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Jarheads #2
Personal Leave
Alex "Rigger" Roberts and Jim "Rock" South are starting to build a solid life together, even as hard as that is for a Marine and a flight nurse. They have pizza, beer, a dog, and lots and lots of communication in bed. The only thing Rock doesn't really communicate well about is his family or his past. Rig thinks that's a little strange, as close as he is to his own tight-knit, loving family, and he sets out to pry a few details out of his studly Marine. When a death in Rock's family has them leaving North Carolina for New England, Rig gets more than he bargained for. There's bad blood there, and when things boil over, Rig has Rock's back, deciding that his Marine is better off without a family like that. Things aren't exactly smooth for Rig's family, either, and a family tragedy leaves him wondering if life will ever be the same. Rig tries to deal with is problems on his own, like he always has, but Rock proves to him soon enough that it's better to have someone there to pick up the pieces. Sean Michael gives us a true slice of Jarheads life in Personal Leave, a hot and moving tale of two men who laugh, love and live together. Take some time for yourself and read it today!
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
10 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Sean Michael
652 books1,209 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 28, 2018
The name of this was 'family'. We meet Rig's momma & daddy (and Sissy, Julie, her husband and their baby) in a Texas-style xmas as they're welcomed with open arms! Later we meet Blue's uptight homophobic 'rents and sister (who gives Rig's hell and it's given back with a dash of southern charm and a smile).
You can feel how in love they are with every page turn and the sex is off the charts. HOO-ya!
You can feel how in love they are with every page turn and the sex is off the charts. HOO-ya!
November 2, 2012
More of the same from the original two Jarheads characters
JARHEADS SERIES: VOLUME 2 (chronologically), BOOK 5 (written fifth, as far as I can tell)
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Rock and Rig do all kinds of sweet things for each other that I don’t remember (or at least, that didn’t stand out) in the other Jarheads books I’ve read: massaging the other’s back, feeding each other, etc. There’s also a lot more comforting (mostly sexual, of course) in this volume because it has more drama than the others. As a result, I see the depth of their feelings for each other more plainly in this book than in the ones I’ve read previously.
- More “plot” in this volume than in Three Day Passes and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And yes, I did use the air quotes on purpose, because what passes as a plot in this series would be laughed off the court by most other books in the genre. Still, as I mentioned above, more crummy stuff happens to the guys in this book than in the others and thus we get to see Rock and Rig struggling through real, tough issues in life together.
- The characters are incredibly protective of each other, physically and emotionally.
CONS:
- Rock’s family is nasty. REALLY nasty. Like, so nasty I wanted to punch the pages of my book as I read about them. However, Rig comes to Rock’s defense around them on multiple occasions, and his dressing down of Rock’s sister is priceless, especially considering Rig’s usual reserve and cowboy politeness. He uses some profanity, but the non-cuss words he uses are more descriptive: “slimy,” “bigoted,” and “homely,” to give just a few choice examples.
- Repetitive sex. And lots of it. Same roles (top/bottom), same positions, same thoughts. The worst thing about this is that the sheer pervasiveness of sex throughout the book causes the tender scenes--when one of them is comforting the other, for example--to get sort of lost in the shuffle.
- (Possible SPOILER here) The characters never say “I love you.” (In any of the books in the series.) Not everyone does say that, I suppose, and there’s that whole “actions speak louder than words” thing, but still. The closest they come is Rig saying that Rock was “worth leaving Texas for,” and at one point, Rock responds that he’s a pretty lucky son-of-a-gun that Rig DID leave Texas.
Overall comments: Again, don’t read this if you’re looking for a good story. This series is very much about the sex. You’re likely to find this book unbearable if you’re not already into the characters, and even if you are, you probably won’t be able to read large chunks at a time without taking a break.
JARHEADS SERIES: VOLUME 2 (chronologically), BOOK 5 (written fifth, as far as I can tell)
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Rock and Rig do all kinds of sweet things for each other that I don’t remember (or at least, that didn’t stand out) in the other Jarheads books I’ve read: massaging the other’s back, feeding each other, etc. There’s also a lot more comforting (mostly sexual, of course) in this volume because it has more drama than the others. As a result, I see the depth of their feelings for each other more plainly in this book than in the ones I’ve read previously.
- More “plot” in this volume than in Three Day Passes and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And yes, I did use the air quotes on purpose, because what passes as a plot in this series would be laughed off the court by most other books in the genre. Still, as I mentioned above, more crummy stuff happens to the guys in this book than in the others and thus we get to see Rock and Rig struggling through real, tough issues in life together.
- The characters are incredibly protective of each other, physically and emotionally.
CONS:
- Rock’s family is nasty. REALLY nasty. Like, so nasty I wanted to punch the pages of my book as I read about them. However, Rig comes to Rock’s defense around them on multiple occasions, and his dressing down of Rock’s sister is priceless, especially considering Rig’s usual reserve and cowboy politeness. He uses some profanity, but the non-cuss words he uses are more descriptive: “slimy,” “bigoted,” and “homely,” to give just a few choice examples.
