**Title:** Breaking His Code
**Author:** Patricia D. Eddy
**Release Date:** July 24th 2017
**Favourite Character(s):** Camilla “Cam” Delgado
**Stars:** ⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Review:**
I picked up *Breaking His Code* during a “stuff your earphones” sale, and out of all the options, this was the only one that actually grabbed my attention. It ended up being a nice, easy read that surprised me in a few ways. This is book one in Patricia D. Eddy’s *Away from Keyboard* series—which, let me tell you, is *long*—but the books are interconnected standalones, so you can absolutely read this one on its own. The story follows West and Cam, two veterans trying to navigate civilian life while still carrying the weight of their pasts. West is an ex-Navy SEAL who's drifting through life, clearly haunted by his trauma and barely keeping his Krav Maga studio afloat. His only real escape is gaming—where he meets Cam. She’s a badass in her own right, an ex-explosives expert turned coder who’s scarred (both physically and emotionally) from her time in Afghanistan. She walks with a cane now, keeps her world small, and hides behind her screen—until West convinces her to take a leap and meet up in person. One of the things I appreciated most was the portrayal of veterans and the different ways they cope after service. It felt grounded and genuine without being overly dramatic. I’ve never read a military romance before, so this was a new angle for me, and I think the author did a solid job balancing the emotional weight with the romance itself. Cam’s character stood out the most to me. I loved that she was a coder! She was complex, smart, and guarded without being cold. I do wish we got a bit more of her background fleshed out, especially around her family dynamic and whether that ever gets resolved. There were hints, but nothing really explored. Still, I admired how layered she was. West, on the other hand, was a total charmer. His arc was solid, but I did feel like some plot threads around his past were either underdeveloped or brought up and then dropped. Just a bit more depth there would’ve added a lot. Now, let’s talk romance. It’s definitely insta-love, but not in the “we met five minutes ago and now I’d die for you” way. They’d already built a connection online through gaming and late-night chats, so when they meet IRL, the chemistry is already simmering. It felt natural—fast, sure—but believable for the context. The spice? Three solid scenes. Not too much, not too little. And yes, it was spicing. Just the right balance of heat without taking away from the emotional moments. That said, the third-act breakup? Unnecessary. I understood the reasoning, but it felt like it was thrown in because it's a typical romance beat, not because the story *needed* it. The resolution was fine, but I think the book could’ve held up without the drama. Overall, this was a quick, heartfelt read with just enough depth to leave an impression. It's not a five-star, life-changing read, but it did what it set out to do—and it did it well. I liked the emotional tone, the quiet strength of the characters, and the way the author handled trauma and healing without making it the entire focus. Would I continue the series? Maybe—not rushing to it right away, but I’m definitely curious about the other characters. If you’re looking for something low-angst, a little steamy, and full of found-family vibes and beautifully broken people trying to put themselves back together, this is a good one to start with. I’d recommend it.
