Scan barcode
catevari's review
3.0
This was a pretty enjoyable book. Pluses: the two protagonists were, respectively, a recently disabled veteran and a PoC (person of color); that's a pretty rare pairing scenario and I give Lorenz full credit for carrying it off unproblematically, other than the requisite comparisons of White flesh against Black.
I also really liked the balance of power in the relationship between Marcus and Tony. There was no obvious dominant partner and no obvious top; both men had moments of strength and moments of need and both were open about both their strength and their need, with no game playing or other misdirection. Everything was on front street. And on the one hand, that's incredibly refreshing. On the other hand, it contributes to the first negative.
Minuses: There's no real conflict in the book. The only thing keeping Marcus and Tony apart is Tony's role as Marcus's patient; once that disappears, so does the conflict and is extremely easily solved.
Less believable is the quickness and easiness of Tony's recovery; a little exercise and a hot guy to turn his crank and Tony is essentially over any PTSD, depression or related issues from being in combat, being injured in combat, losing a limb, losing his lover and losing the life-path he'd chosen for himself. Especially given the fact that Tony returns to the military (even though it could have cost him his relationship with Marcus), not much is made of Tony's separation from the military or the trauma that caused the separation. Like the mild conflict separating them, it's easily (too easily) resolved and leaves no noticeable lasting mark on Tony or his relationships. Not being intimately acquainted with the military's practices for personnel living off-base, it also seemed like a too-easy solution for Marcus to be able to openly live with Tony in a DADT military.
Despite the ease of resolution, though, I did enjoy the book. It was a pleasant and quick read, if unremarkable.
I also really liked the balance of power in the relationship between Marcus and Tony. There was no obvious dominant partner and no obvious top; both men had moments of strength and moments of need and both were open about both their strength and their need, with no game playing or other misdirection. Everything was on front street. And on the one hand, that's incredibly refreshing. On the other hand, it contributes to the first negative.
Minuses: There's no real conflict in the book. The only thing keeping Marcus and Tony apart is Tony's role as Marcus's patient; once that disappears, so does the conflict and is extremely easily solved.
Less believable is the quickness and easiness of Tony's recovery; a little exercise and a hot guy to turn his crank and Tony is essentially over any PTSD, depression or related issues from being in combat, being injured in combat, losing a limb, losing his lover and losing the life-path he'd chosen for himself. Especially given the fact that Tony returns to the military (even though it could have cost him his relationship with Marcus), not much is made of Tony's separation from the military or the trauma that caused the separation. Like the mild conflict separating them, it's easily (too easily) resolved and leaves no noticeable lasting mark on Tony or his relationships. Not being intimately acquainted with the military's practices for personnel living off-base, it also seemed like a too-easy solution for Marcus to be able to openly live with Tony in a DADT military.
Despite the ease of resolution, though, I did enjoy the book. It was a pleasant and quick read, if unremarkable.
More...