Ex United States Marine, Wyatt Miller, was living a low-key life keeping those around him at arm’s length. Fearing that the shadow that had been haunting him for four years would swallow everything and everyone he touched, he commits to living a solitary life. Until one night when a beautiful stranger came to his rescue during one of the darkest points in his life.
Caught between his guilt and his love for his family, architect Kai Lobo left Hawaii in search of a fresh start and a new place to call home. What he didn’t expect was to meet a mysterious stranger that will change the course of his quest for a new beginning.
What will Wyatt do when the only man that can save him is the same person who will drive him over the edge?
What will Kai do when the only man who can free him is the same person that reminds him of a ghost from his past?
Will Wyatt and Kai be able to see past their differences and rely on what they have in common to alter their futures?
All The Cuts and Scars We Hide is a story about healing, redemption and love.
I really liked the premise of the story. We have a wounded vet struggling with PTSD following the death of a close friend in Afghanistan and a surfer boy/architect from Hawaii who's shut out his family following a tragic accident (although thankfully not as tragic as I anticipated).
What didn't work for me was the execution. The writing, especially the dialogue, didn't flow naturally and felt simplistic. Entire conversations were summarized (e.g., so I sat down and told them everything that went down) vs. happening on page.
Some of the phrases the characters used made me cringe because they were so formulaic (e.g., this ends today), and the editing was less than stellar.
Kai suffered at the hands of a physically abusive boyfriend, yet when he starts dating Wyatt, he's completely trusting. His trauma seemed to magically go away and wasn't addressed at all.
Also, toward the end, Wyatt follows Kai to Hawaii and surprises him on the beach. Out of all the beaches on any given island, he magically finds the one where Kai's surfing. I thought maybe he'd called Kai's family, but he didn't have their contact information and when he met them, it was obvious they'd never spoken. So how the hell did he know where Kai was?
This book does have potential. I liked the island setting and the way the MCs met. The chemistry between them was there, although the declarations of love came much too soon.
I hate writing negative reviews for new authors, especially when I can tell that the author put forth effort vs. just cranking out the story as quickly as possible, but I also refuse to inflate my ratings so here we are.
Since May I’ve been waiting for this! Waited for the title, waited for the cover Reveal, waited for the ARC all while being teased with little bits here and there.
When I say it was worth the wait, it was worth the wait! Every day,hour, minute and second! So I’m going to try my best at nothing giving away big spoilers, you just need to read it!
One chapter, the very first dang chapter was all it took to break my heart. So many time throughout this book I just wanted to wrap my arms around Wyatt and say with him, that he’s okay, that he’s going to be okay!
This story was about two damaged souls each in different ways finding the light in the darkness with each other!
I love that even tho Wyatt has his demons all he wants is to do anything to put and keep a smile on Kai’s face, even drinking the wrong coffee☺️
Wyatt is such a sweet Alpha and Kai is just all around sweet. The more you read the more you see how perfect Wyatt and Kai are together. I loved that Kai was always able and trying to put a smile on Wyatt’s face as well and lighten the mood!
That moment when the story starts going into the HEA, you sit up straighter, your heart beats faster and your just so unbelievably happy that these characters that you have connected with are healing and seeing the light together.
PTSD is a hard subject to write about and get right. Garry did a great job at not hiding the ugliness about it.
I’m so happy I was able to go on this journey with Wyatt and Kai❤️
Warning this book does have a PTSD trigger warning.
I received a ARC copy and this is my honest review.
After reading Break Point, which I loved I knew I wanted more of this author. Garry writes with such depth and passion that I could see this playing out in my mind. The story flows well and is believable and the level of angst between Wyatt and Kai is just right.
Garry’s stories seem so real and this one is no exception.
This is a nice, sweet, sexy, low angsty, story of two guys struggling with past regrets, loss, sorrow and grief but as they slowly let each other in they begin to heal not just themselves but each other.
Garry Michael weaved a beautiful angst filled story with a stunning backdrop of the San Juan Islands.
I loved their freedom, their openness and acceptance around them. I knew I was a goner during the fireworks scene. It cracked my heart wide open. I felt that in that moment, they collided and when that happened I knew their story was only going to intensify.
The story is really well developed. I feel like we really get to see them together, making memories, moments, detailed without it being overwhelming. It pulls at all of your emotions and there is something about angst mixing with sex that makes a book so consuming. I devoured this book.
Wyatt appears to be a grump, but I was so caught off guard by my man. He went after what he wanted, he was sexy and a bit dominating in the bedroom. I felt his light burst when he gets with Kai. Troubled, vulnerable, strong, and he wrecked me. He completely shattered me. A scene towards the end needed to happen, but i wanted to fall for to the floor, I wanted to hug him. Because I felt the parts that were very much real for this Marine.
Kai so easy to love. So deserving, someone who also needs to face his past and forgive himself. He is witty and fun, I love the way he teases and that despite his own pain, sat with Wyatt through his suffering. Kai was there for him. Attractive, makes heads turn with his dimples. You want to be near him.
The book has great light hearted moments, it made me laugh, and cry, and honestly if you loved Garry Michael’s first book, then LOOK OUT because the steam in this book is turned up more!!!
Wow! Definitely the author keeps getting better. All the Cuts and Scars We Hide has an amazing story for us. Kai and Wyatt are spectacular together! The romance is so beautiful and intense. The emotions are powerful, I cried, I laughed and I fall in love with them.
Wyatt used to be a soldier years ago. The cuts on his body, the proof of his sacrifices have healed but though the scars are faded, some wounds in his soul are still fresh and deep. Living on the rocky beach of San Juan Islands, he’s trying to rebuild his life, while ignoring all the pain and troubles that his past is causing him.
Kai, the Hawaiian architect, arrives on the island looking for a fresh start, something that he thinks he doesn’t deserve. He, too, has bruises on his soul that he hides away from others. On a night that Wyatt is in desperate need of rescue from his demons, Kai happens to be there and together start a journey that could save them both at the end.
These two have a past that they’re running from and a future that might bring them all the happiness in the world, only if they give it a chance. But for now, they’re perfect together, at least as long as they keep all their cuts and scars to themselves.
From surfing the ocean waves to paragliding in the sky, it’s so much fun to join them on their adventures. They fell in love so effortlessly and it was heartbreaking to watch them hurt each other when finally the hidden scars showed their ugly faces.
The story flows easily and the drama happens naturally between the two MCs. I like it that no amount of unnecessary angst is injected into the story and it’s all honest and close to reality! The characters are perfectly imperfect. Those cuts and scars were not forced on them. They are flawed and that makes it easy to believe their pain. They are super hot together and their intimate moments are well-written and fun to read. I recommend reading this book if you’re looking for a feel-good story.
After the build up and all the teasers this book was definitely worth the wait.
Garry Michael weaves a beautiful story of wounded and vulnerable characters and the heart of the story is the deep love Wyatt and Kai come to feel for each other.
This story is very emotive and heartfelt from the very first chapter when we discover just how damaged Wyatt is. His PTSD was written and handled sensitively and I could feel his pain and despair.
Kai is the sunshine to Wyatt’s gloom and the kindest of souls but he is also hiding painful secrets. They are a perfect match for each other but have to hit rock bottom before the healing process can begin.
I had so much empathy for Wyatt and Kai I could feel their pain and all the cuts and scars they were hiding and felt so protective of them. All the characters in this book were likeable and relatable and they were all very protective of Wyatt and Kai.
The authors writing is so descriptive not only do you feel connected to Wyatt and Kai he enables you to visualise the places they visited and it makes you want to pack your bags and take a vacation there!
I absolutely adored this book, such a beautiful heartwrenching story. This was my first book by Garry, and what a fantastic writer he is 🙌🏽. Every chapter had different titles, and it felt like I was reading episodes. Wyatt, a military vet suffering from PTSD, living a solitary life. While Kai, an architect, blaming himself after an incident back in Hawaii, looking for a new start✨.
I felt so many emotions reading Wyatt and Kai's story, whether it was pain, angst, friendship, or love. Garry did an amazing job in portraying PTSD and found family trope. I love how the two broken men found each other, and despite uncertainty and doubts, were able to find love 🧡.
Kai found Wyatt going through one of his absolute worst moments, and helped him, because that's who Kai was, a caring and loving person, despite what he's been through. I equally loved Kai and Wyatt, because both of them had such traumatic back stories, but still they persevered and found their happy place 🥰.
There were so many cute moments, from coffee dates to paragliding, from camping to surfing. I loved it when Wyatt got jealous because a guy was flirting with Kai, and Kai teasing Wyatt, ranking him at 9 😋. Once their cuts and scars were out in the open, their blossoming love was threatened but Wyatt got his act together, and found his way back to Kai. And the smexy times were so freaking hot 🔥, Wyatt knew what he wanted and Kai provided it to him happily. This was a fantastic read, and I loved it 💟🙌🏽.
All the Cuts and Scars We Hide was a fantastic read. If you could only see how many passages I highlighted! I may as well have highlighted the whole freaking book because I loved it start to finish.
Wyatt and Kai were written very well, fully fleshed out. I was drawn to each of them individually from their first moments on the page, and started cheering for them as a couple immediately at their initial introduction to each other. I LOVED IT.
There are so many things I loved about this book:
✅ Wyatt. That touch of grouchiness and impatience he has when he first meets Kai... I was hooked, totally a goner, stick a fork in me I'm done kind of thing. It's my kryptonite and that paired with his sweetness. GAH! I love him. He's so beautifully broken but also so much stronger than he gives himself credit for. He is such a caring and sweet guy, and it made my heart hurt to see what he'd been through and what he deals with ongoing. Also hot. ✅ Kai. I love him so much. He brightens up every single page that he's on. He's got his own tough stuff that he has to work through, but the support he shows Wyatt was so heartwarming. He's got a huge heart and is also strong in his own right and not afraid of confrontation. He doesn't back away from a challenge. He's determined but so sweet. Again, also hot. ✅ Wyatt and Kai together. They complement each other so well. Kai's a ray of sunshine to Wyatt's dark storm cloud, and Wyatt is so attentive and considerate. I wanted to hug them both. ✅ The side characters added so much depth to the story. ✅ There are some hard topics that are handled with care and also seemed to be portrayed very accurately. ✅ The pacing was excellent. ✅ The descriptions of scenery and setting were very vivid. I felt like I was there. ✅ The scene that leads up to their first time together was so cute (idk if cute is the right word, but seriously, it was cute). ✅ All their times together. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Thank you, Garry, for not skimping there. 😁
To sum it up, Garry knocked it out of the park (again). This story is absolutely stunning and a great start to the From The Ashes series. I am all about Kaiatt (how I refer to them in my head, because I totally stan them).
You 100% should drop everything (unless you're driving or something) and grab a copy of this book. It's definitely a top read of the year for me! I highly recommend it.
Garry Michael did a fantastic job capturing PTSD in this story. Wyatt is such a dynamic character, acts tough when he’s just a big softie. Kai is so compassionate and perfect for healing all of Wyatt’s scars! I loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A first read by Garry Michael and it exceeded my expectations!! The angst and tragedy these two troubled, damaged, and broken souls had to go through while fighting through their pain to find love has left my tears flowing. Not mentioning the details of Wyatt’s aftermath from his time in the war in Afghanistan and Kai’s demons from the one night that changed the course of his family, this author sucked me right in from the start. Such a beautiful and affectional telling that will touch the depths of your soul.
“I’m not the fresh start you’re looking for. I’m no one’s fresh start. I’m everyone’s bitter ending.”
Kai was such a beautiful person, inside and out, always looking out for what’s best for others. His caring nature towards Wyatt, even after his troubled past, shone through his darkness and became the light at the end of both of their dark tunnels. He was such an enjoyable character, being able to relate with his past experiences made my connection to him stronger.
“the flame our love ignited wasn’t enough to thaw the wall frozen around Wyatt’s heart”
Wyatt has such a troubled past, filled with demons continuously winning out. The depths of his pain was real, like many of our soldiers returning from war. PTSD is a difficult situation within itself, learning to overcome these emotions being right on target. His constant fight and vulnerability with his feelings for Kai was truly heartbreaking. Kai was good for him, even with his own darkness.
“I meant what I said Kai, I love you. I want you to be mine.” “I meant what I said too. I love you and want to be yours.”
Their connection was full of fire and explosive chemistry! And, their aggressiveness with one another was scorching hot! The sexual energy was sizzling, leaving me having to set the book down more than once. And, their ability to compliment each other, being the missing piece to their puzzle was everything! Garry Michael connected with his readers on all levels, emotionally, mentally and physically! I am so excited to read their next book!! Five stars to these amazing men 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The author, Garry Michael, seriously took us around the world and on some amazing adventures with this book. From Hawaii to the San Juan Islands to an Afghan war zone (via flashbacks) and back again just to name a few. You'll go surfing, paragliding, camping in a national Rainforest, and whale (orca) watching from Wyatt's very own tour boat. With all these beautiful spots you'll be planning your own next adventure or you can simply enjoy it through Wyatt and Kai's journey...and what a journey it was!!
From the beginning with Wyatt's first grumpy impatient groan to the very end with Kai's sweet and wonderful smile, you'll fall in love with these two broken men and you'll be drawn into their journey to overcome their demons and to find their strength to grab hold of what's most important in life before it slips away. With the darkness that Wyatt carries around and the light that Kai can never stamp out, they make the perfect fit as a couple always complementing each others strengths and weaknesses. Luckily they also have a wonderful and much needed support system family and friends to help through some of their most difficult times. I was so proud of Wyatt for taking that step at the end so they could get their well deserved HEA!!
This is definitely one you don't want to miss and I can't wait for book two in this series! Absolutely 5 stars and I highly recommend!!
All the cuts and scars we hide is a story that stirs all kind of emotions. This is because the characters that there are in this book go through a lot until they find their HEA. And the two main characters, Wyatt and Kai are not an exception to this.
Wyatt is an ex-soldier who suffered greatly in the war. He got himself injured, he lost his friend and most importantly out of all..he lost himself there. He really did. He was not the same after he returned. The memories were intense and the pain was indescribible. He could not move on however hard his friends tried to support him.
Kai had his own demons. He was in an abusive relationship and him being the kind man he was, he justified the bad behavior of his boyfriend by saying he was not always like that. Also..his sister had an accident and he was blaming himself for it, all the time. He believed that he was not worth of love because of what happened.
I don't know for whom to feel sorry for 🙈. My poor Wyatt. My poor Kai.
You know..while I was reading the book I was questioning myself.. how could Garry pair together Wyatt and Kai? They seem so different.. Wyatt is intense while Kai is so caring and sees the good in everything. Somehow though they click together. It's like they are two halves of a whole.
MM romance is not something I read regularly but I consider it a special treat ❤️ Garry is the person who introduced me to this genre and honestly I still find myself amazed by his writing style.
His style is really good. His story has a flow, the language he uses is engaging and the sex..my God..the SEX 🔥is hot as FUCK.
Things I liked? The cute rating thing. Wyatt being jealous. The titles in each chapter. The sex being explicit and dirty. The smart dialogues. A lot more.
I don't know what else to say. I can't praise this story enough. I really enjoyed this book and the first thing I did after I finished it was google San Juan islands because the description was amazing! So jealous of the people living there ❤️
In all seriousness.. all the cuts and scars we hide is a must read that everyone should add to their tbr❤️
Such a beautifully written MM Romance. From the words, the chapter titles, everything was captivating from start to finish! I couldn’t choose who was going to be my favorite. Wyatt or kai. The broken and grumpy hero or the adorably sweet, swoon worthy hero. It was tough. So I’m not choosing. I LOVE them both!
The uncertainty at first between the two of them was utterly delicious. The little stares. The small touch of angst from Wyatt. Yes, please.
“I get that. Sometimes, we don’t appreciate the things we have until they’re gone, or you’re not there to see the beauty anymore.”
Wyatt broke my heart. His Military PTSD is unfortunately so common. Kai broke my heart. His past toxic relationship had me so angry for him. Both with broken pasts and struggles. They both suffered. But together they were able to mend each other’s hearts. Such a great read and looking forward to more in the series. 💜💚💙❤️💛💫
This book is an amazingly sweet romance. One former marine with PTSD and a guy from a Hawaii with troubles of his own.
The pair have a cute meet, and slowly build a relationship which ebbs and flows like a tide as they each try to heal from their past.
I love all the characters - well-rounded and developed. The MCs, Wyatt and Kai, are suitably fit. Really tough topics sensitively handled (but there are detailed warzone scenes which contain a trigger warning). The way the guys try to impress one another is simply charming. The way they try to support each other is even more wonderful though.
It was fab to read a MM book that was more about the relationship than the hot under cover action. There are just enough detailed bedroom antics to satisfy that side too though.
If you're looking for a MM romance that's beyond just bed action, then this is the book for you!
5 stars for book and audio.💞 🎧 Narrated by Michael Dean I love this narrator on books tell the characters story.
A bad start for Wyatt as he relives a time where things went bad in war. He needed his support groups help this time but he's stubborn fella. Wyatt aka Mr grump got along with his business partner well with the ribbing. This is a great book to read and listen to with all the feelings of the characters. Both MCs have baggage and there still dealing with. Included dual povs with sexy scenes, feels, PTSD scenes and more. This is the author's second book which are both fantastic to read.
Wyatt was an ex-military still feeling the aftermath of 4 years ago when the team came came upon bombs in a war zone. Kai was new to Friday Harbour and sees a captain that comes into the coffee shop. Kai has own baggage with an accident and guilt.
All the Cuts and Scars We Hide is a truly heart aching and heart stealing story about two scarred souls who find solace in each other. As I immersed myself in this story, Garry Michael's beautiful words and masterful storytelling transported me to San Juan Islands alongside Wyatt and Kai. I could picture the beautiful scenery, smell the coffee and muffins (or was it cupcake 😂), and feel all of the angst and every emotion which poured from the characters and pages. Wyatt and Kai took me on a journey about loss, regret, grief, acceptance, forgiveness, passion, love, and learning when to reach out for help. These two had my heart equally aching and warming, my Kindle burning up, and me swooning, laughing, a little flushed, and crying like a baby.
I absolutely loved and highly recommend this beautiful read.
Garry Michael’s 2nd book delivered some of my favorite book moments. I would have to agree with some of the reviews. That opening scene was AMAZING! I’m not going to spoil it, but I’m telling you, READ THAT CHAPTER. READ THIS BOOK!
The way Wyatt and Kai met (the second time) was developed perfectly. I can still ‘see’ it played out when I close my eyes. It’s that good.
Clues of Kai’s ‘cuts and scars’ were placed thoughtfully while we learned of Wyatt’s and my heart broke for these two boys. The way to their HEA was filled so no much emotions and heartaches. Be prepared to cry folks! And that last sentence…goosebumps.
Garry Michael definitely has a signature style and I LOVE IT!
This story deserves better writing! Sorry, but there were so many gaps here, as if sentences were deleted without checking whether the text would then still be sound. The plot, characters and background are so good. I really liked this story, but I can't get over the jumps in the text. I laughed with the characters and cried a lot, but this bumpy read was unfortunately not enjoyable. I'm a little sad, I see the potential and I don't think it's the author. He has a wonderful way of storytelling and a beautiful writing style, I think the editor messed up big time here.
Garry Michael is elevating how gay love story should be told. NO GIMMICKS, just raw and poignant story telling.
I was captured from the very first chapter. That opening scene was E-P-I-C and it kept getting better from then on. Wyatt’s struggles were evident from the very beginning, but I didn’t realized Kai was hiding some “cuts and scars” too. Literally and figuratively.
I was born and raised in Hawai’i and Garry’s portrayal of ohana was spot on. (I learned that this was an own voice novel so it made sense)
Everything about this book is magical. The story, the picturesque setting (I felt like I was there!), the dialogues, the characters, and the words. This book delivered lines after lines of stunning words.
“Darkness is all I know and light you bring threatens to expose all the cuts and scars I hide.”
“If red is the color of love, then why am I so blue?”
“If I crumbled tonight, will I still be whole tomorrow?”
And that massage scene!!! 🔥🔥🔥
Marked your calendar (8.22) and read this amazing book by one of the kindest/most talented authors out theres.
Wyatt and Kai meet at the very exact moment in time when both need each other the most. Wyatt - despite having been back from service for a few years now - still suffers from terrible PTSD and his scars run very deep. Kai's scars are more recent - he's gone through an abusive relationship and his sister was injured in an accident that he blames himself for. So he runs. Runs because he can't face the guilt. And during his running, he meets this mysterious man he is instantly attracted to.
Their attraction to each other is instant. They physically do it for each other, they both feel it, and despite Wyatt being reticent at first, he gets over himself quickly.
It was beautiful seeing how both of them opened to each other, slowly but surely. They both needed to work through their issues and it feels like they would have continued swallowing that guilt if they hadn't met. Wyatt was certainly on a very unhealthy path, and Kai was going to continue running from his fears - until he fell in love with the island, its people and Wyatt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kai and Wyatt’s story was incredibly beautiful. I loved most how their love inspired each of them to become better versions of themselves. Such a sweet (and steamy!) story.
One of the reviewers, Daniela, said it best. Not well executed, cringe worthy at times and the edit work was... not good. I will try another book from the author, but am not hopeful.
The cuts, the scars, the mending, and the healing.
If you've read Garry's debut then you already know what a talented writer he is. This second installment is yet another beautiful story about how sometimes the darkness that dwells within us has the power to consume us whole and the love, if we're fortunate enough to find it, that can help us heal and forgive. I was engrossed in this story from the very first page. With every word, I felt the torture Wyatt lived with everyday, the pain and guilt he harbored. My heart ached for this beautiful bear of a man who's a complete softy on the inside. I was so thrilled that he found so much sunshine with Kai. I couldn't read Kai's chapters without a smile on my face. He was adorable in every way. One of the things I loved most about this book aside from the beautiful setting, was the banter between Kai and Wyatt. It was so natural and at times, hilarious (for example the carrot cupcakes, the marine ranking, and the time they both wear similar outfits). You'll need to read it to know what I'm talking about. Another beautifully written and moving story by this wonderful new author. I am already waiting for his next book!
