Mariposa by Lexi Axelson
18+ Contains Adult Content
Mariposa is a military romance that follows Violet Isla, who has made it into the special forces course. Her instructor is known as Operator Beast, who is well known for being cold-hearted. Violet is known as the Unbreakable Soldier. Beast, also known as Kade O’Connell, has made it his mission to break her. However, Violet’s heart skips a beat when she is near him, and it isn’t out of fear like everyone else. Not only is he older than her, but he is also her Master Sergeant and her ex-boyfriend’s dad. Kade has never broken the rules, never put anything before his work, but Violet is breaking down his walls and seeing underneath the mask.
The worst scars are the ones you can’t see-the ones imprinted in your soul and the ones you take to your grave.
⚫️Military Romance ⚫️Age Gap ⚫️Student x Instructor ⚫️Forced Proximity ⚫️Ex Boyfriends Dad ⚫️Angst ⚫️Grumpy instructor ⚫️Hand Necklaces ⚫️Man Obsessed
🔴Rough and Graphic Sex 🔴Attempted SA 🔴War 🔴PTSD 🔴Graphic Violence 🔴Alzheimers 🔴Cancer 🔴Grief 🔴Attempted Suicide 🔴Death 🔴CNC 🔴Blood Play 🔴Breath Play 🔴Pain kink 🔴Spitting
This is the first book I have read by Lexi Axelson. Although I have had See You Soon on my TBR for a long time, I don’t know why I’m scared to start that one, haha. I had a prompt in my 52 book challenge to read a book by an author with an X in their name, and Lexi has 2. That’s why I picked this book, but also because I wanted to read a military romance. The cover is what really spoke to me I think and the reason I picked reading this over her other books. After all Kade does look mighty fine on the cover.
Sometimes getting lost in a book is better than getting lost in reality
The pacing of the book was good; it wasn’t too fast, and yet it didn’t drag. Obviously, Violet completed her training fast in a sense, but we didn’t need a day-by-day account of her training. Regarding the romance, it was a little slow burn…maybe. There was obviously push and pull; they wanted each other, but it was a line they shouldn’t cross what given their military ranks and also Violet having dated Adam, Kade’s son. I was rooting for them, though.
It. Feels. So. Fucking. Wrong. But it also feels so perfectly right.
The book is definitely character-driven; there is action with regard to the military and their training, but it is not plot-driven, in my opinion. Speaking of the characters, I enjoyed Kade’s character, the sexy, grumpy, hard-hearted soldier. He comes across as cold and cruel, but he is training soldiers to go into situations that are life or death; he needs to know they can handle it and not get themselves and their team killed. Kade has seen too many people die, and he carries that with him. Violet was also quite likeable, she is a bit of a brat. Her father was a special ops soldier, and she joined to honour him after she blamed herself for his death. Her mother and sister also blame her and distance themselves from her. They are not happy with her choice to join the special ops team, leaving Violet to go through training with only the support of her very poorly Grandma, who is dying from cancer as well as living with alzheimer’s. Her boyfriend, who becomes her ex-boyfriend, is an arse. He breaks up with her as she is boarding the plane to join training, leaving her with no one to support her.
The betrayal they inflict on my heart has turned my spirit into stone. Isolation doesn’t always have to be lonely-it’s a shield that protects me at this point.
One thing that I noticed was that some of the side characters stood out to me, such as Booker. He is friends with Kade and serves alongside him; they’ve known each other for a long time. SPOILER I liked Booker’s character, which is why it made it all the more sad when he died. I instantly had a dislike towards Violet’s mum, her ex-boyfriend, and Karen, the woman Kade used to sleep with. I was also pissed when Kade believed Karen and didn’t give Violet a chance to explain.
The book is set in the military, obviously. The first chunk of the book is on base where Violet is training; she is in training for a year before she is classed as a Green Beret. She is then stationed at the same base as Kade.
By the time I’m done with you, there will be nothing left for any other man to worship. I’ll know your body, mind, and soul better than yourself.
I enjoyed the flow of the book and struggled to put it down. I started it on the 19th and read 40% without even realising it. I picked it back up the next day, intent on reading a couple of chapters, and somehow ended up finishing the book. I also cried. I do not forgive the author for that yet, haha. I did not expect to cry when I picked this book up, but yeah, it was quite emotional. The ending seemed a little rushed. I would of liked more of Kade’s story on how he escaped from the enemies.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read something by Lexi Axelson again. I would also recommend this book if you want an Age Gap, Military Romance. You will cry though…or not, depends on if you’re soft like me, haha.
You’ve never needed me, baby. Never. You’re unbreakable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
