Cowboy SEAL Homecoming (Navy SEAL Cowboys, #1) by Nicole Helm

Oct 07, 2017 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, sourcebooks, netgalley, own, casablanca

A wounded SEAL, Alex, and his comrades team up with his step-sister, Becca, on a property they inherited from Alex’s father. They are opening a short of camp/sanctuary for veterans.

Truly a collaboration of so many plot plans we seen before: we’ve got the step-sibs, the wounded military men, the returning hometown heroes, and cowboys all mixed up with a woman striving for independence after suffering from a life threatening illness and being sheltered her entire life…and it completely works!

Lots ...more

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Feb 24, 2018 1-Click Addict Support Group rated it really liked it

A sweet and heartwarming coming home...

Well, not all sweet. Alex was haunted and driven while not losing any of his need to lead and look after. Becca was finally, finally, gaining some independence and wanted to revel in the ability to make her own decisions. That makes for butting heads, and eventually hearts….

Alex and the friends he brought with him were forging a new future, one far away from the battlefield that still haunted them all. Building a refuge for soldiers to recover and regroup f ...more

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Jan 27, 2018 Angela (Angel's Guilty Pleasures) rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is a sweet and adorable romance.

I picked this one up; because of a teaser Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup shared. It’s the first night/morning the guys are at the ranch and that morning a goat gets in the house. That scene was so funny. I had to just smile and laugh. It reminded me of farm life. I didn’t have any goats, but I sure did have several other farm animals. You can check out her review and see the teaser; here. Their was also another goat scene that made me s Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is a sweet and adorable romance.

I picked this one up; because of a teaser Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup shared. It’s the first night/morning the guys are at the ranch and that morning a goat gets in the house. That scene was so funny. I had to just smile and laugh. It reminded me of farm life. I didn’t have any goats, but I sure did have several other farm animals. You can check out her review and see the teaser; here. Their was also another goat scene that made me smile as well. Goats, they are just too funny!

Becca reminded me a lot of myself. She has been sheltered her whole life; because she was a very sick child and her mother worried, so as a result she’s made animal friends on the farm. I wasn’t sheltered, but I didn’t have many friends and preferred to spend my time outside with my animals then with people. I had a great time watching Becca come out of her shell and stand up for herself and her needs and wants. I like that she wants to open an equine therapy ranch for wounded veterans and her stepbrother is all in to help, now that he is out of the service.

Alex returns home after pretty much running away from home. The ranch and town hold difficult memories for him. Coming home he is forced to face his situation and all those memories in the past. My heart went out to him. I would have liked to see more time spent on Alex getting help and dealing with his issues.

Becca and Alex are step-siblings, but they didn’t grow up together and barely have any type of a relationship, so the romance; between them didn’t raise any issues that I usually would have with this type of set up. Their romance isn’t steamy, it’s a slow and sweet build. I think anything more wouldn’t have been believable; especially with how sheltered Becca was and the issues Alex has.

I had a delightful time with a Cowboy SEAL Homecoming. It had some wonderful touching moments and showcased life’s struggles and overcoming them.

Rated: 3 Stars

...more

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Jan 03, 2018 Mandi rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, cowboy

A new series from Nicole Helm featuring Navy SEALs turned cowboys! I was a little unsure how this was all going to play out, but I actually really liked the set-up. Three guys who all served together overseas as SEALs, who all got injured in an explosion, come back to the states together to a ranch that Alex has inherited. Well, he inherited half a ranch. The other half was given to his step-sister, Becca.

Alex hasn't been home in a long time. When his father passed away (his father was married t A new series from Nicole Helm featuring Navy SEALs turned cowboys! I was a little unsure how this was all going to play out, but I actually really liked the set-up. Three guys who all served together overseas as SEALs, who all got injured in an explosion, come back to the states together to a ranch that Alex has inherited. Well, he inherited half a ranch. The other half was given to his step-sister, Becca.

Alex hasn't been home in a long time. When his father passed away (his father was married to Becca's mother) he took that hard and is still grieving. He isn't even sure how he will react to all of the memories that will flood him returning to the ranch, but he knows one thing for certain - he wants to turn it into a place where veterans can come for therapy and rehabilitation. He saw what happens to men and women in the military and trying to adjust with life back at home, and he wants to offer a place for them to cope. Becca is on board with this, even offering to oversee the horse therapist position.

Alex and Becca know each other, but haven't been around each other in a long time. Alex had forgotten how pretty she was, and head-strong, and Becca had forgotten how many muscles Alex has. Becca has grown up a very sheltered life. Sick as a child, her mother became extremely overprotective. Barely leaving the ranch, she doesn't have a lot of social skills. Having three SEALs coming to live on her ranch stretches her boundaries, but she is willing to see what happens. She wants to start living her own life and even though she feels a little overwhelmed, she would rather try something new, than sit inside her house alone, sheltered from the world.

Alex by nature is a protector, not just with Becca but with his guy friends too. He is extremely organized and is always planning. This annoys Becca and his SEAL buddies and pretty much everyone around him. He is a bit uptight. And broody. I liked his spreadsheets and how sweaty he would get when someone wanted to try something without planning it out extensively. I liked that he got offended if they made fun of how uptight he was.

The romance unfolds pretty predictably. In the past few Helm books I've found some of the character unlikable. I liked everyone in this one but it did have a bit of a gloomy tone. I'm not saying every character has to be bubbly and funny and silly. But these two are just a bit - dispirited, which dampened my enjoyment of the book.

Grade: C+ ...more

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Jan 19, 2018 Anna's Herding Cats rated it really liked it

Shelves: military-or-exmilitary-men, contemporary, for-review, 2018-done, ranch, ptsd, non-profit, nicole-helm, cowgirls, step-siblings

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2DvdBv0

A group of wounded SEALs, a sheltered cowgirl, a sassy goat and whole heap of 'what the fuck are we doing'. Yeah, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was one dang fine read.

The Gist: When Alex's career as a SEAL came to an abrupt end he decided to return to the family ranch he and his step sister had inherited. The plan? Turn the ranch into a retreat for returning military members and, well, try like hell to ignore the damn pesky attracti

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2DvdBv0

A group of wounded SEALs, a sheltered cowgirl, a sassy goat and whole heap of 'what the fuck are we doing'. Yeah, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was one dang fine read.

The Gist: When Alex's career as a SEAL came to an abrupt end he decided to return to the family ranch he and his step sister had inherited. The plan? Turn the ranch into a retreat for returning military members and, well, try like hell to ignore the damn pesky attraction zinging between them, too.

Becca and Alex. Yall. They're such a neurotic fucked up mess and I adored them. It was hard not to love them or root for them to overcome their personal issues--Alex dealing with PTSD and not being in total control, Becca breaking free of a very sheltered life after severe childhood illness. They're good people. Determined, hard working, fiercely loyal and caring. But so damn fucked up. lol I loved watching them slowly start to heal and venture out of their comfort zones.

And the romance. Yes, they're step-siblings. But really they didn't grow up together and he was out of the house already when their parents married. So not a big deal. I had a good time watching them as they felt each other out. Things weren't smooth sailing especially at the start and trying to resist. They had great chemistry and a sweet yet frustrating romance. I loved it.

There was a lot of awkward happening in the series. Between Becca and Alex, with the retired SEALs that came with him to get the non profit up and running, etc. But it was intentional and man it packed a punch watching these two-- well, four if you include his buddies-- try to figure out their new lives and circumstances. They all really stole my heart.

All in all, a bang up read. I had a great time with Cowboy SEAL Homecoming. It was a stellar combination of hilarious encounters, heart touching moments and the overcoming of serious life struggles. Helm writes the most wonderful perfectly imperfect characters. They may drive you crazy now and again but it's impossible not to fall for them completely.
...more

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Dec 05, 2017 Amy Vida rated it it was ok

I was grateful to receive a free copy of Cowboy SEAL Homecoming in exchange for an honest review. I am always hesitate to write a less then steller review, because I know how much time and effort goes into writing a story. However, to be fair to potential readers, I wanted to give an honest review.

This book was well written, but the story just didn't do it for me. I like the concept of three SEALS returning from combat and dealing with their issues. I also like the story of Alex and Becca being ...more

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Dec 24, 2017 The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) rated it really liked it

Mix some wounded Navy SEALs with a woman who is finally trying to gain some independence, and have them build a sanctuary for veterans and you have Cowboy SEAL Homecoming. Alex left Montana after high school and joined the military. He came home VERY rarely and as a result, hardly knows his step sister at all. His father passes away and Alex is injured and discharged from the Navy precipitating his return to the ranch in Montana...that his father willed to both Alex and his step sister, Be ...more

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Feb 10, 2018 Bambi Unbridled rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, audiobooks, romance-modern

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is set on a horse and cattle ranch in a small town in Big Sky Country - Montana. Three wounded Navy SEALs have returned to the ranch with our hero to start an equine therapy center for wounded veterans, but must heal themselves in the process.

Rebecca Denton is an extremely sheltered young woman who was left half of the ranch by her recently deceased stepfather. After having meningitis as a child, Rebecca was coddled and sheltered by her smother, who still treats Becca as description

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming is set on a horse and cattle ranch in a small town in Big Sky Country - Montana. Three wounded Navy SEALs have returned to the ranch with our hero to start an equine therapy center for wounded veterans, but must heal themselves in the process.

Rebecca Denton is an extremely sheltered young woman who was left half of the ranch by her recently deceased stepfather. After having meningitis as a child, Rebecca was coddled and sheltered by her smother, who still treats Becca as if she is naive and incapable of caring for herself and knowing her own mind. As a result, Becca has made friends on the farm and has a wide array of furry companions like Ron Swanson (the goat) and Rasputin (the rooster), among others. Becca talks to the animals as if they were people, which gives you some insight into her life and loneliness. Deciding to open an equine therapy ranch for wounded veterans with her stepbrother and his comrades is a huge step for Becca, but one at which she is determined to succeed (and have her way). I liked watching Becca come out of her shell and start to stand up for herself, her wants and needs. She didn't back down from the military men, and she earned their respect in the process.

Alex Maguire is the prodigal son returned. The ranch seems to hold difficult memories for Alex, dating back to the death of his mother and the feelings of helplessness that ensued. Returning home after the death of his father, wounded and in denial, Alex will be forced to face that he can't control every situation. He was stoic and broody, and suffering the after effects of war-time tragedies. My heart went out to Alex and I hated his nightmares and dissociative states. I wish that more of the book was spent on Alex getting help, but I suspect future books in the series will focus more on that area.

Alex and Becca are step-siblings, but they did not grow up together and barely had a relationship. So the romance between the two didn't raise that ick factor that I have garnered from other step-romances. Becca's level of sheltering was a bit of a shocker, as I can't imagine someone today being in their 20s without being kissed or seeing a shirtless man. However, Alex's worldliness balanced out Becca's sheltering and they moved along at a believable pace for the duration of the story. This was not a steamy romance, but I don't think any higher level of heat would have been believable.

Unfortunately this book got lost in the narration for me. The narrator had a hard time holding my interest, and I didn't feel that her voice matched the story. The performance lacked enough depth to differentiate the characters, which made everyone sound the same. When you have military tough guys in your story, you want to be able to hear their voice independently of the female characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook that I received from the publisher, Tantor Audio. ...more

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Feb 03, 2018 Yvonne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Alex Maguire is heading home to Montana. His father passed away and left him the family ranch. He’s not going home alone, though. He’s bring along some of his buddies who served with him as SEALs. Each man is dealing with his own issues and Montana just might be the perfect place to do it.

Becca Denton is Alex’s step-sister. Her step-father left half the ranch in Montana to her. When Alex returns home, she offers to help him set the ranch up as a sanctuary for injured veterans. It’s not an easy t ...more

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Mar 01, 2018 Kay (aka) Miss Bates rated it really liked it

Nicole Helm’s Cowboy Seal Homecoming gave me exactly what I was looking for: Helm’s brand of emotional honesty, quirky animals, uber-masculine heroes whose mission is to set the world aright, heroines who call them on their bullshit and yet don’t shame them for their vulnerabilities, and a beautifully -rendered rural setting, in this case, rancher-country Montana. Honorably discharged wounded warrior hero Alex Maguire comes home to his deceased father’s ranch. He comes to claim his inheritance, Nicole Helm’s Cowboy Seal Homecoming gave me exactly what I was looking for: Helm’s brand of emotional honesty, quirky animals, uber-masculine heroes whose mission is to set the world aright, heroines who call them on their bullshit and yet don’t shame them for their vulnerabilities, and a beautifully -rendered rural setting, in this case, rancher-country Montana. Honorably discharged wounded warrior hero Alex Maguire comes home to his deceased father’s ranch. He comes to claim his inheritance, an inheritance he shares with heroine Becca Denton, who found in Burt Maguire’s ranch, the home and father she never thought she would. Now, she’s invited her stranger stepbrother to share in a joint project, creating a therapeutic ranch for war veterans like Alex and the two buddies (sequel-bait!) he brings along on his and Becca’s venture, Jack Armstrong and Gabe Cortez. As far as the romance’s outer trappings are concerned, originality isn’t what makes them up. But then, what romance’s tropes, trappings, and narrative structure does that? The attraction lies in all the ways the story can be told of how two alone become one united and fulfilled.

Becca and Alex come from places of vulnerability. Becca was a sickly, fragile child, with an overprotective single mom. Alex lost his mother in a car accident when he was eight and the memory of being a passenger in the death-car left him with an unconscious desire to fix things, to put them right, to save and protect everyone. Though his dad was loving, supportive, and a safe anchor, Alex left home to fix on his country’s behalf and rarely returned home. But a grenade brought his and his friends’ military careers to an end, and an end to one of his team’s lives. He brings all that home with him and a determination to see through his project to help former soldiers. But Alex finds much that he denies, or doesn’t expect: his attraction to and affection for Becca, grief for his parents, and symptoms of PTSD. Becca too has to contend with much: the realization that her illness and mother’s sheltering left her without life experience, or being-with-people savvy. Becca, however, is in a better place than Alex. She’s at the take-life-by-the-horns stage of recovery and confidence.

Helm does a lot right in Cowboy Seal Homecoming and much of it nice twists on romance conventions. Though it is often women who are plagued by a need to be perfect, Helm makes her heroine sanguine, open, and accepting of life’s vagaries. Alex, on the other hand, is a fixer, a “neat freak,” a man who must bring order out of chaos, a commander who expects much, but gives more than anyone around him. As Becca grows in strength, in understanding herself and others, in joining in on the world that Alex & co. bring to the ranch, Alex weakens and ebbs, at the mercy of memories, nightmares, and blackouts. Together, however, Alex and Becca are marvelous: funny, sexy, affectionate, and tender. They’re incredibly decent, caring people and they treat each other and everyone around them with respect, integrity, and love. I hope I haven’t made them sound stuffy because they’re not. One of my favourite scenes is the one and only love scene, when Becca decides Alex will be her first lover: it’s a realistic “loss of virginity” scene (I’ve always hated the term “deflowering”) and yet, it’s still sexy and fun to read.

Helm’s romance splits in two. In the first half, the tone is lighter, with quite a few funny scenes, usually involving Becca’s roof-climbing goat and a cat who throws baleful glances at Alex once he and Becca are lovers. Becca and Alex fall in love. They’re monogamous types and careful with others’ feelings. They obviously have affection for the other. I really like that Helm doesn’t make a big deal of her heroes and heroines denying feelings for the other. I especially liked that Alex makes a point of asking Becca for a date. Too many romances consist of antagonistic banter and sheet-thrashing, but no one woos, or dates. I’m glad they date. The second half of the romance is darker. Alex’s PTSD intensifies and Becca recognizes that as long as Alex denies it, they cannot fulfill their relationship’s promise. The novel intensifies and maybe Helm’s resolution comes a little too quickly, but the darkens keeps our lovers apart. It’s to Helm’s credit that I was invested in them and suffered their tearing asunder acutely. Alex and Becca’s reconciliation is awesome: Alex orchestrates a beautifully awkward, gently humorous, tender, and moving proposal scene. Also, it takes place in the rain and those are my favourite kind, ever since watching Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

With Miss Austen’s readerly assistance, I would say that Helm’s Cowboy Seal Homecoming offers “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Nicole Helm’s Cowboy Seal Homecoming is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on January 2nd and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca, via Netgalley. ...more

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Nov 12, 2017 Maria rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, injured-in-service

FREE today (April 21, 2020) on Amazon.

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
3.5 stars
I love the premise of this series – turning a ranch into a haven for injured veterans – and Nicole Helm is one of my favorite authors. I liked that the hero, Alex (the planner, the neat freak), started off as the strong character and the heroine, Becca, was the weaker and more vulnerable character (she’s the weird girl), but gradually we were shown how these roles were just roles and loo ...more

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May 07, 2020 mara0b rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2020, romance-favourite

Okay my dudes, buckle up because we're going for a ride.

Shall we start with the good shit?

Number one on that list is: the representation
I cannot speak about how accurate the rep for PTSD is but I also know people's experiences with it are wildly different. What I can tell you about is how well done was the whole approach to recovery.
Listen (neurotypical) folks: it's not that easy. Recovery isn't linear. Sometimes it's not even possible to recover completely. And this book does a wonderful j ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 Anita rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, kindle-la-city

I loved the plot and the characters were wonderful, but it was sometimes confusing and had a lot of repetitious narrative. Nothing I hate more than being hit over the head repeatedly by the author who doesn't think you got her point, or her characters feelings, the first time around.

Alex Maguire loved being a SEAL and never thought he'd go home to Blue Valley, Montana again. His father had remarried and the ranch house just wasn't a place he wanted to be. But "life changes" and Alex finds himsel ...more

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Dec 30, 2017 Bookgasms Book Blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: missy

Alex is returning home to his family ranch—ownership of said ranch is now shared with his stepsister, Becca. Alex and his two friends, Jack and Gabe, want to turn part of the ranch into a place where wounded soldiers can come and work their way back into society again, heal their wounds and their heads—figure out their place in the world now that they’re no longer active duty members.

