Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Payback
AUTHOR: John Inman
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 200 Pages
BLURB:
When Tyler Powell’s life is torn apart by an unspeakable crime, the need for vengeance takes over. Every moment of every day, as he tries to pull his shattered existence together again, it’s all he can think about—revenge.
Will he give in to his rage and become the very thing he hates most? A killer?
Only with the help of Homicide Detective Christian Martin, the cop in charge of his case, does Tyler see the possibility of another life beginning—the astounding revelation of another love reaching out to him. A love he thought he would never know again.
Will he let that love into his life, or is he lost already? Is payback more important to Tyler than his own happiness? And the happiness of the man who loves him? Tyler is determined to find a way to exact his revenge without sacrificing all hope for a future with Christian, but it will be difficult—if not impossible—and in the end he might be forced to make an unbearable choice.
REVIEW:
I really have no idea where to start this review. This is one of those stories that hooks its claws in you from the very start, rips your heart out then slowly starts putting you back together again. The first half of this story is absolutely heartbreaking. The love Spence and Tyler had been so beautiful. The first few pages just glowed with warmth due to the strength of those feelings. Then when it’s taken away everything was just very cold. It was devastating.
Tyler Powell is living a regular life with his husband Spence and their dog Franklin. They own a house, have very successful jobs, and seems as though they’ve captured a piece of the American dream. On the night of their anniversary, Spence gifts Tyler with wedding bands. They had already been married but never could decide on rings.
Later that night they both take Franklin for a walk down to the dog park. It’s nighttime so the park isn’t packed and slowly people start packing up their animals and leaving. Alone in the park, Spence and Tyler decide they too should start heading back. Initially unable to find Franklin they go to the park restrooms to see if that was where he went. Unbeknownst to him 3 men are laying in wait in the restroom waiting to attack them.
What ensues is an absolutely horrific attack on Tyler, Spence, and Franklin. Spence dies at the scene from injuries he sustained, Tyler is in a coma for a month, and Franklin goes missing.
When Tyler wakes from his coma his life is irrevocably changed. He’s a widower, his dog is gone and he has to heal emotionally and physically. The one thing that Tyler clings to is his anger. It’s burning bright and hot and he wants revenge and vengeance.
The detective assigned to the case, Christian Martin, immediately sets Tyler at ease with his comfort and kindness. Chris is drawn to Tyler and can’t help but want to have more with him.
It’s a slow process as Tyler heals, getting over his fears, his anger, his hatred, moving on from Spence, allowing himself happiness but it comes and as a reader I wanted nothing more than for him to find peace.
There’s lots of twist and turns, some shocking acts, and revelations. I loved this authors writing style. He knows how to hook a reader. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in a matter of hours. It’s too painful to be a re-read, I don’t think I could go through all that again but this is definitely a book everyone should read, at least once. It’s truly beautiful to see the hope and happiness after such a tragic loss.
RATING:
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