Review: Mirage by Tia Fielding
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2014
“Life is like a camera; focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if it goes wrong...take another shot.” ~ UnknownJasper (Red) Blue, of 'Mirage' by Tia Fielding, has made some bad decisions in his life, such as, becoming an alcoholic and marrying a woman knowing he is attracted to men; but for each mistake he's made, he's come back stronger. He's licked alcohol and in the process of turning his life around; he's also managed, despite the divorce, to keep a good relationship with his ex-wife and children. It's hard for Jasper to see what he's accomplished because of all that's gone wrong, but Jasper is working hard to do so. In the past, Jasper has never asked for help; he's always tried to manage on his own, but this time, it's clear that what he needs most can't be achieved by himself. He needs someone to motivate him and share his successes.All of his life, Jasper has done what's best for everyone except himself. He's gay, but terrified to come out of the closet because of what it would do to his career. Being in country music makes it even harder; because country and gay don't mix well. His manager, Kenny, has advised him to keep his feelings hidden, creating, yet another, obstacle to his happiness. There's still a lot of good in Jasper's life and he's grateful for it. He's surrounded by a group of loyal, nurturing friends, which include his ex-wife and his children. Jasper wants to prove to them, even more than to himself, that he can succeed. When his manager sends Cade Wallace, successful country song writer, to help with Jasper's comeback album, they click right away. When he and Cade become lovers, it feels more right than anything has in Jasper’s life; but when his ex-wife alludes to their affair, closeted Jasper is terrified and becomes very angry. Unfortunately this outburst leads to him having to come out to his children. Even though they take it in stride, he tries to downplay it , and, in the process, hurts Cade a great deal and puts a seemingly unsurmountable wall between them. So close before, so attuned to each other’s needs, the denial puts them at odds. Feeling unsure about their places in each other's lives, leads to a separation which neither of them truly want and breaks both of their hearts. Jasper realizes too late that Cade is his soul mate and that he's pushed him away. After months of being apart, he comes up with a plan which he hopes will win him back.Cade Wallace has an interesting background, being Maori, Caucasian, and Hawaiian. He's lived a nomadic life, first as a beach bum and surfer, then as a big rig driver and part-time song writer. Cade doesn't have many friends, but those he does have are very close. His best friend is his dog, who goes almost everywhere with him. When Cade is commissioned to help write lyrics for Red (Jasper) Blue he's not sure what to expect, but he's encouraged by their amicable online communications. When they meet face-to-face, their personalities click right away, both musically and personally. Cade has always guarded his heart, not really believing in love, but, almost before he knows it, he's fallen for Jasper. Cade is certain that Jasper feels the same way until he betrays him by diminishing their relationship instead of affirming it. With one of Cade's greatest fears realized, all he can do is leave, protecting what little dignity he has left. Cade goes about his life, trying to forget Jasper and get his perspective back, but the pain is so intense, he doesn't know if he will be able to do so. Fortunately, when Jasper makes a huge, romantic, yet risky gesture, Cade returns to the man he loves.'Mirage' is written with a slow, steady pace, spending enough time on each issue to make it clear instead of rushing it or generalizing it too much. Tia has invented some wonderfully damaged, likeable, and different characters with diverse backgrounds, i.e., a ménage between Cade, a lover, and his wife, an ex-lover who is still his best friend and confidant, and a transgender male to female teen. I commend Tina for incorporating these unique, intriguing characters into her story. I recommend this book to those who like a character driven story with lots of heart, including country music, horses, dogs, kids, and a ranch where anyone who loves good people and lots of music could live most happily. Thank you, Tia, for letting us follow Jasper and Cade to their happily ever after.Originally posted at Rainbow Book Reviews.