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Homefront Trilogy #1
Boots on the Ground
With a life that started in foster care and nearly ended in the mountains of Afghanistan, Grady Reid is more than ready to hang up his sergeant’s stripes when his Army contract expires.
Small-town Meridian, Kansas, seems as good a place as any to finally put down roots. He’s dumped his savings into a ramshackle farmhouse and is on his way to trading bullets for bull breeding when an exquisitely beautiful, totally unattainable blonde turns his head faster than a pivoting cutting horse.
Dr. Laurel Hayes longs to escape the confines of stuffy, small-town life for an adrenaline-fueled, transient lifestyle delivering medical aid in unstable regions around the world. Then she meets Grady, a man with enticing eyes, a slow smile—and not an ounce of the wanderlust that tugs at her soul.
Their lives are headed in opposite directions. But as something more powerful than attraction, desire, or even lust draws them together, something’s got to give…or their hearts could break under the strain.
Small-town Meridian, Kansas, seems as good a place as any to finally put down roots. He’s dumped his savings into a ramshackle farmhouse and is on his way to trading bullets for bull breeding when an exquisitely beautiful, totally unattainable blonde turns his head faster than a pivoting cutting horse.
Dr. Laurel Hayes longs to escape the confines of stuffy, small-town life for an adrenaline-fueled, transient lifestyle delivering medical aid in unstable regions around the world. Then she meets Grady, a man with enticing eyes, a slow smile—and not an ounce of the wanderlust that tugs at her soul.
Their lives are headed in opposite directions. But as something more powerful than attraction, desire, or even lust draws them together, something’s got to give…or their hearts could break under the strain.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2014
12 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Crowley
30 books98 followersRebecca Crowley writes contemporary romance about good people doing their best, and never tires of the happily-ever-after. Having pulled up her Kansas roots to live in New York City, London and Johannesburg, Rebecca currently resides in Houston.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 15, 2019
3.5 stars.
I'm becoming quite the fan of Rebecca Crowley's contemporary romance. I appreciate how she deftly weaves issues of great social and political importance - such as reproductive rights, immigration, PTSD, class differences - into her romances...and they still read as romances. Like many readers, I dislike when an author preaches to me or turns their story into a dictionary entry on a particular issue. At the same time, I still expect romances to reflect reality, including current events and common daily hardships that influence and affect our lives.
Overall, Boots on the Ground was an enjoyable read, but it features some insta-ness. It's on the shorter side, which is why it features insta-ness. Since I'm not a fan of that trope, I struggled at times. Still, I found plenty to like in this small-town, opposites-attract romance between veteran Grady and physician Laurel. As Grady adjusts to life after the military and tries to plan a future amid uncertainty, emotional wounds, and financial insecurity, Laurel is searching for a purpose and meaning outside of her privileged bubble. Both characters are essentially looking for their place - and they find it with each other.
My niggles with the insta-ness and a rushed ending aside, I felt that the story was sweet, steamy, and thoughtful, making for affecting but easy reading.
I'm becoming quite the fan of Rebecca Crowley's contemporary romance. I appreciate how she deftly weaves issues of great social and political importance - such as reproductive rights, immigration, PTSD, class differences - into her romances...and they still read as romances. Like many readers, I dislike when an author preaches to me or turns their story into a dictionary entry on a particular issue. At the same time, I still expect romances to reflect reality, including current events and common daily hardships that influence and affect our lives.
Overall, Boots on the Ground was an enjoyable read, but it features some insta-ness. It's on the shorter side, which is why it features insta-ness. Since I'm not a fan of that trope, I struggled at times. Still, I found plenty to like in this small-town, opposites-attract romance between veteran Grady and physician Laurel. As Grady adjusts to life after the military and tries to plan a future amid uncertainty, emotional wounds, and financial insecurity, Laurel is searching for a purpose and meaning outside of her privileged bubble. Both characters are essentially looking for their place - and they find it with each other.
My niggles with the insta-ness and a rushed ending aside, I felt that the story was sweet, steamy, and thoughtful, making for affecting but easy reading.
August 20, 2015
I read a Christmas Military Romance novella by this author a while back and I really enjoyed her writing and the story so when I saw the chance to read another by her, I eagerly picked it up. This one was a fast read, but it had a nice blend of light and flirty with heartwarming and meaningful, too. I loved how both characters had to face some personal challenges and this was more than the surface 'class differences' romance it starts out to be.
Grady left the army after thirteen years when it bled his soul dry. He grew up in the foster care system so home and belonging are things he dreams of, but doesn't believe he'll ever have. He decides to make a fresh start by buying a fixer-upper ranch house on a small spread outside Meridian, KS. Right after he gets settled, he encounters the engaging Dr. Lauren Hayes as in one of the town founding streets and schools named after all the best clubs and town society Hayes. Grady is attracted, but he has nothing to offer a woman like Lauren who dates men of her own circle and enjoys a lifestyle he can never hope to give her if they were together.
Lauren's dream is to escape her hometown and have 'save the world' adventures through her medical work. She is bored by the men she dates and thinks her chances at romance are hopeless until into her office walks an ex-soldier with a gorgeous body and a tortured past. Grady consumes her unlike any man she has ever met. She wants to know everything about him and wants to help him heal, but he offers her a real challenge when he holds her at arm’s length and keeps walking away. For the first time, she begins to weaken in her resolve to escape.
As I said, this one went quickly. Grady and Lauren are attracted on first sight, but encounter some stumbling blocks when Grady learns that Lauren comes from a very different background from his own and even now, they share little in common. Then there is his desire for stability and a home and hers to go gallivanting around.
Grady is up against his past as a foster kid and the trauma from the war he needs to heal from. He has to adjust to civilian life and figure out his future. He has determination and he works so hard even willing to work a road crew and take on extra work for a contractor to fix up his ranch. I enjoyed getting to know this brooding, nearly broken hero who wants to give up, but doesn't mostly because Lauren won't let him. He's tired of it all, but there is a spark of hope left that maybe he can get a happy ending like the regular folks.
I confess that I struggled with Lauren. I think I had the notion that she was very put together and mature, but in truth, she has some issues and they are issues she isn't aware of herself. I had my doubts about her, but then she pulled a stunt that had me lose complete respect for her. I was left with mixed feelings even after she got her act together. And I guess, knowing she had such an issue, put her and Grady on an equal balance in that respect.
See, that was the other thing that I noticed. Grady and Lauren's romance wasn't an easy sell for me mostly because I felt like they were not on the same maturity level. She gets almost giddy because Grady has 'traveled' right when he's telling her that he saw the Middle East during a war. Later, she is imagining herself this superhero type of person who goes into hostile exotic environments to care for the injured people who only she can save. Then next to this, there is Grady who is soul-weary, struggling to make ends meet so he works hard, and just wants love and a family to make him happy. He doesn't even care if Lauren jets to all points of the compass if she can just love him while she is busy backing away fast because she doesn't want to be tied down even for love. In the end, I felt that Grady was right when he told her that she got in her own way. That's when things flipped and Grady was the strong one while it was Lauren who had to face up to her flaws and grow.
The ending was not exactly on par with the rest of the story. I really didn’t like what was written as the climax and the romance ending felt rushed after all the build up to that point. Was left wanting.
So, in the end, this one does come out as a win in my book because Grady's triumph and healing overshadowed the smaller issues I had with other aspects of the story. I did enjoy the writing other than the ending, the setting, the situation, and the way Grady was developed as a character. This is a trilogy so I want to keep going. Those who enjoy spicy small town romance with a dash of military flavor might want to try this one.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Grady left the army after thirteen years when it bled his soul dry. He grew up in the foster care system so home and belonging are things he dreams of, but doesn't believe he'll ever have. He decides to make a fresh start by buying a fixer-upper ranch house on a small spread outside Meridian, KS. Right after he gets settled, he encounters the engaging Dr. Lauren Hayes as in one of the town founding streets and schools named after all the best clubs and town society Hayes. Grady is attracted, but he has nothing to offer a woman like Lauren who dates men of her own circle and enjoys a lifestyle he can never hope to give her if they were together.
