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Boys of Venice Beach #1
Damaged Hearts
When 19-year-old military veteran Brandon Hawkins is attacked on Venice Beach by a gang of frat boys, he is saved by Michelangelo Curtis, a passerby.
Michelangelo was roaming the boardwalk grieving the death of his twin brother six months earlier. The two men’s unexpected encounter forges a strong bond between the damaged and lonely men.
Inviting the homeless Bran to his place for some food and a shower, 25-year-old Michelangelo finds himself drawn to the younger man. Neither of the men is gay. But before long, their friendship morphs into something like love and takes them both by surprise.
And they have something else in common: The frat boys are out for revenge.
Michelangelo was roaming the boardwalk grieving the death of his twin brother six months earlier. The two men’s unexpected encounter forges a strong bond between the damaged and lonely men.
Inviting the homeless Bran to his place for some food and a shower, 25-year-old Michelangelo finds himself drawn to the younger man. Neither of the men is gay. But before long, their friendship morphs into something like love and takes them both by surprise.
And they have something else in common: The frat boys are out for revenge.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2019
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46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 10, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
Personally, this book started off on the wrong foot for me and it didn’t improve much as I read. The initial red flags revolved around what I consider discriminatory language. I took umbrage with the author’s usage of fatphobia and using a disability as a pejorative. Other readers may read this book and think nothing of it, but for me, I couldn’t help but be turned off at how one MC instantly focuses in on the size of the character who starts off as an asshole and ends up a bully. Or the fact that the one truly villainous character is the only fat one. Or the way the other MC describes his awkwardness at interacting with others using outdated “slang” that has been considered inappropriate since the 1960s.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
Personally, this book started off on the wrong foot for me and it didn’t improve much as I read. The initial red flags revolved around what I consider discriminatory language. I took umbrage with the author’s usage of fatphobia and using a disability as a pejorative. Other readers may read this book and think nothing of it, but for me, I couldn’t help but be turned off at how one MC instantly focuses in on the size of the character who starts off as an asshole and ends up a bully. Or the fact that the one truly villainous character is the only fat one. Or the way the other MC describes his awkwardness at interacting with others using outdated “slang” that has been considered inappropriate since the 1960s.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
December 8, 2019
So. This book. I'm feeling very conflicted about it, and this passage describes it so, so well. Let's allow Michelangelo to share his wisdom:
"Most people don’t realize that the two hemispheres of our brains are very different. In right-handed people, the left hemisphere of the brain controls most cognitive functions. Things like logic, time, and language are all controlled by the left brain. The right brain in these people deals with spatial relationships, feelings, and other, more fuzzy functions. Only one hemisphere of the brain can operate at a time in most people. If, for example, you were doing a math problem and are right handed, your left brain is fully engaged. If you are looking at or creating a piece of art, your right brain would be in control. These are the generalities that govern our brain activity in most instances. The emotions I am feeling right now—the heartbreak, the shared pain, the desire to make everything all right—are all functions of my right brain. But the right brain has no problem-solving abilities. And this—whatever it is between Bran and me—is a problem. I need to solve it."
My right brain says this is a lovely, charming romance between two young men, both of whom have been through trauma. It adds in suspense, intrigue, an adorable dog, and surfing. There is a definitely physical attraction that confuses yet arouses both of them. (Full disclosure: I was expecting make-out scenes with both of them muttering "no homo" under their breath, in such denial about being attracted to another man.)
My left brain - which kinda took over in the last line of the above paragraph, because it's dominant - has some issues with the book. The level of instant trust, never mind the lust, between the men is extreme. The police, court, and various covert agency operations are Hollywood'ed up to an extreme. Characters are so clearly delineated between good and evil, with little between. The good characters are all totally ok and totally accepting of Michelangelo moving a homeless guy in with him and falling in love within days, instead of protective of their friend, with what would be reasonable doubts.
Left brain talks a lot - here it goes again. The guys... Sigh... They're charming, apparently have real world experience, but in romance appear much younger than they are, and their thought process degrades to that of teens, especially during more physical moments. With their backgrounds, I don't find it feasible that either of them would be so trusting, so quickly. And stop, please stop, with the "I'm not gay but..." while stroking another man's unit.
Summary? Right brain chimes in with 5 stars for the ultimate readability and "what will happen next" of the story. Left brain, more cynical, gives three stars and a side eye over the last section. Average, 4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes.
"Most people don’t realize that the two hemispheres of our brains are very different. In right-handed people, the left hemisphere of the brain controls most cognitive functions. Things like logic, time, and language are all controlled by the left brain. The right brain in these people deals with spatial relationships, feelings, and other, more fuzzy functions. Only one hemisphere of the brain can operate at a time in most people. If, for example, you were doing a math problem and are right handed, your left brain is fully engaged. If you are looking at or creating a piece of art, your right brain would be in control. These are the generalities that govern our brain activity in most instances. The emotions I am feeling right now—the heartbreak, the shared pain, the desire to make everything all right—are all functions of my right brain. But the right brain has no problem-solving abilities. And this—whatever it is between Bran and me—is a problem. I need to solve it."
My right brain says this is a lovely, charming romance between two young men, both of whom have been through trauma. It adds in suspense, intrigue, an adorable dog, and surfing. There is a definitely physical attraction that confuses yet arouses both of them. (Full disclosure: I was expecting make-out scenes with both of them muttering "no homo" under their breath, in such denial about being attracted to another man.)
My left brain - which kinda took over in the last line of the above paragraph, because it's dominant - has some issues with the book. The level of instant trust, never mind the lust, between the men is extreme. The police, court, and various covert agency operations are Hollywood'ed up to an extreme. Characters are so clearly delineated between good and evil, with little between. The good characters are all totally ok and totally accepting of Michelangelo moving a homeless guy in with him and falling in love within days, instead of protective of their friend, with what would be reasonable doubts.
Left brain talks a lot - here it goes again. The guys... Sigh... They're charming, apparently have real world experience, but in romance appear much younger than they are, and their thought process degrades to that of teens, especially during more physical moments. With their backgrounds, I don't find it feasible that either of them would be so trusting, so quickly. And stop, please stop, with the "I'm not gay but..." while stroking another man's unit.
Summary? Right brain chimes in with 5 stars for the ultimate readability and "what will happen next" of the story. Left brain, more cynical, gives three stars and a side eye over the last section. Average, 4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes.
November 10, 2019
I got this ebook for free in return for an honest review and boy did the last 100 pages grip me like hell. I couldn't stop reading. I spent the last 2 hours finishing this book and this was one hell of a rollercoaster. Can't wait for the next book in this series and I can't wait to get more from Michelangelo and Brandon. Gosh they are so damn cute and I wanted to cry so many times just from the cute but then also from what both guys have been through and the last part of the book made me want to kill people and then it was cute again and just...so many feeling. This is the exact kind of male/male books that I enjoy. Some cute, fluffy guys with some action and drama and hurt/comfort moments and this is exactly what I got with this book once again.
Initially this book starts off with Brandon being homeless and been done dirty by some bullies and Michelangelo jumps into the scene to save Brandon. Pretty basic start to a story, right? Some guy being bullied and some other guy coming to the rescue. Read this many times but I love this shit with all my heart. I don't wanna say too much about this because it's a lot more fun to get into this book without knowing too much of the motives and the story behind everything but all I'm gonna say is that this rescue mission escalates and is the main focus of the whole story and how each character handles this situation and how other characters, not being part of this scene, handle this and so on. It's a damn rollercoaster and it's amazing. What I also really like about this is the multiple perspectives. At first I thought we get the usual POV's from the main two guys and that's it but no, we get multiple perspectives from several people involved in this whole fiasco and even the bully himself which makes each character human and you see their points of view and how they feel about everything and it makes the whole thing more interesting and you even get to care for those characters.
Of course there's trigger warnings coming with this kind of stories as we always get with male/male stories so be aware. Nothing too terrible in this case tho so don't worry about that.
Anyway, I would totally recommend this story to anyone who likes fluffy male/male stories with some drama and some action and some hurt/comfort and just general shit going down. The characters are so likable and you just really get to care for each of them.
Initially this book starts off with Brandon being homeless and been done dirty by some bullies and Michelangelo jumps into the scene to save Brandon. Pretty basic start to a story, right? Some guy being bullied and some other guy coming to the rescue. Read this many times but I love this shit with all my heart. I don't wanna say too much about this because it's a lot more fun to get into this book without knowing too much of the motives and the story behind everything but all I'm gonna say is that this rescue mission escalates and is the main focus of the whole story and how each character handles this situation and how other characters, not being part of this scene, handle this and so on. It's a damn rollercoaster and it's amazing. What I also really like about this is the multiple perspectives. At first I thought we get the usual POV's from the main two guys and that's it but no, we get multiple perspectives from several people involved in this whole fiasco and even the bully himself which makes each character human and you see their points of view and how they feel about everything and it makes the whole thing more interesting and you even get to care for those characters.
Of course there's trigger warnings coming with this kind of stories as we always get with male/male stories so be aware. Nothing too terrible in this case tho so don't worry about that.
Anyway, I would totally recommend this story to anyone who likes fluffy male/male stories with some drama and some action and some hurt/comfort and just general shit going down. The characters are so likable and you just really get to care for each of them.
October 23, 2020
Below is my honest review of DAMAGED HEARTS, by Jan St, Marcus.
From what I can tell, it is a debut novel for this author and the first book in their planned “Boys of Venice Beach” series. I definitely look forward to reading all of them.
I was immediately hooked in the first few pages. By the end of the second chapter, I cared about both main characters (MCs) and wanted to know more about how they’d each arrived at this intersection of their lives and what relationship might develop between them from here.
First, we meet Brandon, a nineteen-year-old Marine Corps veteran whose traumatic experiences during his military service resulted in lasting effects on his body and reinforced a low opinion he already had of his own capabilities. My heart broke to see the world from the perspective of this down-on-his-luck but unflaggingly hopeful young man.
Just as my anger had me itching to reach into my e-reader to strangle a bully for treating Brandon in an unforgivably cruel way, we meet the other MC, Michelangelo. I was instantly drawn to this calm hero whose actions spoke volumes as he stepped in to help Brandon. From this point, I had a hard time putting down the book until I reached the final page.
This book is divided into ten parts, and each chapter is told from a single character’s POV. I was surprised by some of the POVs the author chose to use, but they all worked together to tell the story in an effective and satisfying way.
St. Marcus did a great job of hooking me with the two MCs early and then kept my interest with progressive complications and unexpected POVs as he ramped up the tension, led his characters into situations from which I couldn’t see any escape, and then resolved the main conflict in a satisfying way.
The novel plays on several tropes, including hurt-comfort, military, wealth gap, interracial couple, and others I’d like to mention but might give too much away.
I recommend DAMAGED HEARTS to anyone who loves to read MM romance or who is interested in trying it. I think you’ll enjoy it and find yourself, like me, eagerly awaiting the release of Book 2.
Note: I originally obtained this e-book as a freebie for signing up to the author’s newsletter, then purchased my own copy after reading it.
From what I can tell, it is a debut novel for this author and the first book in their planned “Boys of Venice Beach” series. I definitely look forward to reading all of them.
I was immediately hooked in the first few pages. By the end of the second chapter, I cared about both main characters (MCs) and wanted to know more about how they’d each arrived at this intersection of their lives and what relationship might develop between them from here.
First, we meet Brandon, a nineteen-year-old Marine Corps veteran whose traumatic experiences during his military service resulted in lasting effects on his body and reinforced a low opinion he already had of his own capabilities. My heart broke to see the world from the perspective of this down-on-his-luck but unflaggingly hopeful young man.
Just as my anger had me itching to reach into my e-reader to strangle a bully for treating Brandon in an unforgivably cruel way, we meet the other MC, Michelangelo. I was instantly drawn to this calm hero whose actions spoke volumes as he stepped in to help Brandon. From this point, I had a hard time putting down the book until I reached the final page.
This book is divided into ten parts, and each chapter is told from a single character’s POV. I was surprised by some of the POVs the author chose to use, but they all worked together to tell the story in an effective and satisfying way.
St. Marcus did a great job of hooking me with the two MCs early and then kept my interest with progressive complications and unexpected POVs as he ramped up the tension, led his characters into situations from which I couldn’t see any escape, and then resolved the main conflict in a satisfying way.
The novel plays on several tropes, including hurt-comfort, military, wealth gap, interracial couple, and others I’d like to mention but might give too much away.
I recommend DAMAGED HEARTS to anyone who loves to read MM romance or who is interested in trying it. I think you’ll enjoy it and find yourself, like me, eagerly awaiting the release of Book 2.
Note: I originally obtained this e-book as a freebie for signing up to the author’s newsletter, then purchased my own copy after reading it.
November 7, 2019
Damaged Hearts is the first book in the Boys of Venice Beach series, and we start off with a slow-burner of a book. Bran had a rough childhood and joined the military early. After going through something horrendous, he left with an honourable discharge without any fanfare. Ending up on the streets, he made his way through life in a way more mature than his nineteen years. All that changes on the night he meets Michaelangelo. After Michaelangelo stands up for him against a couple of frat boys, Bran is blown away by his kindness, although he wonders what the catch is. It turns out there is no catch.
I loved this story. It is so much more than "just" a romance. There is suspense too, and basically a wholesome, feel-good vibe to the book. There is sexual tension between our two MC's, but as neither of them considers themselves gay, this leads to some confusion. Once they speak though, the gentle acceptance and understanding are wonderful.
Now, as I've said, this is a slow-burner and although there are some steamy scenes, there is nothing too graphic. So if you are after a hard and hot story, you won't find it here. What you will find is a group of characters that leap off the page. That you can relate to, or would like to know, or even like to dislike/hate. Trust me, there is something for everyone.
A long read that will wrap itself around you like a blanket on a cold night, this was a wonderful start to the series. It is the first book by this author I have read, and I can't wait to continue with this series. Absolutely recommended by me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this story. It is so much more than "just" a romance. There is suspense too, and basically a wholesome, feel-good vibe to the book. There is sexual tension between our two MC's, but as neither of them considers themselves gay, this leads to some confusion. Once they speak though, the gentle acceptance and understanding are wonderful.
Now, as I've said, this is a slow-burner and although there are some steamy scenes, there is nothing too graphic. So if you are after a hard and hot story, you won't find it here. What you will find is a group of characters that leap off the page. That you can relate to, or would like to know, or even like to dislike/hate. Trust me, there is something for everyone.
A long read that will wrap itself around you like a blanket on a cold night, this was a wonderful start to the series. It is the first book by this author I have read, and I can't wait to continue with this series. Absolutely recommended by me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 22, 2020
I really struggled with this book. I wanted to enjoy it so much but I couldn't get into the characters.
The inner dialog with Bran was a bit tiresome for me
This book was given to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Booksirens
The inner dialog with Bran was a bit tiresome for me
This book was given to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Booksirens
November 18, 2019
This is a nice slow burn story. I liked the characters and the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2021
Damaged Hearts is a blend of genres that would be well suited to the big screen, I think. There is a kind of coming-of-age story, there is drama, there is danger and intrigue like you’d see in a spy thriller, there is a crime drama and procedural, and it’s all wrapped up with a love story. I hesitate to call it a romance because it’s more than that, and at the same time it’s something else - kind of romance adjacent.
First things first, I was immediately struck by the wonderfully written dedication for this book. Now, the dedication isn’t something I regularly pay all that much attention to, but this one is such a lovely expression of gratitude for our military that I had to go back and listen to it a second time. As the wife of a former serviceman, I always appreciate the sentiment expressed, and I the way it’s done here does my heart good.
As for the story, I’ll admit that I liked some elements more than others, and those are what kept me listening. It is a lengthy book, coming in at around 450 pages, and the listening time was like 14 hours. I went into this one expecting a romance, so I was a bit surprised by the length. It is a slow-burn love story, but even that didn’t account for the page count. Once I got into the story, I understood. The various covert agencies and intrigue surrounding them as well as the crime element involving bullying makes up quite a bit of page time. Those elements are over the top at times and they do require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, which is a big part of why I mentioned the big screen. I can see those things playing out well in a movie or television series. There are also several points of view that come in as the story progresses, so it is a lot to keep up with, but the excellent narration helps with that.
Now for the things that kept me listening for the better part of 2 days - the characters and the love story. I really hesitate to call this a romance because I didn’t get that vibe from it. Don’t get me wrong, our main characters, Bran and Michelangelo do fall in love, and I guess it is a ‘gay for you’ story, complete with some sexy time, but I didn’t get that vibe either. What this one came down to for me really didn’t come down to anything as simple as all that. Yes, technically this is a male/male romance, but gender didn’t matter to me. Damaged Hearts is about finding that person who is meant to be our other half, being drawn together almost magnetically with that person our soul has been looking for. It’s about finding our place in the world, whether it be an actual place or just the space next to your person. And suspension of disbelief aside, that’s what this book meant to me and what kept me glued to the story.
I realize I’ve gotten quite long-winded here, but I have to add that there was one more thing that I really enjoyed about this book, and that is Toby James. This guy knocked it out of the park on the narration. I mentioned the various points of view earlier, and the narration is what helped keep the players in this game sorted. Each voice is distinct and wonderfully done. I don’t recall ever hearing this narrator before, but I will be looking for him now.
First things first, I was immediately struck by the wonderfully written dedication for this book. Now, the dedication isn’t something I regularly pay all that much attention to, but this one is such a lovely expression of gratitude for our military that I had to go back and listen to it a second time. As the wife of a former serviceman, I always appreciate the sentiment expressed, and I the way it’s done here does my heart good.
As for the story, I’ll admit that I liked some elements more than others, and those are what kept me listening. It is a lengthy book, coming in at around 450 pages, and the listening time was like 14 hours. I went into this one expecting a romance, so I was a bit surprised by the length. It is a slow-burn love story, but even that didn’t account for the page count. Once I got into the story, I understood. The various covert agencies and intrigue surrounding them as well as the crime element involving bullying makes up quite a bit of page time. Those elements are over the top at times and they do require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, which is a big part of why I mentioned the big screen. I can see those things playing out well in a movie or television series. There are also several points of view that come in as the story progresses, so it is a lot to keep up with, but the excellent narration helps with that.
Now for the things that kept me listening for the better part of 2 days - the characters and the love story. I really hesitate to call this a romance because I didn’t get that vibe from it. Don’t get me wrong, our main characters, Bran and Michelangelo do fall in love, and I guess it is a ‘gay for you’ story, complete with some sexy time, but I didn’t get that vibe either. What this one came down to for me really didn’t come down to anything as simple as all that. Yes, technically this is a male/male romance, but gender didn’t matter to me. Damaged Hearts is about finding that person who is meant to be our other half, being drawn together almost magnetically with that person our soul has been looking for. It’s about finding our place in the world, whether it be an actual place or just the space next to your person. And suspension of disbelief aside, that’s what this book meant to me and what kept me glued to the story.
I realize I’ve gotten quite long-winded here, but I have to add that there was one more thing that I really enjoyed about this book, and that is Toby James. This guy knocked it out of the park on the narration. I mentioned the various points of view earlier, and the narration is what helped keep the players in this game sorted. Each voice is distinct and wonderfully done. I don’t recall ever hearing this narrator before, but I will be looking for him now.
February 19, 2021
On one hand, I liked the fluffy moments of romance. The dialogue between characters flowed and sounded well in my head. It's very modern, and I think it'll appeal to younger audiences well. When the characters do open up to one another, it's surprisingly refreshing. Awkward moments of lust and intimacy for first-time lovers made me chuckle now and then.
The other hand: the swapping character monologues were five sets of stream of consciousness, which went too far into their character archetypes for my personal preferences. For instance, Bran is an ultra teenager who has moments of innocence, blushes frequently, swears every paragraph, and ruminates on every interaction. Which sticks as a sore thumb when considering his actual backstory. I felt there was a grayness that wasn't quite explored for potential character depth. And the "I'm not gay but" rhetoric wore rather than endeared me.
There were moments where I felt the narrative structure of mandatory telling with little showing worked against nuances and sensitivities for me, delving into the black-and-white of "acceptable" fiction. Like fat = evil, mental and physical conditions being wholly detrimental, and beauty = good. Descriptions of complex ideas or occupations were a struggle to absorb because it felt like Marcus wanted to overexplain for us. Why not have Devon simply do his job rather than constantly giving us "the short version" of what he does? It'd be a stark contrast from Conrad and Michelangelo's voices.
I wanted a smoother transition into the narrative's second half. From a teasing gay romance to generalized legal work and government paranoia reminiscent of Frank M. Ahearn's life story. It's where the realistic and fictional blend of ideas swerved the most for me while reading. There were raindrops of foreshadowing in the beginning, yet I wanted more of it given how it turns out. Would've wanted more development between the main couple beforehand too, even if the ending moments for them were fluffy.
For a debut novel, Damaged Hearts is a sweet romance that's an overall fun ride on the romantic fantasy train. Marcus wrote from the heart, and it shows in the seams. Looking forward to another enjoyable read in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The other hand: the swapping character monologues were five sets of stream of consciousness, which went too far into their character archetypes for my personal preferences. For instance, Bran is an ultra teenager who has moments of innocence, blushes frequently, swears every paragraph, and ruminates on every interaction. Which sticks as a sore thumb when considering his actual backstory. I felt there was a grayness that wasn't quite explored for potential character depth. And the "I'm not gay but" rhetoric wore rather than endeared me.
There were moments where I felt the narrative structure of mandatory telling with little showing worked against nuances and sensitivities for me, delving into the black-and-white of "acceptable" fiction. Like fat = evil, mental and physical conditions being wholly detrimental, and beauty = good. Descriptions of complex ideas or occupations were a struggle to absorb because it felt like Marcus wanted to overexplain for us. Why not have Devon simply do his job rather than constantly giving us "the short version" of what he does? It'd be a stark contrast from Conrad and Michelangelo's voices.
I wanted a smoother transition into the narrative's second half. From a teasing gay romance to generalized legal work and government paranoia reminiscent of Frank M. Ahearn's life story. It's where the realistic and fictional blend of ideas swerved the most for me while reading. There were raindrops of foreshadowing in the beginning, yet I wanted more of it given how it turns out. Would've wanted more development between the main couple beforehand too, even if the ending moments for them were fluffy.
For a debut novel, Damaged Hearts is a sweet romance that's an overall fun ride on the romantic fantasy train. Marcus wrote from the heart, and it shows in the seams. Looking forward to another enjoyable read in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 30, 2020
Damaged Hearts is like a fairy tale. There are very clear "good guys" and "bad guys" and honestly, the good guys are almost TOO good, while the bad guys are over-the-top awful.
Michelangelo is a somewhat socially challenged computer expert who secretly works for the NSA. Bran is a former Marine who grew up in the foster system and is homeless when he first meets when they meet. Michelangelo comes to Bran's rescue when he is being tormented by a bunch of awful frat-boys while scrounging for food on the boardwalk. Then, for some reason, Michelangelo brings Bran home with him to his bazillion-dollar beach house and just gets him to stay there.
Both main characters have an innocence about them that was kind of pleasant, but SO unrealistic that I had to really work to just enjoy the story without worrying about whether it could ever actually happen. That being said, the relationship between Bran and Michelangelo is so pure and sweet, it's lovely. Neither has ever thought of himself as gay, but neither one of them struggles much with the realization they are attracted to another man. They both spend a lot of time in wonderment at the feelings that grow between them.
It was an interesting twist to have part of the story told from the POV of the "bad guys". However, I found myself almost skipping over those parts - just skimming to see whether anything important happened. I didn't like spending time with these horrible people. I'm not sure whether that was an effort to see things from another perspective, but the "villains" had absolutely no redeeming qualities that made me care about what they thought or how they saw things.
Damaged Hearts was mostly entertaining, but definitely a fantasy, so don't really expect to identify with the characters or feel like you'd want to hang out with them.
Michelangelo is a somewhat socially challenged computer expert who secretly works for the NSA. Bran is a former Marine who grew up in the foster system and is homeless when he first meets when they meet. Michelangelo comes to Bran's rescue when he is being tormented by a bunch of awful frat-boys while scrounging for food on the boardwalk. Then, for some reason, Michelangelo brings Bran home with him to his bazillion-dollar beach house and just gets him to stay there.
Both main characters have an innocence about them that was kind of pleasant, but SO unrealistic that I had to really work to just enjoy the story without worrying about whether it could ever actually happen. That being said, the relationship between Bran and Michelangelo is so pure and sweet, it's lovely. Neither has ever thought of himself as gay, but neither one of them struggles much with the realization they are attracted to another man. They both spend a lot of time in wonderment at the feelings that grow between them.
It was an interesting twist to have part of the story told from the POV of the "bad guys". However, I found myself almost skipping over those parts - just skimming to see whether anything important happened. I didn't like spending time with these horrible people. I'm not sure whether that was an effort to see things from another perspective, but the "villains" had absolutely no redeeming qualities that made me care about what they thought or how they saw things.
Damaged Hearts was mostly entertaining, but definitely a fantasy, so don't really expect to identify with the characters or feel like you'd want to hang out with them.
October 10, 2021
I enjoyed every minute of this one. I loved meeting Brandon and following him on his journey and self-discovery. Now, Michelangelo was just the topping on it all. His life was so much more than I would have imagined it to be from the synopsis. Grant Briggs was a character that was a bully, but one that had things to figure out for himself. I can see him being in more of the Boys of Venice Beach series.
I pegged this story as being more realistic that some because of the use of some of the language. It was real, raw, degrading, hurtful and what is said to people in the real world. I found it informative about somethings that had me wanting to know a little more. I was waiting for what as going to happen next. I was not expecting some things and other were just a course of life.
Toby James gave me a full narration with pitch, tone, and variation. My introduction to him was enjoyed. Thank you Jan for inviting me into your head, memories, and plot for a different kind of journey for new full characters.
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Unpredictable Entertaining Realistic Easy-to-read Informative Relatable characters Straight-forward language (raw and real)
I pegged this story as being more realistic that some because of the use of some of the language. It was real, raw, degrading, hurtful and what is said to people in the real world. I found it informative about somethings that had me wanting to know a little more. I was waiting for what as going to happen next. I was not expecting some things and other were just a course of life.
Toby James gave me a full narration with pitch, tone, and variation. My introduction to him was enjoyed. Thank you Jan for inviting me into your head, memories, and plot for a different kind of journey for new full characters.
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Unpredictable Entertaining Realistic Easy-to-read Informative Relatable characters Straight-forward language (raw and real)
January 18, 2020
I debated how to rate this novel. There are "Damaged Hearts" and even more damaged people. I try to save 5 stars for books that do more than move a reader. The book does that and more. St. Marcus's book is displays a variety of character and reader emotions, and characters who range from a homeless man to a mathematical security agent of some sort. Events occur that take this at times into the direction of a mystery, a detective story without a detective--only agencies. The only simple private investigator is a rather shady sort. It is easily worth the time it takes to read, and when finished, one might wish that goes on. There is more to learn, more love to experience. and an open ended story. For a first novel, it amazes. I look forward to more in "The Boys of Venice Beach" series.
August 13, 2020
Okay, a bit sappy and too young for leading characters, but excellent plot development and interesting characters. For the most part, each of the ten "parts" (like a play's acts) is presented as a two-voice dialogue played out a as dialog and thoughts. The six "voices" allow for richer description and a more satisfying story. Perspectives fill out the background and knowledge for a character or incident which might not be known to other characters, but is welcome by the reader.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
January 18, 2022
This book combines complex characters that cross paths and are still trying to figure out life. This book is especially aimed at those who enjoy spontaneous romance with a build-up through initial friendship. It is interesting how the author slowly fosters a friendly and romantic dynamic between both men. There might be a difference in their life experiences due to a slight age difference, but the author tries to present the commonalities between both characters through communication and shared experiences. There are parts of the book that feel very raw and emotional, it helps the reader understand the characters beyond superficiality. The language was easy to comprehend and the structure was easy to follow too.
January 20, 2022
Book 1 in a series, two damaged hearts, that of two men who did not know each other encounter and a true and genuine bond is developed which would later become more than just a bond.
Author Marcus did a great
job developing two characters that, though grieving for different reasons, are somehow related, they have something in common: loneliness. Both protagonists enjoy some great development here and they are hard not to be loved.
This is one of those books to be read at one go since right from the start one gets entangled in the plot and the unexpected events. It is a narrative which dialogues would make us feel as though we are right there in the middle of the scene.
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was published at the right time.
Author Marcus did a great
job developing two characters that, though grieving for different reasons, are somehow related, they have something in common: loneliness. Both protagonists enjoy some great development here and they are hard not to be loved.
This is one of those books to be read at one go since right from the start one gets entangled in the plot and the unexpected events. It is a narrative which dialogues would make us feel as though we are right there in the middle of the scene.
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was published at the right time.
January 21, 2022
“Damaged Hearts” surprised me. It is the first book I read from this author and I didn’t expect such an excellent writing style and plot.
This is an atypical romantic novel. Not because the two protagonists are men but because they are not gay until the moment they meet and fall in love with each other. The attraction is inevitable, the chemistry between them is strong and they allow themselves to follow their feelings freely.
I loved this novel and I especially liked the message it expresses regarding love and relationships. As I started reading, I couldn’t stop until I turned the last page. It is a story full of romance, laughs, tears and encounters. I would certainly recommend it to my family and friends. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
This is an atypical romantic novel. Not because the two protagonists are men but because they are not gay until the moment they meet and fall in love with each other. The attraction is inevitable, the chemistry between them is strong and they allow themselves to follow their feelings freely.
I loved this novel and I especially liked the message it expresses regarding love and relationships. As I started reading, I couldn’t stop until I turned the last page. It is a story full of romance, laughs, tears and encounters. I would certainly recommend it to my family and friends. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
November 7, 2025
There is nothing left to say but this is my new number one book of all time. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and I want so much more of Brandon and Michael Angelo. The author did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life while still telling a story and teaching the readers a lesson or two. Brandon seemed so real and I loved his way with words. He had me rolling in the floor laughing at times. I loved how serious Michael Angelo was and that he was also hiding a softer side. Let’s not forget Sparkey the golden retriever, at times he also stole the show. The author, narrator’s and everyone else that worked on this book deserves at least a 100 stars if that was possible. I highly highly highly recommend this book. God bless our veterans and war heroes.
August 23, 2020
Got this book as a freebie in a promise for an honest review and here it goes. Loved this story. Mixes so many approaches to mm genre well together along with generic themes of Knight in shining armour rescues person in distress. You have two men dealing with trauma from the past, bullies, emerging sexuality, love, nail biting chapters that terrify you as well as excite you. All in all I loved the book. Read it...
September 6, 2020
OMG I absolutely LOVED this! It is such a sweet story following a just turned 19 ex-military man who has a and I quote "Fuck. My. Life" mantra but meets this wonderful man. I could not put it down! And... an author named Jan?! Bonus points imo. I have been looking for same name characters in stories for years and then I find an author with the same name. I am going to find more books by the same author
June 9, 2020
A fantastic emotional and gripping romance with terrific characters in Michelangelo and Brandon. Their relationship was so very touching. It was a very thrilling as well as a heartbreaking read. Incredibly well written and powerful. It was fascinating to see all the different POVs. I absolutely loved this.
September 2, 2020
Great love
This story is so tragic and beautiful at the same time,bullies we have them everywhere and they do cause a lot of damage both ,,,these two loss souls found each other and they came out stronger in the end loved this book
This story is so tragic and beautiful at the same time,bullies we have them everywhere and they do cause a lot of damage both ,,,these two loss souls found each other and they came out stronger in the end loved this book
August 1, 2020
I loved this book! I couldn’t stop reading it. I really didn’t see where the author was going at times but I loved it. Thanks
February 17, 2022
I truly don't have the words for how much I loved Michaelangelo and Brandon's book. Seriously, 5 stars doesn't seem like enough of a rating, maybe a 11 would work.
February 21, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Two young men, Brandon and Michealangelo meet when one is attacked and the other comes to his aid. So begins a friendship between two men so different to each other it shouldn't work, but it does. Initially Brandon is blown away by the way Michealangelo lives - he has everything whereas Brandon has nothing, comes from foster care and really has no aim in life after leaving the marines.
A friendship becomes companionship which in turn blossoms into love. Two men who didn't even know they were gay, who are hit with that realization with a force that nearly knocks them off their feet.
The story was different to anything else I've read before. I opened my eyes as to how severe some people look at those who live alternate lifestyles - whether it be homeless or gay. In Brandon's case it was both and he gets hit with a double whammy because of it. But his constant is Michealangelo. This story grew on me and the fact that there were phrases and words used that most would find offensive and downright derogatory, I felt belonged in the story. These two young men gelled and formed a lovely relationship.
I would recommend the story, but would also advise that there will be triggers for some people.
A new author for me, but I will read more if given the opportunity and I really hope to be able to continue reading this series.
Two young men, Brandon and Michealangelo meet when one is attacked and the other comes to his aid. So begins a friendship between two men so different to each other it shouldn't work, but it does. Initially Brandon is blown away by the way Michealangelo lives - he has everything whereas Brandon has nothing, comes from foster care and really has no aim in life after leaving the marines.
A friendship becomes companionship which in turn blossoms into love. Two men who didn't even know they were gay, who are hit with that realization with a force that nearly knocks them off their feet.
The story was different to anything else I've read before. I opened my eyes as to how severe some people look at those who live alternate lifestyles - whether it be homeless or gay. In Brandon's case it was both and he gets hit with a double whammy because of it. But his constant is Michealangelo. This story grew on me and the fact that there were phrases and words used that most would find offensive and downright derogatory, I felt belonged in the story. These two young men gelled and formed a lovely relationship.
I would recommend the story, but would also advise that there will be triggers for some people.
A new author for me, but I will read more if given the opportunity and I really hope to be able to continue reading this series.
January 21, 2020
This book is packed full of things that will make you think!
Here’s my brief synopsis of what happens. Brandon has been living on the streets since he left the Marines. He moved from foster home to foster home when he was a kid so the marines seemed like a place to find a home. He was traumatized by the events he lived through during his service and hasn’t managed to get back on his feet. One night, he’s hoping to get a slice of pizza left behind by some young men...and one of them spits on it.
This is when Michelangelo first appears. I would love to do what this character did! He walks up and engages the bigots. He threatens them with physical violence if they don’t leave... of course, they don’t. The interesting thing is that way that Michelangelo behaves after he has dislocated one of the men’s elbows: he calls the police, waits and asks Brandon if he wants to come home with him for a meal.
Michelangelo and Brandon have seen each other before, walking along Venice Beach. In fact, Brandon has always received money from Michelangelo’s. Something about the injustice of the pizza incident pushes Michelangelo to invite Brandon into his world. He’s not even sure why at first but goes with his instinct.
As the two men get to know each other... a slow-paced romance that felt very authentic, a video that Michelangelo took of the pizza incident has been uploaded (probably by the police) of it taking place. At this point things get interesting! It turns out that Michelangelo works for the NSA. He calls his minder and the wheels being to turn for “taking care” of the video. (His identity will be scrubbed away).
The author made an interesting choice at this point in the plot. Once the relationship between Michaelangelo and Brandon is established (a friendship) the author switched to the POV of several other characters in the story. There is Devon who is Michelangelo’s minder, Travis is a detective persuaded to be involved in finding the men in the video, Grant is the individual who had his elbow dislocated during the pizza incident.
Now, while most of these POVs were interesting, I have to say that I found it a little confusing at times. I found myself having to go back to the chapters headings to remind myself of whom I was reading about. All these characters were interesting, I just found it a little difficult to keep track of the various narratives. Don’t get me wrong, the different perspectives were all interesting, but it felt like a bit too much for one story if that makes sense.
I would caution people to read the warnings I have listed below. There were a few things in this novel that made me uncomfortable. In particular, I never like to read about an animal being hurt in any way! Wouldn’t make me choose not to read the book, just a warning for folks like me!
St. Marcus tackles some important issues in this book. There is a lot of focus on Brandon’s service in the marines and how he was simply released after a traumatic incident. Sure, there might be help available for him but there are times when people are so lost that they can’t even find the path to the assistance they need. Michelangelo has lost his identical twin and the author explores the void that is left in a twin’s life after such a tragic occurrence. St. Marcus also explores the interesting phenomenon of people videoing violent events and the way that it goes viral. What St. Marcus does a great job of is exploring what happens to everyone involved in a viral video.
So! Like I said, there’s a lot going on in this book! There are multiple themes explored by the author, there’s a very solid, authentic relationship evolving, and the reader is introduced to several really interesting characters.
I would definitely be up for reading more by this author! Can’t wait to see how their style progresses
Here’s my brief synopsis of what happens. Brandon has been living on the streets since he left the Marines. He moved from foster home to foster home when he was a kid so the marines seemed like a place to find a home. He was traumatized by the events he lived through during his service and hasn’t managed to get back on his feet. One night, he’s hoping to get a slice of pizza left behind by some young men...and one of them spits on it.
This is when Michelangelo first appears. I would love to do what this character did! He walks up and engages the bigots. He threatens them with physical violence if they don’t leave... of course, they don’t. The interesting thing is that way that Michelangelo behaves after he has dislocated one of the men’s elbows: he calls the police, waits and asks Brandon if he wants to come home with him for a meal.
Michelangelo and Brandon have seen each other before, walking along Venice Beach. In fact, Brandon has always received money from Michelangelo’s. Something about the injustice of the pizza incident pushes Michelangelo to invite Brandon into his world. He’s not even sure why at first but goes with his instinct.
As the two men get to know each other... a slow-paced romance that felt very authentic, a video that Michelangelo took of the pizza incident has been uploaded (probably by the police) of it taking place. At this point things get interesting! It turns out that Michelangelo works for the NSA. He calls his minder and the wheels being to turn for “taking care” of the video. (His identity will be scrubbed away).
The author made an interesting choice at this point in the plot. Once the relationship between Michaelangelo and Brandon is established (a friendship) the author switched to the POV of several other characters in the story. There is Devon who is Michelangelo’s minder, Travis is a detective persuaded to be involved in finding the men in the video, Grant is the individual who had his elbow dislocated during the pizza incident.
Now, while most of these POVs were interesting, I have to say that I found it a little confusing at times. I found myself having to go back to the chapters headings to remind myself of whom I was reading about. All these characters were interesting, I just found it a little difficult to keep track of the various narratives. Don’t get me wrong, the different perspectives were all interesting, but it felt like a bit too much for one story if that makes sense.
I would caution people to read the warnings I have listed below. There were a few things in this novel that made me uncomfortable. In particular, I never like to read about an animal being hurt in any way! Wouldn’t make me choose not to read the book, just a warning for folks like me!
St. Marcus tackles some important issues in this book. There is a lot of focus on Brandon’s service in the marines and how he was simply released after a traumatic incident. Sure, there might be help available for him but there are times when people are so lost that they can’t even find the path to the assistance they need. Michelangelo has lost his identical twin and the author explores the void that is left in a twin’s life after such a tragic occurrence. St. Marcus also explores the interesting phenomenon of people videoing violent events and the way that it goes viral. What St. Marcus does a great job of is exploring what happens to everyone involved in a viral video.
So! Like I said, there’s a lot going on in this book! There are multiple themes explored by the author, there’s a very solid, authentic relationship evolving, and the reader is introduced to several really interesting characters.
I would definitely be up for reading more by this author! Can’t wait to see how their style progresses
January 22, 2020
Jan St. Marcus’ debut novel, Damaged Hearts, proves this guy can write! He succeeds with rarely used devices, creating a fascinating romance/thriller.
When Michelangelo, a surviving twin and secret NSA data analyst, comes upon college kids rousting a homeless man, he films himself stopping the attack and breaking one assailant’s arm. Then he promises to feed almost-victim Brandon, a combat vet… if Brandon will wait for police to confirm what transpired. Michelangelo gives the video to police, who upload it to social media, and brings Brandon home.
Since neither Brandon or Michelangelo considers himself gay, these socially awkward loners are shocked by their immediate ease with one another. And it only increases over time. Unfortunately, the video catches fire and threatens to unveil Michelangelo’s NSA identity, which engages his minder, Devon. Meanwhile the assailant, Grant, is expelled from UCLA and his reputation rightfully destroyed. When Grant and his wealthy father hire people to rehab his image it could imperil Michelangelo’s work.
Now here is a unique device. The story is told from all five points of view, an ambitious plot that requires readers suspend belief and overlook some details to follow its exciting developments. We want to do so because Damaged Hearts has a transcendent quality. The alternating POVs add to the intensity of this page-turner, especially because each character directly addresses the reader.
St. Marcus writes streams of consciousness as well as anyone, which is the strongest reason to indulge in ‘Damaged Hearts.’ Even if the chapters didn’t identify the characters, I could have differentiated them from the way they think. Under-socialized Brandon and Michelangelo have hilariously refreshing musings. Brandon tells us, “You know when people say that things ‘have a mind of their own,’ when unexpected shit happens? Well, my mind kind of has a mind of its own. The fuck if it ever listens to me. Or pays attention to what I want to pay attention to. It just wanders off like an untrained puppy looking for a sneaker to chew on or something.”
The men’s guilelessness drew me in – their complete confusion at their attractions and their humorous, idiosyncratic associations, their awe and fears. Here’s Michelangeo’s take. “The emotions I am feeling right now, the heartbreak, the shared pain, the desire to make everything all right-are all functions of my right brain. But the right brain has no problem-solving abilities. And this-whatever it is between Bran and me-is a problem. I need to solve it. I run a series of advanced mathematical equations in my head. This always helps me deal with emotional situations.”
Somehow, the novel manages to be both fast-paced and slow-moving, much like real time seems to elapse. When anxiety builds to see what happens next, St. Marcus stops to describe moments with breathtaking clarity, to appreciate them alongside Brandon and Michelangelo. It reminds readers to “smell the roses” as life unfolds. For example, a scene of Brandon, flailing, falling, and failing to surf, until he finally catches a wave, almost gave me the vertigo of his ride. This time-out from the plot increases tension, as it gives alternate players time to take our lovers’ fates out of their hands. And while I don’t generally enjoy insta-love, Brandon and Michelangelo’s backstories justify an almost mystical co-dependence – which also furthers the plotline.
If you want to get out of your own mind and live in the web of two delightful men, I heartily recommend Damaged Hearts. You’ll laugh, bite your fingernails, and tear up a little.
When Michelangelo, a surviving twin and secret NSA data analyst, comes upon college kids rousting a homeless man, he films himself stopping the attack and breaking one assailant’s arm. Then he promises to feed almost-victim Brandon, a combat vet… if Brandon will wait for police to confirm what transpired. Michelangelo gives the video to police, who upload it to social media, and brings Brandon home.
Since neither Brandon or Michelangelo considers himself gay, these socially awkward loners are shocked by their immediate ease with one another. And it only increases over time. Unfortunately, the video catches fire and threatens to unveil Michelangelo’s NSA identity, which engages his minder, Devon. Meanwhile the assailant, Grant, is expelled from UCLA and his reputation rightfully destroyed. When Grant and his wealthy father hire people to rehab his image it could imperil Michelangelo’s work.
Now here is a unique device. The story is told from all five points of view, an ambitious plot that requires readers suspend belief and overlook some details to follow its exciting developments. We want to do so because Damaged Hearts has a transcendent quality. The alternating POVs add to the intensity of this page-turner, especially because each character directly addresses the reader.
St. Marcus writes streams of consciousness as well as anyone, which is the strongest reason to indulge in ‘Damaged Hearts.’ Even if the chapters didn’t identify the characters, I could have differentiated them from the way they think. Under-socialized Brandon and Michelangelo have hilariously refreshing musings. Brandon tells us, “You know when people say that things ‘have a mind of their own,’ when unexpected shit happens? Well, my mind kind of has a mind of its own. The fuck if it ever listens to me. Or pays attention to what I want to pay attention to. It just wanders off like an untrained puppy looking for a sneaker to chew on or something.”
The men’s guilelessness drew me in – their complete confusion at their attractions and their humorous, idiosyncratic associations, their awe and fears. Here’s Michelangeo’s take. “The emotions I am feeling right now, the heartbreak, the shared pain, the desire to make everything all right-are all functions of my right brain. But the right brain has no problem-solving abilities. And this-whatever it is between Bran and me-is a problem. I need to solve it. I run a series of advanced mathematical equations in my head. This always helps me deal with emotional situations.”
Somehow, the novel manages to be both fast-paced and slow-moving, much like real time seems to elapse. When anxiety builds to see what happens next, St. Marcus stops to describe moments with breathtaking clarity, to appreciate them alongside Brandon and Michelangelo. It reminds readers to “smell the roses” as life unfolds. For example, a scene of Brandon, flailing, falling, and failing to surf, until he finally catches a wave, almost gave me the vertigo of his ride. This time-out from the plot increases tension, as it gives alternate players time to take our lovers’ fates out of their hands. And while I don’t generally enjoy insta-love, Brandon and Michelangelo’s backstories justify an almost mystical co-dependence – which also furthers the plotline.
If you want to get out of your own mind and live in the web of two delightful men, I heartily recommend Damaged Hearts. You’ll laugh, bite your fingernails, and tear up a little.
January 26, 2020
Life doesn't always end up how we plan. For Michelangelo and Brandon it seems that life is the complete opposite of how we'd hoped to live, but in their moments of grief and fatalism they find someone to lift them up and give them something new to hope for.
They didn't have a meet-cute, that's for sure, but what brought them together was something that both men needed. For Mike it was doing something for someone else that opened a door to more. For Brandon, it was a chance for someone to care that he was alive and worth that care. The romantic portion of their story was a bit of a slow-burn with a lot of confusing feelings that kept them on edge until they admitted what they were feeling and grasped it tightly with both hands.
I can't say I'm a fan of their voices. Their young age was incredibly apparent both in expectations and expressions. And it was their inner voice that kind of irritated because I felt like I was reading the rambling, slightly vapid thoughts of a teenager. Well, in Brandon's case that's an accurate age, but it felt younger, like early high school and I felt that was inappropriate to the life Brandon led. It was immaturity that came across rather than simply youth. Sometimes, especially in Brandon's case, they would seem to break the fourth wall so it was confusing in its narrative because it would jump from describing thoughts, feelings, sights, impressions, etc. to inviting the reader in as if they were talking to us specifically. The flow wasn't exactly smooth.
If we took out the drama, the government involvement, the Grant bits of the story, I don't believe there was enough development of the characters or their relationship to support the story's intent. We get distracted by all the stuff going on around and behind the scenes and lose sight of the actual relationship building stuff that will make me believe they're solid, healing, and good for the long-haul.
Overall though, the story was nice with surprisingly little angst and a lot of honesty. The language and voice were less-than awesome, but I didn't not like the story and while I thought there could have been more balance and depth, it was a pleasant read.
They didn't have a meet-cute, that's for sure, but what brought them together was something that both men needed. For Mike it was doing something for someone else that opened a door to more. For Brandon, it was a chance for someone to care that he was alive and worth that care. The romantic portion of their story was a bit of a slow-burn with a lot of confusing feelings that kept them on edge until they admitted what they were feeling and grasped it tightly with both hands.
I can't say I'm a fan of their voices. Their young age was incredibly apparent both in expectations and expressions. And it was their inner voice that kind of irritated because I felt like I was reading the rambling, slightly vapid thoughts of a teenager. Well, in Brandon's case that's an accurate age, but it felt younger, like early high school and I felt that was inappropriate to the life Brandon led. It was immaturity that came across rather than simply youth. Sometimes, especially in Brandon's case, they would seem to break the fourth wall so it was confusing in its narrative because it would jump from describing thoughts, feelings, sights, impressions, etc. to inviting the reader in as if they were talking to us specifically. The flow wasn't exactly smooth.
If we took out the drama, the government involvement, the Grant bits of the story, I don't believe there was enough development of the characters or their relationship to support the story's intent. We get distracted by all the stuff going on around and behind the scenes and lose sight of the actual relationship building stuff that will make me believe they're solid, healing, and good for the long-haul.
Overall though, the story was nice with surprisingly little angst and a lot of honesty. The language and voice were less-than awesome, but I didn't not like the story and while I thought there could have been more balance and depth, it was a pleasant read.
January 20, 2020
A good debut novel.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's a powerful story that kept my attention, especially after about the half-way mark. At times it was so gripping that I was actually holding my breath. It really is a good debut novel.
The book is broken down into ten parts which I found to be a bit strange but I guess it did help to have the sections focus on different aspects of the story. It's written in first-person with each chapter being told by one of several different characters.
The story starts out with good Samaritan, Michelangelo, coming to the aid of Brandon when he is being harassed on the beach. From there it goes into a lot of things – almost too many things in my opinion.
There is an awful lot of repetitive information about Michelangelo's work (he's a bit of a mathematical genius); I felt this caused the story to get a bit bogged down in areas. I really enjoyed the thriller/suspense aspect of the story which really heated up about 80% of the way through. The fact that it took until 80% is why I couldn't give this book more than 4 stars.
The last 20% was so intense and then it just kind of ended. I know all books have to end eventually, and this was already a very long one, but to have it end so abruptly left me feeling cheated. I invested many hours reading Damaged Hearts and to have it end without really letting us know how the two main characters get on was very anticlimactic to me. I wish I could say more but to give specific details would reveal way too much about the story and I don't do spoilers.
This is the second book that I've read recently that left me feeling cheated by the abrupt ending. It's the author's first book, and there are more planned for this series, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that the next book will give us a bit more of Brandon and Michelangelo.
I know this review may have sounded too much on the negative side so I want to end on a positive note. I'm not at all sorry that I read this book even though I was a bit dissatisfied with the ending. I would definitely read more from this new author
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's a powerful story that kept my attention, especially after about the half-way mark. At times it was so gripping that I was actually holding my breath. It really is a good debut novel.
The book is broken down into ten parts which I found to be a bit strange but I guess it did help to have the sections focus on different aspects of the story. It's written in first-person with each chapter being told by one of several different characters.
The story starts out with good Samaritan, Michelangelo, coming to the aid of Brandon when he is being harassed on the beach. From there it goes into a lot of things – almost too many things in my opinion.
There is an awful lot of repetitive information about Michelangelo's work (he's a bit of a mathematical genius); I felt this caused the story to get a bit bogged down in areas. I really enjoyed the thriller/suspense aspect of the story which really heated up about 80% of the way through. The fact that it took until 80% is why I couldn't give this book more than 4 stars.
The last 20% was so intense and then it just kind of ended. I know all books have to end eventually, and this was already a very long one, but to have it end so abruptly left me feeling cheated. I invested many hours reading Damaged Hearts and to have it end without really letting us know how the two main characters get on was very anticlimactic to me. I wish I could say more but to give specific details would reveal way too much about the story and I don't do spoilers.
This is the second book that I've read recently that left me feeling cheated by the abrupt ending. It's the author's first book, and there are more planned for this series, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that the next book will give us a bit more of Brandon and Michelangelo.
I know this review may have sounded too much on the negative side so I want to end on a positive note. I'm not at all sorry that I read this book even though I was a bit dissatisfied with the ending. I would definitely read more from this new author
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
February 8, 2020
This book took a bit to get through. This is a is a good book to read. It is a little different from the books I normally read. Michelangelo saves a young man on the streets. Bran is homeless and agrees to go home with Michelangelo. These two warm up to each other. Their hearts are trying to bring them together. Great book to read.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 26, 2019
I am an avid reader and I've read a lot of good books in my day, but Damaged Hearts is one that will stick with me for a long time. It's simply awesome. There's so much to love about this book! I'm new to the M/M genre, so I don't know if it comports to the conventions of the genre, but for me, it took me on an exhilarating ride from start to finish. Let's start at the beginning:
So when we meet Bran, the 19-year-old homeless guy, he's on a rambling 1st person rant. It was pretty funny. But the thing that stood out about his character right from the beginning is that even though he is homeless, he wasn't bitter about it. Later on in the book, the other MC, Michelangelo (I love the names), said the same thing. He wasn't cynical and he has a pretty witty, self-deprecating sense of humor. And when he was talking about his time in the military, he was so matter-of-fact about it. Like it was no big deal. But we later learn that it was kind of a big deal. A real big deal.
And when we first meet Michelangelo, he's pretty mysterious. Turns out he's some kind of computer geek for NSA. When he sees Bran getting bullied by a group of @#4-hole frat boys, he steps in. It kind of happens out of left field, but we later understand why he did what he did. It's also a hell of a way to open the story and set up the major characters.
There is some heat in some of the love scenes, but it's done so well, so natural, so (almost) innocent, you feel for the guys (who both think they are straight). And there are some emotional scenes that made me just burst into tears. That's never happened to me before. Too many books try too hard to be emotional and you can see it coming from a mile away. But Bran and Michelangelo, once you know what they've both been through, they have earned the right to cry. And you will too.
If there's one book you read in this genre, it should be this one. Unbelievably powerful. Funny at times. Twists that you'll never see coming. And an ending that will leave you breathless (if that's a thing). I'd give it 10 stars if I could!
So when we meet Bran, the 19-year-old homeless guy, he's on a rambling 1st person rant. It was pretty funny. But the thing that stood out about his character right from the beginning is that even though he is homeless, he wasn't bitter about it. Later on in the book, the other MC, Michelangelo (I love the names), said the same thing. He wasn't cynical and he has a pretty witty, self-deprecating sense of humor. And when he was talking about his time in the military, he was so matter-of-fact about it. Like it was no big deal. But we later learn that it was kind of a big deal. A real big deal.
And when we first meet Michelangelo, he's pretty mysterious. Turns out he's some kind of computer geek for NSA. When he sees Bran getting bullied by a group of @#4-hole frat boys, he steps in. It kind of happens out of left field, but we later understand why he did what he did. It's also a hell of a way to open the story and set up the major characters.
There is some heat in some of the love scenes, but it's done so well, so natural, so (almost) innocent, you feel for the guys (who both think they are straight). And there are some emotional scenes that made me just burst into tears. That's never happened to me before. Too many books try too hard to be emotional and you can see it coming from a mile away. But Bran and Michelangelo, once you know what they've both been through, they have earned the right to cry. And you will too.
If there's one book you read in this genre, it should be this one. Unbelievably powerful. Funny at times. Twists that you'll never see coming. And an ending that will leave you breathless (if that's a thing). I'd give it 10 stars if I could!
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