Reviewed by Amber

TITLE: Weight of the World

AUTHOR: Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 241 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 28th, 2016

BLURB:

“The world’s an awfully big thing to carry by yourself.”

Zack lost his job, his apartment, and his hope, which is why he ends up on the roof of a high rise, certain that one final step will solve his problems. But a mysterious stranger named Rob happens to be on the roof that night too. He talks Zack down, convincing him there’s still hope left in the world. Zack thinks maybe he’s right, which is why he’s shocked when he turns on the news the next morning to find out Rob jumped himself. Disturbed and confused, he searches for answers, starting with Rob’s brother Tommy Rayburn.

It’s been Tommy’s job to take care of his brother since they were kids, taking the blows from their father so Rob wouldn’t have to. Tommy thought he could protect him, even if it meant carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Considering Rob threw himself off a building, he obviously couldn’t.

Then he meets Zack, a friend of Rob’s who’s suspiciously evasive about how they knew each other. But they’re both grieving and determined to find out why Rob jumped. Answers don’t come easily, and soon they’re soothing each other with sweat-slicked, passionate encounters. Hot as things get in the bedroom, it doesn’t take them long to realize there’s more between them than mind-blowing sex and their pain. But the heaviness is still there, threatening to pull them under, and if they can’t open up with each other to lighten the load, the weight just might be enough to crush them both.

REVIEW:

Damn, this was heartbreaking but damn sweet too. There was so much to love in this story. The characters were absolutely wonderful on their own but together they were breathtakingly stunning. I loved how Zack repeatedly challenged Tommy. I loved how Tommy’s basic nature is caretaker and provider. This story tore me up realizing the depth of Tommy and Zack’s loss. The plot, centered on a HUGE devastating secret, had me sucked in from the very beginning. I had a hard time putting this one down. These authors made such an emotionally charged absolutely endearing story.

Tommy and Zack have 1 connection and that is Tommy’s little brother, Rob. Rob and Zack meet at the most hopeless time in either man’s life and Rob selflessly gives Zack his hope back.

Zack believing Rob saved him but couldn’t save himself seeks out answers as to why. Meeting Tommy only confounds both men. Zack realizes Tommy is a rock and a giver. Tommy only ever wanted the absolute best for his little brother so his death has left a gaping hole in his chest.

Tommy and Zack cling to each other and let themselves feel something other than pain and grief. These two let themselves be overwhelmed with each other so that they can work together and try to get answers.

Like I mentioned while reading this I was totally enraptured with Tommy and Zack but I also knew their foundation was not solid. The cracks are many and vast and you can feel that any wrong move and it will all come crashing down.

And it does. This is one of those stories that everything has to fall apart; all secrets have to be revealed in order for things to be built back up again. Stronger than ever before and as a reader there is nothing else you want more than to see these two men healed.

There aren’t enough good things I can say about this story. It’s painful but so much more than that. There’s so much hope and love and passion between these characters.

Absolutely recommend.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

Amazon