Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Imitation of Life
SERIES: Rock Bottom Book 2
AUTHOR: Felice Stevens
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 301 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2019
BLURB:
Benny DeMarco is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. He works hard, takes care of his little sister, and pays the bills. Childhood bullies and an abusive stepfather invade his dreams, and at times he wishes life would grant him a do-over. Would he like a boyfriend? You bet. But Benny knows love isn’t for him. He’s been looked over, looked through, and looked past all his life. Even worse, the one guy he’s been in love with for almost two years is the biggest flirt who will sleep with anyone. Anyone except Benny.
Gino Acosta smiles to keep from crying. Everyone he meets tells him he’s beautiful and sexy, but Gino knows the truth. His outside may be perfect, but inside he feels dirty and unworthy. Bounced around as a child, he yearns for someone to love and a family to call his own. He hops from man to man, desperate to belong, believing the lies he’s told, but all he finds is a body for an hour or two. Things would be so different if only he knew—the man he’s searching for is waiting for him, right under his nose.
Benny starts dating the “perfect guy”and it’s okay if there’s no spark—that’ll happen eventually. Won’t it? Gino’s fast-paced modeling career has taken off, but once again, he’s trading his body for a dream. When Gino’s world explodes, Benny must fight for what and who he really wants. Gino must learn to trust what people tell him—that he’s got so much more to offer than a pretty face and a moment of pleasure.
If all your life you believe you’re nothing, how do you move past heartbreak and hardship to reach for everything?
REVIEW:
So, I read the first book in this series and I enjoyed it and I was really looking forward to this book as well and then I got into the book and remembered that Felice likes to rip your heart out of your chest before she puts it back in again. Holy Hannah, Felice…you put these boys through hell, but you made up to the reader by giving our guys an HEA.
Benny…Yeah, this kid…yeah, I called him a kid….they all are to me. My heart hurt for this guy. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and let him know that it’s gonna be ok. That his life was gonna get better.
Gino…yeah…this kid broke my heart. Reading this story made my heart break. I wanted to just wrap this poor guy in a bubble of love and hope and let him know that he was going to be ok. I wanted to let him know that he was loved and cherished and have him understand that he was worth so much more than what he assumed.
These two men…tore my heart apart. I hated and loved it in almost equal measures. Felice made ABSOLUTELY SURE that you were gonna need tissues with this story. These two poor lost souls hungered for love and acceptance that they weren’t getting from other people, especially the people who were supposed to love and cherish and take care of them. I wanted to kick the butt of those who hurt them.
I have to say that Felice did a wonderful job weaving this story together. I loved that she truly made you apart of the story and proved that family isn’t always about the blood that you share. It can be those who love and support you and become your family of choice.
RATING: 
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