Title: Crimes of the Heart
Series: Crimes of the Heart, #1
Author: Jaxon Grant
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (264 Pages)
Publisher: JTG Publishing (December 11, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Everyone deserves to be loved. But with constant abuse from his step-father and his mother’s contempt, Christian Goodley isn’t so sure. Being gay in high school is hard enough. Also being the black sheep in the family with only one friend in the world makes life damn near impossible to bear. But when Christian’s path crosses with a new teacher his senior year, a ray of hope brings new life and meaning to his world.
Damien Duvel, a recent college graduate and History teacher, forges a bond of friendship with Christian that the young man so desperately needs. As their relationship evolves and matures the rumor mill in the school starts turning. Hushed whispers and sidelong glances turn to outright accusations.
For both Christian and Damien it would seem that fate had brought them together. But with so many factors conspiring against them, it is unclear whether they can tow the fine line they walk without stepping away unscathed emotionally or physically.
ISBN-13: 9781494755300
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Crimes-Heart-Jaxon-Grant-ebook/dp/B00HBHAG2C
Reviewer: Lisa
Review: I have to say that this was not my favorite story at all. In fact I wanted to rip most of the characters apart. It is so sad to watch a child go through what this young man went through. It is not a happily ever after book either which made it even worse for me.
The story itself without my actual feelings was well written and an excellent story. In fact I would wish more people would read this story. I spent most of the time just crying because you can feel this boy. The pain he must have felt not just from the physical abuse but the mental abuse. His mother, I mean his own damn mother was such a bitch to him because he was gay. She allowed the physical abuse by her husband, his step father. People like that should have been shot before they were allowed to have children.
Christian had known he was gay for a while and he was fine with it. Then he was caught at an early age and his life went downhill from that. His mother would slap him around and call him such filthy names. She would allow his step father to smack him around. His brother and sisters were just as emotionally abusive as the parents. He tried so hard to live with it. He had started a relationship with his teacher when he turned eighteen. However the teacher was also involved with a woman. So there are lots of issues all the way around.
Damien did want Christian. Had since he first walked in to his class. When Chris’s parents kicked him out, he helped him by getting him a motel room. However it went further than that. He was seen however and was going to be black mailed, his fiancé found out and went after Chris. He kept it up till he knew he would lose it all. He didn’t even think of what it would do to Chris.
I hate damn selfish people and Damien himself should have been shot. He took advantage of a young boy and basically used him. This was a good story but I wished I hadn’t started reading it. It was definitely more real than most books you come across and you can see it happening with the children out in the world.
I would recommend reading this book. It is a tearjerker and will have you pissed off. If you want to know what many gay children go through in real life, read this book.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *