Title: Faded Love
Author: M.A. Church
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781627570534
Length: Short Story (34 pages)
Publisher: Storm Moon Press (September 13th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: 2.5~3 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: One moment in time can change your life, especially a life that revolves around your face. A near-fatal car accident leaves a world famous model’s face scarred and his career in a tailspin. The life Ashley knew is over and he wants to do nothing but fade away into nothingness. Only his lover, Will, can pull him out of his dark depression and make Ashley see even scars can be beautiful.
Product Link: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/Faded-Love.aspx
Review: So this story is a scar-themed one and the core of it is deeply sentimental and romantic.
Two models, one overachieved the other still waiting for his big break. Ashley is a gorgeous man who had it really easy in his career, as his looks are the kind that simply draws people to him effortlessly. Will while beautiful as well is still waiting for his big break. Meanwhile he wants a relationship with Ashley, a commitment, and Ashley has been avoiding that for a long while. As Will gives him an ultimatum, telling Ashly in short terms that either he commits to them and stays faithful or they’re over, Ashley once again begs out of making a decision as he runs for another job, literally running from having to give an answer.
Honestly, I didn’t like Ashley at the beginning. I thought he was a major jerk and the shallowest guy ever, while Will was too good for him. Before Ashley has a chance on giving his answer back to Will, an accident has him in the hospital and his life changed permanently as half his face get scarred, throwing his entire career to the dumpster. Clients leave him, friends were practically non-existent, and the only one left is Will, whom Ashly makes a strong effort to push away too.
You know what comes next here, the victim needs to cope and accept that his life will never be the same again and the steady rock partner at his side helps him around. I still thought Ashley didn’t deserve Will, really. If he had given an answer before the accident, committing to Will I’d be okay with this, but we’ll never know what the pre-accident Ashley would have done so, what follows is a bit biased in my head.
A second issue I had was with the trauma and the poor space in this short story that didn’t allow for proper development. While the timeframe is quite decent, the story is so short for this kind of approach that we don’t get to feel the full effect of the highs and lows a victim goes through, his emotional rollercoaster barely touched me and eventually I didn’t get to feel much for this character.
I did however enjoy the heck of the intimacy this couple had. The chemistry worked really well and the intensity the sex scenes had managed to not only grab my attention, but also actually make me hot and bothered. Very well written even if the general idea was a bit too sappy for my taste.
So while I’m a bit non-affected from the sweet romantic theme here, I do recommend this book for the fans of romance and love-prevails out there holding a strong belief you’ll enjoy it immensely.