I Couldn’t Put This Down! Get Ready to Swoon, Sob and Swoon Lots More!!!
Garry Michael can write a book! Holy fantastic!! I couldn’t put this down. From start to finish I was in awe of his writing. The description details that went into this story blew me away. The details of the scenery had me wanting to jump on a plane and go to each location setting right now. So absolutely beautiful.
Garry also paints you a beautiful picture with his characters. You feel the emotions they are going through. I love how the characters each have their own ups and downs. Though together they are stronger, they still need to resolve their personal issues by themselves in order to be the best version of themselves for their relationship. This is brilliant writing. This is also so relatable and such a beautiful part of who Garry is as an author. You can tell he really puts thought into who his characters are, and where he wants them to go in the story. Everything is detailed and organized and so entertaining to read.
The two main characters, Kai and Wyatt are two of my favorites. They are so different and yet they are so similar. The fact that their personalities are so different helps makes for a great and enjoyable story. Kai and Wyatt had me swooning so badly. Multiple times these two had my stomach doing flips for how hot and steamy they were together. But also certain scenarios in the story that they were going through had me sobbing, had my stomach a flutter or doing those rollercoaster flips, I felt their emotions.
This book was so funny at times too. For the serious moments it had in it, there were as many great laughs. Kai and Wyatt’s funny banter going back and forth between the two of them had me dying laughing. Reading the description you might not think humor will be in there but let me tell you, even things Wyatt did for Kai, had me thinking they were adorable and had me laughing crying.
This book had so many standout moments. I have loved Garry Michael from the minute I read Break Point (his first book). I knew then he was a phenomenal writer with so much passion and heart! This is an absolute must devour of a read. I couldn’t put it down. It deserves all the stars in the galaxy. Definitely way more than 5, for sure!!!
You will easily fall in love with these characters
All the Cuts and Scars We Hide is the first book in Garry Michael’s From the Ashes series. This book is told in dual POV and is Kai and Wyatt’s story. This book does depict characters with PTSD and deals with traumatic events which may be triggering for some readers. Very sweet and emotional read. Kai and Wyatt are well written, relatable characters that will break your heart and make you fall in love. Garry did an amazing job at showing how different Wyatt and Kai’s stories are, but how their thoughts and feelings mirror each other. All the Cuts and Scars We Hide shows that even though everyone has a different path in life, sometimes we find the one that can help us lighten the burdens we carry. The chemistry and connection between the main characters is off the charts, it practically jumps off the pages. The plot flows well and I think Garry does a fantastic job of navigating PTSD and grief and the aftermath of traumatic events. I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the dialogue and descriptions during the smexy scenes. To me, it came off a bit forced and sometimes cheesy, but I know everyone has different preferences so to each their own. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. It will pull at your heartstrings and just make you want to hugs these characters. If you are looking for a real and raw emotional read with a hard earned HEA - Garry Michael gives you all of that and more in All the Cuts and Scars We Hide. I’m excited to read more from Garry, great job!
Trust, patience and love are the key ingredients of this amazing story set in San Juan Islands and Hawaii to make it even more endearing.
Wyatt was an ex-Marine who was discharged after getting injured in Afghanistan. He suffers from PTSD and isolates himself from the world thinking he is a broken man, and he is better off alone. He has his work and best friends around him, but not even that can ease his tormented self. Kai is an architect who decided to leave his beloved Hawaii behind and, with it, his nightmares, starting a new life in San Juan Islands. Little did he know that wherever he goes his past and problems will always be with him. Besides everything he had been through, he never let go of his sweet and caring nature, becoming a beacon in Wyatt's life.
It’s a beautiful and heartwarming story of two battered souls, trying to run away from their pasts and finding each other. Little by little, as they let their walls crumble and start falling in love, their healing begins, and they can be whole again, dreaming about a future together.
The story is full of trials for Wyatt and Kai, as they need to fight for their love, but also with lots of adventure and great time between them to leave you hot and bothered, and in need of an icy shower. Their story is sexy and steamy, and Garry Michael's writing is full of romance and swooning. I finished the book a while ago and I’m still on cloud nine.