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kaje_harper's review
4.0
This was a realistic story about two military men, that managed to avoid most of the clichés and obvious plots and delivered a hot, smooth and ultimately engaging story.
As the book opens, Platoon Sergeant Col Wilson meets his next group of recruits and among them is Chris Thompson, a young man who has already been noted on his paperwork for being overqualified, intelligent, educated, athletic, and oh yes, gay and out. What Col didn't realize was that Chris is also gorgeous and will test fifteen years of determination not to give in to his desire for other men.
The beginning of this feels a little superficial, as the daily life of the platoon in training is a backdrop for Chris's skills and Col's temptation, and some growing homophobia from other recruits. It was realistic, and Col's feelings and conflicts were clear, but I didn't feel emotionally involved in the story. But the longer it went on, the more I started to care about the characters and their lives. By the end, I was cheering for these two men.
The sex scenes are very well done; the issues Col has with both the age and power gap between them, and the career risks, were neither over nor under emphasized. Chris is a bit perfect, and I wish we had more than one brief statement from his uncle to help the reader feel a bit more of his uncertainties and concerns, but he began to feel more real as the story went on. I appreciated the lack of melodrama, and the slow, plausible development of the relationship. Well worth the read for anyone who enjoys two men finding each other in a realistic military setting.
As the book opens, Platoon Sergeant Col Wilson meets his next group of recruits and among them is Chris Thompson, a young man who has already been noted on his paperwork for being overqualified, intelligent, educated, athletic, and oh yes, gay and out. What Col didn't realize was that Chris is also gorgeous and will test fifteen years of determination not to give in to his desire for other men.
The beginning of this feels a little superficial, as the daily life of the platoon in training is a backdrop for Chris's skills and Col's temptation, and some growing homophobia from other recruits. It was realistic, and Col's feelings and conflicts were clear, but I didn't feel emotionally involved in the story. But the longer it went on, the more I started to care about the characters and their lives. By the end, I was cheering for these two men.
The sex scenes are very well done; the issues Col has with both the age and power gap between them, and the career risks, were neither over nor under emphasized. Chris is a bit perfect, and I wish we had more than one brief statement from his uncle to help the reader feel a bit more of his uncertainties and concerns, but he began to feel more real as the story went on. I appreciated the lack of melodrama, and the slow, plausible development of the relationship. Well worth the read for anyone who enjoys two men finding each other in a realistic military setting.
msmiz95's review
4.0
Marquesate has a way of writing that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I found my stomach clenching, waiting for the other shoe to drop through out this book, reading into comments and inner thoughts to the point I drove myself mad. Honestly, this book does not have a ton of conflict for what we have come to expect in military books of this caliber. I think in another author's hands, this book might have been a really 'meh' kind of story. I do not know how she does it, but because if her 'it' factor, I will continue to read all that she creates for us.
galinette's review
1.0
At first I thought that it would be a British equivalent of I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier but it ended up being far from an equivalent and rather a much, much, much watered down version of it. I had trouble seeing how Col and Chris' feelings for each other developed, most of the time they seemed like very flat character. The storyline progressed only through developments that felt much too forced. The writing wasn't anything to write home about.
lauraadriana78's review
4.0
Well this book was a long time coming. As I expected this book was a realistic and at times brutal story of military life.
Col Wilson is a Drill Sargeant in the Royal Forces, he is a gay man. He knows that, but he won't and can't give into that feeling. He never has indulged in those fantasies, and his plan is to keep it that way. Until Chris Thompson, new recruit, openly gay and FUCKING PERFECTION walks in as part of his new group.
Chris is not only openly gay, but he is by far the best of best in the new group, that brings trouble with it for Col and in the platoon. Bad things happen, but Chris is resilient. He graduates as the top in class, and his first and foremost desire once that is done is to get Col. Col can't help himself, he goes to Chris. And they begin.
There were elements in this story that were reminiscent of that other story I love so well. I liked that they were together for many years, that unwavering lust and love thing that Marquesate's men have. So much passion and fierceness. That was there. The mind blowing hotness. That was there too. The enduring and unwavering love. THERE. The whole time. It was also surprisingly non-dramatic, in a good way. They were in love, they had a lot of obstacles, but they worked around them, the bid their time and found their HEA.
I liked this book, I liked these men, and I LOVED what they had. It wasn't haunting and angsty, if frustrating at times. There were bits, that I felt went on too long, but that didn't bother me too much. This story was was good. Very good.
I recommend.
Col Wilson is a Drill Sargeant in the Royal Forces, he is a gay man. He knows that, but he won't and can't give into that feeling. He never has indulged in those fantasies, and his plan is to keep it that way. Until Chris Thompson, new recruit, openly gay and FUCKING PERFECTION walks in as part of his new group.
Chris is not only openly gay, but he is by far the best of best in the new group, that brings trouble with it for Col and in the platoon. Bad things happen, but Chris is resilient. He graduates as the top in class, and his first and foremost desire once that is done is to get Col. Col can't help himself, he goes to Chris. And they begin.
There were elements in this story that were reminiscent of that other story I love so well. I liked that they were together for many years, that unwavering lust and love thing that Marquesate's men have. So much passion and fierceness. That was there. The mind blowing hotness. That was there too. The enduring and unwavering love. THERE. The whole time. It was also surprisingly non-dramatic, in a good way. They were in love, they had a lot of obstacles, but they worked around them, the bid their time and found their HEA.
I liked this book, I liked these men, and I LOVED what they had. It wasn't haunting and angsty, if frustrating at times. There were bits, that I felt went on too long, but that didn't bother me too much. This story was was good. Very good.
I recommend.
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