Helpful Score: 6
Although this book came highly recommended to me, I have to admit that at first it was a struggle to read it. Not for any flaw on the part of the writer or book itself, its just not what I was expecting. But even when I'd put it down, something about the characters haunted me until I picked it up again. I'm so happy I didn't give up on it!
I was expecting a hot, little m/m read and while it is that, it is so much more. Once I put away those expectations, this book really sang for me.
The book takes place over a dozen or so years so you really get to know the characters and why they act the way they do. You may rant and rail at them for their human foibles but that is the same reason you end up loving them.
Much like Chris Owens's Bareback, these are characters you will grow to love and hate leaving at the end of the book.
I was expecting a hot, little m/m read and while it is that, it is so much more. Once I put away those expectations, this book really sang for me.
The book takes place over a dozen or so years so you really get to know the characters and why they act the way they do. You may rant and rail at them for their human foibles but that is the same reason you end up loving them.
Much like Chris Owens's Bareback, these are characters you will grow to love and hate leaving at the end of the book.
wow, what an amazing story. I love how this took place over several years. Ms. Lane takes her time and doesn't rush through anything so you feel the power and emotion all the way through. She adds an amazing cast of characters around Deacon and Crick and every bit of the book seems real. I too had to put the book down once for a short time because the emotion got to me, but after that it was like an amazing roller coaster. This is one of my favorites.
I just plain love Amy Lane. This book was excellent. I rarely cry while reading, but this story and the sequel Keeping Promises both brought me to tears many times. This book would have worked with a hetero couple or a dog couple or any other couple you can name. The characters made me care about THEM, not their sexuality. I rooted for them and laughed with them and hoped with them. I would have been happy to have had another 400 pages of Promis Rock!
It is a rare thing for me to come across a book that I dont want to end. Im usually in a big hurry for things to finish up so I can move on to the next one, especially when the book is over 300 or so pages. Not so here. I couldve read another 1000 pages and still wanted more! And it wasnt because things werent wrapped up (because they were) but because the bond between the main characters was so warm and real that I felt sad leaving them. I was as if my cuddly warm blanket had just been ripped forever from my cold, shivering body. Sniff. Im going to miss these people and will have to buy and read the sequels when I finish writing this (unless I already have them in my shamefully large pile of TBRs).
Carrick (Crick) Francis fell in love with Deacon Winters the moment he set eyes on him. Crick was just a lonely child living with an abusive stepdad and emotionally absent mother and caring for his many younger sisters when he first spied gloriously beautiful Deacon sitting calmly and confidently astride a horse. It was then he knew he would do anything to get the attention of that godlike older boy. Deacon is drawn to Crick as well and takes him under his wing, little brother-like and teaches him all about horses. Being around Deacon and his kind, loving dad change Crick and though he is impulsive and makes dumbass choices, they bring out the best in him. As the boys grow, so does their bond and their undeniable feelings of love for each other. Deacon, reserved and responsible, keeps his desire for Crick to himself for years, waiting for him to grow up and wanting him to live a full life. A life that doesnt chain him to the ranch. Deacons life is the ranch and he has no desire to go off to college or have exciting adventures. Good lord, I loved Deacon. He is a guy who wants to make everyone happy, even if it means denying himself what he wants most in this world. Ouch, my eyes are watering again.
Promise Rock is an angst-a-thon. Deacon and Crick cant catch a break. The author piles one traumatic event atop another and until the oh-so-sweet and hard earned conclusion. There is a huge misunderstanding that keeps them apart for two years which takes up a good chunk of the book. Normally a separation of this length would put me off a romance but it works here. Damn, does it ever work here. Their love grows stronger, they talk via letters and later by tweets and both characters grow and change as they are forced to deal with loneliness and a grief so strong itll bring you to your knees. And of course the never-ending trauma and setbacks that befall them and those they love. This book ripped my heart into little, itty bitty, raw pieces and healed them all with its beautiful storytelling, characterization and satisfying conclusion.
I could go on for days about this sexy, lovely, pain-filled romance and its incredibly well drawn cast of characters but Im going to stop here because my mascara is starting to run and that's never pretty and this is a book that should be experienced and not spoiled by my big mouth.
Carrick (Crick) Francis fell in love with Deacon Winters the moment he set eyes on him. Crick was just a lonely child living with an abusive stepdad and emotionally absent mother and caring for his many younger sisters when he first spied gloriously beautiful Deacon sitting calmly and confidently astride a horse. It was then he knew he would do anything to get the attention of that godlike older boy. Deacon is drawn to Crick as well and takes him under his wing, little brother-like and teaches him all about horses. Being around Deacon and his kind, loving dad change Crick and though he is impulsive and makes dumbass choices, they bring out the best in him. As the boys grow, so does their bond and their undeniable feelings of love for each other. Deacon, reserved and responsible, keeps his desire for Crick to himself for years, waiting for him to grow up and wanting him to live a full life. A life that doesnt chain him to the ranch. Deacons life is the ranch and he has no desire to go off to college or have exciting adventures. Good lord, I loved Deacon. He is a guy who wants to make everyone happy, even if it means denying himself what he wants most in this world. Ouch, my eyes are watering again.
Promise Rock is an angst-a-thon. Deacon and Crick cant catch a break. The author piles one traumatic event atop another and until the oh-so-sweet and hard earned conclusion. There is a huge misunderstanding that keeps them apart for two years which takes up a good chunk of the book. Normally a separation of this length would put me off a romance but it works here. Damn, does it ever work here. Their love grows stronger, they talk via letters and later by tweets and both characters grow and change as they are forced to deal with loneliness and a grief so strong itll bring you to your knees. And of course the never-ending trauma and setbacks that befall them and those they love. This book ripped my heart into little, itty bitty, raw pieces and healed them all with its beautiful storytelling, characterization and satisfying conclusion.
I could go on for days about this sexy, lovely, pain-filled romance and its incredibly well drawn cast of characters but Im going to stop here because my mascara is starting to run and that's never pretty and this is a book that should be experienced and not spoiled by my big mouth.
I had a problem with incredible stupidity of a character, but otherwise loved the story. It's a five star!
My first read of author Amy Lane. Amazingly Excellent book! Ms. Lane keeps the readers interest thru out the book. I've read a fair amount of books and in quite a number of the books I've read I've skipped over parts, but not this one. If you have an issue with M/M sex scenes you may not want ot read this book
