REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Damaged
AUTHOR: Tricia Owens
PUBLISHER: Tricia Owens
LENGTH: 133 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2019
BLURB:
One is a victim. The other is guilty.
After Detective Jack Beckam’s partner is killed during the line of duty, Jack retreats to a small Indian casino in the Colorado mountains to deal with his guilt. There, he encounters the mysteriously hostile casino manager, Taylor Brant.
Jack is on a downward spiral. Unfortunately for him, the strange forest surrounding the casino only increases his desire to do something reckless. Something desperate. Taylor Brant is not only dangerous, he’s broken. He’s someone Jack should steer clear of. Yet Jack, bruised inside and out and needing to find absolution, tumbles into a series of dark, highly charged encounters with Brant which could shatter them both.
REVIEW:
I’m a big fan of Tricia Owens – she has two series on my favorites list – so this one was a no brainer. As with those series, which I highly recommend (Sin City and Juxtapose City), this story is a little on the grittier side delivering a second chance story about two guys who are both a little damaged and find just the right push from the other to help them through.
Jack is on administrative leave after his partner was shot and killed, something he feels terribly guilty for. If only he would have done things a little differently, the scenario would have turned out much differently. In order to “deal” with that and to help come up with funds to aid his partner’s widow and child, he heads to the small-town casino where he meets dark and sexy pit boss, Taylor Brant.
Taylor has some issues of his own, mainly dealing with abusive exes (both cops) whom he allowed to take things much too far. He has vowed to never put himself in that position again, least of all with another cop. But, he sees something in Jack that is calling to him.
Jack has never allowed himself to explore his sexuality or his kinks, both of which Taylor is exactly the man and more than happy to help with. Taylor keeps control of things while showing Jack exactly what he has been missing and opening his eyes to quite a few things about himself. There are some pushes and shoves with these two as they fight for dominance and deal with their own issues at the same time. It takes just about hitting rock bottom for them to both figure everything out, and it takes Taylor stepping up in some big ways.
This starts out as both characters adamantly denying they want anything more than some rough sex, but it turns into more without either of them realizing until it’s too late. I really liked how this story focused on the pain aspect and that through their encounters they learn there is one way to do things, and then there is another way. Hard to explain, but they realize it is ok to give and receive the rough sex without causing major physical harm to one or the other, something both men came at from different angles. Suffice to say, if you’re looking for something a little on the less flowery side, be sure to give this story a go.
RATING:
