Once A Marine by Cat Grant

Once A Marine by Cat Grant
Riptide Publishing

Novel: 175pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
Discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, former Marine major Cole Hammond is struggling to find a new identity. But PTSD casts a pall on everything, and his hard-nosed, homophobic father can’t even bear to look him in the eye. To top it all off, he’s pretty sure he’s flunking out of law school.

Marc Sullivan is a kind, sensitive romance author-slash-waiter with a thing for men in uniform. Cole’s not wearing his anymore, but there’s no mistaking the warrior Marc meets in the diner one rainy afternoon. Cole’s sexy smile and Carolina drawl prove irresistible, but Marc’s played this game before, and he always loses. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and if there’s one thing Marc knows about such men, it’s that they all leave him in the end. It doesn’t help that Cole’s practically closeted in public, or that he refuses to seek treatment for his PTSD.

But like any good Marine, Cole’s willing to fight for what matters. And like the characters in Marc’s stories, he’s certain that if they try hard enough, together they can find their own happily ever after.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book, which came as a surprise because I had read some reviews that made the characters out to be horrible people. Maybe I read a different book but I really liked both Cole and Marc. They were just too freaking sweet for words.

Marc is an M/M romance writer (oh yeh) and waiter at a diner.  He is just living a simple life making ends meet. Until in walks Mr sex on legs. Looking all edible and shite, Marc almost drops the tray of dishes he’s carrying because the mystery man is just that hot. Warning bells are going off all Marc’s senses are saying Marine and he hasn’t had the best of luck in love with them, they always end up leaving him. What’s a man to do when all that Marine swagger 'Oorah' makes him weak in the knees.

Cole Hammond has just been released from the Marines under DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell). Being a Marine was his everything but its been hell hiding who he is. So he’s now a civilian in law school, and for the first time living as a free man. After serving years in the marines, Cole has to deal with the after effects. The PTSD, the nightmares and all the anxiety that comes with it. He feels that in time he will be able to get over it, all he needs is his meds and all will be well (so he thinks).

Things between the guys start of on a rocky road, when Cole pulls a douche move. What a douche move it was! They do come together again but Marc is wary of Cole’s behaviour, but the chemistry is strong and he can’t deny it. Their budding relationship is sweet and though Marc sometimes annoyed me, he was perfect for Cole. I could understand Cole’s nervous behaviour, he was living as a gay man for the first time in years and thats no walk in the park. I found his character believable and made the story that much more interesting. Things do not remain all lovey dovey, when family issues pulls Cole from the relationship. Marc has to come to terms with his feeling and decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to make things work. Cole has to deal with his father prejudices, and the reality that his mother might be ill.

I only had one small issue with the story, and it is how Marc constantly compares Cole to his previous lovers. I understood it in the beginning, then after awhile it became tiresome and a little rude. I am surprised Cole wasn’t bothered by it, because I sure as hell was. Otherwise a stellar job by Cat Grant, really enjoyed Marc and Cole and look forward to other books by the author.

A Year of Firsts- First book of 2012, first book read by author Cat Grant.

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