Damage Control

North Shore Stories #1

by Lynn Van Dorn

Everything to lose.

Tyler’s worked hard to kick the dust of the Chicago suburbs off his heels and move on with his life as Hollywood’s newest up-and-comer, burying his demons and hiding his scars from the world. Just as everything seems to be going his way, a scandal from his past threatens everything he’s worked for. Now he’s stuck back home, where his family of lawyers can maybe help sink the scandal and find out who’s behind it.

Afraid to love.

Josh doesn’t know what to think when his ex’s little brother falls into his arms, other than that Tyler is trouble with a capital T. But when Tyler’s publicist suggests that an adoring fake boyfriend might be just the ticket to saving Tyler’s acting career, Josh doesn’t mind playing along. It’s not like he has anything else going on, and faking a relationship with someone you’ve known your entire life can’t possibly be that difficult.

A second chance for two damaged hearts.

Now they’re stuck together for the foreseeable future, and neither can deny their mounting attraction. Why should they? They’re supposed to be in love, at least out in public. But in private, when no one is watching, Tyler and Josh grow closer in a way that has nothing to do with their agreed upon arrangement. What do they do when make-believe becomes real, and how can two men with such different lives have a shared future?

Damage Control is a steamy, stand-alone gay romance with no cliffhanger and a HEA.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Abuse, LGBT, Dark, Audiobook

518 pages, ebook

First published September 14, 2017

Reviews

[Judith]

No rating.Gave up @ around 24% and that's after about 5 days.




This one just wasn't holding my attention.The story,from what i read,looked set to be predictable and I didn't connect with any of the characters.

It's got brilliant reviews,but didn't work for me.

[nark · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦ this was so much more than i thought it would be. probably one of the best (maybe even the best) fake boyfriend/fake dating trope books i have ever read. the writing was pretty great overall.

✦ so much to unpack here, y'all have no idea. the angst!! the family drama!! it was a little bit like a soap opera, but i could not look away. i binged the whole 500 pages in basically one sitting like it was nothing (i do think the whopping 500 page count was unnecessary though).

✦ this was a little too insta lovey in some ways for my liking, but since their relationship was stretched out over so many pages, i didn't mind it that much.

✦ the mcs just had so much chemistry. i absolutely loved their banter and all the glimpses of their mutual dark humour. i could sincerely feel the depth of their feelings for each other, and i couldn't help but fangirl over all of their sweet moments. i even loved it when they fought, and they fought a lot lmao.

✦ while this had plenty of humour, snark and banter, it was also very sad and heartbreaking at times. lots of sensitive topics, so make sure to read the trigger warnings if you have any.

✦ i did have some minor issues with this, like the way the whole leaked tape/stalker thing ended up being solved, but as i said, they were minor issues in the grand scheme of things. it was still an amazing book overall and i am glad i finally read it.

✦ since i love asshole characters getting redemption arcs, i am basically gagging to start Ryan's book immediately. i have high hopes. time to binge yet another book, bye bye!

[LenaRibka · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 38%

I normally don't rate my DNF books.

BUT.

I read almost 40%, and it is a LOOOOOT, considering that this book has over 500 pages. So, I dare.

And...I'll make an exception for this book:

1. THERE ARE SO MANY 5 stars reviews that my lonely rating won't spoil things.
2. Just consider it as a different opinioin.
3. It is horrible I want to rate it and give it 0.5 star. But then I have to read at least 50%.
NO FUCKING WAY. You have to pay me for it.
4. Now I know there are not only FAKE NEWS. There are also FAKE REVIEWS. I suspect that...
5. Who am I to judge someone's taste?!

This book is LONG. It has over 500 pages. But it is not 500 pages of plot. It is over 500 pages of UNNECESSARY DETAILS. This book is OVERLOADED with unessential details. Long-winded became a different meaning. LONG-WINDED became a form. It is Damage Control.

Unappealing characters, looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong uninteresting dialogues, full of boring details, amateurish writing, SIMPLY AWFUL.


I'm not going to read anything by this author again in my life.





NO RECOMMENDATION from me.



***ARC provided by the publisher to GBR in exchange for an honest review.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS]

21% dnf

[oshiiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️ I really liked this story even though it was crazy long. I was enjoying the banter between Josh and Tyler. I found myself rereading the dialogues that happened between these two. They were full of snark. Tyler was a very funny character, but on the inside, his life was full of sadness. My heart was crying for him throughout the story. But Tyler had a strong heart that could bear anything. I was very happy to see he got his HEA with the love of his life.

Tyler was the bossy bottom. He and Josh had 10 years age gap, and that was really hot. 😍
The characters had a real depth in their lives. I was so excited to see how Tyler was going to end up with his long-time crush, Josh.

I liked all the likable side characters. Especially Purvi. She and Tyler had a great friendship. Their back and forth texting was really fun.

In addition to that, there was this mysterious thing going on in the story. I liked how everything unraveled by the end.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and beautiful

I loved this book! It gives all the feels, and while it’s not a fluffy happy book, the romance and the character’s grown beautiful. My absolutely favorite is the next book in the series but this deserves the 5 stars.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a bad book by any means, but it was just too damn angsty for me. This book is hefty at 500 plus pages, and it felt long.

The MCs just couldn't get their shit together, and then there was all that (imo unnecessary) drama with Tyler's ex.

Also, I loathed Ryan, Tyler's brother and Josh's former closeted boyfriend. Ryan barely apologized for using and hurting Josh.

However, Tyler and Josh are complex, multi-faceted characters, and their relationships feels raw and real.

That's what elevated this story for me. Well, that, and the gorgeous HEA.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

To everyone who dnf'd this book, give it another chance! It's so worth it.

The scope is huge, and Van Dorn is building the series, so you've got to give her a chance to set everything in motion. It's huge cast, with a ton of juicy skeletons, and drama, and (of course) sex.

Michael Ferraiuolo does a spectacular job with the audio edition of Damage Control.

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just so painful to read and not in the way I usually enjoy. There was just far too much going on, too many characters involved and the book was maybe 200 pages too long, and stuffed with completely useless content. It was so overloaded with subplots that I actually forgot what the plot of the book was!!

We have:
- brother's 'secret' ex-boyfriend is the MCs longtime crush and now fake boyfriend
- the brother being astoundingly oblivious to the hurt he caused to his ex
- age gap
- abrasive character / doormat character
- underage sex tape scandal
- self-harm and past suicide attempts
- conversion therapy, assault and rape
- daddy issues
- my dad's not my biological dad
- my mum let me suffer abuse for years all for money
- a crazy ex-boyfriend stalker who vandalises property, cars and kidnaps one MC at gun point but was actually planning to shoot the fake boyfriend
- a convenient deliberate car crash to incapacitate the stalker
- the brother having another secret relationship with a dude behind his fiancée's back but he's definitely straight 😉
- overbearing side characters including a sister with control issues and a PA with no boundaries
- parental disapproval
- jealous colleagues
- obsessive cleaning when stressed to the point of self-harm
- the dad 'ruining the wedding' by having a heart attack, because obviously you can plan when you almost die 🙄🙄🙄

Not to mention the POV was so fucking weird. I don't care about seeing things from a side characters perspective! I don't want to read a pages long letter from the dead wife of the MCs biological dad that she left for his biological mum... I'm exhausted just writing that 😂

The formatting was so weird too. Every single chapter or passage of time stated the exact location, time and date the chapter was taking place - almost like a diary entry but who's diary is it supposed to be?? It was completely unnecessary and there were so many location, time and date updates that I couldn't even remember when the story started!

I was planning to read the rest of the series but I just can't make myself suffer through two more books like this. Especially when book two is about Ryan, who was so unlikable in this book that I couldn't care less what happens to him and would have zero respect for any character who puts up with his behaviour. And book three is the weirdly jealous colleague of the fake boyfriend, who also came across as a shitty person I don't care to know more about.

Now my brain hurts and I need a break 😂

[yaishin · Rating 5 out of 5]

first read

its hard to believe this whole book took place in just little more than two weeks. what's also hard to believe is how the book contained a lot of hard themes but still had a light, snarky undertone to it that i loved (it does not escape my notice that i feel like I've described coffee and not a book💀).

the nicknames were the cutest, most adorable shit I've ever seen- your majesty, princess, elfin prostitute, fairy prince🤭.

i totally need a Brad in my life🥸. the shit was offended that he wasn't checked out even once by his fiance's gay brother (not to mention his own brother's boyfriend now)💀💀. he's also the one person in his entire shitty family who ever tried to be there for Tyler and that's something i valued most in him.

totally against Ryan and Harry Potter boy btw😒. i think the boytoy should run away as far as he can, in love or not.

second read

i just love these bitchy, venomous, caustic characters😭. a bonus if they're tiny 'cause ✨ chihuahuas ✨.

[Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story:3.25
The Narration: 5++++++

I have many words but I’ll just say the most important… (A BIT SPOILERISH)

Content Warning:Rape.

Do you know what annoys me beyond measure? When characters who are selfish and assholes get written in a positive light and suffer no consequences for their behaviours. Tyler our lead has had a horrible life and yet everyone makes no qualms about calling him a brat and selfish, yet the people who were meant to protect him sent him to be raped at conversion therapy and it’s gets squandered down to “mistakes”were made. FUCK THAT NOISE!

I have a hard time liking anyone that isn’t Tyler, Josh, and Brad because everyone else is a waste of space and so caught up in their own bullshit. The second book in the series is Ryan, Tyler’s older brother and I really wanna see how that will get written because he’s a cunt.



Overall, the narration was perfection (as to be expected) but the story was going somewhere and lost its momentum and while we did get the HEA nothing feels solved and nobody got any real consequences for all these “mistakes”.

(Also it’s too damn long and most of it wasn’t needed).

[Jenni Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snarktastic and heartwarming

I loved this! Tyler and Josh have wormed their way into my pocket and into my heart. This was snarktastic and funny and heartwarming and a little bit sad. I'm diving into book two right now.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible and absolutely brilliantly written. It's also snarky, passionate and painful. It brings to light something that makes me feel like finding my soapbox, which I will try not to do here. As the mother of a wonderful gay son who has been married for 15 years to the most precious man, I have ever met...I see red when I hear anyone suggesting conversion therapy as a "gay cure". However far beyond anything else, the way the therapy part was handled is what gave the book the incredibly real feeling. I can't find enough adjective to describe it so I will just say bitterly honest, heartbreaking, funny, emotional and sweet should just about cover it. Tyler and Josh will make you laugh one minute and cry the next. It's a very long story...over 420 pages, but each page is an adventure as we get to follow these two men while they are falling in love and fighting for their right to do so without judgement. It wasn't an overnight "flip of the switch" thing. It happened over time until that moment that Josh realized that everything had changed. I loved Purvi, Tyler's friend. She didn't pull any punches with Tyler...but told him how things would need to happen if he and Josh wanted any chance at happiness. Everyone needs a best friend like this.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed many elements to this book but I have to say ... it's was SO long ! I felt like things were stretched just a bit too far and I became distracted as a reader. So many incidents from the past & the present - poor Tyler couldn't cut a break ! I liked Josh's character but still felt things went unresolved. It just moved from one drama to another, everything layering until it just became a bit too much, in my option of course. I want these guys to finally find their happy place - god knows they deserve it !

[Jaime]

After 15% of this book... I quit. Sorry. I can't get into it at all.

There are a LOT of high reviews, so it's probably just me!

