Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Brokedown Hearts
Author: Cameron Dane
Series: Foster Siblings #4
Heroes: David Joyner/Ben Evans
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 332 Pages
Publisher: Loose Id
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Available at: Loose Id, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Ex-con David Joyner returns home knowing he must atone for his past sins. Working at an animal shelter, David keeps his head down, desperate to prove to a hostile town he’s a new man. The one time David looks up, he spots fellow motel dweller Ben, and is terrified by his attraction to the man. David doesn’t want to feel anything. He can only damage what he loves.
On a forced vacation, PI Ben Evans accepts a job to tail a recently released prisoner. What begins as an easy gig turns complicated when Ben, a controlled man, can’t deny the pang of empathy he feels for his subject, David. Ben can’t suppress his gut-deep sexual desires whenever he’s near David either.
Repeatedly crossing paths, David and Ben do their best to fight their growing attraction. When passion explodes, and secrets are revealed, both men have to conquer inner demons in order to accept the others love.
Someone has turned the tables on David, though, stalking him and leaving threatening notes. Will anyone believe David if he tells? And when David’s stalker raises the stakes, can Ben find the man who has become his world in time to save their love?
Review:
I am a huge Cameron Dane fan so I was excited to get this story. Even though I know many readers have had issues with Ben’s treatment of David, and the very thin line between dub-con and non-con sex, but I still really enjoyed their story for the most part.
Both David and Ben are dealing with more than their fair share of life issues. Prison, mental issues, family drama, bullying, threats, homophobia, and devastating secrets are just a few of the many facets surrounding these two men. These guys don’t work on paper, but in life they are just perfect for each other.
Ben is harboring a deep seated fear of his need to dominate. The more David fights him the more angry and sexually excited he becomes. I admit, a few times I cringed at his actions, which were mere steps away from rape, but as I read on it became clear that David thrived under Ben and needed his domination and aggression to ground him.
David is pathetic. He is broken, lonely, miserable, sad, and still lonely. He is seriously one of the most depressing characters I’ve read to date. He did something stupid, yes, but holy cow, he paid for that over and over and over again. His family is pure evil, minus Brittany, and even though Travis redeemed himself a bit, he was still an absolutely horrible person. Unforgivable how he treated his brother.
So basically, this is an angsty sex-fest. I would have preferred less sex, which would have shortened this too long book, but I would have enjoyed it a bit more. I hate to skim, but I admittedly started skimming the excessive sex scenes. The storyline was great, I even understood the semi-toxic relationship between Ben and David, but sadly it was missing something that would make me love it.
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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