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Navy SEAL Cowboys #2
Cowboy SEAL Redemption
Three former Navy SEALs
Injured in the line of duty
Desperate for a new beginning...
Searching for a place to call their own.
Jack Armstrong's been slowly piecing his life back together after a career-ending injury bounced him from the SEALs. The only trouble is, his family's on their way to his new haven in Montana...and Jack refuses to let them know he's still hurting. Desperate, he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers: in exchange for some extra security, she'll play the perfect loving girlfriend.
Rose doesn't trust any man, much less some tough-as-nails former SEAL. But the more they settle into their ruse, the more things start to feel real, and the more Rose's true fear surfaces―that she'll never be good enough for love. But Jack isn't about to lose Rose. He's done running when things get tough, and he's determined to prove―once and for all―that even the most troubled hearts can find their way to redemption.
Injured in the line of duty
Desperate for a new beginning...
Searching for a place to call their own.
Jack Armstrong's been slowly piecing his life back together after a career-ending injury bounced him from the SEALs. The only trouble is, his family's on their way to his new haven in Montana...and Jack refuses to let them know he's still hurting. Desperate, he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers: in exchange for some extra security, she'll play the perfect loving girlfriend.
Rose doesn't trust any man, much less some tough-as-nails former SEAL. But the more they settle into their ruse, the more things start to feel real, and the more Rose's true fear surfaces―that she'll never be good enough for love. But Jack isn't about to lose Rose. He's done running when things get tough, and he's determined to prove―once and for all―that even the most troubled hearts can find their way to redemption.
327 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 5, 2018
79 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Helm
310 books498 followersNicole Helm is the national bestselling author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and down-to-earth contemporary romance. Her Intrigues routinely land on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list, and she’s received starred PW reviews for her contemporary romances. She’s written over 75 books, known for their emotional depth and happily ever afters.
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 2, 2018
Opposites attracting is one of my all time favorite tropes in romance. Watching two people learning to accept and love someone for their differences is always a beautiful thing. The blurb to Cowboy SEAL Redemption hinted at the way the story would unfold but I actually fell in love with the different direction it took. Jake and Rose were two amazing characters. They both learn to trust again and to open their hearts to unadultured love after being betrayed and left broken inside. Yes, they were two completely different people, personality wise. They grew up in vastly different homes, had polar opposite family lives and their experiences and choices molded them into two adults standing on the opposite side of the spectrum. But their instant connection was undeniable and poignant.
Jake is working through his PTSD and while working with his friends and brothers on the ranch has helped, he still has a lot bottled up inside. When his mother calls out of the blue and informs him that the whole family will be visiting for a couple of weeks, including his brother and his family, Jake panics and in order to save face, convinces Rose to pose as his girlfriend in front of his family.
What starts out as a farce quickly spirals into deeper and more meaningful territory.
Rose has never allowed herself to want things she knows can't be for her so she fights her feelings with everything she has but Jack is a temptation she can't easily refuse. All her life, she's lived the bitter moments of betrayal, guilt and shame. So much so that it's ingrained in her psych that she is the least deserving of love and happiness. Jake is everything she isn't and she knows he deserves the real deal. But not with someone like Rose.
This book was brimming with emotional angst but also the complications that are family, love, trust and that persistent thing called hope. I loved Jack, he was a guy that didn't beat around the bush when it came to his feelings for Rose. I loved that he was upfront with her and also understood that rushing her wasn't the answer. He was willing to prove to her again and again with actions and words that she was worth loving and every time he opened his arms to her and gave her a little more of his heart, I fell in love right along side our heroine, Rose. With a tough as nails exterior, Rose was actually a vulnerable and highly sensitive person. As the story progresses, more of her past is revealed and her deep seated belief that she is not worthy of happiness, love or family, is gut wrenching.
There are so many sweet and heartfelt moments in this book and I enjoyed every tender/heated/angst-filled one. Jake and Rose were easy to root for and I can definitely see myself re-reading this again in the near future.
The reason for the four stars rather than a five is because the ending felt a bit rushed to me. This is completely my own reader preference but an epilogue would have added so much more to the story and I would have loved to see Rose and Jack as a couple and a family, a bit longer down the road, even it it was just a few months. I'm holding out hope that book three will have snippets of my favorite couple, I'll be reading it just on the off chance Jack and Rose make an appearance (or two!)
What I didn't like: The whole messed up relationship between Jake and his brother. I couldn't stomach the jerk and Madison was just as bad. I guess I'm a pretty vindictive person because the fact that Jack's parents didn't immediately take Jack's side over the horrible betrayal that his brother dealt him was unbelievable.
This is usually a plot devise that I despise. I am really close to my family and my brother and sisters so a betrayal like this (to me) would be crushing and unforgivable. The fact that Jack is forced to confront a part of his past that he was still in turmoil over, was harsh.
Silver lining is that fact that a) Jack isn't and admits he never was "in" love with Madison. They'd known each other all their lives. Their mothers were best friends and it was just always encouraged that they would marry and b) Jack finds out he wasn't as alone and discarded by his family, as he'd thought. His parents were put in a hard position that was just as difficult. As a parent you can't stop loving your child, even knowing his flaws. I didn't agree with their method of dealing with it but I can understand why they'd act like they did. I also loved that Jack's sister Victoria wasn't shy to stand by him, she was sweet. And of course, Rose proved she had his back 100%.
Memorable Moments:
Call me blood-thirsty but the scene where Rose takes exception to Jack's brother disrespecting him was priceless! That punch to the face was both amazingly satisfying to read and hilarious. She was amazing and Jack was too cute with his mix of pride and being equal parts in awe and touched by Rose defending him. Jack's brother showed his true colors. He was such a scum bag and I'm glad some justice was served.
My second favorite scene is the pregnancy test scene. A freaked out and vulnerable Rose was so endearing, it's one of the few times, Rose lets her walls completely down and Jack is right there for what ever she needs from him. It really was a really cute scene.
And lastly, I loved when Jack finally is able to get somethings off his chest when it comes to Madison. He handled her like a boss! It was nice to see him call her on her BS and still managed to stay respectful. He was the bigger/better person and he left no doubt about it.
Would I recommend?
Yes, I loved Jack and Rose's story. I loved their friends and (most) of their family. I loved that their problems didn't magically get fixed with the three magic words "I love you". In the end, Jack is still working through his PTSD, his family dynamic has changed but he was able to move on and begin to repair his relationship with them, and I love that Rose doesn't heal over night from her painful past or her own self doubt. This ends on a hopeful note that makes you root all the more for the MCs.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
Jake is working through his PTSD and while working with his friends and brothers on the ranch has helped, he still has a lot bottled up inside. When his mother calls out of the blue and informs him that the whole family will be visiting for a couple of weeks, including his brother and his family, Jake panics and in order to save face, convinces Rose to pose as his girlfriend in front of his family.
What starts out as a farce quickly spirals into deeper and more meaningful territory.
Rose has never allowed herself to want things she knows can't be for her so she fights her feelings with everything she has but Jack is a temptation she can't easily refuse. All her life, she's lived the bitter moments of betrayal, guilt and shame. So much so that it's ingrained in her psych that she is the least deserving of love and happiness. Jake is everything she isn't and she knows he deserves the real deal. But not with someone like Rose.
This book was brimming with emotional angst but also the complications that are family, love, trust and that persistent thing called hope. I loved Jack, he was a guy that didn't beat around the bush when it came to his feelings for Rose. I loved that he was upfront with her and also understood that rushing her wasn't the answer. He was willing to prove to her again and again with actions and words that she was worth loving and every time he opened his arms to her and gave her a little more of his heart, I fell in love right along side our heroine, Rose. With a tough as nails exterior, Rose was actually a vulnerable and highly sensitive person. As the story progresses, more of her past is revealed and her deep seated belief that she is not worthy of happiness, love or family, is gut wrenching.
There are so many sweet and heartfelt moments in this book and I enjoyed every tender/heated/angst-filled one. Jake and Rose were easy to root for and I can definitely see myself re-reading this again in the near future.
The reason for the four stars rather than a five is because the ending felt a bit rushed to me. This is completely my own reader preference but an epilogue would have added so much more to the story and I would have loved to see Rose and Jack as a couple and a family, a bit longer down the road, even it it was just a few months. I'm holding out hope that book three will have snippets of my favorite couple, I'll be reading it just on the off chance Jack and Rose make an appearance (or two!)
What I didn't like: The whole messed up relationship between Jake and his brother. I couldn't stomach the jerk and Madison was just as bad. I guess I'm a pretty vindictive person because the fact that Jack's parents didn't immediately take Jack's side over the horrible betrayal that his brother dealt him was unbelievable.
This is usually a plot devise that I despise. I am really close to my family and my brother and sisters so a betrayal like this (to me) would be crushing and unforgivable. The fact that Jack is forced to confront a part of his past that he was still in turmoil over, was harsh.
Silver lining is that fact that a) Jack isn't and admits he never was "in" love with Madison. They'd known each other all their lives. Their mothers were best friends and it was just always encouraged that they would marry and b) Jack finds out he wasn't as alone and discarded by his family, as he'd thought. His parents were put in a hard position that was just as difficult. As a parent you can't stop loving your child, even knowing his flaws. I didn't agree with their method of dealing with it but I can understand why they'd act like they did. I also loved that Jack's sister Victoria wasn't shy to stand by him, she was sweet. And of course, Rose proved she had his back 100%.
Memorable Moments:
Call me blood-thirsty but the scene where Rose takes exception to Jack's brother disrespecting him was priceless! That punch to the face was both amazingly satisfying to read and hilarious. She was amazing and Jack was too cute with his mix of pride and being equal parts in awe and touched by Rose defending him. Jack's brother showed his true colors. He was such a scum bag and I'm glad some justice was served.
My second favorite scene is the pregnancy test scene. A freaked out and vulnerable Rose was so endearing, it's one of the few times, Rose lets her walls completely down and Jack is right there for what ever she needs from him. It really was a really cute scene.
And lastly, I loved when Jack finally is able to get somethings off his chest when it comes to Madison. He handled her like a boss! It was nice to see him call her on her BS and still managed to stay respectful. He was the bigger/better person and he left no doubt about it.
Would I recommend?
