Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: The Byte of Betrayal
Author: Ashavan Doyon
Series: 2014 Daily Dose – Mended
Heroes: Caleb/Nicodemus
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 73 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Caleb McDonnell lives his life online. A thirty-year-old fast food worker, he spends his time talking in an Internet world where his job and living conditions can’t dictate his friendships. He’s found acceptance, friendship, and even romance. But when an online friend is revealed as a fake, Caleb loses all sense of trust. To stave off the emotional collapse of his betrayal, Caleb leaves his online life behind and retreats into the monotony of his job.
Nicodemus Rokos feels like his heart has been torn out. He knew Caleb would be hurt, but he’d hoped not to be shut out of his boyfriend’s life. He can only hope Caleb still feels something when he shows up in person to reclaim what he’s lost.
Review:
Caleb may be just getting by in life but he’s pretty happy with what he has. He’s got a job, his own little studio apartment and some good friends online. But when he finds out that his online best friend is fake, his world starts to crumble. With his ability to trust shattered, Caleb has no idea where to go from there. Help comes in an unexpected real life visit from Nic, one of his online friends, but while Caleb yearns for Nic, he doesn’t know if he can really believe who Nic is. Can Nic convince Caleb that not everyone he’s met online is out to deceive him?
This is the type of story that I can really relate to. I’m sure I’m not the only one who met 90% of their ‘good’ friends through an online setting so when I read the blurb for this one, I was intrigued about it. We all know the dangers of online friendships and I’m sure we’ve all experienced a ‘fake’ friend at least once. This story is about that. About embracing a friend online, pouring out your soul to them and then being shown that the person you just spent years talking to is just a false persona.
It’s very sad because Caleb gets burned by that fake person and it’s hard for him to coup with the knowledge that he gave so much of himself to someone that wasn’t even real. As such, you see Caleb at his worst moment. Extremely hurt and pissed. Then there’s Nic, who I loved to pieces, because his concern for Caleb and the fact that he’s miserable without Caleb’s online companionship pushes him to fly to Caleb and help Caleb accept what’s happened. There’s not much depth to each character because a lot of it is focused on the situation and Caleb’s now lack of trust but I still liked them together. Nic is the ‘gentleman’ and really just wants to give Caleb a shoulder to cry on.
I had a few little niggles about this one, though. Mainly, I felt like we didn’t really know the characters and because of that, it was hard for me to connect with them. Besides that, Nic’s relationship with Natalie really bugged me. I couldn’t help but feel like she was taking advantage of him. I get her situation and I feel for her but it’s been seven years, I think it’s about time to move on and live your own life. More than that, I found the ending really abrupt and out of place. For me, something like that wouldn’t be decided in a few minutes.
In the end, I enjoyed the story but I still had a few issues with it. I liked the characters and I liked the fact that Nic felt so much for Cal that he was willing to fly across the country to him. The characters don’t have much depth to them so it’s hard to really connect with them but I think all of us understand the concept behind this story and can relate in some way to Cal and what he goes through.
Overall Impression: I liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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