Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Because of Ben
SERIES: Star Crossed #2
AUTHOR: Lisa Henry
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 267 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 7, 2022
BLURB:
Marco Chase is the lead singer for Static, one of the world’s most famous and successful rock bands. Marco’s bad boy rock star image isn’t just one he’s cultivated for his fans—it’s Marco all over. Marco’s past is full of one night stands, bad decisions, and blackouts. Marco never saw a cage he didn’t want to rattle—and from the moment he lays eyes on him, he really wants to rattle sweet, innocent Ben Selden’s cage.
Ben Selden comes from a fundamentalist Baptist family. Ben is struggling under the weight of knowing that he’s gay, and a lifetime’s teachings that tell him that his God will condemn him, and his family reject him, if they ever find out. With a future he doesn’t want already mapped out for him, Ben’s at a breaking point when he meets Marco.
Marco’s teasing, flirting, and obvious interest awakens a hunger in Ben, and he knows this might be his only chance to act on his attraction to a man—if he’s brave enough to risk his future, and his family, to take it. He doesn’t expect Marco to be his savior, but maybe a savior isn’t what Ben needs—maybe he just needs someone to believe in him enough that he’s willing to save himself.
REVIEW:
Marco is a rock star who just completed a tour when he encounters innocent, sheltered Ben at the hotel where they’re both staying. Marco is a typical L.A. musician, although he’s mostly past his partying, drinking, drug using days. Still, he couldn’t be more different from young Ben who’s attending a conference for Bible college students. Ben comes from a fundamentalist family: his grandfather founded and preaches at a not-so-inclusive Baptist church and has dictated Ben’s future – to return to be a deacon in his church after graduation. Ben is resigned to this fate even knowing he’ll have to get married to a good Christian girl, have babies, and live a lie for the entirety of his life, completely devoid of happiness. He’s miserable – tortured even – mired in self-hatred. His religion has taught him to hate himself to the core because he is gay (and closeted). He also feels weak and lacking in courage. He is expected to unquestioningly follow the path determined for him, following the rules set forth by his family and God.
But when he sees Marco, it’s his fantasies come to life. Marco is a provocative bad boy whose sex appeal is nearly obscene. When Marco makes it clear he’s interested in him, Ben knows he has to have Marco, has to experience having a man just once in his life. Even though he has been indoctrinated with the dangers of sinning, he decides he’d rather regret the sin than regret never taking the chance to touch another man. He’s going to make sinning worth it since it’ll be just once.
I don’t like insta-love. Full stop. Every once in a blue moon, an author can pull it off convincingly, but almost always I’m dissatisfied. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy it this time. Many readers enjoy this trope – no judgement here – it’s just not my thing, so keep in mind that your opinion may vary greatly from mine. Marco and Ben fall in love after only a couple of hookups, a few conversations, and a single date. There’s not much getting to know each other outside of their sexual activities. They are polar opposites coming from two diametrically opposed worlds and don’t show any concern for how their lives may be nearly impossible to mesh. Marco knows he’s not good at adulting and isn’t ready for a relationship, but he’s determined to have Ben anyway.
My other main issue is that the story is underdeveloped. It centers around their few days together at a hotel, then they spend a few weeks apart, and then for the final chapter, the book jumps ahead five months for what is basically an epilogue. No time is given to Ben’s adjustments to a whole new way of living after his life altering decisions. We’re told a minor amount but not shown anything about his life in Los Angeles. This could’ve been a significantly better novel had this part of the story been fleshed out. In this regard, it feels much more like a short story that ends rather abruptly. It’s a shame because, otherwise, the characters are likable and the plot is interesting. Ben is fragile, too dependent, and there’s an unequal power balance, but I’m a sucker for the savior dynamic. I can’t get past the unrealistic insta love and underdeveloped story, though, to make a recommendation.
RATING: 
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