Yes, I loved Jack and Rose's story. I loved their friends and (most) of their family. I loved that their problems didn't magically get fixed with the three magic words "I love you". In the end, Jack is still working through his PTSD, his family dynamic has changed but he was able to move on and begin to repair his relationship with them, and I love that Rose doesn't heal over night from her painful past or her own self doubt. This ends on a hopeful note that makes you root all the more for the MCs.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
June 9, 2018
A sweet, blushing cowboy and a (supposedly) bad girl…
This is the second read of this series and I am officially hooked (as if I wasn’t already – I mean, cowboys!)! I really hope you have read Cowboy SEAL Homecoming as, while this one is a standalone as well, it built the foundation for the ranch and the secondary characters that makes this story even better.
There was an emotional punch threaded through Jack and Rose’s story that had me anxious all the way through. I mean, the main character’s names alone (Jack and Rose???) had me nervous already…
“She was a mess of all those mistakes she’d made…”
Jack was reeling from his injuries, from a personal betrayal, and needed help to put on a brave face when his family came to visit. Rose was there to help but her demons taunted her constantly. They were always there, eating away at her attempts to move forward, to have a good life. It affected every relationship she had, every relationship she kept at arm’s length. The persona that she hid behind – snarky, gruff, take no prisoners – masked a wealth of pain and secrecy. Seeing Jack look underneath that mask, knowing he would find more, finding exactly what he expected, squeezed my heart more than once.
“This decent, good guy wanted to open doors and say please and thank you, and somehow, he thought her worthy of that kind of attention.”
The main character’s chemistry was undeniable as they spent more time together, learning more about each other, in the sack and out of it! Whether it was time just spent on their own or with family, their true feelings for each other shined through every touch, every conversation. Even when they were yelling. Even when hurting each other was the best defense…
Things all came to a head in an emotional scene that burst everything wide open. Friends, family, everyone was a part of it and, I admit, tears were shed… A bit of a slow start snowballed into a story that filled with every emotion under the sun and had me feeling every satisfying high and low.
Gabe is the last member of this family by choice to find his way and I cannot wait for his and Monica’s story next! ~Diane, 4.5 stars
This is the second read of this series and I am officially hooked (as if I wasn’t already – I mean, cowboys!)! I really hope you have read Cowboy SEAL Homecoming as, while this one is a standalone as well, it built the foundation for the ranch and the secondary characters that makes this story even better.
There was an emotional punch threaded through Jack and Rose’s story that had me anxious all the way through. I mean, the main character’s names alone (Jack and Rose???) had me nervous already…
“She was a mess of all those mistakes she’d made…”
Jack was reeling from his injuries, from a personal betrayal, and needed help to put on a brave face when his family came to visit. Rose was there to help but her demons taunted her constantly. They were always there, eating away at her attempts to move forward, to have a good life. It affected every relationship she had, every relationship she kept at arm’s length. The persona that she hid behind – snarky, gruff, take no prisoners – masked a wealth of pain and secrecy. Seeing Jack look underneath that mask, knowing he would find more, finding exactly what he expected, squeezed my heart more than once.
“This decent, good guy wanted to open doors and say please and thank you, and somehow, he thought her worthy of that kind of attention.”
The main character’s chemistry was undeniable as they spent more time together, learning more about each other, in the sack and out of it! Whether it was time just spent on their own or with family, their true feelings for each other shined through every touch, every conversation. Even when they were yelling. Even when hurting each other was the best defense…
Things all came to a head in an emotional scene that burst everything wide open. Friends, family, everyone was a part of it and, I admit, tears were shed… A bit of a slow start snowballed into a story that filled with every emotion under the sun and had me feeling every satisfying high and low.
Gabe is the last member of this family by choice to find his way and I cannot wait for his and Monica’s story next! ~Diane, 4.5 stars
April 3, 2018
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting to blog 6/7/18)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2q249qV
Oh my damn. Cowboy SEAL Redemption was just...whew. Yeah, it's a keeper.
The Gist: Jack has a problem. His family is coming to town. Including his ex fiance who married his brother. Yeah. His solution? Find a lady to be his pretend girlfriend while they're visiting because he'll be damned if he lets them see how much their betrayal really hurt him. Seeing as she needs a temporary bouncer at her bar? Well, Rose is down for a trade.
I loved these two. Jack is a good man. He does what's right, he's hard working, he's kind. He's just one of those people who radiates goodness even if he's hurt, angry and trying to pull his life together again after everything blew up in his face-- quite literally. And Rose. She's hard, mean, rough edges. She's led a traumatic life with abusive parents and doesn't really understand kindness or think she's worth love. Deep under that hard protective shell, though, is an amazing woman.
They were incredible together. He softened her jagged edges with unending patience and kindness. Showed her what it was like to have someone care for and love her. She gave him fire and purpose again. Challenged him and helped him break out of feeling so lost after coming home broken from war. They had an amazing dynamic and seeing them get protective of each other...loved it. And, things do get steamy. Noms!
The family drama on both sides was something. It was hard watching both of them deal with things. The betrayal of family, abusive relationships, buried hurts, the trauma of war, physical injury and PTSD. It's not always a pretty but it made it feel real and powerful as they start to heal from everything life had thrown at them and confront all of their issues.
All in all, Cowboy SEAL Redemption was a stellar read. Helm is an incredible talent. It's amazing watching such broken and struggling characters come back to life and find love, hope and purpose again. Add in amazing friendships, hilarious animals, and characters you can root for? Yeah. It's pretty dang fantastic and has me wishing Helm would write just a little faster because I need to have that next book in my hands.
October 31, 2020
2.5 Stars
Cowboy SEAL Redemption started off strong but unfortunately halfway through my least favorite romance trope was used.
After a career ending injury, former Navy SEAL Jack Armstrong has been slowly rebuilding his life at Revival Ranch in Montana. But now his family plans to invade his new haven and he's determined to prove to them he's moved on from past betrayals. So he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers, he'll provide some extra muscle at her bar and she'll play the adoring girlfriend while his family visits. But the longer their charade goes on, the more their relationship starts to feel real.
Growing up Jack always knew where his life was headed; marry the girl next door and run the family farm. But then Jack joined the Navy SEALs and his betrothed betrayed him with his brother. Jack has never really dealt with the betrayal and instead has chosen to ignore it leading to him developing trust issues. Rose grew up in an abusive household and has a lot of guilt for being her abuser's favorite child which sometimes helped her avoid beatings at the expense of her sisters. Rose's guilt has ruled her life and she's convinced herself that her actions as a child make her unworthy of love.
Jack and Rose's relationship had a lot of ups and downs in part due to both Jack and Rose's issues. But I did really enjoy the journey the pair went on and fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved that aspect of their romance. There were even some great humorous moments including one where Jack makes a very funny Titanic joke while he and Rose are swimming which I thoroughly enjoyed. Initially Rose's reluctance to enter into a real relationship did get frustrating, but after learning her backstory I at least understood her reasoning. Unfortunately where this book fell apart for me was when my least favorite trope was introduced. I already don't enjoy books that include , but after one time it's even worse. But as this is an issue specific to my tastes, it's one that likely won't bother most readers so I would still recommend this book.
The other men of Revival Ranch, Alex and Gabe, are excellent characters and I really enjoy the bond the three men share. I definitely want to check out Cowboy SEAL Homecoming so I can see Alex and Becca fall in love as their relationship in this book was wonderful. There are also numerous side characters that are from the author's previous series, Big Sky Cowboys, which I definitely want to check out.
Overall I would have enjoyed Cowboy SEAL Redemption a lot more had my least favorite trope not been used. I am looking forward to reading other books in the series though and I would recommend this book if you don't mind the trope.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Cowboy SEAL Redemption started off strong but unfortunately halfway through my least favorite romance trope was used.
After a career ending injury, former Navy SEAL Jack Armstrong has been slowly rebuilding his life at Revival Ranch in Montana. But now his family plans to invade his new haven and he's determined to prove to them he's moved on from past betrayals. So he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers, he'll provide some extra muscle at her bar and she'll play the adoring girlfriend while his family visits. But the longer their charade goes on, the more their relationship starts to feel real.
Growing up Jack always knew where his life was headed; marry the girl next door and run the family farm. But then Jack joined the Navy SEALs and his betrothed betrayed him with his brother. Jack has never really dealt with the betrayal and instead has chosen to ignore it leading to him developing trust issues. Rose grew up in an abusive household and has a lot of guilt for being her abuser's favorite child which sometimes helped her avoid beatings at the expense of her sisters. Rose's guilt has ruled her life and she's convinced herself that her actions as a child make her unworthy of love.
Jack and Rose's relationship had a lot of ups and downs in part due to both Jack and Rose's issues. But I did really enjoy the journey the pair went on and fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved that aspect of their romance. There were even some great humorous moments including one where Jack makes a very funny Titanic joke while he and Rose are swimming which I thoroughly enjoyed. Initially Rose's reluctance to enter into a real relationship did get frustrating, but after learning her backstory I at least understood her reasoning. Unfortunately where this book fell apart for me was when my least favorite trope was introduced. I already don't enjoy books that include , but after one time it's even worse. But as this is an issue specific to my tastes, it's one that likely won't bother most readers so I would still recommend this book.
The other men of Revival Ranch, Alex and Gabe, are excellent characters and I really enjoy the bond the three men share. I definitely want to check out Cowboy SEAL Homecoming so I can see Alex and Becca fall in love as their relationship in this book was wonderful. There are also numerous side characters that are from the author's previous series, Big Sky Cowboys, which I definitely want to check out.
Overall I would have enjoyed Cowboy SEAL Redemption a lot more had my least favorite trope not been used. I am looking forward to reading other books in the series though and I would recommend this book if you don't mind the trope.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
June 13, 2018
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed Cowboy Seal Homecoming by Nicole Helm.
The storyline is emotional, sweet, romantic and I found myself reading it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
I loved Jack and Rose, they were likable characters that I easily connected with. Watching them come together brought out many feels, these two have a lot of past hurts and insecurities but together they are able to encourage and support each other to find a way to let love in.
Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is a beautiful, heartfelt romance that touched my heart and I highly recommend.
I'm really enjoying the Navy SEAL Cowboy series, each book has been a joy to read and I can't wait for Gabe and Monica's story next in Cowboy SEAL Christmas to be released September 2018.
*Get your copy here*
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fy313y
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cowb...…
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/…/cowboy-sea...…
*A big thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*
I really enjoyed Cowboy Seal Homecoming by Nicole Helm.
The storyline is emotional, sweet, romantic and I found myself reading it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
I loved Jack and Rose, they were likable characters that I easily connected with. Watching them come together brought out many feels, these two have a lot of past hurts and insecurities but together they are able to encourage and support each other to find a way to let love in.
Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is a beautiful, heartfelt romance that touched my heart and I highly recommend.
I'm really enjoying the Navy SEAL Cowboy series, each book has been a joy to read and I can't wait for Gabe and Monica's story next in Cowboy SEAL Christmas to be released September 2018.
*Get your copy here*
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fy313y
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cowb...…
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/…/cowboy-sea...…
*A big thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*
October 7, 2018
Oh, the clichés. Jack's fiancée slept with his brother and destroyed his dreams for the future. He can never, ever be happy because of that. Rose has a father who beat and terrorized her, her sisters and her mom. She can never have a normal, happy life. Gag me.
Jack, Alex and Gabe are three SEAL veterans who were medically discharged after a horrific attack that left their friend dead. Each has problems and together they want to build a place where other wounded veterans can come and heal and reintegrate into normal life. Plot is solid and the heroes are flawed, but awesome. I liked Alex's story, but Jack's story just isn't very good.
Jack Armstrong's fiancée cheated on him with his brother and got pregnant. He found out the morning of the attack. Nothing could have been worse than to come to with a chunk of his leg missing and having to deal with that betrayal. His family is coming to visit - mom, dad, sister, A--hole brother, Skan* sister-in-law and innocent nephew. The last thing he wants is their pity, so he asks Rose to pretend to be his girlfriend.
Rose Rogers is one tough cookie. She owns and runs the townie bar with a steel fist. Her childhood was totally dysfunctional but Rose and her sisters are survivors, but there are a lot of scars which Rose keeps well hidden. She agrees to Jack's proposal because she needs a favor of her own.
The history of Rose and her family is a story that was told in a previous series and it isn't until the ending that the reader finds out what happened to them. No fun for the reader to spend most of the book in the dark as to why Rose is the way she is. Lots of angst with an unhealthy dose of martyr.
Jack, Alex and Gabe are three SEAL veterans who were medically discharged after a horrific attack that left their friend dead. Each has problems and together they want to build a place where other wounded veterans can come and heal and reintegrate into normal life. Plot is solid and the heroes are flawed, but awesome. I liked Alex's story, but Jack's story just isn't very good.
Jack Armstrong's fiancée cheated on him with his brother and got pregnant. He found out the morning of the attack. Nothing could have been worse than to come to with a chunk of his leg missing and having to deal with that betrayal. His family is coming to visit - mom, dad, sister, A--hole brother, Skan* sister-in-law and innocent nephew. The last thing he wants is their pity, so he asks Rose to pretend to be his girlfriend.
Rose Rogers is one tough cookie. She owns and runs the townie bar with a steel fist. Her childhood was totally dysfunctional but Rose and her sisters are survivors, but there are a lot of scars which Rose keeps well hidden. She agrees to Jack's proposal because she needs a favor of her own.
The history of Rose and her family is a story that was told in a previous series and it isn't until the ending that the reader finds out what happened to them. No fun for the reader to spend most of the book in the dark as to why Rose is the way she is. Lots of angst with an unhealthy dose of martyr.
August 13, 2018
In the past year, I've become quite a fan of Nicole Helm, but in Cowboy SEAL Redemption, the second book in her Navy SEAL Cowboys series, she totally outdid herself, and if I could give this novel more than 5 stars I would because it was an astonishingly good read, one that had me heading for the Kleenex on more than one occasion.
If you've not read the first novel in the series, I'd suggest you start there, but if you haven't, this novel works just fine as a standalone too. The main characters are Jack Armstrong, brave, stoic, all-around good guy, Navy SEAL and wounded warrior all wrapped in one handsome but scarred package. He's at Revival Ranch, trying to both recover from the damage done to his leg by an exploding grenade, which is what ended his military career. As if that and his PTSD weren't enough for him to deal with, he's also dealing with the fact that while he was deployed, his fiance, the girl next door, who he always knew would someday be his wife and the mother of his children, slept with Jack's brother, got pregnant and the two got married, totally destroying the life that Jack had always expected would be his. He's broken, he's lost, and he doesn't know how to move forward after losing everything he thought he had. As if that wasn't enough angst to deal with, he's just learned that his entire family, his parents, his younger sister, and the two people he loved who betrayed him will all soon be arriving via RV for a 2-week visit at the ranch, and the last thing Jack wants them to see is how lost and broken he really is, so he comes up with a plan.
Enter Rose. She owns the local bar in this small Montana town, the place where Jack and his friends at Revival Ranch hang out in the evening. She's one tough cookie, and she doesn't trust men, in fact, she's armed at all times. She, along with her sisters, are the product of a life of horrendous physical and emotional abuse at the hands of thier drunken father and their equally abused and abusive mother. Several years earlier, Rose finally managed to get her father locked up in prison, but she just got word that he's been released, and she's certain that he'll be coming after her for revenge and retribution.
One night, Jack comes to Rose asking for a favor--he wants her to pose as his girlfriend while his family is visiting the ranch. The last thing he wants is for his family to know how hurt, betrayed, and lost he is, or allow them to see that he's not been able to move forward with his life. When he asks her for that favor, Rose sees the solution to her problem too, so the favor becomes a trade-off. She'll post as Jack's girlfriend and try to fool his family into believing it, but, fearing her father showing up unannounced and angry, the favor she asks of Jack is simply that he act as her bouncer on the weekends and keep an eye out for the man whose photo she shows Jack, but she doesn't tell him that the man in the photo is her father. She also doesn't tell anyone about the abuse she suffered or the guilt she feels because she was her father's favorite, the one he and her mother thought was just like him, and she heard it often enough that she believes it.
Before the arrival of the Armstrong family, these two broken souls will have to get to know each in order to pull off the planned deception, and, because this is a romance novel after all, Jack becomes attracted to prickly, tough, snarky Rose, and that scares her senseless. She sees in Jack all the things she doesn't believe herself to be worthy of, like kindness, romance, decency, consideration, honesty, and love. While waffling between wanting him and fearing that connection is something that usually irritates me in a novel, in this particular novel, I totally understood how Rose felt. And it came as no surprise that, at least from Jack's perspective, he was finally attracted to someone other than the one woman he'd ever been with, the one who'd betrayed him, the one he's terrified of seeing again. But Rose saw the attraction between herself and Jack as a temporary anomaly, and saw their deal as no more than a passing fling, and she couldn't have been more wrong.
So, there it is, the bare bones of a complex story of two broken and wounded souls, both betrayed by those the loved, who somehow manage, by a set of circumstances beyond their control, to help heal each other. But summing up this novel in a just a few sentences, or a few paragraphs, simply doesn't do it justice, because this novel is about so much more than just that. At it's heart, it's about the view we each have of ourselves, how harshly we judge ourselves, how our past affects who we are in the present, and how the face we wear on the outside doesn't really express or reflect who we are or what we feel about ourselves on the inside. It's also about the lies we tell ourselves, the facades we hide behind, and the things we'd rather not remember, but which we cannot forget. It's about looking at ourselves honestly, owning the choices we make, and taking responsibility for those choices. In this novel, when the catharsis finally occurs, all I can recommend is that you grab your tissues and sob quietly so as not to disturb others, as I did at 3 o'clock this morning, because, quite frankly, this novel got to me, and it got to me in a major way, and I think it will get to you too.
Kudos to Nicole Helm for her brilliant storytelling, her excellent writing skills, these wonderful, well-drawn characters and for a story so well conceived that it and they will stay with me for years to come. Cowboy SEAL Redemption is one excellent, deeply moving read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
If you've not read the first novel in the series, I'd suggest you start there, but if you haven't, this novel works just fine as a standalone too. The main characters are Jack Armstrong, brave, stoic, all-around good guy, Navy SEAL and wounded warrior all wrapped in one handsome but scarred package. He's at Revival Ranch, trying to both recover from the damage done to his leg by an exploding grenade, which is what ended his military career. As if that and his PTSD weren't enough for him to deal with, he's also dealing with the fact that while he was deployed, his fiance, the girl next door, who he always knew would someday be his wife and the mother of his children, slept with Jack's brother, got pregnant and the two got married, totally destroying the life that Jack had always expected would be his. He's broken, he's lost, and he doesn't know how to move forward after losing everything he thought he had. As if that wasn't enough angst to deal with, he's just learned that his entire family, his parents, his younger sister, and the two people he loved who betrayed him will all soon be arriving via RV for a 2-week visit at the ranch, and the last thing Jack wants them to see is how lost and broken he really is, so he comes up with a plan.
Enter Rose. She owns the local bar in this small Montana town, the place where Jack and his friends at Revival Ranch hang out in the evening. She's one tough cookie, and she doesn't trust men, in fact, she's armed at all times. She, along with her sisters, are the product of a life of horrendous physical and emotional abuse at the hands of thier drunken father and their equally abused and abusive mother. Several years earlier, Rose finally managed to get her father locked up in prison, but she just got word that he's been released, and she's certain that he'll be coming after her for revenge and retribution.
One night, Jack comes to Rose asking for a favor--he wants her to pose as his girlfriend while his family is visiting the ranch. The last thing he wants is for his family to know how hurt, betrayed, and lost he is, or allow them to see that he's not been able to move forward with his life. When he asks her for that favor, Rose sees the solution to her problem too, so the favor becomes a trade-off. She'll post as Jack's girlfriend and try to fool his family into believing it, but, fearing her father showing up unannounced and angry, the favor she asks of Jack is simply that he act as her bouncer on the weekends and keep an eye out for the man whose photo she shows Jack, but she doesn't tell him that the man in the photo is her father. She also doesn't tell anyone about the abuse she suffered or the guilt she feels because she was her father's favorite, the one he and her mother thought was just like him, and she heard it often enough that she believes it.
