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literarycavy's review against another edition
dear lord i have a high tolerance for melodrama but this was next level
laura_editor's review against another edition
3.0
I think the story lacks something. Interesting but not brilliant.
That's why I won't read the next novel in the series.
Non sono del tutto convinta perché credo che manchi qualcosa alla storia. Idea interessante (specialmente i passaggi relativi ai sogni), ma niente di eccezionale. Non leggerò il prossimo libro della serie perché considero la storia conclusa e non ho interesse ad approfondire gli elementi rimasti in sospeso.
That's why I won't read the next novel in the series.
Non sono del tutto convinta perché credo che manchi qualcosa alla storia. Idea interessante (specialmente i passaggi relativi ai sogni), ma niente di eccezionale. Non leggerò il prossimo libro della serie perché considero la storia conclusa e non ho interesse ad approfondire gli elementi rimasti in sospeso.
funsizesteffi's review against another edition
4.0
This book will make you ache, its full of pure pain of Trey. It pulls you in for the first chapter until the last as you follow Trey's journey. You will fall in love with Trey and his failures and triumphs. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.
gailygirl527's review
3.0
I have never been abused, so I can't attest to what kind of behaviors are congruent with such severe abuse; but from what I hear and have researched, Trey's behaviors are very probable. This is important to me when reading any story, that the characters behave in ways that make sense to how they are described. It's very distracting when you are constantly screaming at a book "BUT HE/SHE WOULD NEVER DO THAT??/!!!", which is what I found myself doing a lot with some other novels that shall remain nameless, but were written my E.L.James. Although there were moments that I felt were too contrived (but that happens in every book at some point), overall I felt that Trey was believable as an abuse survivor and male prostitute.
I would suggest that anyone who has severe issues with abuse, prostitution or gay sex to just pass this along to a friend, and not read it. Not that there was anything so over the top explicit, but Trey doesn't shy away from what he does and speaks pretty candidly to himself, as well as to other characters in the book. It might make you give a side eye if you aren't comfortable with that kind of honesty. The pace is also a bit quick, some might say too quick, but overall I enjoyed the story.
I would suggest that anyone who has severe issues with abuse, prostitution or gay sex to just pass this along to a friend, and not read it. Not that there was anything so over the top explicit, but Trey doesn't shy away from what he does and speaks pretty candidly to himself, as well as to other characters in the book. It might make you give a side eye if you aren't comfortable with that kind of honesty. The pace is also a bit quick, some might say too quick, but overall I enjoyed the story.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
5.0
There are times when we stumble upon a book that is truly a hidden gem. A book that will make your heart flutter. A book that will pick you up and shake you to the core, and leaves you feeling like a wet noodle. This is that book for me.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/2014/01/29/tara-spears-writes-a-dark-story-in-the-darker-side-of-trey-grey/
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/2014/01/29/tara-spears-writes-a-dark-story-in-the-darker-side-of-trey-grey/
iguana_mama's review
3.0
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
First off, I really hope that the author sent me an uncorrected review copy and this was not the final published version. I would have been very annoyed if I had paid $3.99 for it. Though my tolerance is higher for errors in self-published books, there were so many here that they threw me out of the story on many occasions. Typos I can handle, but constant misuse and abuse of words was much harder to put up with.
“too” instead of “to”
The club was roué, fashionable and raunchy all at once.
She has a reprobation toward sex.
My hips thrust fallaciously…
And it goes on…
The woman-hating that goes on in the m/m romance genre is so prevalent, that it wasn’t a surprise to me here. It’s OK to include well-developed, interesting, intelligent female characters with full lives in stories that focus on men’s relationships. Women are part of men’s lives too, if not as lovers, then certainly as mothers, sisters, friends, or co-workers. They don’t all have to be bitchy, bitter, lonely, gossipy, or meddlesome.
There were inconsistencies in this story that were a little off-putting. Halfway in, Trey and Justin knew each other for a week. 232 pages later, they knew each other only 3 days. In either case, they fell in love just a little too quickly for my liking, particularly considering Trey’s history of physical and emotional abuse, his mental illness, and his years working as a prostitute. Justin, like Trey, has difficulty with relationships. He is also deeply insecure and suffers from depression. Even though this is Trey’s story, I wish Justin’s mental illness was portrayed a little more convincingly. He was a very strong character while supporting Trey and didn’t show evidence of his depression. Other times, he was needy and insecure.
Some of the medical and psychological aspects didn’t ring true either. I’m far from an expert, but I would think if you stab yourself with a 3-inch wide butcher knife, you would do more damage than just nick your diaphragm. Trey’s suicide attempts and self-harming behavior were treated far too casually. Realistically, he would have had to be evaluated by a psychiatrist and receive extensive treatment, or even hospitalization, if he was determined to be a risk to himself.
Trey’s physical, sexual and emotional abuse by his stepfather was shown in flashbacks. He had recurring nightmares, and difficulty enjoying sex, until Justin entered his life. Despite the inconsistencies and inaccuracies here, I felt the author realistically portrayed the effects of severe child abuse on adult survivors and created two broken but strong characters that were very easy to care about.
I enjoyed being a part of Trey’s and Justin’s lives as they handle their struggles and cope with life’s challenges. Their strength drew me in and kept me involved right up to the very end.
Flaws notwithstanding, I am very much looking forward to the sequel.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I really hope that the author sent me an uncorrected review copy and this was not the final published version. I would have been very annoyed if I had paid $3.99 for it. Though my tolerance is higher for errors in self-published books, there were so many here that they threw me out of the story on many occasions. Typos I can handle, but constant misuse and abuse of words was much harder to put up with.
“too” instead of “to”
The club was roué, fashionable and raunchy all at once.
She has a reprobation toward sex.
My hips thrust fallaciously…
And it goes on…
The woman-hating that goes on in the m/m romance genre is so prevalent, that it wasn’t a surprise to me here. It’s OK to include well-developed, interesting, intelligent female characters with full lives in stories that focus on men’s relationships. Women are part of men’s lives too, if not as lovers, then certainly as mothers, sisters, friends, or co-workers. They don’t all have to be bitchy, bitter, lonely, gossipy, or meddlesome.
There were inconsistencies in this story that were a little off-putting. Halfway in, Trey and Justin knew each other for a week. 232 pages later, they knew each other only 3 days. In either case, they fell in love just a little too quickly for my liking, particularly considering Trey’s history of physical and emotional abuse, his mental illness, and his years working as a prostitute. Justin, like Trey, has difficulty with relationships. He is also deeply insecure and suffers from depression. Even though this is Trey’s story, I wish Justin’s mental illness was portrayed a little more convincingly. He was a very strong character while supporting Trey and didn’t show evidence of his depression. Other times, he was needy and insecure.
Some of the medical and psychological aspects didn’t ring true either. I’m far from an expert, but I would think if you stab yourself with a 3-inch wide butcher knife, you would do more damage than just nick your diaphragm. Trey’s suicide attempts and self-harming behavior were treated far too casually. Realistically, he would have had to be evaluated by a psychiatrist and receive extensive treatment, or even hospitalization, if he was determined to be a risk to himself.
Trey’s physical, sexual and emotional abuse by his stepfather was shown in flashbacks. He had recurring nightmares, and difficulty enjoying sex, until Justin entered his life. Despite the inconsistencies and inaccuracies here, I felt the author realistically portrayed the effects of severe child abuse on adult survivors and created two broken but strong characters that were very easy to care about.
I enjoyed being a part of Trey’s and Justin’s lives as they handle their struggles and cope with life’s challenges. Their strength drew me in and kept me involved right up to the very end.
Flaws notwithstanding, I am very much looking forward to the sequel.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
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