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Basic Training

by Marquesate (Goodreads Author)

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 311 ratings · 57 reviews

Joining the Royal Marines is a challenge that only the toughest young men should take on. As one of the most prestigious regiments in the British Forces, becoming a Royal Marine Commando is achieved only by the best.

Platoon Sergeant Col Wilson, called Bulldog, knows all about achievements, and with the responsibility for the recruits at Lympstone, he is adamant that despit...more

ebook, 276 pages

Published October 21st 2011 by MLR Press (first published October 20th 2011)

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I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier by Crystal Rose

Best Gay Military

6th out of 103 books — 165 voters

Best Gay Soldiers

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Nov 01, 2011 Kate added it

This was a nice, mellow kind of read. Nowhere near the fierce intensity that I expect from this author, and a really enjoyable change of pace.

Col Wilson is a closeted senior noncom in the Royal Marines who, against all his better judgement, gets involved with one of his recruits. Chris is out and proud, has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and a desire to prove himself. Marquesate does an interesting job letting us see how Col struggles with himself over being gay, his insecurities about the age...more

12 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2011 Lauraadriana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fave-authors, age-difference, love-conquers-all, m-m, made-me-wish-i-was-a-gay-man, super-super-hot, war

Well this book was a long time coming. As I expected this book was a realistic and at times brutal story of military life.

Col Wilson is a Drill Sargeant in the Royal Forces, he is a gay man. He knows that, but he won't and can't give into that feeling. He never has indulged in those fantasies, and his plan is to keep it that way. Until Chris Thompson, new recruit, openly gay and FUCKING PERFECTION walks in as part of his new group.

Chris is not only openly gay, but he is by far the best of best...more

9 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Mandy*reads obsessively* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mandy*reads obsessively* by: Simsala*is getting slow*

Shelves: abuse, age-gap, m-m, vio-needs-to-read-this-for-me, buddy-read, feel-good-read, gfy-ofy, heaps-of-sex, hurt-comfort-disability, my-faves, sweet, sniffle

Ok, here it goes, I'm actually going to have to thank Sims for encouraging me ( read= beat me over the head) to read this book.
It starts out slowly and since it's solely from Col's POV I wasn't always sure what was really going on with Chris and I wasn't sure there ever would be a relationship between these two. Be warned though the story is definitely very 'military' in nature and everything revolves around that.
The scene where Chris is caught in the bathroom was difficult, but nothing compared...more

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Oct 23, 2011 MandyM rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

A very enjoyable m/m military romance. Col "Bulldog" Wilson is a senior sergeant with the Royal Marines. His latest batch of recruits contains one Christian Thompson, twenty-one, six foot, green eyes, brown hair... and the first openly gay recruit accepted into the Marines training program. Col's carefully hidden (and never acted upon) desires are severely tested.

This story covers about a five year period and follows Col and Chris' relationship through basic training, deployment, changing career...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Vio rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Vio by: Simsala*is getting slow*

Shelves: soon, beautiful, emotional, erotic-romance, fabulous, highly-recommended, i-likey-a-lot, loved-it, mc-s-good-combo, sexy

4.5 stars
Happy, really happy to have been shoved into reading this and so nicely too. Its odd how a military story and a realistic one, was this insanely good. I feel lucky, because I was able to immerse myself right into the story and understand the complexities Col and Chris were up against. Thank god the violence wasn't OTT, I was dreading it, these men are tough and strong, I loved how they wouldn't roll over and give up. The slow build up in their relationship is wonderfully real a fascinat...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Monica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a great book just as the reviews stated, it felt like a real story. I am so looking forward to more books from this author, hopefully there's more to come. I fell in love with Bulldog and Chris and they've officially made my list of favorite couples.

