Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Broken Mercies
AUTHOR: Lucy Marker
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 200 pages
BLURB:
Musician Daniel Gilchrist has decided he’s broken.
He doesn’t deserve Jeremy Evans, a sensible, sweet artist who insists they belong together. Bad choices after a hellish childhood make Dan more suited to guys like his ex-lover, a toxic mega-star who wants to resume their affair.
But Jeremy is irresistible, and he’s survived a few nightmares of his own. He challenges Dan to get rid of the false shame imposed by his mentally ill mother. Her twisted zealotry had influenced his choices, and it’s time to stop blaming himself for inadequately protecting his little sisters from her cruelty.
While Dan wrestles with old guilt, his former lover persuades him to collaborate on a song that protests religious bigotry. Dan grows suspicious of the star’s odd behavior, and then law enforcement shows up.
That clinches it—Dan really isn’t good enough for Jeremy. Somehow he’s managed to drag the poor guy into danger.
REVIEW:
This was a different take on other “rockstar” stories I’ve read in the past. “Broken Mercies” takes us on a journey to the underbelly of what happens when you get fortune and fame and have suffered terrible abuse as a child. This book was incredibly painful but I loved watching both main characters heal and grow throughout the story.
Dan Gilchrist is a famous singer/songwriter. He fell into extreme alcoholism due to the fact that he was terribly abused by his mother throughout his childhood. Alcohol is his escape. His ex, Charlie Mac is also a very famous singer. Dan knows that being around Charlie Mac is a trigger so he limits his contact with him.
At the beginning of this story we find Dan in rehab after having fallen off the wagon of sobriety. In rehab he meets, Jeremy, a talented artist who struggles with issues of his own and turns to substance abuse to escape.
In each other they find the peace they need to live and maintain sober lives.
I absolutely loved Jeremy in this story. He’s this constant, strong rock for Dan. Their passion and attraction for each other is smoldering on every page. They do not jump in bed with each other which I totally loved. They both wanted to be sure they were in the right place in their lives before they turned their relationship physical.
The big climax of the story comes after Dan decides to take a job with his ex Charlie Mac. They come together to write a song denouncing organized religion and shaming it for turning it’s back on homosexuality. Due to the nature of the song they both start receiving hate mail and death threats.
What I truly enjoyed was what I was expecting to happen, didn’t happen. This author was so good at not going on the path most traveled. It was refreshing to read a “celebrity” story that was different from the rest.
RATING:
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