Proud by Tatum West
Proud (DC Pride Book 1) (ARC) was graciously provided to me by the author for an honest review. I have voluntarily read this book and have provided my own opinion.
“A Heartbreaking, Nurturing, Prideful Story..”
An intensely gripping, heart-pounding story of hopes and prideful dreams took me on a ride full of dips and turns and slowly morphed into such a heart-warmingly beautiful read..
Proud, by Tatum West, is an immensely busy and important story for all readers and non-readers to consider reading. It is a story containing a whole lot of heart-breaking angst and seemingly insurmountable moments that despite semi-frequent moments of peaceful respite and heat-filled chemistry, it had this reader consistently reading with varied levels of emotions throughout the story.
Proud is a very realistic and deep story with an overflowing storyline, a massively gripping plot, and, plentifully varied characters. While it could be perceived as having too much of a plot with numerous sub-plots, amongst all of these layers, is a slowly-developing touching love story between Jesse and Will. Two young men who meet, per chance, who wind up discovering such a strong need for love and support, as the difficult and harrowing times they are facing are too painful to confront alone and therefore need that all-encompassing, deeply rooted kind-of-support. As the men learn the value of loved dependency, these times, which do involve multiple triggers such as domestic physical and mental abuse and familial bigotry, they both discover that through severely hurtful and debilitating moments, this radiating source of a love and comfort has provided that needed balm necessary for healing and quite the welcomed future.
First and foremost, I so love Jesse and Will.. I loved their friends-to-lovers, incredibly necessary, heart-warming story. I giggled, cheered, teared up, laughed, got angry, and cheered even louder while fist-pumping right into the air, as I read. I also really liked many of the secondary characters and hope for future books, as their own stories are just brimming with anticipation already. On the other hand, I was also flustered..
Proud, by Tatum West, is an underlying great story. But..oh boy..there is such a strong need for editing due to the existence of so many typos as well as that need for more. This story somehow contains simple typos, missing words and phrases, a few general discrepancies, and, the frequent use of words and phrases that just simply do not fit with the actual sentences. I also feel that there is a need for more depth and development as well as a need for some sort of attention to the recreational drug use as well as the unprotected sex. For this, it is in this reader’s opinion, that, this large need for editing did play a part in the final review of this story.
While the story did contain some challenging moments for this reader, it also contained so many warm and fuzzy moments as well. Once the clouds dissipated, and everything smoothed out, the storyline was actually a great one filled with diversely addicting characters, many of whom were wonderfully strong, and devoted loving characters who contributed nicely to this heart-warming, sexy, and pride-filled story..:)
*star rating: 4.00 ‘I liked it’ stars*
