Release Date: June
20
Genres: Romance/Military/New
Adult
Will his call of duty break both their hearts?
Losing her father in Desert Storm has left Stephanie James with a bitter soul when it comes to the military. As a college senior juggling a full course load, Steph's only goal is to graduate with honors at the end of the semester. She’s focused, determined, and a firm believer in all work and no play. Then she meets Brandon Walker at a New Year’s Eve costume party. Despite his disguise, Steph finds herself attracted to the camouflaged soldier who curls her toes with a scorching midnight kiss.
Brandon is an engineering major and ROTC student from the hills of Kentucky. Growing up as the son of a major general has given Brandon firsthand knowledge of the struggles military families sometimes face. Now that his father’s memory is fading, Brandon is even more determined to make his dad proud and graduate as an officer in the United States Army. Then he meets Stephanie, and suddenly, his focus is less on his military service and more on the pretty brunette who has stolen his heart. When he becomes aware of Steph’s resentment toward the military, he worries their relationship is doomed.
When faced with the realization that she's fallen in love with a soldier, can Steph’s wounds from the past be healed with love in her present . . . and in her future?
MY BOOKIE CONFESSION:
OMG !!! Sydney Logan has done it again. She trapped me in a book. When I couldn't read I wanted to SO very badly. I needed to know what was next. What was happening. I wanted more of THEIR world. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. This is the 2nd book of Sydney's I have read and she did NOT disappoint me. I love how she captures small town america. I love the details that she writes. I can clearly picture in my head EXACTLY what she has wrote. I love that she writes stories so emotionally charged. I laughed, cried, and sighed. There was times I was left thinking wait a minute what just happened... In fact there was one point in the book ... Yep. I thought Sydney Logan YOUR BAD !!! While reading this book there were moments of unbelief, moments of anxiety, moments of sweetness, and moments of LOVE. I was amazed that I got to experience every emotion in the book. I love when that happens. I can NOT wait to see what Sydney has in store for us.
On to the book. I enjoyed the flow of the book. The switch between different point of views. It let me get to know each character a little better. I enjoyed seeing how each person involved is dealing with each obstacle thrown at them. Sydney has a way of getting inside a readers head and giving them EXACTLY what they want and need. I totally got the 80's references and I knew when she quoted Full House, this book would be in my TOP list of favorites for a very long time.
Stephanie James is a very routine , everything planned out, scheduled kinda gal ( which is totally me, seriously, lol ). She needs it to be this way in order to graduate and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. When her mother tells her to do one adventurous thing before graduation. She never imagined that the one thing would forever change her life. I always found myself relating to Stephanie is EVERY situation. I found myself agreeing with her so much. It was if Sydney was in MY head. I love that I can identify with a character so strongly.
Brandon Walker is MY NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND... I'm claiming him NOW. Yes I have told Sydney this ( between you and me, I don't think she believes me). I love him. He's sweet, caring sensitive, and a HOT SEXY SOLDIER ! He has all the makings of marriage material . Too bad Stephanie HATES everything MILITARY. That soon changes though obviously. She can't resist his charm. I can't either. *sigh*.
I would definitely rate this a 4 star read.
Regular
Price: $2.99 (ebook)
Also
available in paperback
Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author and holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her debut novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second novel, Mountain Charm, was released in 2013. She is also the author of four short stories – Mistletoe Magic, The Little Drummer Boy, Force of Nature, and Stupid Cupid. A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.
Interview
1. When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve always been a writer. I blame it on my love of music and lyrics. I used to write lyrics during class. =) But I didn't begin writing professionally until 2011.
2. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably in 2011 when I signed my publishing contract. I’d always been a writer, but signing on the dotted line made it very, very official.
3. What inspired you to write your first book?
I’d been writing online for about two years when one of my readers, who just happened to work for a small publishing house, suggested I submit something original to them. I submitted the first three chapters of Lessons Learned and was signed to a contract.
