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Scarcity Sanctuary #1
Soldier
When Soldier shows up to check on one of his properties, he's amazed to find the old house in disrepair and full of scared boys being cared for by a man who makes him believe in angels. Dillon falls for this big bald man, so scarred inside and out, who comes to mean so much to all of them. All of the boys have such heartbreaking stories and these two men's mission in life now becomes to make life better, easier, and most of all, safer for the children in their care. Love is all important in building their dream.
This story has been previously published.
This story has been previously published.
217 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2009
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550 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 5, 2009
AKM Miles knows how to pull the heartstrings in her stories. She is awesome at making you care about her characters, and her storylines are often sweet, and so addictive to read. Soldier was no exception.
I really should be ashamed of myself. I’ve had Soldier for some time. For some reason I kept putting it off every time I thought about reading it. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think the cover is one of those reasons. The cover turned me off. BUT, I knew that I have really enjoyed the other books AKM has written, so I knew eventually I would get to it. I am glad I did! So don’t make the same mistake I did, just ignore the cover and go for it!
Dillon is a twenty five year old man who has made his mission to take care of unwanted and abused children. He is barely able to be a foster parent and does what he can to protect them and keep them safe. Because of their special situation, he lives in an abandoned home surviving under the radar in hopes that the children won’t ever be taken away from him.
Dillon has had a hard life himself. His too pretty to be real looks has gotten him viciously attacked when he was fourteen, leaving the right side of his face horribly scarred. He has learned to survive hardships and in turn is doing his best to ensure the boys under his care are safe and secure.
When Dillon and one of the boys he is watching named Gom (short for Montgomery) notice a dark shadow lingering in the distance they both know instinctively that they are being watched by a man. Young Gom insists that the man is dressed in camouflaged apparel and both Gom and Dillon instinctively believe this man will not harm them.
After the mysterious man saves Dillon the next day from being attacked, while he is making the rounds for food, Dillon decides to befriend the huge man. That night Dillon seeks the big man out, only to confirm that the man who calls himself Soldier is truly a gentle soul who is a loner himself.
Soldier is a very complex character. He has done things while in the military that other’s wouldn’t, yet the compassion, strength and love that Soldier easily gives Dillon, and the boys he watches over, is amazing. Soldier is accepted within their small family because of his beautiful soul and very big heart. Plus, the battle scars and horrible burns Soldier has on the left side of his face make him a man that these abused boys can relate too and possible even identify with.
I loved this book. The intensity of love and friendship between Dillon and Soldier was apparent throughout the book. Although they love one another, the love and respect they have for the boys they watch over was amazing too. I loved all of the boy’s right along with them. All of the secondary characters play a major role in making this book one of my favorite reads. There is much more story than sex, because Soldier and Dillon must be careful with being gay, and being able to keep the boys, but you won’t miss it. The couple of times they were able to sneak away make their sexual encounters romantic and very sweet. I loved it and I hope everyone will consider reading it. I really hated to see it come to an end. I would love to see how the boys all turn out.
If I could rate it higher than 5 stars I would.
I really should be ashamed of myself. I’ve had Soldier for some time. For some reason I kept putting it off every time I thought about reading it. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think the cover is one of those reasons. The cover turned me off. BUT, I knew that I have really enjoyed the other books AKM has written, so I knew eventually I would get to it. I am glad I did! So don’t make the same mistake I did, just ignore the cover and go for it!
Dillon is a twenty five year old man who has made his mission to take care of unwanted and abused children. He is barely able to be a foster parent and does what he can to protect them and keep them safe. Because of their special situation, he lives in an abandoned home surviving under the radar in hopes that the children won’t ever be taken away from him.
Dillon has had a hard life himself. His too pretty to be real looks has gotten him viciously attacked when he was fourteen, leaving the right side of his face horribly scarred. He has learned to survive hardships and in turn is doing his best to ensure the boys under his care are safe and secure.
When Dillon and one of the boys he is watching named Gom (short for Montgomery) notice a dark shadow lingering in the distance they both know instinctively that they are being watched by a man. Young Gom insists that the man is dressed in camouflaged apparel and both Gom and Dillon instinctively believe this man will not harm them.
After the mysterious man saves Dillon the next day from being attacked, while he is making the rounds for food, Dillon decides to befriend the huge man. That night Dillon seeks the big man out, only to confirm that the man who calls himself Soldier is truly a gentle soul who is a loner himself.
Soldier is a very complex character. He has done things while in the military that other’s wouldn’t, yet the compassion, strength and love that Soldier easily gives Dillon, and the boys he watches over, is amazing. Soldier is accepted within their small family because of his beautiful soul and very big heart. Plus, the battle scars and horrible burns Soldier has on the left side of his face make him a man that these abused boys can relate too and possible even identify with.
I loved this book. The intensity of love and friendship between Dillon and Soldier was apparent throughout the book. Although they love one another, the love and respect they have for the boys they watch over was amazing too. I loved all of the boy’s right along with them. All of the secondary characters play a major role in making this book one of my favorite reads. There is much more story than sex, because Soldier and Dillon must be careful with being gay, and being able to keep the boys, but you won’t miss it. The couple of times they were able to sneak away make their sexual encounters romantic and very sweet. I loved it and I hope everyone will consider reading it. I really hated to see it come to an end. I would love to see how the boys all turn out.
If I could rate it higher than 5 stars I would.
December 22, 2009
Soldier is unabashedly a fantasy romance written with heavily feminine undertones that epitomizes an overly romantic, unrealistic view of two men in a gay relationship. In order to read this story you must first suspend an incredible amount of disbelief to immerse yourself within the fantasy and escapist story that bares no resemblance to reality or believable conflict. Unfortunately even once willing to go along with the author’s created world, inherent problems with the writing, plot, and characters create an overly simplistic, heavily romanticized view that offers little in the way of interesting characters and no conflict. Combined with incredibly poor writing, the lack of any discernable plot, characterization problems and lack of continuity, this book is a failure on all levels. I highly recommend you skip this book entirely and move on to something worth your time.
This story is fraught with problems from the onset, starting with poor and inconsistent characterization. Beginning with Soldier, who is introduced as a thirty-three year old military veteran, injured by a bomb during his tour of duty and thus leaving him emotionally, mentally, and physically scarred. His reaction is to retreat from the world for years. During this time Soldier goes to check on property he owns and happens to see a handful of boys and one older twenty-something living together in one of the run-down houses on the property. Soldier, being socially awkward and unable to communicate with other people, decides to stand in the woods and watch over the house with creepy stalker actions for days. Finally he’s seen and approached by the leader of the boys, Dillon.
At this point Soldier goes from almost silent introvert to an open, vulnerable, and communicative man. Soldier spends the remainder of the story talking at every conceivable point, often acting like a psychologist to the hurt and abused boys living within the run-down house. He spouts platitudes and comforts these boys, managing to reverse years of abuse and conditioning by repetitive statements such as “you’re a good boy, your parents were wrong”. While the sentiment is certainly true, the complete reversal of long standing emotional problems with simplistic statements is typical of the resolution to any pseudo-conflict that arises. As is Soldier’s heavy-handed manipulation of the situation with his sudden new found calling in life. Soldier, who remember was stalking this seemingly abandoned house without sleep, is actually a filthy rich man who wields power and money easily and without thought, all for the good of the boys and their home. There is a brief comment about Soldier’s past family as being rich but this is glossed over and not fully explored nor is his insistence on being called Soldier versus his real name, Keith Marsh, ever explained.
