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Once A Marine Always A Marine #2
Lily's Outlaw
When photojournalist, Liliana Richardson, agrees to go on assignment in Arizona, she has no idea it could cost her everything. But one wrong picture at the right moment puts her on a lethal drug cartel’s hit list. Kidnapped and held poisoner in a border town, she is certain her life is over, until the bad boy from her past shows up. Now she’s on the run with the only man who ever made her want more. Problem is: She knows she can trust him with her life, but not her heart.
Security specialist and former Marine, Jesse James Calhoun, follows a strict code. Work hard, play hard, and never get too involved. When he gets information that the wild girl from his past needs help and fast, he’s ready, willing, and able to neutralize the threat. But the spoiled girl he knew is all grown up and has a secret that someone is willing to kill for. Can he keep them alive long enough to uncover her secret? Or will she leave before he can stop a killer, taking his heart with her.
Security specialist and former Marine, Jesse James Calhoun, follows a strict code. Work hard, play hard, and never get too involved. When he gets information that the wild girl from his past needs help and fast, he’s ready, willing, and able to neutralize the threat. But the spoiled girl he knew is all grown up and has a secret that someone is willing to kill for. Can he keep them alive long enough to uncover her secret? Or will she leave before he can stop a killer, taking his heart with her.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2015
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84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 13, 2017
I got about half through the book when this line came out of the mouth of the hero:
"There are three type of people who join the military:
The screw up who is avoiding jail and wants to blow shit up
The kid who wants to do his mandatory time and get college paid for
The third type wants to kill people."
FUCK YOU AUTHOR!!!!
STOP PROFITING OFF SELLING "MILITARY" THEMED NOVELS WHEN YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO JOIN FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY AND TAKE PRIDE IN DOING SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB.
"There are three type of people who join the military:
The screw up who is avoiding jail and wants to blow shit up
The kid who wants to do his mandatory time and get college paid for
The third type wants to kill people."
FUCK YOU AUTHOR!!!!
STOP PROFITING OFF SELLING "MILITARY" THEMED NOVELS WHEN YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO JOIN FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY AND TAKE PRIDE IN DOING SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB.
August 7, 2015
⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️
* * * POSSIBLE SPOILERS * * *
♦️BOOK: #2 of the ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE series. Can be read as a standalone. Novella length. Kindle loc: 1550
♦️POV: third person, multiple POVs - H, h, bad guy
♦️EDITING: good - no major errors found
♦️HERO: Jesse James Calhoun, code name Outlaw--Ex-Marine, current security specialist. From a big, loving family with 6 older sisters. A bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, son of Lily's mother's maid. Wavy blond hair, blue eyes, tall, muscular.
♦️HEROINE: Liliana "Lily" Richardson--Photo journalist. Grew up rich and spoiled but with a cold, unloving mother. A good girl looking for adventure. Has emerald eyes and thick chestnut hair.
♦️PLOT: Jesse and Lily were friends in high school but haven't seen each other in over 10 years. After inadvertently taking a photo of something she shouldn't have, a kidnapped Lily is rescued by Jesse, and he protects her while trying to find the drug cartel baddies after her.
♦️REVIEW: Almost the exact storyline as book #1, with a bit more action and less sexy time. The romance is rushed, with a marriage proposal after only a couple of days. Taking place a year or so after book 1, we get a glimpse of Zach & Beth's HEA.
♦️HEAT LEVEL: 2/5 - 1 sex scene
♦️ENDING: HFN, No cliffhanger, Epilogue - a few weeks later
♦️FUNNY QUOTES:
“If I get bitten or stung by anything, or if the walls cave in and we die, I will haunt you forever in the afterlife. And I plan on being mean-spirited.”
“Marry me and have my babies,” she said.
“I think maybe your mama explained things wrong to you.”
Lily laughed. “I don’t care. You are the most wonderful person in this cave.”
* * * POSSIBLE SPOILERS * * *
♦️BOOK: #2 of the ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE series. Can be read as a standalone. Novella length. Kindle loc: 1550
♦️POV: third person, multiple POVs - H, h, bad guy
♦️EDITING: good - no major errors found
♦️HERO: Jesse James Calhoun, code name Outlaw--Ex-Marine, current security specialist. From a big, loving family with 6 older sisters. A bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, son of Lily's mother's maid. Wavy blond hair, blue eyes, tall, muscular.
♦️HEROINE: Liliana "Lily" Richardson--Photo journalist. Grew up rich and spoiled but with a cold, unloving mother. A good girl looking for adventure. Has emerald eyes and thick chestnut hair.
♦️PLOT: Jesse and Lily were friends in high school but haven't seen each other in over 10 years. After inadvertently taking a photo of something she shouldn't have, a kidnapped Lily is rescued by Jesse, and he protects her while trying to find the drug cartel baddies after her.
♦️REVIEW: Almost the exact storyline as book #1, with a bit more action and less sexy time. The romance is rushed, with a marriage proposal after only a couple of days. Taking place a year or so after book 1, we get a glimpse of Zach & Beth's HEA.
♦️HEAT LEVEL: 2/5 - 1 sex scene
♦️ENDING: HFN, No cliffhanger, Epilogue - a few weeks later
♦️FUNNY QUOTES:
“If I get bitten or stung by anything, or if the walls cave in and we die, I will haunt you forever in the afterlife. And I plan on being mean-spirited.”
“Marry me and have my babies,” she said.
“I think maybe your mama explained things wrong to you.”
Lily laughed. “I don’t care. You are the most wonderful person in this cave.”
April 6, 2015
Romantic suspense, where everything is in its place, just as I like it: the action and suspense is thrilling, the anxiety and fear at times palpable. The romance is real, steamy, yet so sweet and tender that it makes you swoon.
Jesse is just the perfect hero, the protective, caring, and at times overpowering, but still lets her make her own decisions, and mistakes, but is there, having her back, never giving her too hard time about it. He just melted my heart.
Liliana is fierce, self-sufficient, and self-reliant, finally facing the ghosts of her past, and while trying to do it without hurting her friends, causing her to make some questionable decisions.
Together they are scorching hot. I loved how Jesse gets her, understands her, and what she needs, to do regarding the illegal issues she ran into. You can see how they come to understanding about their relationship without too much drama, and how they grow as people, find themselves in a place where they can commit to each other.
The friends Jesse has, are loyal, true, and trustworthy. I loved seeing where Beth and Zach, from the previous book in the series, are going in their lives, and I am looking forward to the next installment in this series, this story was truly a delight in the romantic suspense genre!
~ Five Spoons
Jesse is just the perfect hero, the protective, caring, and at times overpowering, but still lets her make her own decisions, and mistakes, but is there, having her back, never giving her too hard time about it. He just melted my heart.
Liliana is fierce, self-sufficient, and self-reliant, finally facing the ghosts of her past, and while trying to do it without hurting her friends, causing her to make some questionable decisions.
Together they are scorching hot. I loved how Jesse gets her, understands her, and what she needs, to do regarding the illegal issues she ran into. You can see how they come to understanding about their relationship without too much drama, and how they grow as people, find themselves in a place where they can commit to each other.
The friends Jesse has, are loyal, true, and trustworthy. I loved seeing where Beth and Zach, from the previous book in the series, are going in their lives, and I am looking forward to the next installment in this series, this story was truly a delight in the romantic suspense genre!
~ Five Spoons
October 1, 2016
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I really enjoyed this short romance/adventure story. About high school sweethearts who meet up later in life when he's a secretive, ex-Marine now employed as a gun for hire and she's a photographer, running from a drug cartel and trying to tie her vicious mother and stepfather to a gun running operation. Fast paced and romantic. I liked it.
July 2, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up. Good book. Great characters....but Lily did have a TSTL moment. Fair warning that this all takes place in about 48 hours so it's like instalove on speed. They were friends in high school but haven't seen each other in 10 years or so.
June 2016 Amazon Prime borrow.
June 2016 Amazon Prime borrow.
June 9, 2015
Outlook and Lily!
I instantly liked Jesse in the first installment and I am so glad he was able to find love with fiery, fierce and adventurous Lily!
I instantly liked Jesse in the first installment and I am so glad he was able to find love with fiery, fierce and adventurous Lily!
June 19, 2015
Great book ☺️
August 8, 2016
Lily's Outlaw is book #2 in Kori David's Once a Marine Always a Marine series. Although I didn't like this one as much as In Zach's Arms, I still found it enjoyable.
When the story opens, photojournalist Liliana (Lily) has been kidnapped by members of a drug cartel and held captive in a border town. Soon after, she's rescued by Jesse, who's a retired Marine and security specialist (who works with Zach from book #1).
Right away, I felt like I had missed something. There's not much setup for the story--we jump into the action immediately, so I found that opening kind of jarring. It turns out that Lily and Jesse have known each other since they were younger, so they have history together. Jesse's mom used to be the housekeeper for Lily's family. In addition, Jesse stood Lily up on prom night, which she's never quite gotten over. However, there are bigger problems at hand now, like the people who want Lily dead.
Growing up, Lily's mother never showed much affection because she was too concerned with her political ambitions. Lily had a rebellious nature and felt that she had something to prove, which is why she pursued photojournalism. But now she finds herself in harm's way and Jesse is the only person she trusts to keep her safe.
Jesse is a fun, cocky character who I liked, but I'm sad to say that I didn't find him very memorable. He's fiercely protective of Lily when she's in danger, but other than that, there isn't much about Jesse that stood out to me much. I felt the same lukewarm feelings about Lily. I didn't dislike her, but didn't connect with her as a character, either.
As with the previous book, there's a suspense element and twist to the plot that I didn't see coming. The plot itself is resolved rather easily and an epilogue wraps things up nicely.
All in all, a decent read but I definitely prefer book #1 to this one. I plan on reading the next book in the series, though.
When the story opens, photojournalist Liliana (Lily) has been kidnapped by members of a drug cartel and held captive in a border town. Soon after, she's rescued by Jesse, who's a retired Marine and security specialist (who works with Zach from book #1).
Right away, I felt like I had missed something. There's not much setup for the story--we jump into the action immediately, so I found that opening kind of jarring. It turns out that Lily and Jesse have known each other since they were younger, so they have history together. Jesse's mom used to be the housekeeper for Lily's family. In addition, Jesse stood Lily up on prom night, which she's never quite gotten over. However, there are bigger problems at hand now, like the people who want Lily dead.
Growing up, Lily's mother never showed much affection because she was too concerned with her political ambitions. Lily had a rebellious nature and felt that she had something to prove, which is why she pursued photojournalism. But now she finds herself in harm's way and Jesse is the only person she trusts to keep her safe.
Jesse is a fun, cocky character who I liked, but I'm sad to say that I didn't find him very memorable. He's fiercely protective of Lily when she's in danger, but other than that, there isn't much about Jesse that stood out to me much. I felt the same lukewarm feelings about Lily. I didn't dislike her, but didn't connect with her as a character, either.
As with the previous book, there's a suspense element and twist to the plot that I didn't see coming. The plot itself is resolved rather easily and an epilogue wraps things up nicely.
All in all, a decent read but I definitely prefer book #1 to this one. I plan on reading the next book in the series, though.
June 9, 2015
Lily’s Outlaw by Kori David is the second book in the Once a Marine Always a Marine series. I will admit this is the first time I have read this series and I was just a tad not a lot but a tad lost at first. I think reading the series in order is better bet. However once I figured out what was going on this book is really good. I loved the strong character of Lily. She was raised with money; she was a budding juvenile delinquent as a kid. She always had her partner in crime Jesse at her side. That is till they grew up. Jesse went into the marines and Lily had to figure out life without her side kick.
Lily deals with a lot in this book. The twist at the end I did not see coming at all. Made me know that Lily really is strong because of Jesse though. It was his goodness and little devious too that made Lily the woman she is today.
I like that Lily herself does not just give in. Jesse may have rescued her but she still is pretty kick butt herself. She won’t just roll over and give Jesse what he wants. Jesse has to work for it. But Jesse does not mind a little hard work. Especially if it will get him the woman he has always loved.
When you want action, adventure, and romance combined this is a great little book to pick up.
Five Shooting Stars
Lily deals with a lot in this book. The twist at the end I did not see coming at all. Made me know that Lily really is strong because of Jesse though. It was his goodness and little devious too that made Lily the woman she is today.
I like that Lily herself does not just give in. Jesse may have rescued her but she still is pretty kick butt herself. She won’t just roll over and give Jesse what he wants. Jesse has to work for it. But Jesse does not mind a little hard work. Especially if it will get him the woman he has always loved.
When you want action, adventure, and romance combined this is a great little book to pick up.
Five Shooting Stars
February 17, 2015
Lily's Outlaw by Kori David is the second book in the Once a Marine Always a Marine series. David did not disappoint with her second book, it started out with full on drama and it did not stop until she said the end.
The song that came to my mind while reading this book was an old Bon Jovi song "Blaze of Glory". I could see some of the scene being acted out with that song being played in the background.
David really made this one action packed little novella that I could not put down. She has put everything you could ask for in just 108 pages. Drug cartel, kidnapping, hero's, past lovers, life threatening situations, not to mention HOT marines. I really liked this book but I would have loved it to have been a full length novel, i can just imagine all the built up angst and raw hunger between these two, yum!
I give this book 4 stars!
The song that came to my mind while reading this book was an old Bon Jovi song "Blaze of Glory". I could see some of the scene being acted out with that song being played in the background.
David really made this one action packed little novella that I could not put down. She has put everything you could ask for in just 108 pages. Drug cartel, kidnapping, hero's, past lovers, life threatening situations, not to mention HOT marines. I really liked this book but I would have loved it to have been a full length novel, i can just imagine all the built up angst and raw hunger between these two, yum!
I give this book 4 stars!
July 14, 2015
This is a better story than the first Once A Marine saga. J.J. (Jesse James) Calhoun, code name Outlaw, has taken on a mission to retrieve precious cargo from a drug cartel in Mexico. Said cargo turns out to be Lily Richardson, old high school chum and stood-up prom date. There's a lot of baggage between bad-boy son of a housekeeper and daughter of the town's richest woman, now Governor of the state.
There's a lot more going on here, lots of intrigue and double-crossing. There's also a redemption love story, too. Good one.
There's a lot more going on here, lots of intrigue and double-crossing. There's also a redemption love story, too. Good one.
July 8, 2015
I feel the same way about this book, as I did about the first one. Quick read, very fast paced (unbelievably so, in all aspects), and AGAIN-- multiple TSTL moments for the h.
I also question... who is less than 24 hours from being kidnapped, and all she can think about is hot sex with the H? That seemed far fetched, even for these books.
I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one because I felt that the story line was a little more compelling. I liked Lily, stupid decisions and all.
I also question... who is less than 24 hours from being kidnapped, and all she can think about is hot sex with the H? That seemed far fetched, even for these books.
I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one because I felt that the story line was a little more compelling. I liked Lily, stupid decisions and all.
June 21, 2015
This book was a fairly quick read but certainly wasn't lacking in plot or character development. There were twists and turns throughout the story, and I loved learning more about Lily and Jesse. It was great catching up with Beth and Zach, and I can't wait to read the next book!
August 19, 2015
Lily wasn't as bad as Elizabeth (previous books h). But her keeping secrets was frustrating. However, Jesse's ability to read her and predict her stupidity was awesome. I'll keep going with this series.
September 19, 2015
Such a good story
Great quick little read. Rich, sexy, fun, believable characters. Action and adventure that is believable and fast paced. No dragging out the story. Must go find the rest of the series.
Great quick little read. Rich, sexy, fun, believable characters. Action and adventure that is believable and fast paced. No dragging out the story. Must go find the rest of the series.
March 2, 2015
I love this series, and this book was a hum dinger! Full of action and suspense! These are different ex-marine books! you need to give them a try!
June 11, 2015
Short but good read
May 28, 2015
I really enjoyed this novella. good dialogue. believable plot. great characters. happy ending.
February 19, 2016
An nice easy read.
September 4, 2016
Jesse
Glad Jesse got his story good adventure and romance some language wanted to keep her safe loved and married her because that's what he was missing
Glad Jesse got his story good adventure and romance some language wanted to keep her safe loved and married her because that's what he was missing
January 23, 2017
Good book from a new author for me. Liked the plot and the characters were enjoyable. The romance was nicely crafted and fun to follow. Will read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews