Pedophilia is an unforgivable crime and the author handles the subject well in this terrific romantic mystery. Felix and Cal are wonderful main characters even with their scars and baggage. Robby was a good wounded hero who lost his innocence too cruelly. Hot sex scenes balance the outrageous crimes well. Highly recommended. ( )

I had mixed feelings about this book.
It's certainly pertinent in the current climate of sex scandals and powerful men abusing the vulnerable and people whose lives they can control.
I adored Felix and I thought he was far too forgiving of Cal's anger at the start.
Cal, however, annoyed me somewhat. I thought he lacked something as a wannabe investigative journalist. He failed to ask obvious questions or join some pretty easy dots, even if only in assumptions. And since we were only in his pov and therefore things were reveal to us at the same time as him the fact that I put things together about half a book in front of him was disappointing.
I also had an issue with the Aunt's response to events. If that had been me I'd have been raging and out for blood in the reveal scene, not gently scolding Cal for innuendo.

I had mixed feelings about this book.
It's certainly pertinent in the current climate of sex scandals and powerful men abusing the vulnerable and people whose lives they can control.
I adored Felix and I thought he was far too forgiving of Cal's anger at the start.
Cal, however, annoyed me somewhat. I thought he lacked something as a wannabe investigative journalist. He failed to ask obvious questions or join some pretty easy dots, even if only in assumptions. And since we were only in his pov and therefore things were reveal to us at the same time as him the fact that I put things together about half a book in front of him was disappointing.
I also had an issue with the Aunt's response to events. If that had been me I'd have been raging and out for blood in the reveal scene, not gently scolding Cal for innuendo.

Demolished is a romance with mystery elements set among college students in the vividly described setting of Bellingham, Washington State. It unfolds in the third-person viewpoint of a likable hero Cal who is studying to become an investigative journalist when he's not trying to fulfill his sexual fantasy of having a handsome man forcing rough sex upon him. Featuring hot sex between our heroes, humorous dialog, and a fast pace, the novella successfully balances its upbeat tone with its more serious themes of drug abuse and exploitation.

The story begins with Cal almost succeeding in fulfilling his fantasy - until he realizes that his love interest, whom he met online, is someone he already knows in conjunction with a tragic accident back in high school. Overcome with shock, he walks out, but is unable to stop thinking about the other young man Felix. Meanwhile, his sixteen year-old cousin Robby appears to be getting into serious trouble involving drugs and a sexually predatory older man. Soon Cal has his hands full trying to negotiate his new relationship with Felix while attempting to track down the source of Robby's problems.

Val for AReCafe ( )

Loved this. Total scooby mystery, with some pretty serious undertones and a scorchingly hot relationship. These boys were SO grubby. Loved it. I really enjoyed Cal as a character, but it was Felix and his moody dark hair that totally stole the show. Maybe his assets too. Heh. This was such a great story and definite re read material. I've been wrapped up in it all day. Seriously smutty, hot and hugely entertaining. ( )