Review: Realistic HFN ending satisfied
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2013
This story tells us about Benji, a closeted police officer whose life is turned upside down first with a series of tragic events from work, then when he falls in love with Neal, a coffee shop owner. This book was well written and the dialog was really good. The events, while not always exciting or pretty, paints a pretty accurate picture of what occurs on the job as a law enforcement officer. It also shows how difficult the job can be for a gay cop. Although I really liked this story, I will admit that Benji character was not likeable. Not even at the end. He was closeted to the point of being a coward. I can understand him being in the closet, but there comes a time when a person has to man up. And he never really did. It's one thing to be in the closet, but when you enter into a relationship with someone, you can't make that decision for them. And that is exactly what he did with Neal. Neal was out and accepted by his family and friends; the people that mattered. Neal offered that same warmth and acceptance to Benji, but Benji just wouldn't reach out and take it. Not only that, I felt that he was forcing Neal back into the closet with him. I was irritated at Neal's character because he was willing to go into that closet just to keep Benji; he became pathetic and needy at one point. The scene where Benji was rude to Neal's mother made my blood simmer and when Neal apologized for his mother made my blood boil. I felt that Benji did not deserve Neal's mother's forgiveness and his (Neal's) family's acceptance. I actually liked Benji's friends better: his sometimes inappropriate, sometimes crude, and all times idiotic friend Matthews and his enlightened friend Cazé. In the end, it was rumor and speculation that brought Benji `s sexuality to the forefront. Even though he had support from some of his colleagues, Benji still chose to remain closeted, which was certainly his right, but it eventually led to Neal removing himself from the relationship. This is when Benji decides that maybe Neal had a point and begins to really take a hard look at himself. In the end, Benji never really comes fully out of the closet, but he opens the door to it. If an author's writing is able to make you feel anything for the characters, good or bad, then you know that they did a great job. This author did exactly that. The story doesn't have a HEA ending, but the HFN ending that it did have was more realistic. Despite my dislike for the lead character, I truly enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it.Kiwi's 4 sweet pea review appears at mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=13451