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Heroes #2
Last Marine Standing
Book 2 in the Heroes Series
Former Marine Recon, Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson has secrets. The things he did for his country, the things he saw, must never be spoken about. Until that is, his team is targeted.
A shift in political alliances means one particular mission undertaken by Mac and his Fire Team needs to be wiped from the history books. Starting with the team itself.
Forest Ranger, Samuel Larson wants to find the Marines who saved his life. He just wants to say thank you. What he can’t know is that he's walking into a firestorm of betrayal and murder.
When Samuel arrives at Mac's place he throws Mac's plans for hiding out of the window. Abruptly Mac has to protect a man that threatens his heart, only this time he can't be sure he will succeed in keeping Sam alive.
When the people you trusted turn on you, when you are the last one standing, should you take your secrets to the grave? Or make the murderers pay?
Former Marine Recon, Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson has secrets. The things he did for his country, the things he saw, must never be spoken about. Until that is, his team is targeted.
A shift in political alliances means one particular mission undertaken by Mac and his Fire Team needs to be wiped from the history books. Starting with the team itself.
Forest Ranger, Samuel Larson wants to find the Marines who saved his life. He just wants to say thank you. What he can’t know is that he's walking into a firestorm of betrayal and murder.
When Samuel arrives at Mac's place he throws Mac's plans for hiding out of the window. Abruptly Mac has to protect a man that threatens his heart, only this time he can't be sure he will succeed in keeping Sam alive.
When the people you trusted turn on you, when you are the last one standing, should you take your secrets to the grave? Or make the murderers pay?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2014
134 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Scott
306 books2,707 followersRJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 8, 2014
Hunky Forest Ranger MC Sam and former US Marine MC Mac matched up for love. Sign me up! The problem here is that the love part . The story line was interesting and the back story was full of wonderful angst and despair, but I prefer the romance to take the wheel of my M/M romance novels. It was barely in the trunk for this one. So this will definitely come down to preference for most. If you love the action and adventure of two hot and hunky heroes fighting side by side for justice with minimal sexual tension and a dash of romance, this is for you. If you like your M/M romance novels equally balanced or heavy on the romance/sex/emotion, you will probably want to take a pass on this one.
FYI, we are introduced to Deacon from the forth coming Deacon's Law in this book. He is not featured very often, but what we do know is that OF COURSE I'm going to read it!!
October 26, 2023
Despues de haber visto como su amigo Aiden paso por todo lo que paso, Sam se dio cuenta que cualquier día puede ser el ultimo, así que decide rastrear a los hombres del grupo de Marine que lo rescato a el y a su hermana cuando fueron secuestrados en Japón. Lo que no sabe es que estos mismos Marines están siendo perseguidos por lo que parece ser el mismo gobierno y el entra en medio de toda la persecución. Así que decide ayudar, sobre todo a Mac, el hombre por el que ha sentido una atracción desde aquella horrible noche en el hospital cuando el tenia 14 años. Pero podrá resistir la tentación de tener algo mas con Mac? Mac será capaz de no actuar en su atracción por Sam? Podrán encontrar la forma de detener a quien los persigue y volver a tener una vida tranquila?
Este libro tiene muchísima acción, pero el romance es un poco flojo. No sentí la química entre los protas. No hubo ningún personaje que me atrajera realmente, todo resulto demasiado plano. La historia comienza muy bien, pero la forma como se soluciona es terriblemente forzado. La relación entre los protas no se siente natural, sino forzada.
Es una lastima, este libro tenia muy buenas piezas para armar una buena trama, y un buen romance, pero siento que se quedo corto.
Pero bueno, es un libro que entretiene, y sirve para pasar el rato, pero que es fácilmente olvidable. Solo espero que el próximo (y ultimo) de esta serie resulte mucho mejor que este.
Este libro tiene muchísima acción, pero el romance es un poco flojo. No sentí la química entre los protas. No hubo ningún personaje que me atrajera realmente, todo resulto demasiado plano. La historia comienza muy bien, pero la forma como se soluciona es terriblemente forzado. La relación entre los protas no se siente natural, sino forzada.
Es una lastima, este libro tenia muy buenas piezas para armar una buena trama, y un buen romance, pero siento que se quedo corto.
Pero bueno, es un libro que entretiene, y sirve para pasar el rato, pero que es fácilmente olvidable. Solo espero que el próximo (y ultimo) de esta serie resulte mucho mejor que este.
January 24, 2015
I love RJ Scott’s stories, I always know I’m going to get a good read no matter what, it’s a given. Last Marine Standing was no exception. I liked the first story, A Reason to Stay, but didn’t love one of the MC’s (Viktor, I’m glaring at you), but this installment gave me two heroes I could totally get behind. I think that’s why I like RJ’s characters so much, I mean, sure Mac was the hero on paper, but Sam was no less a hero for his strength and character. So, you get double your heroes for your dollar and the characters read as true equals and less stereotypical.
Sam went through a horrific experience as a teenager and was saved by Mac. Years later Sam has put himself back together and made a life for himself that he is proud of even if he is lonely. I remember when I finished A Reason to Stay (Sam is Aiden’s BFF) that I really, really wanted to read Sam’s story. I was hooked on him in book 1 and I wanted him to get his HEA. RJ never disappoints with the HEA. Years later he feels he needs to thank the Marines that saved him in order to truly put his past behind him. He also may just have a smidge of a lingering crush on Mac from all those years ago.
