Unsteady by Melissa Collins Release Blitz

Micah Hudson and Jude MacMillian were both lonely teenagers. One the new kid and one the target of relentless bullying, they quickly became friends. But when friendship grew into more, the relationship was too much for either to handle. As their tenuous bond was tested, everything tumbled down, leaving them lonely once again.

A decade later, Micah is on the brink of losing his will to live. Beyond exhausted from lying to everyone, including himself, Micah thinks of the one person who knows his deepest secret. Desperate and alone, Micah makes the only decision he feels he has: he must leave. But his need for closure depends on one thing.

Can Jude make room in his Unsteady life for Micah once again?

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Angst. Steamy, weepy, heartbreaking angst. The world is against Jude and Micah from the moment Micah meets Jude in a high school locker room. They only manage to share a few fumbling, tender moments before fate intervenes and separates them for more than a decade. This is the story of their reunion, but a series of disjointed flashbacks allows readers to understand their journeys back to each other.

As an adult, Micah is a war vet, an amputee, and somehow, he has also become a husband and a father. His responsibilities are overwhelming and as much as he just wants to escape everything to be with Jude, he can’t leave his son behind. Jude is still tied to his past. He still lives in the same town and he still cares for his alcoholic father. Life in the closet is lonely, but he fears losing his job if he comes out.

There are so many barriers between Micah and Jude and only readers who thrive on angst will really appreciate the full-on emotional drama in this book. Both men are constantly remembering and reflecting. Neither man shares secrets, emotions, or thoughts easily, so there is a whole world of miscommunication brewing between these two. Personally, the melodrama was a little over-the-top – even before the gunfight, the car crash, and the lawsuit.

I struggle with heteronormative white-picket-fence plotlines in gay romance. Here, the sweet domesticity at the end of this story feels slightly emasculating and it changes the tone of the whole book – it didn’t quite work for me. I also felt that too much was concluded too quickly at the end of this story. Jude and Micah go from hopeless to happily ever after in a few pages with an epilogue offering a quick summary of the happily ever after. I needed a little bit more to fully believe in their life together.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I really liked this story except for one thing. It took way too long for Micah to tell Jude his secret. This book flashes back and forth from past to present and from Jude and Micah's points of view. The reader falls in love with them and wants them to get their happily ever after. Like I said, Micah waits way too long to tell his secret and then when he does, everything is wrapped up pretty fast and with a bow on top. I would have liked to see it told sooner and dealt with more, but I did enjoy reading their journey.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Unsteady is a second chance romance story and can be read as a standalone.

Micah and Jude met in high school. Jude put on weight between middle school and high school, the friends he thought he had turned on him. He became the butt of the joke until the new kid stuck up for him, became his friend, and helped get him back in shape. Having a common bond over dad issues and working out, Jude never expected Micah to feel the same way about him.

Micah didn't plan on falling in love with his best friend, but when it happened it was the best thing in his life until Jude's rejection of him. Micah's life turned upside down and he tried living a lie, but couldn't do it. When Micah finally can't take it anymore, he jumps in the car with his therapy dog and heads toward Texas and the only place/person he didn't have to hide from.

Jude's shocked to see Micah after ten years. So much has changed, but can things be like they were? Is there enough between them to get past the secrets of the past?

Unsteady is such a good read. I love the emotion that Ms. Collins puts into the characters. She writes some of the best m/m I've ever read.

Also Available in the On Solid Ground Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the On Solid Ground Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the On Higher Ground Blog Tour.

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

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Unsteady (On Solid Ground #3) by Melissa Collins to read and review for this tour.

On Higher Ground by Melissa Collins Blog Tour

When there’s no peace after war…
When there’s no solace after death…
When there’s only pain and suffering…
Anxiety and loss…
All you can hope to find is something more…
Something that makes you whole and complete
Something that puts you
On Higher Ground

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
On Higher Ground is a continuation of Dax and Beck's story. I highly recommend reading On Solid Ground. There are a bunch of references to things that happen in that book that aren't completely explained. It's not impossible to read it as a standalone, but a much better experience to read it as the series was written.

Dax and Beck are continuing on with their lives as a family. They are facing ups and downs like any normal couple, but with little or no communication and Dax's nightmares popping back up, things seem to escalate pretty quickly. Assumptions are made, things are questioned.

I enjoyed seeing how the story played out. Ms. Collins can write a steamy sex scene (or a dozen) so very well. The fire that burns between Dax and Beck is always burning hot. I love seeing Tonka's part in Dax's recovery. PTSD is no joke and Ms. Collins talks about it beautifully. The ending was as emotional as it was sweet. Love this couple.

Also Available in the On Solid Ground Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the On Solid Ground Blog Tour.

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

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  tsū

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of On Higher Ground (On Solid Ground #2) by Melissa Collins to read and review for this tour.

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

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

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

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  tsū

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.