I’ll Be Your Drill, Soldier by Crystal Rose

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I love romance, so, hands up, I loved this romance. Then we can start to question on how it was easy for the author to make me cry, she of course used the right buttons, but nevertheless, I did shed a tear or two.

I was a little taken aback from this note from the author right at the beginning of the novel: “This is set in a world where everyone is treated the same regardless of sexual orientation-- like it should be”; so, I thought, this is an alternative reality? I’m not reading an Army contemporary romance? I was not sure if that was a good or bad thing. But actually this is a contemporary romance, and the two men involved in the romance (plus two other friends, soldiers as well) have to face discrimination and prejudices, but what I think the author was implying is that, the obstacles are from the society of men, not the society of law. Let me explain: being gay is not a crime (as it should be…), there is no law forbidding Ryan and Phillip to be in love, there is no law forbidding them to marry if they want, or to separate them in an hospital (if not the ordinary rule that only family is allowed). But Ryan has to face discrimination, he is a preacher’s son who is disowned by his family when he comes out to them, and he has to join the Army to complete his college education. Phillip is a gay man who married right out of high school, probably since that is what was expected by him. But what makes this an “alternative reality” sort of romance is that, once they are able to overcome the emotional issues these past experiences left them, there is no other obstacle to their happiness. Unfortunately, this is an alternative reality since, until same sex marriage will not be legal for everyone in every US state, the likes of Ryan and Phillip will have plenty of outside obstacles to their happiness, especially if they are in a situation where one of them needs the other beside him.

This is an highly emotional novel, but it’s also light in some aspects. Ryan is a pushy bottom, Phillip is a bigger-than-life top (those men who embrace you with a lot more than only their body). I love the interaction between them, and Ryan’s friends, straight and gay men together, are the best family a gay boy could wish. Sure, sometime their interferences, especially the female ones, were over the top, but all in all, I enjoyed also them.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44002

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Comments

[glitteryv]

I bought this book a while ago but never have gotten around reading it. Probably because military themes aren't a thing for me? Well, unless it's historical. Then, I'm ALL OVER IT!

The thing is, I'd read a fantastic review of this book when it first came out so I bought it without hurrying to read it.

Now, I've heard that this is one of those books that started as a fanfic. FTR, I'm usually cool with that. In this instance, I'm a bit disappointed about the fandom it's based on (I detest that fandom). It's not as if the book is tainted forever, but I'm hoping that my dislike of that fandom doesn't ruin the experience of reading what sounds like a wonderful book.

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I didn't know about the fanfiction, so I read it without prejudices. I liked it, and also I'm not into contemporary military fiction, but this one was quite on the comedy side, with just a touch of angst/drama, so, for my liking, it was good.

[69512.livejournal.com]

I loved this book! It made me cry too. Can't wait for more by this author.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

it was unexpectedly funny and sweet.

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

I'm still there deciding if I should give it a try or not. I wonder specially about the sappiness level: everybody says it is ''sweet'', but that's a broad definition, for ex. I don't bear ''sappy'' very well...

Ciao

Antonella

[annabirmingham.livejournal.com]

One of my all time favourite books - I love it :)

Antonella, I wouldn't consider it "sappy" as I've read a lot of those!! There are a couple of tender moments, but I feel they were justified based on the situation and not over the top sap for the sake of sap - if you know what I mean. I love the UST in this and the different relationship between all of the soldiers - working, intimate and otherwise. I really felt like I trained and grew up with them - if only!

Anna x

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

OK, sold! ;-)

Thank you for your answer, dear Anna!

Be well

A

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

well yes, it's sweet, and very much a comedy more than a drama, but I wouldn't say it's sappy. It's an optimistic view.

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

Smashwords is a good site, because they give you a reasonable free excerpt of the story to sample. There have been a couple of times when I've felt the story's not right for me, so I've avoided the expense of buying the whole book.

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

oh this is one of my go-to books when I am feeling angsty and want to have a good dose of UST. Someone told me that this actually came out of a Supernatural TV show fanfic - I can definitely see that (having found *your* website from a Supernatural fanfic author!)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

LOL Supernatural fanfic is good then ;-) yes, it's a very good feelings romance.