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Latakia
Matthew likes his life in Richmond. He has his friends and his softball and his volunteer work. And he has a very good-looking boyfriend, Brian, who he’s been happily dating for over a year now. So what if his friends tend to question just how good his boyfriend is, and so what if Brian tends to have inexplicable mood swings. And so what if Brian seems to invite Matt’s suspicions on occasion. If he just shows a little faith and trust, he’ll appreciate what he has with Brian the way he should. Right?
But suddenly, Matt finds himself in a desperate life-or-death situation on a trip overseas, and he realizes just how much he misses home, and Brian. He’s luckily rescued by a team of US Special Forces, only to immediately find out they’re a bunch of bigoted jerks. Worse, a quirk of his situation forces him to spend time with them that he’d rather not. And that’s when he finds out that first impressions can be misleading. When called upon, he steps up when every fiber of his being tells him not to, and discovers something deep inside himself that he didn’t realize was even there. And his life will never be the same. He finds that he can, after all, make some very overdue changes in his own life.
What Matt doesn’t realize is that the bond of brotherhood runs both ways. And he winds up changing the lives of several of the men on that Special Forces team as much as they changed his.
All it takes is faith and trust.
But suddenly, Matt finds himself in a desperate life-or-death situation on a trip overseas, and he realizes just how much he misses home, and Brian. He’s luckily rescued by a team of US Special Forces, only to immediately find out they’re a bunch of bigoted jerks. Worse, a quirk of his situation forces him to spend time with them that he’d rather not. And that’s when he finds out that first impressions can be misleading. When called upon, he steps up when every fiber of his being tells him not to, and discovers something deep inside himself that he didn’t realize was even there. And his life will never be the same. He finds that he can, after all, make some very overdue changes in his own life.
What Matt doesn’t realize is that the bond of brotherhood runs both ways. And he winds up changing the lives of several of the men on that Special Forces team as much as they changed his.
All it takes is faith and trust.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2011
69 people are currently reading
2637 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
November 30, 2012
This book was a near perfect male-male romance. I loved it. It was so well done, the characters so real I could practically smell them, and so well conceived. I have been pretty stingy with my ratings lately and I didn't hesitate with my 5 star one this time.
I'm not going to re-hash all of the plot details, but the story was really interesting and felt true to life. It gripped me. And thank freaking god the main characters weren't model beautiful. I love a good romance with normal looking people! I'm going to watch for all of JF Smith's books in the future.
I'm not going to re-hash all of the plot details, but the story was really interesting and felt true to life. It gripped me. And thank freaking god the main characters weren't model beautiful. I love a good romance with normal looking people! I'm going to watch for all of JF Smith's books in the future.
February 25, 2012
Matt is a great guy - just ask any of his friends in Richmond. He takes food to sick friends, works with Doctors Without Borders as a volunteer, uses his talents to help set up tracking and record-keeping for childhood immunizations. Plays softball on a gay league. And has a hot boyfriend, Brian, to whom he would give the world if he only asked.
When he's offered the opportunity to use his talents to assist DWB in their mission in Syria, he jumps at the chance and will be leaving for a two week assignment. Before he leaves, he begins to have doubts about how Brian feels, especially when Brian accuses him of being distant. Picking fights and leaves him stuck with the check for dinner, again, the night before he's to leave.
So when he's kidnapped and fearing for his life, locked in a dark room alone, he resolves the be the man Brian deserves, to never doubt him again. And when he's rescued by a group of Navy SEALS, his relief and gratitude are immense. Even when he's confronted with what he thinks is homophobia and bigotry by the guys that risked their lives to save him. But then he meets and talks to one of his rescuers, Mope - Travis - and some of what he thought he saw and felt, he begins to question. How he acts, how he views the world.
But when he's given the opportunity to repay that rescue, to risk himself, will he? And what will be the cost be to himself? His relationship with Brian? To his preconceived notions about the men who rescued him - Mope, Petey? And will he find he has more in common with these men than ever thought possible?
I have to just out it out there. This book blew me the f**k away.
When I saw it in Amazon for $0.99 I thought, nice, I'll get a short story that will be a quick and hot read, based on the blurb. But what I got was so very much more. This is a fully realized novel, and I would gladly have paid ten times the cost for the honor of reading this jewel.
JF Smith has written a quiet, amazing and satisfying book about one man's journey of honor, courage and self worth. Matt is a revelation - a gay man who is already whole and complete and loveable. And when thrust into a horrible situation, not only survives it but grows so much in the process.
There are so many themes in this book that could have gone so terribly...sideways. The role of the military. The men who serve our country. Patriotism. Honor. Courage. Settling for what we as gay men can get in our relationships. And every damn single one of these issues, Mr. Smith stands at the plate and knocks them out of the stadium.
As a reader, I can see what Matt can't, or won't, and at times, that's very frustrating. We all know that Brian is a tool, and playing Matt. But Matt, being the gentle man he is, doesn't believe it. So when Matt, as he grows and opens his eyes, literally and figuratively, there is a huge payoff for him and the reader.
I love where Matt landed. The man deserves a happily ever after, and I won't spoil the story and say what happens, but it's just so satisfying. Hopeful. And real.
And the supporting cast. Has there ever been such richness from what we first see as testosterone fueled muscle heads? Travis is a man with a giant heart and we grow to adore him. His relationship with Matt, as his friend and confidante, begins an arc I loved.
But Petey almost stole the story away from Matt. This guy - who is initially, we think, a homophobe and idiot - has the biggest heart and, I think, the biggest pain. I loved him by the last page and wanted this book to go on and on and never stop.
That's the sign of a good book and a fantastic writer. When I am so wrapped up in the world they create, so immersed in the characters that I don't want to say goodbye. I hope Mr. Smith has plans for a sequel, and I hope Petey plays a huge part of it.
They don't get much better than this. I'm so glad I stumbled into this fine, fine work.
Tom
When he's offered the opportunity to use his talents to assist DWB in their mission in Syria, he jumps at the chance and will be leaving for a two week assignment. Before he leaves, he begins to have doubts about how Brian feels, especially when Brian accuses him of being distant. Picking fights and leaves him stuck with the check for dinner, again, the night before he's to leave.
So when he's kidnapped and fearing for his life, locked in a dark room alone, he resolves the be the man Brian deserves, to never doubt him again. And when he's rescued by a group of Navy SEALS, his relief and gratitude are immense. Even when he's confronted with what he thinks is homophobia and bigotry by the guys that risked their lives to save him. But then he meets and talks to one of his rescuers, Mope - Travis - and some of what he thought he saw and felt, he begins to question. How he acts, how he views the world.
But when he's given the opportunity to repay that rescue, to risk himself, will he? And what will be the cost be to himself? His relationship with Brian? To his preconceived notions about the men who rescued him - Mope, Petey? And will he find he has more in common with these men than ever thought possible?
I have to just out it out there. This book blew me the f**k away.
When I saw it in Amazon for $0.99 I thought, nice, I'll get a short story that will be a quick and hot read, based on the blurb. But what I got was so very much more. This is a fully realized novel, and I would gladly have paid ten times the cost for the honor of reading this jewel.
JF Smith has written a quiet, amazing and satisfying book about one man's journey of honor, courage and self worth. Matt is a revelation - a gay man who is already whole and complete and loveable. And when thrust into a horrible situation, not only survives it but grows so much in the process.
There are so many themes in this book that could have gone so terribly...sideways. The role of the military. The men who serve our country. Patriotism. Honor. Courage. Settling for what we as gay men can get in our relationships. And every damn single one of these issues, Mr. Smith stands at the plate and knocks them out of the stadium.
As a reader, I can see what Matt can't, or won't, and at times, that's very frustrating. We all know that Brian is a tool, and playing Matt. But Matt, being the gentle man he is, doesn't believe it. So when Matt, as he grows and opens his eyes, literally and figuratively, there is a huge payoff for him and the reader.
I love where Matt landed. The man deserves a happily ever after, and I won't spoil the story and say what happens, but it's just so satisfying. Hopeful. And real.
And the supporting cast. Has there ever been such richness from what we first see as testosterone fueled muscle heads? Travis is a man with a giant heart and we grow to adore him. His relationship with Matt, as his friend and confidante, begins an arc I loved.
But Petey almost stole the story away from Matt. This guy - who is initially, we think, a homophobe and idiot - has the biggest heart and, I think, the biggest pain. I loved him by the last page and wanted this book to go on and on and never stop.
That's the sign of a good book and a fantastic writer. When I am so wrapped up in the world they create, so immersed in the characters that I don't want to say goodbye. I hope Mr. Smith has plans for a sequel, and I hope Petey plays a huge part of it.
They don't get much better than this. I'm so glad I stumbled into this fine, fine work.
Tom
November 5, 2023
*4.5* The writing was unpolished at times, but the heart of the story shown through. I am always so impressed with an author who can take raw characters and transform them by the end of the story.
The story begins with Matthew, a genuinely good guy who plays on his gay softball team, has wonderful friends, and volunteers for Doctors Without Borders. His only downside is he is quite blind to what an asshole his boyfriend is.
On a two week mission in Syria, something awful happens to him, but he is rescued by a team of special forces.
So many authors tend to write military men as one dimensional, but these characters are authentically REAL. The ridiculous trash talking, and harassments all while simultaneously implicitly trusting one another was written very well.
All of these characters felt so genuine. While there is no on-page sex, the intimacy, friendships and romance was perfect.
The story begins with Matthew, a genuinely good guy who plays on his gay softball team, has wonderful friends, and volunteers for Doctors Without Borders. His only downside is he is quite blind to what an asshole his boyfriend is.
On a two week mission in Syria, something awful happens to him, but he is rescued by a team of special forces.
So many authors tend to write military men as one dimensional, but these characters are authentically REAL. The ridiculous trash talking, and harassments all while simultaneously implicitly trusting one another was written very well.
All of these characters felt so genuine. While there is no on-page sex, the intimacy, friendships and romance was perfect.
December 19, 2025
I am so confused about my own feelings with this one, the whole concept of the story; a meet cute between a kidnap victim and the navy SEAL who rescues him, is so fun and perfect to my tastes that I was excited to pick it up but gosh the execution left a few things to be desired.
I think fundamentally the skill of the writing just never quite measured up to the potential of this story and characters. There were a number of instances in which characters deliver some pretty long and ham fisted monologes on topics to do with religion and attitudes to homosexuality that made me kind of cringe.
I understand that there is an element of gaslighting and emotional abuse at play but mannnnnnnn Matts justifications and inner dialogue about his ex-boyfriend (when they were together) was infuriating to witness as a reader, and I get that you are meant to see that as a demonstration of Matts grand capacity for unconditional love, but that boy made some questionable leaps of logic for real.
I did enjoy Matt and Mopey together and thought they had some sweet moments, but as with so many elements of this book, the writing lacked the sophistication to really bring out the full potential of their chemistry.
In the same fashion, I actually really liked the idea of Matt and Petey’s friendship but god the execution of that was also kind of rough and I am mostly pretty convinced that Petey is actually just a psychopath lol.
This was still a pretty mindless action/adventure/romance read but there is a lot of homophobic language (while it makes sense in its context it is EXCESSIVE) and the book came off as massively misogynistic (there is not a single instance in which a woman is referenced in this whole book where she isn’t called a bitch or denigrated in some way). Given that it was released in 2011 it did kind of show its age, but if you know what you are getting in to, and are prepared for it, then theres’ probably still some value here.
I think fundamentally the skill of the writing just never quite measured up to the potential of this story and characters. There were a number of instances in which characters deliver some pretty long and ham fisted monologes on topics to do with religion and attitudes to homosexuality that made me kind of cringe.
I understand that there is an element of gaslighting and emotional abuse at play but mannnnnnnn Matts justifications and inner dialogue about his ex-boyfriend (when they were together) was infuriating to witness as a reader, and I get that you are meant to see that as a demonstration of Matts grand capacity for unconditional love, but that boy made some questionable leaps of logic for real.
I did enjoy Matt and Mopey together and thought they had some sweet moments, but as with so many elements of this book, the writing lacked the sophistication to really bring out the full potential of their chemistry.
In the same fashion, I actually really liked the idea of Matt and Petey’s friendship but god the execution of that was also kind of rough and I am mostly pretty convinced that Petey is actually just a psychopath lol.
This was still a pretty mindless action/adventure/romance read but there is a lot of homophobic language (while it makes sense in its context it is EXCESSIVE) and the book came off as massively misogynistic (there is not a single instance in which a woman is referenced in this whole book where she isn’t called a bitch or denigrated in some way). Given that it was released in 2011 it did kind of show its age, but if you know what you are getting in to, and are prepared for it, then theres’ probably still some value here.
January 18, 2019
So many people have loved the shell out of Latakia and I sooo wanted to, too. But for me, it was a huge case of Not Buying It.
I won’t repeat the plot summary because I don’t have anything to add, but it was a stretch. But plot is not the most important thing to me. I probably would have been able to look past the improbability of it — if I had been able to get on board with the MC, Matt. The other characters were at most half-developed, but especially without feeling the MC, I couldn't get down. It seemed like the intention was to paint him as sweet, empathetic, and optimistic. But without any depth, it just comes off as annoyingly naive and not at all believable.
Never was this worse than with the relationship between Matt and Brian, Matt’s boyfriend at the beginning of the book. Brian is not portrayed with ANY redeeming characteristics outside of his looks, so he should have been a one-night stand, not a year-long relationship that has Matt all angsty to walk away from. Especially when there’s no reason Matt wouldn’t be able to find a great relationship (good guy, good job, good looking). It just made no sense, and not in the way that it never makes logical sense when people stay with assholes. It made no sense in that I DIDN’T BUY IT.
The dialogue is painful and lazy. A major eye rolling example was when Matt was trying to get out of a dangerous mission, and resorted to saying he couldn’t because “It’s a gay thing.” Um, nope. (And narrating that he knew it was a “cheap, pathetic shot” didn’t make it any more tolerable.)
The secondary character Petey had so much potential that it was frustrating to see him written way OTT, to the point of caricature. The brusque, offensive exterior hiding a soft underbelly. The hardcore SEAL who rawr'ed protectively in response to anyone mistreating his gay friend. Promising, right? But Latakia was tell-not-show, and
And I have to say it because I have to say it. What the fuck is up with not writing the SEX? At the beginning, when describing Matt and Brian’s relationship, the narration even spells out that Matt is frustrated that Brian will never be the top. So why go all prudish when we get to the real relationship with Travis, where there is actually chemistry?? It's forgivable if the book is good; explicit sex not a must-have for me. But in this case, it might have been something that at least made the book worth reading.
I did finish it. I knew that the problems I had with it were unredeemable but I wanted to see if I would ever get what others were seeing... and unfortunately I didn’t.
I won’t repeat the plot summary because I don’t have anything to add, but it was a stretch. But plot is not the most important thing to me. I probably would have been able to look past the improbability of it — if I had been able to get on board with the MC, Matt. The other characters were at most half-developed, but especially without feeling the MC, I couldn't get down. It seemed like the intention was to paint him as sweet, empathetic, and optimistic. But without any depth, it just comes off as annoyingly naive and not at all believable.
Never was this worse than with the relationship between Matt and Brian, Matt’s boyfriend at the beginning of the book. Brian is not portrayed with ANY redeeming characteristics outside of his looks, so he should have been a one-night stand, not a year-long relationship that has Matt all angsty to walk away from. Especially when there’s no reason Matt wouldn’t be able to find a great relationship (good guy, good job, good looking). It just made no sense, and not in the way that it never makes logical sense when people stay with assholes. It made no sense in that I DIDN’T BUY IT.
The dialogue is painful and lazy. A major eye rolling example was when Matt was trying to get out of a dangerous mission, and resorted to saying he couldn’t because “It’s a gay thing.” Um, nope. (And narrating that he knew it was a “cheap, pathetic shot” didn’t make it any more tolerable.)
The secondary character Petey had so much potential that it was frustrating to see him written way OTT, to the point of caricature. The brusque, offensive exterior hiding a soft underbelly. The hardcore SEAL who rawr'ed protectively in response to anyone mistreating his gay friend. Promising, right? But Latakia was tell-not-show, and
And I have to say it because I have to say it. What the fuck is up with not writing the SEX? At the beginning, when describing Matt and Brian’s relationship, the narration even spells out that Matt is frustrated that Brian will never be the top. So why go all prudish when we get to the real relationship with Travis, where there is actually chemistry?? It's forgivable if the book is good; explicit sex not a must-have for me. But in this case, it might have been something that at least made the book worth reading.
I did finish it. I knew that the problems I had with it were unredeemable but I wanted to see if I would ever get what others were seeing... and unfortunately I didn’t.
December 10, 2025
4.5 Stars
Latakia is a really lovely, nostalgic, military-themed M/M romance, following an average guy named Matt, who is a civilian that finds himself at the wrong place at the right time on a work trip in Syria, where a harrowing life or death experience leads him into the path of a Navy SEAL team who rescue and befriend him, bonding them all for life.
At its centre, this is a story of unexpected friendship, but it also has a short-lived element of action and suspense, plus a wonderfully drawn slow-burn romance between Matt and Travis—one of the SEAL team heroes who is understandably closeted (due to his team leader position and simply the time at which this book was written). I adored their love story; it was tender, deeply romantic, and very satisfying in its heart-stopping, butterfly-inducing evolution.
Had I read this back in my earliest days reading M/M romance (well over a decade ago, now) this would probably be one of my all-time-favourite books in the genre, and for good reason. However, reading this 2011 release in 2025 resulted in some notably outdated moments/trends within the plot and amongst the characters (specifically in how they interacted and spoke to one another, often using very offensive, derogatory language—even when it was meant to be playful and well-meaning), all of which I feel wouldn’t fly in a book written today, for a multiple of reasons.
Outdated issues aside, I still undoubtedly ate this up! I enjoyed getting to know Matt and following him through a very scary experience, which ultimately led him to his person (and his people). The friendship bonds were lovely to watch unfold, helped along by a pretty great ensemble cast of men—I’m blanking on whether there were even women of note in this?!... another choice that notably aged the story)—most of whom really grew to become beloved and memorable characters by book’s end.
The first half of the story was pretty exciting, with the higher stakes and plenty of life-threatening danger, but this was followed by a more sedate second half, where the characters grew into their various relationships, with Matt and Travis at the centre, starting a romance and coming to terms with how that would work in relation to Travis’s job and status as a closeted military man. I enjoyed the exciting chapters just as much as the quieter, more personal ones, to the point I was pretty sad when the story was over and I had to say goodbye to these characters I’d grown to love.
I should point out that the story begins with Matt in a relationship already, with an absolute douchenozzle of a man, but their relationship ends before Matt and Travis become intimate—which is also all off-page because this is a non-explicit romance, for those wanting to know such things. I hated Matt’s boyfriend so intensely because he was fairly OTT in his dramatics and manipulations of sweetheart Matt, but I did very much enjoy how it ended and how impressively he was replaced by Travis, who was all kinds of sexy, sweet, loving, and so much better for Matt’s heart and happiness.
Overall, I’m sad I’ve wasted 14 years NOT reading this book, but it also felt like a right book/right time kind of read—one that will be making all my end of year favourites lists, even if it was a bit corny and outdated at moments. I had a blast!
Latakia is a really lovely, nostalgic, military-themed M/M romance, following an average guy named Matt, who is a civilian that finds himself at the wrong place at the right time on a work trip in Syria, where a harrowing life or death experience leads him into the path of a Navy SEAL team who rescue and befriend him, bonding them all for life.
At its centre, this is a story of unexpected friendship, but it also has a short-lived element of action and suspense, plus a wonderfully drawn slow-burn romance between Matt and Travis—one of the SEAL team heroes who is understandably closeted (due to his team leader position and simply the time at which this book was written). I adored their love story; it was tender, deeply romantic, and very satisfying in its heart-stopping, butterfly-inducing evolution.
Had I read this back in my earliest days reading M/M romance (well over a decade ago, now) this would probably be one of my all-time-favourite books in the genre, and for good reason. However, reading this 2011 release in 2025 resulted in some notably outdated moments/trends within the plot and amongst the characters (specifically in how they interacted and spoke to one another, often using very offensive, derogatory language—even when it was meant to be playful and well-meaning), all of which I feel wouldn’t fly in a book written today, for a multiple of reasons.
Outdated issues aside, I still undoubtedly ate this up! I enjoyed getting to know Matt and following him through a very scary experience, which ultimately led him to his person (and his people). The friendship bonds were lovely to watch unfold, helped along by a pretty great ensemble cast of men—I’m blanking on whether there were even women of note in this?!... another choice that notably aged the story)—most of whom really grew to become beloved and memorable characters by book’s end.
The first half of the story was pretty exciting, with the higher stakes and plenty of life-threatening danger, but this was followed by a more sedate second half, where the characters grew into their various relationships, with Matt and Travis at the centre, starting a romance and coming to terms with how that would work in relation to Travis’s job and status as a closeted military man. I enjoyed the exciting chapters just as much as the quieter, more personal ones, to the point I was pretty sad when the story was over and I had to say goodbye to these characters I’d grown to love.
I should point out that the story begins with Matt in a relationship already, with an absolute douchenozzle of a man, but their relationship ends before Matt and Travis become intimate—which is also all off-page because this is a non-explicit romance, for those wanting to know such things. I hated Matt’s boyfriend so intensely because he was fairly OTT in his dramatics and manipulations of sweetheart Matt, but I did very much enjoy how it ended and how impressively he was replaced by Travis, who was all kinds of sexy, sweet, loving, and so much better for Matt’s heart and happiness.
Overall, I’m sad I’ve wasted 14 years NOT reading this book, but it also felt like a right book/right time kind of read—one that will be making all my end of year favourites lists, even if it was a bit corny and outdated at moments. I had a blast!
September 28, 2013
This book was frickin amazing. Matt and Travis forever. :)
Latakia is an amazing book. I just had to say I think this is in my top ten books ever. No kidding, it was so frickin good. We have hot marines, funny characters, hot characters and some very good characters in general. Of course a good book wouldn't be this amazing without a villain. Yes Brian, I am looking at you! I have kicked myself for months for putting off reading this book.
I loved the two MC's. Matt and Mope (Travis), the two of them had great chemistry and it was not an overly steamy book. In fact there were no graphic sex scenes. I know people may wonder how this was so good then, but what was lacking in sex was made up for in story. The couples journey was perfect and I wouldn't have changed that.
I was nervous about this, because as the blurb reveals, Matt had a boyfriend in the beginning. The issue was dealt with in a way that had me glad to see him gone. After a couple of scenes I wanted to punch something when he popped up in a scene. In my opinion, he was in way too many scenes for me. It's not that I hate knowing a character has had boyfriends in the past. But he was a cocky, arrogant prick. An example of that.
Brian scowled and cut in, “We're not done, Matt. You may think we’re done, but I don't think we're done. I still want to talk about this and we're going to…”
“No WE aren't, Brian. It’s over. There’s nothing else…”
“Yes, there is, Matt! Christ, you can be so stupid sometimes,” said Brian, forcefully.
Pretty major spoiler >
One of my favourite characters was Petey. He was great with Matt and even though I thought at first I would hate him, he soon became one of my favourite characters. His place in my heart is beside Matt and Mope. He was a very important character and made me want to read faster and I am a fast reader! That will tell you why I loved him, he was funny too which was good.
The plot was really good and I have a major thing for marines. The story was about Matt getting kidnapped and Mope, Petey and their team saved him. It started one of the books I have ever read. The plot might have had a couple of issues, I don't care though. Fuck plot holes this book was fanfuckingtastic! There is nothing better than watching two characters fall in love and building something wonderful together. And that is exactly what happened here. I watched two characters I loved fall in love and start a life together.
I know this book won't be for everyone, and if you need sex in a book it won't be for you. What I can promise is that I will put my hand over my heart and say I loved this book and could read it again and again without getting bored. People may wonder how I loved it when they know my pet peeves. But the author had me rooting for the MC's. He made me want cheating - which has never happened before - so I knew this was going to be a five star read.
Read this book!
Latakia is an amazing book. I just had to say I think this is in my top ten books ever. No kidding, it was so frickin good. We have hot marines, funny characters, hot characters and some very good characters in general. Of course a good book wouldn't be this amazing without a villain. Yes Brian, I am looking at you! I have kicked myself for months for putting off reading this book.
I loved the two MC's. Matt and Mope (Travis), the two of them had great chemistry and it was not an overly steamy book. In fact there were no graphic sex scenes. I know people may wonder how this was so good then, but what was lacking in sex was made up for in story. The couples journey was perfect and I wouldn't have changed that.
I was nervous about this, because as the blurb reveals, Matt had a boyfriend in the beginning. The issue was dealt with in a way that had me glad to see him gone. After a couple of scenes I wanted to punch something when he popped up in a scene. In my opinion, he was in way too many scenes for me. It's not that I hate knowing a character has had boyfriends in the past. But he was a cocky, arrogant prick. An example of that.
Brian scowled and cut in, “We're not done, Matt. You may think we’re done, but I don't think we're done. I still want to talk about this and we're going to…”
“No WE aren't, Brian. It’s over. There’s nothing else…”
“Yes, there is, Matt! Christ, you can be so stupid sometimes,” said Brian, forcefully.
Pretty major spoiler >
One of my favourite characters was Petey. He was great with Matt and even though I thought at first I would hate him, he soon became one of my favourite characters. His place in my heart is beside Matt and Mope. He was a very important character and made me want to read faster and I am a fast reader! That will tell you why I loved him, he was funny too which was good.
The plot was really good and I have a major thing for marines. The story was about Matt getting kidnapped and Mope, Petey and their team saved him. It started one of the books I have ever read. The plot might have had a couple of issues, I don't care though. Fuck plot holes this book was fanfuckingtastic! There is nothing better than watching two characters fall in love and building something wonderful together. And that is exactly what happened here. I watched two characters I loved fall in love and start a life together.
I know this book won't be for everyone, and if you need sex in a book it won't be for you. What I can promise is that I will put my hand over my heart and say I loved this book and could read it again and again without getting bored. People may wonder how I loved it when they know my pet peeves. But the author had me rooting for the MC's. He made me want cheating - which has never happened before - so I knew this was going to be a five star read.
Read this book!
December 11, 2014
Truth be told, I have never given this novel a first look, a second look, or a third look. First, I'm not really huge on military romance. Second, well, I'm still a bit weary with self-pub authors (I know, SUCH a snob I am). Third, well, the blurb just doesn't 'call' me as simple as that.
THEN, a bunch of friends from my Indonesian MM-readers in my Whatsapp group were passionately posting status on how much they loved this book. Call it (forced) persuasion, I decided to give it a try. I thought I would just blame and whine to them if I didn't like it.
Well, apparently, they should be proud of themselves ... because I really, REALLY, liked it.
Sure, the writing wasn't exactly spectacular (sort of reminding of free online fictions or fan fictions) -- but at the same time, it was easy to read. The characters were COLORFUL and refreshing. All the SEAL Team 8 members, actually, were interesting -- and Petey probably the most unique that I've found in awhile. I seriously don't know if I wanted to punch him or wash his dirty mouth with chlorine or just hug him. Because when push comes to shove, Petey was the kind of guy who was so loyal, you could trust your life in his hands.
I enjoy reading the brotherhood among SEAL Team 8 members and Matt Goodend, the main character ... it was highly entertaining. Of course, the romance between Matt and Travis (after Matt ditched his jackass boyfriend) was also very lovely. Loved their dancing scene and their first kiss.
Unfortunately, when it came to Matt, he frustrated me almost 2/3 of the book! The way he sold himself short and defended his no-good-bastard of a boyfriend, made him a total doormat. I spent my time FUMING whenever Matt thought how lucky he was of having Brian (his boyfriend) and how he promised to be a better boyfriend for that douchebag. I mean, SERIOUSLY, MATT?!?!
However, in overall, despite my frustration, it was quite a pleasurable read. Thus, I could definitely still give it my 4* rating.
THEN, a bunch of friends from my Indonesian MM-readers in my Whatsapp group were passionately posting status on how much they loved this book. Call it (forced) persuasion, I decided to give it a try. I thought I would just blame and whine to them if I didn't like it.
Well, apparently, they should be proud of themselves ... because I really, REALLY, liked it.
Sure, the writing wasn't exactly spectacular (sort of reminding of free online fictions or fan fictions) -- but at the same time, it was easy to read. The characters were COLORFUL and refreshing. All the SEAL Team 8 members, actually, were interesting -- and Petey probably the most unique that I've found in awhile. I seriously don't know if I wanted to punch him or wash his dirty mouth with chlorine or just hug him. Because when push comes to shove, Petey was the kind of guy who was so loyal, you could trust your life in his hands.
I enjoy reading the brotherhood among SEAL Team 8 members and Matt Goodend, the main character ... it was highly entertaining. Of course, the romance between Matt and Travis (after Matt ditched his jackass boyfriend) was also very lovely. Loved their dancing scene and their first kiss.
Unfortunately, when it came to Matt, he frustrated me almost 2/3 of the book! The way he sold himself short and defended his no-good-bastard of a boyfriend, made him a total doormat. I spent my time FUMING whenever Matt thought how lucky he was of having Brian (his boyfriend) and how he promised to be a better boyfriend for that douchebag. I mean, SERIOUSLY, MATT?!?!
However, in overall, despite my frustration, it was quite a pleasurable read. Thus, I could definitely still give it my 4* rating.
December 8, 2014
One rescue behind enemy lines,
One Navy Seal'
One Matt,
One beautiful love story,
"Thank you Matt"
"Why are you thanking me? You're the one that saved my life today. Again."
Travis said softly, his lips brushing lightly through Matt's hair: "You know, I kinda wondering who saved who here."
I recomand it to everyone!
June 16, 2012
This was a well-written story about Matt, who begins the book in a self-sacrificing relationship with a user of a boyfriend, and then is caught up in an abduction overseas. Among his SEAL rescuers is Mope/Travis, a SEAL who is gay and closeted in this pre-repeal story. The growth and confidence that Matt gains in his interactions with Mope and all the other SEALs empower him to move forward in his life.
The guys were well-portrayed. Petey in particular was an inspired character as the cheerfully asshole teammate who becomes a good friend to Matt. The plot was believable, the progression of relationships worked very well.
But despite minor quibbles, this was a solid read with some memorable and imaginative characters, and nice relationships, not just between the MC's. I really wouldn't mind seeing the sequel of these two guys working to become a couple more out in the open but still under the umbrella of DADT as it then stood, with the issues of Travis's father and military constraints, separations and missions.
The guys were well-portrayed. Petey in particular was an inspired character as the cheerfully asshole teammate who becomes a good friend to Matt. The plot was believable, the progression of relationships worked very well.
