Review: ~ Review by Caroline
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 13, 2014
3.75 of 5 stars~ Review by CarolineFor original review see The Prism Book Alliance Blog onlineI have a bit of a quandary with this review and I couldn’t decide whether the rating should be 3.5 or 4 stars, so I split the difference and went for 3.75.The story itself is enjoyable but John Moorcrofts personality and attitude left me wanting to stick pins in his eyes.John was raised by his father after his mother vanished suddenly when he was 4 years old.  His upbringing wasn’t particularly happy or loving and he endured enforced religion as his father was an ultra strict Catholic. After his father beats him badly at the age of 18 for going to a gay bar John signs up for Military Service and leaves home for the last time. He now owns a popular and successful gym in London but his personal life is a mess.Following the suggestion of his best friend he decides to try and find out what happened to his mother all those years ago and hires a private detective. This is where we meet Sky Cook. Sky also has issues from his childhood but he tends to keep them to himself. He is loving, gentle and sees the best in everyone, a very different character to John. In return for trying to track down his mother John agrees to help Sky get fit and lose some weight.John is in the closet and initially uncomfortable around Sky who is openly gay. Being in the closet or constantly telling people he isn’t gay however does not give him the right to treat people the way he does.  His treatment of Sky throughout the book was demeaning and cruel. He pokes fun at him about his need to lose weight, about what and how he eats, about having self control, about being gay in fact just about everything Sky does is met with derision.Even when they start having sex John is still telling himself he is not gay and it leaves you with a feeling that Sky is being used. Sky on the other hand has little self esteem and is happy and willing to take John for as long as he can. It’s kind of an uncomfortable way to start a relationship.Sky has awful issues with food but won’t acknowledge the reason for it. Every time he hits a crisis in his life his first comfort is eating. As you get to know him you will fall in love with this gentle giant of a man. His family are as adorable and compassionate as he is and have certainly played a large part in making him the man he is. They literally rescued him as a child and gave him back his life.Both John and Sky are interested in BDSM and Sky thrives as a sub. Again John comes across as being cold and it is difficult to feel the connection between them. Towards the end of the book when the search for Johns mum is coming to a conclusion John realises what a true gem he has in Sky and also becomes aware just how harrowing his childhood was. This is the first time he shows any real compassion or love for him and finally starts to make things right.Overall this was a good story and I absolutely fell in love with Sky, I just though John was too self absorbed and a douche!