Lauren's dream is to escape her hometown and have 'save the world' adventures through her medical work. She is bored by the men she dates and thinks her chances at romance are hopeless until into her office walks an ex-soldier with a gorgeous body and a tortured past. Grady consumes her unlike any man she has ever met. She wants to know everything about him and wants to help him heal, but he offers her a real challenge when he holds her at arm’s length and keeps walking away. For the first time, she begins to weaken in her resolve to escape.
As I said, this one went quickly. Grady and Lauren are attracted on first sight, but encounter some stumbling blocks when Grady learns that Lauren comes from a very different background from his own and even now, they share little in common. Then there is his desire for stability and a home and hers to go gallivanting around.
Grady is up against his past as a foster kid and the trauma from the war he needs to heal from. He has to adjust to civilian life and figure out his future. He has determination and he works so hard even willing to work a road crew and take on extra work for a contractor to fix up his ranch. I enjoyed getting to know this brooding, nearly broken hero who wants to give up, but doesn't mostly because Lauren won't let him. He's tired of it all, but there is a spark of hope left that maybe he can get a happy ending like the regular folks.
I confess that I struggled with Lauren. I think I had the notion that she was very put together and mature, but in truth, she has some issues and they are issues she isn't aware of herself. I had my doubts about her, but then she pulled a stunt that had me lose complete respect for her. I was left with mixed feelings even after she got her act together. And I guess, knowing she had such an issue, put her and Grady on an equal balance in that respect.
See, that was the other thing that I noticed. Grady and Lauren's romance wasn't an easy sell for me mostly because I felt like they were not on the same maturity level. She gets almost giddy because Grady has 'traveled' right when he's telling her that he saw the Middle East during a war. Later, she is imagining herself this superhero type of person who goes into hostile exotic environments to care for the injured people who only she can save. Then next to this, there is Grady who is soul-weary, struggling to make ends meet so he works hard, and just wants love and a family to make him happy. He doesn't even care if Lauren jets to all points of the compass if she can just love him while she is busy backing away fast because she doesn't want to be tied down even for love. In the end, I felt that Grady was right when he told her that she got in her own way. That's when things flipped and Grady was the strong one while it was Lauren who had to face up to her flaws and grow.
The ending was not exactly on par with the rest of the story. I really didn’t like what was written as the climax and the romance ending felt rushed after all the build up to that point. Was left wanting.
So, in the end, this one does come out as a win in my book because Grady's triumph and healing overshadowed the smaller issues I had with other aspects of the story. I did enjoy the writing other than the ending, the setting, the situation, and the way Grady was developed as a character. This is a trilogy so I want to keep going. Those who enjoy spicy small town romance with a dash of military flavor might want to try this one.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2014
Paige
3.5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
This is my favorite scenario for a book, a military man who longs to set down roots by buying a ranch in small town USA. Grady fit the bill as the emotionally wounded hero.
Just when he’s getting back in civilian life he meets her, Laurel. Dr. Laurel Hayes to be exact. While Grady grew up without stability and a family, Laurel was born and raised in a town her family created.
The author did a good job drawing the reader into the book and keeping them interested. I was cheering for them throughout this read.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading the book. I was a bit disappointed in Laurel at the end of the book. It seemed like she changed direction pretty quickly in what she wanted and could handle. I also think the book could have used an additional chapter. It could have made this an even sweeter reader.
3.5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
This is my favorite scenario for a book, a military man who longs to set down roots by buying a ranch in small town USA. Grady fit the bill as the emotionally wounded hero.
Just when he’s getting back in civilian life he meets her, Laurel. Dr. Laurel Hayes to be exact. While Grady grew up without stability and a family, Laurel was born and raised in a town her family created.
The author did a good job drawing the reader into the book and keeping them interested. I was cheering for them throughout this read.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading the book. I was a bit disappointed in Laurel at the end of the book. It seemed like she changed direction pretty quickly in what she wanted and could handle. I also think the book could have used an additional chapter. It could have made this an even sweeter reader.
