Oliver Martinez inadvertently got himself in hot water when he stopped a bar brawl from getting out of hand. The brawler was his superior officer General Tate's son. As a reprimand, Oliver is sent to the Alpha Dogs Training Program to organise and promote a fund raiser. Not exactly his domain, but some friends work there. It should be a piece of cake, right? Except for one little detail: the publicist is General Tate's daughter Evelyn, and Oliver is instantly smitten, but Evelyn doesn't date military men.

I NEED A HERO is Codi Gary's first instalment in her new Men in Uniform series, and judging from this novella, Ms. Gary has herself another winning series. I thought Ms. Gary handled the two main characters fighting their attraction with much dexterity and subtlety. Ms. Gary is an author of contemporary romances whose work I particularly enjoy, and I believe I NEED A HERO is my favourite book of hers. I really like Oliver and Evelyn. They feel real. They're sympathetic, and their chemistry is undeniable. They settle problematic situations like grown-ups. Although their attraction is immediate, they do not jump each other's bones right away. The romance progresses organically, and is actually quite sweet. I love how Evelyn and Oliver's banter goes from testy to easy as they become better acquainted.

Ms. Gary has always been a fine writer, her style has matured, and is even more polished than before. The prose is seamless and the dialogues flow easily. I NEED A HERO is a very pleasant read and a great start to a new series!