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Beneath the Stain #2
Paint It Black
A Beneath the Stain Novel
Everybody thinks Mackey Sanders and Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock’n’Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can't wait to get out of his home town and make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.
Blake Manning knows the feeling. He's been Outbreak Monkey's second lead guitarist for ten years. He’s come to terms with the fact that he’ll never be Grant Adams, the guy he replaced, and that Kell Sanders will never love him like Mackey loved Grant. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So watching Cheever blow through Outbreak Monkey's hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.
Blake shows up at Cheever's nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. It’s something he and Blake have in common.
Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?
Everybody thinks Mackey Sanders and Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock’n’Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can't wait to get out of his home town and make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.
Blake Manning knows the feeling. He's been Outbreak Monkey's second lead guitarist for ten years. He’s come to terms with the fact that he’ll never be Grant Adams, the guy he replaced, and that Kell Sanders will never love him like Mackey loved Grant. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So watching Cheever blow through Outbreak Monkey's hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.
Blake shows up at Cheever's nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. It’s something he and Blake have in common.
Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2019
72 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
203 books3,487 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 12, 2019
Beneath the Stain, by Amy Lane is one of my all-time favorite MM books. It made me laugh, it made me cry (a lot) and it made me swoon. It also had the perfect amount of angst for me. So it was in one word wonderful. Finding out that Cheever was getting his own book....was even more wonderful, because it meant I was getting a chance at revisiting all my favorite characters.
Remember that spoiled little shit in Beneath the Stain ?? Well, he is all grown up now and he isn't as spoiled as everyone thinks he is. Sure he has a whole bunch of stuff his brothers never had, but that doesn't mean he is happy. He might not have financial problems but he is very much alone.
Growing up without all his brothers around to protect him, like they used to, isn't easy. And having a famous brother who came out as being gay isn't easy either....it gives people certain ideas...
Cheever never thought being gay was a problem...I mean he grew up around Grant and Mackey, and he has seen more things than they know. It isn't until other people make problems, that Cheever realizes that being gay might not be okay...and if that is the case...does that mean that there is something wrong with him...
But with Mackey coming out first and things going to shit for him at school... He keeps falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit-hole. So Cheever just locks everything inside... where it can't affect anyone else.
And when he gets the chance to leave his home town...he takes it in a flash.
Maybe he can be an awesome artist...make something of himself. Something that has nothing to do with any of his brothers...Something just him.
For nine long years, Cheever has kept his distance from his brothers. But when the future he was hoping for falls to pieces, so does he...in a spectacular and tragic way. Thankfully Blake is right there to pick up all his pieces and glue them back together again.
But Blake had plenty of issues of his own...so the question is. How will two such screwed up people make this work? The answer, however, is quite simple... LOVE people !!!
I absolutely loved Cheever's story, though I have to say that it had a ton of similarities with Beneath The Stain. Not that I minded since it is one of my favorites.
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
August 9, 2019
Disclaimer- this cannot be compared to the first.
It was especially different for me because I was one of those poor souls that clung to each installment and waited for every other Thursday to strike midnight so I could have my next fix.
Serial reading Beneath the Stain was glorious but torturous at the same time.
This is Cheever's chance and I cursed him and cheered for him and loved him.
This is Blake's new beginning and I cried for him and believed in him and loved him.
Hurt. Healing. Harmony.
At almost 500 pages I'm exhausted.
But to be honest, I was exhausted within the first fifty.
What's to like: Ten seems to be the magic number. Nearly ten years have passed for the guys. There are ten years between Cheever and Blake. And it felt like BTS was released ten years ago! Ha. Kidding. There certainly was a gap between the books and whatever the reason was, I’m just grateful the boys wouldn’t shut up and insisted Amy continue their story. Because I love this crazy group of misfits and could read about them till they are old and gray. I did not elect to reread the first and I’m okay with that. Beneath the Stain was such a powerful journey for me, I’d rather leave it untouched. Afterward, I was glad that I didn’t reread because I think that despite the fact this is a sequel, the books are vastly different. Because Mackey and Cheever are vastly different. BTS was Mackey while PIB is Cheever. Which reminds me, can we give him a nickname? Please? Maybe CJ? Chez? Something! Anywho, don’t worry if you haven’t read BTS for a few years, Lane takes us back and provides flashbacks to highlight what we need to remember. I found the first few chapters crucial to slipping seamlessly into their world again. Fame and fortune are hard-won and carry extra weight. The brothers have settled into the land of grown-ups with responsibilities and expectations. It’s not just Outbreak Monkey against the world anymore. There are wedding bands and children and the chores of real life. Cheever was left behind in more than one aspect. Fighting his demons alone took him to a slippery slope and suddenly he couldn’t stop the slide. Blake swoops in and pulls him back. And this time when Cheever’s fog clears, everything looks different. To survive he can’t do it alone. Turns out…he doesn’t have to.
What's to love: This is Blake and Cheever’s story but everyone is present and accounted for. My heart was so full spending time with Outbreak Monkey again. I can’t believe how much they have changed yet how much was the same. I adore Blake and I’m thrilled he found his ‘happy’. He deserves it. Always in the shadows, a loyal and steadfast adopted ‘brother’ he never wanted much. Or perhaps it was that he never thought he was worthy of much? His huge heart was overflowing but draining at the same time. He needed someone to refill him and recharge him. He needed Cheever. I was slightly skeptical of Cheever at first but once he let us in, he stole my heart as well. He covered his hurt and tried to hide his pain. Turning to drugs gave him an escape from his continuous loop of torture. He had a plan and was going to slide by with his talent and show everyone what he was made of. When he fell short from reaching his desired destination, he shattered. Blake comes to his rescue and can’t get over the secrets Cheever has been hiding. He’s also shocked to find the man who was the boy he once knew. But Cheever is family and his best friends brother…he can’t fall in love with him. Or is loving him exactly what he’s meant to do? Their road is rugged with wicked turns, but they figure out together they can make it through anything. Together they are a force to be reckoned with…because with love, there is always light.
Beware of: Oh, mercy! Where do I begin? Triggers are aplenty: rape, addiction, overdose are the top 3. However, the healing, recovery, and revival will soothe your battered heart. The music, the poetry, the art will burn into your soul. And if you’re searching for the epitome of the tremendous power of love, look no further.
This book is for: Beneath the Stain groupies need this book. And if you don’t know Outbreak Monkey, start at the beginning and…good luck.
Book UNfunk
It was especially different for me because I was one of those poor souls that clung to each installment and waited for every other Thursday to strike midnight so I could have my next fix.
Serial reading Beneath the Stain was glorious but torturous at the same time.
This is Cheever's chance and I cursed him and cheered for him and loved him.
This is Blake's new beginning and I cried for him and believed in him and loved him.
Hurt. Healing. Harmony.
At almost 500 pages I'm exhausted.
But to be honest, I was exhausted within the first fifty.
What's to like: Ten seems to be the magic number. Nearly ten years have passed for the guys. There are ten years between Cheever and Blake. And it felt like BTS was released ten years ago! Ha. Kidding. There certainly was a gap between the books and whatever the reason was, I’m just grateful the boys wouldn’t shut up and insisted Amy continue their story. Because I love this crazy group of misfits and could read about them till they are old and gray. I did not elect to reread the first and I’m okay with that. Beneath the Stain was such a powerful journey for me, I’d rather leave it untouched. Afterward, I was glad that I didn’t reread because I think that despite the fact this is a sequel, the books are vastly different. Because Mackey and Cheever are vastly different. BTS was Mackey while PIB is Cheever. Which reminds me, can we give him a nickname? Please? Maybe CJ? Chez? Something! Anywho, don’t worry if you haven’t read BTS for a few years, Lane takes us back and provides flashbacks to highlight what we need to remember. I found the first few chapters crucial to slipping seamlessly into their world again. Fame and fortune are hard-won and carry extra weight. The brothers have settled into the land of grown-ups with responsibilities and expectations. It’s not just Outbreak Monkey against the world anymore. There are wedding bands and children and the chores of real life. Cheever was left behind in more than one aspect. Fighting his demons alone took him to a slippery slope and suddenly he couldn’t stop the slide. Blake swoops in and pulls him back. And this time when Cheever’s fog clears, everything looks different. To survive he can’t do it alone. Turns out…he doesn’t have to.
What's to love: This is Blake and Cheever’s story but everyone is present and accounted for. My heart was so full spending time with Outbreak Monkey again. I can’t believe how much they have changed yet how much was the same. I adore Blake and I’m thrilled he found his ‘happy’. He deserves it. Always in the shadows, a loyal and steadfast adopted ‘brother’ he never wanted much. Or perhaps it was that he never thought he was worthy of much? His huge heart was overflowing but draining at the same time. He needed someone to refill him and recharge him. He needed Cheever. I was slightly skeptical of Cheever at first but once he let us in, he stole my heart as well. He covered his hurt and tried to hide his pain. Turning to drugs gave him an escape from his continuous loop of torture. He had a plan and was going to slide by with his talent and show everyone what he was made of. When he fell short from reaching his desired destination, he shattered. Blake comes to his rescue and can’t get over the secrets Cheever has been hiding. He’s also shocked to find the man who was the boy he once knew. But Cheever is family and his best friends brother…he can’t fall in love with him. Or is loving him exactly what he’s meant to do? Their road is rugged with wicked turns, but they figure out together they can make it through anything. Together they are a force to be reckoned with…because with love, there is always light.
Beware of: Oh, mercy! Where do I begin? Triggers are aplenty: rape, addiction, overdose are the top 3. However, the healing, recovery, and revival will soothe your battered heart. The music, the poetry, the art will burn into your soul. And if you’re searching for the epitome of the tremendous power of love, look no further.
This book is for: Beneath the Stain groupies need this book. And if you don’t know Outbreak Monkey, start at the beginning and…good luck.
Book UNfunk
August 11, 2019
4 solid stars
Paint It Black is the second book in the Beneath the stain series by Amy Lane. You must know that it's not a stand-alone, but I strongly recommend you to read Beneath the Stain. I loved it and it's one of the best stories I've ever read.
In Paint It Black we get Cheever's story. He's the youngest of the Sanders boys, much younger than Mackey - one of the MC's in Beneath the Stain and Outbreak Monkey's lead singer. In the first book when we meet Cheever he was only a few years old. Later, he grew up and became so rude and spoiled. I have to admit I disliked him SO much, because he just seemed he was a 13 years old homophobe and he hurt his brothers any chance he got. Now this being said, I must mention that I wasn't that excited to read his story, but I am glad I did, because Cheever hid SO much from his family. His story surprised me and it's really heartbreaking, full of unexpected scenes, gut wrenching scenes! I won't give too much away, but I will mention that there are some triggers, so be aware.
This second book is full of angst right from the beginning, as opposed to the first one.
After a lot of pain, heartbreak and suffering, the second part of the book gets pretty sweet.
What I loved the most would be revisiting all the characters from Beneath the Stain. Ten years after Beneath the Stain's ending and our favorites characters are just as close.
