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Scars #1
Scars
Caleb always knew that his work was dangerous. For years, he'd thrived on the adrenaline rush, the danger thrumming under his skin, the tangible efforts of his labor a secondary reward when the flames flickered away to nothing and he was able to save a building, or save a life. He'd thought that the Johnson City Fire Station 10 was his home - until he got caught in a building with no way out.
Henry wasn't always shy and meek. As a child he'd always been buoyant and vivacious; in university he was the life of the party. And then he met Pritchard, and before he knew it he was skipping classes, flunking out, and isolated from his friends and family on threat of Pritchard's fists. Finally finding the courage to leave him was the best thing that Henry's ever done for himself - and also the hardest.
Caleb and Henry are both trying to put their lives back together, both scarred in different and lingering ways. Henry's bruises might have healed - but Pritchard's fists had left their mark on his soul. And Caleb's body is still healing from the burns and broken bones he'd suffered in that burning house. Neither of them are looking for love. Neither of them want someone to look beyond the surface. A quick jolt of pleasure is all they need before going their separate ways again... right?
Scars is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel, with a happily ever after ending and no cliffhangers.
Henry wasn't always shy and meek. As a child he'd always been buoyant and vivacious; in university he was the life of the party. And then he met Pritchard, and before he knew it he was skipping classes, flunking out, and isolated from his friends and family on threat of Pritchard's fists. Finally finding the courage to leave him was the best thing that Henry's ever done for himself - and also the hardest.
Caleb and Henry are both trying to put their lives back together, both scarred in different and lingering ways. Henry's bruises might have healed - but Pritchard's fists had left their mark on his soul. And Caleb's body is still healing from the burns and broken bones he'd suffered in that burning house. Neither of them are looking for love. Neither of them want someone to look beyond the surface. A quick jolt of pleasure is all they need before going their separate ways again... right?
Scars is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel, with a happily ever after ending and no cliffhangers.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 16, 2018
*3.8 stars*
This was a nice read. Even though there were subjects mentioned that should have induced extreme emotional response that was not the case for me. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. It's one of those books you want to read in between some hardcore tear jerker novels.
Caleb is a shell of a man he used to be, a man who can't look at himself in the mirror, a man who is bitter and lonely. He moves back to his hometown to start a new life but can't escape what he's become. He hides away and does not want to live.
Here is Henry. He comes of as shy and unassuming at first. When he comes to live with Caleb their relationship is strenuous and mildly hostile on the best day. But Henry despite of being timid is trying to become friends but it goes beyond that. They kind of gravitate to each other and start a relationship with no future or so they think. There was some character development and soul-searching that made the book kind of interesting.
There were very touching moments when they really opened up to each other and there were really hot moments with a lot of feeling involved that were equally as good. There were some misunderstandings that I think author inserted to create some sort of drama otherwise there was not much angst except for hurt feelings between the MCs. It was a vanilla kind of book I would say. The moment with the dog was pretty awesome though and I really liked how the author wrote the ending. Made me want to continue reading this series further. I would recommend it.
This was a nice read. Even though there were subjects mentioned that should have induced extreme emotional response that was not the case for me. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. It's one of those books you want to read in between some hardcore tear jerker novels.
Caleb is a shell of a man he used to be, a man who can't look at himself in the mirror, a man who is bitter and lonely. He moves back to his hometown to start a new life but can't escape what he's become. He hides away and does not want to live.
Here is Henry. He comes of as shy and unassuming at first. When he comes to live with Caleb their relationship is strenuous and mildly hostile on the best day. But Henry despite of being timid is trying to become friends but it goes beyond that. They kind of gravitate to each other and start a relationship with no future or so they think. There was some character development and soul-searching that made the book kind of interesting.
There were very touching moments when they really opened up to each other and there were really hot moments with a lot of feeling involved that were equally as good. There were some misunderstandings that I think author inserted to create some sort of drama otherwise there was not much angst except for hurt feelings between the MCs. It was a vanilla kind of book I would say. The moment with the dog was pretty awesome though and I really liked how the author wrote the ending. Made me want to continue reading this series further. I would recommend it.
Shelved as 'friends-say-no'
June 6, 2017Friends didn't like this one.
June 16, 2018
3.75 stars
May 15, 2017
I liked it, but didn't love it.
The entire story takes place after Caleb's accident and hospital stay. If you're looking for firefighters, this book doesn't really go there.
The entire story takes place after Caleb's accident and hospital stay. If you're looking for firefighters, this book doesn't really go there.
June 23, 2018
I liked but didn't love Caleb's and Henry's romance.
It was bumpy ride which makes sense given the circumstances they were building from.
And Caleb was too often a jerk and who he was before the accident was pretty shallow and I would love like to have seen him grown from there. Some of the secondary characters act strangely.
I would have liked to see emotionial connection have more page time.
Henry fumbles but I like him a great deal and the book ends up in a good place. Though, I think they all need therapy.
So, I will try another book in the series to see if the parts I liked get more attention and the blips are fixed.
It was bumpy ride which makes sense given the circumstances they were building from.
And Caleb was too often a jerk and who he was before the accident was pretty shallow and I would love like to have seen him grown from there. Some of the secondary characters act strangely.
I would have liked to see emotionial connection have more page time.
Henry fumbles but I like him a great deal and the book ends up in a good place. Though, I think they all need therapy.
So, I will try another book in the series to see if the parts I liked get more attention and the blips are fixed.
May 3, 2017
I really wanted to get into this story. I had my own expectations going in and that's on me as a reader. The blurb piqued my interest - a romance between a badly injured firefighter battling PTSD and a shy doormat type learning to assert himself while recovering from an abusive relationship.
To be frank, I had a very long, angry rant written detailing the issues I had with the handling of the subject matter, characterization, and plot in this book. Instead of being that negative, I'm just going to take a calming breath and recommend -- if you or a loved one has ever had a traumatic injury, or is differently abled, or been in an abusive relationship, and has struggled through recovery, please pass on this book.
As for the author, please find a sensitivity reader if you write on these subjects again.
To be frank, I had a very long, angry rant written detailing the issues I had with the handling of the subject matter, characterization, and plot in this book. Instead of being that negative, I'm just going to take a calming breath and recommend -- if you or a loved one has ever had a traumatic injury, or is differently abled, or been in an abusive relationship, and has struggled through recovery, please pass on this book.
As for the author, please find a sensitivity reader if you write on these subjects again.
June 3, 2017
2.5 Stars
December 12, 2019
3 and 1/2 Stars. I’ve been on a boat for almost two weeks so I’ve read a lot of books. This one was good enough that I remember it. I love a damaged character who finds love and acceptance when he thinks he’s going to be alone for the rest of his life. Caleb was so perfect for me and Henry was so loving. A very sweet read.
July 28, 2018
New to me author. This is a mm contemporary story. Good storyline but let down by poor editing.
February 18, 2017
Broken men are my kryptonite so naturally, Scars by Avery Ford should be an easy win for me. But alas Caleb the damaged firefighter was a guy I never really liked. On the other hand, Henry I absolutely fell in love with. Henry has had a past that was traumatic and is rebuilding himself from the bottom up. Despite all that I never really felt the drama of his past. I understood what happened but I didn't feel it. His parents were weird. Also Caleb really for me was such a self-centered douche I never really warmed up to him. For example,
There were just these little moments that Ford wrote for the character's development but the follow through was just too weak for me to totally immersed myself in. Were the people in the town really that nasty? Are you saying the people work at the diner and the antique store the only nice people? I just thought it felt incomplete, rushed, underdeveloped, whatever.
There were just these little moments that Ford wrote for the character's development but the follow through was just too weak for me to totally immersed myself in. Were the people in the town really that nasty? Are you saying the people work at the diner and the antique store the only nice people? I just thought it felt incomplete, rushed, underdeveloped, whatever.
June 19, 2018
DNF
I made it a fourth of the way through before completely giving up. Everything about this book, from the characters to the plot, just felt empty and shallow. The characters have a very hollow, cliched feel, and there was too much telling and not enough showing, which left me feeling disengaged from the story and the characters.
I made it a fourth of the way through before completely giving up. Everything about this book, from the characters to the plot, just felt empty and shallow. The characters have a very hollow, cliched feel, and there was too much telling and not enough showing, which left me feeling disengaged from the story and the characters.
June 19, 2018
With a good editor this could have been a good book. However, it's just blah. Seriously this has what should be serious subject yet they were used only as tools for a story. It also erroneously used the medical bills and lack of income which was ridiculous because workers comp would have been covering those things. Domestic violence was also just used as a reason for his actions but was just blown off. SMH... I could go on but I'd rather not waste any more time. Sadly, I already bought the next two books in this series.
February 3, 2017
This book is amazing. Caleb and Henry both have been through traumatic events that have left them scarred. Watching them both rebuild themselves and each other is a wonderful journey. Beauty can hide scars just as much as scars can hide beauty.
June 18, 2018
Almost believable
A good story with a good resolution, if a bit too perfect for real life. Henry and Caleb are certainly real even if some of the situations are a bit too slick and perfect. An author worth watching, I think.
A good story with a good resolution, if a bit too perfect for real life. Henry and Caleb are certainly real even if some of the situations are a bit too slick and perfect. An author worth watching, I think.
June 25, 2018
Enf. Basic. Too much telling not showing.
November 7, 2017
A story about a former firefighter who became a burn survivor and a younger man who survived a traumatic abusive relationship. Emotional but a little dragging. Overall a good book.
4 stars.
4 stars.
July 25, 2017
This was my second book from Avery Ford, and coming on the heels of my first (Rescue My Heart,) I had high expectations. In the end though, I was disappointed. The premise of the story has tremendous promise, and the characters are both rich and likable... but the pieces don't connect well, and things get very repetitive.
Before I even get into my beef with the plot... while I realize that covers for these books are by necessity similar and over simplified... why would a story where one of the two in the pairing is disfigured and scarred, and whose struggle is in part because he feels he can no longer be attractive to anyone... have two perfectly conventional heart-throbs on the cover?!? Kinda defeats any "beauty should be what is under the surface" argument the book might otherwise be making.
Caleb loved his job as a firefighter, but there was an accident where he saved some lives but got severely injured. Henry was raised by overbearing parents, then ended up in a very abusive relationship, then left it and is struggling to make it away from his parents or awful ex. They meet, and without a deep explanation as to why, end up in instalove, except their communication skills suck so there's lots of angst. Those last three sentences basically explained the ENTIRE plot. There is a LOT of repetition of their internal thought processes, and a LOT of corny platitudes about how they make each other feel so amazing, in a way nobody has before, except it obviously isn't meant to be (because they're bad at communicating it seems.) It gets old fast.
2/5 for a book with great promise, but awful execution.
Before I even get into my beef with the plot... while I realize that covers for these books are by necessity similar and over simplified... why would a story where one of the two in the pairing is disfigured and scarred, and whose struggle is in part because he feels he can no longer be attractive to anyone... have two perfectly conventional heart-throbs on the cover?!? Kinda defeats any "beauty should be what is under the surface" argument the book might otherwise be making.
Caleb loved his job as a firefighter, but there was an accident where he saved some lives but got severely injured. Henry was raised by overbearing parents, then ended up in a very abusive relationship, then left it and is struggling to make it away from his parents or awful ex. They meet, and without a deep explanation as to why, end up in instalove, except their communication skills suck so there's lots of angst. Those last three sentences basically explained the ENTIRE plot. There is a LOT of repetition of their internal thought processes, and a LOT of corny platitudes about how they make each other feel so amazing, in a way nobody has before, except it obviously isn't meant to be (because they're bad at communicating it seems.) It gets old fast.
2/5 for a book with great promise, but awful execution.
January 31, 2017
This is a good book. I do not think there is anything I did not like about it.
It is well researched and well written. The emotional wariness of both characters was believable and touching. The author put me into the heads and hearts of these damaged men.
Caleb and Henry had to work to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence which was damaged by their past decisions. Only by facing their emotional and physical pain could they move forward in life and in their relationship.
The narrow-minded and mean spirited nature of a small town and its gossip loving inhabitants was incredible in its accuracy.
The spicy scenes were well done and the HEA was satisfying.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I am voluntarily reviewing the free advance reader copy I received from the author.
It is well researched and well written. The emotional wariness of both characters was believable and touching. The author put me into the heads and hearts of these damaged men.
Caleb and Henry had to work to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence which was damaged by their past decisions. Only by facing their emotional and physical pain could they move forward in life and in their relationship.
The narrow-minded and mean spirited nature of a small town and its gossip loving inhabitants was incredible in its accuracy.
The spicy scenes were well done and the HEA was satisfying.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I am voluntarily reviewing the free advance reader copy I received from the author.
February 4, 2017
What we have in Scars is a sweet shallowly developed romance between Caleb and Henry. Personally I couldn't connect to their feelings and emotions, because most of their past experience was told and not experienced. Even Caleb's best friend Kota, didn't appear very much in this story, even if he was supposed to be his best friend. I missed some realistic secondary stories between Caleb and Henry's daily life. Ending was full of HEA, which was great, but nonetheless it was a shallow undeveloped romance.
February 9, 2017
Attacking another one on my KU list :-)!
June 10, 2020
I read most of these in a collection but I'll review them separately. I liked this one a lot. Badly scarred in a fire fighting accident, Caleb returns to his small town. His cop buddy introduces him to Henry, who escaped an abusive relationship and is living with his parents who are pressuring him to join the family business. He moves in with Caleb to help pay rent and essentially it's just the story of Henry pulling Caleb out of his funk about his scars because Caleb doesn't care. They enter a "no strings attached" relationship but as it seems Henry will get a job in another city, things get "complicated". Don't they always. But I liked how Henry totally accepted Caleb and his scars and eye patch and never thought much about it. It was Caleb he loved. So cute story.
June 20, 2017
This book needs more work. There were point of view switches and the language was laid out in a way that was super confusing. I liked Caleb and Henry, but only just. There were characters that were inserted without a purpose like Crews. The conflict Henry and Caleb had with Kota wasn't resolved at all unless you count presenting the idea that they worked it out as a resolution. I didn't feel like there was a climax. My emotions were not pulled into this story at all. It is really unfortunate. However, I'd like to read this story again after a hefty revision. I like the idea of the story, but it just never fully developed.
February 11, 2020
This was a nice read, with characters interesting and a slow burn when it comes to acknowledging feelings (not when it's about having sex, though :P ).
There are some really touching scenes, and I really liked Henry. Caleb, OTOH, is harder to like, as he acts like an idiot a lot of times, although it's also easy to understand from where is he coming.
I liked how we see Henry growing into a secure, self-assured man, and I truly enjoyed the way the story ended.
Now, Henry's mom? I'm not sure if her change of heart is believable, but then, that's maybe only me :P
And, as a side note? Shees! I'd HATE to live in that town!
Jay Martin did a great job with the narration.
There are some really touching scenes, and I really liked Henry. Caleb, OTOH, is harder to like, as he acts like an idiot a lot of times, although it's also easy to understand from where is he coming.
I liked how we see Henry growing into a secure, self-assured man, and I truly enjoyed the way the story ended.
Now, Henry's mom? I'm not sure if her change of heart is believable, but then, that's maybe only me :P
And, as a side note? Shees! I'd HATE to live in that town!
Jay Martin did a great job with the narration.
June 27, 2018
Repetitive and cliched (Three times we read 'Their hearts beat as one"). Feelings are not shown, but explained to us. And repeated. Then repeated four pages later. The English is no more than adequate. "Laid" is consistently used where it should be "lain", though this may be ignorance rather than poor editing. The story has potential - someone with outer scars and someone with inner scars heal each other - but it could be made so much better. Two stars rather than one, because I did actually manage to finish it.
January 25, 2022
At some point, you gotta take a long hard look at your past, say “fuck it”, shrug your shoulders, and move on with life.
Caleb and Henry both have a lot of past to move forward from, and neither of those pasts are completely closed books, however, they’ve both reached a point in their lives, or are reaching the point in their lives, where they have decided to move forward instead of looking back….And since this is a romance, they move forward together, life is all rosy, imperfectly perfect, and happily ever after.
Caleb and Henry both have a lot of past to move forward from, and neither of those pasts are completely closed books, however, they’ve both reached a point in their lives, or are reaching the point in their lives, where they have decided to move forward instead of looking back….And since this is a romance, they move forward together, life is all rosy, imperfectly perfect, and happily ever after.
July 16, 2018
Caleb is a firefighter who was severely burned rescuing two young children. He has returned to his home town to live in his parents house as they have retired to Florida. Henry has left a physically abusive relationship and is living with his parents until Kota the town police officer introduces them. Henry rents a room from Caleb and they begin rebuilding their lives. A happy ever after story.
August 6, 2017
Beautiful Story
This story was beautiful my heart broke for Caleb and what he went through and for Henry I could just cry no one deserve to be treated that way I'm glad he got out of that situation I'm glad Henry parents came around moving on is not easy but they got thorough all of that and I'm happy that get a happy ending
This story was beautiful my heart broke for Caleb and what he went through and for Henry I could just cry no one deserve to be treated that way I'm glad he got out of that situation I'm glad Henry parents came around moving on is not easy but they got thorough all of that and I'm happy that get a happy ending
June 15, 2018
I actually liked this story. Both Henry and Caleb are both survivors of trauma. One from abuse, the other physically burned from fire. So this story is about rebuilding a new life vs letting the past define them. I really liked that both helped build each other’s self esteem. (Seriously, in real life, they both should have had counseling from their traumas)
June 18, 2018
Heartfelt romance
It was a good read, characters were nice and it was written very well. The reason I don’t give it five stars is because I didn’t feel like there was a lot of development between the characters. They just kind of saw each other and from that point on you knew they were going to be together.
It was a good read, characters were nice and it was written very well. The reason I don’t give it five stars is because I didn’t feel like there was a lot of development between the characters. They just kind of saw each other and from that point on you knew they were going to be together.
June 23, 2018
Some are hidden from view, others as plain as day
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I loved the chemistry right from the first encounter. People always expect the worst and hinder their own happiness. I want sure of the out come but the characters were awesome and I enjoy seeing growth of people and the human spirit. This book does not disappoint the reader on that front!!
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I loved the chemistry right from the first encounter. People always expect the worst and hinder their own happiness. I want sure of the out come but the characters were awesome and I enjoy seeing growth of people and the human spirit. This book does not disappoint the reader on that front!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews