Under a Sky of Ash MM Romance
Independently Published
May 5, 2020
356
More than a decade after leaving Colorado to escape his past, Isaiah Greene returns and builds a life in Denver as a special education teacher. But coming home revives memories of the racist, homophobic violence that destroyed his youthful first love. When Isaiah meets Ben Woods, the mentor of one of his students, the lightning-quick attraction grows into something deeper. Raised by a bitter and abusive grandmother, Ben is a recovering addict who has made a family with his construction worker boss, Hershel, and Hershel's husband, Daniel—drag queen ManDonna. Adding Isaiah to his life gives Ben a glimpse of a future he'd never dreamed possible for himself.Isaiah and Ben are survivors, and the revelation that they've both suffered traumatic childhoods forms a bond between them. But when guilt and the secrets of the past threaten to end their relationship, Ben and Isaiah embark on journeys of self-discovery.Though their path will be difficult at times, humor and love find a way to bring light to the darkness.
Reviewed by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer & Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Reading a book by a good author, who can take you away is a blessing for a reader. So when you find one of those, you research what else new or old, that they have written. I did this stalking of author Brandon Witt after reading his epic Men of Myth series. Now it’s ON.
Now again having a moment to read for my own pleasure, I have chosen Under a Sky of Ash. This story was not an easy read, as I see from the past now, Brandon takes his time bringing you into the story, into the heads of his characters and slowly lets them live their lives with you. This is an art that many authors strive for, and may never achieve….But I am so enthralled in both his people and storyline, I have to remember I HAVE A DAY JOB AND PUT THE BOOK DOWN AT 2 A.M.
So I finished this book a week ago, and writing this review for it today took some thought. I truly was so immersed in it, where do I start? So let’s begin with ‘Isaiah Greene and Ben Woods’. Their lives come together in Denver where Isaiah returns after leaving for many years to forget his past and get an education. He is back now working as a Special Ed teacher, black and gay. That is how he meets Ben who is a Big Brother for one of his students Aaron. Ben is a recovering addict; working for Herschel doing construction.
Both these young men have BIG Baggage, and the story slowly shows us what events happened in their past that has brought them to this place in time. Our author begins with one moment in time that mushrooms like an atomic bomb and is the catalyst for a story. Each man at a crossroad to achieve happiness they each so deserve. For Ben and Isaiah to have met at this place in time is a miracle, given to them by this author. To go into the how’s and whys would reveal too much of this story, as the author does his job seamlessly, with POV’s by Ben and Isaiah. Aiding the reader along the way with some levity we meet Charity, Herschel and ManDonna. If not for them, I would not have survived the pain.
This book is a gift to the reader, Mr. Witt is allowing us to be there to share two men resolve their pasts, then trust in themselves and each other to make a future they didn’t think they deserved. Again Outstanding Read to a wonderful, hard fought HEA.