Cowboy SEAL Homecoming: Navy SEAL Cowboys Book 1 by Nicole Helm

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           My mom and I have a way of determining whether or not she should give me a romance novel she has read.  If she thinks I will want to throw it (usually because of something the hero has done), she does not give it to me.  There are other considerations as well, but that is the big one.  While I definitely can say I didn’t feel like throwing Cowboy SEAL Homecoming, I did want to kick the hero in the butt every now and then.             

                Alex Maguire is finally returning home.  After spending years in the military, home is the best place for him to go.  He has inherited half of his father’s ranch, and he and his step-sister, Becca Denton, are going to turn it into a working ranch were military veterans can work their way back to civilian life.  To help them do this, Alex has brought his friends Gabe Cortez and Jack Armstrong.  All three men were wounded when a grenade was thrown into their vehicle.  Now released from the military, they must figure out what to do with their lives.

                Becca is also figuring out her life.  As a young girl she became very sick, and ever since her mother has been over-protective.  She didn’t let Becca around many people, causing Becca to lack the social skills most others have by her age.  She’s awkward around men, which makes Alex think he can take control of everything, as he is used to doing.  Little does he know how much of a fighter Becca truly is.  Especially when it comes to something, or someone, she cares about.

                While Alex and Becca are technically step-siblings, they certainly weren’t raised that way.  Much older and always away serving in the military, Alex has spent hardly any time with Becca at all.  Still, it’s awkward for Alex when he starts to get feelings for Becca.  Plus, despite his claims he is fine, Alex is struggling with things he experienced in the military and in childhood.  He refuses to open up to Becca about what he is going through despite how close they become. 

This is a problem for Becca.  She knows that no matter how much she loves Alex, she can’t be with him if he won’t let her in.  This leaves it completely up to Alex as to whether they will stay together or not.

                Alex’s stubborn and denying ways were frustrating throughout the book.  But what made me want to kick him was his insistence on driving.  It wasn’t his vehicle, and yet he automatically assumed Becca would hand the keys right over.  He even held his hand out for them.  This arrogance is what made me want to kick Alex in the butt; to wake him up to his obnoxious ways.  There were other instances too, but this was the biggest one.

                Still, Alex was a good character.  In fact, everyone was.  Even Becca’s mother came around and let go of her controlling ways, making her a better character in the end. 

Well, she let go to a point.  There are still some things Becca’s mother is dealing with, just like all the characters are.  They each have their own individual struggles, and not everything is resolved by the end of the book.  Which is okay.  That’s what it’s like in real life, especially for those coming out of the military.  Not everything is wrapped up easily.  With more books in the series to go, I’m expecting things to improve for all of the characters.  It’s just going to take time.