Review: Gripping, haunting and dark
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy my Love program in exchange for an honest review.Trey Grey is a college student, and a prostitiute. He has been turning tricks since he was a young teen, prodded on this course by his physically and sexually abusive step-father. Trey is a survivor of some of the most horrific exploitation one could imagine, and now on his own he turns tricks to supplement his scholarship money. He's a pretty high class hooker, with a semi-regular clientele of well-to-do closeted men, women and pairs.He also suffers nightmares, interactive episodes that trigger self harm through OCD scrubbing. After one particularly bad episode, Trey becomes psychologically catatonic for five days and is discovered soiled in his bedclothes. The treatment to return him to functioning includes mandatory therapy. After his first visit, Trey meets Justin at a nearby restaurant. They share a meal and Justin invites Trey to the party he's attending, warning Trey that it's a sex party...In this event, Trey actually experiences arousal of his own. He's been a sex trade worker so long he's inured to the arousal, but Justin turns him on as no one ever had. Justin is emotionally battered, too, however, and Trey flees. Temporarily.Between these two broken souls, they recognize a need, an ability to smooth the rough edges. Justin is able to assuage Trey's nightmares--not always in time.Trey is still a prostitute, but Justin and he reach an understanding. They agree to live together, as soon as the semester ends. There are some serious issues between them, not the least of which is Trey's self-harming behavior, and Justin's struggles with depression, however, in the end it seems as though they are better for having each other to lean on. Through therapy, and opening up to Justin, Trey comes to terms with some deeply repressed memories that may even be healed in the near future.The book is written to be the first in a series, but ends in a way that is complete. No cliffhanger.The material within is as advertised: DARK. There is no escaping the horror of Trey's habitual rape at the hands of his stepfather and johns. He is also brutalized by his current johns, and himself. It is really gut-wrenching in its scope. I had trouble with some of the editing--there were numerous grammatical and spelling errors that did detract from my reading enjoyment. This aside, the story is powerful and compelling and I would consider reading the second book to find out if Trey can conquer his demons enough to find solace and love, with Justin, and for himself.