October 15, 2016
Two people, attracted to each other, but headed in exact opposite directions with their lives sounds like a difficult plot to bring to a happy conclusion. However, Ms. Crowley deftly writes about what brought Grady to this point in his life and why Laurel is so eager to escape from what Grady craves.
Grady, a product of the foster care system has known compassion but has not known the love of family until he joined the army and bonded with his brothers in arms. Now that he is out of the army and has bought a small ranch for himself, he finds that he has no one at his back for the first time in many years. That promotes a feeling of loneliness he doesn’t know now to manage. When he comes to the rescue of Laurel more than one time he begins to explore feelings that this might be the beginning of a new life that is not one of loneliness but one of love.
Laurel is a successful orthopedic surgeon in the small town where she grew up. She is living her wealthy parents’ dream for her, that of a professional woman who only needs a husband and children to complete her life. The catch is, it isn’t her own dream. One of the reasons Laurel became a surgeon was her desire to help others, and she would like to take that out to the wider world to people in need who have no one else to help them. She meets Grady as his doctor and then again when he comes to her aid on a dark country road.
Sparks fly between them, in bed and in town, but the more Grady pushes for a relationship the more Laurel pushes back, still hoping for that dream job in some far-flung location that Grady has already had too much of. She wants the danger that Grady knows holds nothing but death and destruction. Something has to give in order for these two people to have a future together. Will one of them have to give up his or her hopes for the future or can they find a compromise that will enable both of them to be the people they know they can? And what about Grady’s friends, one of whom suffers from such extreme PTSD that Grady accepted arrest and incarceration to save him from destruction? Stay tuned to the Homefront series for more. I know I will.
Grady, a product of the foster care system has known compassion but has not known the love of family until he joined the army and bonded with his brothers in arms. Now that he is out of the army and has bought a small ranch for himself, he finds that he has no one at his back for the first time in many years. That promotes a feeling of loneliness he doesn’t know now to manage. When he comes to the rescue of Laurel more than one time he begins to explore feelings that this might be the beginning of a new life that is not one of loneliness but one of love.
Laurel is a successful orthopedic surgeon in the small town where she grew up. She is living her wealthy parents’ dream for her, that of a professional woman who only needs a husband and children to complete her life. The catch is, it isn’t her own dream. One of the reasons Laurel became a surgeon was her desire to help others, and she would like to take that out to the wider world to people in need who have no one else to help them. She meets Grady as his doctor and then again when he comes to her aid on a dark country road.
Sparks fly between them, in bed and in town, but the more Grady pushes for a relationship the more Laurel pushes back, still hoping for that dream job in some far-flung location that Grady has already had too much of. She wants the danger that Grady knows holds nothing but death and destruction. Something has to give in order for these two people to have a future together. Will one of them have to give up his or her hopes for the future or can they find a compromise that will enable both of them to be the people they know they can? And what about Grady’s friends, one of whom suffers from such extreme PTSD that Grady accepted arrest and incarceration to save him from destruction? Stay tuned to the Homefront series for more. I know I will.
June 22, 2024
⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩
4.5 stars.
This is a blue collar, ex military, medical romance. It’s got insta love, friends to lovers, small town vibes.
The smut was like a 1.5/5 on the spice scale. It’s also a HEA!
There are triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE.
This book follows Laurel and Grady. They weren’t the most fleshed out characters but they didn’t need to be. The vibes were enough!
4.5 stars.
This is a blue collar, ex military, medical romance. It’s got insta love, friends to lovers, small town vibes.
The smut was like a 1.5/5 on the spice scale. It’s also a HEA!
There are triggers so CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE.
This book follows Laurel and Grady. They weren’t the most fleshed out characters but they didn’t need to be. The vibes were enough!
Read
June 24, 2024FREE today (June 19, 2024) on Amazon.
September 23, 2014
With really rough start to life in foster care it is no surprise that Grady Reid ended up serving thirteen years in Afghanistan, he saw friends die, fought battles no man has to fight and has finally reached his breaking point.
He decides a fresh start in life is the way to go, he puts down all his savings on a beat up ranch in the small town of Meridan, it's time to plant some roots.
Once there he get's a job as a road worker in order to make ends meet whilst building the ranch , he keeps his war demons to himself and just takes day to day as it comes. But he does not count on the days including a very sexy and very privileged Dr. Laurel Hayes.
She's tempting so very tempting and soon he finds himself enslaved by her sexy curves and falling for her harder than he's ever fallen before. But Laurel has a yearning to travel the world whilst playing Dr and she's so very close to making the dream a reality she can very nearly taste it.
Can Grady make her see she's meant to stay in his arms or will she be gone by morning, leaving him abandoned once again?
This was a really nice read, it had a good and fast paced plot, things move very quickly between the characters , it does seem a little slow in the start but trust me keep going, it picks up very quickly from chapter three, and it's totally worth it.
The character of Grady was a regular soldier that suffers from post traumatic stress disorder yet still keeps his balance by fighting for everyone and everything he believes in which made him all the more sexy. I loved how the author let snippets from his past drift in and out of the read, it really helped with piecing him together, it is not always done in reads where soldiers are involved and most of the time you get that glimpse into his war background but not the before part , so really nice work Rebecca!
The character of Laurel was someone I could really connect with, I really felt sorry for her being so privileged yes it does sound out of place but when someone has it all, it does not always mean they are happy. So yes I felt very sorry for her having it all yet not really having anything at all. I loved how the author let's Laurel's good nature shine through in the read, not once does Laurel have a snobbish attitude, she knows she good looking, she knows she has it all but it does not let her go about bossing people around, which was a really nice touch.
I am taking away a message of no matter if you have it all or if you have nothing at all, there is always something or someone in life that will let you see what's missing or even what exactly you already have.
I recommend this read for all fans that love a good paced romance read with sweet passion and a happy ever after ending.
4 star review
" He seeks to keep his boots on the ground she wants to hit the floor running"
He decides a fresh start in life is the way to go, he puts down all his savings on a beat up ranch in the small town of Meridan, it's time to plant some roots.
Once there he get's a job as a road worker in order to make ends meet whilst building the ranch , he keeps his war demons to himself and just takes day to day as it comes. But he does not count on the days including a very sexy and very privileged Dr. Laurel Hayes.
She's tempting so very tempting and soon he finds himself enslaved by her sexy curves and falling for her harder than he's ever fallen before. But Laurel has a yearning to travel the world whilst playing Dr and she's so very close to making the dream a reality she can very nearly taste it.
Can Grady make her see she's meant to stay in his arms or will she be gone by morning, leaving him abandoned once again?
This was a really nice read, it had a good and fast paced plot, things move very quickly between the characters , it does seem a little slow in the start but trust me keep going, it picks up very quickly from chapter three, and it's totally worth it.
The character of Grady was a regular soldier that suffers from post traumatic stress disorder yet still keeps his balance by fighting for everyone and everything he believes in which made him all the more sexy. I loved how the author let snippets from his past drift in and out of the read, it really helped with piecing him together, it is not always done in reads where soldiers are involved and most of the time you get that glimpse into his war background but not the before part , so really nice work Rebecca!
The character of Laurel was someone I could really connect with, I really felt sorry for her being so privileged yes it does sound out of place but when someone has it all, it does not always mean they are happy. So yes I felt very sorry for her having it all yet not really having anything at all. I loved how the author let's Laurel's good nature shine through in the read, not once does Laurel have a snobbish attitude, she knows she good looking, she knows she has it all but it does not let her go about bossing people around, which was a really nice touch.
I am taking away a message of no matter if you have it all or if you have nothing at all, there is always something or someone in life that will let you see what's missing or even what exactly you already have.
I recommend this read for all fans that love a good paced romance read with sweet passion and a happy ever after ending.
4 star review
" He seeks to keep his boots on the ground she wants to hit the floor running"
October 30, 2014
**3.5 Stars**
*I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley on behalf of Samhain Publishing in exchange for an honest review*
I always enjoy reading any story that has to do with a strong military man. Grady Reid is fresh out of the Army and must adjust to the civilian lifestyle. With him growing up in foster care he is accustomed to being on his own and making his own choices.
