Making Promises by Amy Lane

[reviews_and_ramblings]

With this book I did something that usually is a no-no for me, I read book number 2 in a series without reading book number 1. Truth be told I have a good reason: when I realized it was a book 2 I had already fallen in love for Shane and didn’t want to wait for read his story.

First of all let me say, that yes, you can read book 2 standalone, but indead the supporting characters are so good that is clear they have a story of their own; that is the reason why I realized there was a book 1, it was impossible that men like Deacon and Crick were only a nice addition to a background picture. But I’m able to fall in love at first sight, and even if I’m sure Deacon and Crick have a wonderful love story, and I will try to read it as soon as possible, big but shy Shane had my heart from moment one.

Shane wants to be an hero; that was his dream when he was a child, a lonely child not enough wealthy to be classy, not enough athletic to be cool, only a lonely child whose father’s job as businessman was not enough heroic and the cops he saw around were like real hero. Problem is that at that age Shane didn’t know that L.A. cops can be also very homophobic, and when the suspicion that he is gay arrives to the ears of his chief, Shane is suddently in a very dangerous situation without a back. Even if big and shy, Shane is not stupid, and he is clever enough to call Internal Affairs before going out in what is most likely a suicide attempt. He survives and he has now enough money to live without problem, but the dream to be an hero is still there and he tries again as cop in a small town. Things at work are not better but he makes friends with the odd enlarged family of Deacon and Crick.

While out visiting his sister Shane meets Mikhail, a Russian immigrat leaving with his mother and teaching classic ballet. To Shane’s eyes Mikhail is perfection, from his little tight body to his skill on a stage; but Mikhail has a past that is far from being perfect: former heroine addicted and street hustler to pay for the drugs, Mikhail is still alive only thank to his strong mother, a mother that is now dying from cancer. Mikhail is right there to loosing everything again, and he is not sure he will be able to cope, when Shane enters his life. But Shane is really way to perfect for damaged good like Mikhail and he is reluctant, and cinic, to let him enter his life.

It’s a wonderful love story, Shane will unveal as a strong and stubborn man, true with some self-esteem issue, mostly arriving from his childhood and unloving and uncaring parents, but all in all a sure mainstay for the people he loves. Mikhail wants to be cinic, but he has all the temperament of Russian people, stubborn and proud, but capable of immense love and passion if you manage to go behind their hard shell.

This is a novel that mix smushy moment and heart, in the right moment to make you smile or shed a tear, even if it will not arrive to let you completely in tears, the funny moments will be always right there, to lift the mood.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1927

Amazon: Making Promises

Amazon Kindle: Making Promises

Series:
1) Keeping Promise Rock: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1330828.html
2) Making Promises

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Paul Richmond

Comments

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

Funny, I just read another review (who gave it 4 stars out of 5) about this book. This one (and the one before it) sound like the kind of high emotion and intense romance books I am presently craving.

While I'm not exactly rushing out to buy it, I can imagine that it'll be in my ereader before the end of next month. *g*

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, on the emotional level we are very high, if it's what you are searching you will not be disappointed