Care Package

by Jaxx Steele

Winner of the Swirl Award for Best LGBT in 2012


When First Sergeant Dwayne Roman, a seasoned soldier, falls for another soldier under his command, he does everything in his power to keep his feelings at bay. Unfortunately, his relationship is discovered and he is asked to leave his life in the army.


The victim of the unjust laws of the land and a military cover-up, Dwayne settled fitfully into civilian life separated from the most important person in his life. After suffering three years with regret and loneliness, he saw an opportunity to regain what self-serving people took from him. He took the chance regardless of who was in his way or who got hurt.


CONTENT This is an extensively re-edited and expanded re-release title.

Genres: M M Romance

Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2011

About the author

Jaxx Steele was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but is hiding in Indiana to stay out of trouble. Reading and writing were his first loves and continue to be first in his heart. He spends his time working a nine-to-five and traveling when he can. With room in his heart for Hou and their cat Judo, Jaxx has a full and happy life.

Visit Jax's web site at http://www.freewebs.com/jaxxsteele/, blog at http://jaxxsteele.blogspot.com/, and MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/romancebyjaxxs....

Reviews

[Lexi Ander]

I love the stories about our servicemen and this one did a good job of hooking me in the beginning, then about half way through it started losing me and then it just confused me.

Dwayne has Jeremy there in his house after three long years and finds out that Jeremy was sent to psycho Louis in Texas. Obviously Jeremy doesn't know why he was sent to Texas and couldn't ask. He hadn't had contact with Dwayne. I'm sorry? How does that happen in today's day and age? Even if after 5 years and not having his lover's contact information it is not that hard to locate someone. Those men gossip more that and a quilting circle for Pete’s sake. Just to make sure I wasn't off base I called my brother and gave him the scenario.

Okay, so am trying to get over the reasoning for the no contact. Jeremy is walking out because he still doesn't know the reason the Dwayne left him. Read all the way through waiting for the reveal that Jennings tattled. It NEVER came.

Instead Dwayne has to order Jeremy to stay, pull rank that he no longer has, and we aren't told why. Okay so I am rolling with it. Dwayne orders Jeremy to underdress after a quiz on sucking cock which makes Dwayne upset because Jeremy's cock has been neglected and silently vows retribution. I'm sorry...what? So Jeremy gets his first blow job in three years and then is ordered to drop and give 50. Dwayne does some day dreaming before noticing that Jeremy is scarred by Sargent psycho Louis. I'm sorry? Jeremy has been physically and sexually abused by his Sargent and nothing was done? Nothing is said about it. Okay, I am no longer confused, I am lost. I thought that Jeremy was in the armed forces? What am I reading again?

There is more but I am too tired to go over it. Like I said the first half was good until they hook up. In the end this read like a BDSM story where a DOM lost his sub that was abused and service uniforms were slapped on them.

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions]

TBNT see this review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Thank you Lexi

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an intriguing m/m genre story revolving around the military that started out strong but got a bit lost along the way and definitely suffered for the shortened word count. And while I found myself immersed in some parts of the story I never became fully invested in the relationship between Dwayne Roman and Jeremy. Since they were separated for a large part of the story I never believed that they truly cared for one another which saddened me since there was such promise upon reading their early interactions.

Dwayne is a strong man who caved to blackmail and left the military, along with the young soldier he proclaimed to love. For three years he could find out nothing about what happened to Jeremy and when he finally does find him Jeremy is nothing like he was before. For all his importance I found it very hard to believe that he couldn't discover Jeremy's whereabouts much sooner. He knows all sorts of secrets regarding other personnel's sexuality and yet couldn't find one soldier. This strains all belief and made for a very large obstacle to overcome while reading.

As to Jeremy, we don't really know much about him. I actually can't even remember his last name he left that little of an impression on me. He appears very weak and submissive and goes along with everything that happens to him without a trace of anger. After reuniting with Dwayne he shows virtually no emotion at being sent away without a word for three years and immediately goes back to having a sexual relationship with Dwayne. His lack of emotions and strength was exasperating considering the high hopes I had for this story at the start.

This is not an awful book, just one that didn't live up to its full potential. The premise is unique and brought to light the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and flowed smoothly. I'll definitely read more from this author since the small kernel of promise seen in this story's writing has me intrigued to see what the author can create in a longer format.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5. They were parted and both treated unfairly in different was. The person responsible for the break up brings them together. It was a good story idea but it fell a little flat for me. I just didn't connect with the characters.