Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Aaron Downing worshiped his mother. She saved his life. She did everything for him. But Anthony Downing has a different perspective. He sees the woman who tossed him into a basement for eight long years and forgot he existed. When Anthony decides he’s done being invisible, he packs up and heads for Detroit to stay with his Internet friend Jay, but fate intervenes.

Brendan Mears lost everything the day the man with a gun came into his father’s store. Now, he’s tethered to a business he can’t manage and a brother who resents him.

Different in all the ways that matter, Anthony and Brendan struggle to overcome their psychological obstacles, until a crushing betrayal sends them running for cover and each other.

Book Review

'Anthony' is book four in J.P. Barnaby's highly emotional series 'Survivor Stories'. Anthony is Aaron's youngest brother and I definitely got more insight into him in Spencer's story and, to a degree, I could empathize with his situation. Going into this book I was really hoping the author could help heal Anthony and help the family, as a whole, get to a better place.

I had to keep reminding myself that Anthony was only a month away from eighteen years old. That age was a long time ago for me and a huge part of me wanted to tell him to grow up, get over it, deal with it, etc. But Anthony is still a teenager and when he was nine years old his brother Aaron came home from the hospital so messed up that Anthony and his other brother, Allen, were moved to the basement. Anthony was a little boy who didn't understand and all he knows is that for the last eight years he's been invisible. He has so much anger and resentment built up for his parents, for Aaron, and even for Allen, that it's no wonder he makes a stupid decision and leaves his home looking for someone he believes will put him as their number one priority.

Anthony doesn’t know it but when his car breaks down in front of Mears Liquors, his entire life is about to change, and he has the possibility of being happy. Patrick is living every day the same with no other options and no way to get out. His brother, Brendan, is the one who wanted to run the store, but after the madman came in, shot and killed his father, and shot Brendan leaving him there to watch his father die, Brendan no longer leaves his house. He's scared of all the what ifs that can happen outside his home. So he spends his days watching his brother in the store via computer and the store security cameras and he drinks a lot.

Patrick hires Anthony as a stocker since his car repairs are going to be a lot and he still refuses to call his parents. Not that I blame him since two days have gone by and they haven't even tried to email him. Patrick asks Anthony to go be at his brother's house for some repairmen coming and well… somehow Anthony and Brendan end up having sex. When you're bored and horny anything can happen. The funny thing was the feelings that seem to erupt within them both which is how they become friends with benefits and then more.

I loved this book probably more than all of the other installments except for 'Ben'. It was amazing watching Anthony grow up, but even more so was seeing him find people who loved him, who wanted to be with him, who thought he had worthwhile things to contribute to their lives. The inevitable confrontation came with his family and it turned out better than I thought it would. Thank you, J.P., this was everything I needed it to be.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 200 pages/65834 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-June-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/anthony-by-jp-barnaby-7195-b