Review: Loved Rock and Carter
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 1, 2014
“He was gay. He’d said it and he’d just had the most f****** fantastic kiss with a man and there wasn’t an ounce of guilt or shame simmering within him.”The storyline of Bonds of Denial caught my attention. Rock was a soldier hiding who he really was. He lived in a time of don’t ask don’t tell and furthermore his family’s disapproval of his sexual orientation. He created a world of denial for himself and he buried his feelings and desires so deep that it would truly take someone special to set him free.Carter Montgomery was a male escort, this part really intrigued me and I wondered how his character would be portrayed. Carter made a great living but it was one he was ready to retire from. He had spent so many years being intimate for a price that he had all but forgotten what true desire and love felt like. Unbeknownst to him, it would take silent, brooding Rock to change all that.I found both Rock and Carter interesting characters, the both had to accept themselves in very different ways. Rock had to hide a huge part of himself from the world and his family, as they wouldn't accept his choices and Carter claimed he was at peace with his career choice but on closer inspection he had to make peace with what he did and had to learn how to not let his career choice define him.“He had a show to get to and a man waiting for him. It was beyond time he jumped into his future instead of hiding in the past.”I really felt for both of these men. Rock was this strong, muscular soldier with a fragile heart. He put it on the line to be with Carter and his bravery was applaudable. I loved the photography element and the way in which Rock decided to unveil his true self.“I may be a soldier, but Carter Montgomery is the one who showed me what strength really is.”“Even if nothing worked out between them, Carter had given Rock a piece of himself that was past time he acknowledged.”Carter was confident and cocky on the outside but deep down he was vulnerable and insecure. My heart broke during the scenes where he was punishing not only himself but Rock too. Even though it was sad to read, it was the catalyst both men needed in order for them to evaluate their life and make those all-important decisions.“Are you ready to face the world now?” Carter nodded, his head rubbing against Rock’s. “Yeah. With you I am.”This was my very first book by Lynda Aicher so it can very much be read as a standalone, at no point did I feel like I missed out on anything or not felt privy to an inside joke. What it did do however, was make me want to read the other books in the series. Some of the previous characters popped up and I wanted to discover their story too!The writing flowed well, I fell for both Rock and Carter and wanted them to work through their demons and get that HEA. I didn’t plan on reading this book so soon as I had a long list in front but I opened it to take one sneak peek and before I knew it, hours later I still hadn’t come up for air and didn’t until I swiped the very last page.Bonds of Denial was an endearing, passionate read and one that you should check out today. ~Ava*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*