Beneath the Stain: Part 5 by Amy Lane

BeneaththeStain5LGTitle: Beneath the Stain: Part 5
Series: Beneath the Stain serial package
Author: Amy Lane
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Serial (95 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 26th 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Mackey is great at taking a leap of faith into a crowd –but taking one into a relationship and a future is a totally different animal. When he and Trav decide to take a risk that Mackey’s healing can hold up to them together, they know it’s going to be a long, difficult road. Mackey proves he can handle the stress of performing on his own, but when it comes to the demons that broke him in the first place, that’s a whole other song.

The first time Mackey tries to go home, it sends him into a palm-sweating, stomach heaving anxiety attack, and Trav has to concede that Mackey is still on loan from the things that almost wrecked him when he was still a kid. When news arrives that affects the entire band, Mackey can either go home and face his demons, or let them haunt him forever.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5606

Review: *Note. This review is of part 5 of the serial*
In the last installment of this series, Trav and Mackey finally established themselves as a couple, loud and in living color. Mackey has a long road ahead of him before he or anyone else can declare his road to recovery a success though. He is emotionally shattered and a recovering addict and as much as he would like to think that Trav’s love is enough to get him through anything, he is at least realistic. As unintentional as it is, his reality sometimes hurts the man he loves.

Trav knows that Mackey is far from whole, but there is something about the battered and broken young man who is so beautiful to him, that he can’t help but love him. When Trav has to leave Mackey to go overseas for a few days to check on the upcoming tour, he worries how his lover will cope without him there to hold him together. As hard as it is to hear, Mackey is honest with him when he feels the urge to use, and strong enough for now to resist it.

Mackey is determined to be strong and stay clean. For himself, his band, his family and most importantly for Trav. While Mackey still struggles with his addiction and the pull to use, he manages to stay clean, for now. Some harsh news from home threatens his newfound sobriety, and just might push Mackey over the edge.

Each installment of this serial only ups the ante. The writing is intense, emotional and captivating, pulling me further in with every dark twist of Mackey’s story. My fear now is that his relationship with Trav has become so intense that it could implode around them, and take out everyone they love in the after math. Then on the other hand, I don’t see how either of them couldn’t be right for each other, because I don’t think they could be right for anyone else. Mackey doesn’t do anything half way, and loving Trav is no exception. There love is equal parts frantic, insane and endearing.

I’m seriously sitting here biting my nails right now in anticipation of part 6. I have a few days to brace myself because I have a feeling the shit is about to hit the fan, but I’m holding out the hope that Mackey and Trav make it through this field of land minds together.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *