review 1: Black Hawk Tattoo by Aundrea Singer features two things I always hope to see. First, it has a specific setting in Toronto, Canada, complete with landmarks, streets, and neighborhoods. Second, it gives us the vivid workplace details of one of the main characters, a tattoo artist. Gay romance is full of characters who are tattoo artists, but this author has written the most believable one I’ve ever encountered. Meanwhile, the story beautifully handles serious subjects such as post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, recovery, dysfunctional families, guilt, and redemption.Our two heroes are a complex and relatable mixture of good and bad traits. Jake could have been unbearable with his unwillingness to get treatment for his PTSD, but he has compelling reasons not to. Gab... moree and Jake interact with three strong supporting female characters – Jake’s concerned young niece, Jack’s understandably angry older sister, and a troubled teenage girl who is Gabe’s friend. The story offers us a strong pace and compelling tension, and its tone is dark, realistic, and emotional without excessive angst.The story opens when tattoo artist Gabe meets Jake, who shows up looking for a custom-made tattoo of intricate design and symbolism to cover his back. Gabe and Jake are opposites in many ways. Gabe is cheerful, Canadian, an atheist, and a student. Jake is an emotional wreck, American, religious, and a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. In the weeks that follow, Gabe and Jake become friends and then lovers. Meanwhile, Jake’s PTSD grows worse under stress. Soon, he can barely relate to his sister and niece with whom he lives. When he and Gabe must protect Gabe’s teenage friend from her abusive family, the situation threatens to push Jake too far.Val for AReCafe review 2: A fast-paced, funny, realistic but ultimately romantic read, with excellent moments of character introspection and indecision. I especially enjoyed the author's characters, and her ability to create ones I felt extremely divided about: specifically Alice, who I by turns loathed, pitied, and sympathized with her inability to reach Jake, or to understand what she should do. The PTSD was well-researched and well treated, and not thrown away as magically cured at the end. I also loved the romance between Gabe and Jake, and I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes their m/m romance with some depth of character. less
