I quickly fell in love with the both of them and was definitely not ready for their story to end.  This is a fabulous start to a new series, and I am super excited to see what’s next.  They still have some challenges ahead, especially Flint, so hopefully we will get to see those play out in book 2.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: Samhain  ::  Amazon