Anne Elizabeth – Once a Seal – Interview and Review

Once a Seal
Navy Seals (Book 2)
by Anne Elizabeth
Released: November 5, 2013Links to order Once a Seal: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

 

Description:
It’s going to take a SEAL’s strength to make this marriage work

Every woman dreams of marrying the perfect man-handsome, thoughtful, strong, and sensitive -and Aria Kavanagh believes she’s found the ultimate hero in Chief Petty Officer Daniel McCullum. But being a U.S. Navy SEAL wife is a serious challenge, especially when the missions are putting more than their love in the line of fire. Can they jump the hurdles and handle the daily rigors without falling apart? Or will the pressures attached to the handsome uniform have them both questioning if their dedication is worth it? Every moment matters when the only thing that truly lasts is love.

 

Review:

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Once A Seal by Anne Elizabeth can be classified as a contemporary romance.  This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I have to say she shows promise.  Her story held absolute realistic characters and a extremely realistic storyline.  I totally related to this story on a personal level having served many years in the Canadian Forces myself, and I often found myself nodding in agreement, cringing as I read about a civilian trying to adapt to the regimented life of military members and praying that this marriage between our main characters will survive all the stress.

Our story starts off with a bang.  Our leading lady Aria is on a beach, in her wedding gown, eager for her soon to be hubby (that would be our main man Dan) to arrive via helicopter.  As much as I would of loved to believe this was romantic, it was far from it.  Dan is a Navy SEAL who is time crunched after completing a mission.  Though he was late to his own wedding he marries Aria and off they go to start their life together.

While honeymooning near the base, Dan is called away to tackle some military tasks and immediately Aria is thrown into life as a military wife.  After only having known Dan a few weeks prior to marriage, she is shocked to find all the things she needs to know to be a successful military wife.  It seems Dan explains things on the fly just expecting Aria to comply and accept her new life.  I was completely overwhelmed for her.

While trying to adjust to military life, Aria begins to get upset at how little Dan is home and how she is required to do all on her own (all meaning set up house, adapt to military life and even attend military wives functions).  Throw in unplanned guardianship of her younger brother who after much lose is rebelling, Aria is scarcely keeping it together and often is  questioning if she should of married Dan.  Dan on the other hand seems to think that Aria will conform without complaint like a good little military wife.  Add present dangers for them both due to Dan’s occupation, and both healing from troubled pasts, it’s no surprise when things start to fall apart between these two.

Okay … so as I mentioned earlier, this is an absolute realistic story.  I was impressed with the little details that Anne Elizabeth included with regards to military protocol.  Clearly she has either served, has been a spouse of a service member and/or has friends who serve.  She also dove into some action scenes of Dan and his fellow SEAL’s engaged in dangerous missions.  The camaraderie of SEAL brother’s and SEAL wives was evident as well.  I will say though that this book tended to drag a little.  I became bored a few times while reading prolonged descriptions that really could of been edited out.  I think that disturbed the natural flow of the story.

So, the big question is.  Does Aria have what it takes to be a SEAL wife?  Can she adjust and will Dan understand that she needs time to understand all the protocols, rules and his frequent absence?  What is Dan willing to risk to keep Aria?  You’ll have to check it out for yourself …LOL

HAPPY READING!

Review by Rachel

Copy provided by Publisher



Anne, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. 

TRC:  Can you please tell us about yourself?

Anne:  I’m a Navy wife, a step-mother, a grandmother, a romance writer, a columnist, and a comic creator. I have a BS in Business and A MS in Communications from Boston University. I am a member of the Author’s Guild and RWA as well as a regular presenter at RT Book Lovers Convention. My contemporary romance is for adults and focuses on Spec Ops and Navy SEALS, and my paranormal comics are geared toward teens. I like the outdoors and we have an exuberant yellow Lab.

TRC:  When and how did you first become interested in writing?

Anne:  Books have intrigued from the time I was a child. My mother tells a story about me…that I learned to read at age three so I could put my own stories into books. Unfortunately, it took me a little longer to learn to write.

TRC:  Once a Seal, which was released last week, is your second book about Navy Seals.  Is this a series about Navy Seals, or are they standalones?

Anne:  Each book is about a different Team, but several of the characters are reoccuring. For those that enjoy continuity, I believe they’ll enjoy the link; and those that prefer standalones, readers can pick up a book and start from anywhere.

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Once a Seal?

Anne:  Book Blurb: Every woman dreams of marrying the perfect man-handsome, thoughtful, strong, and sensitive -and Aria Kavanagh believes she’s found the ultimate hero in Petty Officer Second Class Daniel McCullum. But being a U.S. Navy SEAL wife is a serious challenge, especially when the missions are putting more than their love in the line of fire. Can they jump the hurdles and handle the daily rigors without falling apart? Or will the pressures attached to the handsome uniform have them both questioning if their dedication is worth it? Every moment matters when the only thing that truly lasts is love.

TRC: As a Navy wife, did you find it easier to use your life experience for the background of this premise?  Did you still find yourself still having to do research on Navy Seals?

Anne: I always do research. Even if I am pulling information from my own life, I want to make sure I am not making generalizations that are unfounded. So, I conduct interviews with other wives and SEALS. I will even check secondary research such as military case histories, if they are de-classified. My main goal is to represent and support the SEAL community in a positive light.

TRC:  You write Military Romance, Contemporary Romance and Spicy Romance.  Do you have a preference?   Is there any other genre you have a desire to write?

Anne: I love it all! If I could, I would write in all of the genres. Each time I change from spicy to contemporary, it stretches me to think in new directions.

TRC:  Can you please tell us what you working on now?

Anne: I am editing the third book of my SEAL series and editing my script for the fourth graphic novel of the PULSE series as well as two short comics. I enjoy having a job that lets me bring my dog to the office each day and no one minds if I wear pajamas or jeans or a business suit.

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you have a favorite place or time you like to write? What are the challenges or difficulties that you found in your writing career?

Anne: Since I am a monthly columnist for RT Book Reviews magazine on comics, manga, and graphic novels as well as a romance writer and comic creator, I have to write every day. My deadlines are mapped out on a giant calendar and to stay on-time, I work each day until I achieve my goal. There are times this schedule can be grueling and there are times that I’m so fulfilled that I cannot stop smiling.

TRC:  You have created a number of Teen Comics.  Can you please tell us about this other part of your career, and how you came to do this?

Anne: I’ve always adored comics. I began the PULSE OF POWER project when I was in high school and kept adding novel-length manuscripts and short stories to the series. When…years ago, I won a contest that Laurell K Hamilton was running and won an opportunity to be in a comic book. I met the publishers and when they found out I was a writer they asked me to pitch a project…and the rest is history. 🙂

TRC:  On your Website, I see that you enjoy doing dangerous sports such as jumping out of an airplane or flying a glider.  Have you always been this adventurous?

Anne: Yes. I was always the child with scrapped knees and elbows from all of my daredevil activities. As an adult, I have more opportunities to experience things. It’s a serious bummer when I end up on crutches!

TRC: Do you make your heroines the same?

Anne: Heavens, no! Each heroine and hero is different. They are well-rounded individuals with different tastes in food, music, clothes, etc. I like mixing things up, because it keeps me intrigued with them, too.

LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD Bananas

FAVORITE DESSERT Chocolate 🙂

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE  Both!

FAVORITE ACTOR (TV OR MOVIES)  John Lithgow

FAVORITE LITERARY CHARACTER (not your own) The Cat (from The Cat in The Hat)

DOG OR CAT?  Dog.

TRC:  Thank you, Anne for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with ONCE A SEAL.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

Anne:  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to chat with your readers on The Reading Café! HOOYAH!!!~AE



Anne Elizabeth is a published author, comic creator, and the monthly columnist for RT BOOK REVIEWS on the topic of comics, manga, and graphic novels. She was awarded the LA Banks Warrior Woman Award at the RT Book Lovers Convention in 2013. She has a BS in Business and a MS in Communications from Boston University and is a member of the Author’s Guild; Romance Writers of America; and a regular presenter at the RT BOOK LOVERS Convention. AE has published multicultural and romantic fiction with Atria/Simon & Schuster, Highland Press, and Sourcebooks and graphic novels with Dynamite Entertainment and Sea Lion Books LLC. AE grew up in Greenwich, CT, and currently lives in the mountains above San Diego with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL. In her free time, she is also a serious Amelia Earhart who is always on the hunt for a new adventure. Most recently, she jumped from an airplane and flew a glider. Her motto is “Live boldly.”

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

 

Anne and her publisher have graciously offered to give one lucky member of The Reading Café a paper copy of Once a Seal.

1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open U.S. Only

4.  Contests runs from November 14, to November 17, 2013