Semper Fi

Think book is amazing. The love story was so genuine and sweet. The spicy was well written. The character development was perfect. Truly a fabulous read. I was sad to finish it! I look forward to reading more by this author.

I've found a new favorite author! Keira Andrews! Semper Fi first caught my eye with its cover. Talk about communicating passion, war, m/m, and historical feel with a single image. LOVE this cover. But that was just the beginning of my love affair with Jim and Cal. Keira Andrews does an amazing job bringing the setting of apple orchard Clover Grove to life. Her voice is well paced with just the right amount of description. Her dialog shines, and her characters mesmerize. I was completely entranced with the concept of two young men who served together during the war learning to accept their feelings for each other while moving on under the shadow of PTSD. Jim is haunted by memories of a brutal war. Cal is haunted by a romantic love for his best friend, who doesn't even know he's "queer" (in Cal's words). Years after they went their separate ways, Jim's wife has died. Cal arrives to help Jim with the orchard. Their friendship picks up where it left off. Unfortunately for Cal, so does his attraction to his best friend. Jim is happier than he's ever been having Cal at the orchard, helping him with the harvest and with his two children, Sophie and Adam. Jim's marriage wasn't what it could have been, and even now that his wife has died, he experiences guilt over not being the husband she had deserved. He simply couldn't bring himself to return her love the way she needed. Cal begins to help Jim understand why he never loved Ann the way he wished he could, but Jim isn't at all happy about the explanation. Good thing he has his long suffering friend Cal to help him work through his feelings, both good and bad. This is a satisfying story of true love and self-discovery, and it worked so beautifully for me. Except for one thing: the back-and-forth between scenes from the present (the story is set in 1948) and scenes from six years in the past (1942-1945). Maybe a quarter of the novel was set in the past, showing how Jim and Cal met on their way to boot camp and how their friendship grew, how they came to rely on each other in the brutal environment of WWII. In my opinion, this was all backstory that I didn't need or want in order to understand and enjoy the story set in the present. I found there to be plenty of angst without the boot-camp and war scenes. In fact, I skipped much of the 1942 chapters to get back to 1948, where the romance was happening. For others, the backstory might be awesome. It was certainly well researched and well written. But for me, it took me out of where I wanted to be, which was at Jim's orchard in 1948. I found if I skimmed the war scenes with a focus on the last page of each, I got a good sense of Jim and Cal's growing friendship and Cal's romantic love for Jim to compliment the 1948 story. If the 1942 chapters had been woven into the 1948 story rather than written as separate scenes, this would easily have been a 5-star read for me. With the interrupting scenes, I have to leave off a star. Still a beautiful story (I cried happy tears twice). If you love friends to lovers, self-discovery, gay for you, and historical settings, this is a definite You Need To Read! I'll be looking for more Keira Andrews. This review appears on You Gotta Read Reviews here: http://yougottaread.com/2015/02/review-semper-fi-by-keira-andrews/

4.5-5 stars This was a great story. I loved both Cal and Jim and really got into their story. This took place during WW2 and a few years right after it so a lot of the issues in this story have to do with the views towards homosexuality (and it's lack of acceptance) at the time. Cal was born into wealth but never liked his life. His family expect him to toe the line and do what's expected but Cal has a problem with that. Cal has known since he was very young that he liked men and had no interest in women so getting married and having a son to carry on the line just isn't happening. Unfortunately, homosexuality isn't accepted in that time and Cal had to hide his sexual preferences. Cal joining the Marines during WW2 to piss off his father and ended up being one of the lucky ones that came home. Jim owns an apple orchard that he inherited from his father after he died. Jim had married a woman, Ann, when he was 20 and they had a daughter. Jim ended up joining the Marines during WW2 and also was lucky enough to come home alive. After he got home, Jim and Ann had a son, Adam. Around six months before the story begins, Ann died in a car accident, leaving Jim with 2 kids and an orchard to look after on his own. Cal and Jim met on the train to basic training and became fast friends. Cal noticed an attraction to Jim but figured that Jim was straight and had no interest in guys (especially since he's obviously married). They stay buddies through a grueling basic training and thankfully, get transferred to the same company when they're shipped out. They become mortar partners and end up together throughout the war. When the war ends, Jim goes back to his orchard and Cal (unhappily) goes to work for his father. Cal stays away from Jim, hoping that time and distance will dim his feelings for Jim, but when he finds out that Jim needs help in the orchard, he sheds his obligations to go help him. Cal and Jim are happy to see each other again but Jim's daughter, Sophie, isn't happy about people being gone and Cal coming in to take their place (both her mother and a hired hand that was much beloved and left for unknown reasons) so she tries to cause some problems. That doesn't last very long but as Jim starts to realize his attraction for Cal, he's not comfortable with it and his resistance causes some issues. Not that I can blame him much...that was a different time and if people had found out, Jim could have lost his kids. These issues cause some definite drama and pain but thankfully Jim and Cal are able to work out a way to be together (if secretly) and end the story cementing a HEA together. I greatly enjoyed this story. One of the things I love about Andrew's writing is how well she writes her characters. I could totally get into both of the MCs, understand where they're coming from and feel for them without annoyance. My only real complaint about this book is that the HEA had to be a secret one and considering the time-frame, that couldn't really be helped. Overall, I thought the story was great and I love the MCs so I'd recommend it. :D

