Review: Life After Romance Between a Writer and an Ex-Marine
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 13, 2012
I chose this one because I love books that are written with a military protagonist or at least one that has been military.  This was was dear to my heart because it addressed one man's struggle to come to terms with PTSD and with being one of those affected by Don't Ask Don't Tell.  The author handled these issues with some care making this a truly good read.The story is told from a split perspective that switches back and forth between the two male heroes, Marc Sullivan and Cole Hammond.  Marc lives in Berkeley where he stayed after getting his Master's and a stint of being a college professor, but is now making his way as a successful author- albeit at the beginning of success.  He lives simply and also works at a diner to make ends meet.  He grew up in San Diego and has a past littered with failed relationships with the two most prominent ones being with Marines.  Those big Marine-types are his hang-up and he now knows to be wary because they will burn him every time with their need to stay in the closet and their rugged self-sufficiency.  So when Cole Hammond strolls into his diner one day, he finds his mind and libido at war- immediate attraction with self-preservation yelling at him to leave the big, burly soft-accent military type strictly alone.Cole is now going to Berkeley's law school and trying to pick up the pieces after his twelve years in the marines are all gone in one moment when he is outed and tells his commander the truth.  Cole was a career soldier who did five stints in the sandbox war zone of the Middle East.  It all took its toll on him leaving him with the night terrors, flashbacks and snaps from reality caused by cars backfiring or thunder.  He is barely holding it together at times.  It is also hard because he is all alone since his announcement not only separated him from the Corps it also separated him from his family in South Carolina.  Between his studies frustrating him and his PTSD kicking his tail, he rudely brushes off the guy from the diner who he invites back to his apartment and then kicks out after the guy gets him off.The story is a romance of two lonely guys both hurting, but reaching out to make something special together.  They have their stops and starts along the way with a crisis coming when Cole must make a big choice between what he has with Marc or his old life.I really enjoyed getting to know these characters who are so opposite in ways, but are so good for each other.  Their journey together is not easy, but they both bring things to the table that make it worth it.  Again, kudos to Cat Grant for the way she carefully portrays what it is like for a man with PTSD and his partner who must live with him.Nice story for those who enjoy sweet, slow building romances in the M/M Contemporary genre.