Blake Manning is one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists. I really liked him in the first book and was pretty sad he didn't get his HEA. I hoped Kell would return his feelings, but I couldn't have been farther from what really happened.
In this book we witness Cheever's healing process, but also Blake's struggles to admit he was loved. He didn't believe it could happen to him. Well I got angry with him at times, as he kept wanting to run for the hills from Cheever.
My biggest problem with this book would be that the evil character didn't get what he deserved. He wasn't punished for his actions! And after all the time I spent in hating him (more than half of the book), in the end it felt like what he did - for years! - got erased pretty fast with no real consequences for him. Or it's just me and my need to get the evil punished?!
I will also have to admit that the ending felt too sugary sweet for me. I wanted Blake and Cheever to get their happily ever after, but the ending felt kind of forced to me.
Overall I enjoyed it and it was a great continuation to the first book.
Paint It Black is the second book in the Beneath the stain series by Amy Lane. You must know that it's not a stand-alone, but I strongly recommend you to read Beneath the Stain. I loved it and it's one of the best stories I've ever read.
In Paint It Black we get Cheever's story. He's the youngest of the Sanders boys, much younger than Mackey - one of the MC's in Beneath the Stain and Outbreak Monkey's lead singer. In the first book when we meet Cheever he was only a few years old. Later, he grew up and became so rude and spoiled. I have to admit I disliked him SO much, because he just seemed he was a 13 years old homophobe and he hurt his brothers any chance he got. Now this being said, I must mention that I wasn't that excited to read his story, but I am glad I did, because Cheever hid SO much from his family. His story surprised me and it's really heartbreaking, full of unexpected scenes, gut wrenching scenes! I won't give too much away, but I will mention that there are some triggers, so be aware.
This second book is full of angst right from the beginning, as opposed to the first one.
After a lot of pain, heartbreak and suffering, the second part of the book gets pretty sweet.
What I loved the most would be revisiting all the characters from Beneath the Stain. Ten years after Beneath the Stain's ending and our favorites characters are just as close.
Blake Manning is one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists. I really liked him in the first book and was pretty sad he didn't get his HEA. I hoped Kell would return his feelings, but I couldn't have been farther from what really happened.
In this book we witness Cheever's healing process, but also Blake's struggles to admit he was loved. He didn't believe it could happen to him. Well I got angry with him at times, as he kept wanting to run for the hills from Cheever.
My biggest problem with this book would be that the evil character didn't get what he deserved. He wasn't punished for his actions! And after all the time I spent in hating him (more than half of the book), in the end it felt like what he did - for years! - got erased pretty fast with no real consequences for him. Or it's just me and my need to get the evil punished?!
I will also have to admit that the ending felt too sugary sweet for me. I wanted Blake and Cheever to get their happily ever after, but the ending felt kind of forced to me.
Overall I enjoyed it and it was a great continuation to the first book.
This review is posted on DirtyBooksObsession
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October 14, 2022
"Glad to see me?"
It was hard to swallow. It was hard to breathe. "You got no idea," Blake rasped. "God, Cheever, it's like the world was spinning and you're the only one who can make it stand still."
me: "oh let me read the second book right after reading the first one bc it couldn't get anymore painful... right?"
me, after reading the book:
obviously, it's an Amy Lane book so idk why i even bothered to try and convince myself that it couldn't get more painful. 😩
as much as i loved Mackey and Trav's relationship (mcs of book one), i think Cheever and Blake own my heart just a biit more. there was something so heartbreaking and raw about their romance with Blake feeling like he's not good enough, that Cheever can find someone better, while Cheever is out here not giving up on Blake, that tugs at my heartstrings and i just wanna protect them. 🥺 i definitely think characters like Blake who has low self-esteem can either come across as annoying or someone you wanna hug and protect from the world. fortunately, Blake falls in the latter for me and i just wanted him to realize that he deserves to be happy as much as anyone else. it really depends on how they're written and how in depth or layered their character is though. although it took a while to get there (a lot of sobbing on my end bc it just HURTS), i loved Blake's journey to self-acceptance and how he's realizing that things may not be smiles and sunshine all the time, but he's still someone who deserves to find love and happiness and i'm so glad Cheever is that one for him. i adored their dynamic and banters so much. the way they lifted each other up with Blake being there for Cheever in the first half and Cheever being there for Blake in the second half. <3
i loved the brotherhood/found family feels from this duology!! the way it felt like every single character played an important role not only in both mcs' lives, but also the story as a whole. the way each character has grown so much from the first book to this book. 🥺 both books were painful and brutal, but it felt so real that i couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and writing. it's not for the faint of heart, so i would just recommend this if you're an angst lover.
"So this... this thing you're carrying around on your shoulders, like you don't deserve love, like you don't deserve us, you need to drop that thing quick. It's like that play, the one with the play inside. If every man gets treated like they deserved, every man would deserve to get beaten up. Don't treat people like they deserve, treat people like we want to be treated. I want to be treated like my fuckups don't define me, and that's how I want my brothers to be treated too."
It was hard to swallow. It was hard to breathe. "You got no idea," Blake rasped. "God, Cheever, it's like the world was spinning and you're the only one who can make it stand still."
me: "oh let me read the second book right after reading the first one bc it couldn't get anymore painful... right?"
me, after reading the book:
obviously, it's an Amy Lane book so idk why i even bothered to try and convince myself that it couldn't get more painful. 😩
as much as i loved Mackey and Trav's relationship (mcs of book one), i think Cheever and Blake own my heart just a biit more. there was something so heartbreaking and raw about their romance with Blake feeling like he's not good enough, that Cheever can find someone better, while Cheever is out here not giving up on Blake, that tugs at my heartstrings and i just wanna protect them. 🥺 i definitely think characters like Blake who has low self-esteem can either come across as annoying or someone you wanna hug and protect from the world. fortunately, Blake falls in the latter for me and i just wanted him to realize that he deserves to be happy as much as anyone else. it really depends on how they're written and how in depth or layered their character is though. although it took a while to get there (a lot of sobbing on my end bc it just HURTS), i loved Blake's journey to self-acceptance and how he's realizing that things may not be smiles and sunshine all the time, but he's still someone who deserves to find love and happiness and i'm so glad Cheever is that one for him. i adored their dynamic and banters so much. the way they lifted each other up with Blake being there for Cheever in the first half and Cheever being there for Blake in the second half. <3
i loved the brotherhood/found family feels from this duology!! the way it felt like every single character played an important role not only in both mcs' lives, but also the story as a whole. the way each character has grown so much from the first book to this book. 🥺 both books were painful and brutal, but it felt so real that i couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and writing. it's not for the faint of heart, so i would just recommend this if you're an angst lover.
"So this... this thing you're carrying around on your shoulders, like you don't deserve love, like you don't deserve us, you need to drop that thing quick. It's like that play, the one with the play inside. If every man gets treated like they deserved, every man would deserve to get beaten up. Don't treat people like they deserve, treat people like we want to be treated. I want to be treated like my fuckups don't define me, and that's how I want my brothers to be treated too."
August 9, 2019
*3.5 stars*
Maybe it’s not fair to compare a book to its predecessor but it’s just impossible to not compare Paint it Black to the masterpiece that was Beneath The Stain. Not just because it’s the same series but because A) a lot of scenes overlap with the first book, and B) the characters of the first book play such a big role here and get so much page time, it’s easy to forget that they ‘re not the actual MCs.
The first 40 % is packed with A LOT of angst. Not relationship angst, but the kind that makes you crave a drink or ten. Abuse, rape, addiction, overdosing, suicide attempt…it’s all there on page. Heed the trigger warnings!
For me Paint it Black was a good book that reminded me of the good old Amy Lane. Long-ish but didn’t bore me at all. There was a good amount of angst (not heart wrenching, mind you) and an even bigger mount of feels. The steamy scenes were super hot and emotional and like in all Lane’s books the sense of family is very strong. And that was all….Nothing really special.
I’m definitely going to be the minority with this one so I’ll just go straight to what did not work for me to keep this helpful.
There were three things in the book that, after a certain point, started to feel annoying:
First, it was Blake’s constant tendency to put himself down. "You ‘re too good for me", "I don’t deserve you", "you ‘ll wake up one day and leave me", "you ‘ll get better and realize I’m damaged goods and you ‘ll break up with me"…. Phrases like this became his moto until the end and, honestly, this is where most of the conflict kept coming from. I got it at first, but later on it became just an excuse and irritated the hell out of me.
Second, I understand that Cheever had been horrible to his family while he was growing up but I didn’t feel like this family was really supportive of him after they learnt about his abuse. By that I specifically mean his brothers who, instead of a heart to heart conversation about forgiveness and support, kept telling him that they ‘re worried about him hurting Blake, not the other way around. This right here is very indicative:
Third, the villain. Not only there was no real penance, but his reaction when Cheever and the others confronted him all these years later was super weird to me. That’s all I’ll say so that I won’t spoil everything.
If you loved the first book I suggest you go for it. I struggled with my rating but I’m rounding up to four stars because Paint it Blackbrought me back to a universe that I really loved.
Maybe it’s not fair to compare a book to its predecessor but it’s just impossible to not compare Paint it Black to the masterpiece that was Beneath The Stain. Not just because it’s the same series but because A) a lot of scenes overlap with the first book, and B) the characters of the first book play such a big role here and get so much page time, it’s easy to forget that they ‘re not the actual MCs.
The first 40 % is packed with A LOT of angst. Not relationship angst, but the kind that makes you crave a drink or ten. Abuse, rape, addiction, overdosing, suicide attempt…it’s all there on page. Heed the trigger warnings!
For me Paint it Black was a good book that reminded me of the good old Amy Lane. Long-ish but didn’t bore me at all. There was a good amount of angst (not heart wrenching, mind you) and an even bigger mount of feels. The steamy scenes were super hot and emotional and like in all Lane’s books the sense of family is very strong. And that was all….Nothing really special.
I’m definitely going to be the minority with this one so I’ll just go straight to what did not work for me to keep this helpful.
There were three things in the book that, after a certain point, started to feel annoying:
First, it was Blake’s constant tendency to put himself down. "You ‘re too good for me", "I don’t deserve you", "you ‘ll wake up one day and leave me", "you ‘ll get better and realize I’m damaged goods and you ‘ll break up with me"…. Phrases like this became his moto until the end and, honestly, this is where most of the conflict kept coming from. I got it at first, but later on it became just an excuse and irritated the hell out of me.
Second, I understand that Cheever had been horrible to his family while he was growing up but I didn’t feel like this family was really supportive of him after they learnt about his abuse. By that I specifically mean his brothers who, instead of a heart to heart conversation about forgiveness and support, kept telling him that they ‘re worried about him hurting Blake, not the other way around. This right here is very indicative:
"You talk to her about Blake?”
“Am I supposed to? She was like the rest of you all. I was like, ‘Yay! Great guy! Seems to like me!’ And you all were like, ‘Don’t break Blake!’”
He felt the same helpless frustration building up behind his eyes."
Third, the villain. Not only there was no real penance, but his reaction when Cheever and the others confronted him all these years later was super weird to me. That’s all I’ll say so that I won’t spoil everything.
If you loved the first book I suggest you go for it. I struggled with my rating but I’m rounding up to four stars because Paint it Blackbrought me back to a universe that I really loved.
Want to read
December 17, 2019Holy Shit! Is this a sequel to Beneath the Stain?
*grabby hands*
*grabby hands*
December 1, 2019
Not impressed with Blake who has been In Recovery for nine years and is ten years older than Cheever, being treated like a delicate child. Cheever is the one who is young and vulnerable, but all he seems to get is straight talking and reminders not to hurt Blake? Seriously? The family really let him down in this one and a lot of it just seemed swept over, his pain, but not Blake’s? Also, Briony just seemed like a bitch in this one and needed taking down a peg or two. The way she spoke to Cheever was terrible? Also their kids are allergic to everything!
Amy Lane is a goddess and Beneath The Stain is pretty much perfection to me. I did really enjoy this book, but there were issues for me that stopped me loving it. Firstly Cheever shoulders way to much guilt and blame. He was a tool when he was younger. But come on he was basically 13 when he did all the horrible shit he did. But he got held accountable too much. Then when he does try to behave, he is wrong because he is distant? Cheever from what I saw went to the family dinners and played with the kids, but still did not let himself get close to the family. Not exactly terrible behaviour. I also found some things contradictory in this. Sometimes in this book we are told Cheever walls around like a flash asshole spending all the money given to him by his family. Then Travis says he was not wasteful and did not use all the money given to him? Also, we are told Cheever hurt the family by basically never being around them? But then we see he went to nearly all the family dinners? So he hardly ignored them? I found he couldn’t really win. Sure he distanced himself, he may have been selfish and aloof, but he was not an asshole in my eyes. I also could not really blame him. His family are good people who provided for him and tried to protect him. It is not their fault, but unfortunately Cheever got hurt. He also felt left behind and left out, and to an extent he was. I don’t mind Heather, but she was not as present with Cheever as she should have been. I also was lost why he got sent to boarding school. I get it was for a good education, but Cheever was the only one still at home, he was the youngest and already felt out of the loop, so maybe keeping him close by at school would have benefitted him more? I loved Blake and Cheever together, they really were beautiful. Their love was obvious and their chemistry amazing! I loved seeing Blake finally accept love and heal!
I did not appreciate the fact that Cheever’s Family seemed to protect Blake at the expense of Cheever. Do not get me wrong Blake suffered and was hurt immensely. He had a lot of pain to heal from and he was a kind and sensitive man, so looking out for him is justified. What is not justified is basically insulting Cheever by warning him to not hurt Blake, as if he is nasty and malicious. This also makes no sense to me as Cheever is about ten years younger them Blake and is only just out of hospital, where as Blake has been out of rehab for 9 years. He has had time to grow and heal and build a family with the guys. Cheever is the one who recently tried to harm himself, he should have been the priority and the one in need of protection in my book. I felt his abuse was kind of overlooked and he was expected to just heal and be done with it pretty much. The guy was raped, neglected and hurt, I felt he was just left to it. His sins were held against him too much in my opinion. He should have made more effort with the guys, but then maybe they should have seen him hiding and distancing himself, and realised something more was going on. I also felt Cheever kind of turned into a calmer version of Mackey and was too grown up. He seemed more stable and mature than Blake in a short time, and went from fucked up, to in control and settled very quickly. I also found Cheever being a god in the bedroom due to his experience, and age a little unrealistic. I also got a bit frustrated with Blake insisting Cheever was going to leave him.
As I said before Briony rubbed me the wrong way. She apologised to Cheever, but too little too late in my book. Her reasoning for lashing out sucked, the guys were so hurt by Cheever staying away? He was the youngest and only one left behind, maybe you should have tried harder, or not hold that against him knowing he was abused? Seriously he was her husbands brother, not some randomer, and the way she talked to him was a joke. I found the whole domestic scene a bit cringe. Everyone had allergies and intolerances. I get they had all settled down, but they did not need to become kitchen nazis. Not eating sugar, and then hiding so they could eat the biscuits was just sad. Sheila seemed less calm and sweet in this book, and more like a replica of Briony. Trav was also presented like a more grumpy control freak in this book, and honestly I could not believe their was still questions about Stevie and Jeff’s relationship with Sheila? After all this time? It was a bit obvious what the set up was. I did love seeing the guys, and this book was beautiful, I just felt Cheever got it a little too hard!
Amy Lane is a goddess and Beneath The Stain is pretty much perfection to me. I did really enjoy this book, but there were issues for me that stopped me loving it. Firstly Cheever shoulders way to much guilt and blame. He was a tool when he was younger. But come on he was basically 13 when he did all the horrible shit he did. But he got held accountable too much. Then when he does try to behave, he is wrong because he is distant? Cheever from what I saw went to the family dinners and played with the kids, but still did not let himself get close to the family. Not exactly terrible behaviour. I also found some things contradictory in this. Sometimes in this book we are told Cheever walls around like a flash asshole spending all the money given to him by his family. Then Travis says he was not wasteful and did not use all the money given to him? Also, we are told Cheever hurt the family by basically never being around them? But then we see he went to nearly all the family dinners? So he hardly ignored them? I found he couldn’t really win. Sure he distanced himself, he may have been selfish and aloof, but he was not an asshole in my eyes. I also could not really blame him. His family are good people who provided for him and tried to protect him. It is not their fault, but unfortunately Cheever got hurt. He also felt left behind and left out, and to an extent he was. I don’t mind Heather, but she was not as present with Cheever as she should have been. I also was lost why he got sent to boarding school. I get it was for a good education, but Cheever was the only one still at home, he was the youngest and already felt out of the loop, so maybe keeping him close by at school would have benefitted him more? I loved Blake and Cheever together, they really were beautiful. Their love was obvious and their chemistry amazing! I loved seeing Blake finally accept love and heal!
I did not appreciate the fact that Cheever’s Family seemed to protect Blake at the expense of Cheever. Do not get me wrong Blake suffered and was hurt immensely. He had a lot of pain to heal from and he was a kind and sensitive man, so looking out for him is justified. What is not justified is basically insulting Cheever by warning him to not hurt Blake, as if he is nasty and malicious. This also makes no sense to me as Cheever is about ten years younger them Blake and is only just out of hospital, where as Blake has been out of rehab for 9 years. He has had time to grow and heal and build a family with the guys. Cheever is the one who recently tried to harm himself, he should have been the priority and the one in need of protection in my book. I felt his abuse was kind of overlooked and he was expected to just heal and be done with it pretty much. The guy was raped, neglected and hurt, I felt he was just left to it. His sins were held against him too much in my opinion. He should have made more effort with the guys, but then maybe they should have seen him hiding and distancing himself, and realised something more was going on. I also felt Cheever kind of turned into a calmer version of Mackey and was too grown up. He seemed more stable and mature than Blake in a short time, and went from fucked up, to in control and settled very quickly. I also found Cheever being a god in the bedroom due to his experience, and age a little unrealistic. I also got a bit frustrated with Blake insisting Cheever was going to leave him.
As I said before Briony rubbed me the wrong way. She apologised to Cheever, but too little too late in my book. Her reasoning for lashing out sucked, the guys were so hurt by Cheever staying away? He was the youngest and only one left behind, maybe you should have tried harder, or not hold that against him knowing he was abused? Seriously he was her husbands brother, not some randomer, and the way she talked to him was a joke. I found the whole domestic scene a bit cringe. Everyone had allergies and intolerances. I get they had all settled down, but they did not need to become kitchen nazis. Not eating sugar, and then hiding so they could eat the biscuits was just sad. Sheila seemed less calm and sweet in this book, and more like a replica of Briony. Trav was also presented like a more grumpy control freak in this book, and honestly I could not believe their was still questions about Stevie and Jeff’s relationship with Sheila? After all this time? It was a bit obvious what the set up was. I did love seeing the guys, and this book was beautiful, I just felt Cheever got it a little too hard!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2024
Reread 30.07.-01.08.2024
Drugie czytanie po prawie czterech latach - i znowu bez zmian 😁
Nie tak dobre, jak część pierwsza, ale że jedynka to cholerne 6 gwiazdek, to tutaj spokojnie 5 wchodzi 😁
Blake to taki kochany słodziak, który zasługuje na wszystkie uściski i całą miłość świata 💙
* * * * * * *
Fantastycznie znowu było spotkać się z braćmi Sanders i ich kumplami z zespołu. Wprawdzie tym.. razem bohaterowie inni, ale znani - bo i Blake, i Cheever pojawili się we wcześniejszej części. Zatem tak naprawdę wszystko było znajome - łącznie z odlotowym niezmiennie Mackey'em, który wywinął niezły numer tym razem i wiecznie zirytowanym Travisem, który dla swoich chłopaków i ich rodzin dałby się pociąć, a dla Mackeya... na to ciągle słów brak, co byłby w stanie dla niego zrobić 😁
I tym razem nie będę się rozpisywać, ale szczerze - ta historia potoczyła się trochę inaczej, niż się spodziewałam, zwłaszcza po opisie. W sumie zaskoczyła mnie tym, ale pozytywnie. Blake jest kochany na maksa, Cheever to po prostu Sanders - i to mówi wszystko 😁 Znowu wcale łatwo nie było, ale to dobrze 😁 Znowu ciężko się było oderwać - to też dobrze 😁 Znowu kawał dobrego tekstu - i to chyba też dobrze 😁 I choć może nie AŻ tak dobra ta historia, jak Mackeya i Trava i nie zasługuje na 6, ale 5 na spokojnie i zdecydowanie 😁
Drugie czytanie po prawie czterech latach - i znowu bez zmian 😁
Nie tak dobre, jak część pierwsza, ale że jedynka to cholerne 6 gwiazdek, to tutaj spokojnie 5 wchodzi 😁
Blake to taki kochany słodziak, który zasługuje na wszystkie uściski i całą miłość świata 💙
* * * * * * *
Fantastycznie znowu było spotkać się z braćmi Sanders i ich kumplami z zespołu. Wprawdzie tym.. razem bohaterowie inni, ale znani - bo i Blake, i Cheever pojawili się we wcześniejszej części. Zatem tak naprawdę wszystko było znajome - łącznie z odlotowym niezmiennie Mackey'em, który wywinął niezły numer tym razem i wiecznie zirytowanym Travisem, który dla swoich chłopaków i ich rodzin dałby się pociąć, a dla Mackeya... na to ciągle słów brak, co byłby w stanie dla niego zrobić 😁
I tym razem nie będę się rozpisywać, ale szczerze - ta historia potoczyła się trochę inaczej, niż się spodziewałam, zwłaszcza po opisie. W sumie zaskoczyła mnie tym, ale pozytywnie. Blake jest kochany na maksa, Cheever to po prostu Sanders - i to mówi wszystko 😁 Znowu wcale łatwo nie było, ale to dobrze 😁 Znowu ciężko się było oderwać - to też dobrze 😁 Znowu kawał dobrego tekstu - i to chyba też dobrze 😁 I choć może nie AŻ tak dobra ta historia, jak Mackeya i Trava i nie zasługuje na 6, ale 5 na spokojnie i zdecydowanie 😁
October 27, 2022
Soooooo, I think I have to put this author on my black list after this. I've read pretty decent books by Amy Lane. Never 5 stars but certainly 4. And she writes very well.
HOWVER.
Similar to issues I have with Kristin Ashley at times, just goes on and on and on with melodramatic chit chat - and they all sound the SAME after a while. I can't tell anyone from anyone! Lots of baby boys and sweethearts and oh dear gods and etc.
WHO TALKS LIKE THIS?? the way that it's written at length in these books?? And also the amount of melodrama:
* Both men were raped, 1 had to sell sex for $, the other was bullied, and everything in between
* one had a drug problem, one overdosed in order to commit suicide and slit his wrists...
I mean... OK... you couldn't aim for some balance and have ONE of the above for just ONE of the characters? Or maybe 1 druggy and 1 rape victim?? It was just sooooo over the top.
I read as diligently as I could for about 40% and then I had to just skip and fast read because it was all the SAME! Endless pages of NOTHING but WORDS!!
And lots and lots of crying... like ALL THE TIME!
Ugh. Taking down to 1 star.
I don't think I'll read this author again.
HOWVER.
Similar to issues I have with Kristin Ashley at times, just goes on and on and on with melodramatic chit chat - and they all sound the SAME after a while. I can't tell anyone from anyone! Lots of baby boys and sweethearts and oh dear gods and etc.
WHO TALKS LIKE THIS?? the way that it's written at length in these books?? And also the amount of melodrama:
* Both men were raped, 1 had to sell sex for $, the other was bullied, and everything in between
* one had a drug problem, one overdosed in order to commit suicide and slit his wrists...
I mean... OK... you couldn't aim for some balance and have ONE of the above for just ONE of the characters? Or maybe 1 druggy and 1 rape victim?? It was just sooooo over the top.
I read as diligently as I could for about 40% and then I had to just skip and fast read because it was all the SAME! Endless pages of NOTHING but WORDS!!
And lots and lots of crying... like ALL THE TIME!
Ugh. Taking down to 1 star.
I don't think I'll read this author again.
August 4, 2019
‘Blake was the victim, and nobody put him back together. He was trying to be the hero, and the duct tape didn’t always hold.’
If you were to ask us to recommend one of our most unforgettable reads, Beneath the Stain would be at the very top of that list. It’s hard to put into words the magnitude of emotions Mackey and Travis’s story put us through and difficult to convey the sheer brilliance and heartfelt raw talent Amy Lane gave to their story. 5 stars would never be enough for that book. It was an experience we’ll never forget.
To encounter Mackey Sanders struggles and become enveloped in the beautiful and curious Sanders family dynamics in Beneath the Stain was to be left with an indelible mark on your heart. Every single character affected us, so you can imagine how thrilled we were to hear Amy Lane had written Blake and Cheever’s story. We were excited and maybe a little worried, from an emotional perspective, to return to the rock star household, and thrilled to be spending more time with this family.
“We’re all broken inside a little. You step on us in the right places, we’re gonna fucking shatter.”
In the interests of understanding all the characters nuances and personalities, please do not start Paint It Black without first experiencing Beneath the Stain. The foundation for Cheever and Blake’s story begins in Beneath the Stain as secondary characters, leading to the events in Paint it Black. Although, to be honest, you can’t categorise any of the characters in these books as secondary.
‘He had no choice, none at all, but to cry in their arms and know they’d be there when he needed them. God, he was going to need them.’
If Heather Sanders, single Mum to the four Sanders boys, is the heart of the Sanders family, then Mackey is the soul, and every blood and extended family member, the glue that holds the Sanders household together. This is one tight-knit family. Their love pours from every page, their heartache bleaches into every corner of your heart, and all these characters will render you speechless.
“Oh, son. Pain makes you selfish, did you not know that?”
“I do now!”
Cheever Sanders is the youngest of the Sanders siblings. What his family lacked in money and materialistic wealth, they more than made up for in loyalty, friendship and love, forming a tight bond that couldn’t be broken. The three oldest Sanders boys, Mackey, Kell and Jefferson, together with their ‘brothers‘ by bond, Stevie and Blake, toured relentlessly riding on the success of their band Outbreak Monkey to achieve financial stability for Cheever and Heather. Their hope was Cheever would have the opportunities not afforded the other boys by attending the best schools to further his love of art.
To anyone on the outside, Cheever appears sullen and ungrateful for the life bestowed on him, distancing himself from his hardworking brothers, however, underneath Cheever was singlehandedly trying to face his demons, and unbeknownst to his brothers, going through his own personal hell.
After hearing Cheever has gone off the rails, Blake Manning, a former addict who had spent time in rehab nine years earlier with Mackey Sanders, sets out to help Cheever, however, what Blake finds, makes him face his own demons and self-doubt.
“I’m sorry about your toe.”
“I’m sorry about your heart.”
Blake Manning, the guitarist for Outbreak Monkey, is a man with a beautiful heart and soul yet plagued by self-loathing and worthlessness, feelings he’s carried from his younger years when he was forced to survive any way he could after fleeing an abusive and vile drug-addicted mother. Brought into the Sanders fold, Blake is lovingly protected and loved as one of their own, and whilst we deal with Cheever’s demons and his fight to find his place in his family, it was Blake who hit our hearts the hardest. This man who loved with fierceness and opened his heart so freely yet refused to believe he was worthy of love, brought us to our knees.
‘For Blake Manning’s first twenty hearts, he hadn’t had a soul he could trust, and for the last twelve, he’d had a family.’
Paint It Black needs to be experienced without spoilers as Amy Lane once again delivered a painful and difficult story driven by raw emotion and a beautiful love story at its heart. This is a tender and sincere account of two men each warring with their demons and whose hearts cried out for the other. There were times we found ourselves grinning from the witty banter, and times we felt our hearts crash and soar, and moments that reduced us to tears.
“You gonna let me in?”
“Yeah.”
“All the way in? Into your heart?”
Beneath The Stain will always be our sentimental favourite, and for that reason, we can’t and won’t compare Paint it Black to Beneath the Stain. Whilst there is a similar theme between both books, each stands on its own for characterisation and storytelling. Nothing in Blake and Cheevers story is superfluous; every page gave us much insight into Blake, Cheever and the Sanders clan. Every tender, heartbreaking, sweet, funny and moving moment was savoured then locked away, into our hearts for safekeeping.
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August 25, 2019
3.5 stars
Cheever watched his brothers rocket to stardom, while he remained behind in the hellhole of their hometown. Full of resentment and broken by trauma, Cheever barely makes it day by day.
When it finally becomes too much, Cheever decides to end it permanently. But Blake gets to him just in time.
Blake may have gotten fame and money through the band, but he still has scars from his own past. He knows he needs to take care of Cheever, for as much his own sake as Cheever’s.
Cheever was a decidedly unlikeable character in ‘Beneath the Stain’. He was an awful brother, and just unpleasant.
But it turns out there were some underlying reasons for it all. Heartbreaking reasons.
‘Paint It Black’ is full-on angst-and-pain Amy Lane. My heart broke for Cheever. He definitely could have been a better brother in book 1, but he was just a kid after all. And one who went through the worst.
Seeing Outbreak Monkey’s rise to fame through Cheever’s eyes certainly put things in perspective. The band may have struggled, but so did the people they left behind.
And so it’s not surprising that Cheever would latch on to Blake so quickly, as deprived of love and friendship as Cheever was.
Blake, used to being the one who fades into the back, suddenly becomes someone’s center of everything. He was incredibly sweet. He’s not a hero, and makes mistakes, but he was completely committed to Cheever from the get-go.
Plus, they had the support of the Outbreak Monkey family.
This was the part of the book I struggled with - Outbreak Monkey was just a bit too domestic. The band’s become a bit of a commune. They’re all constantly up in each other’s business.
Though what really made me a tad uneasy was the gender roles within that commune. The Outbreak Monkey women seem to have become relegated solely to childrearing. It didn’t fully mesh with how I remember them from book 1.
While Blake and Cheever fell for each other fairly quickly, I wouldn’t call it insta-love. There’s years of history beforehand, just not in a romantic sense. And when it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!
The two men struggle through a lot, and get thrown a few curveballs (it’s Amy Lane, after all). But both were committed to dealing with the issues, past and present, to get to their happy ending.
Overall, I enjoyed ‘Paint It Black’. It wasn’t as grand of a romance as Beneath the Stain, but still delivered the angst, complex emotions, growth, and true love you can expect from this author!
Cheever watched his brothers rocket to stardom, while he remained behind in the hellhole of their hometown. Full of resentment and broken by trauma, Cheever barely makes it day by day.
When it finally becomes too much, Cheever decides to end it permanently. But Blake gets to him just in time.
Blake may have gotten fame and money through the band, but he still has scars from his own past. He knows he needs to take care of Cheever, for as much his own sake as Cheever’s.
Cheever was a decidedly unlikeable character in ‘Beneath the Stain’. He was an awful brother, and just unpleasant.
But it turns out there were some underlying reasons for it all. Heartbreaking reasons.
‘Paint It Black’ is full-on angst-and-pain Amy Lane. My heart broke for Cheever. He definitely could have been a better brother in book 1, but he was just a kid after all. And one who went through the worst.
Seeing Outbreak Monkey’s rise to fame through Cheever’s eyes certainly put things in perspective. The band may have struggled, but so did the people they left behind.
And so it’s not surprising that Cheever would latch on to Blake so quickly, as deprived of love and friendship as Cheever was.
Blake, used to being the one who fades into the back, suddenly becomes someone’s center of everything. He was incredibly sweet. He’s not a hero, and makes mistakes, but he was completely committed to Cheever from the get-go.
Plus, they had the support of the Outbreak Monkey family.
This was the part of the book I struggled with - Outbreak Monkey was just a bit too domestic. The band’s become a bit of a commune. They’re all constantly up in each other’s business.
Though what really made me a tad uneasy was the gender roles within that commune. The Outbreak Monkey women seem to have become relegated solely to childrearing. It didn’t fully mesh with how I remember them from book 1.
While Blake and Cheever fell for each other fairly quickly, I wouldn’t call it insta-love. There’s years of history beforehand, just not in a romantic sense. And when it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!
The two men struggle through a lot, and get thrown a few curveballs (it’s Amy Lane, after all). But both were committed to dealing with the issues, past and present, to get to their happy ending.
Overall, I enjoyed ‘Paint It Black’. It wasn’t as grand of a romance as Beneath the Stain, but still delivered the angst, complex emotions, growth, and true love you can expect from this author!
dnf-not-for-me
August 6, 2019Made it to 200 pdf pages. Well, that went downhill fast, disappointing. Maybe I’ll try again one day. Too bad but at least I had BtS. And fuckit, I’m marking it read after 200 pages but I won’t rate it even though I could.
August 15, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Paint it Black is the long-awaited sequel to Beneath the Stain by Amy Lane. While it could possibly be read as a standalone novel, I would recommend reading these in order primarily because there is a wealth of relationship information in the first that will help you smoothly transition into the second novel and understand how tight knit this group of brothers is and how their extended family fits in. This second book focuses on one of those extended members, Blake, and the youngest Sanders brother, Cheever.
Unlike its predecessor, Paint it Black seemed to have a strange shift in focus early on in the story from Cheever and his needs to Blake’s needs instead. Sometimes it almost felt callous and cold when person after person essentially threatened to make Cheever pay big time if he hurt Blake. I understood that, like most of the guys, Blake had a horrible life and survived near death addiction, causing he and Mackey to be intensely bonded, but truly if one more person had warned Cheever they’d hurt him if he broke or hurt Blake, I think I would have screamed. Yes, I got that they were trying to shield their best buddy from pain, but what about their baby brother? Didn’t he deserve that kind of attention as well? In the end, I felt like this book was more about Blake and his accepting he was a worthy individual rather than Cheever healing and learning his worth to the family. This split focus didn’t work for me and I felt the plot was weakened by it.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Paint it Black is the long-awaited sequel to Beneath the Stain by Amy Lane. While it could possibly be read as a standalone novel, I would recommend reading these in order primarily because there is a wealth of relationship information in the first that will help you smoothly transition into the second novel and understand how tight knit this group of brothers is and how their extended family fits in. This second book focuses on one of those extended members, Blake, and the youngest Sanders brother, Cheever.
Unlike its predecessor, Paint it Black seemed to have a strange shift in focus early on in the story from Cheever and his needs to Blake’s needs instead. Sometimes it almost felt callous and cold when person after person essentially threatened to make Cheever pay big time if he hurt Blake. I understood that, like most of the guys, Blake had a horrible life and survived near death addiction, causing he and Mackey to be intensely bonded, but truly if one more person had warned Cheever they’d hurt him if he broke or hurt Blake, I think I would have screamed. Yes, I got that they were trying to shield their best buddy from pain, but what about their baby brother? Didn’t he deserve that kind of attention as well? In the end, I felt like this book was more about Blake and his accepting he was a worthy individual rather than Cheever healing and learning his worth to the family. This split focus didn’t work for me and I felt the plot was weakened by it.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
October 26, 2019
4.5 stars
August 17, 2019
4.5 black stars rounded up because still no 1/2 stars here on goodreads and I loved this one so what the heck.
There's no monkey business here...well, not much...
I'm not sure that I'd say you 'have to' read 'Beneath the Stain' to follow this story but I do think it would be very beneficial and honestly, it's such an awesome story and if you're a fan of Amy Lane, I can't imagine that you haven't or wouldn't want to but that's for each of us to decide.
I loved 'Beneath the Stain' I read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book. No matter what the format this story just worked for me but now we're faced with the second book 'Paint It Black' and I admit I was nervous...could Ms Lane pull it off could she write a second book that was worth of what she started with and the answer for me was...yes. Was it as good as 'Beneath the Stain' I think that's a matter of individual opinion but for me it was and comparing them was also a little bit like comparing apples and oranges. Both had their own strengths and weaknesses and each story brought a different perspective to the same time frame and some of the same events through the eyes of different characters.
In 'Paint It Black' the focus is on Cheever Sanders younger brother to men of 'Outbreak Monkey' whether by blood or of the heart these men are brothers and 'Blake' his membership to this band of brothers was a little harder earned by he's every bit as much a brother as the the others, he just doesn't realize his own self worth.
Cheever has reached adulthood but it hasn't happened without a price and while his brothers have spent the intervening years trying to reach him. He's had his own reasons for keeping them at arms length, they just weren't as good as he believed them to be. it's said that it takes a village to raise a child...well it can also take a village to pull that same child from their path of self destruction and that's where Blake finds Cheever.
'Paint It Black' was an exercise in perspectives. What Blake and the other band members saw as an young man who was acting out and spoiled turned out to be a young man who was struggling to battle his own demons and hold himself together and failing.
While most of this story takes place at the same time as 'Beneath the Stain' did. Things that happen in this story either weren't reveled in that book or we get to see them from a different (someone else's) perspective.. We also get to know so much more about both Cheever and Blake. I loved having a closer, more intimate look at these two men and their lives.
Both Cheever and Blake have been showing the world a very different person than the one they truly feel themselves to be and in their own way they have each become their own worst enemy. Cheever feels like he doesn't belong and no one truly cares or wants to know what's happening in his life. Blake feels that he's just never good enough and it's not until each of them starts to see themselves through the eyes of those who love them that they also begin to realize their own self-worth. I loved Cheever's friend, Marcia. She was awesome...it took a lot of guts for her to walk out of rehab because she needed to find Cheever and be sure he was ok. She was totally the kind of friend who'd walk in when the rest of the world was walking out.
Marcia wasn't the only awesome woman in this story there were more than a few Heather Sanders Mackey, Kell and Jeffereson's mom but really she was mom to all of them. Briony, Kell's wife she was fierce when it came to keeping the household on track and that may not seemed like much but for this group it really was a crucial part of their life. Sheila, Jefferson and Stevie's wife...she was that bit of calm that buffered them all and helped to smooth the edges when things got rough. Each of these women had their own unique super-power that contributed to making the groups world just that much better and they always seemed to have room in their hearts for one more...it's how a family works.
'Paint It Black' was every bit as gut wrenching and emotional for me as 'Beneath the Stain' but each in their own way. While the ending of 'Paint It Black' was maybe a little more over the top than I would have liked it fit the people in this story. This is a bigger than life over the top family and somehow they just seemed to need and deserve that bigger than live over the top HEA ending...so for me it all worked. I really just need one more thing to make this all perfect...does anyone know when the audio book is come out and can I expect Nick J. Russo as the narrator?
*************************
A copy of 'Paint It Black' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There's no monkey business here...well, not much...
I'm not sure that I'd say you 'have to' read 'Beneath the Stain' to follow this story but I do think it would be very beneficial and honestly, it's such an awesome story and if you're a fan of Amy Lane, I can't imagine that you haven't or wouldn't want to but that's for each of us to decide.
I loved 'Beneath the Stain' I read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book. No matter what the format this story just worked for me but now we're faced with the second book 'Paint It Black' and I admit I was nervous...could Ms Lane pull it off could she write a second book that was worth of what she started with and the answer for me was...yes. Was it as good as 'Beneath the Stain' I think that's a matter of individual opinion but for me it was and comparing them was also a little bit like comparing apples and oranges. Both had their own strengths and weaknesses and each story brought a different perspective to the same time frame and some of the same events through the eyes of different characters.
In 'Paint It Black' the focus is on Cheever Sanders younger brother to men of 'Outbreak Monkey' whether by blood or of the heart these men are brothers and 'Blake' his membership to this band of brothers was a little harder earned by he's every bit as much a brother as the the others, he just doesn't realize his own self worth.
Cheever has reached adulthood but it hasn't happened without a price and while his brothers have spent the intervening years trying to reach him. He's had his own reasons for keeping them at arms length, they just weren't as good as he believed them to be. it's said that it takes a village to raise a child...well it can also take a village to pull that same child from their path of self destruction and that's where Blake finds Cheever.
'Paint It Black' was an exercise in perspectives. What Blake and the other band members saw as an young man who was acting out and spoiled turned out to be a young man who was struggling to battle his own demons and hold himself together and failing.
While most of this story takes place at the same time as 'Beneath the Stain' did. Things that happen in this story either weren't reveled in that book or we get to see them from a different (someone else's) perspective.. We also get to know so much more about both Cheever and Blake. I loved having a closer, more intimate look at these two men and their lives.
Both Cheever and Blake have been showing the world a very different person than the one they truly feel themselves to be and in their own way they have each become their own worst enemy. Cheever feels like he doesn't belong and no one truly cares or wants to know what's happening in his life. Blake feels that he's just never good enough and it's not until each of them starts to see themselves through the eyes of those who love them that they also begin to realize their own self-worth. I loved Cheever's friend, Marcia. She was awesome...it took a lot of guts for her to walk out of rehab because she needed to find Cheever and be sure he was ok. She was totally the kind of friend who'd walk in when the rest of the world was walking out.
Marcia wasn't the only awesome woman in this story there were more than a few Heather Sanders Mackey, Kell and Jeffereson's mom but really she was mom to all of them. Briony, Kell's wife she was fierce when it came to keeping the household on track and that may not seemed like much but for this group it really was a crucial part of their life. Sheila, Jefferson and Stevie's wife...she was that bit of calm that buffered them all and helped to smooth the edges when things got rough. Each of these women had their own unique super-power that contributed to making the groups world just that much better and they always seemed to have room in their hearts for one more...it's how a family works.
'Paint It Black' was every bit as gut wrenching and emotional for me as 'Beneath the Stain' but each in their own way. While the ending of 'Paint It Black' was maybe a little more over the top than I would have liked it fit the people in this story. This is a bigger than life over the top family and somehow they just seemed to need and deserve that bigger than live over the top HEA ending...so for me it all worked. I really just need one more thing to make this all perfect...does anyone know when the audio book is come out and can I expect Nick J. Russo as the narrator?
*************************
A copy of 'Paint It Black' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
Oh, those Sanders boys!
They break, then duct tape the cracks
with sweetness and sex.
They break, then duct tape the cracks
with sweetness and sex.
April 12, 2024
5 ⭐️
I would have given it 4,5. But then. Several days after reading it, I still felt like a part of that world. I found myself thinking about those boys, their family and feeling like they were real.
So, yeah, this definitely is a 5 ⭐️ read for me.
This duology, it’s a complete world. And I feel so happy I got to feel a part of it 💗
And, yeah, it’s a bit dark and absolutely sad. But it also has this lightness about it. And I loved it 😍
I would have given it 4,5. But then. Several days after reading it, I still felt like a part of that world. I found myself thinking about those boys, their family and feeling like they were real.
So, yeah, this definitely is a 5 ⭐️ read for me.
This duology, it’s a complete world. And I feel so happy I got to feel a part of it 💗
And, yeah, it’s a bit dark and absolutely sad. But it also has this lightness about it. And I loved it 😍
August 13, 2019
Geez. I don't know if I can see to write this, I'm still bawling like a baby. I remember in Beneath the Stain, the hell Blake and Mackey went through and how Cheever was the light of their life as their little brother. But when he changed, he broke everyone's hearts. I remember thinking, oh my gah, what a dick. And now I'm almost ashamed. After ready his story and what he went through, shew, it's been hell on Earth. For all of them, really.
