Title: Treading Water
Series: Forgotten Soldier #2
Author: Jessie G
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: July 18, 2017
After devoting eighteen years of his life to the US Navy, Petty Officer First Class Shane Parker is struggling with the very real possibility of becoming unnecessary. If he doesn’t make Chief Petty Officer before his twenty—and it doesn’t seem likely that he will—he’ll be retired from active service and placed on the Fleet Reserve list until his mooring lines are officially cut forever. While it would all be very honorable and ceremonial, he simply wasn’t civilian material.
Before even swearing-in, Julian Brand knew he wasn’t cut out to be a soldier, but refusing wasn’t an option. Generations of Brand man made careers in the military and the expectation of every Brand son was to follow in those prestigious footsteps. Though the prospect of being rolled back dodged his every step, somehow he made it through boot camp and did his time. Six years after not reenlisting, Julian still struggles to find familial acceptance as he fights to live life on his terms.
On the surface, they couldn’t be more different, but when Jared Ramos calls, neither are capable of refusing. If they can find a way to work together, they might be able to save a wounded warrior and each other in the process.
NOTE: The first story in this series is a 6K word short story originally written for an anthology. While it's a different couple, I'm happy to provide that to reviewers as they have a brief appearance in the new book and are central characters to this benefit series.
This read is about two men who are so different from each other, but then again when they are together they seem to gel completely with the other – even if this is not what Shane thinks he wants or needs. Julian did his time, but knew that it just wasn’t the life for him, so when he could, he got himself out. Shane is just determined to get to his twenty years, although this is an uncertain time.
Their lives in effect are then put on hold, when Jared Ramos gets in contact with both Julian and Shane needing their help….. and they can’t refuse, even more so when they know who it is they need to help.
The more time that they spend together, the closer it seems they become, but one big stumbling block between them is that Julian is out, but Shane is not, and it seems like he has no intention of coming out either. Never say never should be the motto for Shane in this book. The more time he spends with Julian, the more he feels something for him, and even a protective side of him comes out too.
Will anything come of them being together, will Shane find that there is a life for him even if he doesn’t return to active service?? Are they able to help their friend?
I really am beginning to enjoy this series, it is giving me an insight into the lives of injured soldiers, and what they then have to endure once back home.
I must also mention that 10% of the royalties of this book (and future books in the series) are being given to The Gary Sinise Foundation.
Their lives in effect are then put on hold, when Jared Ramos gets in contact with both Julian and Shane needing their help….. and they can’t refuse, even more so when they know who it is they need to help.
The more time that they spend together, the closer it seems they become, but one big stumbling block between them is that Julian is out, but Shane is not, and it seems like he has no intention of coming out either. Never say never should be the motto for Shane in this book. The more time he spends with Julian, the more he feels something for him, and even a protective side of him comes out too.
Will anything come of them being together, will Shane find that there is a life for him even if he doesn’t return to active service?? Are they able to help their friend?
I really am beginning to enjoy this series, it is giving me an insight into the lives of injured soldiers, and what they then have to endure once back home.
I must also mention that 10% of the royalties of this book (and future books in the series) are being given to The Gary Sinise Foundation.
Happily Ever Chapter - “Well-written story, strong characters.”
Bookobsessed - “Wonderful read”
Donation Page: https://donate.garysinisefoundation.org/jessiegbooks
10% of royalties earned from this and future books in the Forgotten Soldier series will benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation, but I'm not content to stop there. I've set up a fundraising page directly on the Foundation's website and I'm asking for your help in reaching (and maybe surpassing) my goal. Every donation of $10 equals 1 entry to win signed books. If you donate more than that, every multiple of 10 will be an additional entry (so $20 = 2 entries and so forth).
1 Grand Prize Winner will receive all my paperbacks signed (8 books)
4 Runner Up Winners will win a signed copy of Treading Water
Seeing Sean fall apart was something Shane wasn’t likely to forget. Never could he have imagined a single scenario that included this big, strong, strapping sailor curled up in his blankets sobbing. As Julian climbed back onto the bed, absorbing that pain as if it were his own, Shane feared he was the wrong man to help them. He was barely treading water and the overwhelming emotions coming off both men were like a rip tide threatening to pull him away.
Over the years, he heard Sean worry over his cousin’s emotional stability enough that he thought he was doing the right thing by offering Julian a safe place to vent. It wasn’t like his own emotions were in danger of getting involved—he only had a couple and none of them were tied up in a man he didn’t know. The same couldn’t be said for Sean. They were more than friends, more than the honorary brothers, and this breakdown had his own eyes itching in an alarming way.
Were those tears? It had been decades. For sure, never in his adult life. Not since…no, it was best not to think about that now. Talk about being useless. If he went down that path, Sean and Julian would be taking care of him.
A warm hand slid along his and the ease in which their fingers twined gave him pause. Cautiously, he looked over and found brown eyes filled with understanding and invitation. He had promised Julian he wouldn’t be alone and the quiet reciprocation had been nice, but nothing he expected to count on. Without consciously thinking about it, Shane found himself sitting on the edge of the bed. Though it wasn’t built for three grown men, he was able to wrap his arm around his little unit and was surprised how right it felt.
“We’re going to get through this, Sean. Will you let us take care of you?” Julian was still speaking when Shane felt Sean nodding against them.
For better or worse, they were in it together now and Shane refused to let them down no matter how uncomfortable it might get for him.
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