Review of The Deep of the Sound (Bluewater Bay #8) by Amy Lane

The Deep of the Sound is book eight in the LGBTQ+ romance series Bluewater Bay.

Cal is dying under the weight of holding two jobs to support a brother with a list of psychiatric disorders and a great-uncle with alzheimers. He has no personal life, no time to start one, and no way out of the despair without doing something he can't bring himself to do.

Avery is fleeing to Bluewater Bay for a Wolf's Landing convention and has no intention to return to his sleezy boyfriend or homophobic parents. Then he finds himself broken down on the highway just outside Bluewater, and Cal comes to his rescue.

Cal finds Avery adorkable and loves that he can charm Cal's brother. But all he can promise is "until we can't." Changing that to forever would require sacrifices Cal doesn't think he can make.

This was my first truly emotionally deep read in LGBTQ+ romance. Most of them have been mostly surface issues for characters to deal with, or normal experiences for people to go through even if they aren't pleasant. This situation was unique, something I'd never read before.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Cal's determination to care for his family despite the sacrifices to his own life pained me. I understood that fear of losing them and the determination to provide for them, but the way he was clinging to the hope he could keep it together was fast crumbling.

Avery seemed at first to climg to the hope he could make it in Bluewater Bay, and he slowly found his footing with the help of Cal. His willingness to admit he needed help was a stark contrast to Cal's stubborn independence. Watching Cal's life fall apart while he was alternatively finding something new was both painful and satisfying.

I loved this book, and I loved the themes explored in it. The depth of emotion pleasantly surprised me, and the lessons it subtly teaches are applicable to many situations.

Photo Credit Katherine Elizabeth

Stars Image Credit lovethenerddesigns