Becca’s lived a sheltered life—one exacerbated by an over protective mother. But Becca’s dream is to open a thera ...more

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Dec 28, 2017 Avid Reader rated it liked it · review of another edition

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming (Navy SEAL Cowboys #1) by Nicole Helm
3 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: PTSD, step-sibling romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

Becca is the step sister to Alex. They never truly knew each other growing up because Alex left when his father remarried to Becca's mom. When his father dies and leaves half of his ranch to Becca and half to Alex, that is when they both reconnect.

I found this story somewhat confusing. I liked the premise of the SEALS coming ...more

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Apr 21, 2020 Coco.V marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: freebie

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/21/2020)! 🎁

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Jan 09, 2018 Blodeuedd Finland rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, contemporary-romance

At first these two had such a problem that they were step siblings, and before you go all euwwww hear me out. They did NOT grow up together. She came into his dad's life when Alex had gone to the military. He did not even know her last name and they had spoken a few times. I was all you are not related! Why are you guys even finding an issue with this? But hey, maybe that was just an excuse, because these two have issues.

Ok, so Becca does not have issues in that way. She has just been very shelt ...more

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Oct 15, 2017 Book Gannet added it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, dnf

DNF@20%

I’m quite sad about this one, because in the past I’ve really enjoyed Nicole Helm’s cowboy books. Okay, so I found the heroines of her Mile High series pretty awful and had to give up two-thirds of the way through, but I still made it through the first two books and I was hoping this series would be better.

Alas, I was wrong. I’m not even sure why, but something about Becca really rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it was her sense of ownership over the ranch, even though she acknowledges th ...more

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Aug 26, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-books-read, romance

Fantastic, emotional start to a new series. Alex is a former SEAL, retired from the service because of his injuries. He joined the Navy right out of high school, and in the sixteen years since then has rarely been home. With the recent death of his father, Alex and his step-sister, Becca, have inherited the ranch. With the loss of their careers, Alex and his two friends, Jack and Gabe, have come to the ranch to heal and to make it a place for other wounded vets to heal. Each of them needs a new Fantastic, emotional start to a new series. Alex is a former SEAL, retired from the service because of his injuries. He joined the Navy right out of high school, and in the sixteen years since then has rarely been home. With the recent death of his father, Alex and his step-sister, Becca, have inherited the ranch. With the loss of their careers, Alex and his two friends, Jack and Gabe, have come to the ranch to heal and to make it a place for other wounded vets to heal. Each of them needs a new focus for their lives and a way to deal with the unexpected changes. This is Alex's story.

Becca is also dealing with major changes in her life. Her stepfather was the only father she had known, and his loss has left her reeling. She barely knows Alex, as he had already left home for the navy by the time her mother married Burt. Thanks to a life-threatening illness as a child, her life has been very sheltered. Her mother homeschooled her and kept her away from most social events, afraid that she would become sick again. This has left her socially awkward and very nervous around strangers. She is also determined to do something about it, and with a lot of effort has finally established some independence. The men's plans for the ranch dovetail nicely with her desire to start an equine therapy program.

The contrasts between Alex and Becca are pretty significant. Alex is a leader, a planner (overly so), and keeps his emotions under strict control. He is haunted by the events that caused his injuries and the death of a friend, but insists that he is "fine." He is certain that with enough hard work and time, the nightmares will fade. Becca is quiet but determined to become more outgoing. She wants to live her life to the fullest, and because she was sick for so long, lives each day as it comes. She has goals, but she doesn't do much planning because she knows that those plans can change in an instant.

I enjoyed the development of Alex and Becca's relationship. Because they are technically step-siblings, their initial attraction to each other freaks them both out - especially Alex. Becca gets over it much faster because she realizes that they spent no time together growing up as siblings. Alex is protective of Becca from the start, and it's fun to see him pretend it's brotherly, while Jack and Gabe insist it's anything but. Becca is quiet, but she is no pushover, and I loved how she stood up to Alex from the start when it came to the therapy side of the ranch. I liked that they became friends first, bonding and sharing their grief over Burt's death, and working together on getting the ranch set up. All during that time, the sparks between them continued to build. I liked the way that Alex wanted to take things slowly and loved the whole date scene. Becca was in a bit more of a hurry, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her take charge of her wants and needs. Once they took that final step, the feelings between them grew quickly. But it was not all unicorns and rainbows. Alex's PTSD symptoms get worse instead of better the more he tries to deny them. His refusal to admit he needs help, or even to share what is happening with Becca, drives a wedge between them. I loved the way that Becca refused to allow him to shut her out if they were going to have a relationship. I ached for them both as Becca made it clear that something had to give. The intervention by Jack and Gabe was heart-wrenching as they tried desperately to get through to Alex. I was moved to tears by the reconciliation of Becca and Alex and the emotion of his big moment at the end.

