Review: review
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2014
4 of 5 stars~ Review by CarolineFor original review see Prism Book AllianceThis is a very gentle story that draws you in by making you fall in love with the characters. It is not fast paced, dangerous or full of plot twists, but more a story of love and healing. It really is all about the characters.Liam has put up with a lot in his life starting from a very young age. The one constant in his life has been in his Uncle Gene. The man that has always been there for him is now dying so Liam returns to his hometown to be with him one last time. Having past experience as a tattoo artist leads him to applying for a job at Great Sin Ink, but being back in this environment brings up everything he has tried burying for the last few years.Liam, at 16 thought he had fallen in love with an older man. Brandon was the guy who introduced Liam to tattooing and who left a lasting mark on him, literally. When the relationship turned abusive Liam was too naive to break away before the damage was done. He hasn’t had a relationship now for three years nor has he recovered.The eclectic group of people that work at Great Sin Ink slowly get under Liams skin and he not only finds himself with a new group of friends but surprisingly he finds himself enjoying it. They don’t ask questions about why he doesn’t smile much but there is a camaraderie that makes him feel involved, all that is except for Ace.Ace owns the tattoo shop and soon sees through the evasive way Liam answers questions and calls him on it. Liam has a quote available to answer anything but soon finds himself being honest with Ace as their friendship builds. Ace is calming and makes Liam feel safe.  This is a first for Liam and although sometimes it leaves him feeling raw and exposed it also offers him a release and a feeling of freedom from some of his demons.As the weeks pass Gene dies and life goes slowly on. There is no drama just a steady shift from friends to lovers. Secrets and stories are shared, trust is built and friendships are solidified. There was a bit of a gap as far as the epilogue was concerned but it all worked well. The secondary characters were fantastic and helped make the story what it was especially Goose, Deb and Frankie.