Dr. Laurel Hayes lives in a small town that her family practically built. Her only dream is to leave this town and volunteer in medical-aid missions around the world. Seeing a strong man in her exam room will definitely throw a wrench in her plans.
I really enjoyed this story. The author shows the readers what soldiers must go through coming back into the civilian life after years of deployment. Grady is very jumpy when it comes to loud noises and crowds. The instant chemistry between them is felt throughout the book. I did feel that Laurel kind of changed her mind as to what she could handle very fast. She just woke up and it was an instant mind change. I do believe we will read more about their story in the future but I really think this book could have used another chapter or two.
Overall, I think this is a good book for anyone that loves a romance story, just the right kind of emotional and a light but sexy read.
My Favorite Moment: I really like how Laurel tries to make light of the situation to make Grady feel like he can open up and talk to her.
“At least you get to travel in the Army. That’s pretty cool,” she offered.
“Yeah, Iraq and Afghanistan. Nice beach weather, shame about the IEDs.”
*I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley on behalf of Samhain Publishing in exchange for an honest review*
I always enjoy reading any story that has to do with a strong military man. Grady Reid is fresh out of the Army and must adjust to the civilian lifestyle. With him growing up in foster care he is accustomed to being on his own and making his own choices.
Dr. Laurel Hayes lives in a small town that her family practically built. Her only dream is to leave this town and volunteer in medical-aid missions around the world. Seeing a strong man in her exam room will definitely throw a wrench in her plans.
I really enjoyed this story. The author shows the readers what soldiers must go through coming back into the civilian life after years of deployment. Grady is very jumpy when it comes to loud noises and crowds. The instant chemistry between them is felt throughout the book. I did feel that Laurel kind of changed her mind as to what she could handle very fast. She just woke up and it was an instant mind change. I do believe we will read more about their story in the future but I really think this book could have used another chapter or two.
Overall, I think this is a good book for anyone that loves a romance story, just the right kind of emotional and a light but sexy read.
My Favorite Moment: I really like how Laurel tries to make light of the situation to make Grady feel like he can open up and talk to her.
“At least you get to travel in the Army. That’s pretty cool,” she offered.
“Yeah, Iraq and Afghanistan. Nice beach weather, shame about the IEDs.”
October 26, 2014
This story was sweet, heartwarming, light sexy and very emotional all in one. Not over powering emotional just a nice balance of heartbreak and new beginnings. I loved Grady. He's hot as hell, a hero in my book and so damn sweet and adorable but also a little lost but so damn honorable it breaks my heart. Laurel is a Dr in a small town who is looking for more, it's the more what? that's important. She has a great sense of humor and she takes chances and puts herself out there when she wants something. I love these two together. The only complaint or mention is I wish with all the build up with him fitting in and her family issues it was more, I'm so glad they all accepted him but it seemed too quick a part. I loved Laurels brother for being a great guy. I felt for these Hero's that came home from war with horrible nightmares and memories they want to forget. I think the author captured most of that very well, I think a little more would ave been nice some parts a little glazed over but over all a great story, I thought the characters were great. The story well written and a light hearted, easy, sweet and loving story. Want to read more by this author ad in this series. 4-4.5 star review by nanee at upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com
March 14, 2015
3.7-4.2 Stars. Public Library 3/13/15. I liked this book much more then I thought I was going to. The characters have depth and realistic reactions. Not everything is perfect and they each have issues to work through but the connection they have is real. They may have instant attraction but it doesn't come off as insta love. They don't jump into bed together right away but feel the situation out. It had a nice balance of everything for a shorter story. It works as a standalone and is rereadable. I'll be checking out more by this author.
Read
September 30, 2014Love this story! It shows the way soliders have to deal with coming home and trying to adjust! Love that her family was not mean and disrespectful to him. I also like the fact that she came to her senses can't wait to read more!
Want to read
September 30, 2014*NETGALLEY*
August 18, 2015
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