Title: Slide (Roads #1)
Author: Garrett Leigh
Page count: 274 pages
Genre: M/M Romance, Contemporary
Blurb:
Don’t look back. Don’t you ever look back…
Shy tattoo artist Ash has a troubled past. Years of neglect, drug abuse, and life on the streets have taken their toll, and sometimes it seems the deep, unspoken bond with his lover is the only balm for wounds he doesn’t quite understand.
Chicago paramedic Pete is warmth, love, and strength—things Ash never knew he could have, and never even knew he wanted until Pete showed him. But fate is a cruel, cruel mistress, and when nightmares collide with the present, their tentatively built world comes crashing down.
Traumatic events in Pete’s work life distance him from home, and he doesn’t realize until it’s too late that Ash has slipped away. Betrayal, secrets, and lies unfold, and when a devastating coincidence takes hold, Pete must fight with all he has to save the love of his life.
You guys, if you’re going to read this book (and you totally should), make sure you’re mentally prepared, because this is heavy AF.
I feel totally drained right now, but I do want to write my thoughts while it’s all fresh in my mind.
The story is about Pete and Ash, roommates who fell in love with each other and became a couple. It sounds pretty great, finding your soulmate like that, but these two have some major obstacles to face.
Ash is messed up. There’s no other way to say it, he really is. He is a beautiful, artistic, but very tortured young man. He has some mental issues because of a horrible childhood, but he doesn’t know how to deal with those issues. So he avoids his problems… until he no longer can.
Pete is a paramedic. He works long hours, sees horrible things, and is constantly tired. So while Ash struggles more and more with his issues, Pete is not fully aware of it. What ensues is ANGST, sadness and sorrow. Seriously, during the third part, this was pretty much me:
The story is told in a few parts, and I ADORED the part that showed their early days as roommates, when they fell in love and started a relationship. It was so well written, very romantic and emotional. But there was always a sense of foreboding, that became very understandable in the third part of the book.
Their love is epic, it’s the kind of love you want to experience, soul deep and so real. You can really feel it while you’re reading, and that’s why it hurts so bad when they start falling apart.
The story doesn’t feel complete, and I guess that makes sense since there are two sequels. But I would have appreciated an epilogue, just so we could have a little more closure. But I guess I have no choice but to read the next book for that. Not right now though, no sir, I think it’s time to read some fluff. Especially since I have a feeling there’s a LOT more angst in the future for these two.
But I’ll definitely read the sequel soon, since I loved this couple and wish to see them having a real HEA.
If you’re an angst-ho like me, definitely check this out!