But, Mac and his team are on a really short list of disposable collateral related to their final mission as a team. He and the remaining member, Spider are going off the grid and being found by Sam, who obviously has the best of intentions and no clue as to the shitstorm he’s walking into, is, shall we say, less than optimal. What follows is mystery, action and a fuckton of UST. All good stuff. I will say though, if you are a pure romance reader, Last Marine Standing may not be a match for you. The romance takes a backseat to the mystery. The romance was still there, it came later in the book, but the way it happened fit the characters (especially Mac) really well. It wasn’t a plethora of hearts and flowers, it was subtle, but it was clear. These two cats were falling in love.
I liked the flashback to the characters from A Reason to Stay back home in the Green Mountains and I appreciated the fact that Viktor had a voice in this one. It felt like he had his full emotional maturity happen and I wanted that for Aiden and needed it for Viktor. It read like a natural fit to this story too, it wasn’t a forced plot point just to make me happy (I mean isn’t that what authors want to do? Make me happy? Don’t burst my bubble and tell me otherwise, I’m a needy Peachy). It gave Aiden and Viktor their complete HEA that I felt A Reason to Stay was missing.
The epilogue was perfect and made me want to snuggle in front of a fire in a cabin with these two. I promise I would just park it in the corner and lurk. Not creepy at all. It was hot and sweet and it gave me all the romance I needed after the slow build up that fit for this story.
**this story was provided for an honest review**
Sam went through a horrific experience as a teenager and was saved by Mac. Years later Sam has put himself back together and made a life for himself that he is proud of even if he is lonely. I remember when I finished A Reason to Stay (Sam is Aiden’s BFF) that I really, really wanted to read Sam’s story. I was hooked on him in book 1 and I wanted him to get his HEA. RJ never disappoints with the HEA. Years later he feels he needs to thank the Marines that saved him in order to truly put his past behind him. He also may just have a smidge of a lingering crush on Mac from all those years ago.
But, Mac and his team are on a really short list of disposable collateral related to their final mission as a team. He and the remaining member, Spider are going off the grid and being found by Sam, who obviously has the best of intentions and no clue as to the shitstorm he’s walking into, is, shall we say, less than optimal. What follows is mystery, action and a fuckton of UST. All good stuff. I will say though, if you are a pure romance reader, Last Marine Standing may not be a match for you. The romance takes a backseat to the mystery. The romance was still there, it came later in the book, but the way it happened fit the characters (especially Mac) really well. It wasn’t a plethora of hearts and flowers, it was subtle, but it was clear. These two cats were falling in love.
I liked the flashback to the characters from A Reason to Stay back home in the Green Mountains and I appreciated the fact that Viktor had a voice in this one. It felt like he had his full emotional maturity happen and I wanted that for Aiden and needed it for Viktor. It read like a natural fit to this story too, it wasn’t a forced plot point just to make me happy (I mean isn’t that what authors want to do? Make me happy? Don’t burst my bubble and tell me otherwise, I’m a needy Peachy). It gave Aiden and Viktor their complete HEA that I felt A Reason to Stay was missing.
The epilogue was perfect and made me want to snuggle in front of a fire in a cabin with these two. I promise I would just park it in the corner and lurk. Not creepy at all. It was hot and sweet and it gave me all the romance I needed after the slow build up that fit for this story.
**this story was provided for an honest review**
March 27, 2018
‘Last Marine Standing' is the second book in a series that is fast becoming one of my favorites by RJ Scott. This novel is exciting, oozes danger from every page, and captured my attention on page one, not letting me go until the very final page. Military men and the guys they fall in love with fascinate me, but wounded (internally as well as externally) former Marines like Mac just get to me on a whole new level. Pairing him with Sam, the forest ranger from book one, and giving me more about his background, was a stroke of genius. This may look like a mystery at first glance, and it certainly contains enough “meat” for any conspiracy theorist to rub their hands in glee. But, on top of that, what I liked even better is the psychology between Mac and Sam. They, like Aiden and Viktor in book one, have a history, and it is not an easy nor a happy one—not because of them, but due to the circumstances that brought them together ten years before the beginning of this book.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 10, 2014
2.5 stars
I love RJ Scott's books and normally get them right when they come out because I love her writing and her characters. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The writing itself was good as I have come to expect with RJ Scott's books, but there was just too much lacking for me with these two main characters. I didn't feel any kind of connection with them to each other, it felt more like a they met up and just hooked up. The emotions and feelings that I enjoy with my m/m romance was just not there.
I love RJ Scott's books and normally get them right when they come out because I love her writing and her characters. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The writing itself was good as I have come to expect with RJ Scott's books, but there was just too much lacking for me with these two main characters. I didn't feel any kind of connection with them to each other, it felt more like a they met up and just hooked up. The emotions and feelings that I enjoy with my m/m romance was just not there.
December 22, 2014
I enjoyed this one even more than I did A Reason to Stay. Sam seemed to take a more active role in this story than Aiden did in his.
As with the first book, romance took a bit of a back seat to the suspense plot, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I look forward to Deacon's story next.
As with the first book, romance took a bit of a back seat to the suspense plot, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I look forward to Deacon's story next.
Read
September 16, 2022Thoroughly enjoyable and a great second installment in this series. I was taken in by the mystery, adventure and action and the relationship between Mac (the ex-Marine) and Sam (the ranger from book 1). These men have a history which makes for a very different relationship.
There is a huge mystery around Mac and someone is trying to kill him. Sam is drawn into the drama and needs to deal with the danger as well as his own feelings for Mac. I liked that the men had met many years before, when one was still a boy and the other a man, and how their circumstance impacted how they viewed each other when on level footing as adults.
This book is recommended if you like your romance with a good dash of action and mystery.
A copy of this book was received from the author with no expectations of a review.
There is a huge mystery around Mac and someone is trying to kill him. Sam is drawn into the drama and needs to deal with the danger as well as his own feelings for Mac. I liked that the men had met many years before, when one was still a boy and the other a man, and how their circumstance impacted how they viewed each other when on level footing as adults.
This book is recommended if you like your romance with a good dash of action and mystery.
A copy of this book was received from the author with no expectations of a review.
October 20, 2014
I would give this a 3.75 stars, This book was full of intrigue and action in the style of being on the run for your for your life. There is a good back story that leads to present time and it was well written. The secondary characters were definitely secondary but just enough to enjoy the plot. The chemistry was decent and steam factor is minimal but it still fits as the plot and background of the main characters are the main focus. There is no angst and I enjoyed the fact that at times the story could have gone cliche with the more alpha protection type storyline and didn't. If you are looking for a good story with military action and some mild steam then this is a good choice.
November 25, 2014
It's no surprise that I love R.J. Scott and the worlds that she creates. I have loved every single book I've read of hers especially from the Bodyguards Inc series and now the Heroes series. Viktor will probably remain one of my absolute favorite characters and I was happy to get a bit of him in the beginning of this book but I grew to love the MCs in this book just as much, if not more. Mac and Sam were amazing together. Just the connection from the very first, when Mac was trying to give Sam just a tiny bit of hope when Sam was just 14. It jumped off the page and wormed its way into my heart.
Each character in this book was fantastic and I really felt for each and every one of them. My only complaint is when I got to the end.. I may have pouted a little because I wanted more.. ok, more than a little! I cannot wait for the next one! CANNOT. WAIT.
Highly recommended!
Each character in this book was fantastic and I really felt for each and every one of them. My only complaint is when I got to the end.. I may have pouted a little because I wanted more.. ok, more than a little! I cannot wait for the next one! CANNOT. WAIT.
Highly recommended!
October 10, 2014
Such an amazing story! As a huge fan for Rj Scott's I knew I'd enjoy this as I did with the first in this series. We get to revisit a little bit with Viktor and Aiden, along with Spider. Loved everything about this story..the whole thing was so well written. Mac and Sam are amazingly strong, stubborn and perfect for each other. If you have read A Reason To Stay, the first in this series, do yourself a huge favor and but this one. You will NOT be disappointed!
October 18, 2014
I really wanted to love this book! However as I read on it started to lose its magic and though there were some nice dialogues every now and then and also some interesting concepts I couldn't exactly say it was as fun as it was supposed to be. And the seck was.. meh.
Gaaaahhh!!
Gaaaahhh!!
December 15, 2014
Review to follow.
October 24, 2017
Another great series in the making by one of my favourite "comfort-read" authors. My real only complaint? I want more...
August 13, 2024
Mac et Sam avec un Culomètre à 🍑
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Pour ce deuxième tome, l'autrice nous offre une romance seconde chance entre Sam, gamin enlevé par terroristes au Japon et Mac, l'homme qui l'a sauvé avec son équipe. Des années plus tard, Sam, voulant remercier cette équipe, va se retrouver au milieu du danger que Mac vit.
Suspense, romance et différence d'âge, ce sont des thèmes que j'aime beaucoup dans les romances. Évidemment, la plume de RJ Scott fait encore beaucoup pour le récit et c'est encore une histoire courte mais intense que nous offre l'autrice. Malgré tout, quelques points m'ont laissé mitigés pendant ma lecture.
Sam est le fils d'un politien, il connaît donc assez les protocoles et surtout, il a été enlevé et abusé, ce qui lui a valu pas mal de séquelles. Quand il décide de retrouver les hommes encore en vie qui l'ont secouru plus jeunes, il devient très imprudent se mettant beaucoup trop bêtement en danger et également toutes les autres personnes impliquées. Évidemment, cela permet de faire avancer l'histoire et que tout le monde parte en cavale mais les réactions ne collent pas avec les caractéristiques du personnage. D'autant plus, qu'on nous sous-entend des avis sexuels qui finalement n' amèneront rien au récit par la suite (à part que Sam avoue son homosexualité à Mac).
Sinon, on reste sur un livre à l'image de ce qu'on connait de l'autrice, avec pas mal d'action, du suspense, des révélations et de la romance. Ce tome ne sera clairement pas mon préféré mais j'ai hâte de découvrir la suite !
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Pour ce deuxième tome, l'autrice nous offre une romance seconde chance entre Sam, gamin enlevé par terroristes au Japon et Mac, l'homme qui l'a sauvé avec son équipe. Des années plus tard, Sam, voulant remercier cette équipe, va se retrouver au milieu du danger que Mac vit.
Suspense, romance et différence d'âge, ce sont des thèmes que j'aime beaucoup dans les romances. Évidemment, la plume de RJ Scott fait encore beaucoup pour le récit et c'est encore une histoire courte mais intense que nous offre l'autrice. Malgré tout, quelques points m'ont laissé mitigés pendant ma lecture.
Sam est le fils d'un politien, il connaît donc assez les protocoles et surtout, il a été enlevé et abusé, ce qui lui a valu pas mal de séquelles. Quand il décide de retrouver les hommes encore en vie qui l'ont secouru plus jeunes, il devient très imprudent se mettant beaucoup trop bêtement en danger et également toutes les autres personnes impliquées. Évidemment, cela permet de faire avancer l'histoire et que tout le monde parte en cavale mais les réactions ne collent pas avec les caractéristiques du personnage. D'autant plus, qu'on nous sous-entend des avis sexuels qui finalement n' amèneront rien au récit par la suite (à part que Sam avoue son homosexualité à Mac).
Sinon, on reste sur un livre à l'image de ce qu'on connait de l'autrice, avec pas mal d'action, du suspense, des révélations et de la romance. Ce tome ne sera clairement pas mon préféré mais j'ai hâte de découvrir la suite !
October 19, 2017
Last Marine Standing (Heroes #2) by R.J. Scott
4 stars
M/M Romance, Thriller
Triggers: Stalking, Kidnapping, Abuse, PTSD, Attempted Murder, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a great second addition to this series. I really liked seeing how the relationship from the previous book has developed and it was great to see the stories intertwine.
This book has a lot going on. You start several years ago and what you witness is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Sam is young and a victim, Mac is Sam's savior. Mac is part of a team and they rescued Sam and his sister, Jo. It was a complex situation with a lot of emotions.
Several years later, Sam seeks out Mac again and tries to figure out where all of the men were who had rescued him. The relationship is organic, and while there were a lot of factors that brought Sam and Mac together, it's what they did under the circumstances that really creates their bond.
I don't want to write too much, because it would give away all of the fun bits in the story, but let's just say that Sam and Mac have to decide what's important. Can they truly outrun their own pasts and look to a future together?
I can't wait for Deacon's story and I am very much looking forward to it.
4 stars
M/M Romance, Thriller
Triggers: Stalking, Kidnapping, Abuse, PTSD, Attempted Murder, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a great second addition to this series. I really liked seeing how the relationship from the previous book has developed and it was great to see the stories intertwine.
This book has a lot going on. You start several years ago and what you witness is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Sam is young and a victim, Mac is Sam's savior. Mac is part of a team and they rescued Sam and his sister, Jo. It was a complex situation with a lot of emotions.
Several years later, Sam seeks out Mac again and tries to figure out where all of the men were who had rescued him. The relationship is organic, and while there were a lot of factors that brought Sam and Mac together, it's what they did under the circumstances that really creates their bond.
I don't want to write too much, because it would give away all of the fun bits in the story, but let's just say that Sam and Mac have to decide what's important. Can they truly outrun their own pasts and look to a future together?
I can't wait for Deacon's story and I am very much looking forward to it.
October 18, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is an exciting read with two fantastic main characters. Mac and Sam first met when Mac’s team of marines rescued 14 year old Sam from kidnappers in Japan. More than a decade later, Sam’s attempts to track down his rescuers throw him into the middle of a terrifying plot to eliminate Mac and his team.
I found Mac much easier to like than Viktor in the first book. He’s a little bit more human and while he has a similar skill set, he comes across as a kind and loyal man. But it was Sam who won my heart. Having survived torture as a teenager and a difficult childhood with a powerful father, Sam pushed past his injuries and became a park ranger. I love his resilience and his strength of character.
The action in this story is fantastic. Sam and Mac work together to evade the person killing Mac’s teammates. There are powerful political forces attempting to eliminate Mac’s team and the race to expose the plot before the last teammates die is a thrilling read.
I’m really enjoying this series. I loved the action in the first book but I was able to enjoy the romance as much as the action in this second one. I look forward to the next book!
This is an exciting read with two fantastic main characters. Mac and Sam first met when Mac’s team of marines rescued 14 year old Sam from kidnappers in Japan. More than a decade later, Sam’s attempts to track down his rescuers throw him into the middle of a terrifying plot to eliminate Mac and his team.
I found Mac much easier to like than Viktor in the first book. He’s a little bit more human and while he has a similar skill set, he comes across as a kind and loyal man. But it was Sam who won my heart. Having survived torture as a teenager and a difficult childhood with a powerful father, Sam pushed past his injuries and became a park ranger. I love his resilience and his strength of character.
The action in this story is fantastic. Sam and Mac work together to evade the person killing Mac’s teammates. There are powerful political forces attempting to eliminate Mac’s team and the race to expose the plot before the last teammates die is a thrilling read.
I’m really enjoying this series. I loved the action in the first book but I was able to enjoy the romance as much as the action in this second one. I look forward to the next book!
March 23, 2018
Was this a "touchy-feely" book? Nah... but it sure was chalked full of emotion! Sam's past has been a horror story, but he has pushed through and made a good life for himself... but when he goes in search of the four Marines that saved his life, everything goes to hell in a handbasket. As he, Mac and Spider try to decide how best to survive the threat to their lives, trying to find the bad guy would have been easier if they could have pinned down exactly who the bad guy/guys are!
This is not for the faint of heart and be aware that there are several issues that might not work for some readers... but, if you can handle Sam's heartwrenching tale, then this is a story worth reading!
This is not for the faint of heart and be aware that there are several issues that might not work for some readers... but, if you can handle Sam's heartwrenching tale, then this is a story worth reading!
October 12, 2017
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the second book in the series - and I definitely recommend reading A Reason to Stay first, because it is also a very good read, and has an equally good mystery tied into the romance.
This is a really good, fast paced, exciting and dramatic novel, with a very hot romance thrown in for good measure. I loved how Sam (who we met in the first book) has refused to let his past define him, yet cannot quite get passed it either. His plan to thank the Marines who saved him unfortunately coincides with them facing a great danger from 'them'. And as Mac points out 'they' could be anyone - which sets up the story, and the fight to survive and resolve the situation, so that they might just have a future.
The intrigue, the restoring of relationships, the building of new ones, and the potential for more makes for compelling reading - and a rather wonderful ending.
It was great to catch up with some news from Viktor and Aiden, and to meet Deacon, who must be the centre of the soon to be released sequel, as its title is Deacon's Law. I can't wait for it to hit my Kindle!
This is the second book in the series - and I definitely recommend reading A Reason to Stay first, because it is also a very good read, and has an equally good mystery tied into the romance.
This is a really good, fast paced, exciting and dramatic novel, with a very hot romance thrown in for good measure. I loved how Sam (who we met in the first book) has refused to let his past define him, yet cannot quite get passed it either. His plan to thank the Marines who saved him unfortunately coincides with them facing a great danger from 'them'. And as Mac points out 'they' could be anyone - which sets up the story, and the fight to survive and resolve the situation, so that they might just have a future.
The intrigue, the restoring of relationships, the building of new ones, and the potential for more makes for compelling reading - and a rather wonderful ending.
It was great to catch up with some news from Viktor and Aiden, and to meet Deacon, who must be the centre of the soon to be released sequel, as its title is Deacon's Law. I can't wait for it to hit my Kindle!
October 22, 2014
4 star review by Vicki
Samuel Larsen makes his first appearance in A Reason to Stay, the first book in this series, he plays a small role, but seemed like he might be an interesting guy. We start this book off when Sam is fourteen and has just been rescued from a kidnapping. His father is a diplomat traveling in Japan with Sam and his older sister Jo. They are kidnapped (I didn’t really understand why) and Sam is raped and beaten severely. He and Jo are rescued by a four man team of Recon Marines, but Sam never really recovers, physically or mentally. Well, he does I guess, but it takes years. Ten or so years later, we pick the story back up. He is now a Forest Ranger and friends with Aiden and Viktor from the first book. He has been wanting to find and thank the Marines that saved his life, and finally has a lead on one. He takes a month leave of absence and heads out.
Mac Jackson is a Recon Marine to his core. He was part of the team that rescues Sam in Japan, saving his life then and again in the hospital. He and his team are later involved in some bad shit, one of their team is killed, and Mac gets injured and is medically discharged. He floats a bit, has a job part of the time, but hides out in the mountains alone with his dog. Eventually their past catches up with them, and one of the three remaining team members ends up dead. Spider and Mac assume they will be next.
Along comes Sam, at just the perfect time to get caught up in this years old conspiracy. I’m not sure if he helped or hindered really, but he’s there and involved. He hunts down Spider, who sends him to Mac, who ropes him in. Off they go on an adventure to save Mac and Spider.
Unfortunately the plot didn’t work for me as well as it could have. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on and who was after Mac. It was a little vague to me, there was a conspiracy but it just wasn’t developed enough. Even at the end, I was a bit lost, and it was suddenly over. There are always two parts to a romance novel, the big plot line that gets them together, and the romance between the two main characters. Although I liked Mac and Sam as individuals, I didn’t feel the romantic connection between them. The romance part of the story was lacking somehow. I don’t need flowers and dinners out to see a romance, but I do like to see an emotional bond form between them, and this didn’t quite work. Sam and Mac have a rough start ten years before, then a rough initial reunion when Sam finds Mac. There is some physical sex between them, but no real emotions, and it was odd. By the very end they seem to get themselves together, I would have liked to have seen that happen sooner.
I was a big fan of the first book in the series, I loved the plot and the two main characters, even though one of them was an asshole. One of the things I liked about it was the smaller plot. There was no big background story, no big drama, it was just happening right then. Bad shit was going down on the mountain, Aiden and Viktor solved it. They had been involved sometime before and had a nice connection in place. At the start of the story the emotion connecting them was hatred, but still, it was emotional. In this book Sam and Mac meet early but I didn’t pick up on a lasting connection. Mac offers some advice to Sam, but Sam is not in a place to receive it and kicks Mac out. End of story, until ten years later. I could see that Sam wanted to thank Mac, and wanted to like him, but I didn’t get the feeling he had been pining for him. I think if this conspiracy thing hadn’t thrown them together, Sam would have found him, said “thank you” and gone home. It was like they were in this together, they may as well have sex, and then maybe they should stay together. Oh, and maybe we love each other.
So it was good, I liked it, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t like it nearly as well as the first book. The writing was good, even though the plot wasn’t as strong as I was hoping. I’ve had issues with RJ’s books not being “American” enough, but this one was just fine in that department. I liked Sam and Mac, as well as Spider and Rosie. I liked Cisco the dog, although I was concerned about him at times, he occasionally got lost in the story. I am a fan of books with military characters, and this one was good, RJ got the feeling of Mac right, I appreciated that part of his character. I liked Sam’s strength and resilience, working past such a horrible thing as a teenage boy, and growing in to a strong man. I liked the ending of the book, they finally do really connect, and may well have a happy life together.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
Samuel Larsen makes his first appearance in A Reason to Stay, the first book in this series, he plays a small role, but seemed like he might be an interesting guy. We start this book off when Sam is fourteen and has just been rescued from a kidnapping. His father is a diplomat traveling in Japan with Sam and his older sister Jo. They are kidnapped (I didn’t really understand why) and Sam is raped and beaten severely. He and Jo are rescued by a four man team of Recon Marines, but Sam never really recovers, physically or mentally. Well, he does I guess, but it takes years. Ten or so years later, we pick the story back up. He is now a Forest Ranger and friends with Aiden and Viktor from the first book. He has been wanting to find and thank the Marines that saved his life, and finally has a lead on one. He takes a month leave of absence and heads out.
Mac Jackson is a Recon Marine to his core. He was part of the team that rescues Sam in Japan, saving his life then and again in the hospital. He and his team are later involved in some bad shit, one of their team is killed, and Mac gets injured and is medically discharged. He floats a bit, has a job part of the time, but hides out in the mountains alone with his dog. Eventually their past catches up with them, and one of the three remaining team members ends up dead. Spider and Mac assume they will be next.
Along comes Sam, at just the perfect time to get caught up in this years old conspiracy. I’m not sure if he helped or hindered really, but he’s there and involved. He hunts down Spider, who sends him to Mac, who ropes him in. Off they go on an adventure to save Mac and Spider.
Unfortunately the plot didn’t work for me as well as it could have. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on and who was after Mac. It was a little vague to me, there was a conspiracy but it just wasn’t developed enough. Even at the end, I was a bit lost, and it was suddenly over. There are always two parts to a romance novel, the big plot line that gets them together, and the romance between the two main characters. Although I liked Mac and Sam as individuals, I didn’t feel the romantic connection between them. The romance part of the story was lacking somehow. I don’t need flowers and dinners out to see a romance, but I do like to see an emotional bond form between them, and this didn’t quite work. Sam and Mac have a rough start ten years before, then a rough initial reunion when Sam finds Mac. There is some physical sex between them, but no real emotions, and it was odd. By the very end they seem to get themselves together, I would have liked to have seen that happen sooner.
I was a big fan of the first book in the series, I loved the plot and the two main characters, even though one of them was an asshole. One of the things I liked about it was the smaller plot. There was no big background story, no big drama, it was just happening right then. Bad shit was going down on the mountain, Aiden and Viktor solved it. They had been involved sometime before and had a nice connection in place. At the start of the story the emotion connecting them was hatred, but still, it was emotional. In this book Sam and Mac meet early but I didn’t pick up on a lasting connection. Mac offers some advice to Sam, but Sam is not in a place to receive it and kicks Mac out. End of story, until ten years later. I could see that Sam wanted to thank Mac, and wanted to like him, but I didn’t get the feeling he had been pining for him. I think if this conspiracy thing hadn’t thrown them together, Sam would have found him, said “thank you” and gone home. It was like they were in this together, they may as well have sex, and then maybe they should stay together. Oh, and maybe we love each other.
So it was good, I liked it, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t like it nearly as well as the first book. The writing was good, even though the plot wasn’t as strong as I was hoping. I’ve had issues with RJ’s books not being “American” enough, but this one was just fine in that department. I liked Sam and Mac, as well as Spider and Rosie. I liked Cisco the dog, although I was concerned about him at times, he occasionally got lost in the story. I am a fan of books with military characters, and this one was good, RJ got the feeling of Mac right, I appreciated that part of his character. I liked Sam’s strength and resilience, working past such a horrible thing as a teenage boy, and growing in to a strong man. I liked the ending of the book, they finally do really connect, and may well have a happy life together.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
March 6, 2018
I need to find my review for this one as well!
October 17, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.5 Stars
The second book in The Heroes series and just as good as the first!
This is not so much a romance as a story of healing with a huge dose of mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The romance comes towards the end and can only happen when both men have started healing from their traumatic pasts.
RJ Scot gives us another wounded military man in Mackenzie ‘Mac’Jackson who is a former Recon Marine. As always this marine took and still takes his responsibilities very seriously and with a great deal of pride. We first meet Mac when he is on a mission in Japan that involves rescuing two children. One of those children is Samuel Larson who has been beaten and abused and is lucky to be alive. Mac spends a short amount of time with the young man in hospital and gives Samuel something that will become important in later life - acceptance of himself.
Years later and Samuel is a Forest Ranger. A true accomplishment for someone who had such a harrowing experience as a young teen which left him spending a lot of time in hospital. His mother died a few years ago, his relationship with his father has broken down but Samuel is about as whole as can be and is proud of what he has achieved. The one thing that nags his mind is the fact that he would like to thank the 4 marines that rescued him and his sister all those years ago. With that thought he has taken a month of work and aims to track them down.
Mac and the other 3 members of his old team had always recognised that some of darker missions for their government might one day come back to haunt them and it seems that day may have arrived. A mission that saw one of them killed and Miller medically retired had left the remaining team with an uneasy feeling and is now the reason they are burying a second member of the team and the last 2 are going into hiding.
Through sheer bad timing Samuel gets dragged into a mess that sees Mac and Spider on the run for their lives. With a little good timing and a lot of tenacity he finds Mac but he is not the man he remembers. The man he finds is hurt and angry and feeling betrayed but more importantly is fighting to stay ahead of the unknown enemy and stay alive. Overwhelmed in finding the man who saved his life, Samuel is determined to save Mac this time, even if that means saving him from himself.
4.5 Stars
The second book in The Heroes series and just as good as the first!
This is not so much a romance as a story of healing with a huge dose of mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The romance comes towards the end and can only happen when both men have started healing from their traumatic pasts.
RJ Scot gives us another wounded military man in Mackenzie ‘Mac’Jackson who is a former Recon Marine. As always this marine took and still takes his responsibilities very seriously and with a great deal of pride. We first meet Mac when he is on a mission in Japan that involves rescuing two children. One of those children is Samuel Larson who has been beaten and abused and is lucky to be alive. Mac spends a short amount of time with the young man in hospital and gives Samuel something that will become important in later life - acceptance of himself.
Years later and Samuel is a Forest Ranger. A true accomplishment for someone who had such a harrowing experience as a young teen which left him spending a lot of time in hospital. His mother died a few years ago, his relationship with his father has broken down but Samuel is about as whole as can be and is proud of what he has achieved. The one thing that nags his mind is the fact that he would like to thank the 4 marines that rescued him and his sister all those years ago. With that thought he has taken a month of work and aims to track them down.
Mac and the other 3 members of his old team had always recognised that some of darker missions for their government might one day come back to haunt them and it seems that day may have arrived. A mission that saw one of them killed and Miller medically retired had left the remaining team with an uneasy feeling and is now the reason they are burying a second member of the team and the last 2 are going into hiding.
Through sheer bad timing Samuel gets dragged into a mess that sees Mac and Spider on the run for their lives. With a little good timing and a lot of tenacity he finds Mac but he is not the man he remembers. The man he finds is hurt and angry and feeling betrayed but more importantly is fighting to stay ahead of the unknown enemy and stay alive. Overwhelmed in finding the man who saved his life, Samuel is determined to save Mac this time, even if that means saving him from himself.
February 19, 2015
Even though this is book two in the Hero’s series, I have not read book one and was not lost at all. Honestly couldn’t even tell you what book one is about. So this can be read as stand alone.
This story is about Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson, his team of elite Marines. The four Marines are sent on a mission to rescue a politician’s children that have been kidnapped in Japan. Because of the sensitive situation between America and Japan these four men are sent in, covertly, unofficially for this rescue. But they arrived too late to save the son, Sam, from being sexually abused by the captures. After the rescue, and in the hospital, Sam confides in Mac, that he is gay and breaks down. Mac talks to Sam explaining that he is only 14, he has a lifetime to heal, love and comes to term with this and his father. Fast forward 10 yrs, Mac is out of the marines after a bad mission that left him injured and discharged before he was ready and another one of the four dead. Now it seems like someone is gunning for the rest of the team, with another one already killed under suspicions circumstance? Sam 25, decides it’s time to get closure and try to move on with he’s life. Beginning with saying Thank you to the man that not only saved his life but let him talk and listen to a 14 year old kid. Little did they both know this may be the last mission for the both of them?
Disclaimer – Even though Sam was assaulted, it just implied. At no time is the actual act written out or discussed in any detail.
RJ Scott is fast becoming one of my favorite authors! This story grabs you right in the beginning and just doesn’t let go. Your heart goes out to the 14 year old Sam, and then for the 25 year old Sam. So happy that he was able to overcome his trauma and become strong man. Mac, such a loyal friend, and leader, never forgetting or taking lightly any of his missions or the people they affect. I did find Sam, a little whinny but quickly ‘manned up’ when he realized the threat was real. The secondary characters were also well written and blended nicely with the whole story and an excellent twist at the end.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
This story is about Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson, his team of elite Marines. The four Marines are sent on a mission to rescue a politician’s children that have been kidnapped in Japan. Because of the sensitive situation between America and Japan these four men are sent in, covertly, unofficially for this rescue. But they arrived too late to save the son, Sam, from being sexually abused by the captures. After the rescue, and in the hospital, Sam confides in Mac, that he is gay and breaks down. Mac talks to Sam explaining that he is only 14, he has a lifetime to heal, love and comes to term with this and his father. Fast forward 10 yrs, Mac is out of the marines after a bad mission that left him injured and discharged before he was ready and another one of the four dead. Now it seems like someone is gunning for the rest of the team, with another one already killed under suspicions circumstance? Sam 25, decides it’s time to get closure and try to move on with he’s life. Beginning with saying Thank you to the man that not only saved his life but let him talk and listen to a 14 year old kid. Little did they both know this may be the last mission for the both of them?
Disclaimer – Even though Sam was assaulted, it just implied. At no time is the actual act written out or discussed in any detail.
RJ Scott is fast becoming one of my favorite authors! This story grabs you right in the beginning and just doesn’t let go. Your heart goes out to the 14 year old Sam, and then for the 25 year old Sam. So happy that he was able to overcome his trauma and become strong man. Mac, such a loyal friend, and leader, never forgetting or taking lightly any of his missions or the people they affect. I did find Sam, a little whinny but quickly ‘manned up’ when he realized the threat was real. The secondary characters were also well written and blended nicely with the whole story and an excellent twist at the end.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
October 24, 2014
This is the second book in the Heroes series and it's even better than the first. One of my favorite things about an RJ Scott book is the addition of family. I have yet to read one of her books where the family dynamic didn't play a big part in the story line. To me that gives her books a sense of realism and authenticity.
I fell for Mac the minute he walked into Sam's hospital room to try and comfort him. He may not have known what the right words should be but that didn't stop him from trying to connect.
You know Sam is strong. To have survived such a horrific experience at such a young age and become the man that he does says so much about his character.
The story is fast paced and will grab your attention from the beginning. The mystery element in this is well thought out and will keep you reading just to find the answer. And while the boy Sam may have had some hero worship going on for Mac, the adult Sam feels so much more. But getting the Marine to let his guard down and trust Sam with his secrets isn't easy.
Suspenseful, and sexy make a great combination. I for one can't wait until the next installment!
I fell for Mac the minute he walked into Sam's hospital room to try and comfort him. He may not have known what the right words should be but that didn't stop him from trying to connect.
You know Sam is strong. To have survived such a horrific experience at such a young age and become the man that he does says so much about his character.
The story is fast paced and will grab your attention from the beginning. The mystery element in this is well thought out and will keep you reading just to find the answer. And while the boy Sam may have had some hero worship going on for Mac, the adult Sam feels so much more. But getting the Marine to let his guard down and trust Sam with his secrets isn't easy.
Suspenseful, and sexy make a great combination. I for one can't wait until the next installment!
August 2, 2016
Yes! Good book. For one thing? It had plot.
It also handled the difficult situation in the beginning with subtlety and completely avoided either sensationalism or the callousness some authors bring into that sort of theme, both of which tend to result in the trivializing of a deeply upsetting matter. So yes. Points to the author right away for that.
But more than anything, I just really liked the protagonists. Both Sam and Mac were pretty much great, and I particularly adored Mac’s confusion over some of the things Sam said or did. It was so nice to finally have one of those stone-faced warriors not being actually stone-faced but instead completely human in his responses. Loved how he did not try to hide things that might have mismatched the tough guy persona.
And yes, the guys do get together and involved rather deeply in a very brief amount of time, all things considered, but this is one of those things where the execution makes it feel perfectly right.
In the end I did not want to finish this just because it felt so damned nice. I should definitely re-read this one.
It also handled the difficult situation in the beginning with subtlety and completely avoided either sensationalism or the callousness some authors bring into that sort of theme, both of which tend to result in the trivializing of a deeply upsetting matter. So yes. Points to the author right away for that.
But more than anything, I just really liked the protagonists. Both Sam and Mac were pretty much great, and I particularly adored Mac’s confusion over some of the things Sam said or did. It was so nice to finally have one of those stone-faced warriors not being actually stone-faced but instead completely human in his responses. Loved how he did not try to hide things that might have mismatched the tough guy persona.
And yes, the guys do get together and involved rather deeply in a very brief amount of time, all things considered, but this is one of those things where the execution makes it feel perfectly right.
In the end I did not want to finish this just because it felt so damned nice. I should definitely re-read this one.
October 15, 2014
When I first began the Heroes series, I was a little underwhelmed. It wasn't that it wasn't well - written, anytime you pick up an RJ Scott book, you know you're getting quality product. However, with the first book in this series, I didn't feel the HB1 really carved out it's own identity. It just seemed too much like the Sanctuary series for me to see it on its own merit. Fortunately, that is not my experience with Last Marine Standing:HB2.
This book is full of roller coaster action, emotion, and sex. You're never quite certain what's going to happen. There so much more I want to say about this book, but I just don't want to spoil it for you. Trust me, buy it. You will not regret it.
This book is full of roller coaster action, emotion, and sex. You're never quite certain what's going to happen. There so much more I want to say about this book, but I just don't want to spoil it for you. Trust me, buy it. You will not regret it.
February 7, 2015
Great tale - although it's a book 2 of a series, it will stand alone. There are references to characters from the 1st but if you haven't read that, it will only encourage you to, rather than put you off what you are reading.
Central characters, Sam and Mac are instantly likeable. Government brat,Sam has fought his way back from an horrific kidnap but can't forget Mac, one of the Marine Recon team who rescued him and his sister when they were teens.They hook up and end up on the run, when black op Mac was involved in threatens to de-rail a ruthless man's political.
The interaction between the two is well paced - and Sam WILL surprise you, when things don't go the way you're expecting.
Let's hope there's another in the series coming along.
Central characters, Sam and Mac are instantly likeable. Government brat,Sam has fought his way back from an horrific kidnap but can't forget Mac, one of the Marine Recon team who rescued him and his sister when they were teens.They hook up and end up on the run, when black op Mac was involved in threatens to de-rail a ruthless man's political.
The interaction between the two is well paced - and Sam WILL surprise you, when things don't go the way you're expecting.
Let's hope there's another in the series coming along.
October 25, 2014
This is definitely more action suspense, danger than romance, smexy, swoon. There is still lots of angst though.
Samuel here, seems a little different to the Sam of the first book. He's more vulnerable, more childlike. Which actually works within the construct of the book - as Mac initially knew him as a teenager. It's not ridiculous for Mac to call Sam 'kid' (although Sam certainly thinks it is).
It's fast moving and once we get to the connection between Mac and Sam, it's quite melty and adorable.
Enjoyed it, and look forward to Deacon's story.
Samuel here, seems a little different to the Sam of the first book. He's more vulnerable, more childlike. Which actually works within the construct of the book - as Mac initially knew him as a teenager. It's not ridiculous for Mac to call Sam 'kid' (although Sam certainly thinks it is).
It's fast moving and once we get to the connection between Mac and Sam, it's quite melty and adorable.
Enjoyed it, and look forward to Deacon's story.
October 8, 2014
Sam was introduced in the first novel in this series. It was great to learn his back story and find out what happens to him. This book was intense in terms of the things that happened and the emotions of the main characters. Sam is such a strong man. You have empathy for him and want him to succeed. Mac is a real hero who totally believes in his country. Both have issues from their past but work through them. It was great to catch up with Viktor and Aiden. I hope there will be another book in the series with a re-visit of Sam & Mac.
October 15, 2014
This one is definitely different, but must confess, I really like the difference. It makes a huge difference from all the insta- stuff we get more often than not. That this romance truly goes through the stages of courtship, now that I love!
Enjoy the rest of the review and join the blog tour!Blog Tour, eARC Review, Excerpt & #Giveaway: Last Marine Standing by RJ Scott
Enjoy the rest of the review and join the blog tour!Blog Tour, eARC Review, Excerpt & #Giveaway: Last Marine Standing by RJ Scott
March 14, 2016
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars, so this is really like 3.5 but rounded up because I did like this one more than the first book in the series. I liked the writing in this, it was nonstop action and I couldn't stop reading. I do wish that there was a bit more romance in this, but I thought it was much better in this story than the first one. I love this author and always look forward to what she will write next!
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