But despite minor quibbles, this was a solid read with some memorable and imaginative characters, and nice relationships, not just between the MC's. I really wouldn't mind seeing the sequel of these two guys working to become a couple more out in the open but still under the umbrella of DADT as it then stood, with the issues of Travis's father and military constraints, separations and missions.
December 13, 2025
This was SUCH an addictive read and honestly, not what I expected at all. Even though the book is about 14years old and feels a little dated, there was something about it that just made me really get into it and I could not put it down at certain points, it had a weird honest feel to it that I really don’t know how to describe.
At first, the writing felt a little simple, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But before I knew it, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. It’s set in early 2000’s and the story follows Matt, who’s in a relationship with a real douchebag named Brian. He decides to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Syria. He’s just an average guy, which made the whole thing feel really relatable.
Once Matt arrives in Syria, the shit hits the fan, and that’s when the book grabbed me. I definitely lost some sleep reading this!
The pacing felt a bit strange, I remember getting to around 60% and thinking, okay… what’s going to happen now? But then the story starts to move in an unexpected way, and I actually loved that it didn’t take the typical formulaic kind of pacing that I was expecting. Some readers might find things meandered a bit but I liked it for going the way it did.
What I enjoyed most is how real this book felt, but at the same time it almost has a fairytale quality to it because it feels completely unreal at the same time. It’s the kind of story where you know none of it would happen in real life, but you really want it to. It’s sweet and tender in places, while also dealing with some pretty fucked-up situations, and somehow that balance just works.
CW: There is a lot of homophobic language used (although pretty much all in a friendly, ribbing kind of way). Personally, I felt it fit the setting and time period, especially considering the military context and when the story takes place. That said, if that kind of language is triggering or upsetting for you, it’s something to be aware of going in.
Although this book is not without flaws, I really liked it and think it’s absolutely worth reading, but probably won’t be for everyone.
At first, the writing felt a little simple, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But before I knew it, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. It’s set in early 2000’s and the story follows Matt, who’s in a relationship with a real douchebag named Brian. He decides to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Syria. He’s just an average guy, which made the whole thing feel really relatable.
Once Matt arrives in Syria, the shit hits the fan, and that’s when the book grabbed me. I definitely lost some sleep reading this!
The pacing felt a bit strange, I remember getting to around 60% and thinking, okay… what’s going to happen now? But then the story starts to move in an unexpected way, and I actually loved that it didn’t take the typical formulaic kind of pacing that I was expecting. Some readers might find things meandered a bit but I liked it for going the way it did.
What I enjoyed most is how real this book felt, but at the same time it almost has a fairytale quality to it because it feels completely unreal at the same time. It’s the kind of story where you know none of it would happen in real life, but you really want it to. It’s sweet and tender in places, while also dealing with some pretty fucked-up situations, and somehow that balance just works.
CW: There is a lot of homophobic language used (although pretty much all in a friendly, ribbing kind of way). Personally, I felt it fit the setting and time period, especially considering the military context and when the story takes place. That said, if that kind of language is triggering or upsetting for you, it’s something to be aware of going in.
Although this book is not without flaws, I really liked it and think it’s absolutely worth reading, but probably won’t be for everyone.
October 22, 2013
3 1/2 Stars - a well written story about friendship, heroism of the nation and a slowly progressing romance
Since I'm not full of an unimaginable admiration for war and the military such as U.S. Special Forces (here SEAL's) etc, and also read this book way too slow, I don't care to write more than a few words about the story-topic here. It will instead most be some lines and words about my "ifs and buts" about this novel.
Many of my friends loved this story, and the book has received so many very fine and high ratings. Certainly quite rightly - read their fine reviews. Perhaps it is just me who read it at the wrong time? I don't know. Maybe just the wrong day or week and sometimes I am a "fussy Ingela" with a chore mood. Because very much in this book is a lot more than just fine (or well enough = 3 stars). It is undoubtedly a good and thorough very well written M/M novel - but maybe, in my opinion, not a grand romantic romance.
I want to start by saying that I read with a great pleasure, and a great anticipation, more than half the book in one swoop. In the first part there is an exciting and action-packed suspense story but then, when the suspense part is over, it began to slump for me. I lost interest and the days went by.
Maybe this was too sweet and cute for me? ...everyone loved everyone and so on. For my taste it probably was a bit too much about all the cozy buddies and too little about the newly formed (after more than half of the book) lovebirds, Matt and Travis. Sometimes it becomes just too much of these very brave SEAL's. I got enough of "mom's splendid boys and the nation's pride".
The two MC's, Matt and Mope (Travis), are two lovely guys - and I really liked them both - but I missed something. I believe in their love story, and much of this story is actually plausible, too.
Surely even I melted over Matt's unexpected friendship with the always annoying, hotheaded, (and so dirty in the mouth) SEAL-guy Petey. This part of the story, in itself, was a very nice story. Large boorish strong heroes with soft and appealing fine qualities are always quite charming to read about. Although I found it hard to really believe in the too quick "we're best buddies and brothers" progress between such different men.
But why chew on different causes? To be honest, I may simply need a little more of this:
Maybe it was just that I was missing...
But then, at 90%, we got the traumatic and very romantic "boat scene" and after that one the wonderful "beach scene", ...and I'm sold and quite saved in this story again. Oh my God, what romantic and nicely told. I almost shuddered with happiness. Finally some glow in it again.
Okay, finally... the bottom line; This was a nicely told story - but in some ways with a lack of grand romance, intimacy, passion and real heat in a long part (for me..). It was quite long too, around 340 pages - it can tempt the most persevering reader (which I myself usually in no way is known as). But, I really loved the wonderful end of it and I'm rounding up to 4 stars despite all my "ifs and buts". ~ Just because I probably read too much dirty smut will not this nice and well-written story be punished. It would not be entirely fair! ~
I'm pretty sure that many M/M romance readers will enjoy this book.
I LIKE - good but not great!
Since I'm not full of an unimaginable admiration for war and the military such as U.S. Special Forces (here SEAL's) etc, and also read this book way too slow, I don't care to write more than a few words about the story-topic here. It will instead most be some lines and words about my "ifs and buts" about this novel.
Many of my friends loved this story, and the book has received so many very fine and high ratings. Certainly quite rightly - read their fine reviews. Perhaps it is just me who read it at the wrong time? I don't know. Maybe just the wrong day or week and sometimes I am a "fussy Ingela" with a chore mood. Because very much in this book is a lot more than just fine (or well enough = 3 stars). It is undoubtedly a good and thorough very well written M/M novel - but maybe, in my opinion, not a grand romantic romance.
‘A large part of courage comes from trust. Trust in yourself. But also trust in your brothers that they're there backing you up.’
I want to start by saying that I read with a great pleasure, and a great anticipation, more than half the book in one swoop. In the first part there is an exciting and action-packed suspense story but then, when the suspense part is over, it began to slump for me. I lost interest and the days went by.
Maybe this was too sweet and cute for me? ...everyone loved everyone and so on. For my taste it probably was a bit too much about all the cozy buddies and too little about the newly formed (after more than half of the book) lovebirds, Matt and Travis. Sometimes it becomes just too much of these very brave SEAL's. I got enough of "mom's splendid boys and the nation's pride".
The two MC's, Matt and Mope (Travis), are two lovely guys - and I really liked them both - but I missed something. I believe in their love story, and much of this story is actually plausible, too.
Surely even I melted over Matt's unexpected friendship with the always annoying, hotheaded, (and so dirty in the mouth) SEAL-guy Petey. This part of the story, in itself, was a very nice story. Large boorish strong heroes with soft and appealing fine qualities are always quite charming to read about. Although I found it hard to really believe in the too quick "we're best buddies and brothers" progress between such different men.
But why chew on different causes? To be honest, I may simply need a little more of this:
... more heat and steam, please!
Maybe it was just that I was missing...
But then, at 90%, we got the traumatic and very romantic "boat scene" and after that one the wonderful "beach scene", ...and I'm sold and quite saved in this story again. Oh my God, what romantic and nicely told. I almost shuddered with happiness. Finally some glow in it again.
“Sorry, I really can't dance.”
His eyes sparkled and he added in a rough whisper, “But, dear God, you make me want to.”
Okay, finally... the bottom line; This was a nicely told story - but in some ways with a lack of grand romance, intimacy, passion and real heat in a long part (for me..). It was quite long too, around 340 pages - it can tempt the most persevering reader (which I myself usually in no way is known as). But, I really loved the wonderful end of it and I'm rounding up to 4 stars despite all my "ifs and buts". ~ Just because I probably read too much dirty smut will not this nice and well-written story be punished. It would not be entirely fair! ~
I'm pretty sure that many M/M romance readers will enjoy this book.
I LIKE - good but not great!
December 24, 2015
Matt Goodend (he's heard all the gay jokes, thank you very much) is an average gay guy who has been dating his handsome boyfriend Brian for about a year, is playing in a gay softball league, works for the Health Department and volunteers for Doctors Without Borders when the opportunity arises.
He's got a couple of wonderful and loyal friends who support him, so life couldn't be better, right? If only he could be a better boyfriend for Brian, who Matt relies on heavily and is willing to do anything to make his boyfriend happy. He knows that Brian could have any guy he wants with his looks and his charms, so Matt wants to make sure that he actually deserves a guy like Brian.
Matt is running in circles trying to improve his relationship with Brian. A two week mission with Doctors Without Borders to Syria changes his life forever, though.
He (accidentally) meets a team of US Navy SEALs and gets to assist them on an important mission against terrorism, becoming best friends with the team members in the process. However, it is one Navy SEAL, Travis, who becomes a large part of Matt's life when the tough soldier confides in Matt that it is possible to be a die hard soldier and a gay man at the same time.
I really grew to love this story. I totally disliked the beginning when Matt's world revolved around Brian who was the most undeserving, egoistic boyfriend you can imagine.
However, once things got started in Syria, I just couldn't put it down. I loved the action, the characters (I seriously have a crush on Navy SEALs now) and the way they interacted. Most of all, I loved Travis and I had a blast seeing the last few chapters from his POV exclusively.
Keith and Petey came close to Travis, though. They were wonderful - and unusual - characters. Petey is probably the only guy who can be homophobic and offensive and still have me love him.
This novel had a bit of a fairy tale quality to it. It might be due to me reading the Special Forces series by Aleksandr Voinov right now, which is the total opposite to the sweet romance in this book.
