I thought long and hard how to rate this; it's more like 4,5 stars. This book handled difficult themes in a most sensible way. Young men forced to sell their bodies, violence, rape, even murder. Kudos to the author`s bravery to attempt such a difficult theme. The interaction between Noah and Jeremy was very gripping; I found both characters totally believable, each with their own faults and flaws. Still, Willie the pimp was the one I liked best; behind all his hard - boiledness there was still the young man who came to the city to get it better, get it big, and just got wrapped up in the temptations of the sweet life and easy money. There are many like him out there. Like usual, the writing is just great, the author manages to pull the reader right into the action at times. The ending, however, turned up a bit too fast and fairy - taleish for me. It's romance, I get it, and it's fiction, I get that too, but still - it read like the author had her hero put in such a lot of trouble, she just needed a miracle to get him out. Although I see the intention behind it, and have to admire the way the author made just this outcome inadvertable, it didn't work for me. People aren't selfless like this, not if it's their ass which is on the line. Then again, it's about an angel, isn't it? And angels and miracles go well together. I liked this book very much, despite its final lapse from realism. Others may love it for just that reason. Highly recommended.
Feliz Faber
I'm Feliz Faber, writer, translator, proofer--and reader.
I thought long and hard how to rate this; it's more like 4,5 stars. This book handled difficult themes in a most sensible way. Young men forced to sell their bodies, violence, rape, even murder. Kudos to the author`s bravery to attempt such a difficult theme. The interaction between Noah and Jeremy was very gripping; I found both characters totally believable, each with their own faults and flaws. Still, Willie the pimp was the one I liked best; behind all his hard - boiledness there was still the young man who came to the city to get it better, get it big, and just got wrapped up in the temptations of the sweet life and easy money. There are many like him out there. Like usual, the writing is just great, the author manages to pull the reader right into the action at times. The ending, however, turned up a bit too fast and fairy - taleish for me. It's romance, I get it, and it's fiction, I get that too, but still - it read like the author had her hero put in such a lot of trouble, she just needed a miracle to get him out. Although I see the intention behind it, and have to admire the way the author made just this outcome inadvertable, it didn't work for me. People aren't selfless like this, not if it's their ass which is on the line. Then again, it's about an angel, isn't it? And angels and miracles go well together. I liked this book very much, despite its final lapse from realism. Others may love it for just that reason. Highly recommended.