- Repetitive sex. And lots of it. Same roles (top/bottom), same positions, same thoughts. The worst thing about this is that the sheer pervasiveness of sex throughout the book causes the tender scenes--when one of them is comforting the other, for example--to get sort of lost in the shuffle.
- (Possible SPOILER here) The characters never say “I love you.” (In any of the books in the series.) Not everyone does say that, I suppose, and there’s that whole “actions speak louder than words” thing, but still. The closest they come is Rig saying that Rock was “worth leaving Texas for,” and at one point, Rock responds that he’s a pretty lucky son-of-a-gun that Rig DID leave Texas.
Overall comments: Again, don’t read this if you’re looking for a good story. This series is very much about the sex. You’re likely to find this book unbearable if you’re not already into the characters, and even if you are, you probably won’t be able to read large chunks at a time without taking a break.
Want to read
September 15, 2014Books Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Personal Leave, Tempering, Out Of The Closet, and On The Sand in the Sean Michaels Jarheads series are 83% off today, only $0.99!
August 2, 2014
Love these guys. Yes, the book was about 80% PWP but there was a little story there too.
Rock going back into 'Yankee land' for the reading of his grandmas will and then their mini road trip home. As well as the passing if Rig's father. Definately coming back for more.
Rock going back into 'Yankee land' for the reading of his grandmas will and then their mini road trip home. As well as the passing if Rig's father. Definately coming back for more.
August 18, 2014
Several years ago, when I bought this story, the author was one of those authors whose books I just automatically bought. This story is the sequel to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It can be read alone, but works better if one reads the first story, I think. Both stories are mostly sex. These stories are erotica more than romance.
I did not like this story the first time. It went into my don't like folder. Now I'm going through my books, in order to review them, I reread this one, and found it much more to my liking. I can see what I disliked the first reading. Rig has the traditional woman's role in their relationship. He maintains a job and does the housekeeping and cooking. He even fetches Rock's beers for him. He is always the bottom; always the giver, never the receiver. He doesn't even get blow jobs. Rock gets one each morning. So the unfairness of the relationship bothered me then and now. This time, however, I could see Rig's happiness more. The relationship works for him.
Another thing that I did not like in my first reading was that there are no 'I love you's exchanged between the two. Reading it through this second time, this did not seem so bad to me. They are an established couple and clearly love each other.
With both readings, I did not like the introduction of a three person. This happens once in this story.
I did enjoy reading this story more the second time. Knowing not to expect a romance or a lot of plot, I came to like the story and its ending. What I liked: the two plainly love each other, the relationship appears strong, the sex is well written, and the story line is very interesting, and the ending was a happy one.
I did not like this story the first time. It went into my don't like folder. Now I'm going through my books, in order to review them, I reread this one, and found it much more to my liking. I can see what I disliked the first reading. Rig has the traditional woman's role in their relationship. He maintains a job and does the housekeeping and cooking. He even fetches Rock's beers for him. He is always the bottom; always the giver, never the receiver. He doesn't even get blow jobs. Rock gets one each morning. So the unfairness of the relationship bothered me then and now. This time, however, I could see Rig's happiness more. The relationship works for him.
Another thing that I did not like in my first reading was that there are no 'I love you's exchanged between the two. Reading it through this second time, this did not seem so bad to me. They are an established couple and clearly love each other.
With both readings, I did not like the introduction of a three person. This happens once in this story.
I did enjoy reading this story more the second time. Knowing not to expect a romance or a lot of plot, I came to like the story and its ending. What I liked: the two plainly love each other, the relationship appears strong, the sex is well written, and the story line is very interesting, and the ending was a happy one.
May 28, 2012
This installment in the Jarhead series was all about family. I love the idea of exploring the relationship between main characters in their family background.
In this story there is such a vast sea of difference between Rock's family and Rig's family. Rig's family are not new characters and were met in the first book of the series, but in this book Rock and Rig go home to Texas for Christmas. The visit is a poignant one where it is a truly warm and connected family Christmas.
The next section of the story sends Rock and Rig to Yankee land where Rig and us readers finally see why Rock has been so reticent and snarky about his family. My heart truly went out to him. Rock's family is so different from Rig's.
The final segment of the story brought me to tears when a personal tragedy took place leaving Rig hurting and Rock feeling helpless and not knowing what to do for his partner.
The plot moved along with the two men learning that family is more than blood and that bad things can be overcome when someone has your back during the hard times. As I noted above, there were moments of sadness, but there were also moments of hilarity. I was laughing so hard, as were the guys, when I got to that scene when they visited the fudge shot. As to be expected, the plot was full of the guys getting up to their sexual antics too.
I think this book is even better than the last one I read in this series because I loved the glimpse into family and seeing how they handled the tough stuff.
In this story there is such a vast sea of difference between Rock's family and Rig's family. Rig's family are not new characters and were met in the first book of the series, but in this book Rock and Rig go home to Texas for Christmas. The visit is a poignant one where it is a truly warm and connected family Christmas.
The next section of the story sends Rock and Rig to Yankee land where Rig and us readers finally see why Rock has been so reticent and snarky about his family. My heart truly went out to him. Rock's family is so different from Rig's.
The final segment of the story brought me to tears when a personal tragedy took place leaving Rig hurting and Rock feeling helpless and not knowing what to do for his partner.
The plot moved along with the two men learning that family is more than blood and that bad things can be overcome when someone has your back during the hard times. As I noted above, there were moments of sadness, but there were also moments of hilarity. I was laughing so hard, as were the guys, when I got to that scene when they visited the fudge shot. As to be expected, the plot was full of the guys getting up to their sexual antics too.
I think this book is even better than the last one I read in this series because I loved the glimpse into family and seeing how they handled the tough stuff.
Read
April 8, 2015Genre M/M Contemporary
MC1 Jim "Rock" South
MC2 Alex "Rig" Roberts
Storyline
There's not much storyline except for a few chapters where Rock finds out he's been named in his grandmother's will after she's been dead & buried so he & Rig go to his former hometown so he can be verbally abused by his so-call family.
Conflict
See above.
My Thoughts
I'm not sure how to rate this. I haven't read the first installment in the series, so I have no backstory. This book is basically PWP with a few chapters of real story thrown in. It's definitely not standalone, but I didn't realize it was part of a series when I grabbed it from my TBR for a challenge. Then I was away from home, away from the internet & in the middle of reading it before I realized "hey, I'm missing something here!" TBH, I'm not sure how much this would have to add to the storyline for the series. There are a couple of important things maybe. Still, I'd like to continue on.
MC1 Jim "Rock" South
MC2 Alex "Rig" Roberts
Storyline
There's not much storyline except for a few chapters where Rock finds out he's been named in his grandmother's will after she's been dead & buried so he & Rig go to his former hometown so he can be verbally abused by his so-call family.
Conflict
See above.
My Thoughts
I'm not sure how to rate this. I haven't read the first installment in the series, so I have no backstory. This book is basically PWP with a few chapters of real story thrown in. It's definitely not standalone, but I didn't realize it was part of a series when I grabbed it from my TBR for a challenge. Then I was away from home, away from the internet & in the middle of reading it before I realized "hey, I'm missing something here!" TBH, I'm not sure how much this would have to add to the storyline for the series. There are a couple of important things maybe. Still, I'd like to continue on.
April 26, 2008
Better than the first one "Don't ask Don't tell" but I'm not gonna read the three others in the series. In this one we find Rock and Rig settled into their relationship (mostly sex, although in this book you get also that they love each other, that's a plus), you also get a tiny plot, which was something particularly absent in the first book which was wall to wall sex. So that's a plus too. Not enough to get me to read more of this series but it was okay. So average gay romance novel.
February 19, 2010
I love Rig and Rock together and would follow them to the ends of the earth BUT because I read the six book series almost completely backwards I was really into Dick and missed him while reading before he showed up. I liked their personalities together and how you know with each passing chapter and each new milestone they have to pass they become ever closer, and inseperable. I love all of Sean Micheal's work ^^ because they all love to get it on and this book was certainly no exception.
June 23, 2014
Lots more sex. Much more plot. You get to see more from Rock. Including his douchey family. What a bunch if twats. Can I say twats on GR? T-w-a-t-s. There. Just in case it gets bleeped out. LOL Anyway, the only thing that bothers me is that the sex is always the same. They really don't switch it up very much. Is it too early to ask for a little DP? I mean, they already invite a third into bed. Why not take it...there. Hahaaa I'm recommending this one, too. If only for the cannoli porn :O
April 25, 2018
I adore Sean Michael and the Jarheads. these stories are filled, just filled, with sex, sex and then more sex. Sean Michael knows how to keep it interesting though and writes about some unique and wonderful characters with truly entertaining stories, woven amongst all the sex!
Read
November 5, 2008Personal Leave by Sean Michael (2008)
November 25, 2020
3.5 stars
Didn't enjoy the over abundance of sex as much this second time around. However, I still really like these guys.
Original review was 4 stars.
Didn't enjoy the over abundance of sex as much this second time around. However, I still really like these guys.
Original review was 4 stars.
November 17, 2017
3.5 stars
February 16, 2013
I liked that you got to know Rock/Jim and Rig/Alex a little better in this book but there was still A LOT of sex, I even skimmed past some of it.
Want to read
March 20, 20134.5*
November 5, 2018
Read from May 29 to 30, 2013
Re-read from October 29 to 31, 2018
3.5 stars
Re-read from October 29 to 31, 2018
3.5 stars
April 20, 2016
Still too much sex and not enough plot. Persevering with the characters, though as they have so much potential.
October 5, 2016
Not as good as the first, but I liked it
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews