Reviews

Basic Training by Marquesate

bdavies17's review

Go to review page

5.0

Loved and reread all the time. Wish there was more on the other men Chris saw and how Col felt about it, especially since they’d been in love with each other awhile, love extra angst like that. Thought Chris’ aunt and uncle were awesome too. Read on iBookz

_readingtherainbow_'s review

Go to review page

4.0

I've had this book for ages, and I have finally got around to reading it. The first part of the book is the Basic Training, where Col is the commanding officer and Chris is the recruit. Col was a prick in the beginning, but I did warm up to him as the book went on. After Chris was attacked, Col was so much nicer to him. The book cover about 6 years, and it was nice seeing how their relationship progressed. It wasn't always easy for them because they went through some hard times, especially Chris. I didn’t enjoy the first bit as much, but really enjoyed the second half. I loved seeing their happy ending.

chibishichan1x2's review

Go to review page

4.0

3.7 rounded up!

I always like military men and the "taboo" factor of two guys in uniform always adds an extra aspect to M/M romances. I love this story of how Bulldog and Chris get together, it was slow and sweet on the emotional level and quick and steamy on the sex level. The only thing that stopped this from being a solid 4 (even tho I did round up) was the writing sometimes felt a bit odd. I kept reading the same thing over and over simply because it was written multiple times. I was a bit confused at first and thought there was an issue with my e-reader, but nope just the writing style. Nonetheless I'm thrilled about reading other things by Marquesate.

zazzilou's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

4.5 Stars

kaje_harper's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This was a realistic story about two military men, that managed to avoid most of the clichés and obvious plots and delivered a hot, smooth and ultimately engaging story.

As the book opens, Platoon Sergeant Col Wilson meets his next group of recruits and among them is Chris Thompson, a young man who has already been noted on his paperwork for being overqualified, intelligent, educated, athletic, and oh yes, gay and out. What Col didn't realize was that Chris is also gorgeous and will test fifteen years of determination not to give in to his desire for other men.

The beginning of this feels a little superficial, as the daily life of the platoon in training is a backdrop for Chris's skills and Col's temptation, and some growing homophobia from other recruits. It was realistic, and Col's feelings and conflicts were clear, but I didn't feel emotionally involved in the story. But the longer it went on, the more I started to care about the characters and their lives. By the end, I was cheering for these two men.

The sex scenes are very well done; the issues Col has with both the age and power gap between them, and the career risks, were neither over nor under emphasized. Chris is a bit perfect, and I wish we had more than one brief statement from his uncle to help the reader feel a bit more of his uncertainties and concerns, but he began to feel more real as the story went on. I appreciated the lack of melodrama, and the slow, plausible development of the relationship. Well worth the read for anyone who enjoys two men finding each other in a realistic military setting.

msmiz95's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

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' factor, I will continue to read all that she creates for us.

galinette's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

At first I thought that it would be a British equivalent of I'll Be Your Drill, Soldier but it ended up being far from an equivalent and rather a much, much, much watered down version of it. I had trouble seeing how Col and Chris' feelings for each other developed, most of the time they seemed like very flat character. The storyline progressed only through developments that felt much too forced. The writing wasn't anything to write home about.

lauraadriana78's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

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 in the new group, that brings trouble with it for Col and in the platoon. Bad things happen, but Chris is resilient. He graduates as the top in class, and his first and foremost desire once that is done is to get Col. Col can't help himself, he goes to Chris. And they begin.

There were elements in this story that were reminiscent of that other story I love so well. I liked that they were together for many years, that unwavering lust and love thing that Marquesate's men have. So much passion and fierceness. That was there. The mind blowing hotness. That was there too. The enduring and unwavering love. THERE. The whole time. It was also surprisingly non-dramatic, in a good way. They were in love, they had a lot of obstacles, but they worked around them, the bid their time and found their HEA.

I liked this book, I liked these men, and I LOVED what they had. It wasn't haunting and angsty, if frustrating at times. There were bits, that I felt went on too long, but that didn't bother me too much. This story was was good. Very good.

I recommend.