I enjoyed this military romance story that specifically highlights the plight of immigrants who serve time with the US armed forces and slip through the cracks on the way to trying to get their citizenship. Diego is bitter after serving his time with the Navy and being injured in the line of duty, resulting in his loss of immigration status and becoming an undocumented worker. When he meets Mark, a career Navy man, he knows getting involved with someone currently in the military is a mistake but their mutual attraction leads to him breaking his own rules. I liked how the story played out, the risks and rewards for them both, and the way their happy ending comes about.

Mark's life changed with his divorce. Finally free to openly explore the other side of his sexuality should have been the icing on the cake. Yet, it all came with another set of issues...a move into management when he should have been thinking of retiring. A move across state. Falling for a man who wanted nothing to do with his kind.

When life handed you lemons...

He should have ran, fast. But no matter how hard he tried, Diego's one night stand was becoming more. Now he found himself thinking in future tense and doing things he had promised never to do. Too many failures and too many issues clouded his life, but Mark was like the sun bursting through the clouds. "Losing Dalton had made me rethink my hang-ups about the military, but it was Mark who had me wanting to actually make peace with my past."

L.A. Witt's continuous sequel in the Anchor Point series just pulls you in to see how these men fall, hard. I am still enjoying the series and look forward to many more. After all, who doesn't love a man in uniform?

Mark's world has been turned on its head, but a chance encounter with Diego might be all he needs to set his life back on the right path if both men are willing to leave their hurts in the past and move on. Diego knows he is playing with fire but he can't let this man go and he will do just about anything to keep him, but there are something that just might not be worth it.

I love this story, both Mark and Diego were human's that had a real depth of hurts that they were trying work past, and sometimes learning to let those things go can take someone stronger than you being by your side.

Once Burned, the sixth installment in the Anchor Point series by author L.A. Witt can easily be read as a standalone. Once again we enter the lives of naval men who have sacrificed much for their country and question whether or not it is all worth it in the end. Yet, they stoically forge ahead despite their misgivings and the sometimes reprehensible way in which the government treats its most loyal and brave brothers and sisters. In this case, the author explores the very real dilemma that faces some of our military—the lack of permanent U.S. status and their failure to obtain that citizenship while on active military duty. The question is raised as to what happens to those soldiers who are deployed in hostile military zones and sustain life-threatening injury and are unable to complete the paperwork that will give them their much-needed right to remain in this country. It may seem unbelievable to us, but how often in the past year have we seen story after story on the news about soldiers who have served in the military being deported? Far too often, unfortunately. Once Burned takes both that and the pain and turmoil PTSD have on Diego into account when telling his story.

If he could move on from what he has lost via the Navy’s indifference and unfair assessment, Diego might be happier. He would still be an illegal immigrant and worried that the next inspection at the bar he’s working at might be his ticket to deportation, but he would be happier…maybe. The problem is that Diego finds himself attracted to Mark, a naval career officer, and despite Diego’s vow not to involve himself with a military guy, he is finding it difficult to stay away from Mark and his bed. There is just too much to like about the hesitant, humble soldier. However, Mark represents everything Diego has come to fear and hate, and that is a barrier that Diego may not be able to clear.

Mark is fresh off a divorce from a marriage that had crumbled years before where both he and his wife ended up cheating on each other rather than face the fact that they were not marriage material. Starting over clear across the country, he is the first to admit that he doesn’t do well at relationships. But after meeting Diego and realizing that, in spite of his promise to himself not to rush into things, he really likes the guy. Mark is ready to risk it all to see if they can make it work. These two men fumble their way through a growing relationship that is rife with many minefields such as Diego’s PTSD and hatred of the military, and Mark’s uncertainty as to how to help the man he is falling in love with and not overstep his position in the navy. In the end the real question becomes, can their love survive the mess Diego’s life has become.

The chemistry and private moments between Mark and Diego were so realistic and sincere that their relationship was the real star of this novel. It was definitely believable that Diego could be so anxious and torn apart by his past and the memories that threatened to unhinge him mentally at every turn that he questioned why he should even be with Mark. Mark, on the other hand, wanted to help, but his own insecurity over his failed marriage, and his worry that he would repeat it in a new relationship, became more of his focus than seeing what Diego really needed from him. These men were often like two ships that pass in the night, trying their best to stay on course but often allowing their own uncertainty to derail their course.

My one problem with this novel actually stems from just that plot point. So often I felt that both Diego and Mark worried needlessly over the same issue. I could understand that the author was trying to establish how much Diego was affected by his circumstances, but the too often repetition of the same concerns started to weigh this story down and slow the pacing. Rather than increase my compassion for Diego and his plight, I found myself starting to chafe at what became his rather constant rehashing of the same worries over and over again. After a while, rather than create an air of tension and urgency, I found the repetitive nature of Diego’s stream of consciousness boring and unnecessary. I had gotten the message earlier on and felt the author was pounding the same theme over and over to the detriment of the story itself.

While this was unfortunate, I cannot fault this author’s ability to create intense and realistic characters who worm their way into your heart and stir up real empathy for them and their plight. Once Burned is a good story, a solid hit for those who like reading about men in the military, and an impactful statement on the current political climate and how it affects those who serve to keep us safe.

Reviewed by Sammy

On the surface, Once Burned has all the elements this series has been built on: undeniable physical temptation that evolves into real affection, the Navy’s unyielding and destructive rules, and an eventual path to happiness for the two heroes. Unlike its predecessors, however, this story not only concerns Naval policy, but also delves into the even more infuriating topics of immigration and veterans’ rights. While there’s no denying the physical—and later emotional—connection Diego and Mark share, the familiar feeling of time running out was much more palpable here than in previous Anchor Point titles.

Though it is certainly a romance, complete with a HEA, the real purpose of Once Burned is to highlight the predicament faced by too many U.S. veterans. Without knowing the specifics of the author’s research, Diego’s situation reads as a conglomerate of other potentially true stories that absolutely engaged both my heart and my anger. At one point, Diego remembers his employer stating that it’s not “right for a man who’s been shot at for his country to be screwed by it—” a sentiment I found easy to agree with.

There were a few details in Once Burned that seemed somewhat implausible, but which still highlight the desperation and unfairness of Diego’s situation. One that I had trouble with was Mark’s invitation to Diego to attend a “Hail and Farewell” party, disregarding that it would be fairly callous given Diego’s experience, as well as being overly risky with the other personnel likely to be in attendance. So much importance is placed on the threat of deportation throughout the narrative—Diego can’t even go to the VA for medical assistance—that moments like these stood out.

While it has a few uncomfortable scenes (i.e. Mark’s role as savior, even though he tries to minimize the fact), Once Burned served as a launch pad into a problem that I’m eager to learn more about. While researching the topic for this review on my own, I quickly realized that one evening (which turned into two) wasn’t remotely enough time to scratch the surface of the issue. Fortunately, a bill was introduced in the House last year—H.R.3429, or the “Repatriate Our Patriots Act”—that shows promise, but who knows when, or if, it might ever become law. On the plus side, the author has pledged half of her royalties from the sale of Once Burned “to charities supporting U.S. military veterans who have been deported or are at risk of deportation.” There are still two titles left to go in the series, and I’d love to see how Diego and Mark are doing a little further down the line.

Not my favorite LA Witt title but a good read. Strong characters, though I would have liked a little bit more on the background of Diego.

I love reading this authors books. I always love her characters and the storylines! Once burned was no different. I finished reading in one sitting.

If you’ve been reading the books in the Anchor Point series, you know that readers met Diego in the previous book, Going Overboard. He was Dalton’s best friend and earned just enough page time to make me really look forward to his story. I wasn’t disappointed.

Both Mark and Diego are more than a little bit broken when they meet. Diego has good reason to not want to have anything to do with the military. Falling someone who has obviously decided to make the military his career is someone he needs to stay away from. The problem is, once he gives in, he finds it hard to stay away.

Mark is lost. His marriage wasn’t a great one, far from it, but it was familiar. When he sees Diego for the first time, he’s more than a little surprised that the connection just feels right. These two are drawn to each other physically, but it doesn’t take long for them to form a real connection.

Diego is drawn to Mark, but he knows that there’s no future between the two of them. Trust is hard for him and Mark means well, but he’s oblivious to the situation that Diego is in. Not because he’s unfeeling, just because he had no idea how bad things really were and how precarious his situation really was.

For the record, L.A. Witt did an amazing job of handling this touchy subject. I fell in love with both of these characters and really felt for both of them. Diego because of the situation he was in and Mark because of his determination to make things right, regardless. This was definitely another great addition to the Anchor Point series and I can’t wait to see what comes next with Wash Out – the next book in the series.

I received Once Burned in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the sixth book in the Anchor Point series but it works fine as a standalone. In this installation we meet Diego who is former military. He was injured while in the service and his visa expired while he was recovering. He's now in a position where he can not seek medical care or veteran's benefits without risking deportation.

Mark is newly divorced and has been promoted when he moves to Anchor Point. The two men meet in a bar and their attraction is immediate. While Diego had planned to never get involved with anyone in the military he has a difficult time staying away from Mark.

I enjoyed this book and thought the topic was really interesting. It is a topic that I had not read before and it led me to googling the situation Diego was in. I also enjoyed the fact that Mark wasn't blameless in the break up of his marriage. It felt realistic and I appreciated that.

Overall this was really good. I liked both of the characters and the unique plot. It was a quick and easy read and I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

Another solid installment! This one is a bit different from what I was expecting. While the other books carried some important themes, this one had a more serious tone and tackled another important issue – military who, for some reason or another, fail to follow through with obtaining citizenship leaving themselves vulnerable to deportation. I had no idea this problem existed, as I assumed you had to be a citizen in order to serve. But, apparently, such is not always the case. It would seem that serving in the military should garner automatic citizenship, but, as with most everything else, there are others who don’t share that idea.

Anyhoo, here, we have Mark, recently divorced and relocated to a new position of leadership extending his military career. While out exploring his newfound relationship status and deciding to check out the sights, Marc heads to the High & Tight where he meets and is immediately attracted to hottie bartender, Diego. Unfortunately, Diego has a no-hookups with military men rule, which puts a wrench in things. But it doesn’t take long for Diego to reverse his decision and make a move.

Now, these guys have amazing chemistry. But, Diego has sound reasoning for his rule, and that, coupled with the many other things he is dealing with, hold him back. He really opened my eyes seeing how he had to live, day to day in fear of losing his job, of being found out by the wrong people and being deported, living with his injuries and PTSD while not being able to get the care he no only earned but deserved, also for the same fear. Through it all though, Diego and Marc’s relationship grows. The no-military issue, aside from the obvious reasons, was heartbreaking as well. It was easy to understand how difficult it was for Diego to be involved on any level with someone who was in, with it being right there, everything the military was to him and took from him. Thankfully, the relationship becomes more important, but not before they go through some bumps in the road.

It takes a while for Marc to fully comprehend Diego’s situation. Once he does, he does everything he can to help. I really liked these guys together and could just about hear Diego’s sexy talk. Important issues aside, this was a really nice love story with a bit of romance thrown in as well. It was another solid installment to the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next and what new tidbits I can learn in the process!

4.5 stars

Freshly divorced, after almost 19 years of marriage, and newly stationed in Anchor Point, a small seaside town, Mark discovers the High-&-Tight, the local gay bar that caters to military guys. There he lays eyes on the bartender, Diego, but when he asks Diego to join him for coffee, Diego turns him down.

Diego doesn’t date military guys, especially the Navy ones. After 8 years of service, he was discharged after being hurt in combat. While recovering, his green card expired and now he spends his life in fear of deportation, but as much as he tries, he can’t resist Mark. What could spending one night with Mark possibly hurt? It quickly becomes clear to both men, one night definitely won’t be enough.

I have really loved the couple of stories in this series that I’ve read so far, and Once Burned was no exception. Although this is book six in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone.

While I loved Mark and Diego and I enjoyed their romance, more than anything this book made me angry. It is deplorable that a person can enter this country legally, serve this country, be injured while serving this country and after it is all said and done, because of some unfiled, or perhaps misfiled, paperwork, they have to fear deportation if they try to get a legitimate job or take advantage of the resources, like the V.A., that were rightfully awarded to them for their services. It’s beyond disgusting and I wanted to scream and rage for Diego and the many others out there like him. Although, because this is fiction, everything works out in the end and Mark and Diego get their happy ending, my heart breaks for the real life Diegos out there who aren’t quite so lucky.

As for the romance portion of the story, I absolutely loved it. Mark and Diego were perfect and definitely hot together. They burned up the pages of my iPad, and I absolutely adored them. They were both likable guys who you couldn’t help but root for.

The story is well-written, and although it flowed pretty well, I found it just a bit slow in the middle. Even though it angered me, I loved the premise of the story and the ending was perfectly swoon-worthy! This was a great addition to the series, really enjoyable and definitely recommendable!

*copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 Stars!


Mark is newly divorced and recently stationed at Anchor Point, and when he visits a local gay bar, he is drawn to one of the bartenders, Diego, who isn't too keen on dating military guys, especially the Navy kind. There's something about Mark that makes Diego give him a second chance and soon, one night turns into more, however, there are things that might tear them apart.

It took me a bit to warm up to Mark, but once I did, I loved him. He was sweet and supportive and once he realized what was at stake, he was determined to help Diego in any way he could. I loved Diego, even if I got slightly tired and wanted to cuddle him and make it better. My heart broke for him and the situation he found himself in. It's unbelievable that due to some mistake, a man who's served the US and been wounded in action, has to deal with what Diego does. I was appalled at the way Mark's CO thought about it, and it seems to me, that sounds pretty on point to what little I've read/heard about it.

Mark and Diego's chemistry was out of this world and I loved the progression from a one-night stand into more, it felt natural and very organic. I loved that they didn't spend their time just having sex, but just being together, talking and watching TV or whatever.

Overall, Once Burned was a fantastic read! Fast-paced and engaging, with an absolutely perfect ending that had me shedding a few happy tears. I'm already looking forward to book 7! Very recommendable!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

•*´¨)4.5 stars
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Mark's life changed with his divorce. Finally free to openly explore the other side of his sexuality should have been the icing on the cake. Yet, it all came with another set of issues...a move into management when he should have been thinking of retiring. A move across state. Falling for a man who wanted nothing to do with his kind.

When life handed you lemons...

He should have ran, fast. But no matter how hard he tried, Diego's one night stand was becoming more. Now he found himself thinking in future tense and doing things he had promised never to do. Too many failures and too many issues clouded his life, but Mark was like the sun bursting through the clouds. "Losing Dalton had made me rethink my hang-ups about the military, but it was Mark who had me wanting to actually make peace with my past."

L.A. Witt's continuous sequel in the Anchor Point series just pulls you in to see how these men fall, hard. I am still enjoying the series and look forward to many more. After all, who doesn't love a man in uniform?

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Military Romance
Triggers: War injuries, Discrimination, PTSD, Bi relationship.

Mark and Diego are an ‘opposites attract’ type couple when they first meet. Diego is trying to stay under the radar because despite how he was wronged by his country and the military, he wants to be in the US – he wants to be able to support himself and send money home to his family.

Mark is picking up his life and moving forward. He was married and now he and his ex-wife are much better friends than they were a couple. It was refreshing to see such a healthy relationship come out of an unhealthy one.

Mark and Diego had a more friendship chemistry – I didn't really get heat from their relationship. However, they were great at distracting each other. I wish they had more chemistry, but watching their relationship develop over time was also something that added to the story a lot.

I liked how Mark and Diego took risks throughout, both for themselves and each other. I think that showed their level of commitment. Overall, this was a good story about redemption, love, loss, acceptance, and allowing yourself to believe that there is good out there.


Angie – ☆☆☆
I have read all the previous books in this series but it is not necessary to read this book. I hate to say it, but this book really missed the mark for me. I really, really do not like just pages and pages of inner monologue. I need dialogue between characters!! I also dislike it when the same thing is repeated over and over again; let's not beat a dead horse folks!!! This book had both and it made me lose interest fast. Don't get me wrong, the chemistry and sex between Mark and Diego is hot but that wasn't enough for me to love the book. Mark and his poor excuse for cheating and then Diego's unrealistic issue with his green card were the final straws and made this book a not so good one for me.

