Jude1111

*** 4.5Stars ***
Very hard to read at times but I'm so glad i did....




If you read the blurb for this you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect but nothing could have prepared me for the opening scene.
I don't normally read the Authors note at the end of books but I did here.It made that opening scene so much more powerful as it's inspired by a real life event for the Author.

Donald and Mark met at the Brig,a gay sex club where pretty much anything goes.Donald wasn't looking for romance when Mark came into his life but the two men fall hard and fast into a relationship.
One night they are walking to their car when they are assaulted by 3 men for being Gay.It's a powerful,traumatic,very well written scene that was difficult to read.
Donald wakes up to find his life in pieces.....

You also get an insight into the minds of two of the attackers,Ron and Justin.
Ron is 26,the ring leader and is a truly despicable character.Justin is only 16,has no home life and is totally lead astray by Ron.Although he didn't take part in the attack,he did nothing to stop it either.Afterwards he's tortured by guilt but his loyalties are firmly with Ron.
Add to the mix Justin's Uncle Walter who is gay and lives in the same apartment block Donald does and you have a twisted story of conflicting loyalties.

This was all the more poignant for me as I have two friends who are gay and in a loving relationship and I know first hand what they sometimes have to encounter.

This book won't be for everyone but if you want a powerful,thought provoking read I would highly recommend it....