What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin

Larry_Benjamin_What_Binds_UsTitle:  What Binds Us

Series:   N/A

Author:   Larry Benjamin

Genre:   M/M Contemporary

Length:  Novel (204 pages)

Publisher:   Carina Press (March 19, 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:   Thomas-Edward is only a teenager when he escapes his working-class neighborhood. He’s ready for anything–except the arrival of Donovan Whyte in his life. Sophisticated and dazzlingly handsome, Dondi quickly becomes the center of Thomas-Edward’s universe, introducing him to a world full of drama, passion and feuding families.

When their relationship fizzles, they remain uneasy friends until Dondi invites Thomas-Edward to his family’s summer-house. Thomas-Edward is immediately attracted to Dondi’s mysterious brother, Matthew–and finds himself hopelessly drawn to both men.

As time passes, Thomas-Edward develops a unique bond with both brothers as they orbit around each other, although he knows only one of them can be his lifelong love. Will the three of them be able to find a way to hold on to each other? Or will love, its loss and the threat of death destroy their connection once and for all?

Product Link:  http://ebooks.carinapress.com/DBEB57B1-F20C-45E5-A71E-8A52559A0BAB/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=1393C38B-7539-448A-B867-80847EB1140D

Reviewer:   Artemis

Review:  When Thomas-Edward heads off to college and meets Dondi he is swept away into a world that he never even suspected exists.  Dondi is wealthy beyond anything he has ever seen before and wants nothing more than to spoil his new roommate.  Dondi is not only wealthy, but charismatic, passionate, and totally uninterested in settling down or finding true love.  They engage in a brief romantic involvement but their relationship quickly settles into one of a more platonic nature.  There are definite deep feelings between the two of them but they avoid the passion, jealousy, and romance of a true relationship.  Thomas-Edward becomes quite a fixture at Dondi’s family home and while Dondi is off traveling and bed hopping, deep feelings begin to grow between him and Dondi younger brother Matthew.  As the bond deepens between Thomas-Edward and Matthew, Dondi’s lifestyle is starting to catch up with him and the triangle they have formed begins to break down.

I was a little bit uncertain when I first began this book because the writing style is different than I am used to.  The author tells the story in snippits….you will read about a weekend or a month at school and then skip ahead a bit to a new situation at a different time in the story.  At first, it seemed a bit choppy but I found myself unable to put the book down.  I *HAD* to know how the friendship between Thomas-Edward and Dondi developed.  I needed to know if Matthew and Thomas-Edward finally admit their feelings toward one another.  I was intrigued by Dondi’s family’s dynamics and the wealthy lifestyle they lived.  As the book progressed, I needed to find out how Thomas-Edward, Matthew, and Dondi all handled the issues that were thrown in front of them at every turn.

I don’t want to give away what happens in this book, but I will say that I was in tears and wanted to throttle the author for the plot twist that ruined the triangle that Dondi, Thomas-Edward and Matthew had formed together.

I don’t think any review will do justice to this book.  It is a page turner and a tear jerker and definitely NOT your typical male/male romance book.  If you are looking for a book that will be emotional rather than passionate, this is definitely the book for you