If you haven't read Beneath the Stain first, you need to. Also be aware, this is a dark story. It's about rape, gang rape, abuse, blackmail, abuse, drugs, alcoholism, recovery, and all that. It's not a happy, happy joy, joy story, even though it's an HEA. Life is not all happy all the time and as we all know, Amy doesn't pull punches. She lets you have it with both guns and shew.
Cheever has been hiding a secret for a while. Several actually. But like a pressure it could only take so much before the shit hits the fan. And it hit hard. Cheever never really did drugs but he loaded up on coke, almost overdosed while gang raped. And that's how Blake found him. Almost dead and gone, trying to slit his wrist to make it over. Blake quickly got him to the hospital and they eventually transferred to a treatment facility where he and Mackey were at. But Cheever isn't ready to let those secrets go yet. He doesn't want anyone to see the ugly part of him. But as he and Blake get closer, Cheever is realizing a lot of things. Especially about Blake. Like how he's ripping open his wounds in order to help Cheever. And Cheever can't stand him being hurt. But Cheever finally had a moment of...brilliance..so to speak and it all came spewing out. All of it. When Blake and everyone hears, there's an uproar. Mostly because Cheever didn't come to them, but Cheever felt alone with them gone so it was a catch 22. But Blake has still accepted him and refuses to hear anything bad about himself, and Cheever is working on Blake in the same way. But Blake is in this relationship with one foot out the door, thinking Cheever is going to wake up and leave him. So Cheever has to now prove he intends to stay. For good.
Dear heaven, the shit these boys have been through. If it's not one of them, it's the other. But the one thing I love is when Cheever finally broke down and let everyone in, he was finally home. They enfolded him in where he should have been all along. Cheever knew the family had grown and expanded with all the partners and children, but the bond they all had was something unbreakable. With Trav at the helm, still leading them all, he protected them and let them be the family they are supposed to be. It wasn't easy. Blake's past, including his douche mother, tried to make things worse. There were doubts, moments where people wanted to relapse, hugs and tears. Private scars and tender moments, but they were family. No matter what.
I was so happy to see everyone again. I love these characters. They're imperfect, flawed, scarred and downright pains in the asses, but love fiercely, loyally, and to the end. They make you laugh, cry and scream in agony over stupidity or heartbreaking moments, but in the end, every page is worth it. And I'm so happy I got to see this journey.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
If you haven't read Beneath the Stain first, you need to. Also be aware, this is a dark story. It's about rape, gang rape, abuse, blackmail, abuse, drugs, alcoholism, recovery, and all that. It's not a happy, happy joy, joy story, even though it's an HEA. Life is not all happy all the time and as we all know, Amy doesn't pull punches. She lets you have it with both guns and shew.
Cheever has been hiding a secret for a while. Several actually. But like a pressure it could only take so much before the shit hits the fan. And it hit hard. Cheever never really did drugs but he loaded up on coke, almost overdosed while gang raped. And that's how Blake found him. Almost dead and gone, trying to slit his wrist to make it over. Blake quickly got him to the hospital and they eventually transferred to a treatment facility where he and Mackey were at. But Cheever isn't ready to let those secrets go yet. He doesn't want anyone to see the ugly part of him. But as he and Blake get closer, Cheever is realizing a lot of things. Especially about Blake. Like how he's ripping open his wounds in order to help Cheever. And Cheever can't stand him being hurt. But Cheever finally had a moment of...brilliance..so to speak and it all came spewing out. All of it. When Blake and everyone hears, there's an uproar. Mostly because Cheever didn't come to them, but Cheever felt alone with them gone so it was a catch 22. But Blake has still accepted him and refuses to hear anything bad about himself, and Cheever is working on Blake in the same way. But Blake is in this relationship with one foot out the door, thinking Cheever is going to wake up and leave him. So Cheever has to now prove he intends to stay. For good.
Dear heaven, the shit these boys have been through. If it's not one of them, it's the other. But the one thing I love is when Cheever finally broke down and let everyone in, he was finally home. They enfolded him in where he should have been all along. Cheever knew the family had grown and expanded with all the partners and children, but the bond they all had was something unbreakable. With Trav at the helm, still leading them all, he protected them and let them be the family they are supposed to be. It wasn't easy. Blake's past, including his douche mother, tried to make things worse. There were doubts, moments where people wanted to relapse, hugs and tears. Private scars and tender moments, but they were family. No matter what.
I was so happy to see everyone again. I love these characters. They're imperfect, flawed, scarred and downright pains in the asses, but love fiercely, loyally, and to the end. They make you laugh, cry and scream in agony over stupidity or heartbreaking moments, but in the end, every page is worth it. And I'm so happy I got to see this journey.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
August 17, 2019
So when I was at 25% into Paint It Black, I sent the following messages to my #reading girls:
- Guuuuuuuyyyyssssss.... Paint It Black is HEARTBREAKING FULL-ON ANGST ON STEROIDS Amy Lane and I love it!
- So far it's making Beneath The Stain look like a kids book in comparison
- It's Chase In Shadows dialed up...
And every single word of that is true right up to the very last sentence. Everyone knows Amy can write angst (Christ, hand the woman the Queen of Angst crown already). Everyone knows Amy can write sex (be it fucking, loving, consensual, or not). Everyone knows Amy can write love (great, heaving bosoms of love). And those that don't know this? You need to make sure they get this message! Read the books!
I hated pretty much hated everything about what Cheever did and who he was in 'Beneath The Stain'. And I absolutely F#CKING love everything he does in 'Paint It Black' (even his initial big mistake because gods, it brings him Blake and it brings him his brothers). The way this story evolved is a lesson in character evolution and getting to witness Blake and Cheever find their happy is everything you need to read now.
And don't even get me started on the poetry that are the song lyrics! Poetry people, poetry!
5/5 stars because hell, how could you give anything less for a book that makes your heart bleed in ways you didn't know it could whilst rewarding you with such love it makes your heart ache with happiness.
#readthisbook #recommendedread
- Guuuuuuuyyyyssssss.... Paint It Black is HEARTBREAKING FULL-ON ANGST ON STEROIDS Amy Lane and I love it!
- So far it's making Beneath The Stain look like a kids book in comparison
- It's Chase In Shadows dialed up...
And every single word of that is true right up to the very last sentence. Everyone knows Amy can write angst (Christ, hand the woman the Queen of Angst crown already). Everyone knows Amy can write sex (be it fucking, loving, consensual, or not). Everyone knows Amy can write love (great, heaving bosoms of love). And those that don't know this? You need to make sure they get this message! Read the books!
I hated pretty much hated everything about what Cheever did and who he was in 'Beneath The Stain'. And I absolutely F#CKING love everything he does in 'Paint It Black' (even his initial big mistake because gods, it brings him Blake and it brings him his brothers). The way this story evolved is a lesson in character evolution and getting to witness Blake and Cheever find their happy is everything you need to read now.
And don't even get me started on the poetry that are the song lyrics! Poetry people, poetry!
5/5 stars because hell, how could you give anything less for a book that makes your heart bleed in ways you didn't know it could whilst rewarding you with such love it makes your heart ache with happiness.
#readthisbook #recommendedread
August 4, 2019
‘Blake was the victim, and nobody put him back together. He was trying to be the hero, and the duct tape didn’t always hold.’
If you were to ask us to recommend one of our most unforgettable reads, Beneath the Stain would be at the very top of that list. It’s hard to put into words the magnitude of emotions Mackey and Travis’s story put us through and difficult to convey the sheer brilliance and heartfelt raw talent Amy Lane gave to their story. 5 stars would never be enough for that book. It was an experience we’ll never forget.
To encounter Mackey Sanders struggles and become enveloped in the beautiful and curious Sanders family dynamics in Beneath the Stain was to be left with an indelible mark on your heart. Every single character affected us, so you can imagine how thrilled we were to hear Amy Lane had written Blake and Cheever’s story. We were excited and maybe a little worried, from an emotional perspective, to return to the rock star household, and thrilled to be spending more time with this family.
“We’re all broken inside a little. You step on us in the right places, we’re gonna fucking shatter.”
In the interests of understanding all the characters nuances and personalities, please do not start Paint It Black without first experiencing Beneath the Stain. The foundation for Cheever and Blake’s story begins in Beneath the Stain as secondary characters, leading to the events in Paint it Black. Although, to be honest, you can’t categorise any of the characters in these books as secondary.
‘He had no choice, none at all, but to cry in their arms and know they’d be there when he needed them. God, he was going to need them.’
If Heather Sanders, single Mum to the four Sanders boys, is the heart of the Sanders family, then Mackey is the soul, and every blood and extended family member, the glue that holds the Sanders household together. This is one tight-knit family. Their love pours from every page, their heartache bleaches into every corner of your heart, and all these characters will render you speechless.
“Oh, son. Pain makes you selfish, did you not know that?”
“I do now!”
Cheever Sanders is the youngest of the Sanders siblings. What his family lacked in money and materialistic wealth, they more than made up for in loyalty, friendship and love, forming a tight bond that couldn’t be broken. The three oldest Sanders boys, Mackey, Kell and Jefferson, together with their ‘brothers‘ by bond, Stevie and Blake, toured relentlessly riding on the success of their band Outbreak Monkey to achieve financial stability for Cheever and Heather. Their hope was Cheever would have the opportunities not afforded the other boys by attending the best schools to further his love of art.
To anyone on the outside, Cheever appears sullen and ungrateful for the life bestowed on him, distancing himself from his hardworking brothers, however, underneath Cheever was singlehandedly trying to face his demons, and unbeknownst to his brothers, going through his own personal hell.
After hearing Cheever has gone off the rails, Blake Manning, a former addict who had spent time in rehab nine years earlier with Mackey Sanders, sets out to help Cheever, however, what Blake finds, makes him face his own demons and self-doubt.
“I’m sorry about your toe.”
“I’m sorry about your heart.”
Blake Manning, the guitarist for Outbreak Monkey, is a man with a beautiful heart and soul yet plagued by self-loathing and worthlessness, feelings he’s carried from his younger years when he was forced to survive any way he could after fleeing an abusive and vile drug-addicted mother. Brought into the Sanders fold, Blake is lovingly protected and loved as one of their own, and whilst we deal with Cheever’s demons and his fight to find his place in his family, it was Blake who hit our hearts the hardest. This man who loved with fierceness and opened his heart so freely yet refused to believe he was worthy of love, brought us to our knees.
‘For Blake Manning’s first twenty hearts, he hadn’t had a soul he could trust, and for the last twelve, he’d had a family.’
Paint It Black needs to be experienced without spoilers as Amy Lane once again delivered a painful and difficult story driven by raw emotion and a beautiful love story at its heart. This is a tender and sincere account of two men each warring with their demons and whose hearts cried out for the other. There were times we found ourselves grinning from the witty banter, and times we felt our hearts crash and soar, and moments that reduced us to tears.
“You gonna let me in?”
“Yeah.”
“All the way in? Into your heart?”
Beneath The Stain will always be our sentimental favourite, and for that reason, we can’t and won’t compare Paint it Black to Beneath the Stain. Whilst there is a similar theme between both books, each stands on its own for characterisation and storytelling. Nothing in Blake and Cheevers story is superfluous; every page gave us much insight into Blake, Cheever and the Sanders clan. Every tender, heartbreaking, sweet, funny and moving moment was savoured then locked away, into our hearts for safekeeping.
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January 7, 2023
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💫💫💫💫💫
August 22, 2022
Overall book rating: 5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 5
It's NO secret that I thing Beneath the Stain is/was/might be the best thing ever to come out of Amy Lane's pen.
I love these boys fiercely. It is what it is.
That was one of the reasons it took me... well years to get to this one.
I DISLIKED Cheever with a vengeance.
Man. Am I glad my daughter kept nagging at me to get on with it.
It took me back to that feeling. It made me see things aren't always as
it seems.
It gave me the warm fuzzies and as with all the boys in Outbreak Monkey, made
me want to beat someone with a guitar.
I loved it, it was beautiful!
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 5
It's NO secret that I thing Beneath the Stain is/was/might be the best thing ever to come out of Amy Lane's pen.
I love these boys fiercely. It is what it is.
That was one of the reasons it took me... well years to get to this one.
I DISLIKED Cheever with a vengeance.
Man. Am I glad my daughter kept nagging at me to get on with it.
It took me back to that feeling. It made me see things aren't always as
it seems.
It gave me the warm fuzzies and as with all the boys in Outbreak Monkey, made
me want to beat someone with a guitar.
I loved it, it was beautiful!
October 6, 2022
I would have enjoyed it more if Blake’s every other sentence wasn’t “he’s going to leave me in September”.
Too much unnecessary drama to let the romance bloom.
Too much unnecessary drama to let the romance bloom.
August 17, 2019
I reread Beneath the Stain before starting this one. This is very much a sequel, giving us a welcome look at the characters we love, as well as the new story. I had wondered how Cheever - a spoiled, lost, afterthought child and pre-teen in the previous book, would be brought into the fold. I could, of course, have guessed that Amy would show me where Cheever's troublemaking came from, in a kid left behind when the brothers he was raised by all took off together to make music and hit the big time. Being sent to a less awful school out of their money was no substitute for a home life that suddenly was devoid of almost all the people who'd cared about him. And boarding schools are never a picnic...
What we have as the story opens is a young man who has boxed himself up small behind unemotional glass and focused on his art- the one thing he's always done well at. He's going to produce As in his college art classes, go to grad school, be a success. But locking all your emotion down deep is not a recipe for creating good art. When the plan goes wrong, Cheever isn't prepared for everything that comes spilling out of his heart. (Note trigger warnings for both books in this series.)
I was also rooting for this to be Blake's book. Blake caught my heart in the first book as the outsider, the afterthought, who couldn't help not being Grant, and whose problems were always a low-key second to the meteoric disaster-miracle that was Mackey. Here we get to see what brought Blake to that studio for his first audition, and his somewhat lost adventures with 4 band-mates who'd known each other all their lives. Blake has never had top billing, and he's not used to thinking of anything as permanent in his life. He can sympathize with Cheever being the outsider despite his blood ties, and it turns out they have other things in common.
The romance here builds differently, with the present becoming quickly much more settled than the future. Cheever has amazing confidence, for the guy he is at the start of the story. It works, although I thought there were plenty of obstacles that could have made the present between them more difficult. Blake's inability to look forward to something permanent carried a lot of the emotional weight of the story, when I expected other past and present issues for both men to rise up and cause current problems.
I wished Cheever's one friend in a house full of people who loved Blake had been more present on page in his support. The weight of support in that big band house was all behind Blake. I grant you, I loved seeing Briony and Kell and the rest, but sometimes it seemed like they were ganging up on Cheever emotionally. He turned out to be strong enough (and in love with Blake enough) to get through that, but the balance felt one-sided. Luckily, Blake was so totally on Cheever's side it was enough for him.
The end is satisfying. Lots of loose ends, large and small, get wrapped. Characters have grown, love really does get you through, addictions never go away but the day-by-day battle can be won each new morning. There are some good song lyrics that deserve music. I recommend this two-book series for people who like angst, damaged characters outgrowing their pasts, and an ensemble cast of secondary friends and family, including strong women, who matter.
What we have as the story opens is a young man who has boxed himself up small behind unemotional glass and focused on his art- the one thing he's always done well at. He's going to produce As in his college art classes, go to grad school, be a success. But locking all your emotion down deep is not a recipe for creating good art. When the plan goes wrong, Cheever isn't prepared for everything that comes spilling out of his heart. (Note trigger warnings for both books in this series.)
I was also rooting for this to be Blake's book. Blake caught my heart in the first book as the outsider, the afterthought, who couldn't help not being Grant, and whose problems were always a low-key second to the meteoric disaster-miracle that was Mackey. Here we get to see what brought Blake to that studio for his first audition, and his somewhat lost adventures with 4 band-mates who'd known each other all their lives. Blake has never had top billing, and he's not used to thinking of anything as permanent in his life. He can sympathize with Cheever being the outsider despite his blood ties, and it turns out they have other things in common.
The romance here builds differently, with the present becoming quickly much more settled than the future. Cheever has amazing confidence, for the guy he is at the start of the story. It works, although I thought there were plenty of obstacles that could have made the present between them more difficult. Blake's inability to look forward to something permanent carried a lot of the emotional weight of the story, when I expected other past and present issues for both men to rise up and cause current problems.
I wished Cheever's one friend in a house full of people who loved Blake had been more present on page in his support. The weight of support in that big band house was all behind Blake. I grant you, I loved seeing Briony and Kell and the rest, but sometimes it seemed like they were ganging up on Cheever emotionally. He turned out to be strong enough (and in love with Blake enough) to get through that, but the balance felt one-sided. Luckily, Blake was so totally on Cheever's side it was enough for him.
The end is satisfying. Lots of loose ends, large and small, get wrapped. Characters have grown, love really does get you through, addictions never go away but the day-by-day battle can be won each new morning. There are some good song lyrics that deserve music. I recommend this two-book series for people who like angst, damaged characters outgrowing their pasts, and an ensemble cast of secondary friends and family, including strong women, who matter.
August 14, 2019
I listed to the audio of Beneath the Stain, which was amazing and I highly recommend. I found myself hearing the voices in my head while reading this, which made it even better. I was so engrossed in the lives of the Outbreak Monkey crew that I could not wait for the audio in this follow-up story. As with the first, this one sucked me right in. I actually wasn’t super excited about the direction I thought this one was going to go because I was not a huge fan of Cheever to date. However, I just knew there was more to his story, and Blake certainly needed someone of his own.
I wasn’t quite expecting all of the horrible things Cheever endured, but it sure explained a lot of his behavior. Thankfully, Blake saw something in Cheever a while back, and while he didn’t follow through then, he most assuredly makes up for it now. He comes to Cheever’s rescue, pulls him out of the deep dark pit he was in and stays by his side through his initial recovery. It was extremely heartbreaking and emotional, but none of these guys had a very easy start in life. Just as Mackey and Blake had their struggles with addiction to overcome, Cheever had some of his own.
Unfortunately, Blake has his own issues (besides being a recovering addict) that plague him. He has felt unworthy and second best for all of his life. The guys taking him into the band was a turning point for him and gave him a purpose. They became the family he never had, brothers who cared and looked out for him, and a mother who gave more when she had nothing than his own did when he ran away from home at an early age. The things he did to survive still haunt him, but he is the only one who seems unable to look past that.
Cheever, on the other hand, makes it his mission to convince Black otherwise and that he is exactly who Cheever wants. I really liked how Blake enabled Cheever to be more comfortable with himself and strong enough to take charge of his life and, in turn, strong enough to fight for Blake. It was a bumpy road, but it was easy to see how perfect they were for each other.
And then there is the rest of the gang. So great to see how everyone is doing some eight years after we left them. There have been marriages, children, etc., but underneath, they are still the same Sanders boys, and all of the girls involved are spunky and fit right in keeping them in line. Even Grant’s ex makes a positive turn around. Trav is still keeping the whole clan in line, and Momma Sanders is right there offering her support of them all. So, for me, this was another story I couldn’t or didn’t want to put down – a wonderful follow-up to the first saga, which again, I cannot recommend highly enough.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
August 29, 2019
3.5 Stars. This was a well written book with interesting characters but it just didn't end up being what I expected and maybe it suffered a bit from being compared to Beneath the Stain which I loved!
I thought this book was going to be about Cheever (don't get me started about that name) and his struggle to overcome his past and deal with his trauma. It was for a couple of chapters but than suddenly he was fine and the rest of the book was about Blake overcoming his past. Not that I minded that but Cheever playing the role of the strong guy trying to help heal his boyfriend didn't work for me given the events in the first part of the book. I just felt like Cheever's hurt/pain got swept under the rug/forgotten/dismissed by everyone (including the author) to focus on Blake. I got tired of everyone in the book telling Cheever not to hurt Blake and being concerned about his mental state. This just seemed so odd to me considering it was Cheever who tried to kill himself. It also seemed like Cheever got all the blame for not being close to his family when they never seemed to really try to see below the surface of who he pretended to be. So while I enjoyed catching up with these guys and I did enjoy the relationship between Cheever and Blake I felt like Cheever's pain/issues were just dismissed to much to make this anything more than a 4 star book for me.
I thought this book was going to be about Cheever (don't get me started about that name) and his struggle to overcome his past and deal with his trauma. It was for a couple of chapters but than suddenly he was fine and the rest of the book was about Blake overcoming his past. Not that I minded that but Cheever playing the role of the strong guy trying to help heal his boyfriend didn't work for me given the events in the first part of the book. I just felt like Cheever's hurt/pain got swept under the rug/forgotten/dismissed by everyone (including the author) to focus on Blake. I got tired of everyone in the book telling Cheever not to hurt Blake and being concerned about his mental state. This just seemed so odd to me considering it was Cheever who tried to kill himself. It also seemed like Cheever got all the blame for not being close to his family when they never seemed to really try to see below the surface of who he pretended to be. So while I enjoyed catching up with these guys and I did enjoy the relationship between Cheever and Blake I felt like Cheever's pain/issues were just dismissed to much to make this anything more than a 4 star book for me.
February 11, 2020
I was really looking forward to this one and for the most part I was not disappointed. The feelings were all there from heartbreak to HEA.
This time around Blake was the one that really got to me. Cheever seemed to start out broke but it soon became clear he was not the broken one. Cheever had a major meltdown but then he found something to fight for and to be honest we never really saw him struggle much after that.
Blake on the other hand was struggling every damn day. He was truly broken and I cried more than once over him. To feel that lonely while surrounded by family yet to still have so much love to give proved just how real Blake was.
Now for my niggles, the women all sounded the same. They were all soft on the outside but steal on the inside. They all shouted and threatened to maim or murder. I get they are close but the moma bear act got old. Whats wrong with a woman being calm while explaining things. I'm sorry but shouting at someone when you never bothered to explain something to them first is a dick move.
But that aside this was still a moving story, just not quite as moving as the first book. RIP Grant.
This time around Blake was the one that really got to me. Cheever seemed to start out broke but it soon became clear he was not the broken one. Cheever had a major meltdown but then he found something to fight for and to be honest we never really saw him struggle much after that.
Blake on the other hand was struggling every damn day. He was truly broken and I cried more than once over him. To feel that lonely while surrounded by family yet to still have so much love to give proved just how real Blake was.
Now for my niggles, the women all sounded the same. They were all soft on the outside but steal on the inside. They all shouted and threatened to maim or murder. I get they are close but the moma bear act got old. Whats wrong with a woman being calm while explaining things. I'm sorry but shouting at someone when you never bothered to explain something to them first is a dick move.
But that aside this was still a moving story, just not quite as moving as the first book. RIP Grant.
April 6, 2022
Cheever's Turn
3.75 stars
This is Cheever's story. He is the youngest Sanders brother. His age difference has always created a bit of distance when it comes to connecting with his older brothers. They use to care for him when he was little but when they hit it big in the music world they left him behind. Unfortunately, doing so left him open to bullying and other horrible things happening to him when he was a teenager. Some of these things had caused him to act out as a teenager as well. Eventually, he learned to bottle up his emotion and not let himself be open or get too close to anyone including his family. Years pass and he remains this way. Then one event in his life tips him over the edge and ending his life seems better than continuing to live it.
This leads Blake to Cheever's side. He saves Cheever and gets him the help he needs to heal. This creates a connection between the two but with Blake's pass helping Cheever opens up doors he doesn't like looking through.
Blake is the second lead guitarist from Outbreak Monkey. He has been a sort of adopted family member into the Sanders pack. He loves the family and would do anything for them. He has never had much a family himself. He grew up in a bad home and ran away at the age of 16. He use to turn tricks to make a living and to help keep his habit going. When joining Outbreak Monkey he was the one dealing to Mackey which forced both of them into rehab. They have been clean for years but it doesn't mean Blake doesn't still have demons chasing him. So when he tries to help Cheever his insecurities knock him right on his ass.
The two develop a relationship fast. Cheever wants Blake but Blake believes Cheever can do better. He believes once Cheever gets back on his feet he will realize there are better people out there. Blake likes to blend in the background and never lets himself shine. He doesn't see himself the way other people do. Cheever knows what he wants and proving to Blake it's him is a battle in itself.
Overall a solid read I did think this was a good story, but it did have too many similarities to the first book. The first book is one of my top reads, so not comparing them is difficult.
3.75 stars
This is Cheever's story. He is the youngest Sanders brother. His age difference has always created a bit of distance when it comes to connecting with his older brothers. They use to care for him when he was little but when they hit it big in the music world they left him behind. Unfortunately, doing so left him open to bullying and other horrible things happening to him when he was a teenager. Some of these things had caused him to act out as a teenager as well. Eventually, he learned to bottle up his emotion and not let himself be open or get too close to anyone including his family. Years pass and he remains this way. Then one event in his life tips him over the edge and ending his life seems better than continuing to live it.
This leads Blake to Cheever's side. He saves Cheever and gets him the help he needs to heal. This creates a connection between the two but with Blake's pass helping Cheever opens up doors he doesn't like looking through.
Blake is the second lead guitarist from Outbreak Monkey. He has been a sort of adopted family member into the Sanders pack. He loves the family and would do anything for them. He has never had much a family himself. He grew up in a bad home and ran away at the age of 16. He use to turn tricks to make a living and to help keep his habit going. When joining Outbreak Monkey he was the one dealing to Mackey which forced both of them into rehab. They have been clean for years but it doesn't mean Blake doesn't still have demons chasing him. So when he tries to help Cheever his insecurities knock him right on his ass.
The two develop a relationship fast. Cheever wants Blake but Blake believes Cheever can do better. He believes once Cheever gets back on his feet he will realize there are better people out there. Blake likes to blend in the background and never lets himself shine. He doesn't see himself the way other people do. Cheever knows what he wants and proving to Blake it's him is a battle in itself.
Overall a solid read I did think this was a good story, but it did have too many similarities to the first book. The first book is one of my top reads, so not comparing them is difficult.
July 31, 2019
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Beneath the Stain remains one of my all time favourite m/m books so this sequel had a lot to live up to. And for the most part, it delivers. Outbreak Monkey may be a proper A list band in this story but the Sanders family relationships are just as messy. At the start of the story, Cheever’s demons are slightly different than his brothers’ but his life hasn’t been easy and this second book adds child rape to the dark themes of addiction, depression and abuse in the first book. This isn’t an easy read at times but the unlikely relationship that develops between Blake and Cheever is pretty special.
With all the big personalities in Outbreak Monkey, Blake became the band member who faded into the background. Similarly, growing up with superstar brothers often made Cheever feel invisible. But Blake has always seen Cheever and it is Blake who comes to Cheever’s assistance when he hits rock bottom. For me, Cheever felt like an entitled asshole at times in the first book but in his own book, I found myself falling hard for the brother the band left behind. There’s a huge age gap between Cheever and Blake but the relationship works. There is much more communication and much less angst in this second story but there are moments where Cheever’s story is just as heartbreaking as Mickey’s was.
I really didn’t enjoy the domestication of Outbreak Monkey in this book. Mackey and Trav are almost bearable here but they do feel like dimmed versions of themselves. The women from the first book have almost been re-written into good little wives who guard communal fridges and keep popping out children. They feel more Mormon than counterculture and did not resemble their previous selves in any way. The many small children don’t help the rockstar image at all and I felt like this book was missing the streak of wildness and sense of fun that balanced the darkness in the first story.
I enjoyed this book and I devoured it in a single sitting - but I don’t think I’ll remember it or re-read it like I have the first one. Beneath the stain took me on a brutal emotional journey and I loved every moment of it. This book was a gentler, possibly more mature read and a chance to say goodbye to favourite characters who have grown up and are moving on.
Beneath the Stain remains one of my all time favourite m/m books so this sequel had a lot to live up to. And for the most part, it delivers. Outbreak Monkey may be a proper A list band in this story but the Sanders family relationships are just as messy. At the start of the story, Cheever’s demons are slightly different than his brothers’ but his life hasn’t been easy and this second book adds child rape to the dark themes of addiction, depression and abuse in the first book. This isn’t an easy read at times but the unlikely relationship that develops between Blake and Cheever is pretty special.
With all the big personalities in Outbreak Monkey, Blake became the band member who faded into the background. Similarly, growing up with superstar brothers often made Cheever feel invisible. But Blake has always seen Cheever and it is Blake who comes to Cheever’s assistance when he hits rock bottom. For me, Cheever felt like an entitled asshole at times in the first book but in his own book, I found myself falling hard for the brother the band left behind. There’s a huge age gap between Cheever and Blake but the relationship works. There is much more communication and much less angst in this second story but there are moments where Cheever’s story is just as heartbreaking as Mickey’s was.
I really didn’t enjoy the domestication of Outbreak Monkey in this book. Mackey and Trav are almost bearable here but they do feel like dimmed versions of themselves. The women from the first book have almost been re-written into good little wives who guard communal fridges and keep popping out children. They feel more Mormon than counterculture and did not resemble their previous selves in any way. The many small children don’t help the rockstar image at all and I felt like this book was missing the streak of wildness and sense of fun that balanced the darkness in the first story.
I enjoyed this book and I devoured it in a single sitting - but I don’t think I’ll remember it or re-read it like I have the first one. Beneath the stain took me on a brutal emotional journey and I loved every moment of it. This book was a gentler, possibly more mature read and a chance to say goodbye to favourite characters who have grown up and are moving on.
August 9, 2021
Cheever Sanders pod względem spieprzonego dzieciństwa nie różni się niczym od swoich braci. Rozwydrzony, nastoletni gnojek, którego poznaliśmy w pierwszej części wcale nie ma łatwo i za swoją arogancją i bezczelnością ukrywa ból i przerażenie. Bo czy można być zwyczajnym, szczęśliwym nastolatkiem, w najbardziej toksycznym i homofobicznym mieście, jakie znamy? Zwłaszcza po tym, kiedy nasz brat, znany wokalista ogłasza światu, że jest gejem? Cheever zostaje sam z wrogością społeczeństwa, agresywnym zachowaniem kolegów, popada w coraz większą depresję a gniew i rozgoryczenie stają się jego codziennością.
Paind it black, to książka o desperackim pragnieniu miłości i przynależności. To książka o zaufaniu, które przychodzi bohaterom z ogromną trudnością. To też opowieść o całkowitym braku wiary w siebie, zwłaszcza kiedy nasza dramatyczna przeszłość wcale nie odeszła i ciągle w nas żyje, szepcząc do ucha, że jesteśmy gorsi i nic nie warci. Autorka jak zwykle stanęła na wysokości zadania, ukazując nam całą gamę uczuć, które miotają Cheeverem i Blakiem. I nic nie jest proste i przewidywalne. Tam gdzie spodziewamy się siły i oparcia, znajdujemy niepewność i strach, zaś w miejscu gdzie powinno być emocjonalne rozchwianie i psychiczne dno, ukazuje się siła i zawziętość w dążeniu do celu. I znowu prowadzi nas muzyka, a piosenki podkreślają tylko głębię uczuć miotających bohaterami. Być może ta część, jest mniej emocjonująca i nie obfituje w aż takie dramaty, jak jedynka, ale również dostarcza czytelnikowi wielu wzruszeń, smutku i radości. Polecam serdecznie :)
Paind it black, to książka o desperackim pragnieniu miłości i przynależności. To książka o zaufaniu, które przychodzi bohaterom z ogromną trudnością. To też opowieść o całkowitym braku wiary w siebie, zwłaszcza kiedy nasza dramatyczna przeszłość wcale nie odeszła i ciągle w nas żyje, szepcząc do ucha, że jesteśmy gorsi i nic nie warci. Autorka jak zwykle stanęła na wysokości zadania, ukazując nam całą gamę uczuć, które miotają Cheeverem i Blakiem. I nic nie jest proste i przewidywalne. Tam gdzie spodziewamy się siły i oparcia, znajdujemy niepewność i strach, zaś w miejscu gdzie powinno być emocjonalne rozchwianie i psychiczne dno, ukazuje się siła i zawziętość w dążeniu do celu. I znowu prowadzi nas muzyka, a piosenki podkreślają tylko głębię uczuć miotających bohaterami. Być może ta część, jest mniej emocjonująca i nie obfituje w aż takie dramaty, jak jedynka, ale również dostarcza czytelnikowi wielu wzruszeń, smutku i radości. Polecam serdecznie :)
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