Review: Don't Be Put Off by the Gay Partner Theme
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 2, 2013
I, like others, wasn't sure about this one.  I loved all the other ones.  I finally got it...just to complete the electronic set...not to actually ever read it.  But I did and let me say it might be my favorite story.Ignore all the "it was too short..." or "how did it figure into the storyline as a whole..." comments.  They have no value when speaking about this specific story.  We know in Belle & Rick's story there is something going on or not going on between Ben and Dave.You immediately know in this book they are mates. Unclaimed mates.  I'm not giving away anything by saying this (because you will see it in the free sample).  Ben is the only child of a violent drunk who beats no only on Ben but also on Ben's mother. Only one person knows this, Ben's best friend, Steve who is a human. After a particularly violent episode 15 year-old Ben runs. Steve finds him and tries to help him get away...until at least Ben's dad is sober again.  Dave comes upon the two and mistakenly believes that Ben is involved with Steve. Dave already knows that Ben is his mate. Already suffering from migraine's, they only intensify over the years. While Ben is the Marshall and feels the pack member's pain, he mistakes the migraines for hangovers and assumes Dave is a drunk. They both know each other is their mate. Ben won't let himself get close because of "Dave's drinking" and Dave is devastated by his mate's obvious disgust/hatred for him. They can't be together, but they can't be apart either.An event occurs in which Ben finds out the truth. How can he ever make it up to Dave? How can Dave ever forgive him...his mate...for not being there when he needed him? Especially knowing the pain that Dave has been in.There is one sex scene in the book.  And it's the mating/marking.  Honestly if this had been a hetro-couple, there would have been 2 or 3 or 10 various-stage canoodling scenes.Don't let the "gay partner theme" be your guide. This story is about two people who know they are mates but can't find their way together because of one or more of their fear.  Fear of past history. Fear of rejection. Fear of happiness, maybe.  With Dave, you know once he gets beyond his fear of Ben's rejection, he will...probably already has...forgiven him.  Dave shows what real love is.  Love forgives...and then forgets. The real story is with Ben.  Whether Dave forgives him or not, how can he forgive himself for being the cause of his mate's debilitating pain?We've all been there. And we all know being on Ben's side is far more painful. Knowing you've been the cause instead of the victim is gut-wrenching.Seeing how they move past it, is where the story is.Blah blah blah to all those who said this didn't fit into the "bad guy theme".  So the hell what?  Even in the midst of bad guy shit, there is real life going on.  This was real life.  Sometimes  you just need that.  No big bad violent guy.  Just the normal maneuvering through a complicated relationship.That said.  While this story is certainly a stand-alone story, it would be helpful if you have read some of the others in order to understand who the characters. In order they are (by characters): Max/Emma, Simon/Becky, Adrian/Sheridan (Sheri), Rick/Belle, Dave/Ben, Gabe/Sarah --- and there will be others I am sure.