Soldier’s mammoth like size and Daddy Warbucks bank account from nowhere are just a few of the contradictory but overly simplistic resolutions used to clear up any pesky problems. Then there is the character of Dillon. He is introduced as twenty-five and running a kind of shelter that is subsidized by a not-so-legal arm of the Social Services. This outrageous trope will be discussed later but sticking to the character of Dillon, he’s been raped, beaten and somehow scarred during an altercation when he was younger and thus is determined to help other abused and frightened children. Admirable for sure, yet due to no income, no job, and no home Dillon must house these runaways in a dilapidated, abandoned home with virtually no clothes, no furniture, and food that has to be begged from shelters. Although the boys are never to leave the house for fear of discovery, at least he’s giving them a safe environment, I guess.
Furthermore, even Dillon has his own ugly and abused past but he immediately warms to Soldier and trusts him within hours of their introduction, even to the point of no protection sex. Supposedly the sexual sparks are flying amongst the lengthy and droll conversations about, well nothing. Dillon and Soldier talk all the time, making up the majority of the story, yet they mostly talk about the implausible shelter Dillon has created, the boys housed within, their stories and lengthy abuse recounting. There are almost no conversations about either man’s past, their hopes for the future beyond taking care of the boys, no shared experiences – instead both men cry repeatedly over the emotional scars of the boys and talk about how to spend Soldier’s money to fix up the house and actually make it a home versus a falling apart collection of walls. Both men talk at length about their feelings for each other, which stem mostly from a shared desire to better the lives of these young men, and have fallen in love within a matter of days, forming a connection that is visible for all to see. Although somehow I missed that connection as the men came across as wooden and insipid, including the exaggerated use of nicknames “honey, sweetie, baby, sweetheart“ for each other and the boys.
While the relationship between Soldier and Dillon is problematic, awkward and weird, the entire plot (such as it is) is even more so. The story revolves around – again – Dillon and his pseudo shelter for the boys and how Soldier rides to its rescue. The concept is that Dillon is allowed to house these boys due to sympathetic social workers who don’t mind that he keeps them basically locked within a house with few clothes, no education, scraps of food while they sleep on the floor. Not only that but Dillon and Soldier become foster parents with a legitimate shelter while being an openly gay couple because he clearly has enough money and power to smooth the way over any potential problems. Not to worry, there are no problems that appear for these two men though. Every person they come across is accepting, understanding and helpful as Soldier rebuilds their home and the emotional stability of the boys.
The few potential characters that could offer conflict, such as Officer Jensen, turn from cynical and distrusting to helpful and accommodating within hours. Good thing no one has ever encountered an actual homophobe within backwater Texas. Except of course the numerous boys living within the house. The characters of these boys are perhaps the brief shinning light amongst the story but unfortunately the author manages to trash even them. Gom and Tommy are the only boys given any real depth and even these characters are inconsistent and changeable. Gom is alternately described as a five year old or a ten year old, and his actions swing from frightened, abused child to an almost yoda-like wisdom. His emerges from years of abuse to still be a communicative and rather emotionally stable boy who immediately believes a stranger that tells him he’s a good boy. Tommy is not much better explained but somewhat more consistent as an abused twelve year old going on an emotional thirty.
Soldier muses “do wonders never cease?” for these characters the answer is easily no. There are no conflicts, there are no lingering emotional problems, no potential legal problems, no money worries – this is the ultimate fantasy with a few abuse back stories thrown in to tug at the heart strings of readers. The dull and simplistic writing does nothing to help the situation either. There is no vitality within the characters and the setting, no energy infused into dialogue, and even the numerous dramatic emotional scenes read vapid and empty with clear attempts to manipulate the reader into emotion but fell flat with poor writing. The prose was amateurish and clunky which made reading this story very difficult and agonizing. Quick, disjointed sentences with repetitive phrases and emotions dragged a story that could have been cut to the length of a short story.
The author truly says it best when quoting the relationship of Dillon and Soldier - “pure, sweet happiness flowed from one to the other. It was sappy and mushy and so sweet it made their teeth ache.” The attempt at an overly dramatic, overly emotional and sweetly sappy romance was hindered on so many levels but mostly due to the poor execution from beginning to end. Even willing to suspend disbelief and sense of reality to delve into the author’s fantasy, there were so many jarring, awkward and obvious plot devices that this story turned into a real chore to read. If I didn’t have to finish this for review, it would have been on my DNF shelf. I appreciate a sweet romance with a HEA as much as the next reader, but I would still like it well written with fully developed characters with depth and complexity for the emotions handled, and an energy to the prose that makes me excited and wanting to read it. Sorry this didn’t even come close to achieving any of that.
This story is fraught with problems from the onset, starting with poor and inconsistent characterization. Beginning with Soldier, who is introduced as a thirty-three year old military veteran, injured by a bomb during his tour of duty and thus leaving him emotionally, mentally, and physically scarred. His reaction is to retreat from the world for years. During this time Soldier goes to check on property he owns and happens to see a handful of boys and one older twenty-something living together in one of the run-down houses on the property. Soldier, being socially awkward and unable to communicate with other people, decides to stand in the woods and watch over the house with creepy stalker actions for days. Finally he’s seen and approached by the leader of the boys, Dillon.
At this point Soldier goes from almost silent introvert to an open, vulnerable, and communicative man. Soldier spends the remainder of the story talking at every conceivable point, often acting like a psychologist to the hurt and abused boys living within the run-down house. He spouts platitudes and comforts these boys, managing to reverse years of abuse and conditioning by repetitive statements such as “you’re a good boy, your parents were wrong”. While the sentiment is certainly true, the complete reversal of long standing emotional problems with simplistic statements is typical of the resolution to any pseudo-conflict that arises. As is Soldier’s heavy-handed manipulation of the situation with his sudden new found calling in life. Soldier, who remember was stalking this seemingly abandoned house without sleep, is actually a filthy rich man who wields power and money easily and without thought, all for the good of the boys and their home. There is a brief comment about Soldier’s past family as being rich but this is glossed over and not fully explored nor is his insistence on being called Soldier versus his real name, Keith Marsh, ever explained.
Soldier’s mammoth like size and Daddy Warbucks bank account from nowhere are just a few of the contradictory but overly simplistic resolutions used to clear up any pesky problems. Then there is the character of Dillon. He is introduced as twenty-five and running a kind of shelter that is subsidized by a not-so-legal arm of the Social Services. This outrageous trope will be discussed later but sticking to the character of Dillon, he’s been raped, beaten and somehow scarred during an altercation when he was younger and thus is determined to help other abused and frightened children. Admirable for sure, yet due to no income, no job, and no home Dillon must house these runaways in a dilapidated, abandoned home with virtually no clothes, no furniture, and food that has to be begged from shelters. Although the boys are never to leave the house for fear of discovery, at least he’s giving them a safe environment, I guess.
Furthermore, even Dillon has his own ugly and abused past but he immediately warms to Soldier and trusts him within hours of their introduction, even to the point of no protection sex. Supposedly the sexual sparks are flying amongst the lengthy and droll conversations about, well nothing. Dillon and Soldier talk all the time, making up the majority of the story, yet they mostly talk about the implausible shelter Dillon has created, the boys housed within, their stories and lengthy abuse recounting. There are almost no conversations about either man’s past, their hopes for the future beyond taking care of the boys, no shared experiences – instead both men cry repeatedly over the emotional scars of the boys and talk about how to spend Soldier’s money to fix up the house and actually make it a home versus a falling apart collection of walls. Both men talk at length about their feelings for each other, which stem mostly from a shared desire to better the lives of these young men, and have fallen in love within a matter of days, forming a connection that is visible for all to see. Although somehow I missed that connection as the men came across as wooden and insipid, including the exaggerated use of nicknames “honey, sweetie, baby, sweetheart“ for each other and the boys.