Battle hardened Marines. Historical Romance. Small Apple Orchard. Best Friends. One Straight with a Wife. One pining after the other. Second Chance. If this doesn't scream for the slow burn Romance, then I don't know what does. . My Rating : 4.5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ . This book follows our two characters : Cal, who isn't happy with his money giving job, and Jim, who lost his wife and is in need of help. The relationship between Cal and Jim was so heartbreaking and hopeful, that you cry out loud at them to just look at each other. The dual time period really helps with the character development and makes us pine along with the characters. AND THE PINING! Omg even though we know what's at stake, I couldn't help but melt a little at the amount of affection they had for each other. Their personalities were so complimenting, I died of cuteness. . Now coming to the story and character development, the author has done an amazing job of writing the emotions, that you can't fault the slow pacing. I actually enjoyed the slow burn and the gradual development. Sophie was such a great kid and I absolutely loved the bond between her and Cal ! Aahhh the love between them. The discussion of PTSD was also something that was done really well. We get to read about the war time and it breaks your heart. Keira always makes me want to hug these characters close and just give them all my love. Especially the ending and one particular conversation was so heartwarming! . Overall, This is a great Historical Romance that discuss the effect of war and PTSD, has an amazing Best friends to lovers plot, pining, second chance, single dad, some late night apple orchard action, kids that'll melt your heart and scenes that'll make your heart break. Pick it up! . . Book 15 - January 2022 / Kindle Unlimited

I usually keep away from historical romance because I don't really like the genre, but I was intrigued and decided to buy it (having a Kindle unlimited account I usually don't buy books!). So this was a complete 180 from my usual MO and TOTALLY WORTH IT! The story might seem rather simple, but it sort of grows on you while reading and you end up cheering for Cal and Jim's love, trying to find a way for them to be together. The whole book is very well written but the epilogue is to die for 😍

I was recently asked to name several of my favorite books. My mind immediately went to the MM genre, and from there I moved through as many books as I could remember reading. Two of the three I selected were historicals. Into Deep Waters by Kaje Harper is about two World War II soldiers meeting on a ship. Their love was forbidden, of course, but they found ways to furtively come together. Things after the war weren’t much easier, but the men forged a life together and found happiness. Wilde Love by Lucy Lennox is another book I often think of fondly. In this book, two men meet in Vietnam. One is married and one is gay. Only years later do they come together for their happy ending. Keira Andrew’s Semper Fi was much like this book and I have to say it will rank up with one I really enjoyed. Cal Cunningham is gay. He was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, and go into the family business of banking. Instead, after Pearl Harbor, he signed up to join the military and became a marine. He met Jim Bennett as they were on a troop train headed off to boot camp. The men couldn’t be more different. Jim is an apple farmer. Both from New York state, their homes are mere hours apart, but it seems like different worlds. They bond over first boot camp, and then fighting in the South Pacific. There is no sugar-coating here – the war is described in a fair amount of detail and it’s no wonder these men, as well as many others, came home with what we now refer to as PTSD. After the war, Jim comes home to his wife and daughter while Cal heads to Europe with the family business. Jim and his wife Ann have a son Adam and things seem to be going okay until Ann is killed in a tragic car accident. Suddenly Jim is a widower with two young children. Cal comes to visit, sees he can help, and basically stays. This book is a slow burn. Although Cal has been in love with Jim for years, Jim has been oblivious. Although his marriage wasn’t always a happy one, Jim never perceived there could be other kinds of relationships. He’s a God-fearing man who believes that being queer is a sin. Heck, he’s even been taught that masturbation is a smite-worthy offense. Then one day Jim sees Cal in a different light. The change was believable, and I was rooting for the men to get together. Of course it’s 1948 in rural New York State, so it can’t be simple for them. There are plenty of obstacles and a dark moment to boot. But this is a Keira Andrews romance and I was pretty sure I’d get my happy ending. This book has an interesting structure. Each chapter begins during the war (the first ones in 1942, moving along until the surrender of Japan in 1945). Midway through the chapter, there would be a transition into ‘present’ day (1948). This structure worked brilliantly as the war became more vivid, the lives the men built afterward more precarious. The epilogue also contributed greatly to the flow of the story and it was nice to see things from a different perspective. John Solo narrated Ms. Andrew’s Gay Amish love series and he did another amazing job with this book. I love that he’s consistent in his delivery. I always know I’m going to get a solid performance and he delivers. He also has distinctive voices for the men and I was never confused. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be happy to recommend it. Near the top of my list.

I need to read another book like that RIGHT NOW!! It was such a beautifully written story and it's going to stick with me for a very long time. I rarely read books set back in time, but after all the rave review I was seeing I'm glad I jumped on the bandwagon and went for the ride. It's even got me speaking all gooey. Temper Fi was possibly one of the sweetest and saddest love stories. Both of the main characters were two beautiful souls, two beautiful unassuming men and I think that is why I found so endearing. The way Keira Andrews had the story seamlessly sliding along a timeline as she built their relationship waxing and waning while weaving it together was just flawless. That was so well written it was akin to watching someone sculpture time but at the same time it was like silk being unravelled.

On the face of it, this is a simple story: two men meet during WW2 and form a deep bond that changes them forever. But the richness of the world the author creates, the warmth of the characters, and the depth of the love Cal and Jim feel for each other makes this a compulsive and complex read that tugs on the heartstrings in all the right ways. The story switches from 1948 to 1942-45, showing how the two men became friends and how that friendship changes and deepens in the post-war years. The two timelines could have been jarring, but the device was well handled and each section enhanced the next so that both timelines forwarded the story as a whole. There is some heart rending angst—the sort that keeps you turning the pages past midnight to see how it’s resolved—which made the HEA all the more satisfying when came. I really fell in love with both Cal and Jim, and the book left me with a warm glow, happily imagining their life together—even if it their love had to be kept secret. I especially loved the epilogue. It’s beautifully written historical fiction, vivid and very real. I felt totally immersed in the world and was sorry to see the book end. I even found myself wondering how Cal and Jim would react to future events –such as Vietnam, the advent LGBT rights etc. All in all, a captivating read—highly recommended.