I hated the MCs with a vengeance. This thing that made me unable to like them is mentioned in the first chapter so it's not exactly a spoiler but I'll put it in spoiler tags just in case.

There is cheating in this book.
I don't mind cheating in romance books as a rule, but the way it was done here just... didn't feel right at all. In fact it made me kind of disgusted with the MCs.
John and Gabriel had been in love with each-other for years, but couldn't do anything about it except in secret because of DADT. Gabriel took it hard and was really lonely and always wanted a family, so he married a woman and had two kids with her. But did that mean he would stop seeing John for the entirety of their marriage? Of course not. But not just that. He named his firstborn after John. He cheated on his wife for around 15 years, then divorced her a year after John retired from the army, all without an ounce of guilt. That woman was treated like garbage and it made me want to punch something. And the way they treated her after she was told about their affair was condescending AF. Yeah, the MCs had it tough in the army because of DADT. But guess what? They CHOSE that life. They chose every hard thing that happened to them. So the way they made it all about them when she was angry and hurt? Selfish move. On the other hand, she didn't chose to marry a liar who pretended to love her because he was lonely. So when she did what she did to John I actually rooted for her. So I really couldn't care less about what the MCs went through and their romance. ( )

3.25 stars
A gentle romance between two former military men whose relationship goes back 25 years. John and Gabriel are easy going characters, protective of the kids who seem to flock around them, and the only really objectionable thing about the two is that they have a thing for dancing to Super Freak (OK ... I like the song too ...).

I know there are people who get all uptight due to the fact that Gabriel is married the whole time he and John are together, but it really doesn't bother me that much. In fact, it's surprisingly one of the more realistic bits of the story, since it echoes a scenario that a lot of gay men have had to deal with throughout history.

So what really annoyed me? The lack of research, not only about the University of New Mexico (UNM) (she mentions the cool green grass, but not the the duck pond which is where the cool, green grass resides), but also basic points about Albuquerque, where this story is, supposedly, set, and, as an addict, the differences between chili and chile.

Chili, especially here in my home state, more like Texas Chili, made with kidney beans, ground beef, red chili, tomatoes, and whatever else you might like to put in ... Chile, on the other hand, refers to a type of chile pepper which is grown here in NM as opposed to any of the peppers grown elsewhere. (In fact, the state has taken steps to protecting our native crops against outside encroachment from other places.) I know, I'm over blowing this, a bit(?), but really, if you're going to set a story in a particular place, you should take a few minutes and do some real research on that place.

As for Albuquerque as a setting? This book could have been set Anywhere, USA. The complete lack of description of the city, other than vague references to downtown and the restaurant Ho Ho's (a real place, moved to a new location since this book came out), is really disappointing. Ask any native about area landmarks and the one they'll point you to, but never gets referenced once in the book, is Sandia Peak which borders the eastern edge of the city. It dominates the skyline here. The tallest building in Albuquerque is 22 stories - it's the only building that will ever get that tall due to sandstone, earthquakes, and no one's desire to ruin the view with ugly buildings.

Today, while I'm writing this, for instance, the air is so clear and sharp, it's almost like I could reach out and touch Sandia Peak, even though I'm several miles away. I can go out and see the Sangre de Cristos clear as day north of where I live, and the sky is so blue, it's breathtaking. The author never manages to convey any of that. More's the pity.

OK ... now that I'm over that. I did like the characters, John and Gabriel, Kim, John's adopted nephew, and the others who populate this world. I found the end a little too fairy tale like though, and was disappointed in the balloon scene - where was the scenery as they lifted off? ( )

This was a really enjoyable read. I liked that the guys were a little older and let's be honest, a bit stuck their military ways. It's not a terribly smutty book, lots of fade to black. The story telling and conflict were pretty tight and kept me well enguaged. I did wonder at the ease of the marriage break up. The kids seemed more well adjusted than I'd anticipated. The ex wife less so. I guess some of the novel felt a little cookie cutter neat. However, this did not detract from my enjoyment in any way. Great secondary characters too. It was a very pleasant read. ( )

The General and the Horse-Lord

No spoilers, I talk about what I found in this book, not what is actually in it.

Coolest title this year, together with what must be truly the ugliest cover.
Well, fabulous things have been known to come also in unexpected packages, and this book was recommended to me by Con Riley, and that’s usually enough for me.

And boy, does this book ever deliver, it is a scathing and fantastic swing at the Don’t ask, don’t tell.

It is a vision of the freeing of souls, the opening of minds, the possibility to move firmly into what and who you are, free to be you. To not miss out on a huge part of what is life, which is love.

This book does all that, and at the same time it is humorous, screaming-out-loud funny in places, especially where the young, crazy artistic boys meet with the two closeted-for-decades soldiers—there is a clash and a bang and so, so, so much love. Both between the generations and between the peer groups.

Then it takes a nose-dive into the mandatory angst, and I was okay with that, too.

I’m in an excerpt-kind-of-mood today, so here are some of my favorite moments:

”All you want to do when you’re fourteen is snatch up a broadsword and hack something to pieces, then find a big rock and fuck it to death.”

“John, did you see those boys at the bar the other night? They weren’t just out and proud, they were out and proud in flashing neon, you know?”

“It seems to me I’ve been missing something critical. I see that in you too. Missing the right to love. The right to make a life together.”

“’Would we have to play the gay-card?’
Gabriel sighed. ‘John, we’re gay. You know that, right?’”

“I’ll find some smoke granades. Smoke is always good to make a confusing situation a little more confusing.”

“If you ask one more lost boy to move into the house, I’m going to start building a barracks in the back yard.”

It has made me cry, and smile, and scream out loud with laughter, as anyone who has been following my updates know. It was well-written, with only three or four spelling errors. (But honestly? “Hanger” is not the word you’re looking for when talking about where to park your Apache, okay? Try “hangar”).

This story was so vividly painted that I still have an image of the house, the streets, the places they went, right here in my head. The characters were so real, so consistent with who they were that they just convinced me of the whole story. I know what the house looks like. The garage and the back yard. Ho-Ho’s food joint is a real place in my head.

Kim, oh Kim! He must be the most darling young man on the planet. I love him so much.

Honor. Pride. Love. Duty. Family. Romance. Friendship. Hate. Pain. Support. Comfort. Justice. And, of course, cheating. Yourself, your partner, your life, your very soul.
Now, the only note of pain, for me, in this book, was the character Martha, who was painted out to be the villain. Well, excuse me if I go outside and barf, but she had fucking reason to be pissed off. A lot of wrong had been done to her. A lot.

That said, this book gets all the stars from me. It wasn’t the heartbreak extraordinaire that I was led to believe, going in, but it was hard. It was hard work, trials and tribulations.

It was good, and safe, and home, and happy, and sad, and terrifying, and beautiful, and more. So much more.

What I will take with me now, when moving on, is Kim.
Kim and his love for his friends, his uncle, and for pink nail polish.


***
I was NOT asked to read this book by anyone, I paid for it with my own money, as I do for all the books I read, all the music I listen to and the movies I watch.
( )