3.5 stars ( )

This was a disturbing book for me to read - on many levels. It is the story of two Marines, one now on his way to becoming a doctor and the other just having received a medical discharge, is full of physical and emotional pain and abuse. I guess it is meant to deal with some of the trauma men undergo when they are put in horrible situations, but the way in which it happened in this book made it extremely hard for me to come to terms with it or even understand how the two main characters got through it. The amount of violence referred to (even if 'only' in flashbacks and Vance telling Ben) made me cringe.

Thinking about why I fee left hanging, I have come to the conclusion that it may be because the emphasis is on the suffering and pain, Vance torturing himself for what he has done, and Ben waiting for Vance to finally come to him so they can resolve their issues. The discussion that starts the healing process is barely over and - bam - the book ends. That was what it felt like. For me to feel better, I wuld have needed to see how Ben adn Vance dealt with the pain, and how they healed; not just seeing them 'a few weeks later' with everything suddenly okay.

If you want to find out more about the emotions of someone who has been made to do gruesome things, and don't mind the lack of a more detailed resolution, this book might be for you. It is real, gritty and heart breaking - utterly realistic. Just not a relaity I deal with very well at all. ( )

A gay romance reading list pick from Val for AReCafe. ( )

Loved it! Full of hurt, comfort, angst, romance and hot boys. Recommended! ( )

Loved it! Full of hurt, comfort, angst, romance and hot boys. Recommended! ( )