Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: The Walls of Troy
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing
LENGTH: 255 pages
BLURB:
Just when the pieces begin to add up, danger blows them all apart…
MA1 Iskander Ayhan’s orders are simple: stay with Admiral Dalton’s son as a plainclothes bodyguard while the kid attends university classes. So typical—a high-ranking officer abusing Navy resources for unnecessary security.
It isn’t long before Iskander realizes there’s more to his assignment than protecting the kid from benign harassment by homophobic classmates. Behind those piercings, eyeliner, and bad attitude, Troy Dalton is scared. Truly, deeply, scared.
Troy is indeed hiding something. Iskander is the only one who’s ever taken his fears seriously, which gives him hope. Yet Troy isn’t sure one lone, armed-to-the-teeth bodyguard is enough to keep him safe, especially since he can’t risk telling Iskander the truth.
As Iskander slowly gains Troy’s trust, the walls start coming down. And before they know it, the warmth between them explodes into real heat. Until suddenly Iskander realizes he’s a magnet for danger, not a shield.
Now he doesn’t know how to keep Troy safe—stay close, or get as far away from him as possible.
Warning: Contains a younger man with a thing for older men, and an older man who doesn’t usually have quite so much trouble resisting younger men. Author is not responsible for any bad academic habits that might result from watching these two “study” for their exams.
REVIEW:
Not a lot of people believe that Troy Dalton is actually being harassed. But his father is worried–and has the power to do something about that worry–so he has MA1 Iskander Ayhan assigned as a bodyguard for Troy whenever he has to leave the house. Now, being gay isn’t the only reason that Iskander got the job–he really is good at what he does–but it was a major factor in the decision since Troy is gay and is recieving threats from homophobic dickheads.
Just…not one expected that Iskander–who has always had a thing for older men–would find himself absolutely gone over Troy–a pierced, emo college kid. Which in the history of bad ideas, ranks right up in the top five. Because Admirals in the Navy don’t react all that calmly when they find out you are boning their collage-age sons. Especially when said sons are under your protection because they are being stalked by a crazy man. But Troy and Iskander click, in a way that is bad for Iskander career and both of their healths. And even if they know this is a no good, horrible idea…they can’t stop themselves from trying to find some calm in the storm. Even if what they are doings is going to cause one mother of a hurricane when it comes to light.
I am, in the end, a very simple girl to please. And his book pleases me greatly.
Not just because Iskander (what an awesome name) is an older, military man sent to protect Troy.
And not just because Troy is assertive as all hell–even though he is dealing with a lot of messed up shit.
And most certainly not just because the sexual tension in this book had me panting.
Nope. This book pleases me because it is all those things, but all wrapped up in an awesomely told story.
I don’t know what to say that won’t spoil the awesomeness that is this story. The plot wasn’t very complicated–and my god by the end I wanted to shake the truth out of Troy–but it was so beautifully tense that I was on edge the whole time I was reading this. And I couldn’t stop reading it, was literally walking around the house (constantly two seconds away from tripping over my cats and dying) with my nose buried in my kindly because I didn’t want to stop reading. Even as I got really really anxious near the end.
And, my god, that first kiss…*burst into sympathetic flames*
Now, I always have had a thing for men in uniform, and god only knows how age-gaps with my MCs turns my crank something fierce, but this was just perfect for me. All the ‘this is a horrible idea but please please please I have to fucking kiss you right now or I’ll die’ tension was awesome.
And even if Troy’s instance on not telling the complete truth was annoying…I get why he was reluctant to trust anyone. I mean, the dude was royally fucked over, and I’d have a hard time trusting anyone either if that happened to me. But I did like the slow revealing of the truth as trust was built. And it may have been aggravating sure, but I don’t think it would have had as much impact if Troy had just blithely blurted out the truth ten minutes after meeting Iskander.
And did I say how much I love Iskander’s name? Fucking gorgeous.
I really really really loved this book. I just did. I don’t know what else to say about that other than you really ought to read it. So…there. Do that.
RATING: 
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