Before the arrival of the Armstrong family, these two broken souls will have to get to know each in order to pull off the planned deception, and, because this is a romance novel after all, Jack becomes attracted to prickly, tough, snarky Rose, and that scares her senseless. She sees in Jack all the things she doesn't believe herself to be worthy of, like kindness, romance, decency, consideration, honesty, and love. While waffling between wanting him and fearing that connection is something that usually irritates me in a novel, in this particular novel, I totally understood how Rose felt. And it came as no surprise that, at least from Jack's perspective, he was finally attracted to someone other than the one woman he'd ever been with, the one who'd betrayed him, the one he's terrified of seeing again. But Rose saw the attraction between herself and Jack as a temporary anomaly, and saw their deal as no more than a passing fling, and she couldn't have been more wrong.
So, there it is, the bare bones of a complex story of two broken and wounded souls, both betrayed by those the loved, who somehow manage, by a set of circumstances beyond their control, to help heal each other. But summing up this novel in a just a few sentences, or a few paragraphs, simply doesn't do it justice, because this novel is about so much more than just that. At it's heart, it's about the view we each have of ourselves, how harshly we judge ourselves, how our past affects who we are in the present, and how the face we wear on the outside doesn't really express or reflect who we are or what we feel about ourselves on the inside. It's also about the lies we tell ourselves, the facades we hide behind, and the things we'd rather not remember, but which we cannot forget. It's about looking at ourselves honestly, owning the choices we make, and taking responsibility for those choices. In this novel, when the catharsis finally occurs, all I can recommend is that you grab your tissues and sob quietly so as not to disturb others, as I did at 3 o'clock this morning, because, quite frankly, this novel got to me, and it got to me in a major way, and I think it will get to you too.
Kudos to Nicole Helm for her brilliant storytelling, her excellent writing skills, these wonderful, well-drawn characters and for a story so well conceived that it and they will stay with me for years to come. Cowboy SEAL Redemption is one excellent, deeply moving read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 26, 2018
Nicole Helm’s Navy SEAL Cowboys series builds a world of hope and love for broken people. It is no wonder that its geographic setting, fictional “Blue Valley” Montana, is a land of sky, mountain, and range, a world the noise of urban life, or the bombs of deserts far away haven’t touched. Except they have. By war and those who’ve returned from it, broken in spirit and body. Helm’s heroes are men who served in Afghanistan and were injured externally and internally, when one of the them, the ghost who stands sentry to their worst memories and their best (because they cared so much for one another), Geiger. But they are now in Montana, Alex Maguire, Jack Armstrong, and Gabe Cortez, to bring renewed life and hope to broken vets at their aptly-named Revival Ranch. Helm’s heroines are often survivors of domestic wars, now grown women who knew a childhood of abuse, fear, and neglect. Helm brings the broken man and woman together so they can build a new life. Sex doesn’t have the answers (though there’s that too and it’s good), romance doesn’t (though candles are lit and flowers are bought), but healing comes through therapy, talking to each other, striving for understanding, and being honest with, and true to, oneself. Like her obvious professional buddy Maisey Yates, Helm writes to her own tune of redemptive love, through confession (secular and personal), connection, and creating bonds with others, rather than breaking or avoiding them. To reach this point, however, hero and heroine must go through an agon of being broken open and exposed.
In Cowboy SEAL Redemption, Rose Rogers owns Blue Valley’s dive-bar, Pioneer Spirit. She is baby sister to Delia Shaw, the first book’s heroine. Like Delia, Rose is damaged by a childhood with an abusive father and enabling mother. Her deepest secret is that she feels she failed her sisters, failed to fight back against her father, and failed to not enable him. Rose is riddled by guilt and wears a tough, snarky, tattooed, and bad-girl mask to protect her feelings of unworthiness. Hero Jack Armstrong is less damaged by his experiences in Afghanistan, though they’re still part of his brokenness, as he is by a family betrayal. In Afghanistan, a bomb took his purpose and the family betrayal took his self-worth. When we first meet Rose and Jack, there’s a false impression that Rose is the stronger of the two. What unites them is a mutual, though unspoken belief in their own unlove-ability. They strike a deal of sorts: Rose needs Jack to watch out for her abusive father, recently released from jail, and Jack needs Rose to pretend to be his girlfriend when his family comes to town. Premise achieved.
What transpires after the novel’s first few chapters is Helm’s adept and sensitive hand peeling away at her protagonists’ layers and, like Yates, breaking them open in scenes of confession and shame. This is their test and the catalyst is love, yearning, desire for connection and commitment. Because, Helm argues, love is scary. So is therapy. When Jack walks into his first therapy session with Monica (Revival Ranch’s resident therapist and the heroine of book 3, woot!), he wants to be “fixed”. Monica admonishes him by saying she can’t “fix” him; she can help him, but their sessions are whatever he wants them to be. Jack learns to open up and is able to meet his family in acts of forgiveness, or at least terms-coming. Having Rose with him helps, because he likes her, wants her yes, and, for the first time in a long time, feels he has someone in his corner.
Despite the external tough-girl, Rose is a loving, giving person. Her problem is she can’t see herself as such. Rose’s wound to her self-worth runs deeper than Jack’s … maybe because, though estranged, Jack’s family loves him. They have their troubles, but they are not traumatic ones in the end. One of the things I loved most about the romance is that Jack won’t settle for Rose’s offer of no-strings sex. He’s a strings kinda guy and she’s a girl who can’t see how she can ever possibly deserve strings. When she propositions him to take it or leave it, he “leaves it” and it’s one of the best little romance scenes I’ve ever read. In turn, a nice little reversal of alpha-male modesty in place of horn-dog-ness. As Jack gains emotional strength, Rose weakens and breaks open more and more. Rose’s problem: she can’t separate her desire for Jack from her feelings for Jack. Her feelings say “stay, commit, love” and her fears say “run away”. Isn’t that the whole premise of the genre? The whole raison d’être of the HEA? That the corporeal and mundane cannot be separated from the emotional and meaningful? I loved Rose and Jack’s journey to wholeness. And Helm can keep these wonderful romances coming. With Miss Austen, we deem Cowboy SEAL Redemption evidence of “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.
Nicole Helm’s Cowboy SEAL Redemption is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on June 5th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks, via Netgalley.
In Cowboy SEAL Redemption, Rose Rogers owns Blue Valley’s dive-bar, Pioneer Spirit. She is baby sister to Delia Shaw, the first book’s heroine. Like Delia, Rose is damaged by a childhood with an abusive father and enabling mother. Her deepest secret is that she feels she failed her sisters, failed to fight back against her father, and failed to not enable him. Rose is riddled by guilt and wears a tough, snarky, tattooed, and bad-girl mask to protect her feelings of unworthiness. Hero Jack Armstrong is less damaged by his experiences in Afghanistan, though they’re still part of his brokenness, as he is by a family betrayal. In Afghanistan, a bomb took his purpose and the family betrayal took his self-worth. When we first meet Rose and Jack, there’s a false impression that Rose is the stronger of the two. What unites them is a mutual, though unspoken belief in their own unlove-ability. They strike a deal of sorts: Rose needs Jack to watch out for her abusive father, recently released from jail, and Jack needs Rose to pretend to be his girlfriend when his family comes to town. Premise achieved.
What transpires after the novel’s first few chapters is Helm’s adept and sensitive hand peeling away at her protagonists’ layers and, like Yates, breaking them open in scenes of confession and shame. This is their test and the catalyst is love, yearning, desire for connection and commitment. Because, Helm argues, love is scary. So is therapy. When Jack walks into his first therapy session with Monica (Revival Ranch’s resident therapist and the heroine of book 3, woot!), he wants to be “fixed”. Monica admonishes him by saying she can’t “fix” him; she can help him, but their sessions are whatever he wants them to be. Jack learns to open up and is able to meet his family in acts of forgiveness, or at least terms-coming. Having Rose with him helps, because he likes her, wants her yes, and, for the first time in a long time, feels he has someone in his corner.
Despite the external tough-girl, Rose is a loving, giving person. Her problem is she can’t see herself as such. Rose’s wound to her self-worth runs deeper than Jack’s … maybe because, though estranged, Jack’s family loves him. They have their troubles, but they are not traumatic ones in the end. One of the things I loved most about the romance is that Jack won’t settle for Rose’s offer of no-strings sex. He’s a strings kinda guy and she’s a girl who can’t see how she can ever possibly deserve strings. When she propositions him to take it or leave it, he “leaves it” and it’s one of the best little romance scenes I’ve ever read. In turn, a nice little reversal of alpha-male modesty in place of horn-dog-ness. As Jack gains emotional strength, Rose weakens and breaks open more and more. Rose’s problem: she can’t separate her desire for Jack from her feelings for Jack. Her feelings say “stay, commit, love” and her fears say “run away”. Isn’t that the whole premise of the genre? The whole raison d’être of the HEA? That the corporeal and mundane cannot be separated from the emotional and meaningful? I loved Rose and Jack’s journey to wholeness. And Helm can keep these wonderful romances coming. With Miss Austen, we deem Cowboy SEAL Redemption evidence of “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.
Nicole Helm’s Cowboy SEAL Redemption is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on June 5th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks, via Netgalley.
June 10, 2018
Good book. After having his life turned upside down by injury, Jack has joined his Teammates Alex and Gabe at Alex's ranch in Montana. There the men plan to create a place for other veterans to come to transition back to civilian life. Jack has been indulging himself in something of a pity party for one. Physically he is still recovering from his injuries. Mentally he is a bit lost, because if he isn't a SEAL, who is he really? He also still feels sorry for himself, as well as angry, over the fact that his fiancée slept with his brother, got pregnant, and married him while Jack was deployed. There is also the anguish and guilty feelings over the death of a friend in the same attack that injured Jack and his friends. As the icing on the cake, his family, including his cheating ex and brother, are coming to visit, and Jack doesn't want to deal with the pitying looks. This is where Rose comes in.
Rose is the owner and bartender of the local watering hole. She is tough as nails, puts up with nobody's attitude, and is haunted by her own demons. She is the second of five girls in her family, all of whom survived their childhoods with abusive parents. But Rose blames herself for some of the things that happened to her sisters, and as a result, considers herself to be unworthy of anyone's love. Though she thinks of herself as selfish, her driving force seems to be to protect those around her. When she overhears Jack talking to his mom about their visit, she offers to help, by trading favors. She will pose as his girlfriend if he acts as a bouncer at the bar.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jack and Rose. While it starts as complete fiction, the sparks between them are obvious from the beginning. Jack realizes quickly that Rose is someone special, and also that she is going to resist any attempt to make it real. I loved his attempts to do so by making them "practice" for when his family arrives. Rose fights hard against Jack's appeal, constantly reminding herself that it's all fake, that he wouldn't like her if he really knew her, and that she's bound to ruin it anyway. Meanwhile, Jack shows an amazing amount of patience and sensitivity as he tries to get past Rose's walls.
One of the things I absolutely loved about Jack was that he loved Rose for exactly who she is. When she tries putting on a sweet façade, he calls her on it right away, making it clear that he wants to see the real Rose. Though Rose puts on a really good show of being only in this as a favor to Jack, she admits to herself that her feelings for him are growing. That scares her to death because all she can see is pain in the future for both of them. Because of those same feelings, Jack has become one of the people that Rose will protect any way she can. There is a terrific scene involving a confrontation between Jack and his brother, where Mike gets what's coming to him and it isn't from Jack! This scene was the catalyst for another great scene where Jack can open up to his family, and some old hurts are finally laid to rest.
While the need for a fake girlfriend has passed, Jack doesn't want to let go of what he has with Rose. I loved how he was there for her when an unexpected crisis arose. Her fears were real and deep-seated, and I loved seeing him be the support that she needed. However, those fears, on top of a confrontation with her parents, have Rose ready to run. But her friends and her family have her back and step in to show her the truth. That scene was heartbreaking and heartwarming as so much of Rose's past is revealed. I loved the way that her sisters gave her a new perspective and the effect that had on her relationship with Jack. It's not all immediately unicorns and rainbows, as both realize that they still have things to overcome, but they do see that they are much stronger together than they are alone.
Having read this book, I want to go back and read Alex's story and have put Gabe's story on my want to read list also.
Rose is the owner and bartender of the local watering hole. She is tough as nails, puts up with nobody's attitude, and is haunted by her own demons. She is the second of five girls in her family, all of whom survived their childhoods with abusive parents. But Rose blames herself for some of the things that happened to her sisters, and as a result, considers herself to be unworthy of anyone's love. Though she thinks of herself as selfish, her driving force seems to be to protect those around her. When she overhears Jack talking to his mom about their visit, she offers to help, by trading favors. She will pose as his girlfriend if he acts as a bouncer at the bar.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jack and Rose. While it starts as complete fiction, the sparks between them are obvious from the beginning. Jack realizes quickly that Rose is someone special, and also that she is going to resist any attempt to make it real. I loved his attempts to do so by making them "practice" for when his family arrives. Rose fights hard against Jack's appeal, constantly reminding herself that it's all fake, that he wouldn't like her if he really knew her, and that she's bound to ruin it anyway. Meanwhile, Jack shows an amazing amount of patience and sensitivity as he tries to get past Rose's walls.
One of the things I absolutely loved about Jack was that he loved Rose for exactly who she is. When she tries putting on a sweet façade, he calls her on it right away, making it clear that he wants to see the real Rose. Though Rose puts on a really good show of being only in this as a favor to Jack, she admits to herself that her feelings for him are growing. That scares her to death because all she can see is pain in the future for both of them. Because of those same feelings, Jack has become one of the people that Rose will protect any way she can. There is a terrific scene involving a confrontation between Jack and his brother, where Mike gets what's coming to him and it isn't from Jack! This scene was the catalyst for another great scene where Jack can open up to his family, and some old hurts are finally laid to rest.
While the need for a fake girlfriend has passed, Jack doesn't want to let go of what he has with Rose. I loved how he was there for her when an unexpected crisis arose. Her fears were real and deep-seated, and I loved seeing him be the support that she needed. However, those fears, on top of a confrontation with her parents, have Rose ready to run. But her friends and her family have her back and step in to show her the truth. That scene was heartbreaking and heartwarming as so much of Rose's past is revealed. I loved the way that her sisters gave her a new perspective and the effect that had on her relationship with Jack. It's not all immediately unicorns and rainbows, as both realize that they still have things to overcome, but they do see that they are much stronger together than they are alone.
Having read this book, I want to go back and read Alex's story and have put Gabe's story on my want to read list also.
April 9, 2023
Fake relationship, ex-military, small town, dysfunctional families...this book was trope-tastic! Rose has had it tough and she is a bit jagged and rough, but she helps Jack get himself together. And in return, he shows her it is okay to trust someone and not be so closed off. Their families are quite awful so most of the tension comes from them. However, I found that Rose's story was kind of confusing and I didn't get the answer until the end. I feel like I missed something for sure (book 1 maybe). I also felt the story was a bit hackneyed. I felt like I have read dozens of stories exactly like this one. However, it was an enjoyable read overall!
Read
February 15, 2023Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
This one is my favorite!
I will go to war for Jack. I'm telling you now.
I loved this book, it just worked for me.
Rose, you done good girl! LOL Love the right hook.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
This one is my favorite!
I will go to war for Jack. I'm telling you now.
I loved this book, it just worked for me.
Rose, you done good girl! LOL Love the right hook.
June 9, 2018
This was okay for me. I didn't read this first book in this series, and even though all the characters are mentioned, I didn't really feel like I missed anything by not reading the first. The writing itself wasn't bad, but I did have to make myself finish the story. It didn't hold my attention well, after the 10th time of Rose's inner dialogue of "I like him, but I can't like him, so I'll push him away". I totally understand that she had a crappy upbringing, but that girl needed some therapy. I did like the part of the story about Jack and his family. It was crazy what happened, but it was nice to see him get some closure. I did like the secondary characters, I thought Delia was a strong character, and I felt bad for Gabe. I would like to see him work through his issues. This was a first for me from this author, but I would be willing to read her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advacned readers copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advacned readers copy of this book.
August 7, 2022
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
The take on the wounded veteran hero, who is surprisingly Beta for a tough ex-SEAL, is amazing, with all those subtleties, blushes, inner musings and thoughts that Nicole Helm writes exceedingly well. Jack Armstrong is a mix of toughness, roughness and softness and solidity (I won’t say he’s “stoic”, by the end I felt the word was being overused).
I liked the heroine, Rose, too, especially when she was being mean in order to defend and protect Jack, I saw her as a kind of avenging angel and it was really fun to read.
I found this couple much more exciting than the one from the previous book in the series, but I loved to meet again Becca and Alex (and Gabe and Monika), their protectiveness and comradeship was awesome.
I guess I preferred the first part of the book, and as the story centered more on Rose’s tragic past I was already missing the “tortured Jack” (meanwhile, a healing process was taking place with our delightful wounded hero).
I found some of the talking about love a bit far-fetched, but all in all this was a great read and I’m looking forward for the next story.
I'm grateful to the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
The take on the wounded veteran hero, who is surprisingly Beta for a tough ex-SEAL, is amazing, with all those subtleties, blushes, inner musings and thoughts that Nicole Helm writes exceedingly well. Jack Armstrong is a mix of toughness, roughness and softness and solidity (I won’t say he’s “stoic”, by the end I felt the word was being overused).
I liked the heroine, Rose, too, especially when she was being mean in order to defend and protect Jack, I saw her as a kind of avenging angel and it was really fun to read.
I found this couple much more exciting than the one from the previous book in the series, but I loved to meet again Becca and Alex (and Gabe and Monika), their protectiveness and comradeship was awesome.
I guess I preferred the first part of the book, and as the story centered more on Rose’s tragic past I was already missing the “tortured Jack” (meanwhile, a healing process was taking place with our delightful wounded hero).
I found some of the talking about love a bit far-fetched, but all in all this was a great read and I’m looking forward for the next story.
I'm grateful to the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
May 20, 2018
After being injured on active duty, Jack moved with his SEAL brothers, Gabe and Alex, to Alex's ranch in Montana to start a ranch program for injured veterans. All three have far more than physical scars and are healing at their own rate. Jack is still finding his place in the world, no longer a SEAL and no longer engaged to his childhood sweetheart who is now married to his brother (and is that backstory ever a doozy!). Rose is the tough, all attitude and hard edges owner of the local bar, with her own damage from her abusive childhood. Jack and Rose and their relationship are complicated, to say the least. When two severely broken people get together, it can go one of two ways. There is the potential for them to wreck each other more, or just maybe, they can help each other heal.
After reading Alex and Becca's story in Cowboy SEAL Homecoming, I was eager to read an early copy of Jack's story. It was such a treat to return to Revival Ranch and revisit these amazing characters. These are not easy issues Jack and Rose are dealing with, but deeply engrained, negative mindsets that look like it will take a miracle to overcome. Jack is adrift, feeling like he doesn’t belong anywhere, as well as dealing with PTSD and his physical scars and limitations. Rose acts strong and tough, but that abused little girl who did whatever she had to in order to survive overshadows everything. Their road to redemption and happily ever after is tough, challenging, and seemingly impossible. Helm meticulously crafts their story in such a way that it’s impossible for the reader to not be drawn in, feeling every emotion, seeing every scene as it unfolds, and cheering on these broken but beautiful characters as they grow, change, and heal. This is a compelling, emotional, inspiring read that will leave you head over heels for these characters and eagerly awaiting more!
*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
After reading Alex and Becca's story in Cowboy SEAL Homecoming, I was eager to read an early copy of Jack's story. It was such a treat to return to Revival Ranch and revisit these amazing characters. These are not easy issues Jack and Rose are dealing with, but deeply engrained, negative mindsets that look like it will take a miracle to overcome. Jack is adrift, feeling like he doesn’t belong anywhere, as well as dealing with PTSD and his physical scars and limitations. Rose acts strong and tough, but that abused little girl who did whatever she had to in order to survive overshadows everything. Their road to redemption and happily ever after is tough, challenging, and seemingly impossible. Helm meticulously crafts their story in such a way that it’s impossible for the reader to not be drawn in, feeling every emotion, seeing every scene as it unfolds, and cheering on these broken but beautiful characters as they grow, change, and heal. This is a compelling, emotional, inspiring read that will leave you head over heels for these characters and eagerly awaiting more!
*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
August 28, 2018
Wowowow-
It took me time to warm up to book 1, but I was immediately immersed in the story with this one. It felt a little more intense than book 1 too, mostly because the characters had been through a lot in life. Jack was seeing a therapist for his PTSD, and he was still unable to forget his ex-fiancee Madison's betrayal (she slept with his brother, got pregnant, and married him instead--what a total headass), while Rose was abused by her father growing up until she finally managed to put him in jail. They struck a deal when Jack's family announced they were coming to visit--cheating ex-fiancee-now-sister-in-law and no-good brother included, and Rose got the news that her father was out on parole: Rose would pretend to be Jack's loving girlfriend to prove that he's moved on from Madison, Jack would spend his nights at Rose's bar as a bouncer, looking out for her father.
Jack and Rose had a lot of chemistry together, and honestly? the fake relationship was fake for like 2 seconds because they genuinely cared about each other. Jack was the braver one; he reconciled with his feelings about Rose early on. Rose, on the other hand, dealt with self-worth issues stemmed from her abuse; she didn't believe she was deserving of Jack, and did her best to push him away but he wasn't having it. I love the way they resolved that conflict (taking a chance on a real relationship).
One q: I just wanna know why they aren't more Titanic references?????? We only got one LOL.
Anyway, I'm ready for Gabe's book now!
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
It took me time to warm up to book 1, but I was immediately immersed in the story with this one. It felt a little more intense than book 1 too, mostly because the characters had been through a lot in life. Jack was seeing a therapist for his PTSD, and he was still unable to forget his ex-fiancee Madison's betrayal (she slept with his brother, got pregnant, and married him instead--what a total headass), while Rose was abused by her father growing up until she finally managed to put him in jail. They struck a deal when Jack's family announced they were coming to visit--cheating ex-fiancee-now-sister-in-law and no-good brother included, and Rose got the news that her father was out on parole: Rose would pretend to be Jack's loving girlfriend to prove that he's moved on from Madison, Jack would spend his nights at Rose's bar as a bouncer, looking out for her father.
Jack and Rose had a lot of chemistry together, and honestly? the fake relationship was fake for like 2 seconds because they genuinely cared about each other. Jack was the braver one; he reconciled with his feelings about Rose early on. Rose, on the other hand, dealt with self-worth issues stemmed from her abuse; she didn't believe she was deserving of Jack, and did her best to push him away but he wasn't having it. I love the way they resolved that conflict (taking a chance on a real relationship).
One q: I just wanna know why they aren't more Titanic references?????? We only got one LOL.
Anyway, I'm ready for Gabe's book now!
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
August 4, 2019
I honestly put off continuing the series for a while since the first book was just that unimpressive. This book was better than the first in the series, but not by much. It had a lot of potential and started out pretty decently. But after listening to Rose and her 'woe is me' and 'I'm not worthy' proclamations every chapter, I really grew incredibly tired of her as a character.
I get that she had a hard life at the hands of an abusive father and felt as though she didn't deserve to be happy because of some things she did when she was much younger. I really wanted her to get a HEA because no one should have to go through the things she and her sisters went through. But Rose was her own worst enemy and it was hard to get past her attitude. Sassy is one thing, being mean and hurtful to push people away is another thing and she did that way too often to poor Jack.
I loved Jack. We knew what happened to him going into this book and knew how his brother and fiance betrayed him. He had a reason to be bitter, but he didn't let that stop him from falling in love with the standoffish Rose. He handled things well with his family and kept his cool even though he had every right to go off on them for the betrayal (although Rose got her revenge on the brother lol). He was all-in-all a stand-up guy worthy of happiness.
The ending to this book is what redeemed Rose for me. The support she had from her sisters and Jack really helped her realize that she wasn't a bad person, even if she made some unfortunate decisions as a teen. And Jack was of course there for her the whole time. Their ending was cute and I can't wait to see how things turn out for them in the next book.
I get that she had a hard life at the hands of an abusive father and felt as though she didn't deserve to be happy because of some things she did when she was much younger. I really wanted her to get a HEA because no one should have to go through the things she and her sisters went through. But Rose was her own worst enemy and it was hard to get past her attitude. Sassy is one thing, being mean and hurtful to push people away is another thing and she did that way too often to poor Jack.
I loved Jack. We knew what happened to him going into this book and knew how his brother and fiance betrayed him. He had a reason to be bitter, but he didn't let that stop him from falling in love with the standoffish Rose. He handled things well with his family and kept his cool even though he had every right to go off on them for the betrayal (although Rose got her revenge on the brother lol). He was all-in-all a stand-up guy worthy of happiness.
The ending to this book is what redeemed Rose for me. The support she had from her sisters and Jack really helped her realize that she wasn't a bad person, even if she made some unfortunate decisions as a teen. And Jack was of course there for her the whole time. Their ending was cute and I can't wait to see how things turn out for them in the next book.
July 5, 2018
These titles are a mouthful! But hey I love my cowboys, in any form.
Now it's Jack's turn to find love. He suffers from ptsd, but has taken steps to get better. His life on the ranch, talking to people, and of course his therapist. All things that is making him better. And I liked seeing how he got better. He is such a sweet guy. But drama will find him as his family is coming for a visit. And grrrrr, we learned in book 1 that his fiance slept with his brother and they are not married and have a kid. Who wouldn't be angry!
In comes Rose, oh woman, she was trouble. I was so mad at her at times. But then at the end I felt sorry for her. She has issues, ISSUES. She thinks she is so strong and in control. But she has wounds that wont let her open up. I wanted to shake her and scream that he loves her and she loves him. But, this is how it was meant to be. Some people are really scarred and it takes time. I was still mad at her though cos she was so blind.
They start a fake relationship that obviously blossoms into more.
But first they have to deal with his family. And he has to learn to talk, and she has to learn to be loved. There will be drama, slow drama, and there will be romance. It's all very bittersweet.
Conclusion:
A sweet lovestory with thorns
Narrator: Remy Nordlinger
I like her voices for everyone and she really fits this genre.
Now it's Jack's turn to find love. He suffers from ptsd, but has taken steps to get better. His life on the ranch, talking to people, and of course his therapist. All things that is making him better. And I liked seeing how he got better. He is such a sweet guy. But drama will find him as his family is coming for a visit. And grrrrr, we learned in book 1 that his fiance slept with his brother and they are not married and have a kid. Who wouldn't be angry!
In comes Rose, oh woman, she was trouble. I was so mad at her at times. But then at the end I felt sorry for her. She has issues, ISSUES. She thinks she is so strong and in control. But she has wounds that wont let her open up. I wanted to shake her and scream that he loves her and she loves him. But, this is how it was meant to be. Some people are really scarred and it takes time. I was still mad at her though cos she was so blind.
They start a fake relationship that obviously blossoms into more.
But first they have to deal with his family. And he has to learn to talk, and she has to learn to be loved. There will be drama, slow drama, and there will be romance. It's all very bittersweet.
Conclusion:
A sweet lovestory with thorns
Narrator: Remy Nordlinger
I like her voices for everyone and she really fits this genre.
June 2, 2018
Cowboy SEAL Redemption (Navy SEAL Cowboys #2) by Nicole Helm
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: PTSD, Cheating, Child abuse
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jack is struggling on the farm that he and his buddies are trying to get ready for other soldiers to come and heal. None of them are too keen on therapy, but that's exactly what they need. Jack came home from the SEAL team that he was on a very different man. He was injured and saw men who were his brothers perish. There was no getting over that and just running home. Plus, his home life was less than stellar.
Rose is hiding. She's existing, but not truly living. She believes that if she can protect her sisters form their abusive parents then she will be atoning for letting them down when they were younger. In order to do that, she enlists Jack's help - watch out for one man and his truck at her bar and let her know if he sees them. It was a simply request, but Jack had his own request - pretend to be his girlfriend while his family comes and visits.
Somewhere in the facade that they are putting on, Jack realizes that he really enjoy's Rose's company. He knows that she has been hurt in the past and knows he has to tread carefully. Rose sees the potential that she could have with Jack, but also knows that her past actions were something she was not proud of. When she sees how good and pure Jack's heart is and how his family treats him, she stands up for him and his buddies' farm and what they are building.
Life gets in the way for Jack and Rose, but overall, the secondary characters help move the story along. I can't wait to see who gets the next story - they all deserve it and I really hope that we get to see how Rose and Jack's story has continued.
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: PTSD, Cheating, Child abuse
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jack is struggling on the farm that he and his buddies are trying to get ready for other soldiers to come and heal. None of them are too keen on therapy, but that's exactly what they need. Jack came home from the SEAL team that he was on a very different man. He was injured and saw men who were his brothers perish. There was no getting over that and just running home. Plus, his home life was less than stellar.
Rose is hiding. She's existing, but not truly living. She believes that if she can protect her sisters form their abusive parents then she will be atoning for letting them down when they were younger. In order to do that, she enlists Jack's help - watch out for one man and his truck at her bar and let her know if he sees them. It was a simply request, but Jack had his own request - pretend to be his girlfriend while his family comes and visits.
Somewhere in the facade that they are putting on, Jack realizes that he really enjoy's Rose's company. He knows that she has been hurt in the past and knows he has to tread carefully. Rose sees the potential that she could have with Jack, but also knows that her past actions were something she was not proud of. When she sees how good and pure Jack's heart is and how his family treats him, she stands up for him and his buddies' farm and what they are building.
Life gets in the way for Jack and Rose, but overall, the secondary characters help move the story along. I can't wait to see who gets the next story - they all deserve it and I really hope that we get to see how Rose and Jack's story has continued.
October 4, 2018
I had a hard time rating this book. I really liked Rose and Jack* separately and as a couple. I got their attraction to each other and bought them falling in love hook line and sinker. Even their issues were complementary, lol.
They both suffered from PTSD (hers from child abuse, his from the horrors of war) and this formed the bulk of their conflict. I liked them and internal conflict is my jam... so why three stars?
I wanted more romance. While the book was full of funny and sexy moments, they were all colored by Jack's depression and Rose's lack of self esteem. It was pretty unrelenting and really focused on Jack.
By the time Rose had her cards on the table moment, we were pages from the end of the book and we didn't get a truly happy scene until the epilogue. I did appreciate that love was a balm not a cure but it didn't get enough attention for my tastes.
*Yes, this was silly. Yes, there is a Titanic joke.
They both suffered from PTSD (hers from child abuse, his from the horrors of war) and this formed the bulk of their conflict. I liked them and internal conflict is my jam... so why three stars?
I wanted more romance. While the book was full of funny and sexy moments, they were all colored by Jack's depression and Rose's lack of self esteem. It was pretty unrelenting and really focused on Jack.
