Books & Spoons Review: MEN UNDER FIRE Jacki Delecki

Hollie Thomas, the feisty, tattooed office assistant to Grayce Walters, has come a long way from living on the streets. Along with finding a job she loves, she’s found friends and safety. When her new life unravels, she faces dangers that dwarf her troubled past. Fighting to survive, she discovers that sometimes what you need the most might be found in the one person you failed to see coming.
Returning home from the war and struggling to find his way, Sergeant Nick Welby, and his bomb-sniffing golden lab, use their skill set in the last place he’d ever imagined—Seattle’s Waterfront. To protect the one woman who matters, Nick and his trusty canine partner will risk everything to rescue her and Seattle from disaster.
Embroiled in Grayce Walters’ most perilous case—a terrorist plot with the threat of deadly explosives—can Nick and Hollie work together to save themselves and each other before it’s too late?

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Nick is a battle weary soldier, on a sick leave, trying to recuperate from the last mission overseas, along with his partner Talley, the golden lab. Nick is an All-American good guy, comes from a loving family with a farm, played football in high school, went to college, and he has an easy way to charm the ladies.
Hollie is a goth girl, who spent lots of her childhood on the streets, trying to hide from her meth parents. She has had it rough, and because of that has grown a tough exterior, to protect the tender heart she has inside.
Nick's insta-attraction to Hollie is jaw-dropping. And when Nick hears Hollie boss is trying to find two missing marines, he gladly volunteers to help, to be able to be around Hollie.
There was something in the beginning of the story, that didn't flow well, like it was edited with a heavy hand, and because of that, missing some sentences with vital information about the story. I had to go back several times to check what was happening, thankfully that smoothed out after a while.
The story is short, and because of that, everything happens fast, in a short period of a time. Hollie is rather prickly, and the first conflict between Nick and Hollie comes from him smiling to other woman, that Hollie reacts strongly to and walks away, making Nick  beg for a second chance. This was on their second time meeting each other, not on a date. The over the top emotional reactions happens often with Hollie, she is so insecure because of her past. But Nick is completely enthralled with her, and willing to do what it takes to convince her about his feelings towards her.
But as investigators, Nick and Hollie seem to form a good team, as they are going through the internet, finding clues to find the missing marines.
The action and suspense are more on the background of the story. And when dangerous situations arrive, they are played down and solved quickly. The romance has a Young Adult genre vibe to it, with Hollie's insecurities and angst towards relationships. The story did have some unique touches to it in the plot, and the big family of a heart, that has developed around Hollie was touching.
~ Three Spoons