Scratcher

It wasn't even miscommunication, it was NO communication.

Understandably both Ryan and Micah had things that made them hold their cards close, but there was just so many assumptions and not communicating and it could have solved their problems sooner

E.M. Lindsey makes a surprising but welcome return to their Irons and Works series, which is arguably their best work. The close-knit found family of men who work at the tattoo parlor are rough around the edges but are willing to do anything for their “brothers” and partners. The fact that most of them live with disabilities is presented as a matter-of-fact aspect of their personalities that doesn't define them. This book introduces Micah, who has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and bipolar, as well as being a partial amputee. The men of Irons and Works have accepted him as one of their own, despite his occasional spirals and meltdowns. He meets Ryan, an IT worker whose young daughter is chronically ill with cystic fibrosis, and after a hookup the two men feel a strong connection. But Ryan has no time or energy for a relationship when his daughter has frequent medical emergencies, and Micah knows he can't maintain a relationship because of his tendency to get hurt easily and strike out angrily. But they really like each other...It's a long, angst-filled road to a HEA for the two MCs, and gut-wrenching all the way. There are very real obstacles that aren't easily overcome; this is no Big Misunderstanding or Big Secret that can be resolved with a good heart to heart. Fortunately Micah has the Irons & Works men at his back. Lindsey wisely limits the involvement of most the previous MCs, choosing to focus on Miguel from [b:Scarification 48565478 Scarification (Irons and Works, #6) E.M. Lindsey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571862192l/48565478.SY75.jpg 73427227] and James from [b:Bio-Mechanical 48702898 Bio-Mechanical (Irons and Works, #4) E.M. Lindsey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572890870l/48702898.SY75.jpg 71880568] so as not to overwhelm Micah and Ryan's story.A Goodreads reviewer with BPD noted that Micah's portrayal was very accurate, and I came away from the book with a greater understanding of the daily challenges of living with a brain that frequently feels too much. I understood how hard it would be for Ryan and Micah to make it in the long run, but was confident that they would beat the odds and stay together. I'm so glad that Lindsey is revisiting the men of Fairfield Colorado. They promise three more books to come - yay!