Title: The Ties that Bind
Author: S. Davidson
Genre: M/M Fiction
Release Date: June 1, 2017
Cover Art: Rue Volley
Editor: CSL Editing Service
Publisher: Encompass Ink Publishing
Flashback 1990's - Rollerblades, bungee jumping, the laptop, cellular phones the size of bricks, and AIDS - the gay men's cancer
This is a story about love, friendship, and family. It is a story about growing up, about trying to change the past and the realization that no matter how fast, or how far we run, that The Ties That Bind us as children, many times come back to haunt us as adults.
We become part of the life of a young counselor, Morgan, who specializes working with homeless, male hustlers. He seems like an angel from heaven to many. He cares deeply for every one of his boys and would literally die to save them from harm. He deprives himself of life's basic needs in order to reach just one more, but why?
Morgan has his own agenda to work out, his own demons to exorcise. While avoiding his own past, he meets a particular young man, Greg, who is able to see through this well-crafted, public image. Greg sees Morgan's pain and denial. It is in this discovery, this role reversal that Greg, a life-long hustler begins to heal himself. He helps Morgan come to terms with his own violent past. Greg becomes his strength, the knife to cut the rope and release the guilt Morgan has denied for years. Just as they both begin to heal, Greg discovers the truth.
The Ties That Bind can sometimes be very restricting but many times we find that The Ties That Bind can also provide our strength.
The Ties That Bind are necessary for the sustenance of life.
Cat gives this one 5 Meows with a 5 Purr heat index...
First of all, I have a few warnings. #1 this book isn't for everyone. there is a lot of violence, drugs and other things. #2 there are scenes of rape and discussions of other taboo topics so if you are squeamish this probably isn't for you. #3 this isn't a typical romance. It is bittersweet and if you like a great ugly cry this is for you.
The Ties that Bind is set in the 90's. It is written in alternating viewpoint in third person. The three views jumping around got confusing at times but the story was so intriguing and sucked you in so hard that didn't matter. Greg had been abused since he was very young and on the streets hustling at the tender age of ten or less. He got tangled with an abusive pimp and so deep in drugs it was lucky he was alive.
Tomi is his best friend and he went to her house many times when he was a child. His father was a druggie as well and Tomi drank a lot. Tomi graduated early at age 16 went off to college and formed a band with three other guys, but when Greg nearly died from an OD, she had to go find him.
Morgan ran a home for abused boys, runaways, dopies and hustlers. His life job was to get as many boys off the street and clean as possible. Morgan though, was a man of mystery and had many secrets some very dark.
The Ties that Bind is a dark story. I have to say once you get into it you are sucked in. I had to keep reading to see if Greg and Morgan got together for real or if he chose Brice. i wanted to know if Greg made it and got clean and what became of him. I wanted to know what Tomi chose out of life. then about three fourths through the book changed up and man was there some surprises. The ending was such a shock it put this book on top of my favorite list.
If you like something different, an ugly cry, 90's eras, stories about Aids and HIV, stories about young boys in bad situations, hope, truths, taboo but all n all a very good read with a surprise ending I never saw coming, I Highly recommend this.
HOSTED BY:
Cat - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
ReplyDeletelegacylandlisa(at)gmail(dot)com