ON SOLID GROUND by Melissa Collins-a review

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release date January 13, 2015

When Jacob “Dax” Daxton returns home from war, he has to fight a new battle – the one to find his place in the world. The man who normally has a clear path to victory surrounded by brothers in combat is suddenly lost and alone. After meeting Beckett Ridge, a bearded tattoo artist, Dax’s journey begins winding down an unexpected path.

Still reeling from events that shook his foundation, Beck has never been part of anything meaningful. Now faced with responsibilities foreign and daunting, Dax’s broken spirit mends Beck in ways he never even knew he was destroyed.

As both struggle to find balance, they are healed by the comfort they find in one other. On the other side of chaos, they hope to find themselves On Solid Ground.

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REVIEW: ON SOLID GROUND is the latest adult, contemporary M/M erotic romance novel from author Melissa Collins. The storyline focuses on tattoo artist and shop owner Beckett ‘Beck’ Ridge and former soldier Jacob ‘Dax’ Daxton-two men with dark pasts and even darker issues.

Told from alternating first person points of view (Beck and Dax) the premise follows Dax, a gay man, who has yet to come out to his family but a former soldier who suffers horrific PTSD and anxiety attacks. Dax believes he is broken; lost in a world of heartbreak and pain; hiding behind a friend who knows his deepest, darkest secrets. Hoping to get a tattoo as a remembrance for someone he lost, Dax enters Beckett Ridge’ s tattoo shop. What ensues is a building relationship between two men-from friends to lovers- when both men need it the most. There is an immediate attraction to one another but one that must be examined before misunderstanding or emotions become involved.

Beckett or Beck as he likes to be called is a man with a dark past; a family history of drugs, alcohol, abuse and neglect. Beck and his sister have survived but along the way the road has not been smooth or without its’ share of loss, death and destruction. When Dax enters his life, Beck is reluctant to allow anyone close knowing that there are complications in his life he isn’t willing to share. There is a bit of back and forth in the relationship reluctance; both men have issues that must be addressed and in this there are some tense and anxious moments especially as Beck continues to push Dax away when the going gets tough. Talking with one another would have helped immensely.

There are some explicit M/M $ex scenes so be forewarned if you have issues with the graphic imagery.

Melissa Collins has written a heartfelt storyline of heartbreak and loss; family and friends; acceptance and forgiveness; and plenty of misunderstandings. Part of the storyline focuses on memories, flashbacks and history-for both Beck and Dax-allowing the reader to better understand what ensued to erect the barriers both men come to build.

Reviewed by Sandy