I just loved the happy ending and how well it played out for our guys in the end.
And oh my God, I can only repeat, I totally love Petey. I want to just hug him all day (and hope he won't kill me for it). I adore Matt for being able to sleep in a bed with that red-haired hunk without trying anything, LOL
This book also proves that romance doesn't have to have the sex fleshed out in every detail. I did not miss any sex in this book, even though the actual 'sex' was off page. I loved the intimacy they shared.
I also want to add that the book was a bit heavy on the telling side when I wanted to get inside the characters a bit more. But all in all, the story and characters worked wonderfully for me. I totally enjoyed reading this romance gem.
5 stars!
He's got a couple of wonderful and loyal friends who support him, so life couldn't be better, right? If only he could be a better boyfriend for Brian, who Matt relies on heavily and is willing to do anything to make his boyfriend happy. He knows that Brian could have any guy he wants with his looks and his charms, so Matt wants to make sure that he actually deserves a guy like Brian.
Matt is running in circles trying to improve his relationship with Brian. A two week mission with Doctors Without Borders to Syria changes his life forever, though.
He (accidentally) meets a team of US Navy SEALs and gets to assist them on an important mission against terrorism, becoming best friends with the team members in the process. However, it is one Navy SEAL, Travis, who becomes a large part of Matt's life when the tough soldier confides in Matt that it is possible to be a die hard soldier and a gay man at the same time.
I really grew to love this story. I totally disliked the beginning when Matt's world revolved around Brian who was the most undeserving, egoistic boyfriend you can imagine.
However, once things got started in Syria, I just couldn't put it down. I loved the action, the characters (I seriously have a crush on Navy SEALs now) and the way they interacted. Most of all, I loved Travis and I had a blast seeing the last few chapters from his POV exclusively.
Keith and Petey came close to Travis, though. They were wonderful - and unusual - characters. Petey is probably the only guy who can be homophobic and offensive and still have me love him.
This novel had a bit of a fairy tale quality to it. It might be due to me reading the Special Forces series by Aleksandr Voinov right now, which is the total opposite to the sweet romance in this book.
I just loved the happy ending and how well it played out for our guys in the end.
And oh my God, I can only repeat, I totally love Petey. I want to just hug him all day (and hope he won't kill me for it). I adore Matt for being able to sleep in a bed with that red-haired hunk without trying anything, LOL
This book also proves that romance doesn't have to have the sex fleshed out in every detail. I did not miss any sex in this book, even though the actual 'sex' was off page. I loved the intimacy they shared.
I also want to add that the book was a bit heavy on the telling side when I wanted to get inside the characters a bit more. But all in all, the story and characters worked wonderfully for me. I totally enjoyed reading this romance gem.
5 stars!
July 5, 2022
Oh man, this book had me by the metaphorical balls! It gave me such "All In The Game" series vibes, I was smitten by the first line.
One of my guilty pleasures in life is reading military romances (even better when they're MM), but I'm always disappointed there is never enough action. I was born and bred originally in action books and movies (think Matthew Reilly) and it carried over into my progression to romance. This book did action and romance to *chefs kiss* perfection!
Matt and Travis. Oh I love them dearly. Matt was a cinnamon bun and had the kindest heart. I really appreciated how the author made him brave, but didn't have to make him all tough and out of character to do it. Travis was sooooo adorably sweet and a fierce protector. He was the sort of protective I wish more romance authors understood (I find they often miscontrue protective with possessive). I honestly thought I wasn't a fan of slow burn romances, but that's two for two now (also The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic) that I am just hook, line and sinker for their love. I'm disappointed theres no more Matt and Travis books.
And the side characters. What a delight they were. I truly liked them all (except Brian, rotten putrid blurgh). Even Petey!! He was one of those characters that shocked me and I couldn't believe from his very first introduction (I literally said out loud "how dare he!!") to his very last page how much I adored him.
Look, just read the book. After reading it, the cover has even grown on me and makes a lot more sense ... "Look Up" (iykyk).
You'll love this if you like military and it's active duty, slow burn romance, MM, minimal smut on page (like seriously none, but did not in any way detract from the story), found family, protective alpha male, sweet, sweet moments and honourable men.
***trigger warnings: kidnapping, gun and knife violence, violent deaths, homophobia, cheating (not MC)
One of my guilty pleasures in life is reading military romances (even better when they're MM), but I'm always disappointed there is never enough action. I was born and bred originally in action books and movies (think Matthew Reilly) and it carried over into my progression to romance. This book did action and romance to *chefs kiss* perfection!
Matt and Travis. Oh I love them dearly. Matt was a cinnamon bun and had the kindest heart. I really appreciated how the author made him brave, but didn't have to make him all tough and out of character to do it. Travis was sooooo adorably sweet and a fierce protector. He was the sort of protective I wish more romance authors understood (I find they often miscontrue protective with possessive). I honestly thought I wasn't a fan of slow burn romances, but that's two for two now (also The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic) that I am just hook, line and sinker for their love. I'm disappointed theres no more Matt and Travis books.
And the side characters. What a delight they were. I truly liked them all (except Brian, rotten putrid blurgh). Even Petey!! He was one of those characters that shocked me and I couldn't believe from his very first introduction (I literally said out loud "how dare he!!") to his very last page how much I adored him.
Look, just read the book. After reading it, the cover has even grown on me and makes a lot more sense ... "Look Up" (iykyk).
You'll love this if you like military and it's active duty, slow burn romance, MM, minimal smut on page (like seriously none, but did not in any way detract from the story), found family, protective alpha male, sweet, sweet moments and honourable men.
***trigger warnings: kidnapping, gun and knife violence, violent deaths, homophobia, cheating (not MC)
November 22, 2012
I was going through most this book feeling certain that I was going to give it 2 stars. The writing is elementary, the characters flat, and to be honest, Matt, the MC, is so aggravating. Take the blinders off and stop being a doormat! (<-pet peeve)
BUT, once I finished, I came to find that despite those irritations, I kinda enjoyed the read.
I think if you're interested in M/M books about military (especially Navy SEALS!!!), you might be entertained. If that's not one of your hot buttons, I probably wouldn't push too hard to recommend it.
February 6, 2017
I *adored* this. It's not a short book, but I couldn't put it down, and I'm sad that it ended. I will miss Petey, Mope and Matt! I love the character development on all three of those characters and the action and romance were superb. Goes in my top ten.
December 14, 2025
Great book, I was totally hooked on it right from page one.
Matt's journey is enormous (and not just in a geographical way) :) He is the sweetest guy possible, trying to 'be the best boyfriend' to his partner Brian, always looking for fault within himself rather than others and always seeing the best in people. In short, Matt is an easy target for Brian who knows how to take advantage and manipulate him.
I must admit I did get incredibly frustrated with Matt's total blind spot when it came to Brian. It is blatantly obvious to the rest of the world that Brian is a complete jerk, but not to Matt who clings onto his 'love' despite all the signs that something is amiss.
When Matt is thrown into a life-or-death situation, his life changes from one day to the next. And he meets men who show him what real trust and faith can do for you - it gives you courage to face whatever this life throws at you - be it in a battlefield or in a difficult everyday situation.
Mope/Travis helps Matt so much to see what he is worth, but it's not all one-sided. Matt offers support to Travis to tackle some of his own issues. I loved how their relationship blossomed slowly between all the ongoings in Syria. There is so much tenderness and affection it made my heart swell.
It has been mentioned by other readers that most of the sex is happening off page, but, as much as I like a bit of steam and sizzle in my novels, it didn't bother me a bit here at all. Matt and Travis are totally captivating as they are.
The plot itself kept me on tenterhooks throughout, but particularly in the first half or so when Matt was in Syria. The idea of dropping an openly gay civilian into a tightly knit SEAL unit is genius. It worked incredibly well and the banter between Matt and Petey is simply hilarious. My range of homophobic insults (please don't judge - you have to read the book to fully understand what I mean here) was increased by at least 1000%. Petey is a pretty mind-blowing, secondary character.
Why only 4 points? Two things bothered me a bit:
a) Some sentences were repeated so often that it got a bit irritating after a while: "I want to be a better boyfriend for Brian" "I'm lucky to have him" "He deserves better" to mention some. I am sure there are other ways of expressing that.
b) There were quite a few incongruities in POV. The book is mainly told from Matt's point of view, but occasionally we suddenly hop into someone else's head to find out what they are thinking (just for a sentence or two). This happens most notably towards the end of the book where the POV is switched to Travis out of nowhere for two chapters or so. I do want to stress that although I noticed this, it did not take away my enjoyment from the story or the characters.
Please do not let this put you off reading this - it is an amazing story and totally totally worthwhile your time!
Matt's journey is enormous (and not just in a geographical way) :) He is the sweetest guy possible, trying to 'be the best boyfriend' to his partner Brian, always looking for fault within himself rather than others and always seeing the best in people. In short, Matt is an easy target for Brian who knows how to take advantage and manipulate him.
I must admit I did get incredibly frustrated with Matt's total blind spot when it came to Brian. It is blatantly obvious to the rest of the world that Brian is a complete jerk, but not to Matt who clings onto his 'love' despite all the signs that something is amiss.
When Matt is thrown into a life-or-death situation, his life changes from one day to the next. And he meets men who show him what real trust and faith can do for you - it gives you courage to face whatever this life throws at you - be it in a battlefield or in a difficult everyday situation.
Mope/Travis helps Matt so much to see what he is worth, but it's not all one-sided. Matt offers support to Travis to tackle some of his own issues. I loved how their relationship blossomed slowly between all the ongoings in Syria. There is so much tenderness and affection it made my heart swell.
It has been mentioned by other readers that most of the sex is happening off page, but, as much as I like a bit of steam and sizzle in my novels, it didn't bother me a bit here at all. Matt and Travis are totally captivating as they are.
The plot itself kept me on tenterhooks throughout, but particularly in the first half or so when Matt was in Syria. The idea of dropping an openly gay civilian into a tightly knit SEAL unit is genius. It worked incredibly well and the banter between Matt and Petey is simply hilarious. My range of homophobic insults (please don't judge - you have to read the book to fully understand what I mean here) was increased by at least 1000%. Petey is a pretty mind-blowing, secondary character.
Why only 4 points? Two things bothered me a bit:
a) Some sentences were repeated so often that it got a bit irritating after a while: "I want to be a better boyfriend for Brian" "I'm lucky to have him" "He deserves better" to mention some. I am sure there are other ways of expressing that.
b) There were quite a few incongruities in POV. The book is mainly told from Matt's point of view, but occasionally we suddenly hop into someone else's head to find out what they are thinking (just for a sentence or two). This happens most notably towards the end of the book where the POV is switched to Travis out of nowhere for two chapters or so. I do want to stress that although I noticed this, it did not take away my enjoyment from the story or the characters.
Please do not let this put you off reading this - it is an amazing story and totally totally worthwhile your time!
February 6, 2017
Aww! It's one of the sweetest, most charming and most beautiful m/m books I've ever read. Or at least I feel like that at this moment. I never said it was flawless, and I can quite imagine how someone can't get over some things in it. But I loved it to pieces and I don't care if something in it wasn't perfect.
And the feelz, the feelz! I loved every part, every turn of the book. The plot was amazing. I don't know, the reason why I put off this book for so long was that the plot sounded far-fetched and kinda boring. If not for Manfred's review, the book probably still would be buried in the far corner of my e-reader. And - everything about the plot made sense when I started reading. I didn't need to suspend disbelief at all. It was nail-biting interesting, Matt's captivity and rescue, his stay on the ship, his participation in the mission, his friendship with the SEALs. I loved how friendship is equally strong and important in this book as romance is. And equally emotional. Oh my, when we first meet Petey, I thought he was the biggest possible jerk in the world, it would be a suicide for Matt to trust him! And look where we are in the end :)
And Matt and Travis, how much I love them both! They are perfect for each other and both are such darlings. And I don't care if there was no sex on page (actually the one attempt where the author tried it - hmm, maybe he shouldn't have - "the animal", lol :)) There is so much love, tenderness and respect between them that I didn't miss seeing them physically together, it was enough to know that they are. Ah, and the final part of the book! That is what I call cathartic. It just jumped up the book for me from 4,5 stars to "perfect" :) When, even knowing everything's likely going to be all right, you still can't breathe with worry, and then the wonderful, delicious relief... how can I not appreciate a book that made me feel so much?
And the feelz, the feelz! I loved every part, every turn of the book. The plot was amazing. I don't know, the reason why I put off this book for so long was that the plot sounded far-fetched and kinda boring. If not for Manfred's review, the book probably still would be buried in the far corner of my e-reader. And - everything about the plot made sense when I started reading. I didn't need to suspend disbelief at all. It was nail-biting interesting, Matt's captivity and rescue, his stay on the ship, his participation in the mission, his friendship with the SEALs. I loved how friendship is equally strong and important in this book as romance is. And equally emotional. Oh my, when we first meet Petey, I thought he was the biggest possible jerk in the world, it would be a suicide for Matt to trust him! And look where we are in the end :)
And Matt and Travis, how much I love them both! They are perfect for each other and both are such darlings. And I don't care if there was no sex on page (actually the one attempt where the author tried it - hmm, maybe he shouldn't have - "the animal", lol :)) There is so much love, tenderness and respect between them that I didn't miss seeing them physically together, it was enough to know that they are. Ah, and the final part of the book! That is what I call cathartic. It just jumped up the book for me from 4,5 stars to "perfect" :) When, even knowing everything's likely going to be all right, you still can't breathe with worry, and then the wonderful, delicious relief... how can I not appreciate a book that made me feel so much?
February 24, 2020
Still as good in 2020 s it was when I first read it in 2017!
Nothing to add to my initial review:
Do you know that feeling, when you are working and suddenly have to think about the book you are just reading, what happened, or what will come next....
This, for me, is one of the sure signs, I am dealing with a 5-star read.
The panic I feel, when seeing that I am running out of pages.
The knowledge that I should go slow and enjoy as long as possible but at the same time the inability to do so, because it`s just too good to stop.
Wishing to start again once you are finished because you just can`t let those guys go...
All that certainly happened to me here.
Just a few days ago I was complaining that I had not read anything out of the ordinary yet this year and now, here I am knowing exactly that whatever book comes next will not have the slightest chance against this one.
The story is about Matt, who goes to Syria to help doctors without borders with a medical program for some weeks. During his stay, he is kidnapped and saved at last by a team of Navy seals who at first seem to be just as big assholes as the guys who kidnapped him in the first place. But then he gets to know them closer and his as well as their whole life is turned upside down.
What I really loved above everything else, was that there was no unnecessary drama. I mean okay, being kidnapped (twice) is not just a regular occurrence, but what I mean is, that the main things going on here are between the people involved and it feels real, it feels right, it is heartbreaking and heartwarming, it had me crying again and again and I honestly loved everyone involved in this story (maybe apart from the asshole of an ex-boyfriend Brian).
Not only the main characters but also the secondary ones came to life and were not simply bystanders as often is the case with these stories.
No stupid misunderstandings, no miscommunication, the story didn`t need any of this to be outstanding the only negative I could come up with is, that Matt should have realized much earlier what a douchebag his boyfriend is and that the cover of this book really sucks.
You know if a book has such a high average rating, it must be really good.
For me, it actually was near perfect, I loved every single page of it and if it was possible I would without hesitation give it 7 stars or more!
Nothing to add to my initial review:
Do you know that feeling, when you are working and suddenly have to think about the book you are just reading, what happened, or what will come next....
This, for me, is one of the sure signs, I am dealing with a 5-star read.
The panic I feel, when seeing that I am running out of pages.
The knowledge that I should go slow and enjoy as long as possible but at the same time the inability to do so, because it`s just too good to stop.
Wishing to start again once you are finished because you just can`t let those guys go...
All that certainly happened to me here.
Just a few days ago I was complaining that I had not read anything out of the ordinary yet this year and now, here I am knowing exactly that whatever book comes next will not have the slightest chance against this one.
The story is about Matt, who goes to Syria to help doctors without borders with a medical program for some weeks. During his stay, he is kidnapped and saved at last by a team of Navy seals who at first seem to be just as big assholes as the guys who kidnapped him in the first place. But then he gets to know them closer and his as well as their whole life is turned upside down.
What I really loved above everything else, was that there was no unnecessary drama. I mean okay, being kidnapped (twice) is not just a regular occurrence, but what I mean is, that the main things going on here are between the people involved and it feels real, it feels right, it is heartbreaking and heartwarming, it had me crying again and again and I honestly loved everyone involved in this story (maybe apart from the asshole of an ex-boyfriend Brian).
Not only the main characters but also the secondary ones came to life and were not simply bystanders as often is the case with these stories.
No stupid misunderstandings, no miscommunication, the story didn`t need any of this to be outstanding the only negative I could come up with is, that Matt should have realized much earlier what a douchebag his boyfriend is and that the cover of this book really sucks.
You know if a book has such a high average rating, it must be really good.
For me, it actually was near perfect, I loved every single page of it and if it was possible I would without hesitation give it 7 stars or more!
March 28, 2013
saudade |souˈdädə|
noun
a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese or Brazilian temperament.
Have you ever regret reading a book? NO, not because you hate it, but because you are loving it so much you KNOW you will be sad reading the last page? That happened to me... I kid you not... while I was reading it, and getting close to the last page I was very sad... I knew I would miss each character of this book! And I WAS RIGHT! I just finish it, and already feel... saudade!
All in this story is perfect. Matt, during a (in theory) short volunteer mission in Syria, is kidnapped. Nothing will be as before in his life...
After a horrible experience in his life Matt will be forced to deal with:
*How much he is in love with his boyfriend
*How much new friendships can important to make his life fully complete
*How much it takes to a simple office worker, became a hero and part of something so big that SEALs want his cooperation.
Did I say Seals?
ok, that's cute... but not... I mean... badass SEALs
even if you must admit not badass seals are cute and deserve another picture
oh, ok sorry, back to the review...
So Matt will be "trapped" in a ship with a bunch of (hot) SEALs
It's a lesson about how a simple but brave man, can change FOREVER everyone surrounding him. Because SEALs can be trained to deal with deadly situations, but nothing could prepare any of them to deal with... Matt.
Ok, one more... SEALs!
5 stars
noun
a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese or Brazilian temperament.
Have you ever regret reading a book? NO, not because you hate it, but because you are loving it so much you KNOW you will be sad reading the last page? That happened to me... I kid you not... while I was reading it, and getting close to the last page I was very sad... I knew I would miss each character of this book! And I WAS RIGHT! I just finish it, and already feel... saudade!
All in this story is perfect. Matt, during a (in theory) short volunteer mission in Syria, is kidnapped. Nothing will be as before in his life...
After a horrible experience in his life Matt will be forced to deal with:
*How much he is in love with his boyfriend
*How much new friendships can important to make his life fully complete
*How much it takes to a simple office worker, became a hero and part of something so big that SEALs want his cooperation.
Did I say Seals?
ok, that's cute... but not... I mean... badass SEALs
even if you must admit not badass seals are cute and deserve another picture
oh, ok sorry, back to the review...
So Matt will be "trapped" in a ship with a bunch of (hot) SEALs
It's a lesson about how a simple but brave man, can change FOREVER everyone surrounding him. Because SEALs can be trained to deal with deadly situations, but nothing could prepare any of them to deal with... Matt.
Ok, one more... SEALs!
5 stars
November 9, 2017
This book is a little hard to rate only because there were quite a lot annoying moments, but overall I definitely enjoyed it. I'm sorry, but I could not imagine myself to finish it if Petey had not appeared. He stole the spotlight. He is one of the most original supportive character I've read in any MM novel. Not only because he fills the pages up with full fun but also because he is a person who on the surface seems a deeply homophobic,using non-stop slurs he can come up with to refer to Matt's persona but the same time he is a big softie inside, who doesn't want anybody to know it. This kind of jerks are common among professional soldiers everywhere, and the fact that the author shows us a different way of liking, through Petey's characterization, is the most strong and poignant part of this book. The messed-up and bromantic dynamic between Matt and Petey was just delicious. And thank you my lord that nobody turned him into gay even when shorts hit the floor. More than once they slept together in one bed.
On the flip side, I was really annoyed with Matt for the majority of the book. The entire book is told from Matt's perspective with the exception of the last two or three chapter when it switches to Mope/Travis's POV. He didn't 't behave like 30 years old, but rather as a 3 year old. He is too smart to be blind to the issues with his relationship. Plus, why did he always seem to have to have these creeping and naive doubts? In fact, the whole novel is suffused with naivety and seemingly a little far-fetched tings, but the writing was my big needle, at least in the beginning, because it felt very surface (It got better as the book progressed). It also felt like the author was telling rather than describing things to us. That being said and I agree with that the right editor could have helped tighten up the storyline for a more consistent. Considering the decent length of the book, I was expecting to be more in depth read, and less in exceedingly fluffy and repetitive bits.
All in all, this novel was an enjoyable journey. The first half is action-packed and then in the second it shifts to the development of two completely different types of relationships, between Matt and Travis and between Matt and Petey, and although I've already mentioned my preference, they are both sweet and engaging.
On the flip side, I was really annoyed with Matt for the majority of the book. The entire book is told from Matt's perspective with the exception of the last two or three chapter when it switches to Mope/Travis's POV. He didn't 't behave like 30 years old, but rather as a 3 year old. He is too smart to be blind to the issues with his relationship. Plus, why did he always seem to have to have these creeping and naive doubts? In fact, the whole novel is suffused with naivety and seemingly a little far-fetched tings, but the writing was my big needle, at least in the beginning, because it felt very surface (It got better as the book progressed). It also felt like the author was telling rather than describing things to us. That being said and I agree with that the right editor could have helped tighten up the storyline for a more consistent. Considering the decent length of the book, I was expecting to be more in depth read, and less in exceedingly fluffy and repetitive bits.
All in all, this novel was an enjoyable journey. The first half is action-packed and then in the second it shifts to the development of two completely different types of relationships, between Matt and Travis and between Matt and Petey, and although I've already mentioned my preference, they are both sweet and engaging.
January 24, 2013
Wow what a great read this was! Why it's taken me so long to get round to it, I don't know but I'm pleased to add another 5* rating to this exceptionally enjoyable novel. I loved every character in this story but was surprised how much I grew to love Petey, who normally I would hate because of his gobby offensive comments but throughout the book he redeemed himself in so many ways that I found myself warming to him more and more. He sort of stole the show and the banter between him and Matt was priceless, adding some comic relief, but they also had some pretty poignant moments too. Matt and Travis' slow burning romance is probably one of my most favourites ever, made all the better for not being overladen with repetitive sex scenes, it was romantic and sensual in its own way. The whole cast of characters,- especially the rest of the SEAL's - are pitched perfectly and every one of them are integral to the story, the action side is really good too and quite exciting. Seeing Brian get his comeuppance(s) was a highlight ( it took Matt long enough though, to see what a PIA he was! ). Ridiculously low priced for its style and length it's daft not to put this in your library if you love m/m fiction. Perfect!
March 14, 2017
Hmm...didn't really enjoy this one.
The romance doesn't really take off until the second half, by which point I was already bored. The first half has a mystery/terrorism plot, but wasn't at all believable or particularly attention-grabbing.
The MC, Matt, is a doormat. Not much of a personality, and willing to let others walk all over him. I know the story's about his growth as a person, but I doubt that he would have smartened up and kicked Brian to the curb for good if he hadn't started seeing Travis.
I did like Travis, but I didn't get enough of his POV to get a good impression. He comes across as a cookie-cutter military love interest.
The relationship was cute enough, but nothing to get excited about. There's a bit of drama here and there, but everything's tied up nicely at the end.
Also, I don't know what to make of Petey, Travis' teammate and the character with the most page time after Matt and Travis. I doubt I'd put up with someone hurling one derogatory insult after another at me just because the guy's heart was in the right place. I wasn't even offended by Petey, just annoyed by the OTT antics.
Overall, this was a dud.
The romance doesn't really take off until the second half, by which point I was already bored. The first half has a mystery/terrorism plot, but wasn't at all believable or particularly attention-grabbing.
The MC, Matt, is a doormat. Not much of a personality, and willing to let others walk all over him. I know the story's about his growth as a person, but I doubt that he would have smartened up and kicked Brian to the curb for good if he hadn't started seeing Travis.
I did like Travis, but I didn't get enough of his POV to get a good impression. He comes across as a cookie-cutter military love interest.
The relationship was cute enough, but nothing to get excited about. There's a bit of drama here and there, but everything's tied up nicely at the end.
Also, I don't know what to make of Petey, Travis' teammate and the character with the most page time after Matt and Travis. I doubt I'd put up with someone hurling one derogatory insult after another at me just because the guy's heart was in the right place. I wasn't even offended by Petey, just annoyed by the OTT antics.
Overall, this was a dud.
February 19, 2012
.
The book was fine; it just wasn't my bowl of noodles. I have to be honest that I left it half-finished for weeks, then skimmed through a fair bit of it to finish. However the writing was fine, the characters were mostly fine. Our MC did seem a tad TSTL at the beginning, but I grew to like him more as the book went on. I know zero about the military, but the descriptions seemed perfectly plausible. The sense of comeraderie between the SEAL team was well-represented.
I did find the big chunk of physical descriptions at the beginning quite annoying; it was too reminiscent of bad fanfics.
Good long length: if I'd liked it more this would have been a novel to revel in.
I previously read the author's other book, Falling off the Face of the Earth and I really liked that, so I think it was just the military setting that slowed this down for me, so I'll definitely check out their future work.
The book was fine; it just wasn't my bowl of noodles. I have to be honest that I left it half-finished for weeks, then skimmed through a fair bit of it to finish. However the writing was fine, the characters were mostly fine. Our MC did seem a tad TSTL at the beginning, but I grew to like him more as the book went on. I know zero about the military, but the descriptions seemed perfectly plausible. The sense of comeraderie between the SEAL team was well-represented.
I did find the big chunk of physical descriptions at the beginning quite annoying; it was too reminiscent of bad fanfics.
Good long length: if I'd liked it more this would have been a novel to revel in.
I previously read the author's other book, Falling off the Face of the Earth and I really liked that, so I think it was just the military setting that slowed this down for me, so I'll definitely check out their future work.
September 25, 2012
4.5 stars
Matt, a man working in the administrative side of Doctors Without Borders, has been dating Brian for a year, and is grateful that a guy as good looking as Brian would be even interested in him. Despite his best friends Bret and Jim disliking Brian, Matt feels he is lucky to have captured the interest of such a special guy; after all, he is only an average guy in looks with an average job, whose only hobbies are softball and electronic games. He ignores the little bits about Brian that make him annoyed or uneasy; things like never paying for a meal or movie, never switching sexual positions, or the fact that his friends see Brian out with an ex-boyfriend. Instead, he is determined to be a better boyfriend, to be all that Brian could ever need and to have more faith in their relationship.
When Matt's job takes him to Syria, to assist the Syrian government set up a medical immunization program, his friends are concerned (not Brian, who simply warns him not to fall for a Syrian prince), but Matt reassures them as the area he is going to, Latakia, is on the opposite side to Iran, well away from the areas of conflict. All goes well when he arrives; the university people he has to work with are easy to understand, and the area itself is calm and peaceful.
One evening, while walking back to his hotel after a meal at a small cafe, something happens which changes his life forever; he is knocked unconscious and kidnapped. Left in a dark room, bound, naked, and without food or drink, Matt endures 3 horrendous days. When 4 men break into his locked room, he is barely aware of what is going on, only knowing fear and thirst. Freed from his bonds and wrapped up in a blanket, one of the men, after giving him a few sips of water, tells him that he can leave with them, but only if he can walk. Determined to escape, he leans on the man, and makes his way through the house where he was held captive, only to collapse into unconsciousness a few steps outside. He wakes up a day later in a cramped naval medical ward.
Here, after a rough start, he finally learns why he was kidnapped, and is given a chance to do something about it. He also meets the four men who rescued him, only to find himself the target of cruel homophobic pranks. Reeling from all that has happened to him, he is surprised and wary when the leader of his rescue quartet, Mope, takes him aside. Mope's calm and reassuring manner while he explains Matt's situation, makes Matt reassess everything, particularly himself. Finding a strength within himself that he never knew existed, Matt decides to fight back, and starts a course of action that, while completely alien to him, gives him back his own self worth, and finally, someone who loves him for who he really is.
This is a story of a man's personal growth, as he discovers the true meaning of trust, faith and friendship. What he endures is horrid, but he emerges out the other side with a strength and confidence he never knew he had. He finds friends and family in unexpected places, and his heart finally finds a home in someone who deserves it.
Matt is an interesting character, and while I got a little frustrated with his obstinate blindness about Brian, I liked who he grew into. Mope too, learns a lot about himself, and his team mates, finding out who his friends really are. The pacing is, perhaps, a bit uneven at times, but overall, doesn't harm the story. There are quite a few humorous moments too, which helps to balance the harsh reality of what Matt and his rescuers endure. This story drew me in, and didn't let go until I finished it (at 5am!). If you enjoy a romance with a solid dose of action/adventure, yet has a roller-coaster ride of emotions, then this is definitely worth a look. I know that for me, this novel will find a home on my re-read shelf...
Matt, a man working in the administrative side of Doctors Without Borders, has been dating Brian for a year, and is grateful that a guy as good looking as Brian would be even interested in him. Despite his best friends Bret and Jim disliking Brian, Matt feels he is lucky to have captured the interest of such a special guy; after all, he is only an average guy in looks with an average job, whose only hobbies are softball and electronic games. He ignores the little bits about Brian that make him annoyed or uneasy; things like never paying for a meal or movie, never switching sexual positions, or the fact that his friends see Brian out with an ex-boyfriend. Instead, he is determined to be a better boyfriend, to be all that Brian could ever need and to have more faith in their relationship.
When Matt's job takes him to Syria, to assist the Syrian government set up a medical immunization program, his friends are concerned (not Brian, who simply warns him not to fall for a Syrian prince), but Matt reassures them as the area he is going to, Latakia, is on the opposite side to Iran, well away from the areas of conflict. All goes well when he arrives; the university people he has to work with are easy to understand, and the area itself is calm and peaceful.
One evening, while walking back to his hotel after a meal at a small cafe, something happens which changes his life forever; he is knocked unconscious and kidnapped. Left in a dark room, bound, naked, and without food or drink, Matt endures 3 horrendous days. When 4 men break into his locked room, he is barely aware of what is going on, only knowing fear and thirst. Freed from his bonds and wrapped up in a blanket, one of the men, after giving him a few sips of water, tells him that he can leave with them, but only if he can walk. Determined to escape, he leans on the man, and makes his way through the house where he was held captive, only to collapse into unconsciousness a few steps outside. He wakes up a day later in a cramped naval medical ward.