While the relationship between Soldier and Dillon is problematic, awkward and weird, the entire plot (such as it is) is even more so. The story revolves around – again – Dillon and his pseudo shelter for the boys and how Soldier rides to its rescue. The concept is that Dillon is allowed to house these boys due to sympathetic social workers who don’t mind that he keeps them basically locked within a house with few clothes, no education, scraps of food while they sleep on the floor. Not only that but Dillon and Soldier become foster parents with a legitimate shelter while being an openly gay couple because he clearly has enough money and power to smooth the way over any potential problems. Not to worry, there are no problems that appear for these two men though. Every person they come across is accepting, understanding and helpful as Soldier rebuilds their home and the emotional stability of the boys.
The few potential characters that could offer conflict, such as Officer Jensen, turn from cynical and distrusting to helpful and accommodating within hours. Good thing no one has ever encountered an actual homophobe within backwater Texas. Except of course the numerous boys living within the house. The characters of these boys are perhaps the brief shinning light amongst the story but unfortunately the author manages to trash even them. Gom and Tommy are the only boys given any real depth and even these characters are inconsistent and changeable. Gom is alternately described as a five year old or a ten year old, and his actions swing from frightened, abused child to an almost yoda-like wisdom. His emerges from years of abuse to still be a communicative and rather emotionally stable boy who immediately believes a stranger that tells him he’s a good boy. Tommy is not much better explained but somewhat more consistent as an abused twelve year old going on an emotional thirty.
Soldier muses “do wonders never cease?” for these characters the answer is easily no. There are no conflicts, there are no lingering emotional problems, no potential legal problems, no money worries – this is the ultimate fantasy with a few abuse back stories thrown in to tug at the heart strings of readers. The dull and simplistic writing does nothing to help the situation either. There is no vitality within the characters and the setting, no energy infused into dialogue, and even the numerous dramatic emotional scenes read vapid and empty with clear attempts to manipulate the reader into emotion but fell flat with poor writing. The prose was amateurish and clunky which made reading this story very difficult and agonizing. Quick, disjointed sentences with repetitive phrases and emotions dragged a story that could have been cut to the length of a short story.
The author truly says it best when quoting the relationship of Dillon and Soldier - “pure, sweet happiness flowed from one to the other. It was sappy and mushy and so sweet it made their teeth ache.” The attempt at an overly dramatic, overly emotional and sweetly sappy romance was hindered on so many levels but mostly due to the poor execution from beginning to end. Even willing to suspend disbelief and sense of reality to delve into the author’s fantasy, there were so many jarring, awkward and obvious plot devices that this story turned into a real chore to read. If I didn’t have to finish this for review, it would have been on my DNF shelf. I appreciate a sweet romance with a HEA as much as the next reader, but I would still like it well written with fully developed characters with depth and complexity for the emotions handled, and an energy to the prose that makes me excited and wanting to read it. Sorry this didn’t even come close to achieving any of that.
June 16, 2009
Soldier is a disenfranchised loner, scarred on the outside after a firefight and scarred on the inside from the outcome of that event.
Dillon is a young man, scarred on the outside from a youthful gay bashing but compassionate despite his ordeal.
Dillon is working on the very fringes of the social services system in a dilapadated old house taking care of 7 young boys that need security and safety more than the shuffle of the foster system.
Soldier and Dillon find each other when Soldier's wanderings lead him to the house they live in, but he owns. Very quickly they recognize a kindred soul, matching facial scars aside, in each other. Soldier has to wake up out of his soulless existence to see it. Once he wakes up - look out. He takes the house by storm.
The two main boys that they focus on beside our H/H are heartwarming and adorable. They say and do all the right things to make you melt. Their abuse backstory is terrible, luckily they landed in Dillons home and even luckier, Soldier came along.
This was a heartwarming and erotic story. The sex is not often since they have to get away from the house to really make love but when they do, they make the most of it. They are not left wanting and neither was I.
The fear of being a gay couple fostering kids feels real and the initial response they get from some of the community, was unfortunately, realistic too. But some interesting turns take place.
Despite the HORRID cover, this was a very sweet, touching story that I will remember for a long time. I would love to see more of them as they rebuild and the children get older and more "unfortunates" pass through their home.
AKM Miles did not disappoint at all in this offering.
Dillon is a young man, scarred on the outside from a youthful gay bashing but compassionate despite his ordeal.
Dillon is working on the very fringes of the social services system in a dilapadated old house taking care of 7 young boys that need security and safety more than the shuffle of the foster system.
Soldier and Dillon find each other when Soldier's wanderings lead him to the house they live in, but he owns. Very quickly they recognize a kindred soul, matching facial scars aside, in each other. Soldier has to wake up out of his soulless existence to see it. Once he wakes up - look out. He takes the house by storm.
The two main boys that they focus on beside our H/H are heartwarming and adorable. They say and do all the right things to make you melt. Their abuse backstory is terrible, luckily they landed in Dillons home and even luckier, Soldier came along.
This was a heartwarming and erotic story. The sex is not often since they have to get away from the house to really make love but when they do, they make the most of it. They are not left wanting and neither was I.
The fear of being a gay couple fostering kids feels real and the initial response they get from some of the community, was unfortunately, realistic too. But some interesting turns take place.
Despite the HORRID cover, this was a very sweet, touching story that I will remember for a long time. I would love to see more of them as they rebuild and the children get older and more "unfortunates" pass through their home.
AKM Miles did not disappoint at all in this offering.
August 12, 2011
This is such a brilliant story. It’s a book that really stands out for me, and even though I read it (for the first time) a very long time ago, the characters were still with me when I picked it up a few days ago to re-read it.
Much longer and richer than you’d think a short novel of 158 pages can ‘feel’, it revolves around the story of a man who is utterly lost when he first returns home after fighting in a war. Referring to himself only as ‘Soldier’, he starts out as an observer unable to join in. He is tired, hurt and doesn’t even know how to return to ‘normal’ society. The journey he takes to heal himself by helping others is nothing short of amazing. The description of his thoughts made him utterly real to me.
Dillon is struggling to give a safe place to a group of young boys who have nobody else to care for them. While Dillon connects to the world in a very direct way, he has given up hope to find happiness for himself. He is a great nurturer who is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for others. His surprise and delight when he begins to realize that maybe he can be happy after all is wonderful to watch. The threats that promptly pop up and try to take it all away again held me on the edge of my seat.
Soldier and Dillon are both scarred in different ways. Yet both are driven to help not only each other but the homeless boys as well. The development of Soldier's and Dillon's relationship and the outside threats they encounter held me spellbound. All of the characters were so real that I cried and laughed with them as if they were my friends. And yet, this is also a book that reads like a fairy tale. With all of the problems inherent in these men’s situation it could have easily turned into total disaster. The fact that it didn’t may prompt some people to say that it is unrealistic. Unfortunately, thanks to the cruel world we live in, that is most likely true. All the better that we have places our imagination can take us (with the help of a great author like AKM) where disaster doesn’t strike and where ‘the bad guys’ don’t win. I, for one, enjoy reading stories like this just as much as those that are ‘real. Who is to say which is the ‘better’ reality?
