Title: Rock Solid
Series: Rock Solid Construction, #1
Author: Riley Hart
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (282 Pages)
Publisher: Riley Hart
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Trevor Dixon has made too many mistakes to count. Sober for thirteen months, he’s determined to do the right thing: rebuild his relationship with his family, and help his brother get Rock Solid Construction off the ground. Failing them again isn’t an option. Too bad the first estimate Trevor goes on alone is for an uptight doctor with a superiority complex.
A hand injury took away the only important thing in Dr. Simon Malone’s life—performing heart surgery. He doesn’t do well with people and has no family, but being a damn good surgeon? He always had that. Now, he doesn’t know who he is. The last thing he wants to deal with is the young construction worker who blows his shot at remodeling Simon’s home.
Trevor and Simon form an unlikely friendship. The more time they spend together, the more Trevor starts wondering if maybe Simon’s not as straight—or uptight—as he thought…and maybe Trevor’s new attraction for Simon runs both ways.
There are too many reasons they shouldn’t be together: they have little in common, their age difference, Trevor needing to focus on his sobriety…yet there’s something about each other that they just can’t shake. They don’t feel so lost when they’re together. But with their footing so unsteady, forming a relationship that’s rock solid seems impossible. There’s blow after blow, and the last one just might be powerful enough to crack their foundation for good.
ISBN-13: 1230000360661
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Solid-Construction-Book-ebook/dp/B00W421QB4
Reviewer: KathyMac
Review: Riley Hart is an auto-buy author for me so I was thrilled when I found out a new release was coming. Rock Solid is another example of Riley’s incredible writing skills and bringing characters to life.
When we meet Trevor he is well beyond his way of fighting an everyday battle of sobriety. Even though he has been clean for over a year it is a struggle to keep it that way. Blake is Trevor’s twin brother and his best friend. It was very hard on Blake watching his brother spiral out of control. It’s still hard for him as he always has that little doubt niggling in his mind that he could fall again. And, THAT, crushes Trevor more than he lets on. To see the fear and disappointment in his brother’s eyes is a constant reminder of his failure.
Trying to get his life back and stay on the straight and narrow path, Trevor joined Blake in the construction business. Together, they formed Rock Solid Construction and while the business is doing well, they still have a way to go before it is stable.
When Trevor learns of a new re-model he talks Blake into allowing him to go alone in order to get the job. Blake is hesitant fearing Trevor will mess it up but he relents giving Trevor the opportunity to succeed.
Battling everyday with his past sins and fearing a relapse is something that never leaves Trevor. It’s killing him knowing how much he put his twin and mom through being absent when partying was his priority. Knowing and seeing the way people talk and look at him when they see him is something he hopes to never face again. To get this job would mean everything to Trevor and would go a long way in proving his sincerity for staying clean and being a responsible human being.
Knocking on the homeowner’s door has Trevor’s nerves ramped up in overdrive. When Simon answers the door, let’s just say they didn’t exactly hit it off too well. Simon Malone was/is a heart surgeon who left behind everything he loved and moved to a small town. He was injured in a home robbery gone badly and now he has nerve damage in his hand. Unable to hold the tools to perform his job means he can no longer do his one and only passion…surgery.
Animosity so thick you could cut it with a knife leaves Trevor wanting to punch Simon and Simon thinking a different contractor is needed for the job. However, Trevor is determined not to lose this bid. He has something to prove, not only to himself but his brother, as well.
Simon was surprised to see Trevor come back after he already declined their offer. Even though it wasn’t very professional, he respects Trevor fighting for the chance to prove they are right for the job. Now, Trevor just has to follow through on his promises and show Blake and Simon he can do it.
Simon and Trevor are the complete opposites. On the exterior, they are night and day. Yet Simon can’t help but notice how much alike they really are when they let down the wall they each have built around them. Simon may not understand Trevor’s struggle with alcohol and drugs but he does understand losing yourself and fighting to get your life back.
During the re-model Simon and Trevor begin to form a friendship. They have a connection that continues to build each day giving them a different outlook on what was a dark desolate life.
Maybe it was the biggest mi
stake he could make.
Maybe he was rushing it.
Maybe Simon would kick him out.
All Trevor knew was he wanted to live. He grabbed the front of Simon’s shirt, pulled the man toward him, and took his mouth.
This was what he’d been waiting for.
Trevor and Simon are good together and good for each other. Simon only sees Trevor now and how hard he is trying to turn his life around. He doesn’t judge him on past mistakes like his brother and the rest of the town seem to do. He doesn’t worry if he will relapse because he didn’t see any of those times like his twin. He believes in Trevor which is something he needs desperately.
They each have issues they are trying to get through so it’s easy to see why they have become each other’s salvation. But, unfortunately, they can’t hide out in Simon’s house escaping reality forever. When they are out in public, all eyes upon them, their world they created behind closed doors where they have sex wherever they want, whenever they want, all of a sudden seems a million miles away. Their different lifestyles become more prevalent leaving Trevor uncertain of his place in Simon’s life.
When you read a story from Riley Hart you know you are going to feel strong emotions. She brings all of those emotions to the forefront of her characters and she has a way of pulling the reader in so we are also experiencing the same. I love the way she allows her characters to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and get back up. She also writes very supporting secondary characters who are strong and add realism into the storyline.
Just as everything finally seems to be running smooth, Riley throws her characters into a tailspin. You will be holding your breath in anticipation begging someone to throw a lifeline. Everything Trevor has worked for and against just may end up swirling down a toilet bowl, literally.
Through the author’s creativity and her descriptive narrative, she has the ability to keep the focus on what is important. Trevor and Simon are from two different worlds but Riley was able to take their differences and use them to balance their relationship. Even though Trevor feels weak, at times, he really is very strong. Simon sees that in Trevor and with his help and encouragement Trevor starts to believe that maybe he can do this thing called life. Of course, he’s hoping Simon will be by his side allowing their relationship to grow.
Simon only wanted to get his hand fixed and return to the love of his life. Being a surgeon and creating miracles with someone’s heart was all he ever dreamed of. When Simon is faced with possibly losing Trevor, he realizes that maybe being a surgeon is no longer is true love. Admitting it will take courage but he knows Trevor needs that now, more than ever.
If he has any hope of not losing Trevor he needs to man up and tell him how he feels. Dealing with hearts has always been Simon’s expertise. When it comes to dealing with his own, he doesn’t have the first clue what to do.
Riley is an incredible author who has the ability of taking damaged characters and giving them strength and perseverance. If you want to feel passion and love and see resilience at its best, then read Riley Hart. I highly recommend Rock Solid and all of her other books in her catalog.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *