'Terms of Release' is the heartbreaking story of Sage, a man who made the mistake of falling in lust with the wrong guy when he was eighteen, spent eight years in maximum security prison for manslaughter, and is treated horribly when he comes home to help out his elderly parents. The family of the man he fell for blames Sage for his death and tries to make life impossible for him. If not for Adam, one of the town deputies, I am not sure Sage would have made it.

Sage is an amazing man. He has suffered for a situation he was not responsible for, and he has - supposedly - paid his dues to society. He also tries to be a good guy so very hard, but continued attacks and beatings from the town bullies make that almost impossible. Sage is so beaten down, both physically and mentally, that he has forgotten how to stand up for himself, and his fear of being sent back for violating his parole by defending himself is paralyzing him. Meeting Adam, one of the town deputies, turns out to be one of the best things that ever happened to Sage. He begins the slow process of learning self-respect, and despite everyone who tries to beat him down - again and again - he manages to get there. Adam is able to help him, but Sage is the one who does all he work.

Adam has his own battles to fight. A former soldier, he is now a lawman, but his boss, the sheriff, is one of the uncles of the man Sage supposedly killed. Along with his greedy brother who wants Sage's family's land, the sheriff does not make things easy for Adam. But Adam knows what is right, and terrorizing Sage is not it. As he gets to know more about the man he is slowly falling in love with, Adam discovers some shocking as well as some endearing details. Never one to hide from the truth, Adam decides to do what is right, never mind what the rest of his family thinks. What a guy!

A fantastic story about friendship, love, and the human spirit.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review. ( )