Title: A Tarnished Strength
Series: Pickleville, #4
Author: April Kelley
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (107 Pages)
Publisher: Extasy Books (May 15, 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: Violence has always solved most of his problems, but it can’t help him win over a man whose whole life is surrounded by things that scare him.
Brad Flynn had a rough start to life. With an abusive father and an addiction problem, his life hasn’t been easy. He has always been the resident bad ass and the town drunk. Even when he gets sober and becomes an upstanding member of the community, it doesn’t seem to change the town’s mind about him. If it weren’t for his two brothers, he would have no one.
His past doesn’t make having a love life easy either, but when he meets Kendrick Ashby, the local bar owner, he wants to give it a try. The only problem is Kendrick has his own problems, ones that make having a violent boyfriend impossible. Both have to decide if dating is even worth a try.
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0338-6
Product Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/A-Tarnished-Strength/
Reviewer: Lisa
Review: Each book in the Pickleville collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
This is one of those stories that just pulls your heart out of your chest and have you in tears. To know what a father can do to a child that is so evil will have you wanting to rip him apart. To see how they got to where they are at now is amazing but scary. I came across April’s books not too long ago.
At first when I saw the series title I wasn’t so sure what to expect but I am quite pleased with them. There are many stories out there that are similar and will have you in tears, but there is just a twist to these that will make them even better.
Brad, Luis and Caden had been raised by their abusive father physically, mentally and sexually. It was not until the bastard started in on Luis that Brad knew he had to get them out. He beat the hell out of the old man, and whisked them away. However Brad was always angry and at the time he hated his sexuality. He always feared that being gay meant he loved what his father did, but it was not till he ended up in prison that he got help.
Everyone in town, however, looked at him as the drunk and bully that he had been. Even Kendrick seemed afraid of him. The one man who made him hard as hell and left him wanting.
Kendrick had been in his own hell for a while and got out. He was scared and feared that Brad would hurt him. Then he realized that Brad might just be the man for him. Brad showed him a side that he had never expected and he took the time to really look at the man. It would take time but these two men can heal each other.
This is a love story that has the right amount of love, pain, temper, excitement and danger all rolled into an amazing package. I also love the fact that the brothers are extremely protective of each other and a bit on the annoying side. I feel for the brother Luis and cannot wait to read his story. He is the one that draws me in more than the actual main characters. There is just something about him. But I think Brad is the one that pulls me between these two men. They are just the right characters for this book.
This book just grabs your attention from the moment you start reading and keeps it there till you have read every word. They will also have you laughing at some parts of the story. Although most of it is tone in a serious tone, there is a hint of humor that makes it perfect. I love how the characters are beautifully written with big hearts, but if you cross them there is hell to pay. They will protect the men they love and their family with all they have in them.
This book gave me everything I could ask for in a story and so much more. I loved this one and cannot wait for the next amazing story. I can honestly tell you that this is going to be one of those types of series. One that I will have to read over and over. I love the way all the feelings they felt was involved in this story. It was the perfect story for me and I loved it. I can tell that when April puts out a book I will be there to eat them up. Trust me it will keep you laughing, crying, loving and having fun.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *