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Twenty-Two
Taylor's job was to photograph the spoils of the war. His instructions – make our military look good. Problem – the view was not always a pretty one. His obsession – keeping some of the worse images that he captured, often the last proof of what the depths a man will go to when faced with his own morality. Often, his images were so horrific, he didn't dare let anyone else see, particularly the military.
Ryan ran a successful business, was well respected, and was raising two children. Surrounded by small-minded people, he didn't dare come out as a gay man to his employees or his clients without the fear of losing business. Instead, he traveled miles from home just to keep his secret safe.
Sometimes, a one-night stand becomes more.
Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day. Will Taylor be part of that count? Not if Ryan has any say in it.
Ryan ran a successful business, was well respected, and was raising two children. Surrounded by small-minded people, he didn't dare come out as a gay man to his employees or his clients without the fear of losing business. Instead, he traveled miles from home just to keep his secret safe.
Sometimes, a one-night stand becomes more.
Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day. Will Taylor be part of that count? Not if Ryan has any say in it.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2018
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
S. Davidson
4 books23 followersShelly has been writing M/M stories for years, beginning in fanfiction (ER, LOTR) and advancing to full length novels. While most of her novels can be considered romantic, they are far from your average M/M romance. They all include characters who are real, in pain, and most stories center around taboo topics - topics that are not usual subjects of a M/M romance novel. While not writing, Shelly spends time with family, runs an online Home Décor business and works a real day job.
Web Site: https://sdavidsonauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdavidsonaut... Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdavidsonauthor Email: sdavidsonauthor@earthlink.net
Web Site: https://sdavidsonauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdavidsonaut... Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdavidsonauthor Email: sdavidsonauthor@earthlink.net
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 28, 2018
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)
As I’ve come to expect from this author, this story was full of some fairly horrific images of war. The image of a wounded soldier named Dave dragging himself over to help his friend Taylor, with only one hand haunted me for hours, and the image of Taylor holding his hand later… I just went back to look to make sure I got Dave’s name right and rereading the section again brought tears to my eyes. Damn you Ms. Davidson.
But let’s start with the beginning of the book. It begins with the end. Literally. The first chapter is also the last chapter, or at least part of it. I was a little confused. Who were these people and who in particular was this Taylor guy who was putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger? Well…then we popped back in time and got the story. In typical Shelly Davidson style, we met and lost several people along the way, some of them within pages of getting to know them. If you haven’t read this author’s books, you might not ‘get’ what I’m about to say, but I need to tell you that in my case, she manages to put the actual image of what is happening in the story directly into my mind. I see what she is writing about. Some of this stuff is graphic enough that my mind wants to censor it out, but a day after reading the scene and having finished the book, that image I described with the heavily wounded soldier above is still stuck in my head.
This one was emotional. There are graphic scenes of combat, there is PTSD, there is blatant homophobia including a disturbing scene with a pick-up truck and a rope, there is hurt/comfort, there is suicide, there are some really f’d up things. But together…they work.
I love this author’s writing style. She always leaves me with a book hangover as I’ve mentioned in earlier reviews of her books. This one, and her other works are not for the faint of heart. They aren’t for the average Love Bytes reader. But if you like your reading a bit…ok…maybe a lot on the dark side, then you need to read this author.
My only complaint with this current book? I want more. What happens next? I particularly want to know more about “Buckin’ Sam’s”.
I very highly recommend this one to anyone who is strong enough to read it. It didn’t leave me crying like The Ties That Bind by this author did, but it did leave me emotionally bruised.
As I’ve come to expect from this author, this story was full of some fairly horrific images of war. The image of a wounded soldier named Dave dragging himself over to help his friend Taylor, with only one hand haunted me for hours, and the image of Taylor holding his hand later… I just went back to look to make sure I got Dave’s name right and rereading the section again brought tears to my eyes. Damn you Ms. Davidson.
But let’s start with the beginning of the book. It begins with the end. Literally. The first chapter is also the last chapter, or at least part of it. I was a little confused. Who were these people and who in particular was this Taylor guy who was putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger? Well…then we popped back in time and got the story. In typical Shelly Davidson style, we met and lost several people along the way, some of them within pages of getting to know them. If you haven’t read this author’s books, you might not ‘get’ what I’m about to say, but I need to tell you that in my case, she manages to put the actual image of what is happening in the story directly into my mind. I see what she is writing about. Some of this stuff is graphic enough that my mind wants to censor it out, but a day after reading the scene and having finished the book, that image I described with the heavily wounded soldier above is still stuck in my head.
This one was emotional. There are graphic scenes of combat, there is PTSD, there is blatant homophobia including a disturbing scene with a pick-up truck and a rope, there is hurt/comfort, there is suicide, there are some really f’d up things. But together…they work.
I love this author’s writing style. She always leaves me with a book hangover as I’ve mentioned in earlier reviews of her books. This one, and her other works are not for the faint of heart. They aren’t for the average Love Bytes reader. But if you like your reading a bit…ok…maybe a lot on the dark side, then you need to read this author.
My only complaint with this current book? I want more. What happens next? I particularly want to know more about “Buckin’ Sam’s”.
I very highly recommend this one to anyone who is strong enough to read it. It didn’t leave me crying like The Ties That Bind by this author did, but it did leave me emotionally bruised.
February 8, 2020
An Emotional Story
This book was excellent. Such a raw, gripping story told from the POV of Army Veteran Taylor, severely injured physically and emotionally while on active duty. As a Navy Veteran myself, this story hit home and was quite emotional to read. I felt for Taylor and recall the camaraderie he speaks of and yearns for in civilian life...that he can't seem to recapture. I get that and suffered that loss too. He meets and explores at first a one night stand with Ryan, a self-employed cowboy, ranch owner, who has suffered his own personal loss of love and family members death resulting in the sole custody in raising his young niece and nephew. Taylor and Ryan decide to further explore their relationship...and subsequently fall in love. Taylor, while in therapy, works to battle the life long lasting affect of war coupled with the strong desire to end his life. It's a touching, very emotional, no holds barred account, and very well written story. This is my first book from S. Davidson..and will not be my last. Well done!!
This book was excellent. Such a raw, gripping story told from the POV of Army Veteran Taylor, severely injured physically and emotionally while on active duty. As a Navy Veteran myself, this story hit home and was quite emotional to read. I felt for Taylor and recall the camaraderie he speaks of and yearns for in civilian life...that he can't seem to recapture. I get that and suffered that loss too. He meets and explores at first a one night stand with Ryan, a self-employed cowboy, ranch owner, who has suffered his own personal loss of love and family members death resulting in the sole custody in raising his young niece and nephew. Taylor and Ryan decide to further explore their relationship...and subsequently fall in love. Taylor, while in therapy, works to battle the life long lasting affect of war coupled with the strong desire to end his life. It's a touching, very emotional, no holds barred account, and very well written story. This is my first book from S. Davidson..and will not be my last. Well done!!
July 10, 2018
I've never read a book that had so much detail in the MC's military past showing just how broken up the MC is, it was very cool! Sometimes a bit lengthy though. The characters were very well developed, was a bit slow but I liked that the author gave the characters a good amount of time to grow into their love rather than having them rush into it. This was a different kind of read and I enjoyed it, that prologue had me on the edge of my seat
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews