Tag Archives: Ellery Mountain

Release Blitz: The Gardener and the Marine by RJ Scott

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The Gardener and the Marine | RJ Scott

Ellery Mountain #9

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Release Date: August 20th, 2021

Publisher: Love Lane Books

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Length: 50,000 words

Universal Link: http://www.rjscott.co.uk/read-gardenermarine

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58663081-the-gardener-and-the-marine

READ MY REVIEW

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Blurb

Harrison is alone and hurting with his memories gone, but Toby shows him that love can heal even the most broken of hearts.

After losing his entire team in a roadside bomb, Harrison is left with a traumatic brain injury, a broken body, and scars on his heart that might never heal. Staying at the Ellery Mountain Veterans Center is the first step in healing, but short-term memories evade him, and the only thing he trusts is the love of Barney, his support dog.

Until he meets Toby.

Toby lands the chance of a lifetime, using his horticultural skills to aid in working with veterans during their physical and mental recovery. Meeting Harrison on his first day goes badly, but there is something between them that could be more than just friendship.

With time, it could even become love.

This story was previously available in weekly instalments in my newsletter. The file has been edited and a few scenes added.

Excerpt

I didn’t look at them, let alone talk to them, and even though I sensed Daniel wanted to ask me if I was okay, I ignored him and was quickly halfway up the stairs, my hand on Barney’s collar, hoping like hell for my leg not to buckle. He didn’t call up after me. No one shouted in this place, because it was an oasis of peace and a secure shelter for all those damaged vets who’d been chewed up and spit out by war.

When my recollection of why I was here hit me front and center, I counted myself as one of the lucky ones to find a place to hide. I wasn’t a danger to anyone else, but I was a danger to myself. The night terrors, the panic attacks, the stupid fucking inability to be a goddamned man—that was why I was there. The hospital staff healed my body to the best of their ability, the shrinks attempted to fix my head, but I didn’t have peace, and Barney was the only thing I cared about.

Caring got you hurt, and I was too raw to extend any affection or understanding to anyone but Barney.

I slumped onto my bed, then flopped backward, hands extended to each edge, Barney jumping up and curling himself right into my side. My heart raced, my head hurt, but once I matched my breathing to Barney’s and allowed his presence to soothe me, I began to calm.

“Danno, Brat, Diaz, Spook, and me,” I whispered into the room. “Danno, Brat, Diaz, Spook, and me.” The names of the fallen were a reminder of what I’d seen and lost and were a way to connect with the world around me. Other people grieved Danno and Brat’s loss—they’d only been kids both of them with big families. Diaz had a girlfriend who blamed me for her beloved dying on my watch. Spook had been married no more than a month and had left a pregnant wife behind.

I had my mom, but I’d pushed her away when I was in hospital. I know that because it’s written in my book.

Why didn’t the explosion take me?

About The Series

Ellery Mountain—a series of books set in the town of Ellery in the Smoky Mountains focusing on heroes as they navigate the barren landscape of being gay in a small town.

Read stories of men like Finn the cop, Daniel the ex-marine, Kieran the carpenter, Marines, SEALs, teachers, soldiers, and a town that embraces them with love.

1. The Fireman and the Cop

2. The Teacher and the Soldier

3. The Carpenter and the Actor

4. The Doctor and the Bad Boy

5. The Paramedic and the Writer

6. The Barman and the SEAL

7. The Agent and the Model

8. The Sinner and the Saint

9. The Gardener and the Marine

10. The Soldier and the Bodyguard – currently a free weekly series in RJ’s newsletter

** Readers who want the next story in free instalments can sign up here: https://rjscott.co.uk/GMNL**

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About The Author

Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

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RJ crafts a beautiful slowburn recovery romance in this latest Ellery instalment

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58663081._SY475_The Gardener and the Marine by R.J. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oops, forgot to come back to this one.

RJ originally released this as a newsletter serial week by week but I held off on reading it as I wanted to wait til it was done.

It was worth it.

This is a sympathetic portrayal of the effects of combat and survivor guilt and how someone can offer a way by which a life can be given new purpose – but not cured or ‘got over’ by some magic dick.

Harrison isn’t ever going to be free from the effects of seeing his Army buddies die and him being the only survivor.

But working with Toby in the gardens at the veteran’s centre ground him and provide a connection he’s not had with life for some time.

It’s a slow burn, and that’s as it should be, but there’s no doubting it once these two men throw their all into making it work.

One of my favourites in the series .

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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A wonderful return to Ellery Mountain

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The Sinner and the Saint (Ellery Mountain #8)The Sinner and the Saint by R.J. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure, when I heard RJ was heading back to Ellery Mountain, whether it would still be as good as the seven previous novellas given that all the characters had been nicely getting on with their lives in Mickey’s book.

But, I should have had faith as we get two new characters with links to the area who are another perfect fit into this small town with its close knit community and strong friendships.

I laughed out loud at the reference to long running British TV hospital drama Casualty, and I chuckled with delight at Nick’s sharp tongue and sarcastic response to Ben at their first meeting.

Things aren’t maybe quite as developed as they have been in other books in the series, but it isn’t to any detriment. Both Nick and Ben are fleshed out with unique voices and characteristics and I believed the Army medic could find peace with a British actor escaping from his wealthy family.

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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