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birdloveranne's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Intense story about some very real people, to whom very real things happen. Hated when I had to put it down. I did have some problems with the story....I hate the plot device of foreshadowing, which was used in the prologue. And I think way too many pages were devoted to their childhoods. But overall, I really great story!
lovestrucken's review against another edition
5.0
This one was a long one, but I sped through the pages in anticipation. Another heart melting masterpiece.
Angst has and will always be one of the elements that I think bring together such emotional pieces. Can’t forget that I also love military leave tropes. I can never resist a book that can bring me to tears.
Tears were shed many times as I read throughout Deacon and Crick’s rollercoaster of a relationship.
A much deserved 5 star!
Angst has and will always be one of the elements that I think bring together such emotional pieces. Can’t forget that I also love military leave tropes. I can never resist a book that can bring me to tears.
Tears were shed many times as I read throughout Deacon and Crick’s rollercoaster of a relationship.
A much deserved 5 star!
josy's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This was a tough book to get through and I hadn't expected that.
There were so many feelings to sift through: joy and pain, humor and sadness, love and hate, sweetness and ugliness. My heart was shredded along with Crick's and Deacon's but, after many tears and raging, it was also put back together again.
I loved the story and the deep, real emotions the author managed to portray in this book. It all felt genuine and I was happy dancing by the time the MCs got what they deserved all along and what they fought for with their whole hearts and souls for so many years: a happy ending and being surrounded by loving friends and family in the only place that ever felt like home to them.
There were so many feelings to sift through: joy and pain, humor and sadness, love and hate, sweetness and ugliness. My heart was shredded along with Crick's and Deacon's but, after many tears and raging, it was also put back together again.
I loved the story and the deep, real emotions the author managed to portray in this book. It all felt genuine and I was happy dancing by the time the MCs got what they deserved all along and what they fought for with their whole hearts and souls for so many years: a happy ending and being surrounded by loving friends and family in the only place that ever felt like home to them.
lenoreo's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars -- I really enjoy Ms Lane's M/M romances, though I guess technically this is only my second...weird. Anyways, I found it a little harder to "get" Crick and Deacon. They are very unique characters, but I couldn't always follow what they were thinking, their motivations, etc. It was heartbreaking, and fraught with obstacles...everything you expect. And the cast of secondary characters were fantastic. I'll still check out the next ones, but this one didn't capture me as well as The Locker Room did.
lasiepedimore's review against another edition
4.0
Mi è stato difficile, in un certo senso, arrivare ad apprezzare questo romanzo. All'inizio mi ha dato l'impressione di essere un insieme di scene di per sé godibili, ma scollegate le une dalle altre. Era come guardare il dettaglio di un mosaico senza poterne individuare il disegno generale. Ho continuato a leggere e dalla metà del romanzo il disegno generale ha iniziato a mostrarsi con tutta la sua forza.
Deacon e Carrick (Crick) sono i due protagonisti, entrambi forti, entrambi fragili. Deacon sarà in grado di mandare avanti il ranch in mezzo ai problemi economici, meteorologici, psicologici e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Eppure la lontananza da Crick (a causa di un colpo di testa di quest'ultimo) rischierà di distruggerlo, facendo emergere una vecchia paura... E il grande problema di Deacon è la sua incapacità nel chiedere aiuto (anche se sta affogando nel mare in tempesta e ha intorno tante mani tese).
Crick, da parte sua, ha alle spalle un'infanzia disagiata a causa di un ambiente familiare violento e indifferente. Da perfetto pazzo incosciente e impulsivo, farà una follia dietro l'altra, fino all'ultima, clamorosa e potenzialmente letale. Si arruolerà e partirà per l'Iraq. Stare due anni lontano da casa (e da Deacon) lo farà maturare e gli farà capire di non essere un inutile sacco di m**** come pensava suo padre.
La corrispondenza tra i due è molto bella e quello che accade mentre sono lontani dà l'idea di quanto sia difficile e dura una situazione del genere. Grande spazio nel romanzo è occupato dall'omofobia e dall'amicizia, che si trasforma in una sorta di famiglia allargata. Una famiglia vera, che protegge i suoi membri e che cura dall'ignoranza della gente.
Deacon e Carrick (Crick) sono i due protagonisti, entrambi forti, entrambi fragili. Deacon sarà in grado di mandare avanti il ranch in mezzo ai problemi economici, meteorologici, psicologici e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Eppure la lontananza da Crick (a causa di un colpo di testa di quest'ultimo) rischierà di distruggerlo, facendo emergere una vecchia paura... E il grande problema di Deacon è la sua incapacità nel chiedere aiuto (anche se sta affogando nel mare in tempesta e ha intorno tante mani tese).
Crick, da parte sua, ha alle spalle un'infanzia disagiata a causa di un ambiente familiare violento e indifferente. Da perfetto pazzo incosciente e impulsivo, farà una follia dietro l'altra, fino all'ultima, clamorosa e potenzialmente letale. Si arruolerà e partirà per l'Iraq. Stare due anni lontano da casa (e da Deacon) lo farà maturare e gli farà capire di non essere un inutile sacco di m**** come pensava suo padre.
La corrispondenza tra i due è molto bella e quello che accade mentre sono lontani dà l'idea di quanto sia difficile e dura una situazione del genere. Grande spazio nel romanzo è occupato dall'omofobia e dall'amicizia, che si trasforma in una sorta di famiglia allargata. Una famiglia vera, che protegge i suoi membri e che cura dall'ignoranza della gente.
phee's review against another edition
3.0
Okay so I didn't love this book. It was alright, pretty heartbreaking at times a definitely was hard to stomach. This had abuse, cheating, alcoholism, warfare and horrible injury in it. So if your not up for reading any of that then I suggest that you stay clear of this book.
I'm personally fine reading about such topics, I have a strong stomach and I can deal with damage and flaws in characters.
What I did like:
- That these guys didn't give up on each other. So much shit was thrown at these men and there family. Most real people would have given in or given up but Crick and Deacon didn't and it shows strength in the character that they didn't.
- That it was uncertain as to whether there was going to be a HEA or not. Your guessing until the last couple of pages.
- The writing was pretty good and enjoyable. I'd prefer it if the POV was more clear. Sometimes it would jump around and it was hard to figure out whose head we were in. But the writing was good and the author did a great job at dealing with the harsher topics.
- Cowboy/rancher/gay I will always be into this combination.
What I didn't like:
- The cheating. I can read about it in books but it's never going to be an okay thing to do. In Crick's case I can sort of reason with it and understand to an extent. But Deacon. No sir, not okay.
- That the alcoholism seemed to just be for a moment. We don't really see Deacon struggle to much with it after he gets sober. It's a lifelong battle, not just something that passes with time. It didn't seem realistic in my eyes and with the state the Deacon was in, I think he would of had more trouble staying/getting sober.
- The long twitter conversations. I get that they needed to communicate but Jesus the letters did a better job. The twitter just bored me and felt a little like page filler.
I'd definitely like to read more by Amy Lane. I'm not sure if I want to continue with this series or not. But I have faith in her as an author. Overall a good, but not great book.
I'm personally fine reading about such topics, I have a strong stomach and I can deal with damage and flaws in characters.
What I did like:
- That these guys didn't give up on each other. So much shit was thrown at these men and there family. Most real people would have given in or given up but Crick and Deacon didn't and it shows strength in the character that they didn't.
- That it was uncertain as to whether there was going to be a HEA or not. Your guessing until the last couple of pages.
- The writing was pretty good and enjoyable. I'd prefer it if the POV was more clear. Sometimes it would jump around and it was hard to figure out whose head we were in. But the writing was good and the author did a great job at dealing with the harsher topics.
- Cowboy/rancher/gay I will always be into this combination.
What I didn't like:
- The cheating. I can read about it in books but it's never going to be an okay thing to do. In Crick's case I can sort of reason with it and understand to an extent. But Deacon. No sir, not okay.
- That the alcoholism seemed to just be for a moment. We don't really see Deacon struggle to much with it after he gets sober. It's a lifelong battle, not just something that passes with time. It didn't seem realistic in my eyes and with the state the Deacon was in, I think he would of had more trouble staying/getting sober.
- The long twitter conversations. I get that they needed to communicate but Jesus the letters did a better job. The twitter just bored me and felt a little like page filler.
I'd definitely like to read more by Amy Lane. I'm not sure if I want to continue with this series or not. But I have faith in her as an author. Overall a good, but not great book.
dianem18's review against another edition
5.0
Another beautiful story from Amy Lane! This one got a little long and repetitive at the end and the beginning was a little hazy for me but there was so much goodness in the middle. The side characters (as always) were amazing and added so much to the story.
4.5 Stars!
4.5 Stars!
miriamd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
5.0
It is a rare thing for me to come across a book that I don’t want to end. I’m 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 could’ve read another 1000 pages and still wanted more! And it wasn’t because things weren’t 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. I’m 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 TBR’s).
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 doesn’t chain him to the ranch. Deacon’s 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 can’t 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 it’ll 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 I’m 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 doesn’t chain him to the ranch. Deacon’s 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 can’t 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 it’ll 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 I’m 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.
ifersinklings's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It keep me captivated and thinking about the characters all day long.