By the time Rose had her cards on the table moment, we were pages from the end of the book and we didn't get a truly happy scene until the epilogue. I did appreciate that love was a balm not a cure but it didn't get enough attention for my tastes.
*Yes, this was silly. Yes, there is a Titanic joke.
June 3, 2018
This was a fantastic book filled with an amazing story and characters that will steal your heart. Rose and Jack are both slightly damaged and prepared to go through life just as they are. After leaving the SEAL's Jack and his buddies have been busy setting up the ranch that will someday be a place for veterans to land before working their way back into the world. He's rough and gruff and maybe a little scary. The one person he doesn't scare is the tough as nails bar owner Rose. With his family hounding him to get back to living and dating he convinces Rose to pretend to be his girlfriend just long enough to convince them he's fine. Of course though what starts out as a fake relationship soon begins to feel too real. When these two tough people let the walls down and give them a chance?
I highly recommend this one!
I highly recommend this one!
May 19, 2018
I LOVED Cowboy SEAL Redemption! I was already pretty attached to Jack (thanks to the first book, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming) and loved the way that Rose was revealed to us AND Jack. Their banter is great and their tit for tat bargain to help each other with different problems blossoms into something neither expected and at least one of them didn't want. The slow growth of trust and love was beautiful. This book is well worth your time. Can't wait for the next one!
May 11, 2018
Great book 2 in this series and is just such good story telling. Jack & Rose are both so damaged from their pasts it seems they are meant for each other. My heart runneth over with emotion as I watched these two amazing people with extreme chemistry heal and overcome their pasts to set forth on a beautiful future together.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
May 21, 2018
Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: June 5th 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Original Title Cowboy SEAL Redemption
ISBN 1492641561 (ISBN13: 9781492641568)
Edition Language English
Series Navy SEAL Cowboys #2Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
Three former Navy SEALs
Injured in the line of duty
Desperate for a new beginning...
Searching for a place to call their own.
Jack Armstrong's been slowly piecing his life back together after a career-ending injury bounced him from the SEALs. The only trouble is, his family's on their way to his new haven in Montana...and Jack refuses to let them know he's still hurting. Desperate, he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers: in exchange for some extra security, she'll play the perfect loving girlfriend.
Rose doesn't trust any man, much less some tough-as-nails former SEAL. But the more they settle into their ruse, the more things start to feel real, and the more Rose's true fear surfaces―that she'll never be good enough for love. But Jack isn't about to lose Rose. He's done running when things get tough, and he's determined to prove―once and for all―that even the most troubled hearts can find their way to redemption.
A Navy Seal is required, among other things, to be brave, resilient and able to overcome things most of us never dream of facing in our day to day comfortable lives.
Having ones life turned upside down normally does not include watching a friend die and almost dying right along with him.
Jack Armstrong had to live through both of these traumas and now along with his remaining team members finds himself embracing a life as foreign to them as being dropped in the midst of a war zone would be to you or I.
Starting over seemed like something Jack should have been an old hand at, having had his life disrupted before was a shock but this new chapter is even harder to handle for many reasons.
Sometimes being strong means leaning on someone else's strength. Jack Armstrong never had anyone he could lean on before, but now he has Rose Rogers and her strength is more than enough to help him finally start to heal.
In the past Rose has never been able to draw comfort or feel cared for by a man, however now Jack has shown her that he is able to provide both caring and comfort. If she lets him that is.
While enjoyed first book featuring Alex and Becca this second story with Jack and Rose was an even better reading experience for me.
My only complaint is it is over because read it too fast!
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: June 5th 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Original Title Cowboy SEAL Redemption
ISBN 1492641561 (ISBN13: 9781492641568)
Edition Language English
Series Navy SEAL Cowboys #2Other Editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
BOOK BLURB
Three former Navy SEALs
Injured in the line of duty
Desperate for a new beginning...
Searching for a place to call their own.
Jack Armstrong's been slowly piecing his life back together after a career-ending injury bounced him from the SEALs. The only trouble is, his family's on their way to his new haven in Montana...and Jack refuses to let them know he's still hurting. Desperate, he makes a deal with local bad girl Rose Rogers: in exchange for some extra security, she'll play the perfect loving girlfriend.
Rose doesn't trust any man, much less some tough-as-nails former SEAL. But the more they settle into their ruse, the more things start to feel real, and the more Rose's true fear surfaces―that she'll never be good enough for love. But Jack isn't about to lose Rose. He's done running when things get tough, and he's determined to prove―once and for all―that even the most troubled hearts can find their way to redemption.
My Thoughts
A Navy Seal is required, among other things, to be brave, resilient and able to overcome things most of us never dream of facing in our day to day comfortable lives.
Having ones life turned upside down normally does not include watching a friend die and almost dying right along with him.
Jack Armstrong had to live through both of these traumas and now along with his remaining team members finds himself embracing a life as foreign to them as being dropped in the midst of a war zone would be to you or I.
Starting over seemed like something Jack should have been an old hand at, having had his life disrupted before was a shock but this new chapter is even harder to handle for many reasons.
Sometimes being strong means leaning on someone else's strength. Jack Armstrong never had anyone he could lean on before, but now he has Rose Rogers and her strength is more than enough to help him finally start to heal.
In the past Rose has never been able to draw comfort or feel cared for by a man, however now Jack has shown her that he is able to provide both caring and comfort. If she lets him that is.
While enjoyed first book featuring Alex and Becca this second story with Jack and Rose was an even better reading experience for me.
My only complaint is it is over because read it too fast!
[EArc from Netgalley]
April 3, 2018
Get out the Kleenex. Cowboy Seal Redemption, is a heartwarming romance. Both Rose and Jack have had a hard go of it. But together they deal with their past.
April 5, 2018
There are times Jack gets all needy and has a one track mind, “like heck I can’t,” he growled, shouldering the door open. “And I’ll lecture you about the unlocked door later.” I really liked this book, Jack was what Rose needed and vice versa.
June 9, 2018
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 6/9/18.
Loved! (Even more than the first book in the series-- Cowboy SEAL Homecoming --and that's saying something!)
Jack and Rose (the Titanic joke made me LOL--up until that point I hadn't even made the connection) were a wonderful couple. They both had so much to work through on their own before they could become a real couple, though, and I loved that it was Jack who was the first to really make progress in that direction and that it was also him who saw their not real relationship as something more.
Rose, Rose, Rose--oh goodness, that girl's issues had issues. She took us right to the end there--even while I was yelling at her not to believe what she believed, Ms. Helm made me believe that Rose's errors in thinking had genuine roots in her past--and yep, when her big crisis came there were tears over here, I'll freely admit. But that HEA--wonderful!
If you've read the first book in this series, seeing Alex and Becca here will reassure you that things are going well for them, and if you've read Ms. Helm's Big Sky Cowboys series, you'll see many of its characters playing roles here as well (Rose is Outlaw Cowboy Delia's sister). If you haven't read all--or any!--of those books, though, this really is Rose and Jack's story and would work just fine on its own.
I can't promise you won't want to read the others ASAP, though--goodness knows I'm counting the days until Gabe's book ( Cowboy SEAL Christmas ) is released :)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Loved! (Even more than the first book in the series-- Cowboy SEAL Homecoming --and that's saying something!)
Jack and Rose (the Titanic joke made me LOL--up until that point I hadn't even made the connection) were a wonderful couple. They both had so much to work through on their own before they could become a real couple, though, and I loved that it was Jack who was the first to really make progress in that direction and that it was also him who saw their not real relationship as something more.
Rose, Rose, Rose--oh goodness, that girl's issues had issues. She took us right to the end there--even while I was yelling at her not to believe what she believed, Ms. Helm made me believe that Rose's errors in thinking had genuine roots in her past--and yep, when her big crisis came there were tears over here, I'll freely admit. But that HEA--wonderful!
If you've read the first book in this series, seeing Alex and Becca here will reassure you that things are going well for them, and if you've read Ms. Helm's Big Sky Cowboys series, you'll see many of its characters playing roles here as well (Rose is Outlaw Cowboy Delia's sister). If you haven't read all--or any!--of those books, though, this really is Rose and Jack's story and would work just fine on its own.
I can't promise you won't want to read the others ASAP, though--goodness knows I'm counting the days until Gabe's book ( Cowboy SEAL Christmas ) is released :)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
July 21, 2018
Alex, Jack and Gabe are 3 SEALs that fought together and were injured in a IED explosion. Each suffers PTSD. They're trying not only to physically get back on their feet, but mentally, too. They move to Montana and start Revival Ranch. A place to bring other PTSD suffers and help them adjust to their new life.
In this story Jack meets Rose. She's a bar owner and a tough cookie. She doesn't take crap from anyone. Rose is also Delia's sister. There's a connection of characters from Navy SEAL Cowboys and Big Sky Cowboys, but you don't have to read the BSC to figure out who's who. Nicole Helm does a good job of reintroducing them to the reader.
Jack comes from a decent family, but that doesn't mean they don't have issues. In their case they don't communicate their feelings well, and his brother did him TOTALY wrong. Rose has issues from an abusive mother and father. Her self worth is in the mud, and she can't let go and believe someone could love her. Both of them are survivors in their own right.
I like NH's writing style and I find myself invested in the characters. I look forward to Gabe's story next.
In this story Jack meets Rose. She's a bar owner and a tough cookie. She doesn't take crap from anyone. Rose is also Delia's sister. There's a connection of characters from Navy SEAL Cowboys and Big Sky Cowboys, but you don't have to read the BSC to figure out who's who. Nicole Helm does a good job of reintroducing them to the reader.
Jack comes from a decent family, but that doesn't mean they don't have issues. In their case they don't communicate their feelings well, and his brother did him TOTALY wrong. Rose has issues from an abusive mother and father. Her self worth is in the mud, and she can't let go and believe someone could love her. Both of them are survivors in their own right.
I like NH's writing style and I find myself invested in the characters. I look forward to Gabe's story next.
June 1, 2018
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
First, I must give kudos to the author for correcting a bit of a blunder that was made in the first book of this series, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming. The Navy SEAL characters had been referred to as soldiers. I’m a bit of a stickler for calling our military members by the correct terms and anyone in the U.S. Navy is a sailor. She corrected this oversight pretty early on in this story in a natural and fun way that made me laugh. So, thank you Ms. Helm, for correcting the terminology in this book.
Where Jack’s story is quite sad and will tick most people off, Rose’s story is true heartbreak. The things Rose and her sisters endured and overcame in their lives were horrific and it’s a wonder she’s not more messed up. Don’t misunderstand, she definitely has a skewed self-image. She’s not a super well-adjusted individual quite yet. But it really could be much worse. I was so intrigued by her story that I had to see if her older sister was part of another series by this author, and she is! I already have the Big Sky Cowboys series on my TBR list, but I think I’ll have to bump it closer to the top.
One of the things I really found unique about this story is the way Rose reacts to her feelings for Jack. So many times, you will read about the “broken” character thinking they cannot love. While Rose has a bit of that, her more overwhelming feeling is that she’s not loveable and will eventually destroy any love that is aimed toward her. Her motivation is not to better her own life, it’s to protect all those around her that think they love her. It’s really sweet, and she would hate that I called her sweet.
I love that Jack likes Rose as Rose, not as fake Rose. The fake girlfriend/fiancée/wife trope is a favorite of mine. In this case, Jack doesn’t pick Rose because she is the person that will impress his family. He picks her because she’s handy and they can trade favors. When he realized that Rose is not acting herself around them, he lets her know he wants her and not some shiny version.
To see Jack open himself after all he’s been through in his personal and military life is beautiful. Of course, his heart decides on the most difficult mate for him to come out of his funk. But the challenge is part of what makes Jack fall in love and it’s really an exquisite progression to watch. This story will make you laugh and cry and get all the feels. What more can you ask for?
Not only are Gabe and Monica getting their HEA in this series next, but it’s also a Christmas story! Yay! To bad I have to wait a few months before it’ll be published. But that only gives me time to read more of this author’s library that I’ve missed.
4.5 stars
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
First, I must give kudos to the author for correcting a bit of a blunder that was made in the first book of this series, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming. The Navy SEAL characters had been referred to as soldiers. I’m a bit of a stickler for calling our military members by the correct terms and anyone in the U.S. Navy is a sailor. She corrected this oversight pretty early on in this story in a natural and fun way that made me laugh. So, thank you Ms. Helm, for correcting the terminology in this book.
Where Jack’s story is quite sad and will tick most people off, Rose’s story is true heartbreak. The things Rose and her sisters endured and overcame in their lives were horrific and it’s a wonder she’s not more messed up. Don’t misunderstand, she definitely has a skewed self-image. She’s not a super well-adjusted individual quite yet. But it really could be much worse. I was so intrigued by her story that I had to see if her older sister was part of another series by this author, and she is! I already have the Big Sky Cowboys series on my TBR list, but I think I’ll have to bump it closer to the top.
One of the things I really found unique about this story is the way Rose reacts to her feelings for Jack. So many times, you will read about the “broken” character thinking they cannot love. While Rose has a bit of that, her more overwhelming feeling is that she’s not loveable and will eventually destroy any love that is aimed toward her. Her motivation is not to better her own life, it’s to protect all those around her that think they love her. It’s really sweet, and she would hate that I called her sweet.
I love that Jack likes Rose as Rose, not as fake Rose. The fake girlfriend/fiancée/wife trope is a favorite of mine. In this case, Jack doesn’t pick Rose because she is the person that will impress his family. He picks her because she’s handy and they can trade favors. When he realized that Rose is not acting herself around them, he lets her know he wants her and not some shiny version.
To see Jack open himself after all he’s been through in his personal and military life is beautiful. Of course, his heart decides on the most difficult mate for him to come out of his funk. But the challenge is part of what makes Jack fall in love and it’s really an exquisite progression to watch. This story will make you laugh and cry and get all the feels. What more can you ask for?
Not only are Gabe and Monica getting their HEA in this series next, but it’s also a Christmas story! Yay! To bad I have to wait a few months before it’ll be published. But that only gives me time to read more of this author’s library that I’ve missed.
4.5 stars
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
June 7, 2018
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
I love a sassy heroine, and Rose is that and so much more. She can be downright mean when the occasion calls for it, she’ll defend those she cares for to the bitter end, she’s hard but life has treated her that way and she copes. Her family will never qualify for a Hallmark movie, but she survived. And her attitude toward life and people reflects that survival. When faced with the chance for some free and sexy security for her bar Rose takes on that challenge. After all, how hard can it be to pretend to care about one wounded, handsome cowboy. Maybe harder than she first thought when pretend becomes something more.
It took me maybe two minutes to slide into love with Jack. He’s one of the good guys and it shows. His military career is now behind him, something that still grates. The injuries both physical and mental still drag at him every single day. He and his friends Gabe and Alex are recreating, rebuilding their lives in a sort of new direction and it’s fulfilling work that takes a bit of the constant edge off. The last thing he wants to face right now is his family, or the brother who married Jack’s sweetheart. He will not show any weakness to these people so the idea of a pretend girlfriend in exchange for some security and time spent with Rose seems the perfect short term solution. It might have started out as pretend, but the spark between Jack and Rose is obvious and soon Jack is fighting a different battle. Rose’s past was hard, and she’s convinced that love will never find her for she’s been shown time and time again that she’s not worth loving. Jack will set out to prove that theory wrong on so many levels – and you’ll fall in love with a couple who work so well together while tumbling into love themselves.
I absolutely loved Cowboy SEAL Redemption. It checks off so many boxes for me in a romance. There is a believable couple to root for, family to be dealt with and put in place, emotions to be experienced and believed in and some great secondary characters to love… along with some animals that try to steal the show. What is not to love about any of that? I had a blast with Rose and Jack, and I’m thinking you would as well. This is one of those stories that should be on your reading list… right at the top. The next story is a Christmas one… and why is Christmas so far away. (pout) I’d gladly recommend Cowboy SEAL Redemption and this entire series to any Contemporary Romance reader who love a good story, lively characters and simply falling in love again.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
I love a sassy heroine, and Rose is that and so much more. She can be downright mean when the occasion calls for it, she’ll defend those she cares for to the bitter end, she’s hard but life has treated her that way and she copes. Her family will never qualify for a Hallmark movie, but she survived. And her attitude toward life and people reflects that survival. When faced with the chance for some free and sexy security for her bar Rose takes on that challenge. After all, how hard can it be to pretend to care about one wounded, handsome cowboy. Maybe harder than she first thought when pretend becomes something more.
It took me maybe two minutes to slide into love with Jack. He’s one of the good guys and it shows. His military career is now behind him, something that still grates. The injuries both physical and mental still drag at him every single day. He and his friends Gabe and Alex are recreating, rebuilding their lives in a sort of new direction and it’s fulfilling work that takes a bit of the constant edge off. The last thing he wants to face right now is his family, or the brother who married Jack’s sweetheart. He will not show any weakness to these people so the idea of a pretend girlfriend in exchange for some security and time spent with Rose seems the perfect short term solution. It might have started out as pretend, but the spark between Jack and Rose is obvious and soon Jack is fighting a different battle. Rose’s past was hard, and she’s convinced that love will never find her for she’s been shown time and time again that she’s not worth loving. Jack will set out to prove that theory wrong on so many levels – and you’ll fall in love with a couple who work so well together while tumbling into love themselves.
I absolutely loved Cowboy SEAL Redemption. It checks off so many boxes for me in a romance. There is a believable couple to root for, family to be dealt with and put in place, emotions to be experienced and believed in and some great secondary characters to love… along with some animals that try to steal the show. What is not to love about any of that? I had a blast with Rose and Jack, and I’m thinking you would as well. This is one of those stories that should be on your reading list… right at the top. The next story is a Christmas one… and why is Christmas so far away. (pout) I’d gladly recommend Cowboy SEAL Redemption and this entire series to any Contemporary Romance reader who love a good story, lively characters and simply falling in love again.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
April 21, 2018
After having to say goodbye to the career he thought he'd have forever Jack Armstrong is struggling a bit to find his way, his injury means he must start over, find a whole new career path, and having to do so while also trying to readjust to civilian life is almost more than he can handle. Now he finds out that his family is coming for a visit, with his ex-fiance and traitorous brother in tow, and that whole situation is still a thorn in his side, his own brother stole his fiance right out from under him... and it still stings a little more than he cares to admit. So he decides to strike up a deal with bar owner Rose Rogers, he needs a fake girlfriend and she needs a little muscle to keep the riffraff in her bar under control...so a plan is hatched, and these two wind up finding a whole lot more than they bargained for!
Rose Rogers is about as anti-man as one can get, she has been burned too many times to willing trust one, but then she has never met a man quite like Jack. When Jack saunters into her bar, asks her to play his loving girlfriend while his family is visiting, she can't help but want to help him out. But she isn't willing to offer up her services without getting a little something in return, so she counteroffers with a job, and they both get what they want... and a whole lot more!!
I loved Jack & Rose's story... it had just the right amounts of everything a good romance read should have; it was steamy, sweet, funny, and good for the heart! When I met Alex in the first installment I didn't think I could love a character more, but after spending time with Jack I can now say Alex has some serious competition, there is just something about a wounded soldier that speaks to my heart! I really think Ms. Helm has found her niche here with creating redemption stories for these SEAL's, each story comes with an captivating story line, endearing characters that you can help but feel for and fall for, and touching message that is felt deep in the heart! I highly recommend you add this one to your reading list, it's a can't miss story that will squeeze your heart and leave you with an unwavering smile!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed.
Rose Rogers is about as anti-man as one can get, she has been burned too many times to willing trust one, but then she has never met a man quite like Jack. When Jack saunters into her bar, asks her to play his loving girlfriend while his family is visiting, she can't help but want to help him out. But she isn't willing to offer up her services without getting a little something in return, so she counteroffers with a job, and they both get what they want... and a whole lot more!!
I loved Jack & Rose's story... it had just the right amounts of everything a good romance read should have; it was steamy, sweet, funny, and good for the heart! When I met Alex in the first installment I didn't think I could love a character more, but after spending time with Jack I can now say Alex has some serious competition, there is just something about a wounded soldier that speaks to my heart! I really think Ms. Helm has found her niche here with creating redemption stories for these SEAL's, each story comes with an captivating story line, endearing characters that you can help but feel for and fall for, and touching message that is felt deep in the heart! I highly recommend you add this one to your reading list, it's a can't miss story that will squeeze your heart and leave you with an unwavering smile!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed.
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