Friday Fireworks!!

It's Friday so, yes, time for Friday Fireworks!!

To win the Kindle Fire, you will have to scroll to the bottom of the blog for the entry information.


But for my Friday Fireworks blog, I want to salute the Marine Corps.

A few of you, who know me in real life, may know that I come from a military family. I was raised surrounded by Marine men and taught the values of that way of life from a very young age. My uncle, JuJu (Virgil Parnell), served in the Corps and traveled overseas for many years, some of the proudest of his life. He kept many of his old buddies from those days until the day he died and when my mother married a Marine when I was a teenager, I found that the Corps was a brotherhood that didn't care about age or any other restrictions...if you were a Marine, you were automatically family to them.

My older brother served for awhile. My father couldn't have been prouder of his choice. When I, right out of highschool, decided I wanted to serve our country as well and signed on to the Air Force...well, I didn't earn the proud slaps on the back. Semper Fi...doesn't extend to the flyboys. I mean, it was good I chose to join and all...but it just wasn't the same.

My author pal, Heather Long, found a quote that brought tears to my eyes, especially since we recently lost Uncle JuJu. I have heard my entire life that they are "Always a Marine," but never really understood the saying. On her website (which you can find here) Heather traced back the history of this truism. "Now the official motto of the Marine Corps League, the origin of the statement is credited to a gung-ho Marine Corps master sergeant, Paul Woyshner. During a barroom argument he shouted, “Once a Marine, always a Marine!” MSgt. Woyshner was right. Once the title “U.S. Marine” has been earned, it is retained. There are no ex-Marines or former-Marines. There are active duty Marines, retired Marines, reserve Marines, and Marine veterans. Nonetheless, once one has earned the title, he remains a Marine for life. - USMC Heritage"
I've been reading Heather's Always A Marine Series since she created it and found it to be nothing but respectful to the branch of the military that I hold so dear to my heart.

She has managed to capture the fact that they aren’t just soldiers, but men and women who give up time and make very personal sacrifices to defend freedoms we take for granted.

Since Memorial Day can be easily redefined as a day to say thank you to our military men and women and the families that love them, I thought featuring her series on my blog a fitting Memorial Weekend salute.

Once Her Man, Always Her Man
Can Luke and Rebecca bridge the pain of a decade long abandonment in one cold Texas night?


In this story, Heather takes a man and a woman, separated years before when he left to serve, and reunites them. Will one night be enough to span a lifetime of hurt? She does a wonderful job, in this one, of telling a long lost love story in a way that is fresh and new.


Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

They’ve shared everything, but will one night be enough?

Heather steamed my glasses up with this menage story. Jazz is not your typical Marine but then again the men that Heather teams her up with are anything but mundane themselves. My only hope, when reading this one, was that perhaps there is more to come of them since the author left this one very open for more of their story at a later date.


Tell It To The Marine
Take one Marine and introduce him to the movie star of his dreams and it sounds like a script right out of Hollywood, but for James Westwood and Lauren Kincaid, reality just might be the ticket they’ve both been searching for…
Coming Soon!

Proud To Serve Her
Sparks fly, wine pours and what follows is a total seduction of the senses as Damon prepares a birthday that Helena will never forget.
Coming soon!


Her Marine
The last thing either expected was a soul deep connection that brings them both wonder, but is the spark of lust enough to bring these two loners in from the cold?
Coming Soon!


So, yeah, if you are looking for a great military romance to curl up with for the holiday, pick one of this series up. More are coming out and...They really touch upon what it is all about. Real people, really feeling something.

Friday Fireworks Blog Hop QuestionWhatseries is Mel known for and even has a Facebook Group for?
(Hint: Check out her ‘books’ at melissaschroeder.net )


Rules:
10 Authors. 10 Questions. 10 Easy Answers.

You will go from blog to blog gathering questions about each author. There will be a hint and a link that will lead you to the answer.

In order to be entered to win the big prize, a Kindle Fire, you will need to send your answers to Brandy at bray829@gmail.com SUBJECT: Friday Fireworks
You must include all 10 questions with answers.

Winner of the big prize will be drawn and announced on Heather Long's blog. Any prizes offered individually on the author's page will be taken care of by that author.
Who's Participating:

• Heather Long http://dailydose-fantasyromance.blogspot.com/
• Virginia Nelson http://virginianelson.blogspot.com/ (You are here!)
• Melissa Schroeder http://melissaschroeder.blogspot.com/?zx=21ee10920fd2d73b -new question posted (edited 5/25 @ 7:25 AM MST))
• Saranna DeWylde http://sarannadewylde.blogspot.com/?zx=8e82d0d44dcc642 -Post not live, okay to skip (edited 5/25 @7:25 MST
• Delilah Devlin http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/
• Lissa Matthews http://lissamatthews.com/blog/
• Jenn LeBlanc http://illustratedromance.com/blog/
• Wendi Zwaduk http://wendizwaduk.blogspot.com/?zx=5e01431d08682aa5
• Kris Cook http://musingsofkriscook.blogspot.com/
• Missy Jane http://msmissyjane.blogspot.com/?zx=d12d8f0681fd0cc2