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Saying this was a disappointment is an understatement.

This book has terrible storytelling. Almost 500 pages of 2 weeks were completely dissected. So many subplots, side characters, a lot of explaining and telling and philozophising about millions of different events in the past, not to mention randomly putting in multiple POVs from less important side characters.

🟡 Older brother's best friend/ex
🟢 Age gap - 10 years (25/35)
🔵 Teenage crush
🟣 Fake boyfriends
🟠 Multiple POVs, out of nowhere
❗ Conversion therapy, rape, torture, physical and emotional abuse, self-harm (none of it has a satisfying epilogue)
🌶️ A lot of smut, it was hot, but the story ruined everything; both vers

The whole book was just



Not to mention about 100-200 pages too long!

I know Tyler from the previous book - book I actually liked and I had a bit of a problem with how Tyler talked about Ethan in this one.
Tyler is an up and coming actor with a decade old crush on his older brother's Ryan's ex best friend and ex lover, Josh.
Ryan, Tyler's older brother, is a bit of an ass in this book, he's completely closeted and engaged to a woman, but he has more character than both of the MMCs combined.

Tyler and Josh get together as a part of a stunt to keep the spotlight in Tyler's positive love life while he's trying to evade a scandal, but as promising as it started out, they just started having sex and that was it. Josh's character wasn't fleshed out, Tyler had more depth with him going through conversion therapy for most of his youth - and that was the only thing I liked in this story, the reality of it all, but it had no conclusion, nothing was solved, Tyler talked about trying to close down the place he went to, but nothing happened in the end and that was a shame. I had hoped at least this part of Tyler's life would get some closure.

So, no conclusion to hundreds of subplots that were mentioned and the ones that did get an epilogue had pages upon pages of yapping about frivolous things.
Tyler finding out he has a different dad, his relationship with his current dad, his terrible past, his mother's betrayal, the conversion places, the psycho ex, need I go on - nothing, completely nothing gets any kind of closure.

The writing had a lot of British English for an American setting and that just looked awkward. The way these guys were talking to each other wasn't realistic.

We can't get past mentioning anything teenage-girl, right, this has to be a part of almost every fucking book I read and I'm just going to point it out.

“Jammies?” Josh asked. “Are you sure you’re not a preteen girl? Are we going to paint our nails, too?”

"His voice was deep, pleasant, and professional, what Tyler suspected was his doctor voice. It probably made all the pimply teenage girls wet their panties just listening to it."

"Tyler jumped, but not as much as he’d hoped, and he didn’t squeal like a little girl, which was a huge disappointment."



The dirty talk, oh my god, what a joke. Seriously.

“Sure,” Tyler said. “Why not? Take off your jeans.”
“In a second. I thought you looked like a grubby juvenile elfin prostitute.”

“I think you, lying there covered in semen, is a damn fine reward. My tidy doctor, so messy. So dirty.“

"Oh, my filthy, depraved elf. What am I going do when you leave me?"

Reminds me of two people in their 60's trying to get it on with talking dirty, yet failing. 🥴

Poor dialogues, especially with other side characters, are just the tip of the iceberg.

That Purvi chick will get on your fucking nerves by the end of it. Texts with her are a constant and both her and Tyler are annoying as hell with it.

You can't feel these guys hang out much, they talk like they're in a screenplay or something, nothing is natural or organic when it comes to their interactions and we're talking about USA here, so the dialogues were off.

Come to think of it, a lot of things were off.

What a wack story. Definitely not enjoyable.

I'm very interested in Ryan's book but if it's anything like this one is, I'm going to be very disappointed, again. Even more, because Ryan is a really good character.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Audio Review ***

I'm throwing in the towel at 56%. I have nothing at all against Michael Ferraiuolo as a narrator [in fact he's narrated some of my fave audios], but even he must be getting fed up of announcing that he's wherever he is at whatever time and date it is before every single chapter...it's exhausting!! 🤯...at least in the book you can ignore that part in every chapter. I said in my book review that the story was waay too long, and there's no better example of that fact than in this audio production. It's not Michael's fault, it's the story. Sorry Michael.

***Book Review ***

I picked this up after much touting on Facebook...an absolute whopper of a story. Much too long [but no skimming on my part], and I'm sure a decent editor would have chopped at least a couple of hundred pages from it, but for all that, it was very well written with minimal typos or niggles, and there were some really funny and touching lines…especially from Tyler. 4.25 stars from me.

The story has two of my fave tropes…fake boyfriend and friends to lovers, although I have to be honest here and say that in common with some other reviewers [whose names I'm actually familiar with obviously], I was sorely tempted to abandon the read as it seemed to be taking forever and I was getting nowhere fast e.g. 40% in, and we’d only gotten 2 weeks along in the fake relationship between Tyler and Josh...it was a pedestrian speed romantic read. There was a lot of filling in of details…too much for me actually, which let you know what one or other was thinking/doing while the chapter you were currently reading was devoted to the other MC. The whole thing between Josh and his former love Ryan [Tyler’s older brother] was annoying as hell, and someone seriously needed to give Ryan a good kick in the privates for his piss-poor treatment of Josh, and Josh needed to stop being a doormat for Ryan and finally stand up for himself.

Things I liked :

Brad [Tyler’s middle brother]
Purvi [Tyler’s PA and bestie] and the texting between her and her boss
The banter between the good Dr Rosen and his blue elf
Tyler's waspish tongue and snarky remarks
The whole ‘I had such a crush on you when I was a teenager’ thing…yes, there may have been a little insta-love in there too, but at least Tyler and Josh had a little history, and the fake relationship thing which clearly wasn’t…they were undoubtedly head over heels for each other after only a couple of weeks.

Things I disliked :

The jury’s still out on Ryan...he did some good things but he was still a pig sometimes
Tyler’s evasive mum and ‘dad’, and his abusive treatment towards Tyler
The conversion therapy centre and what happened there [let’s hope the bloody place gets shut down]
Josh’s father, a complete cretin...ooh and the dreaded David of course
The fact that the story was 500+ pages long, when I’m sure it could’ve been condensed into a lot less.

I’m not going into full, frank and meaningfuls about the story…if *I* can read 500+ pages, so can you but I will say that there are trigger warnings about self-harming and abuse if you need to look out for those. As for me, I’ll definitely be reading further work from this new author, but some friendly advice...get some guidance about what to leave in and what to chop from an editor before your next epic tome....or you know, just employ that editor to sort it for you.

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

tw: cutting, conversion therapy, off page rape, abuse

“As much as I hate change and uncertainty, I am certain of you. Everything else will sort itself out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, yeah, I am. I really am.”
Josh leaned down and kissed Tyler, but gently, because his lower lip had not escaped the devastation. “Are you willing to put up with an aging, neurotic doctor with a cleaning problem?”
“Forever, if necessary. Are you willing to put up with a mentally unstable, high-maintenance actor with nightmares, a cutting habit, uncertain job prospects, and a house with no view?”
“I left my practice for you. What do you think?”

I’m not usually a fan of the fake boyfriend trope, but I absolutely loved this! It was angsty, funny, sweet, heartbreaking, tender and sexy. It was also a perfectly done hurt-comfort trope with a brother’s best friend angle. You know how the strong, nurturing character in such a romance is always portrayed as super balanced and just all around perfect? Well this wasn’t the case here.

What I loved was that while Josh is indeed really nurturing plus older (9 years), he also has some serious baggage from his first relationship, which happens to be with Tyler’s brother. Tyler, however, has had a seemingly hopeless crush on Josh since he was teen and a huge scandal now threatens his acting career. He needs a perfect boyfriend to restore his image so Josh comes to the rescue. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement throws a reckless and damaged Tyler into the arms of the the man he’s secretly pined after all these years. While both men have an undeniable sexual attraction they’re wary about allowing it to develop into more—Tyler doesn’t want to be a replacement for his brother and Josh is afraid that Tyler will eventually leave him to go back to L.A.

I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings.

[Nora Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect book. Seriously. I loved everything about the characters, the story, the writing, and the plot. There was serious heartbreak, humor, angst, romance, hot sex, and much more. Tyler and Josh were so perfect together…

I have a weakness for ‘broken’ main characters, though I don’t like to use that word. Josh and Tyler both qualified, with some heartbreaking trauma in their past. Tyler especially carries a lot of ‘damage’ from the past, and uses various not-so-healthy coping mechanisms. But oh, I fell a little in love with him, because underneath he’s such a sweet, vulnerable guy…

When Josh and Tyler get together, sparks fly, and so do words…I hearted the dialogue and witty banter between them! They had me grinning broadly while reading.

I loved the quirky secondary characters as well, especially Tyler’s PA Purvi. The texting between her and Tyler made me laugh out loud at times. But Tyler going up against his brother(s) was pretty epic, too.

There’s a few unexpected plot twists, including one that screams for another book featuring Tyler’s brother, and they sure kept me hooked till I had finished the whole damn book. This book is so good, I cannot believe it’s a debut novel.

(Do pay attention to the trigger warnings in this case, because they’re warranted.)

(I had the privilege of receiving and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Find more of my brutally honest reviews on www.brutallyhonestreview.com)

[**KAYCEE** · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 stars**

This book was recommended to me by some readers on Facebook when I asked for a rec on a book with a "bratty twink". :)
This wasn't EXACTLY a bratty twink, but Tyler was cute and very toppy.

The story started out very iffy for me. I wasn't liking how Tyler and Josh got together. Let me rephrase that. I understand that it was an arrangement, but based on Tyler and Josh's history, or lack thereof, the WILLINGNESS of Josh to accept this arrangement was a bit too easy.

Getting past THAT point, this was a very interesting, fun read: a story I could buy into.
It has your typical insta attraction with the developing feelings (albeit quite quickly it still worked for me).

In addition, it had your mystery and some twists that don't always come with a contemp romance.

There was a back story of physical abuse, but minimal on page. Trigger for SIB/cutting, so beware of that.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with pain and
stunning in its dysfunction.
More more than its tropes.

2024 Challenge re-read:
Not so surprised
so not so good. Juicy sex.
Families fuck you up.

[gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 25%.

This book is over 500 pages long and having read roughly 150 of those pages with no budding interest justifies me dropping the book I think. Both characters are boring and uninteresting which says a lot about the quality of writing considering they have back stories that would intrigue me literally any other time. The next time my depression sends me into a self punishment bender trust that I'll be picking this up.

[~nikki the recovering book addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

A million stars!!

I had this in my Kindle library for weeks and I never once thought to read it. The blurb truly doesn’t do it justice. I know this book got heaps and heaps of 5 star ratings but I thought it was going to be one of those everybody-loved-it-but-me books so I just kept passing it over. Even though it was right there in my library.

But then I read the prologue and didn’t think too much about it. Then chapter one was warming up and then by chapter two, I was hooked! Hooked and floored and just devouring the words!

This was not the typical sunny, light, mindless read. There was teenage sex in the first chapter. There was blood in the second chapter. And the more pages read, the more horrifying the circumstances turned out to be. But it wasn’t tragic. At least it didn’t really feel that way.

Tyler is complex. Tyler is many, many beautiful, complicated, worrying things and he is also gloriously perfectly imperfect. Josh struck me as messed up as well, in his own way. But both together was beautiful to watch.

Even with how long the book is, I never wanted it to end!

[W · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: Audio and Ebook ~ Reviewed on Oct 7, 2019
ORIGINAl Ebook ~ Reviewed on Jan 8, 2019

An Epic Story With A Soul Touching Narration


Damage Control is one of those stories that evokes and provokes so many emotions . Torn, unsettled, happy, horny , sad , drained , hopeful, angry , excited and everything else in between.

And with his articulate, personable , enthusiastic , well paced and natural narration style Michael Ferraiulo intensified those feelings.

For 18 hours and 58 minutes , Michael Ferraiulo embodied and brought Josh and Tyler to life. He created believable and unforgettable voices that matched the ones in my mind.

Damage Control tells the story of Tyler and Josh. Tyler is 25 years old , up and coming movie star . His acerbic wit , in your face attitude , sassy and fabulous persona hides a vulnerable damaged soul. One that carries a lot of emotional baggage, trauma and heartache from a young age. Josh is 31 years old , sweet , uptight , loveable , dermatologist , family friend , brother in law and Tyler's older brother Ryan, first lover and best friend.

A series of unrelated , or so it seems, events and circumstance brings these two together . Can Josh move on , take a chance , forget Ryan? Find love with Tyler? Be free and happy for the first time in his life ? And can Tyler demons let Josh in? Can he stop his self destructive coping mechanisms? Can live fully and happy with Josh?

Lynn Van Dorn 's Damage Control is an Epic , thought provoking , angst , drama filled , hot AF sexy and highly entertaing story. She draws you in and capture your attention and makes you care deeply for her heroes and villains .

I enjoyed listening to this amazing audiobook. I highly recommended.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startlingly Real

I'm not sure what I expected when I started this, but the intense, emotionally raw, vividly detailed family drama was more than I bargained for.

It's a lot, if you have depression, or you've cut, or you have a history with homophobia, it will expose all of that. I had to hide in the bathroom a few times with the shower running to avoid reality, because it brought back some memories. I don't know that everyone will feel the same way, but this was excellent.

Tyler's had a crush on Josh forever, but Josh is in love with his closeted brother, Ryan.

It's been ten years, and they've tried moving on. Josh has been drinking his sorrows, and Tyler is out on the dock, cutting a fresh line in his arm. When Josh startles him, he cuts too deep and falls in the lake.

It begins with a vodka-soaked prince pulling a bleeding twink out of a lake. This is not a fairy tale. But there is a happy ending, and a cat named Oliver.

[Lori¸¸¸.•*❀Ɍɛɑɗs̱LɪƙɛIʈs̱H̱ɛɍJɔɓ 유❤유]

Well, I have had this on my KU for well over a year and have only gotten to 64%. I think it's time to give up finally or at least for now. It's really not a bad book at all which is why I didn't rate it but it's just so loooong! There's so much unnecessary stuff in it.

I can't even remember the character's names at the moment but I hated that the older MC was in love with the younger MC's brother for so long and yet has no problem being with the other MC. That just turned me off but because I didn't get any further, I have no if something changes with that aspect (I am assuming it does or it wouldn't be a very good HEA.)

Maybe I will try again later but for now time of death is now so I can clear a spot on my KU.

[Elithanathile]

This sounds fantastic and so I had to purchase it. VERY new-to-me-author, but what the hey, I'll give it a shot.

There IS a trigger warning at the beginning of the book, so if it matters to you, here it is [Publisher's note]: This novel contains mature themes and elements which some readers may find upsetting. In particular, readers are advised that this book contains descriptions of self-harm and past instances of rape.

That being said, I look forward to cracking this open in the (relatively) not too distant future :-)!! This book sounds awesome and I am confident it will live up to its promise!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that grabs on to you and won't let go. The characters are complex, emotionally damaged but aware, likable, and very believable. I laughed one moment and cried the next. I can't express how much I like this book, I'm not sure I can find the right words. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received a copy of the book from the author, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~]

3.5 stars

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story has many twists and turns throughout the entire book. It reminded me of a soap opera...In a good way. I liked it