Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Splintered – Obsession
SERIES: Criminal Delights #7
AUTHOR: Tal Bauer
PUBLISHER: self published
LENGTH: 202 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2019
BLURB:
Everything in Ben’s life was perfect. He had it all. The good career. The perfect partner, Evan. The happy home. They were even talking about turning the extra bedroom into a nursery.
But things start to splinter.
Evan begins missing time, not knowing where he was or how he got there. Terrors in the night rip them both from sleep, and Evan’s suddenly violent outbursts cost him his job and his reputation.
And voices in his head turn from whispers to screams, commanding him to act.
To turn on Ben.
How far will Ben go to save his partner’s life? How far is too far? Should he have just… run away?
This book is part of the CRIMINAL DELIGHTS series. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurred. High heat, twisted, and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted!
REVIEW:
I absolutely love Tal’s books, but I will not lie. This was not a direction I was expecting. At all. I was expecting an action adventure kind of thing and Tal blew me away. There are possible triggers. Possession, demons, attempted murder, stabbing, exorcisms. If any of that bothers you, have a care. But it’s a good book. Definitely different but so good.
Ben is scared. He’s been noticing more and more that Evan is drawing away. After all their hopes and dreams, Ben can’t believe it would finally be over. But the changes he’s seeing in Evan are not what he expected. And after being woke several times at night to Evan screaming like no one has ever heard, and losing his job they way he did, it was time to get help. What the diagnosis was, for Ben, was unbelievable. But he agrees to what Evan wants in order to get better. But it may come at a cost. That cost may be their lives.
Wow. So unexpected but so good. When you feel like things are over in the relationship, it’s devastating. Especially when you still really love that person. When changes occur that no one expects, it’s even worse. I felt so bad for Ben. He didn’t know which end was up and he was thinking the worst. He’s heartbroken at thinking his hopes and dreams with Evan are over. With all the plans they made. He’s devastated. And Evan not really telling him anything just field the fire, so to speak.
But then I feel for Evan as well. Trying to explain what is going on scares him, because everyone will think he’s nuts. He thinks he’s off, so no telling what everyone else will think. And he knew the minute he told Ben, Ben would be super worried. What he didn’t think about is that Ben is worried already. And thinking the worst about everything.
So with the both of them, communication is definitely key. And neither were communicating. It was a circle of misery. But they fought for each other. Even when Ben thought he would have to pack Evan’s things to let him go, he fought for Evan. And Evan fought for Ben in the only way he knew how. The love was there, but they just had to get through the storm in front of them.
It’s a really good book. I’d expect nothing less from Tal Bauer.
RATING: 
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