REVIEW TOUR - True Faith (The Young Americans Series, #2) by TL Bradford

REVIEW TOUR

Book Title: True Faith (The Young Americans Series, #2)

Author: TL Bradford

Publisher and Cover Artist: TL Bradford

Release Date: June 15, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: New Gay Relationship Issues, Lovers to Coupledom

Themes: Fame, Temptation, Internal/External personal struggles

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 116 863 words / 262 pages

It is the second story in the series.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Temptation, by any measure, is a fickle beast.

And when you are given the world on a silver platter, it's downright wicked.

 If granted just one wish, what would you choose? Money? Fame? Power? Love? The world could be your oyster, if you were willing to take the chance. But choose wisely and prepare for the consequences. Everything has its price. Can you afford it? Be careful what you wish for. And remember, smiling faces tell lies… 

 **** Noah & Josh 

The entire world witnessed their fight for love. Obstacles were beaten and won. They were living their best lives. Wait? Is that all? Is that the end? Seriously, did you really think it would be that easy? Oh, hell no. Their story is just beginning.

Josh and Noah are navigating the twists and turns of their newly public relationship…to varying degrees of success. When they are lured into the trappings of Hollywood's influence, they end up on the rollercoaster ride of their lives. Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a bumpy ride. You will need to hold on tight.

Temptation, by any measure, is a fickle beast. And when you are given the world on a silver platter, it's downright wicked. Truth, lies, fame, fortune. All bonds will be tested. Will the binds that ground them finally break? 

True Faith is a full-length, slow-burn love story. It contains a cast of fully-developed characters that encounter romance, heartache, laughter, and life lessons. It contains adult language, mature themes, and is best enjoyed by those over the age of 18.   

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

True Faith, the second book in The Young Americans series, picks up where Just Like Heaven leaves off.

I adore Josh and Noah in the first book. Now they are dealing with long distance, other's criticisms, and Josh trying to deal with his independence. Their current journey is one bump after another. It isn't an easy read, as it's full of conflict and emotional distance. The angst seriously hurt my heart at times.  

The author delves into the world of Hollywood and fame. Partying, drugs, backstabbing and selfishness are all well addressed. The author definitely does a great job illustrating this downside of fame.

They have problems with friends and too many bad influences. Their problems abound leading to confusion and tension. It is one hell of an emotional read. Seriously, it is gut wrenching and I love it.

I do enjoy the author's writing style in general, but it definitely has it's fair share of too many "says" and "say." That is a personal pet peeve on mine that drives me crazy. 

Overall, True Faith is a fabulous read. If you hate established couples struggling to stay together though, avoid this one. The majority of the story is painful to read. In the end, TL Bradford impresses in this story of self growth and love. 

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T.L. always hated math, so it was a good thing she had a way with words. Since she was a shy and quirky kid; words were her best friends. She would imagine entire worlds in her head and talk to herself endlessly. Her mother wondered if she was speaking with ghosts for a while.

Her older sister was a voracious reader of trashy romance novels and would pass them down to her after she had finished them. T.L. was the only 10-year-old kid sitting in class reading "The Stud" by Jackie Collins during reading time. Oddly enough, she never got called out on it.

As she grew older, her tastes evolved, but one thing held fast; her undying attachment to love stories. One day out of the blue, she decided to write the love stories she always wanted to read instead of searching for her story. Since then, writing has been a dream fulfilled for her and she could not be happier.

She enjoys writing about love, regardless of gender and is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community.

T.L. calls the Pacific Northwest her home and enjoys the quiet rural life of her little oceanside home with her playful/crazy husband and their giant dog Noah.

 

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Home Improvement by Tara Lain

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link - Old Link

Romance on Aisle Sixteen—opposites attract amid the hammers and screws of the home improvement store.

Gabe Mason became a father at seventeen, and his daughter, Ellie, is the most important thing in his life. But being the parent the courts demand means Gabe has given up most of his dreams—education, making furniture, a gay social life—to be a model dad with a steady, reliable job in a home improvement store. Life’s predictable until Jerry, a shy, eccentric guy in a hat and sunglasses, begs Gabe to oversee the renovation of his run-down mansion.

Gabe loves the house and the work, and Jerry's pretty lovable too, but when Gabe discovers Jerry’s secret identity, he fears their passion could overturn both their lives forever.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Tara Lain's Home Improvement is a fantastic romance. There's some mystery, as Jerry's hiding something. He's sleeping on an air mattress, but can pay for handmade furniture. Gabe knows something's up, but it takes a while for him to figure things out. 

This romance is fun and intriguing. But it isn't until half way through that things really get good. I was surprised at the difference between the first and second halves. The first part is okay, but the second half is awesome.

Gabe's relationship with his daughter is fantastic and completely heart-warming. I truly love her contribution to the story. His ex, however is a piece of work, and causes a lot of angst. Be prepared for some homophobia. 

This story explores the divide between who a person is to the public, and who they are at heart. It illustrates the battle between who you are versus who you want to be. It's stories like this that help put a reader into the mindset of a famous person. It allows us to better understand their issues with fans and the paparazzi, as well as their need to have some time to themselves.

Overall, Home Improvement is a sweet, wonderful romance. Tara Lain perfectly captures the cost of fame to one's life. The ending is superb.  I love this book and highly recommend it. 

Beneath the Stain (Beneath the Stain #1) by Amy Lane

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

In a town as small as Tyson, CA, everybody knew the four brothers with the four different fathers-- and their penchant for making good music when they weren't getting into trouble. For Mackey Sanders, playing in Outbreak Monkey with his brothers and their friends—especially Grant Adams--made Tyson bearable. But Grant has plans for getting Mackey and the Sanders boys out of Tyson, even if that means staying behind.

Between the heartbreak of leaving Grant and the terrifying, glamorous life of rock stardom, Mackey is adrift and sinking fast. When he's hit rock bottom, Trav Ford shows up, courtesy of their record company and a producer who wants to see what Mackey can do if he doesn't flame out first. But cleaning up his act means coming clean about Grant, and that's not easy to do or say. Mackey might make it with Trav's help--but Trav's not sure he's going to survive falling in love with Mackey.

Mackey James Sanders comes with a whole lot of messy, painful baggage, and law-and-order Trav doesn't do messy or painful. And just when Trav thinks they may have mastered every demon in Mackey's past, the biggest, baddest demon of all comes knocking.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Amy Lane's Beneath the Stain has long been on my to-be-read list. With the second book, Paint It Black releasing, I am finally diving into this rocker romance.

Mackey and his band were mere boys when they started playing a lot of gigs. 

Learning of Mackey's past, and his budding relationship with Grant, ultimately brought tears to my eyes. Grant's beard made me so upset for Mackey, a bringing me to tears. And Grant's fear of his father finding out his secret is understandable, as well as heart-wrenching. 

The author spends a lot of time exploring Mackey's youth, the band's beginnings, and Mackey's heartbreak. The secrets, the hiding, the pressure on Grant to marry a girl, all nearly killed Mackey. God, my heart broke for young Mackey. 


As the band signs a contract and moves away, the money flies and Mackey struggles with this new life. And, omg, the downfall into drugs near killed me. 

What a rollercoaster of a life for Mackey. Everything is such a damn struggle, with his life full of pain, fear, guilt, and shame. 

Be warned that their is a rape scene. Avoid if that's a trigger for you.

It's a story of living with and facing past pains and hurt. And ultimately, it's a strong and worthy story of longing and healing. 

The writing is spectacular, with complex characters, a multi-layered story, and every damn word being important. It's long and full of emotions. I loved it. Loved it all!

Wow, Beneath the Stain is seriously one hell of an emotional ride. First love, homophobia, fame, drugs, rehab, more love, and making amends. It's all there, and it's all absolutely amazing. I can't praise Amy Lane enough for this gem.

Home Improvement by Tara Lain

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Romance on Aisle Sixteen—opposites attract amid the hammers and screws of the home improvement store.

Gabe Mason became a father at seventeen, and his daughter, Ellie, is the most important thing in his life. But being the parent the courts demand means Gabe has given up most of his dreams—education, making furniture, a gay social life—to be a model dad with a steady, reliable job in a home improvement store. Life’s predictable until Jerry, a shy, eccentric guy in a hat and sunglasses, begs Gabe to oversee the renovation of his run-down mansion.

Gabe loves the house and the work, and Jerry's pretty lovable too, but when Gabe discovers Jerry’s secret identity, he fears their passion could overturn both their lives forever.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Tara Lain's Home Improvement is a fantastic romance. There's some mystery, as Jerry's hiding something. He's sleeping on an air mattress, but can pay for handmade furniture. Gabe knows something's up, but it takes a while for him to figure things out. 

This romance is fun and intriguing. But it isn't until half way through that things really get good. I was surprised at the difference between the first and second halves. The first part is okay, but the second half is awesome.

Gabe's relationship with his daughter is fantastic and completely heart-warming. I truly love her contribution to the story. His ex, however is a piece of work, and causes a lot of angst. Be prepared for some homophobia. 

This story explores the divide between who a person is to the public, and who they are at heart. It illustrates the battle between who you are versus who you want to be. It's stories like this that help put a reader into the mindset of a famous person. It allows us to better understand their issues with fans and the paparazzi, as well as their need to have some time to themselves.

Overall, Home Improvement is a sweet, wonderful romance. Tara Lain perfectly captures the cost of fame to one's life. The ending is superb.  I love this book and highly recommend it.