Sandra @ My Fiction Nook

The blurb fascinated me when I first came across this book, and I wasn't disappointed. Great cast of characters, real southern folk who speak and act in real southern ways. 

Sage Redding comes home to his small Texas town after doing hard time in a max security facility for the death of his former lover, Angel. No, he didn't kill him. He just had the misfortune of being a stupid kid in the wrong place at the wrong time, guilty of living instead of dying too. 

He knows that outside of his family, he won't be welcomed with open arms, but he's willing to risk the hatred and derision of the town folk if it means helping his ailing father keep the family farm. 

I fell in love with Sage from the start. He's got a wicked sense of humor, pride, inner strength and keeps his head down but his spine straight. His life hasn't been easy, but I agreed that he had paid his dues. The behavior of the Winchester family was despicable, though fortunately not all felt hatred toward Sage. 

I quite liked Adam, and how he stood up for what he believed, but I deducted points from him when he did that thing toward the last 25% that made me mad. Still, he goes against his uncles when they demand he leave 'that murderer' alone, and he fought for what he wanted. Good on him.

The Southern speak was spot on, and it was ever so much fun. There was a ton of realism in the writing, and I loved that. The dialogue was organic, believable and often humorous. I adored Sage's momma and daddy, and Adam's mom was also a great character. Even Sage's sister turned out to have a spine once she was removed from her no good asshole baby daddy. There are folks who support Sage, whether it was quietly or openly. 

I adored the quiet, steady if somewhat difficult romance between Sage and Win (Adam), and I noticed how the author made a point of separating Win the cop from Adam the lover quite nicely. The boysecksing was also well done, and it fit these men, who are actual men. Rough around the edges, not overly emotional, struggling, but also very much in love. I believed every word they said. 

What bothered me a bit was the medical research. Or what seemed to me the lack thereof. This is a small Texas town. I found it hard to believe that the hospital there would have a surgeon on board who'd quickly perform knee replacement surgery at the drop of a hat, and I found it hard to believe that there was no physical therapy involved after. 

And it pissed me right off when the police (except Adam) and some of the other roughnecks in town decided that it was okay to harass Sage whenever he stepped foot off the farm. That was illegal and wrong, and it made me feel all kinds of helpless rage. I wanted to reach into the book and throttle those people. Any book who can make me clench my fists in anger at the injustice inside is worthy of being read. 

There's a HEA in case you were wondering, and it made sense in the overall plot of this novel. Very nicely done. I'll be sure to check out more from this author.

If you're looking for a steamy southern romance with a good plotline and some nice emotional connections, I would definitely recommend you check out this book.

** I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **