Treading Water by Jessie G - Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway

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.

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.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Treading Water is the second book in the Forgotten Soldier series. The first book was a short story  that featured Micah and Garrison and introduced The Ramos Foundation as the continuing thread through the series. 

Now I absolutely love the Sizzling Miami series so was excited when I had the opportunity to read and review this new series by her. 

Treading Water is Julian and Shane's story. Here are two men tossed together to help give their friend and cousin a support system after an accident leaves Sean severely injured. Jared Ramos approaches Julian and Shane after finding out they are both listed as Sean's medical decision makers but were not contacted after he was injured. Jared wants the two of them to go in there and give Jared the support he needs to fight back and want to recover from his injuries. This throws these two men together after years of Sean trying to get them together and almost forces them to realize that Sean may have been onto something with pushing them toward each other. 

I really enjoyed this story, and the characters, both main and secondary. The whole concept of the Ramos Foundation and helping soldiers may not be new but the idea behind this one is solid and well developed. Of course the characters are solid, well-written, multi-faceted characters who experience all sorts of emotions and growth through out the story. I particularly liked Julian, but have to admit him with Shane, as they fall into a relationship is all sorts of sweet and adorable. There are many deeper moments with the characters, centering both around their relationship and also around making Sean better. 

The pacing of the story kept me hooked into the story until I finished it, so for me this was a one sitting type of book. Which just makes me want the next one in the series...and I'm hoping we see more of Jared and Aidan.. hopefully in their own book? *hopes*  

This is going to be another highly addictive, thoroughly enjoyable series from this author. I imagine that she has at least a few books planned to continue it because I can see a LOT of potential storylines just from this second book. I highly recommend this one to pick up and enjoy...and hopefully enjoy again as a favorite re-read. 

Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I'd begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it's a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it's been amazing to have made this dream my reality. I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics, and happily ever after. I'm a lover of strong secondary characters, and series filled with families—biological or chosen. All are themes you'll find throughout my books.

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