1 like · like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

It seems that each time I read one of Marquesate's stories, I get a pleasant surprise. I have only read stories that focus on military heroes and I keep anticipating that since the focus is pretty narrow that there is the chance that the plot and the characters will bear close resemblance to others that I've already read. That is just not the case. While the backdrop of the stories and the character mindsets might be similar since it takes a certain type to survive and thrive in the atmosphere o...more It seems that each time I read one of Marquesate's stories, I get a pleasant surprise. I have only read stories that focus on military heroes and I keep anticipating that since the focus is pretty narrow that there is the chance that the plot and the characters will bear close resemblance to others that I've already read. That is just not the case. While the backdrop of the stories and the character mindsets might be similar since it takes a certain type to survive and thrive in the atmosphere of elite soldiering (not sure if that's a word, but I'm going with it), the personalities and their personal stories are different.

In this particular story, it gets to almost the midway point until more than hints of attraction are revealed and even then it is a slow build of the relationship while the two men must continue to fulfill their duty assignments. At first, it is just a tale of what life is like for an instructor- drill sergeant- who must take raw recruits and turn them into Royal Marine commandos. This time Sgt Col 'Bulldog' Wilson is taxed with the added responsibility of personally watching over a new recruit who has openly declared that he is gay on his paperwork and has scores that are off the charts which should have put him in officer's training.

Col is angry and irritated by the perfection that is Christian Thompson. He can't understand why the guy would sabotage himself by announcing his sexual orientation and by joining as a soldier instead of an officer. Others are more than irritated, they are envious and this envy leads to hatred that sparks violence in the camp. And it is at this point that the focus of the story changes.

The plot is almost like a journal in that it records snippets as the weeks, months and years go by in the life of Col and Chris who are at two different places in life and their military careers. It is fascinating how Col who has lived a hard-knock life is still naive in certain things that are bread and butter to Chris so they both have something to bring to the table in their relationship. The story is told mostly from Col's perspective with Chris getting more time toward the end. There is a stronger passive voice in this one that mutes the action at times though the 'hate' scene was vivid and brutal so don't take me to mean the story is boring.

Character development took place at different paces with first Col being revealed leaving Chris a mystery of sorts and then later Chris' thinking comes out. I liked this style and I liked the guys along with the additional scenes with Chris' aunt and uncle (love the family scenes). I laughed so hard when Col and Chris' aunt have that encounter in the hallway. That was hilarious and such a fun way to introduce the extended family into Col's life.

It was a pleasure to read this story and I recommend it for those who love authentic m/m military romance.(less)

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Oct 24, 2011 Sequelguerrier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Basic Training has been a while coming but it was definitely worth the wait. If you started reading Marquesate because of the Special Forces epic or of the novel Her Majesty's Men or of the short stories that have appeared here and there, Friendly Fire (in mostly dreadful company in a collection also called Special Forces for what reason heaven only knows), For Queen and Country or Code of Honour, in 'Basic Training' you will find what you have come to like about the author: strong, believable c...more Basic Training has been a while coming but it was definitely worth the wait. If you started reading Marquesate because of the Special Forces epic or of the novel Her Majesty's Men or of the short stories that have appeared here and there, Friendly Fire (in mostly dreadful company in a collection also called Special Forces for what reason heaven only knows), For Queen and Country or Code of Honour, in 'Basic Training' you will find what you have come to like about the author: strong, believable characters, gritty story lines, a military setting that rings entirely true and, above all where I am concerned, stories that are true to themselves; oh yes, and some rather hot sex too.

'Basic Training' is the story of Col, a sergeant in the Royal Marines and Chris a recruit who is determined to make it through the mud because he has a point to prove. Against the backdrop of the gruelling 31 week training a relationship develops against all odds and, after the most audacious of all the boneheaded things Chris does, the two, very much to Col's surprise, become a couple. Against the rough military background, this is a real love story and one that works. Col and Chris are in most ways unlikely lovers. There is the age difference, 14 years. There is the military environment; different ranks are not supposed to have relationships in the military and you certainly are more likely as a recruit in special forces training to want to stay out of your terrifying sergeant's sights than to want to get to know him more closely. There is the difference in their backgrounds and educations...But against the odds the relationship develops and here Marquesate pulls off a master stroke. It would be easy to hit the false tone when these alpha soldiers are out of their natural element and have to start interacting as lovers and then as a couple. Instead she gets it just right. Col is her voice here and his surprise and ironic view of his own feelings and actions provides the needed distance and prevents any false sentimentality. These men are suddenly dealing with emotions, with feelings for each other and it's completely uncharted territory for them for which their training has made them less fit perhaps than most. I defy anyone, male or female, to remember their first time in love and the heady, silly, clumsy and sometimes downright make-you-blush corny behaviour that went with it and not to share a rueful chuckle with Col. While the story has warm, touching and even funny moments there is, in true Marquesate style, plenty of grit too and homophobia as well as the deadly reality of soldiers' lives in the time of war in Afghanistan raise their heads and provide a realistic setting that has a direct impact on the two protagonists' happily ever after.

This is probably the sunniest of Marquesate's stories so far. A feel good story that has deceptive depth and characters that are well developed, even the lesser ones like Chris' aunt and uncle. Definitely worth the wait and definitely a novel that I want as a book on my shelves.(less)

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Feb 02, 2013 GymGuy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-military, m-m-romance

Kudos to Marquesate for this really remarkable book. This is perhaps the most mature writing in this genre I've read in a very long time, if ever, so let me get into some details. There are some parallels with I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier, but "Basic Training" is much more mature in its thematic development and much less humorous.

While some reviewers seem to focus on the military aspects of this book, in my opinion, it is merely a backdrop for a story of long-developing maturation and deep-runnin...more Kudos to Marquesate for this really remarkable book. This is perhaps the most mature writing in this genre I've read in a very long time, if ever, so let me get into some details. There are some parallels with I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier, but "Basic Training" is much more mature in its thematic development and much less humorous.

While some reviewers seem to focus on the military aspects of this book, in my opinion, it is merely a backdrop for a story of long-developing maturation and deep-running love.

This book actually has structure: a beginning, middle and end, each with certain distinct styles and purposes. When I started the book I was a little turned off by the "distance" of the writing. While the story is written from Col's POV, there was a certain coldness to it, and Chris is but a shadow of a character. Looking back into this part of the story, the author shows a great deal of restraint. There was no sex and little if any emotion. This section climaxes with a horribly graphic incident that really forces Col to start his emotional journey. It is interesting that the names of the two perpetrators of this event are never mentioned again, as if to say: They are not worth their own existence.

The middle section opens with the full force of unbridled passion. There is, however little depth to either Col's or Chris' emotions. Intense need is sated by some very hot encounters tempered by long military absences. This section culminates with one of the best dialogs I've read where both unleash a flood of stored-up emotion.

While emotions seem to plateau over a few years, the third and final portion of the book begins with a catastrophic change to Col's life. At this point, both MCs are forced to evaluate their feelings for each other and Col is forced to deal with some hidden issues. Again, the lust portion fades and is replaced with a maturing love. Issues of death, age difference, role reversals, pride, health all come together to make this a story of many layers and many well thought-out themes.

Some reviewers find the last half of this story dull. I found just the opposite. It's in the last half, and perhaps the last third that the issues bubble to the surface. These are mainly explored through a very sweet relationship between Col and Chris' aunt.

Both MCs evolve significantly. Col most of all. While he is the more mature character, he has the most to change. Though Chris develops in his career he is, ironically, often more of the rock in the relationship.

My only criticism is that in the story line, issues are revealed and resolved in a linear fashion. You kind of know what issue is going to be resolved next because hints are revealed shortly before. Perhaps a little "stirring up" of those clues would have made the story a little less predictable.

Without revealing too much, this is a very HEA story. The ending couple of chapters are very warm and, for me, the eternal sentimentalist, a wonderfully tearful read. Can't say enough good about this book. (less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Jenre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance

It's been two years since the release of the rather excellent Her Majesty's Men, the last book by this author, but I was so impressed by that book that I've hung in there waiting for a new book to be published. Basic Training is that book, and in my opinion the two years have been worth the wait, especially as this book shows some increased maturity in the style of writing from this author.

Basic Training follows Col who is a platoon sergeant in the Royal Marines, in charge of new recuits as they...more It's been two years since the release of the rather excellent Her Majesty's Men, the last book by this author, but I was so impressed by that book that I've hung in there waiting for a new book to be published. Basic Training is that book, and in my opinion the two years have been worth the wait, especially as this book shows some increased maturity in the style of writing from this author.

Basic Training follows Col who is a platoon sergeant in the Royal Marines, in charge of new recuits as they face the 32 weeks of basic training. At the beginning of the book we meet him at a bit of a bad place. He's recently divorced and, after a drunk driving incident, recently demoted. Whilst he loves his job and feels pride in his ability to turn a rag-tag group of men into a fit fighting force, his private life is crashing around his ears with the knowledge that his failed marriage is likely to do with his disinterest in women. As the story begins, Col's about to begin with a new platoon of trainees. One of them, Christian (or Chris) has openly stated on his paperwork that he is gay. This opens up a whole can of worms for Col as he seeks both to keep an eye out for Chris as well as fight his attraction to the man. The book then takes us on a slow journey, spanning several years, where Col and Chris meet, start a relationship and then have that relationship develop over time.

There were two things in particular that struck me about the story, and which added greatly to my enjoyment of the book as a whole. Firstly, I enjoyed following the unfolding of the relationship between the two men, especially in Col's emotional journey towrads accepting his homosexuality. Those of you who may have read Marquesate's other books will know that her men are rough and tough; find it difficult to express emotion; and engage in almost brutal sex with each other. Whilst the first two are certainly the case here, the third element was very much toned down from previous books. Col's one of these men who prefers not to think about emotional mushy stuff, and definitely feels uncomfortable talking about his feelings. As a result he tends to adopt the 'think about it later' way of facing up to things which concern him, such as his changing views on his own sexuality. I loved the gradual way that Col deals with these difficult for him issues, and especially the small steps towards accepting himself. Some of my favourite scenes in the book were when Col really thought through his jumbled emotions, or when he bit the bullet and spoke to others. However, when in private with Chris, he does let his guard down and the sex between them was quite beautifully tender in places, whilst also containing some of the roughness that this author is known for. They matched so well as a couple, both of them riddled with their own insecurities and hang-ups whilst providing a solid support to the other. It was more than love or romance, it was friendship, comradeship and a solid foundation for a life long relationship and I loved reading about it.

The second aspect which I really liked about this book was the way that the life of a Royal Marine was so ingrained through every thought and action of both the main characters. There's enough detail given to understand the life of a soldier - both during the basic training and then on into a career in the Royal Marines - but not so much that I felt overwhelmed by knowledge that wasn't important to the story. The two heroes are at opposite ends of their careers - Chris is just starting out in the RM and Col, at 35, is nearing retirement - and I liked the way that Col acts as a guide for Chris, whilst having to make some difficult choices about his own future. At the beginning of the story much is made of Chris' struggles for acceptance as a gay man in the RM and this is contrasted with the closeted Col, whose struggles are more internal than those of Chris. As the story progresses the military theme develops to focus on the difficulties of an overseas tour for both the one away and the one left behind. By the end of the book I felt I had gained a really good understanding of life in the military from both the enlisted and the partner of the enlisted. It made me think a little, without ever feeling that I'd been preached to, whilst also providing an extremely entertaining and engrossing story.

I have very few niggles about the story except that maybe the pacing began to drag a little in the last 50 or so pages, but not so much that I wanted to stop reading. A second niggle is that, even though we spend nearly the whole book in Col's head, we never find out much about his past, except that he had a 'bitch ex-wife' and had served several dangerous tours in his military career. In fact we find out much more about Chris, than we do Col. I suppose though that this was because Col is private and unassuming, saving his boasting for when he needs to show that as 'Bulldog' he's fitter and stronger than the recruits he whips into shape. It's a curious contrast, but is also what makes Col such a great character.

