Secrets & Lies

Each story is like a legal brief or theory and the book the author writes is the supporting argument. This one was lacking. A case of something being less than the sum of it's parts. [a:Nicky James 1407757 Nicky James https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1457112244p2/1407757.jpg] traces a taboo relationship from cradle to inception, and it's both too much and not enough. Generally, unless it's a PWP story, taboo narratives strive to justify or explain the validity of the relationship. I'm willing to be convinced, but this fell short for me. The first 30% of the book is Rykker dealing with becoming a teenage father to a child who suffers from behavioral & learning issues, coping with uncaring parents, judgmental quasi in-laws, and a disinterested co-parent. The next 30% or so is teenage Creed dealing with a mother who has abandoned him to grandparents who are unwilling to give him the proper medical care he needs, because ... who knows? Perhaps they don't believe in science? It's never quite clear why. Finally our two MCs meet, things happen, and they struggle, mostly Rykker, to understand, and finally accept what they are to one another. More than they ought to be. I felt like Creed's condition, was used as a means of “justifying” his need of Rykker. I never quite saw or believed how Rykker's love mutated from one to another or for that matter why or how did Creed's affection mutate. The final scene, with Toby's gift, was just a step too far in turning a taboo story into a HEA romance with rainbows and roses. My rating reflects the strong writing, the serious research, as relates to Creed's condition, and I really, really liked that this story involved blue collar guys. Not a millionaire in sight. This was my first Nicky James, and though I didn't love it, I'd give this author another go.