Much longer and richer than you’d think a short novel of 158 pages can ‘feel’, it revolves around the story of a man who is utterly lost when he first returns home after fighting in a war. Referring to himself only as ‘Soldier’, he starts out as an observer unable to join in. He is tired, hurt and doesn’t even know how to return to ‘normal’ society. The journey he takes to heal himself by helping others is nothing short of amazing. The description of his thoughts made him utterly real to me.
Dillon is struggling to give a safe place to a group of young boys who have nobody else to care for them. While Dillon connects to the world in a very direct way, he has given up hope to find happiness for himself. He is a great nurturer who is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for others. His surprise and delight when he begins to realize that maybe he can be happy after all is wonderful to watch. The threats that promptly pop up and try to take it all away again held me on the edge of my seat.
Soldier and Dillon are both scarred in different ways. Yet both are driven to help not only each other but the homeless boys as well. The development of Soldier's and Dillon's relationship and the outside threats they encounter held me spellbound. All of the characters were so real that I cried and laughed with them as if they were my friends. And yet, this is also a book that reads like a fairy tale. With all of the problems inherent in these men’s situation it could have easily turned into total disaster. The fact that it didn’t may prompt some people to say that it is unrealistic. Unfortunately, thanks to the cruel world we live in, that is most likely true. All the better that we have places our imagination can take us (with the help of a great author like AKM) where disaster doesn’t strike and where ‘the bad guys’ don’t win. I, for one, enjoy reading stories like this just as much as those that are ‘real. Who is to say which is the ‘better’ reality?
November 10, 2010
I couldn't leave this book alone, it was behind my design programmes, it was behind Excel, and actually I got about 2% work done today!
This is a story that tugs on so many heartstrings. The main guys, Soldier, an army man, injured and scarred, and Dillon, a man for whom purpose in life is to give a good home to seven boys who would have suffered in the *system*.
Gom. Jeez. Gom has me by the ovaries, and Tommy...I want to adopt them both. The characterisation of the guys and the kids was spot on and there really was the offer of a happy ever after.
Off to read Tommy's Story next. I know the author is writing Gom's story too...*wants*...
I would rec this to anyone who likes seeing how a man interacts with children, how he comes to love them, and be loved in return.
This is a story that tugs on so many heartstrings. The main guys, Soldier, an army man, injured and scarred, and Dillon, a man for whom purpose in life is to give a good home to seven boys who would have suffered in the *system*.
Gom. Jeez. Gom has me by the ovaries, and Tommy...I want to adopt them both. The characterisation of the guys and the kids was spot on and there really was the offer of a happy ever after.
Off to read Tommy's Story next. I know the author is writing Gom's story too...*wants*...
I would rec this to anyone who likes seeing how a man interacts with children, how he comes to love them, and be loved in return.
April 28, 2009
Soldier has been on the outskirts of society for so long he has almost forgotten what the feel of human kindness and touch is like. Battle scarred and bone weary he decides to investigate his properties; he finds one of them in use and a whole lot of mystery surrounding the occupant of the house. When he delves into who has been getting up to what on his property, he finds himself caught up in the lives of seven expectant faces and one man whom he wants to be with more than anything else.
Dillon is living a secretive live with his little band of boys; he keeps his head low, causes no problem and above all else ensures his charges are kept under the radar. When he appears to have a watcher, he tosses it off as a fluke, however when watcher turns savior - he follows his gut and faces the challenge head on. He and his boys get more than a surprise as their mystery person is a watcher and a savior and he is just what these eight people needs.
AKM Miles strikes again, this is my third book by this author and I have yet to be disappointed by any. SOLDIER is the latest addition in this author’s growing repertoire of books.
Soldier is at a phase of his life where he had given up; he just gets on with his day and makes the best of what life has thrown at him. Surprise for him comes in a package that is wrapped up in Dillon and a houseful of boys. For the first time in a long time, he get a satisfaction out of life and he is touching distance from having it all and - he aims to have it all.
Dillon is not only beautiful outside but just as beautiful on the inside and it shows in everything he touches and his every action. Doing his utmost to protect the charges he is responsible for leaves him little time to think of himself, so when he is able to have his cake and eat it too, he ponders if he is brave enough to take the steps necessary to make them all happy.
There is tremendous heartbreak, clinging desperation and huge doses of reality that will have you breaking out in shivers; however there is so much hope, so much giving, so much more loving than any of these people had ever known or expected to find in their life, that makes SOLDIER a richer read.
I love this book and I have done a re-read – already. AKM Miles is not only becoming one of my favorite authors, but with a story line that drags you into the pits of despair and comes full circle, to give her characters a life that is truer and fuller, just from the fact they met at the right time in their life.
My hat’s off to the author, AKM Miles has a way with words that will have you looking forward to the next AKM Miles production.
Dillon is living a secretive live with his little band of boys; he keeps his head low, causes no problem and above all else ensures his charges are kept under the radar. When he appears to have a watcher, he tosses it off as a fluke, however when watcher turns savior - he follows his gut and faces the challenge head on. He and his boys get more than a surprise as their mystery person is a watcher and a savior and he is just what these eight people needs.
AKM Miles strikes again, this is my third book by this author and I have yet to be disappointed by any. SOLDIER is the latest addition in this author’s growing repertoire of books.
Soldier is at a phase of his life where he had given up; he just gets on with his day and makes the best of what life has thrown at him. Surprise for him comes in a package that is wrapped up in Dillon and a houseful of boys. For the first time in a long time, he get a satisfaction out of life and he is touching distance from having it all and - he aims to have it all.
Dillon is not only beautiful outside but just as beautiful on the inside and it shows in everything he touches and his every action. Doing his utmost to protect the charges he is responsible for leaves him little time to think of himself, so when he is able to have his cake and eat it too, he ponders if he is brave enough to take the steps necessary to make them all happy.
There is tremendous heartbreak, clinging desperation and huge doses of reality that will have you breaking out in shivers; however there is so much hope, so much giving, so much more loving than any of these people had ever known or expected to find in their life, that makes SOLDIER a richer read.
I love this book and I have done a re-read – already. AKM Miles is not only becoming one of my favorite authors, but with a story line that drags you into the pits of despair and comes full circle, to give her characters a life that is truer and fuller, just from the fact they met at the right time in their life.
My hat’s off to the author, AKM Miles has a way with words that will have you looking forward to the next AKM Miles production.
June 6, 2009
This is the book to read if you are feeling very mushy, but not if you want hot sex!
I didn't like the cover. It is a bit creepy and doesn't represent the story. It is a novel about damaged men and boys helping one another and healing themselves in the process.
'Soldier' is not his real name but how he likes to be known. I am not sure why he feels his own name is worthless as he has received an honourable discharge from the army after being badly burned by an bomb exploding while he was trying to rescue other men. He successfully rescued three but the resulting scars are very disfiguring and he closes in on himself. It seems at first that he is a tramp, but no we find out later he is mega rich and actually lives in a hotel suite - Yeah right. He is checking on property he owns when he discovers one of his empty houses is being used as a shelter for boys who have not thrived in normal foster family arrangements.
At this point the story picks up, and it is the relationship that develops between the foster boys and the men that really makes this book. Your heart just goes out to them all and you want them to be alright. All that money turns out to be very very handy. Food and clothes for a lot of boys does not come cheap!
There are a couple of good sex scenes but they are definitely not the raison d'etre of the book.
UPDATE. 6TH APRIL 2011. This now has a new cover at MLR Press! MUCH better!