I’m a teacher who lives in Appalachia, so I wanted to set the story in the mountains and have the main character be an English teacher. I knew I wanted to write a romance, but I wanted to write more than just a love story. Bullying is such an epidemic in our society, so I decided to flesh out the character of Matt and give him a bigger story.
4. Do you have a specific writing style?
I don’t know if I have a particular style, but I don’t believe in long, descriptive paragraphs about setting or clothes unless it’s important to the scene. I don’t need to know she’s wearing a red blouse unless it has a purpose, you know? I like to mix humor and romance with tug-at-your-heart emotions.
5. How did you come up with your titles?
I have to come up with the title before I can write the book. I’m weird that way. With Lessons Learned, it was pretty easy since the book was about teachers. Mountain Charm went through a few different titles before I settled on that one. It was just a play on words (my main character, Angelina, is a witch and casts an Appalachian love spell/charm). For Soldier On, I just knew I wanted the word “soldier” in the title. I searched online for soldier-related phrases, and worked “soldier on” into the story as a family mantra.
6. Is there a message in your books that you want readers to grasp?
Family is precious, friendship is important, and happy endings are possible in love if you don’t settle for guys who treat you like crap. :).
7. How much of the book is realistic?
I think Soldier On is very realistic. At least I hope it is. I spent months researching ROTC, Alzheimer’s, and talking to military wives about their experiences.
8. Are you currently reading a book? If so what book are you reading now?
I’m not currently reading anything, but I just finished Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson. It comes out July 1. So beautiful. I’m insanely jealous of her talent.
9. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Amber, for sure. Jennyfer Browne is another new author whose writing I love.
10. What are your current projects?
I have three works in progress, all of which call to me at different times for different reasons. I need to buckle down and focus on one. I plan to do that in July.
11. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Soldier On is the story of Stephanie James who lost her dad in Desert Storm. She never met him, so she has this somewhat irrational hatred for all things military. She falls in love with Brandon, an Army brat and ROTC officer. It’s definitely a story about growing up, facing your fears, and deciding if following your heart is worth the risk.
12. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Finding time to write can be hard, but the most challenging aspect of writing is actually promoting the book once it’s out. I become a marketing machine, which really takes time away from writing. But it’s part of it.
13. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I’ve always said Nicholas Sparks is my favorite author, and I can’t imagine that changing anytime soon. My stories have been compared to his, and while I can’t even begin to believe that, it’s totally flattering because I love how he tells a story. His stories are typically set in small towns in the south and tend to rip your heart out. He’s probably the reason I write the kinds of stories I do.
14. What books have most influenced your life most?
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, Forever by Judy Blume, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
15. What was the hardest part of writing?
Besides finding time to write and marketing the book, one of the hardest things about writing for me was sharing my work with others. I’m pretty insecure, so exposing myself and my words to complete strangers was terrifying. I’m more confident now, but at first, it was scary.
NOW for the FUN stuff !
1. What's your favorite food ?
I love fruit! Just give me a fruit tray, and I’m a happy camper.
2. What's your favorite song ?
This changes all the time. Right now, it’s “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert.
3. What is one of your favorite quotes?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
4. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Cleaning the tub!!
5. What is your favorite Holiday ?
Christmas
6. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?
I’ll be 29 forever. :)
7. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?
I had to think hard on this one! I’m a music nut, so I would have loved to have seen Johnny Cash propose to June Carter on stage in Canada in 1968.
8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to play the mandolin. I play piano, but I’m not so great at stringed instruments.
9. If you were immortal for a day, what would you do?
I’d go bungee jumping. Knowing I’m immortal is the only thing that could make me brave enough to do it!
10. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
Sydney. :)
11. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
June Carter Cash.
12. If you were reincarnated as an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, what would it be?
Animal – giraffe (I’d be tall for the first time in my life)
Drink – Sonic Limeade
Ice cream flavor – Pineapple
13. If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?”, what would it be?
What is the cure for cancer?
14. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Hermione in Harry Potter. Although, I don’t think I would have chosen Ron…
15. Tell us something totally embarrassing about yourself !
I watched all 13 episodes of Season 2 of Orange is the New Black all in one day.
#sorrynotsorry
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