Marquesate

I loved this book, even the second half when it seemed that Matt falls into behaviors that they don't correspond to him,. It didn't seem that way to me, the tempos in what each thing happens are perfectly adjusted.

Some of what Matt makes -recreational sex specifically- refers to the Matt that we knew in [b:Special Forces|6708511|Special Forces (Special Forces, #1-3)|Aleksandr Voinov|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1268577845s/6708511.jpg|6904341]. His approach to the BDSM world seemed totally natural to me: He research, he try, he choose and he end up creating his own BDSM ways and rules.

Hooch *sigh*... I simply am crazy about him.… (more)

The only regret I have upon finishing this one is that it took me so long to read it. Actually, I’m ashamed cause I really liked the previous military romance I read by Marquesate, so I knew this one was probably as good as well, but there are so many books out every month, that I tend to read new to me authors, and let the ones I have already read got behind. Well, don’t do my same mistake and if you haven’t the chance, read Basic Training.

The main strength of the novel is the balance between manliness and romance, military and love story: never once the author forgot these were soldiers she was writing about, but at the same time, the romance was “romantic” (sorry the double similar words but they fit).

Aside from the military theme, that already part of a romance tradition, the author also ventured in another classical romance theme, the May/December romance, or better the young/older lovers: Platoon Sergeant Col 'Bulldog' Wilson is 35 years old, while new recruits Chris Thompson is 21 years old. Of course the age difference is part of the plot, with Col wondering if Chris is not searching a substitute father in him, even considering the bad relationship Chris has with his own father, but the author managed to shorten it with a clever expedient: Chris never hid his sexuality, since he was a teenager, arriving even to tick of the “homosexual” square in his enlisting papers, and so at 21 he hasn’t maybe much sexual experience on the field, but he had plenty of time to be self-conscious about his sexuality and desires; Col instead has always repressed his feelings, and at 35 he has never been with a man before, and he still needs to arrive to pact with his own sexual needs, let alone feelings.

It will be a long path for Col and Chris, another thing I liked of the story, we followed them for years, not just during the heat of the passion, but a path with a very romantic happily ever after at the end.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608204618/?tag=elimyrevandra-20… (more)

I absolutely loved this short story, there is practically no sex and despite this (or maybe thanks to this) it’s one of the most romantic and sweet story I have ever read, and if you considering it’s about rough soldiers, it was not an easy job to make it like that.

Tom and Alex are buddy friends and something more; no one wants to really admit the deepness of their feelings, but it’s obvious and binding. Waiting for Alex to leave for a six months shift abroad, Tom has the chance to question his own side of the relationship and to arrive to the right conclusion: he is in love. But in their world, and mentality, it’s almost impossible to be open with this type of feeling, and so Tom is not able to say the words, not even to think at them. Alex will leave and Tom will wait at home, like a friend and not a partner.

Tom is probably more near to the point in which it will be impossible to deny it’s love, but it’s not that Alex is doing something to push him away; on the contrary, even from abroad, he is cultivating their feelings, and maintaining the contact, so that when he will be back home, Tom will be there waiting for him. Does it matter that their friends and relatives believe them to be only best friends? By the way, I think Tom and Alex want to think their dear ones are not aware, but I think it’s one example more of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: in this case it’s a benigne example, a way for Tom’s family to letting him know that he will be always welcome in their comforting embrace.

This is a Christmas story, and as such is tender and with an happily ever after, maybe a macho man HEA, but nevertheless a good one.

This is a charity publication, strictly no-profit for the author, and the £0.40 revenue of each book go to Médecins Sans Frontières

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1195527.html… (more)