I didn't like the cover. It is a bit creepy and doesn't represent the story. It is a novel about damaged men and boys helping one another and healing themselves in the process.
'Soldier' is not his real name but how he likes to be known. I am not sure why he feels his own name is worthless as he has received an honourable discharge from the army after being badly burned by an bomb exploding while he was trying to rescue other men. He successfully rescued three but the resulting scars are very disfiguring and he closes in on himself. It seems at first that he is a tramp, but no we find out later he is mega rich and actually lives in a hotel suite - Yeah right. He is checking on property he owns when he discovers one of his empty houses is being used as a shelter for boys who have not thrived in normal foster family arrangements.
At this point the story picks up, and it is the relationship that develops between the foster boys and the men that really makes this book. Your heart just goes out to them all and you want them to be alright. All that money turns out to be very very handy. Food and clothes for a lot of boys does not come cheap!
There are a couple of good sex scenes but they are definitely not the raison d'etre of the book.
UPDATE. 6TH APRIL 2011. This now has a new cover at MLR Press! MUCH better!
December 15, 2015
Абсурдный сюжет, совершенно неправдоподобный. Картонные диалоги, притянутый за уши обоснуй. Уж давно я не читала ничего подобного... Хрень! Полная хрень! Удивительно, откуда рейтинги.
Очень рекомендую в случае, если книги других писателей начинают казаться вам плохими!
Получает единицу.
Очень рекомендую в случае, если книги других писателей начинают казаться вам плохими!
Получает единицу.
December 19, 2014
Nothing like an unexpected ride on an emotional roller coaster.
Wow wow wow
Wow wow wow
March 19, 2017
If you read this as a m/m romance you will probably be extremely disappointed.
It lacks so much of what you usually get in this genre, it's almost ridiculous.
On the other hand it is completely unbelievable, so maybe it is like a lot of books in this genre after all ;-)
But seriously I could not say that it was a terrible read, I did enjoy the fairytale story of Soldier who after returning from war lives his life alone, not interested in anyone until he sees Dillon. Dillon is more of less a Saint who took in a bunch of kids and tries to make a living for all of them.
He is not a foster parent, but works together with childcare, so the arrangement is not really official but also not completely legal.
Turns out, that the house they live in belongs to Soldier, who is ridiculously rich, and honestly this is not the only ridiculous thing in this book. From insta love, to all problems solving themselves immediately, this book is such a cliché. It has the sweetest kids ever, scarred loving adults and of course some cute dogs.
Actually it definitely has too much of everything (including one of the worst covers ever).
Still I did not mind reading it, I would not say it's great, but if you do not mind tons of sweetness (we are talking about artificial sweetener here, not even sugar anymore) it was quite funny to read and although I would not generally recommend it, I still had a good time reading it.
3 Canderel stars and an extra honorary mention for a story that must be true, because honestly no one could make up such an unbelievable plot - or could they??
It lacks so much of what you usually get in this genre, it's almost ridiculous.
On the other hand it is completely unbelievable, so maybe it is like a lot of books in this genre after all ;-)
But seriously I could not say that it was a terrible read, I did enjoy the fairytale story of Soldier who after returning from war lives his life alone, not interested in anyone until he sees Dillon. Dillon is more of less a Saint who took in a bunch of kids and tries to make a living for all of them.
He is not a foster parent, but works together with childcare, so the arrangement is not really official but also not completely legal.
Turns out, that the house they live in belongs to Soldier, who is ridiculously rich, and honestly this is not the only ridiculous thing in this book. From insta love, to all problems solving themselves immediately, this book is such a cliché. It has the sweetest kids ever, scarred loving adults and of course some cute dogs.
Actually it definitely has too much of everything (including one of the worst covers ever).
Still I did not mind reading it, I would not say it's great, but if you do not mind tons of sweetness (we are talking about artificial sweetener here, not even sugar anymore) it was quite funny to read and although I would not generally recommend it, I still had a good time reading it.
3 Canderel stars and an extra honorary mention for a story that must be true, because honestly no one could make up such an unbelievable plot - or could they??
October 7, 2014
Wonderful idea for this story that ultimately wasn't executed in such a way that it managed to satisfy me. I had a few problems with it:
1. A lot of telling and not showing, especially in the beginning.
2. Lots of repetition. A character might think: "I need to buy socks." And then he'd say to the other main character: "I need to buy socks." And then they'd go to buy socks! That's a simplistic example, but it sort of went like that. Plus the problem of how the house fit into the Social Services system was hammered at often.
3. The most interesting part of the story, for me, was Soldier's transformation from the shadowy figure lurking in the yard to the benefactor he became. But this was a change that was glossed over, never truly explained, and happened almost from one scene to the next. I would have welcomed a novel three times the length of Soldier, and one-quarter of it should have been devoted to this character change. My opinion, only, of course, but I do feel that the author really left a golden opportunity on the floor.
4. Too, too perfect, too easy, too rich. Since Soldier has unlimited resources, the plotline took on the aura of a fairy tale (no double entendre intended!) because no *material* problem was possible. Yes, the problems the children had endured and still faced were heart-stoppingly sad (and this the author handled well, giving the reader enough detail without going overboard), but it did seem that Soldier was able to solve...everything else! And he even went a long way to solving their emotional difficulties too.
5. I have lived in Texas, and let me tell you, two gay men with a houseful of male foster kids? Would. Not. Work. *Especially* in a small town such as where Soldier is set. Very sad, but also very true. That state has a lot of growing up to do.
I'm disappointed because I really do think this is a terrific story idea. So much so that, even though this book did not work for me, I'm going to take a look to see if there are other books in this series. Hope springs eternal!
1. A lot of telling and not showing, especially in the beginning.
2. Lots of repetition. A character might think: "I need to buy socks." And then he'd say to the other main character: "I need to buy socks." And then they'd go to buy socks! That's a simplistic example, but it sort of went like that. Plus the problem of how the house fit into the Social Services system was hammered at often.
3. The most interesting part of the story, for me, was Soldier's transformation from the shadowy figure lurking in the yard to the benefactor he became. But this was a change that was glossed over, never truly explained, and happened almost from one scene to the next. I would have welcomed a novel three times the length of Soldier, and one-quarter of it should have been devoted to this character change. My opinion, only, of course, but I do feel that the author really left a golden opportunity on the floor.
4. Too, too perfect, too easy, too rich. Since Soldier has unlimited resources, the plotline took on the aura of a fairy tale (no double entendre intended!) because no *material* problem was possible. Yes, the problems the children had endured and still faced were heart-stoppingly sad (and this the author handled well, giving the reader enough detail without going overboard), but it did seem that Soldier was able to solve...everything else! And he even went a long way to solving their emotional difficulties too.
5. I have lived in Texas, and let me tell you, two gay men with a houseful of male foster kids? Would. Not. Work. *Especially* in a small town such as where Soldier is set. Very sad, but also very true. That state has a lot of growing up to do.
I'm disappointed because I really do think this is a terrific story idea. So much so that, even though this book did not work for me, I'm going to take a look to see if there are other books in this series. Hope springs eternal!
November 27, 2011
It Warms My Little Heart
I have read every novel that AKM Miles has written and this one is by far my favorite. I fell in love with these characters and I've read this story a million times.
Soldier was injured while deployed and was honorably discharged from the military. He's very badly scarred and has isolated himself.
Dillon is a man who was gay bashed and is also very badly scarred. He takes care of seven boys, foster children, in a dilapadated house. These are boys who haven't done well in regular foster care and need a different kind of environment.
Dillon and Soldier meet and end up raising the boys together. They are lovely together and the love they share is so very sweet. What I most loved is how much they love the seven boys who are the children of their hearts.
The boys...I LOVED the boys! Gom, the smallest and sweetest boy who loves everyone and is so traumatized that when he cries he makes no sound. Tommy, the oldest boy whose past brought a tear to my eye. Really every one of those boys took up residence in my heart. They were so vulnerable, so giving and so fiercely protective of each other.
Man, I just ADORE this book. I'll read it a million more times and it'll touch me every time. I highly recommend.
I have read every novel that AKM Miles has written and this one is by far my favorite. I fell in love with these characters and I've read this story a million times.
Soldier was injured while deployed and was honorably discharged from the military. He's very badly scarred and has isolated himself.
Dillon is a man who was gay bashed and is also very badly scarred. He takes care of seven boys, foster children, in a dilapadated house. These are boys who haven't done well in regular foster care and need a different kind of environment.
Dillon and Soldier meet and end up raising the boys together. They are lovely together and the love they share is so very sweet. What I most loved is how much they love the seven boys who are the children of their hearts.
The boys...I LOVED the boys! Gom, the smallest and sweetest boy who loves everyone and is so traumatized that when he cries he makes no sound. Tommy, the oldest boy whose past brought a tear to my eye. Really every one of those boys took up residence in my heart. They were so vulnerable, so giving and so fiercely protective of each other.
Man, I just ADORE this book. I'll read it a million more times and it'll touch me every time. I highly recommend.
October 23, 2013
Oh man. Yes, this was sweet, but there was so much sadness in it too that it evened out in my opinion.
Gom and Tommy's stories broke my heart. There just are no words :( I want to wrap them both up and give them hugs and kisses until they are adults. Those sweet sweet babies.
Now, back to Soldier. Man, what a mighty turn around he did. From being so distant and non communicative to being front and center and taking the lead. I loved how he was worried about the logistics of the home. How would it look to have 2 gay guys running it, etc. and it was a valid concern that wasn't blown off. I loved that he worried more about those kids than getting his rocks off. I LOVED THE LOG IN THE BACKYARD!!!!! I just loved Soldier.
Dillon was a sweetheart. I wanted to know more about him though. How he got into Social Work, how he and Daniel became friends, how he was picked to take those boys, etc.
I am going back to Gom, because I heart him so. The chair made me cry.
Yes, this was extreme insta-love, but I don't care. Soldier, Dillon and those boys melted my heart.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
Gom and Tommy's stories broke my heart. There just are no words :( I want to wrap them both up and give them hugs and kisses until they are adults. Those sweet sweet babies.
Now, back to Soldier. Man, what a mighty turn around he did. From being so distant and non communicative to being front and center and taking the lead. I loved how he was worried about the logistics of the home. How would it look to have 2 gay guys running it, etc. and it was a valid concern that wasn't blown off. I loved that he worried more about those kids than getting his rocks off. I LOVED THE LOG IN THE BACKYARD!!!!! I just loved Soldier.
Dillon was a sweetheart. I wanted to know more about him though. How he got into Social Work, how he and Daniel became friends, how he was picked to take those boys, etc.
I am going back to Gom, because I heart him so. The chair made me cry.
Yes, this was extreme insta-love, but I don't care. Soldier, Dillon and those boys melted my heart.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
February 22, 2013
So far, huge problem with this book. The insta-trust/insta-love thing is bothering me beyond belief. For all the characters! Oh yeah, there's a huge, scary strange man lurking in the backyard. Let's hand him a traumatized 8 year old boy and totally trust him without knowing a thing about him! The insta-trust/insta-love thing happened essentially ON SIGHT with Soldier. This defies my ability to suspend disbelief and just go with it.
Nope... can't keep reading this. I just can't get into it and let it flow. The instant relationship is just too jarring. None of this is believable in the slightest.
Nope... can't keep reading this. I just can't get into it and let it flow. The instant relationship is just too jarring. None of this is believable in the slightest.
December 11, 2015
I'm unsure on my feelings on this one. The writing wasn't great, the dialogue wasn't natural and was often used to set the scene as opposed to just having characters interact. Some scenarios were just not believable, such as Soldier meeting Dill, kissing him and boom, we are life partners. Everything just moved too quickly along and any problems were solved too easily. I like more substance in a story, angst, drama, mystery, action, suspense, etc. This didn't contain any of that so it just fell flat for me.
However, the concept of this story was good. I kind of feel like I've been emotionally manipulated into liking the book. Two scarred MC's, a war hero, and a sweet young man who was gay bashed and gang raped in his youth and now looks after abused kids with nowhere else to go. Yeah, that drew me in. Next the cutest, sweetest, loving character of Gom, he would've affected to most hard hearted person. Six other abused, sweet and needy kids, and if that doesnt reach your heart they go and adopt a pitiful dog that nobody wants and a wriggly little puppy. So as much as I didn't like the way the story was told, the characters certainly got me. I'll see how I go with the next book.
However, the concept of this story was good. I kind of feel like I've been emotionally manipulated into liking the book. Two scarred MC's, a war hero, and a sweet young man who was gay bashed and gang raped in his youth and now looks after abused kids with nowhere else to go. Yeah, that drew me in. Next the cutest, sweetest, loving character of Gom, he would've affected to most hard hearted person. Six other abused, sweet and needy kids, and if that doesnt reach your heart they go and adopt a pitiful dog that nobody wants and a wriggly little puppy. So as much as I didn't like the way the story was told, the characters certainly got me. I'll see how I go with the next book.
September 3, 2012
Need to do a re read, before I review.
After the third time of Re reading I still love this book as much as the first time.
While the subject matter is such a hard one to read, the love and hope for the children shine through. If only all kids got such a second chance.
I do find the writing style in places a bit to sickly sweet, and things moved super fast, but no matter what niggles I have or how unrealistic the story line is, the voices of Gom and Tommy grab my heart everytime.
My biggest disapointment is that we never really get to hear from Ben, Jack, Bart, Randy or JJJ. Personally I'd of loved more on the kids and less on the sex breaks between Soldier and Dillon.
After the third time of Re reading I still love this book as much as the first time.
While the subject matter is such a hard one to read, the love and hope for the children shine through. If only all kids got such a second chance.
I do find the writing style in places a bit to sickly sweet, and things moved super fast, but no matter what niggles I have or how unrealistic the story line is, the voices of Gom and Tommy grab my heart everytime.
My biggest disapointment is that we never really get to hear from Ben, Jack, Bart, Randy or JJJ. Personally I'd of loved more on the kids and less on the sex breaks between Soldier and Dillon.
April 7, 2015
It was a bit far fetched as far as realism, but I really enjoyed the book and will continue with the series where the boys have grownup and are older.
The story was full of fluffiness and just what I was looking for to read. I would have preferred to have learned about the other 5 kids, they just melted into nothingness, and the book focus more on just the two kids and the MCs. It almost became too much of just the two kids when you know there were 5 others. After their "introduction" they didn't even seem to live in the house anymore.
The story was full of fluffiness and just what I was looking for to read. I would have preferred to have learned about the other 5 kids, they just melted into nothingness, and the book focus more on just the two kids and the MCs. It almost became too much of just the two kids when you know there were 5 others. After their "introduction" they didn't even seem to live in the house anymore.