This has to be the most romantic story I've read by this author so far. It never gets anywhere near sweet, but I loved the playful banter between Col and Chris. They resolve their problems by talking to each other and also through a careful consideration of the feelings of the other person, without rancour and bitterness because they understand each other's situation. I don't think I've read such a delightful and well matched couple in ages.

Overall, I can highly recommend Basic Training with a grade of 'Excellent'. If you like military themed stories and want to read a book with a pair of complex heroes who are drawn to, and complete, each other, then I suggest this book is for you. I only hope it's not another two years until the next Marquesate book!(less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Edina Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military

Great read about two military men. Reminds me of I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier.
Deals with the challenge of being openly gay in the army's macho environment.
Also deals with the challenge of "generational gap" or age difference in a relationship.
Oh, and the challenge of coming out when you are middle-aged.
Chris, the openly gay new recuit and Col, the sergent in charge of his basic training meet, fall in lust, deal with the forbidden, the tabboo the secrecy, fall in love, deal with the separation...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Tia Fielding rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-favorites

This was both the first book I've read by Marquesate and I think the second purely military-themed book (the first one was the excellent I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier by Crystal Rose) I've read since I began to really get into the M/M genre.

I didn't know what to expect, but I decided to give it a go since I was feeling like reading something like what the blurb promised. Well, I was pleasantly surprised, for one.

I liked the main characters and the struggles they had with self esteem and certainty...more

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May 11, 2013 Eli Easton rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story to pieces. One MC is a closeted, repressed divorced man, a drill sergeant who only has his pride to live for. The other is an out gay recruit, a beautiful man who excels in every way in basic training. The romantic arc is as far from insta-love as you can get. Not only does the drill sergeant fight his attraction for quite some time, but even once they get together he can't except that every time is not the last. But the love between the two characters slowly becomes more secu...more

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Oct 24, 2011 DeWanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, m-m-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 06, 2012 Meep rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite

This book as a gritty feel to it that makes it believable. The characters are strong capable men and from the start the military is at the forefront of the book rather than mere background. These men are soldiers and go on tours and deal with time apart and expectations. It's very clear that the author has knowledge of military life.

The story does take place a little in a bubble; few other than the main are named and we don't see much interaction, however it works for this story as their times t...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, awesome-couples, 4-stars, military, angsty

3.5 First half - boring. Second half - A lot better and I finally started getting attached to the characters.

Don't get me wrong, I did like this book a lot but it was kind of a disappointment. Maybe it's because I read I'll be your drill, soldier! (which is one of my all time favourites) a couple of weeks ago, and I still had that one in mind, but I didn't end up liking this one as much as I thought I would. I didn't really care for the characters at first; they grew on me with time but it took...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Valentina Heart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, the-romance-reviews

This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.

I've always liked reading about soldiers, the difficulties such career entails and the necessary roughness all of them individually present. I suppose it's that ever-present infatuation we civilians have toward men who can take care of themselves and daily protect others. Mouthwatering muscles, a knack for weapons and the uniform don't hurt a bit, of course. When I got the chance to review BASIC TRAINING, I j...more This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.

I've always liked reading about soldiers, the difficulties such career entails and the necessary roughness all of them individually present. I suppose it's that ever-present infatuation we civilians have toward men who can take care of themselves and daily protect others. Mouthwatering muscles, a knack for weapons and the uniform don't hurt a bit, of course. When I got the chance to review BASIC TRAINING, I jumped right on it, expecting hard as nails soldiers, details about the hardship their training presents and a rough but everlasting romance. My expectations were met, but not all the way.

Col is a platoon Sergeant – Bulldog – who has made the military his life. His friends are there, so is his gym, and training others for the work he'd been doing for years couldn't very well be more rewarding. He thrives in the accomplishments of others when they exceed their capabilities and become the best of the best in the Royal Marines.

But no one's life is perfect, and no matter how much he deludes himself, Col is missing a home, a sense of connection and the most important thing of all, he's missing the acknowledgement of his own sexuality.

As always, that one person comes along who changes the rules from the ground up and doesn't look back. Chris is a new recruit, at first glance perfect material for an officer, with all the qualifications as well as enviable physical readiness, but for that one glaring marked box where instead of heterosexual, he declared himself as homosexual.

Chris is determined to succeed and be the best, something he achieves with natural grace and enough determination and stubbornness for three people. The road is not easy, but rewards are plenty, and eventually he gets the career, a promising future and the man who made the ground shake. He gets Bulldog.

Other than the collaboration with Aleksandr Voinov in Special Forces, this is the only book I've read so far by Marquesate. I would be lying if I didn't say it reminded me very much of the previously mentioned book. From the long absences caused by the military life, to the mention of cheating during those months without a warm body in the same bed, it followed the same concept I very much liked in Special Forces.

Even with the similarities, the books are very different, and anyone looking for the same read should take a step back, reevaluate and then return to this book with an open mind.

The guys are manly men, bone-headed and strong. While their road together wasn't easy, there wasn't much conflict to spice up the story. The sex was hot but not excessive and certainly not brutal. In fact, other than one scene with bloody details of an attack, the book never got any rougher and overall is a rather sweet. The progress of their relationship is very slow and stretches over a few years, where it's pretty easy to follow their personal growth and that road to the eventual happy ending.

My remarks revolve around the feeling of familiarity – I just couldn't shrug off similarities to Special Forces – and the fact that the story dragged at times. The time jumps were normal considering the year span of the book, but there were no shocking situations or heart stopping moments (well, except one) to make their lives more interesting. Don't get me wrong, I loved their story, loved the time gap as well as Col and Chris as main characters, but I could have done with a bit more bite and soldiers being soldiers. Political aspects of it aside, I would have loved to read more about the difficult training months, or Chris's tours in war zones with the direct effect it would have had on the other part of the couple.

While not amazing to the point of speechlessness, this book is still one of the best m/m soldier books out there and it should definitely be on the subject fans' reading list.(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Boycop rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bulldog and The Officer

The book consists of actually two distinct stories. The first part of the book is a realistic and well written journey into the military life of two soldiers, recruit Chris Thompson and his drill Sergeant Col "Bulldog" Wilson. The latter part of the book is a sweet and emotional romance story between the two main characters. It also covers a lot of ground in the area of gay rights, bad self-esteem, and prejudice.

I scooped the first part of the book in one go. It was hard...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Silencio rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, cops-detective-agent-military-etc, 2011, review

I had really high hopes for this book. So far I have enjoyed everything Marquesate has written. Sadly I felt this book was a bit disappointing.

In some places it felt like the scenes just dragged on too long and in some places everything just got so fluffy and sugar-sweet that I couldn't take it seriously. I also felt that the angst thown in didn't do all that much for the plot and that it all was a bit predicting (which is sometimes fine, but it in one it just rubbed me the wrong way)

Col and Chr...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Dlee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great characters who felt real. They progressed at a slow and steady pace. Time was given for recovery from injuries which drives me nuts in some books. The MCs fears felt real and their love felt real. This was a great book until about the half way point where we began to meet minor characters and the plot got a bit draggy. I ended up skimming some of the conversations which is odd for me. It wasn't so much preachy as it was sentimental and that didn't seem to mesh well with the rest of the boo...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Tʀɪsʜᴀ Hᴀʀʀɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: military

This book was a really good read, I fell in love with Col and Chris as a couple. Although it did take a while for me to connect with Col, but after a while I fell in love with him too. Both characters grew and developed a lot during the book, and by the end they were where they had to be. Chris was a great person from the beginning, I loved the fact he was comfortable with his sexuality. There was only one reason that I marked it down, and that is a big thing for me. But overall the book was goo...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Togainunochi(Jude) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't just love this story and characters, I adore it. Chris and Col are two of the best characters to ever grace the pages of a book. The story is simply about love, the power of love, the price that love can exact and the glory of drowning in it. It says the value of love is for all of us no matter our sexual orientation, our beliefs, or what we do in our careers. Two Royal Marines discover what life is like to get what you want and love who you choose. If you want to feel good, if you want...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, rainbow-gay, romance, contemporary

I was expecting hard rock and I got alternative rock instead. I like both. It's nice when an author can sound herself and different at the same time.

First of all, the writing. It's less clipped, more narrating than the previous books I've read. It fits the story. The pacing wasn't always balanced, but everything is overall solid.

The story is intense, but not as violent as I was expecting, even if these guys are pretty strong. But not in a general badass way. They're soldiers, military men, proud...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Plainbrownwrapper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

In general, eh. I liked the first section of the book -- while Chris was still in boot camp -- much more than the rest of it. There was more urgency and engagement there, with more drama and speed to the plot. After that, though, the plot structure became episodic, jumping from month to month over the course of several years. I don't much like this type of plot structure, since it seems to squelch the continuity and drama of a story. And, in this case, there really didn't seem to be much signifi...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Mountie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a fantastic M/M story

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, military, m-m-favourites, comfort-re-reads

It is so wonderful to have another Marquesate book in my hands. :-)

If I had to use one word to describe the feeling of the book I'd say real. There is no shortcuts in Col Bulldog Wilson and Chris Thompson's relationship as it takes place against the backdrop of the real world of living and loving whilst both men are members of the British Royal Marines. While being gay isn't against the rules, having a relationship between a superior and a subordinate is. Lust and love are powerful motivating fa...more It is so wonderful to have another Marquesate book in my hands. :-)

If I had to use one word to describe the feeling of the book I'd say real. There is no shortcuts in Col Bulldog Wilson and Chris Thompson's relationship as it takes place against the backdrop of the real world of living and loving whilst both men are members of the British Royal Marines. While being gay isn't against the rules, having a relationship between a superior and a subordinate is. Lust and love are powerful motivating factors. The trials faced by Chris during basic training are both triumphant and heartbreaking. Some scenes were difficult to to read but once again very real and were important to understand both the men and military culture.

Col's journey was internal, for although he accepted he was attracted to men, he had never acted upon it. To get to the point of accepting Chris' invitation through his journey to becoming Chris' lover and partner in life was engrossing to read. Chris' journey through the ranks of the British Royal Marines was fascinating as well. I never had thought of what it took; the training, the deployments and the stages a person has to accomplish to move up the ranks. Marquesate guided me well.

On the other side, I also understand now a bit of what it takes to be the partner left at home. The uncertainty, fear and worry when ones beloved is in a operations theater with sporadic communications interspersed with the joys of homecoming, the time together knowing that one day soon your partner will be deployed again is the rhythm of Col and Chris' life. At the best of times holding a relationship together is hard work. Combine this with two men, neither eloquent with their feelings and you know that indeed, love makes all the difference in the world.

I loved the book not only for the solid story of Col and Chris' relationship but also the setting it took place in. Told as only Marquesate can, in the author's distinct voice makes it a story I know I will be coming back too often.

41415 <--- my cat Betty's contribution, which really means "It's after 6 am Mom. Where IS my breakfast?"(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 19, 2012 Nikyta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nikyta by: JustJen

Shelves: mlr-press, bingo-challenge-r4, all-time-favs, a-sweet-cute-read, bubbles-safe, broken-to-bits, contemporary, closet-cases, in-sickness-and-in-health, cruelty-abuse, injury-recovery, long-distance-relationships, military, want-pbhc, m-m, age-gap, stayed-up-all-night-to-read, working-together-in-some-capacity, separated-for-a-bit, warriors, published-on-amazon, unrequited-yearning

4.5 stars

This was an amazing book. I'm always looking for books that deal with actual military life - boot camp, training, in the war zone - and I don't find many so reading this one was a lovely treat because it takes place over a five year span and deals with much more than just basic training.

This book has a bit of everything in it. A majority of the story is sweet but its also suspenseful, touching, heartbreaking, horrifying, sad and unbelievably sexy. I loved the connection between Chris an...more 4.5 stars

This was an amazing book. I'm always looking for books that deal with actual military life - boot camp, training, in the war zone - and I don't find many so reading this one was a lovely treat because it takes place over a five year span and deals with much more than just basic training.

This book has a bit of everything in it. A majority of the story is sweet but its also suspenseful, touching, heartbreaking, horrifying, sad and unbelievably sexy. I loved the connection between Chris and Col and how it starts as just sex but leads to a solid relationship. Both these boys are stubborn and at times bone-headed but they are a perfect fit for each other. Chris is young, fresh, openly gay and hot as hell while Col is older (by fourteen years), a bit bitter, sometimes angry and in the closet. The two clash at first but the attraction is always there and seeing them develop feelings for each other was amazing because of who these men really are.

The story, IMO, is about Col accepting who he really is. He's been in the closet forever and when Chris comes along it turns Col's life upside down but in the end, Col comes a long way to be with Chris. When thinking back to this book, these boys had sex a lot. Their relationship for a good part of the time is based on solely that even though they both develop feelings for each other. However, even though there was a lot of sex, most of it is kind of glossed over so I didn't have a problem with seeing these boys getting it on (I have a pretty low tolerance for smut :-/). That's not to say ALL of the sex is glossed over just a portion because these boys were definitely hot!. I mean, like scorching. I absolutely loved them.

The only problems I had with the story (which didn't really bother me that much but were still noticeable) was the fact that 32 weeks of basic training are very quickly went through. I was hoping for a bit more details on those weeks, what the soldiers had to do, how Col and Chris acted in some of those situations, etc. There was also a few times when the POV switched from Col to Chris, or vice versa, without any indication and for very brief periods of time before it was switched back to the original POV.

Even with those two things, I really loved this story. Col and Chris are definitely something special and their relationship is intense, sweet and touching. I'm hoping for a sequel, but then again, I'm just greedy because this story truly ended perfectly, IMO.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 27, 2011 Lady*M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m-romance

3.5 - 3.75 stars

The book dragged a bit in some parts and some repetitions (like Col's constant insecurity over the age difference, for example) became tedious after the third time, but overall, Basic Training offered a realistic insight in the lives of professional soldiers and it kept my interest. It was emotional, but not overly angsty, it was hot, it was occasionally funny and Col and Chris really, really worked as a couple. The bashing scene was brutal and it made me cry, but, aside from it,...more

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Apr 04, 2012 JustJen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

This is a wonderful, sweet story about, Chris, a young gay recruit (out from the beginning of his career) who falls for and brings an older (14 years) veteran (divorced, deep in the closet), Col, out of the closet. This takes place over a five-year span, so the buildup is wonderfully slow. Col knows he is gay, but has not acted upon it due to his military career. He certainly doesn't want to break all the rules and fall for a guy he holds rank over. But, Chris is deliciously persistent once he r...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2011 MsMiz (Tina) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pdf, glbt-all

Marquesate has a way of writing that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I found my stomach clenching, waiting for the other shoe to drop through out this book, reading into comments and inner thoughts to the point I drove myself mad. Honestly, this book does not have a ton of conflict for what we have come to expect in military books of this caliber. I think in another author's hands, this book might have been a really 'meh' kind of story. I do not know how she does it, but because if her 'it' fac...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Brenda Cothern rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica

Another awesome story of how just because you wear a uniform doesn't mean you can't fall for another hot solider. The trials of coming to terms with this attraction only make Col more real and Chris is no less manly for being an open gay British Marine. Marq once again taps into the core of soliders as they find the love they so deserve while serving their country!

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About Marquesate

Marquesate is a British author living in Scotland. She has been associated with the British Forces for many years, and specialises in contemporary gay military fiction.

Using the insider knowledge of the 'bowels' of the military machinery and the insight into the soldiers' minds and modes of functioning, Marquesate creates realistic settings, situations and characters who are simultaneously down to...more

More about Marquesate...

Books by Marquesate

Special Forces - Soldiers (Special Forces, #1)

Special Forces - Mercenaries Part I (Special Forces, #2 part 1)

Special Forces - Mercenaries Part II (Special Forces, #2 part 2)

Special Forces - Veterans (Special Forces, #3)

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