Rebel

•Family is what you make it…

•Blood is not everything…

•And I Freaking LOVE this rag-tag family…

Gus, the tattoo artist.
Rey, the firefighter.

This book, story, premise, plot, whatever you want to call it… The entire thing was fantastic. I loved every minute of this book right from the first few words. This was just the book I needed in my life right now. I love second chances and what both of these men had to go through from the start of their lives right up to where this book brings us is just a heartbreaking journey to see on both sides. The fact that they are able to get a second chance at living their lives together and loving each other just shows how strong these two men are separately and then at the end when they finally get their crap together. Both Gus and Rey made mistakes, had a ton of baggage and miscommunication, in the past as well as the present. Once they are able to shift through all of their hurt feelings, and deceptions and truths, and dig to the source of their issues they come out stronger. God, I loved this book. I was completely fascinated with all of the “brothers” their family dynamic and their friends we met along the way and I can’t wait to see their HEA’s play out in the upcoming books of this series.

Audio – Tristan James’ voice is super sexy. I was a little lost a few times trying to figure out which character was talking at the time, but I honestly think it was me just lost in Tristan’s voice and not by any fault of his own doing on the way he was delivering this story. He did a great job with the main characters and all of the minor ones as well giving them each their own voices to be heard. I really, really hope the author sticks with him for the rest of these books as well. I loved this one. OMG, and let me add, at about 7hrs in… When Tristan does the mocking voice for Gus’ French (Pepe Le Pu) sounding ex, I almost died laughing.. That was the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while, totally perfect, and I loved it. This audiobook was great.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 4-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by its Cover < <
A guy in an open white shirt, with shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbows, and faded jeans stands in front of a while background. Nothing particularly eye-grabbing there. The Title and layout, however, give it a rocker magazine edge that DID catch the eye. Synopsis sounds really good.

> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person

Gus - A damaged tattoo artist that grew up abused, almost killed, and tossed into the system like refuse grows into a man, not surprisingly, with some major trust, esteem, and security issues. He works at and co-owns 415 Ink with his brothers.
Rey – A victim of arson in his childhood, be becomes best friends with his savior, Gus’s older brother, Mace. Now, they battle fires side by side as firemen.
Things go south between Gus and Rey after making a go of it and Gus flees but three years later Gus returns with some shocking news, he has a son – a result of the night that Rey sent him packing!
Four brothers, only one by blood, are supportive yet meddlesome… Bear, the eldest, is the glue. Mace, second in line, is an antagonist. Luke is Gus’s “good twin”, and Ivo dances to his own rhythm. There’s also Rey’s family and Jules’s family in the mix.
For a series debut, the book was thick with world-building and character development. Oftentimes, I felt like there must have been an intro novella that I missed somewhere because it was almost too heavy with back plot information. It was difficult for me to wade through the first 30-40%.
While the characters ARE well developed and the plot is packed full of content, the story itself moved too sluggishly for me. Maybe it was the topic content that seemed to prevail. A lot of negativity swirling throughout. The conflicts, mostly, stemmed from internalization. Predictability was low. The conclusion was satisfying enough and offered a sneak peek into the next book, WARRIOR (belonging to Mace).
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.8 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I purchased a copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

Rebel is the first book in Rhys Ford’s new series 451 Ink. Centered around a group of men who’ve worked to make a safe place for their extended family, the novels will tell their stories. Coming from broken homes, these guys have all been through horrific events, which results in some intense relationships and a dynamic that promises to never be dull. Knowing the writing of Rhys Ford, I think it’s safe to say that future books in this series will be as heart-wrenching and compelling as Rebel.

There are some exceptional factors that play into this group of men, and there’s so much damage my heart just went out to these guys. We get to see some of the support networks they’ve set in place, and they’re all looking out for each other, but I can’t imagine how anyone can truly overcome the horrors they’ve lived through.

Three years after their painful breakup, Gus Scott and Ray Montenegro bump into each other when Gus moves back to town. Their friends and family are completely intertwined, so these two have got to find a way to co-exist. Their intense attraction is clear from the moment they meet, and it’s almost as strong as the animosity and the bad memories.

Communication between Gus and Ray is direct and honest, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of this story. A slow-burn doesn’t work for me when the characters are constantly misunderstanding each other, or failing to just say what the heck the problem is. Gus tells Ray how much it hurt when Ray kicked him to the curb. He explains why other factors in his life make it impossible to consider getting back together right now. Likewise, Ray publicly vows to win him back.

As the horrific events of Gus’ life come to light, it becomes clear that anyone looking for a relationship with him is going to need patience and understanding. The abuse, neglect, and downright cruelty he lived through as a boy made me cringe. Please note the trigger warnings if you’re sensitive about stories of child abuse. Rhys Ford has created an intense backstory for Gus and she doesn’t spare the details.

Ray realizes right quick that he screwed up. Gus is everything Ray wants and he goes all out to prove he can be there, in whatever capacity Gus needs. While Gus welcomes all the support he can get, and admits the attraction to Ray is still there, he stresses he can’t become involved with someone who is going to distract him or kick him to the curb when the going gets rough. A true partner for Gus is going to have to learn the details of his damage, accept it, and incorporate that knowledge into becoming the person Gus needs in his life right now. Ray is going to have to do some serious work to prove he’s the right man for Gus.

The sexual tension between Ray and Gus mounts continually throughout the story and waiting for them to get together wasn’t easy. After all, what would a Rhys Ford romance be without the smokin’ hot sex? Well trust me when I tell you that, WOW was it worth the wait!

Rebel is filled with the beautiful writing I always expect from Rhys Ford. Her descriptions of everyday things always make me smile. The color of the sheets on an unmade bed are dark, “a blue found in the fold of twilight and shadows.” Isn’t that a moving way to describe a messy bed?

There are some seriously fun, lighthearted moments in Rebel too. There were a couple good Easter eggs for us die hard fans, and I probably missed a few, distracted as I was by Tristan James’ soft, sultry, sexy voice. The low rumble that naturally comes out when he reads the romantic scenes? Gah, I’m a molten puddle on the floor. Let’s just say Tristan James could read me the phone book, but when he has the opportunity to read the beautifully poetic writing of Rhys Ford, I’m a goner.

Vodka and tissues required.
Rhys Ford is probably the most well versed Author in the genre. Seriously, the woman can write an entire chapter on why the sky is blue and keep you completely enthralled. At the end of the chapter your heart is racing, eyes damp and you almost rip the page from the book quickly flipping to the next chapter.

Gus Scott is fuuuuuuucked up! Seriously, he's lived a very hard, bitter life. He has trust issues, hell, his trust issues have trust issues. Allowing himself to love Rey would only cause more pain so Gus does what he does best, he runs.

Rey Montenegro wants so much more from Gus than he can give so when Gus walks away, Rey doesn't fight for him, for them. So, when Gus rolls back into town, Rey is still hurt and far from ready to talk. But these two men are cut from the same cloth, opposite sides of the same coin.

I can't say much more for fear of giving something away. All I'll say is everything you're expecting from this book because it's written by Rhys Ford, it's so much more. Heart breaking, gut wrenching, stab you in stomach and tear out your insides, tie them in a knot then shove them back inside and staple your wound shut. But it's also a story about family, the kind of family you make with the people you love and trust that have bled the same shit as you. There's also the intense, passionate love between two men that deserve to happy.

First of all Rhys, when you're lauching a new series with this many new chaqracters all at once, would you PLEASE include a cast of characters at the start of the book? I was about 25% through the book and still confused about who was who, until I started keeping a cheat-note. Cheat-note in hand, I went back to page 1 and then was finally able to just lose myself in the story.

Gus is one of a group of 5 former foster-kids, some of whom are blood-relation, and some family by choice. All 5 consider themselves brothers, regardless of what the DNA says. They even have a "Family Tattoo"-- a 5-pointed star that they each drew a point of. Most of the family are tattoo artists, working in the same shop. One of the 5 is Gus's biological younger brother; Gus had an identical twin who was murdered by their bio-mom.

Rey is a friend of the 5, who (incidentally) was rescued from a house fire by 3 of the brothers. Rey's father had tried to kill him and his mother via arson.

Rey and Gus have a history, one that didn't end well. Gus left town for a while, both to guest-ink at some other shops, and to try and find himself some. Along the way, (right after Gus and Rey broke up) Gus had a drunken one-night stand with a female friend that resulted in a little boy.

A month ago Gus finally learned that he's the father of a toddler, and has come back to town to be his son's dad. For the first time since the split Gus and Rey are back in the same city. Yeah, the powder is packed and the fuse is lit for some MAJOR fireworks, both good and bad.

This is a rather complex story, since so much of how things move forward between Gus and Rey is tangled up with everything that happened back in the past -- both to them as a couple and to each of them as individuals. Both Gus and Rey have been wounded by life, and they carry those scars on their very souls. But Gus's son needs a dad, Gus and Rey need each other, so it's past time to unpack the old baggage and toss the crap out.

This book, and from what I've read I'm thinking this whole new series, is a bit of a departure for Rhys Ford. There are not only no murders (other than past-tense stuff from way back), but so far no-one has come across a dead body either. Plus there are no magical or mystical creatures, and no-one has any kind of supernatural power. What hasn't changed though, is that Rhys has once again turned out one HECK of a page-turner.

Once I managed to figure out who was who in the family and friends circle, I COULD NOT put this book down. I read it straight through, start to finish, and at the end WANTED MORE. I can't wait to see what going to happen next (though for those of us who are members of Rhy's facebook group -- Coffee, Cats & Murder -- we know that the next book in the series is "Savior" and it's already in the works).

Bottom Line -- 4.5 stars out of 5. It would have been a full 5, but getting all those new people thrown in there all at once was confusing. From here on I expect it will be easier.