Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway: The Marine Cowboy by Heather Long

Review + Giveaway

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Check out the other blogs participating in this tour HERE

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

The Marine Cowboy
(Book #7 in the Always a Marine series)
Amazon | BN | ARe | Bookstrand | Decadent Publishing | Diesel | iBooks | Kobo
Author: Heather Long
Publisher: Decadent Publishing (December 26, 2012)
Genre: Erotica, Western Romance, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, 44pages
ASIN: B00ATHX1GO
My Copy: eBook

SUMMARY:

Turning down a billet at Mike’s Place in Dallas, Sergeant A.J. Turner left Iraq for Freewill, Wyoming with one goal in mind—to forget the last five years. Trading his MARPATS for jeans and his cover for a cowboy hat, he plans to work his ranch and pray the green grass, tall trees, and sweet mountains can wash away the taste of the desert.

The last thing he expected was a reminder of a promise made to his buddies: one night to help them all start again.

Sheri Vaughn quit her corporate job, sold her house and moved to Freewill on a whim. Six months after her divorce, she’s hardly ready to put her toe in the dating waters again. One bottle of wine later, however, she signs up for Madame Eve’s exclusive 1Night Stand service and lists a very particular set of qualities she wants in a man; he must be honorable, courageous, forthright, single, have served as Marine, but be a cowboy at heart. If she wants to dream, at least she can dream big.

But when local hero A.J. Turner arrives home, Madame Eve comes through, and Sheri has to find the courage to make her dream a reality…

Can one night, even a night arranged by Madame Eve, fulfill both a promise and a dream?

MY REVIEW:

Ahh. I already have problems with shorts. I feel that they aren't long enough to grasp my attention, to really pull me in and have me hang on to every single word. I did finish this in one sitting, but it was only 44 pages.

You've got Sheri, who's fairly new to Freewill. Left her scumbag of a husband and decided to move to a small town and put in an application for a one night stand. When Sheri put in her application, she thought the standards that she listed were far too bazaar and out there. But, after moving to Freewill and hearing about A.J. Turner. She knew he was the one. And when he came home for good after a tour in Iraq, she wasn't surprised when she got an email from Madame Eve with the details of her one night stand.

I honestly felt that this book was just too short for me. I didn't connect with the characters, I didn't find it believable. I didn't really have an "ooh-ahh" moment. The romance is there, albeit I feel it's forced. Too short of a time span to really make that quick of a connection. But, then again, I'm not a big fan of insta-anything. Just too quick for me.

On one hand, if you're looking for a story, I wouldn't recommend this one. But, on the other hand, if you love shorts and you need that kick of erotica to get you through the night, then by all means, go ahead and pick this one up. It might be book 7 in the series, but I was not lost at all. It can be read as a stand-alone.

MY RATING:

ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ALWAYS A MARINE SERIES!

♥Once Her Man, Always Her Man

♥Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

♥Tell It To The Marine

♥Proud To Serve Her

♥Her Marine

♥No Regrets, No Surrender

♥Merry Christams Marine

♥Semper Fi & Good Night

♥The Marine Cowboy

♥The Two and The Proud

♥A Marine and A Gentleman

♥Whisky Tango Foxtrot

♥Combat Barbie

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DECADENT PUBLISHING

For more information about Decadent Publishing authors, books, and their submissions guidelines, visit www.decadentpublishing.com. 

Decadent Publishing is current accepting submissions in all sub-genres of romance, including their ongoing series'.

Sign up for Decadent Publishing's Newsletter | Follow on Twitter | Like us on Facebook 

Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website  | Facebook | Twitter | Series Facebook

Chattin' It Up + Giveaway with Jessica Scott

Ana: Welcome to Beach Bum Reads! I’m glad you can join me today :)

JScott: Thanks so much for having me today! 

Ana: We’re going to start off with some basics…Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

JScott: Um, you mean other than I’m slightly insane? I’m your average working mom, trying to balance life, a job, kids, pets and not burning dinner. Let’s be honest, I burn dinner. A lot. 

Ana: lol. you and me both xD -- What was the first book that got you into reading? 

JScott: Oh wow. Honestly, I don’t ever remember not knowing how to read and I’ve always been a book worm. I thought it was really cool that my hometown library highlighted a print copy of my book To Iraq & Back because I spent so much time there as a teenager. 

Ana: What/who inspired you to become a writer?

JScott: Wow, you know I started writing fanfiction based on Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series when I was a kid. I’ve always gotten these good idea but never really wrote much beyond a few hundred words. Then in 2007, I started writing and actually finished a book (that shall never, ever be published but hey, it was a learning process). And I’ve never stopped writing since. 

Ana: Is there anything you want to say to aspiring writers? 

JScott: Learn your craft. Read. Don’t be so anxious for publication because while it’s a goal, it should not be why you write. Write because you love it, because you can’t not write. Don’t write for the money (ha!) or the fame (ha ha!). Write because it’s what you are, you know? 

Ana: *nodding head in agreement* -- Inquiring minds want to know…okay, okay, my little brother is standing over my shoulder and he’s in AJROTC and he is asking…

Lil Bro: What rank are you?

JScott: I’m a captain stationed at Fort Hood. 

Ana:  Being active in the military, how do you manage to compose a novel?

JScott: I’ve still got my me time, despite being a soldier. Writing is how I relax and it helps me look at things from a different perspective. Sometimes when something truly bizarre happens, I think that’s going in a book some day. It helps get me through, you know? 

Ana: Your books are military based that have some pretty steamy bits and pieces in it, do the soldiers get kinky down at base? 

JScott: Um, young, single and generally fit. I’ll let you decide, lol!

Ana: LOL! Good answer! -- Your characters are going through some tough battles as well as fighting a battle in your books, how hard was it to pull all these different stories together and make them work in a book?

JScott: It was very tough to get my books demilitarized for the average non military reader. I discovered very early on that words that are part of my every day lexicon confuse civilians. So while I might thing TOC, I have to write out and have my characters say tactical operations cell. There’s just no other way to avoid confusion. 

Ana: Are you currently working on anything? Care to share some tidbits (or…a lot of tidbits lol)?

JScott: I’m finishing up Laura & Trent’s book, the much awaited conclusion to the story started in BECAUSE OF YOU and I’m also finishing up the final touches on Reza’s story called COME HOME TO ME. After that, I’ve got a couple other things in the pot but those are secret. 

Ana: Okay, last question… and I’ve gotta ask… are you a beach bum? 

JScott: There is nothing better than a day at the beach! Seriously, I love watching my kids dig in the sand and just relax away from the internet and cell phones. It’s really great to unplug and just unwind. 

Ana: Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you here today :)

JScott: Thanks for the great interview! 

Think Fast

Water or Soda?

JScott: Water

Coffee or Tea?

JScott: Coffee

Zombies or Vampires?

JScott: Vampires

Rap or Rock?

JScott: Rock

Day or Night?

JScott: Night

Salad or Burger? 

JScott: Burger

Concluding our little chat, Jessica has offered to do a giveaway! *happy dancing here, people* .... are you happy dancing? GOOD! What's up for grabs you ask? o.O ALL THREE of Jessica Scott's books! *more happy dancing* Yepp, that's right. You get books 1 & 2 in the Coming Home series AND Jessica Scott's nonfiction novel To Iraq & Back

<a href="http://www.beachbumreads.com/2013/01/JScottInterviewGiveaway.html" target="_blank"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGH4zcy_r0U8leQWR2Rd6TYtj7ud_A7e4q3jWWwD12rSVeqKpp6Ogxsx_xVY5E1_6ts3cCsL8RWN1MkoY787MVlqIW-PMZjoUvTAftkyuU-rEOFfZ3n7aIua0Q7XGxmQYN2Gytt2BQ0G2/s1600/JScottGiveaway.png" /></a>a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

Oprah has called her. True story.

Her debut novel BECAUSE OF YOU launched Loveswept, the first Random House digital imprint.

She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.

Most recently, she's been featured as one of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: Until There Was You by Jessica Scott

Until There Was You 
(Book #2 in the Coming Home series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Jessica Scott
Publisher: Loveswept (December 8, 2012)
Genre: Military Romance, Adult, 253 pages
ASIN: B008IU9SSE

SUMMARY:

A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. Since that brief lapse in judgment, Evan has been at odds with her. But when he is asked to train a combat team alongside Claire, battle-hardened Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to achieve her high military rank. In Evan Loehr, Claire sees a spoiled commander who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. Army orders force them together and Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He too has dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

MY REVIEW:

Until There Was You is pretty good book. You've got Captain Claire Montoya who is set in her ways, has no problem breaking the rules, and is loyal to a fault. Then on the other hand you have Commander Evan Loehr who is on the straight and narrow and follows all the rules to a T. No ifs ands or buts about it with this hawt hunk of a man. So of course the two clash and disagree, but that doesn't stop the building attraction that they have towards each other. 

Evan and Claire both have there issues. Both being held back by their pasts, which is causing them pull away from what they so obviously are craving...each other. Until There Was You was definitely a tease throughout most of the book, but hey, if you love a tease, then go on right ahead. I for one wanted them to stop kissing and then fighting right after. But, everything tied in so well that the actual heat factor for this book was not so bad. There was definitely a build up with these two, which made reading through the entire book that much more interesting. 

One of the main things that I like about this book, is that there is more than just a battle to prepare for. You have these soldiers, who are willing to lay down their lives for their country and on top of that, they are battling their own demons. And as you continue to read, those demons start making themselves known. You learn the reason behind Claire's loyalty and why Evan is nick named Captain America. These demons making the stories of these characters hard to read at times. Guilt, being one of those main demons. Eating at you until you finally cave into it. But you have the other characters who can see right through that and are slowly breaking through these demon filled walls. But, I won't go into more detail about that. PICK UP THE BOOK :) 

Jessica Scott brings the military life to you in this book, and of course makes all those big military words easier to bare. (Thank goodness) Fighting a war is one thing, but fighting your past is another. Put those two together and throw in some much needed alone time between two characters and you've got yourself a great book. Would I recommend this book? Definitely. Love yourself a good romance book based around the military? Then pick up Until There Was You. This is actually the second book in Jessica Scott's Coming Home series. This book can be read as a stand alone.

MY RATING: