WHO WE WERE by Melissa Collins-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 2, 2018.

Who We Were…

Two awkward teenagers – the loner and the nerd, trying to find our place in the world. Paired in wood shop, we knew nothing of each other, except that we wanted to know everything. Then one life altering moment changed it all and we were left with shattered dreams and broken hearts.

Who We Are…

Two grown men – braver and smarter than we used to be, trying to heal the damage from that irrevocable moment. Even though the past was behind us, dead and buried long ago, we found it impossible to move on without ripping open the scars of our deep wounds.

With twelve years of unanswered questions fueling our desperate need for the truth, we must figure out if who we were will destroy who we are.

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REVIEW: WHO WE WERE by Melissa Collins is a contemporary, stand alone, MM, erotic romance story line focusing on Ryan Masterson , and Quinn Jacobs.

NOTE: WHO WE WERE contains scenes of MM sexual situations and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ryan and Quinn) WHO WE WERE follows several time lines focusing on the tempestuous relationship between Ryan Masterson, and Quinn Jacobs. As a thirteen year old boy Ryan Masterson found himself the target of bullies including his twin brother Patrick Masterson-all star athlete and the bane of Ryan’s existence. Throughout the years, Ryan would be friended by Quinn Jacobs, a young man who would jump to Ryan’s defence whenever and wherever possible. But Ryan’s home life spiralled out of control, targeted not only by his brother, but the fear of rejection by his demanding father, and it would be twelve years before Ryan would return Quinn’s life.What ensues is the rebuilding and rekindling, back and forth, relationship between Ryan and Quinn, and the continuing fall-out as Ryan struggles to move on from the past, and into the arms of the boy/man he has loved for most of his life.

At thirty years old, Ryan had yet to come out to his parents but coming out meant facing the possibility of rejection, all over again. Unable to move on from the abusive and controlling relationship of his brother, and the news that not all was it appeared to be, Ryan continues to battle between head and heart, especially as it involves Quinn Jacobs. Running was Ryan’s only option, running from what was, and what would never be. Quinn has never moved on from the loss of Ryan Masterson but Quinn was kept in the dark about Ryan’s past. Lost and struggling to forgive and forget, Quinn would come face to face with his past and his future but Ryan was unwilling to reveal the secrets that controlled every aspect of his life.

The relationship between Ryan and Quinn is tempestuous at best as Ryan struggles to find a place within his family, and within a world he knows nothing about. Twelve years would pass before Ryan and Quinn would rekindle a friendship destroyed by secrets and lies, a friendship that would turn into something more. The $ex scenes are passionate, provocative and intense.

The colourful secondary and supporting characters include Ryan’s brother Patrick, and his parents Marybeth and Stephen Masterson. We are introduced Quinn’s sister Sarah, and their parents Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs.

The world building focuses on the home life of Ryan Masterson-the volatile relationship between Ryan and Patrick, as well as between Ryan and his less than supportive parents. Quinn’s home life was in direct opposition to Ryan’s dysfunctional family situation, a situation that continued to haunt Ryan for most of his life. A lack of communication, compounded by secrets and lies, pushes Ryan to run on more than one occasion.

WHO WE WERE is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendship, forgiveness, acceptance and moving on. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and entertaining; the characters are dynamic, charismatic and colourful; the romance struggles in the face of Ryan’s inability to let go of the past.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.

Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

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