I loved Alex's friends and partners, Jack and Gabe. The bond among the three men is tight, thanks to everything they have been through together. I loved how they have no problem reminding Alex that he is no longer responsible for them. Both Gabe and Jack also have issues stemming from the same attack that injured Alex, and each deals with them differently. I also liked how they were loyal to each other, always having each other's' backs. There were a couple of times that created issues with Becca, but they were understandable and easily dealt with. I had fun watching both Jack and Gabe adjust to ranch life. The development of the friendship between them and Becca was pretty sweet. They were all awkward at the beginning, but it didn't take long for them to grow to like and respect each other. I loved the scene at the bar when Jack and Gabe so clearly saw the sparks between Becca and Alex. I loved their part in bringing Alex and Becca back together.

Becca's mom was a character I had a little more trouble with. I understood why she had been so protective when Becca was younger. But her attitude now, when Becca has been well for so long, was too much. I really hated her attitude toward the guys, especially Alex. The dinner scene was awful, and I ached for Becca and the stress she was under. I was definitely rooting for her as she gained confidence, and I loved seeing her finally confront her mom.

Though the book was emotional and frequently gut-wrenching, there were also some lighter moments to break it up. I laughed out loud during the scenes with the goat. Jack and Gabe were especially hysterical as they dealt with the roof-climbing animal. Having to get help from a rooster named Rasputin made it even better.

I've already read Jack's book (Cowboy SEAL Redemption), which got me hooked on this series. I can't wait to read Gabe's story, as it will pair him with the therapist, Monica. It should be a fantastic read. ...more

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Oct 14, 2018 Romancing the Book rated it really liked it

Shelves: western, contemporary, romance, reading-challenge, uniform

Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

Ex-Navy SEALs playing at cowboys along with a ranch in Montana, animals and a sweet love interest were all that were needed to keep my interest. Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was a fast paced read with multiple story lines that were seamlessly woven together to make the story gel. There are three wounded and hurting ex-SEALs and the stepsister of one of them who is a shy, naive, half owner of the ranch that will be trans Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

Ex-Navy SEALs playing at cowboys along with a ranch in Montana, animals and a sweet love interest were all that were needed to keep my interest. Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was a fast paced read with multiple story lines that were seamlessly woven together to make the story gel. There are three wounded and hurting ex-SEALs and the stepsister of one of them who is a shy, naive, half owner of the ranch that will be transformed into their new business. Alex hasn’t been home to the ranch in a long time but now that he’s injured and needs a new focus he’s home for this new business venture along with his two buddies. His dad has passed away and he finds himself the co-owner of the ranch with his stepsister, Becca, who he didn’t have much contact with growing up. He and his friends, Gabe and Jack, add a realism to the story in their actions as well as being there for each other.

Becca is trying to stand on her own two feet and not have her mother swoop in and fix things. How’s that working out? She’s an animal whisperer since growing up that’s all she had to talk to. Her stepfather gave her the strength she needed to get out a little from under her mother’s wings and protectiveness. Now that he’s gone will she be able to continue to do so?

There are family and friends, life stories, the military, their experiences and brotherhood, chores, hard work, anger, sadness, hurt, fear, nightmares, therapy, loving and love. There is a nice flow to the story but there were times I didn’t realize how much time had passed in the story. The characters all had a depth to them and stories that were theirs to tell. There is a happily ever after in the offing but enough loose ends to take us to the next stories and whose will it be? The epilogue gave me the closure I needed.

Helm is a new to me author having read only one of her books previously, All I Have, the first book in the Farmer’s Market series. I will be back for more in this new series plus I will be adding other books she’s written to my always growing TBR pile! ...more

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Dec 30, 2017 Cathy Geha rated it really liked it

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming by Nicole Helm
Navy SEAL Cowboys #1

Great premise for a new series – looking forward to reading more romances with SEALs in Montana ;)

Alex and two of his team head home after medical discharges from the Navy. Gabe, Jack and Alex all have issues related to their last mission going FUBAR when a grenade attack put paid to their military careers. Alex and his stepsister Becca have decided to use the property they inherited jointly to create a therapeutic ranch with horses and c ...more

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Feb 15, 2018 Lindap rated it liked it

3.25 / 3 Stars

Three injured SEALS land in Montana, to a cattle ranch that one of the SEALS, Alex, is now part owner of. His father passed away a year earlier and left half the ranch to him and the other to his step-sister. This really isn't a step-sibling story. Becca's mother married Alex's dad, but their kids rarely saw each other because Alex spent a great deal of time deployed. When Alex returns with 2 of his fellow SEALs there isn't a sibling (childhood) bond.

Becca and Alex are working toge ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, contemporary

I loved Alex and Becca's story. Watching her come into her own and seeing her interact not only with Alex but with Jack and Gage (I cannot wait until they get their own books!) was so much fun. Seeing what was going on with Alex as the book progressed was more than a little scary, but once he finally decided to do something about it that made it all the more satisfying. Everything isn't "fixed" by the end of the story (there's that word!) but things are moving in the right direction and there's ...more

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Jan 06, 2018 Isha Coleman rated it really liked it

One ranch. Two people. One goal.

Cowboy Seal Homecoming has WINNER written all over it. An act of bravery brings a group of seals full circle and with a little help from a friend inspires a common goal. Ms. Helm teaches a valuable lesson about what courage really means. Bravery does not mean lack of fear, but the strength to take a risk. In fact courage is a lot like faith. Alex and Becca have a history that borders on taboo. Despite the time, distance and heartache that may be headed their way, ...more

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Nov 18, 2017 Tracie R rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgally

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was a really enjoyable read. The first book in the Navy SEAL Cowboys, I found the dynamic between the characters and the storyline engaging. I look forward to reading more by this author and will be recommending this to readers.

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Dec 18, 2017 Yvonne Cruz rated it liked it

This is the first book of Ms Helm’s new series titled, Navy SEAL Cowboys. It’s about three Navy SEALs who have been wounded after a mission that affected them not only physically, but also psychologically and emotionally .Their leader Alex Maguire, has brought then to the ranch he grew up in and where now he is half owner. The other half of the ranch belongs to his step-sister, Becca Denton. She is shy, inexperienced in life, and uncertain about them. But now they all end up living and working t ...more

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Oct 31, 2017 Cheri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, kindle, netgalley

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and given freely. **

In my review of this author’s book Want You More I said something along the lines of when she’s hot she’s on fire, when she’s not she’s still luke-warm. Well ladies and gentlemen, with this book starting off this new series she is scorching! Alex and Becca have wonderful chemistry. I absolutely love this story and did not want it to end. I’m so glad there will be more **I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and given freely. **

In my review of this author’s book Want You More I said something along the lines of when she’s hot she’s on fire, when she’s not she’s still luke-warm. Well ladies and gentlemen, with this book starting off this new series she is scorching! Alex and Becca have wonderful chemistry. I absolutely love this story and did not want it to end. I’m so glad there will be more to read with these Navy SEALs.

Alex is not necessarily an easy hero to love. The fact that he’s a Navy SEAL and his military buddies rib him about his personality quirks help the reader to be open to him. He’s quite the no-nonsense, by the book, not much humor type of guy at first. Other than when he’s being pushed in certain ways, he’s never a jerk though. He’s just not a big teddy bear. That’s not to say he isn’t sympathetic to others and aware of how his actions and words can feed into other people’s feelings.

Becca is like a mighty little mouse. She has a lot of courage but finds her nerves get the best of her even when she doesn’t want them to. She’s learning to live in a world outside of her mom and step-dad…all she’s really ever known other than the animals on the ranch. (You will fall in love with the animals, and their names, on this ranch.) She’s socially awkward only because she was so sheltered. Once she starts realizing that she can speak her mind when need be and she can contribute to the things Alex and friends are doing on the ranch, she’s like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

Most contemporary romance stories that deal with PTSD tend to have the veteran experience a lot of nightmares and/or flashbacks. While Alex does have nightmares, I appreciated Nicole Helm showing another aspect of PTSD (in my opinion one of the scariest) with Alex losing time and going into a sort of fugue state. It put a bit of a different spin on the issue.

Seeing Becca learn to not only stand up to her mom, who means well, but also stand up to Alex was heartening. Their relationship had so much joy while there was still so much pain. There was a point that I noted these words “my heart just cracked in half”. The story was truly breaking my heart.

I did have one issue with this story that I must address. I read a lot of contemporary romance with the military sub-genre and, if you follow my reviews, you may know this is a huge pet peeve of mine. Something I’ve addressed with other authors in the past. A SEAL is not a soldier. I have yet to meet anyone in the Navy who will call themselves a soldier. Because of other stories (again, by different authors) having this issue I’ve asked around and looked online. I cannot anything to contradict what I know…Navy = Sailor, no matter if it’s a SEAL or not. I can only hope this gets corrected in the next installment of this series. It is a very great testament to this author and the story she told that this book is getting a high rating from me as this is an issue that often will distract me from a story thereby annoying me to no end. This book was so engaging and spectacular that I am able to overlook the issue.

If you love contemporary romance, western romance, and/or military romance you will be blown away by this story. I am kind of bummed to realize the next installment won’t be out until the summer. I am anxious to see what happens with Gabe and Jack.

https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c... ...more

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May 14, 2019 Jen rated it liked it

This was my first Nicole Helm read. I kept seeing the author's book at the annual library book sale in my area recently and figured I'd give this 'new to me' author a try. The premise of the book sounded great - I love a great cowboy romance and couple that with a Navy SEAL and it sounds like something exactly for me.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I listened to the audio book (which was 10+ hours long) and I was honestly bored through most of it.

I had no issues with the step-siblin This was my first Nicole Helm read. I kept seeing the author's book at the annual library book sale in my area recently and figured I'd give this 'new to me' author a try. The premise of the book sounded great - I love a great cowboy romance and couple that with a Navy SEAL and it sounds like something exactly for me.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I listened to the audio book (which was 10+ hours long) and I was honestly bored through most of it.

I had no issues with the step-siblings part of the storyline. After all, they barely knew each other, rarely saw each other and Alex was an adult when his dad and Becca's mom married, so there wasn't much of a connection between them before he leaves the Navy following an accident and injury.

I could never connect with the characters and I honestly didn't like either of them all that much. Becca wasn't terrible. She was sheltered her whole life by her overprotective mother following a childhood full of sickness. So she's the shy virgin in this book who can barely make eye contact with any of the men, much less strike up a conversation. By the end of the book though, she's holding her own and acting like the mature woman she's supposed to be. So while her being so timid and letting her mother run over her for the first half of the book was annoying, I did grow to like her in the end, especially when she stood up to Alex.

Now Alex was the biggest turnoff for me in this book. I respect that he was a soldier, served his country and was injured in doing so. I love a good veteran story and really admired the rehabilitation facility they were setting up for other wounded warriors. But for me, Alex kept doing everything in his power to not admit he had a problem and needed help. He was always 'fine' or 'good' and even though it was literally killing him, he kept saying the same thing, refusing to seek counseling for his PTSD. His PTSD was keeping him from being productive, and most of all, it was keeping him from having a real relationship with Becca. Just like Becca said, she didn't want him to change, she just wanted him to open up to her and be honest so that she could help him in any way she could. But he refused to let her in and that went on for 95% of the book. I know that everyone heals on their own time and not everyone heals the same way, but the way he was treating his PTSD and in denial screamed 'warning' this entire book and if it were real life, I'd be worried about veteran suicide based on how things were going for him. He was a strong man, no doubt about that, but he was stubborn and I just hated seeing him shut people out, including his best friends who were also trying to heal. In the end, he begins to get some help and allows Becca in.

Speaking of the ending, by the end of the book, they still don't have the rehabilitation program up and running, so I guess all of that will come in future books. Becca and Alex do commit themselves to each other, but I honestly didn't feel a lot of romance in this one to justify any love declarations. Maybe that month that they were seeing each other in which the author just references and then skips was full of dates and other things to get to know each other, but all we really see is one date and some sex in which he leaves and sleeps in his own room afterwards. That was it for the romance, so I'm totally not finding any of that believable.

I'm not sure I'll finish the series. I hate not finishing a series, but I'm not sure I trust the last two books to be a lot better. ...more

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Dec 03, 2017 Nelle Nazario rated it liked it

Shelves: z-read-in-2017, z-arc-2018

This was hard for me to read. The premise, a rehab ranch for veteran was intriguing. The way Helm delved into Alex's issues with PTSD was real. His mental thoughts, the refrain of, I can fix me, was hard to read but very well done.
I liked how, in the beginning, Alex was strong and in control, and Becca needed his support. In the end it was Becca giving Alex support. The romance just wasn't satisfying enough for me, I guess.

I'll be reading the next one though because Gabe and Jack need there HEA ...more

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Nov 07, 2017 Ebony rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars, review-written, romance, military, arc, cowboys

Nicole Helm is a new author for me. The story description is what made me want to read 'Cowboy Seal Homecoming'. I'm a sucker for military romance novels.
Alex Maguire is returning home to the family ranch in Montana with his 2 buddies Gabe and Jack, to recoup after their discharge from the Navy Seals because of injuries. Alex is a very A type personality- he plans everything down to the last detail. The heroine of the story is Alex's stepsister Becca Denton. She has spent her life quite isolated ...more

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