Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Renewing Bonds

SERIES:  Bonds of Truth #2

AUTHOR:  Ruby MacIntyre

PUBLISHER:  Encompass Ink 

LENGTH:  244 Pages

BLURB:

Two hearts long separated find each other again.

Connor Locke has only given his heart away once, to a man who left him alone with only a note as an explanation. He has tried to move on, but no one compared to the one who left him brokenhearted and alone.

Harry grew up as a black sheep in his family, and when he met Connor he thought he finally found a place to call home. The strong, yet loving lawyer gave him things he never thought he’d find. But then he had to leave, and that decision ended up ruining his life.

After years apart, the couple is finally reunited, but not in a way either of them expects. A crime lord wants Harry badly, and he will do anything to get him. Will Connor be able to keep Harry safe and salvage their love, or will he lose Harry forever? 

REVIEW: 

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the second in the Bonds of Truth Series. Ms. MacIntyre entranced me with her gritty tale of hard fought love in the volatile world of gays in the Midwest.

She picked up right where she left off with Connor Locke heading to the police station after a call from Officer Jones had tried to reach his Law Partner and closest friend, Tatum “Tate” Steele, a Dom that the officer knew from being a submissive in the “Club” that they both belonged to. Officer Jones was just getting back to the station to file his report on the evenings proceedings. He and Tate had been involved in rescuing Tate’s significant other from a horrific kidnapping that had left Connor in an injury accident and Christopher “Chris” Waters being buried alive by Tate’s homophobic rich father and his brother. Fast forward to the present, where Officer Jones leads him to the man he is to represent. A man Officer Jones is sure is innocent of the charges of murder and burglary being charged against him by fellow Officer Moore, who seemed hell bent on the prisoner being held. One look and Connor goes into shock! Sitting in the chair was a small, dirty wisp of a man from his past, his former lover that disappeared 4 ½ years earlier. Harry Daggett is the only man to have ever captured his heart and he still holds it.

Connor and Harry struggle to make a future when they both realize that they are still each other’s “only one” while Connor is attempting to clear him as his attorney. Harry struggles with demons as he tries to recover from a life of homelessness after running from Connor. He ran away because he was made to believe he was not worthy to be with the rich, successful and extremely handsome man. He was forced into the horrible world of prostitution and held captive by the evil Pinstripe.

Harry escaped this despicable world he was forced to endure as he was held captive by the illegal and destructive underworld and he had so many demons that he was trying to escape…forced drugs and prostitution leading the list. He felt like a “dirty whore” and not worthy of his beloved Connor. We see not only Connor, but also Tate (who knew Harry before his disappearance), Chris, fellow Attorney Jesse Martin and his partner Mark (who works at a shelter for Gay and Lesbian Homeless teens), all working hard to bring Harry back to a life where he doesn’t have to rely on Xanax to survive even shaking another male’s hand, even if he is a close friend. We are lead on a journey towards these men’s constant struggle to be each other’s HEA!

This story is even grittier and more intriguing than her first book “Forging Bonds”.   Ms. MacIntyre did not fail to keep my attention the entire novel and it is safe to say that I am becoming a fan of this new author. I cannot wait for more of the series to come. I loved that she included all the characters from her first book and we even got individual moments with these characters that have wormed themselves into my heart. This book may be hard for some to read. There is a fair amount of violence and injustice being served to characters…some that never seem to catch a break! I encourage you to try this new author and I am sure that you won’t be disappointed.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS:  

Amazon