December 21, 2014
This was an incredibly amazing and gut wrenching story. This author is a great writer. I felt my heart break so many times while reading about the boys. I have to say I love Gom the most, he is a wonderful little boy. I've cried while reading each of the boy's stories and just want to hug and adopt them all.
June 18, 2009
Really amazing story!!!
I won't say much because there have been lots of beautiful reviews about Soldier but I liked it a lot.
Special dedicace to Gom and Tommy: these are characters i won't forget!
I won't say much because there have been lots of beautiful reviews about Soldier but I liked it a lot.
Special dedicace to Gom and Tommy: these are characters i won't forget!
May 19, 2011
Sappy and completely implausible.
May 21, 2015
Now I'm hooked on a new series and I honestly don't think I could adore AKM more :)
Prof that beauty is only skin deep and that some of the worst scars are the ones that you can't see ...
Prof that beauty is only skin deep and that some of the worst scars are the ones that you can't see ...
October 10, 2011
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Soldier was my first foray into the male/male sub-genre of romance, and I have to say it was a pretty good book with which to begin. This was a very sweet story about two men who are terribly wounded in both body and mind but find love and acceptance in each others arms. They in turn are able to pass that love and acceptance along to the seven abused little boys who are in their care and even a poor scruffy dog and a little puppy too. The interactions between the pair and their seven charges were utterly heartwarming, especially as a couple of the more severely abused boys slowly come out of their shells and begin to blossom under their care. It's readily apparent how much they all love each other, and they truly are one big, happy family. They couldn't be a closer, more caring bunch if they were related by blood.
Dillon is a sweet, wonderful guy who really stepped up to the plate to help these poor kids who no one wanted and who have completely gotten lost in the traditional social services system. Life is tough for them. The borrowed house they live in is falling down around their ears, and Dillon has to scrape on a daily basis just to provide food and the necessities of life for everyone in his care. As hard as he has to work though, I know Dillon wouldn't change a thing. He loves the boys just as much as if they were his own flesh and blood. After he was attacked as a teenager by his homophobic peers and left with facial scars, Dillon was resigned to probably spending the rest of his life alone until luck shone on him, bringing the man of his dreams right to his doorstep to help share his burden.
Soldier, as his nickname suggests, was in the military and fought in the war (presumably Iraq). His heroic actions saved several of his comrades lives, but he was severely wounded when a bomb exploded near him. He is now recovered from his injuries, but was left with extensive scarring on his face and body. Soldier has become something of a reclusive loner, a wanderer without much direction or purpose in life, until he finds a gorgeous guy with a bunch of kids living in one of his houses. Suddenly, Soldier knows what he wants to do with the rest of his life and the wealth that his dad left him. It's like he was just looking for a worthy cause, and Dillon and his boys were certainly that. I really admire Soldier for wanting to put his money to good use. I've often thought that if I had extra money that's exactly what I would be doing, searching for a philanthropic cause. Soldier had a lot more to offer than money though. As a military man and a big, strong guy at that, he was used to protecting and hadn't been able to do that since being injured. Now with Dillon and the kids, he has several someones to look out for. On the outside Soldier may have been a big, scary-looking dude, but underneath it all, he was just Gom's (and Dillon's ;-)) big, snuggly teddy bear.
Soldier and Dillon's first meeting, coupled with Gom coming out to ask a bazillion question and then fall asleep in Soldier's lap had just the right mix of awkwardness, emotion, sexual tension and sweetness. After that, things did kind of go from 0 to 60 really quickly in more ways than one. Normally, I wouldn't go for the love at first sight angle, nor the idea of an abused kid trusting a stranger so easily, but I think that they all just sensed something special in each other, a kindred spirit who could understand and relate to all their past hurts and share their fears of what the future might hold. In spite of knowing that, I did wish that there had been a little more development in Soldier and Dillon's relationship and a bit more exploration of their backgrounds. The reader is given just enough information on both men to get a feel for where they've been and what their lives were like before meeting, but not much else. I was a little surprised that Dillon didn't share his traumatic past with Soldier at any point in the story. However, I can respect that the author seemed to want to keep the focus on the present and how these two men interact with the boys and are trying to build a family unit together.
All the boys are a great bunch of kids, but two, Gom and Tommy, are stand-out characters who get quite a bit more face-time than the others. Little Gom (short for Montgomery) is just too cute for words and a real scene-stealer. He's been through a lot having been physically and emotionally abused by his drug-addict mother, but is still such a sweet, sensitive and thoughtful little boy. He doesn't sleep much until Soldier comes along and makes him feel safe and protected. Tommy is a little older and wise beyond his years. He too has been the victim of horrible sexual abuse and child prostitution. He's a quiet, gentle kid, but with Soldier there to back him up, he's able to face down his abusers. Even though these boys are just fictional characters they really got to me (probably because I know there are kids in the world just like them), so it really warmed my heart to know that they were being loved and cared for by two great dads like Soldier and Dillon.
Even though I loved the story, I did think that the writing itself could have been stronger. As is, it was a little too passive (too many “be” verbs), rather simplistic, and in need of more details. However, in spite of the mechanics of the writing being somewhat weak, I can't deny that Ms. Miles managed to create a story filled with heart and soul that really tugged at my heartstrings which is why I decided to give it keeper status. I haven't read a romance that embodied this much tenderness and emotion in a while. Soldier is the first book in the Scarcity Sanctuary series. Tommy and Gom grow up to get their own books next in the series, Tommy's Story and For Gom's Sake, and after falling in love with these little guys in this book, I can't wait to see what kind of young men they grow up to become. Soldier was definitely a pleasant introduction to male/male romance, and I'm really looking forward to not only continuing with this series, but seeing what else this genre has to offer.
Note: This book contains scenes of explicit sensuality between two men which may offend some readers.
"4.5 stars" Soldier was my first foray into the male/male sub-genre of romance, and I have to say it was a pretty good book with which to begin. This was a very sweet story about two men who are terribly wounded in both body and mind but find love and acceptance in each others arms. They in turn are able to pass that love and acceptance along to the seven abused little boys who are in their care and even a poor scruffy dog and a little puppy too. The interactions between the pair and their seven charges were utterly heartwarming, especially as a couple of the more severely abused boys slowly come out of their shells and begin to blossom under their care. It's readily apparent how much they all love each other, and they truly are one big, happy family. They couldn't be a closer, more caring bunch if they were related by blood.
Dillon is a sweet, wonderful guy who really stepped up to the plate to help these poor kids who no one wanted and who have completely gotten lost in the traditional social services system. Life is tough for them. The borrowed house they live in is falling down around their ears, and Dillon has to scrape on a daily basis just to provide food and the necessities of life for everyone in his care. As hard as he has to work though, I know Dillon wouldn't change a thing. He loves the boys just as much as if they were his own flesh and blood. After he was attacked as a teenager by his homophobic peers and left with facial scars, Dillon was resigned to probably spending the rest of his life alone until luck shone on him, bringing the man of his dreams right to his doorstep to help share his burden.
Soldier, as his nickname suggests, was in the military and fought in the war (presumably Iraq). His heroic actions saved several of his comrades lives, but he was severely wounded when a bomb exploded near him. He is now recovered from his injuries, but was left with extensive scarring on his face and body. Soldier has become something of a reclusive loner, a wanderer without much direction or purpose in life, until he finds a gorgeous guy with a bunch of kids living in one of his houses. Suddenly, Soldier knows what he wants to do with the rest of his life and the wealth that his dad left him. It's like he was just looking for a worthy cause, and Dillon and his boys were certainly that. I really admire Soldier for wanting to put his money to good use. I've often thought that if I had extra money that's exactly what I would be doing, searching for a philanthropic cause. Soldier had a lot more to offer than money though. As a military man and a big, strong guy at that, he was used to protecting and hadn't been able to do that since being injured. Now with Dillon and the kids, he has several someones to look out for. On the outside Soldier may have been a big, scary-looking dude, but underneath it all, he was just Gom's (and Dillon's ;-)) big, snuggly teddy bear.
Soldier and Dillon's first meeting, coupled with Gom coming out to ask a bazillion question and then fall asleep in Soldier's lap had just the right mix of awkwardness, emotion, sexual tension and sweetness. After that, things did kind of go from 0 to 60 really quickly in more ways than one. Normally, I wouldn't go for the love at first sight angle, nor the idea of an abused kid trusting a stranger so easily, but I think that they all just sensed something special in each other, a kindred spirit who could understand and relate to all their past hurts and share their fears of what the future might hold. In spite of knowing that, I did wish that there had been a little more development in Soldier and Dillon's relationship and a bit more exploration of their backgrounds. The reader is given just enough information on both men to get a feel for where they've been and what their lives were like before meeting, but not much else. I was a little surprised that Dillon didn't share his traumatic past with Soldier at any point in the story. However, I can respect that the author seemed to want to keep the focus on the present and how these two men interact with the boys and are trying to build a family unit together.
All the boys are a great bunch of kids, but two, Gom and Tommy, are stand-out characters who get quite a bit more face-time than the others. Little Gom (short for Montgomery) is just too cute for words and a real scene-stealer. He's been through a lot having been physically and emotionally abused by his drug-addict mother, but is still such a sweet, sensitive and thoughtful little boy. He doesn't sleep much until Soldier comes along and makes him feel safe and protected. Tommy is a little older and wise beyond his years. He too has been the victim of horrible sexual abuse and child prostitution. He's a quiet, gentle kid, but with Soldier there to back him up, he's able to face down his abusers. Even though these boys are just fictional characters they really got to me (probably because I know there are kids in the world just like them), so it really warmed my heart to know that they were being loved and cared for by two great dads like Soldier and Dillon.
Even though I loved the story, I did think that the writing itself could have been stronger. As is, it was a little too passive (too many “be” verbs), rather simplistic, and in need of more details. However, in spite of the mechanics of the writing being somewhat weak, I can't deny that Ms. Miles managed to create a story filled with heart and soul that really tugged at my heartstrings which is why I decided to give it keeper status. I haven't read a romance that embodied this much tenderness and emotion in a while. Soldier is the first book in the Scarcity Sanctuary series. Tommy and Gom grow up to get their own books next in the series, Tommy's Story and For Gom's Sake, and after falling in love with these little guys in this book, I can't wait to see what kind of young men they grow up to become. Soldier was definitely a pleasant introduction to male/male romance, and I'm really looking forward to not only continuing with this series, but seeing what else this genre has to offer.
Note: This book contains scenes of explicit sensuality between two men which may offend some readers.
December 28, 2010
I melted, I cried and I laugh and then I melted again and I cried and I laughed. This is a story about a young man, Dillon, who runs a house for abused boys just slightly under the radar of social service because the system couldn't help or had failed these children. They are staying in a poor, dilapidated house that is falling down around them. The boys do not come out of the house and Dillon only leaves long enough to go beg food because the money he gets from the shelter only pays the utilities.
Along comes Soldier who is as scarred on the outside as the children are on the inside. He lost his purpose when he was discharged from the army until he comes across Dillon and his boys.
This is such a well written story. The characters feel vibrant and three dimensional. The children are so precious that you cannot help but to fall in love with them. Gom stole my heart on page one. I can only imagine how challenging this would have been to write. I loved watching the progress the children made and how Dillon and Soldier grew into a unit. Loved every moment!
Note: This does deal with the results of different kinds of abuse. The abuse is talked about a couple of times but not in a lot of detail.
Along comes Soldier who is as scarred on the outside as the children are on the inside. He lost his purpose when he was discharged from the army until he comes across Dillon and his boys.
This is such a well written story. The characters feel vibrant and three dimensional. The children are so precious that you cannot help but to fall in love with them. Gom stole my heart on page one. I can only imagine how challenging this would have been to write. I loved watching the progress the children made and how Dillon and Soldier grew into a unit. Loved every moment!
Note: This does deal with the results of different kinds of abuse. The abuse is talked about a couple of times but not in a lot of detail.
August 19, 2009
I had to drop this book. I know that most of my flist was totally excited about it, in love with it, giving it four stars, even five, but for me, this book just didn't... click, I guess. The characters were cute, that's true. But the setting... It was so unrealistic that I just couldn't get over it. I mean, I just can't see anybody letting Dill take care of seven boys in a run-down house when he has to literally beg for food in restaurants, he has no income, the boys don't go to school, they don't receive the psychological help they need... No matter how good-hearted Dillon is, this was a major hurdle for me that I just couldn't cross. Maybe if the author let the story take place in a post-apocalyptic world, where there weren't Social Services or schools, I could've accepted that. But in this case, I just couldn't take it at face value.
March 29, 2011
This was a very heart-warming story. What Dillon and Soldier were doing for those kids was simply beautiful. I especially had a soft spot for Gom and Tommy. As much pain and misery as their entire household had suffered in the past, I loved how they could lean on each other for strength and support. The name Scarcity Sanctuary was very fitting for a place where boys with scars on the inside and out could come to heal. And even though Soldier came off as a type of Daddy Warbucks with all his money, I was glad to see him using it for such a good cause. The kids and Dillon deserved nothing less. I'm really looking forward to the next two books in the series, Tommy's Story and For Gom's Sake.
September 25, 2010
I loved the emotions in this book, but things fell into place far too easily. Soldier went from anti-social veteran with issues, to Fairy Godmother literally overnight. All of a sudden, severely abused children all adored this extremely large strange man showering gifts everywhere. It was definitely too much too fast. If this book had been the last 50% of a longer book that led up to the changes that ended up occurring it would have been a better read for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2012
3.5 - Aside from the bad cover, this was a great book on love, trust, loss, and really just finding your place in the world no matter the adversity. This was a feel good book that will bring tears to your eyes - I can even give you page numbers where if this was a paperback, those pages would be soaked. I could have read on and on about this rag tag group of 9 boys and men. So heartwarming......
March 27, 2010
Read this awhile ago. sorry I neglected to update the review. I LOVED this book. Honestly I think I put off reading this book because of the cover. I was honestly afraid it was going to be like Sling Blade or something. It was NOT!
Everything about this book was great and I am dying to get another pet just so I can name it PeeWiggles!! lol
Everything about this book was great and I am dying to get another pet just so I can name it PeeWiggles!! lol
June 2, 2012
I liked the characters. Gom was such a sweetie and for some reason the name of the dog... Pee Wiggles just cracked me up.
I did have a hard time with the "conversations" which seemed a bit stilted and often too long winded, but the love and caring was there and the premise was great, helping boys who need help.
recommended.
I did have a hard time with the "conversations" which seemed a bit stilted and often too long winded, but the love and caring was there and the premise was great, helping boys who need help.
recommended.
July 30, 2009
This is a touching story of redemption. Not only for "Soldier" but for all the boys in the book. Kind of an all male Brady Bunch meets The Waltons, but with a lot richer tapestry of character, emotion and tenderness.
I loved it!
I loved it!
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