Tracy’s review of Shattered Glass by AC Katt
Milo grew up in fear, hiding the fact that he was gay. Becoming a rock star with his band Shattered Glass was a dream come true. Finally lovers with Liam, the friend he’d desired since childhood, Milo worries about his image and keeping their relationship a secret.
Liam knew he loved Milo, even as a kid. But their fame and fortune can’t buy him the happiness of talking Milo out of the closet, able to freely express their love. Unfortunately, a fellow band-mate with vengeance on his mind conspires to break the lovers up in the most vicious way possible, destroying the couple’s relationship and shredding Liam’s peace of mind.
Six years later, Liam is older, wiser, and has rebuilt his life after the devastating loss of Milo and the band. Forced into a tenuous working reunion, Liam knows his heart still belongs to Milo. Working together to uncover the web of lies that pulled them apart, now all they have to do is survive the psychopath intent on silencing Liam and his music forever.
At the age of 12 Milo finally came out to his best friend, Sam, and told him he was gay. But Milo’s father was an abuser so the truth of that fact had to remain between the two of them. Shortly after Milo’s announcement, he and Sam met a lady and her son moving into the neighborhood. Lily and Liam became great friends of both Milo’s and Sam’s with Milo knowing, almost instinctively, that Liam was gay as well – even though Liam was only 6. The older boys decide that they need to protect Liam from the harshness of the world and they succeed. But besides being Liam’s friend and protector, Milo grows to have feelings for Liam over the years but is determined to not act on them until Liam is an adult.
Fast forward 6 years: Milo, Sam and Sam’s brother Rick are forming a band, Shattered Glass. They can’t keep a lead singer to save their souls when Liam steps up. They scoff at him for thinking that a 12 year old could sing but when he performs for them they are stunned. He has a beautiful voice and is extremely talented. The band moves on to become mega rock stars and when Liam turns 18 Milo finally can tell and show him how he feels about him. All is rainbows and butterflies until a member of the band, who is set on revenge starts to add his poison into the mix. He drives Milo and Liam, as well as brothers Sam and Rick, apart in the worst possible way. It’s not until 6 years after that, being apart completely, that Milo and Liam have their chance to come together and try to make amends as well as heal their wounded hearts and lives.
This is a heavy, heavy, heavy emotional read. Not for the faint at heart. The crap that the band endured – through no fault of their own, as well as that of Bart, the instigator – was horrifying and disturbing. There was love, but there was no trust in any of their relationships – whether it was brotherly, sexual or friendship. My problem with the book, besides the massive lack of trust in everyone was that I never got enmeshed in the characters enough to care. When it came to the 2 main characters and their love I didn’t want them to get back together. Yes, they each needed closure but I found myself wanting them to stay apart because of all of the hurt that had been handed out…especially on Milo’s part – and that’s not how a romance should make me feel. Also, I found the speech patterns in the book odd and a little too…over the top in a soap opera kind of way. A few too many “oh, my love”’s and “yes, my beloved”’s for my personal tastes. It actually felt like I was reading a 80’s historical at times – particularly during sex scenes.
In the end everything and everyone was forgiven, and I do mean everything. I found it a bit too tidy and perfect. I felt that as realistic as the author was trying to make the entire story the ending should have been held up to the same standard. It was almost an easy way out and I personally didn’t care for it.
Rating: 2 out of 5
This book is available from Captiva Press. You can buy it here in e-format.
You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place