Here, after a rough start, he finally learns why he was kidnapped, and is given a chance to do something about it. He also meets the four men who rescued him, only to find himself the target of cruel homophobic pranks. Reeling from all that has happened to him, he is surprised and wary when the leader of his rescue quartet, Mope, takes him aside. Mope's calm and reassuring manner while he explains Matt's situation, makes Matt reassess everything, particularly himself. Finding a strength within himself that he never knew existed, Matt decides to fight back, and starts a course of action that, while completely alien to him, gives him back his own self worth, and finally, someone who loves him for who he really is.
This is a story of a man's personal growth, as he discovers the true meaning of trust, faith and friendship. What he endures is horrid, but he emerges out the other side with a strength and confidence he never knew he had. He finds friends and family in unexpected places, and his heart finally finds a home in someone who deserves it.
Matt is an interesting character, and while I got a little frustrated with his obstinate blindness about Brian, I liked who he grew into. Mope too, learns a lot about himself, and his team mates, finding out who his friends really are. The pacing is, perhaps, a bit uneven at times, but overall, doesn't harm the story. There are quite a few humorous moments too, which helps to balance the harsh reality of what Matt and his rescuers endure. This story drew me in, and didn't let go until I finished it (at 5am!). If you enjoy a romance with a solid dose of action/adventure, yet has a roller-coaster ride of emotions, then this is definitely worth a look. I know that for me, this novel will find a home on my re-read shelf...
April 24, 2012
3.5 stars
When I started reading this novel, I had high, but realistic expectations: first, because I've read the author's first novel and enjoyed it very much and, second, because I've been warned about necessary suspension of disbelief to fully enjoy it.
And, I did. I actually really liked the situation with the civilian in a dangerous situation, getting rescued and then befriended by the least likely bunch. And I could sympathize with Matt, both because of the asshole boyfriend and the situation he found himself in.
But, it turned out that I have only so much sympathy for someone who basically enables the asshole to treat him like a doormat. I shared Bret's frustration with Matt and I just wanted to scream at some moments. He was going into serious TSTL territory and when he finally woke up, I was relieved. But, because he was so stubbornly holding to Brian, the scene he finally became aware of Mope had somewhat sudden and artificial feel. Still, once they got together, they worked well as a couple.
It turned out that my suspension of disbelief also has a limit. It wasn't "the civilian as part of military operation" part that troubled me. As I said, I actually liked that. It was a way these hardened men adopted Matt and practically made him their mascot within days. Yes, Matt did extremely well for a civilian. But, it was hard for me to believe that these guys who fought together for years in life or death situations allowed someone so easily in their midst, treating him as an equal.
In fact, the whole novel was suffused with naivety that was adorable in small doses, but hard to buy in this particular setting.
The author also gave us Petey. Dear god, Petey... XD He is incredibly offensive and I dare you - dare you - not to be shocked at least once during the novel. You had to love him though. Not because he was the constant source of entertainment (which he was), but because the author showed us through Petey the other side of professional soldiers everywhere. They might be super trained killing machines forced to do unimaginable in the line of duty, but at the end of the day, most of them are just ordinary guys. It is hard to remember that sometimes. If author decides some day to bring Petey back for whatever reason, I'll be the first in line to read about him. Yup, as someone said, even if it was a M/F story. Can you imagine this guy actually falling for someone? XD
After everything, I did enjoy the story, but not as much as Falling Off The Face Of The Earth. Maybe, it's just my current mood. I will certainly read JF Smith's next story which should be available soon. ^^
When I started reading this novel, I had high, but realistic expectations: first, because I've read the author's first novel and enjoyed it very much and, second, because I've been warned about necessary suspension of disbelief to fully enjoy it.
And, I did. I actually really liked the situation with the civilian in a dangerous situation, getting rescued and then befriended by the least likely bunch. And I could sympathize with Matt, both because of the asshole boyfriend and the situation he found himself in.
But, it turned out that I have only so much sympathy for someone who basically enables the asshole to treat him like a doormat. I shared Bret's frustration with Matt and I just wanted to scream at some moments. He was going into serious TSTL territory and when he finally woke up, I was relieved. But, because he was so stubbornly holding to Brian, the scene he finally became aware of Mope had somewhat sudden and artificial feel. Still, once they got together, they worked well as a couple.
It turned out that my suspension of disbelief also has a limit. It wasn't "the civilian as part of military operation" part that troubled me. As I said, I actually liked that. It was a way these hardened men adopted Matt and practically made him their mascot within days. Yes, Matt did extremely well for a civilian. But, it was hard for me to believe that these guys who fought together for years in life or death situations allowed someone so easily in their midst, treating him as an equal.
In fact, the whole novel was suffused with naivety that was adorable in small doses, but hard to buy in this particular setting.
The author also gave us Petey. Dear god, Petey... XD He is incredibly offensive and I dare you - dare you - not to be shocked at least once during the novel. You had to love him though. Not because he was the constant source of entertainment (which he was), but because the author showed us through Petey the other side of professional soldiers everywhere. They might be super trained killing machines forced to do unimaginable in the line of duty, but at the end of the day, most of them are just ordinary guys. It is hard to remember that sometimes. If author decides some day to bring Petey back for whatever reason, I'll be the first in line to read about him. Yup, as someone said, even if it was a M/F story. Can you imagine this guy actually falling for someone? XD
After everything, I did enjoy the story, but not as much as Falling Off The Face Of The Earth. Maybe, it's just my current mood. I will certainly read JF Smith's next story which should be available soon. ^^
April 2, 2012
I've rated this book, not according to how technically good it is; nor according to the editing style; or even the plot, but really I've rated it according to how much I enjoyed it. And if I were to quantify my enjoyment of it, it would be roughly a metric shitload. It's a very sweet and often funny book about a ordinary guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances and proving himself equal to the task.
There were a couple of sticking points that marred the read a bit for me and they're almost entirely technical. Like how there's a lot of redundancy in the writing, as well as endless internal monologues and the dialogue veers wildly from kind of silly and earnest to just straight-up fucking hilarious (no really, I could't read this in public because I kept bursting out laughing). The protagonist also did some fairly annoying shit, but it's forgivable. And what's the deal with the weird "love me" spell he cast on everyone? Not literally, of course, but everyone loved the shit out of this guy, it felt kind of forced, actually. And also, and this is sooo petty of me, but multiple punctuation marks??? Tacky.
All that said, it actually was a really good read and I wish there was more military stuff in it, because that bit was aces. But yes, I would definitely recommend it.
There were a couple of sticking points that marred the read a bit for me and they're almost entirely technical. Like how there's a lot of redundancy in the writing, as well as endless internal monologues and the dialogue veers wildly from kind of silly and earnest to just straight-up fucking hilarious (no really, I could't read this in public because I kept bursting out laughing). The protagonist also did some fairly annoying shit, but it's forgivable. And what's the deal with the weird "love me" spell he cast on everyone? Not literally, of course, but everyone loved the shit out of this guy, it felt kind of forced, actually. And also, and this is sooo petty of me, but multiple punctuation marks??? Tacky.
All that said, it actually was a really good read and I wish there was more military stuff in it, because that bit was aces. But yes, I would definitely recommend it.
October 24, 2012
A full 5 stars
I really loved reading this book. It is a study of contradictions.
- Masculine, badass but sweet characters
- A Catholic who steadfastly holds onto his faith and may still consider gay activity a sin but doesn't want to judge another so he's cool with the MCs being gay
- An American Muslim who serves in the US Navy goes to war with American enemies in the Middle East
- A very non PC character but becomes very close to the gay MC
- A role reversal between the MCs
- A biological family v. family you choose
- Guilty from killing 'friend' but also from killing 'enemy'
The plots, character developments (not just the MCs) are great. It's busy but coherent. At the end, this is a book about love stories. Love between brothers-in-arm. Between father and son. Between family members you choose. And of course, between two men. A very well written love stories. I've read many m/m books. Both Mr. Smith's two novels are up there in the Top Five of my all-time favorites.
Oh, another contradiction: this is an amazing book, but is only 99c in Amazon. There are many crappy books that nowadays cost us $6.99.
I really loved reading this book. It is a study of contradictions.
- Masculine, badass but sweet characters
- A Catholic who steadfastly holds onto his faith and may still consider gay activity a sin but doesn't want to judge another so he's cool with the MCs being gay
- An American Muslim who serves in the US Navy goes to war with American enemies in the Middle East
- A very non PC character but becomes very close to the gay MC
- A role reversal between the MCs
- A biological family v. family you choose
- Guilty from killing 'friend' but also from killing 'enemy'
The plots, character developments (not just the MCs) are great. It's busy but coherent. At the end, this is a book about love stories. Love between brothers-in-arm. Between father and son. Between family members you choose. And of course, between two men. A very well written love stories. I've read many m/m books. Both Mr. Smith's two novels are up there in the Top Five of my all-time favorites.
Oh, another contradiction: this is an amazing book, but is only 99c in Amazon. There are many crappy books that nowadays cost us $6.99.
April 14, 2014
Yep, I don't really care if it pisses anyone off but I'm deducting an entire star for lack of sex. As in zero, zilch, nada. But the book was wonderful. The story, the characters (I loved Petey mostest), the action...it had it all, except the sex. Sometimes in a book that doesn't really matter to me, no really, it doesn't, but in this book I wanted to "see" that connection between them sooooo badly. It didn't have to be the spit slicked scissoring fingers kind but throw a girl a goddamned bone here. I wanted to experience what their emotions would have felt like had we been allowed to witness it. Still a highly recommended read.
June 4, 2013
Lovely book, great characters, really liked how Matt and Travis "found" each other...and i also loved how the writer "solved" Travis' coming out, i was wondering about how that was going to go.
This must be one of the sweetest SEAL-teams i have read about ;-)
(i especially liked Petey...i feel there is a story there, if he would get his own book, i would like to read it, you know, why is he the way he is...!)
Couldn't put it down and will certainly look for other books by this writer!
4 Stars.
This must be one of the sweetest SEAL-teams i have read about ;-)
(i especially liked Petey...i feel there is a story there, if he would get his own book, i would like to read it, you know, why is he the way he is...!)
Couldn't put it down and will certainly look for other books by this writer!
4 Stars.
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