On Solid Ground by Melissa Collins Review Tour

When Jacob "Dax" Daxton returns home from war, he has to fight a new battle – the one to find his place in the world. The man who normally has a clear path to victory surrounded by brothers in combat is suddenly lost and alone. After meeting Beckett Ridge, a bearded tattoo artist, Dax’s journey begins winding down an unexpected path.

Still reeling from events that shook his foundation, Beck has never been part of anything meaningful. Now faced with responsibilities foreign and daunting, Dax’s broken spirit mends Beck in ways he never even knew he was destroyed.

As both struggle to find balance, they are healed by the comfort they find in one other. On the other side of chaos, they hope to find themselves On Solid Ground.

Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This was the second book I have read by Melissa Collins and I can tell you it will not be the last. I love her writing style and the way she makes you feel every emotion the characters in the book are feeling. This story is about Dax and Beck. Dax is home from serving in the military, he has PTSD and he is gay but no one knows that except his best friend Chloe. Beck is part owner of a tattoo shop, openly gay and is dealing with issues from a crappy childhood and his sister is in rehab. When Dax moves away to find out whom he is and what he wants out of life he ends up literally running into Beck on the street. Each of these men has so much passion in them but they also have equal amounts of pain. Their journey together to find happiness made me laugh, cry and burst with love.

Characters: The characters were well written and believable.
Sex: Oh yeah
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: No
Genre: M/M/Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. Ms. Collins has crafted a story that had me hooked from the first page. She did an excellent job of portraying the symptoms of PTSD and how hard it is for soldiers to ask for, and accept, help for something that has no physical wounds.

Dax is hurting, a soldier who has seen battle and lost friends. He's home, physically whole, but mentally damaged in a way he doesn't believe he can heal from. Underneath the problems he brings home from the war, he still hasn't had the courage to come out to his parents.

Dax meets Beck at the tattoo shop that Beck co-owns. With each wary of starting something new, they take both try to stay away from the other, but fate keeps bringing them back into each other’s orbit. When their relationship starts to settle down, life throws a curveball at them they aren't able to deflect.

Fortunately, stubborn men can learn and grab happiness with both hands.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved Dax and Beck's story which is dual point of view. Dax is dealing with life after the military and having issues adjusting to life and dealing with the fact that his family doesn't know he is gay. Beck's sister is in rehab leaving him to look after his young niece. It is not smooth sailing for this couple and I enjoyed experiencing their troubles and their good times.

On Solid Ground is a wonderful, perfectly paced, M/M love story. It is emotional and romantic without being overly sentimental. The author got the balance exactly right. This is a great read I highly recommend.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
This was my first Melissa Collins read and can I just say I am hooked. I loved the writing on this one, the emotion, the depth of the characters is so real.

Jacob "Dax" Daxton comes home from fighting in the war, he's a different person, he's a broken man. He found part of himself while he was there but he also lost what mattered most to him. He needs to find a way to deal with that and being at his parents’ house in his home town is not that best option. When his best friend, Chloe, suggests he move to California with her, he knows it's the new start he needs.

“Some scars never leave you – and not all of them are tattoos.”

When he decides the best idea is to memorialize his love with a tattoo. He's not ready for the spark that flies when he meets Beck for the first time. Beck has baggage of his own, it's not the best time for these two to get together or is it exactly what they need to get through what lies ahead?

“When you were gone, I was damaged in some way. Without you I'm not whole.”

This was such an emotional read. It was heartbreaking and frustratingly wonderful. So many tears were shed while reading this, so many words were read through the tears. So many swoon worthy moments. Great read.

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.

Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

Connect with Melissa

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of On Solid Ground by Melissa Collins to read and review for this tour.