Review: Too touchy a topic to handle in a work of homoerotic fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2011
I read both of the existing reviews before purchasing this book, and also read a bit of the sample.  The sample sold me, and I decided to plunk down the money and take a chance.  I probably should have listened to the 3-star reviewer...  In the end, the story really was not even a three-star, hence my rating, as well.First off, yes, I was fascinated by Cavan's background.  His pain was my pain.  But I felt as though the character of the dom, Biton, fell flat, and the story felt rushed, especially the ending.  More importantly, I felt as though the short-shrift given to Cavan's recovery (which I'll go into a bit more detail about below) did a disservice to the plight of abused and neglected children in general.  Sorry about the high-horse here, but my livelihood is inextricably intertwined with child abuse/neglect and the law, so I'm probably overly sensitive to the issue.MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW:Biton is a high-powered attorney who is gay and into the BDSM lifestyle.  He has just lost his longtime love and sub of 10 years, Erik, and is in mourning.  He's lonely enough that he enters into a short, 30-day "contract" with Cavan, an abused (tortured, literally) young man who is lost/floundering when he is rescued from his former "master."  Biton feels for Cavan, and is also very attracted to him.  But when he realizes what Cavan has been through, he takes Cavan's recovery on as a single-minded mission.Great setup, definitely.  But a story like this, that revolves around serious issues of child physical and sexual abuse needs more care, in my opinion.  The depth of writing was simply lacking.  Maybe it's just that the subject matter was better suited to something other than erotica (where sex between the characters is de riguer).True, Biton wants to do the right thing by Cavan, which is admirable.  But Cavan's therapist tells Biton not to have sexual relations with the young man until he is "healed."  And yet, after 3 weeks of therapy (yes, three weeks!), they are doing the deed again.  And not just having sex, either, but with restraints and whips!  No therapist okay or anything.  I have a little experience with the ramifications of child abuse and neglect in both my personal and professional lives.  There is no way that 3 weeks is enough to "recover" from what this man went through as a child.  That part made me cringe.  I wanted to shoot Biton, not hug him for going to bat for Cavan!Beyond that criticism, the entire recovery (3 weeks worth) was just sort of glossed over.  Then we have one sex scene and -boom - the book is over.  From what I read in another review, there is apparently a sequel.  I don't think I'll be buying it, much as I'd love to know what happens in the long run.I am sure Ms. Kersten really believed she was doing right by her characters and even for the cause of child abuse, but I think she really bit off more than she could chew with this depth of abuse.  A part of me just couldn't imagine poor Cavan could EVER consent to BDSM after what he had been through, and the fact that Biton believed he could left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.  Maybe in the sequel, the author addresses these difficult issues.