Sensual, pensive, and timely!

Once Burned is an emotional romance featuring the recently divorced, newly promoted Captain Mark Thomas, and the wounded, disheartened Diego Ramírez as they discover that some things are worth fighting for and together they can overcome anything.

The writing is clear and precise. The characters are diligent, lonely, and skeptical. And the alluring plot is filled with flirty banter, longing, desire, doubt, angst, military politics, PTSD, compassion, support, friendship, and love.

Once Burned is the sixth novel in the Anchor Point series and is not only a smoulderingly sexy read but a thought-provoking one as it tackles and highlights the injustice faced by immigrants who put their lives on the line for the American government only to be unacknowledged, uncompensated, and unsupported when injured and discharged due to a convenient loophole that doesn't recognize them as U.S. citizens.

You know, I requested this before the whole SH and Riptide mess started to unravel on March 8th. I figured I'd give it some time before attempting to read it, waited a few weeks. I couldn't get into it; I found the dialogue repetitive. I don't know if I couldn't get into it because of the writing, the whole mess that erupted, or probably both. This author has always been up and down for me.

DNF, no rating.

**We have to add a rating for NetGalley and since I didn't finish it I gave it 1 star. In my original review, I gave no rating.

This was a good 4 star read and this is why:

* Good storyline, a little abrupt ending but the epilogue saved it.
* Well written characters
* Love scenes that was hot but tasteful described
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* The amount of dialogues was enough but barley.......
* Feelings is present at times and I felt a little emotional when Diego had some challenges because I can to a degree relate
* Diego and Mark is building a relationship slow and steady which made it realistic

Good mm romance I most certainly recommend.

The fact that I'm reading book 6 of 6 in a series is a big clue considering I have more than a dozen unfinished series waiting their turn.

This was a simple, sweet love story until about 35% when we were let into the hell that Diego lives with.

"Someone knocked something over, and glass shattered. One of the employees shoved a shopping cart into the back of a row so it would tuck in like the others, and the metal clang almost sent me out of my crawling skin. An unhappy child shrieked, oblivious to the half-demolished Afghan village he was sending me back to."~Diego


So I'm happily reading along, feeling feelz and then...we find out what Diego's dilemma really is.
I try hard to ignore it. I Google search, hoping I'm wrong. Trying desperately to find a way to suspend disbelief.

***Spoiler below***
Diego is in a very bad situation because he has physical and mental combat related disabilities from his time in the Navy. He can't get medical benefits or even a decent job because he is an undocumented immigrant whose green card expired.

My problem is that you can only legally serve in the US armed forces if you are a US citizen or a permanent resident. If you are a permanent resident, your "green card" expires in 10 years. However, your residency status DOES NOT. Yes, those cards have to be renewed for various reasons, but if someone doesn't renew in time nothing major happens to them. They're not even charged a late penalty for not renewing on time. They certainly don't lose their residency!

So, for me, the entire premise of Diego's suffering is ridiculous.

At one point in the book, the "green card" is called a "visa". No, no, no. Those are two different animals. Some fact checking is in order here.

If someone knows something different than what I was able to gather from a Google search, please let me know. Because as of right now, this whole story went down the drain for me.
***End spoiler***

This is the WHOLE PREMISE of the story. And by 60%, even though I really like both characters, I'm starting to wonder if I can finish the book. I DO understand this is fiction. But unless I'm reading fantasy, I need the basics of the fiction to have a standing in real life.

Alright. At 62% I'm throwing in the towel.

***Spoiler below***
Mark's past infidelity should be more of an issue or better explained/excused. I know it's a deal breaker for some readers. I don't mind it as much as the other issue stated above, but even I need a better excuse than 'we were apart for a long time so we both cheated'. Diego falling for Mark without even thinking about Mark's past is making me itchy.
***End spoiler***

Yup. I'm done. And I'm giving this story a low rating unless/until someone gives me proof I'm wrong about my spoilers.

I'm still IN for the continuing series because it really has been great. But this particular book does not work as is.