Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Synful Dreams
SERIES: Sun’s Playground #1
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: Siren-Bookstrand Inc
LENGTH: 126 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 12, 2017
BLURB:
Syn Evans was a Dom who believed he had the world at his fingertips. That was until until he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. It had taken witnessing his friends find love and even getting married that made him realize he needed to man up and make amends with the one man who still owned his heart. Even if that meant groveling.PJ had been devastated when Syn had left him, but he’d somehow managed to get over the love of his life. Or so he thought. It wasn’t until Syn waltzed back into his life that PJ understood he not only hadn’t gotten over Syn or the need he had to submit to his Dom, but he was still in love with him. The only question was, could he find a way to forgive Syn for leaving him all those years ago and find a path for their future?
REVIEW:
I always liked Syn from when I met him in the Cedar Falls series, but I hated how he always seemed alone and at times sad. Mainly when he thought no one was watching. So when he decided to quit and leave Cedar Falls to reunite with the love of his life, I was hoping it would go well. But life doesn’t always work in our favor. But anything worth having is worth the work.
PJ never stopped thinking of Syn. He had tried other some a few times or even just a date and couldn’t do it. No one could compare to Syn for him. He never stopped loving him. But life was just too much to deal with right now and he had to concentrate on work. When no one would tell him who his boss was, it was ticking him off. Then he heard the voice over the phone he thought he’d never hear again. Syn. But surely not. He went to leave for the day only to see a mugging and try to stop it and ended up shot and almost killed. When Syn found out, he rushed to get to PJ only to be told to leave by his brother Daniel. He didn’t want to leave but security made him go. But he refused to give up. He showed up at their home to start making things right. And little by little, he insinuated himself back into their lives. Except for PJ. But when it came time for PJ to come home, Daniel made PJ stop and think and let Syn help. It was going to take a lot of work, Syn could see, but maybe one day PJ would forgive him and they could be together again. His heart can’t take PJ telling him no again.
It’s such a complicated situation. And to be honest, both parties are at fault. I see some people want to blame Syn, but PJ pushed Syn away. Granted, Syn could have fought a little harder or came back sooner, but still, they were both young, PJ, full of grief and loss and overwhelmed by what he was about to have to do, and PJ wanted Syn to have the dream PJ was going to lose. So when they reunited, I could understand what both of them felt like. PJ, full of anger and rage, grief and guilt, and so much more at all he lost and had to give up. Syn, full of guilt and sadness, remorse for leaving when he should have stayed and so much more. Forgiveness was not going to be easy. From PJ or his family. They felt abandoned. But Syn was not known for one to give up and quit. Even back then, he didn’t want to let go. He wanted to stay and help PJ. PJ wouldn’t let him. It was just a lot of emotion and turmoil from life having dealt a very shitty hand. And it was going to take time and some special people to help get it straightened back out. Even when PJ doubted.
This is a tearful story in a lot of ways. But it’s good. It’s a lesson. One for communication and love and about never giving up. Definitely about second chances. But it’s also about fighting for what you want in this world whether the other fights you on it or not. A lot of hurts could have been avoided if it wasn’t for pride and stubbornness. Maybe a few other things. But they had to grow up and learn and that they did.
RATING: 
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