What happens when your internet crush… Shows up in real life? First Lieutenant Thane Carter has experienced great success as the senior platoon leader of a military police company at Fort Hood. But tbh, his love life stinks. Thane wishes his maddening–and off-limits–new coworker, Lieutenant Chloe Michaels, could be more like his online friend “BallerinaBaby.” It’s complicated, all … complicated, all right–especially when Thane learns that his workplace nemesis and his internet crush are one and the same!
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Quick fun book to read. Who knew that an app for people in the military to meet would get Drummer Boy and Ballerina Baby together. For months they have typed into their computers and phones. There are no photos allowed nor personal contact. It has allowed them to become friends. So when First Lieutenant finds out that a woman Second Lieutenant is going to be assigned to his military police unit, he is not happy. A chance meeting at a pool party bring Chloe Michaels and Thane Carter together. Now they are stuck trying to be civil to each other. More changes are coming. Are they going to be able to roll with the changes and have the kind of future they both deserve.
THE LIEUTENANTS’ ONLINE LOVE by Caro Carson is a sweet contemporary military romance with no sex, romantic relationship build-up, misunderstandings and realistic dialogue both online and face-to-face.
Lieutenant Chloe Michaels is ready for her first posting in the military police company at Fort Hood. She has focused on this day through her years at West Point and never had the time for a real romance, but she does have an anonymous friend online, Different Drummer. Matched through a website that only allows messages and texts, no pictures, they have been friends for 8 months as Chloe has moved across the country training. She values their friendship and Drummer’s advice as they grow closer and closer. She especially values him as her real life work colleague, Thane Carter proves difficult.
First Lieutenant Thane Carter is at the height of his success as senior platoon leader of his military police company. His love life is not on the same track. His does not want to play the field and wants a real relationship with someone to share his life permanently. He may not have a real-life girlfriend, but he does have Ballerina Baby online.
From the beginning of her new posting, Chloe and Thane each wish the other could be more like their online friend and less irritating. When the two decide to meet, Thane learns that his Ballerina Baby is Chloe. Now, he has to wrap his mind and emotions around the fact that his online love is at the desk right next to him at work and fraternization could lead to them being kicked out of the job and service they both love.
Even though the plot is not new, the addition of the military ramifications gave it an interesting twist. The story is fast paced and easy to read. I feel the author’s writing shines in her dialogue, especially the contrast between their online and real life interactions. I feel it was very realistic and it kept me entertained as well as engaged throughout the book. Chloe and Thane made me cheer for their HEA. (There may have even been a happy tear in my eye at the ending.)
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
If you enjoyed the film. You’ve Got Mail, you’ll enjoy Caro Carson’s THE LIEUTENANTS’ ONLINE LOVE which has an interesting and informative military twist. As in the film, the main characters are crazy about their email pen pales but find each other frustrating.
Of course, as readers, we enjoy the banter and plot twists that inevitably end in them discovering true love.
I found all the military aspects of the setting interesting and they added conflict to the story.
So much for making rules about who can fraternize with who. Or who can fall in love with who.