Series: Promises
Volume: 1/?Publisher: -
Genre/s: MM romance
Length: -
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✰✰
Axel has been living on the street for quite a long time, but thanks to the fact that he's really clever, he manages to get a job at Judd Racing. It's his chance to get back on his feet and take revenge on a man who unwittingly made him homeless – Elliott Judd. However, the realization of his plan would have been much easier if it weren't for the unbelievably attractive Florian, since the two of them are immediately attracted to each other. And if that was not enough, sexual desires quickly turn into something much more serious.
"Secrets and Broken Pieces" is the first volume of the new series "Promises", which is a spin-off of the "Commitment" series. Thus, it is our another meeting with the characters we know well or just a little, many of whom have already managed to conquer our hearts. And so at the beginning of this review I would like to focus on this topic as in "Secrets and Broken Pieces" Karen Botha presented the two main characters in a really interesting way. I have the impression that the common point of their creation is strength. However, it should be noted that it differs depending on whether we are dealing with Axel or Florian. It is also worth mentioning that in each of these cases it is combined with other additional features that characterize the two leads.
For starters, let's take a look at the creation of Axel. In his case, the motif of strength turns out to be the most important one and it influences the way the character is build and how we see him. The author emphasized his internal and psychological strength, as on the one hand, he had to be tough to survive on the street, and on the other, he needed strength and determination to change his fate, to climb up starting from the very bottom. What's more, to a certain extent all of this also affects the enhancement of his flaws, such as inaccessibility, pride, stubbornness. As you can see, there is no doubt that Axel is an interesting character, who is starting to evolve in the first volume of the series, so in "Secrets and Broken Pieces".
Florian is another representation of strength that the author presents in her novel. However, in his case the emphasis has been placed on physical strength, which accents his interior, soul and heart. Focusing on his external appearance, we see him as a big, hard, strong man. And it is thanks to all of this that when we have the opportunity to get to know him better, his warmth, trust, and care are all the more noticeable. In this way, the author shows us how much Florian and Axel are different from each other. And while Axel in this novel begins to evolve, Florian seems to grow up, when his ideals and somewhat innocence are confronted with the world which doesn't play fair.
Apart from strength, the subject of trust and betrayal is also of great importance in "Secrets and Broken Pieces". In fact, in this novel we can find two elements that help the story move forward and make our interest in it greater – feelings and the mentioned trust and betrayal. Some may find these two components good enough, while others may think it's not enough, but it all depends on what the reader expects from "Secrets and Broken Pieces". But let's return to the topic mentioned above. Apart from the importance it has for the plot of this volume and to some extent the introduction of the ethical problem to it, trust and betrayal also affect the creation of the characters, as they allow the leads to move forward, start changing themselves. I admit, however, that I would like this topic to be a bit more developed in this installment of the series and followed by a larger and thus more believable drama. That's what I missed a little here.
As a clear disadvantage of "Secrets and Broken Pieces" I consider the "rush of feelings". So little time passes between the mutual physical attraction of our two main characters and the moment of their emotional and romantic commitment, that it was a bit difficult for me to accept it. Sure, I know there are cases in which people fall in love at first sight and this way they find the one true love of their life, but it works in a rather small percentage of cases. Such love is usually like an instant soup – full of unhealthy and harmful additions. Well, it's clearly not my fairy tale.
In summary, "Secrets and Broken Pieces" is not without flaws, but it is definitely a pretty interesting novel that we read quickly and with pleasure. The story itself is not a delightful one, but it doesn't deter the reader, and the diverse and interestingly presented characters have a lot to offer. So I think that this novel is worth giving a chance, regardless of whether you are a fan of the "Commitment" series or not.
Headcanon: Every great fight between Florian and Axel ends with one of them staying in a hotel or in a friend's house for a few days. Then he comes back home and they both act as if nothing happened and the problem didn't exist.
Fanfiction idea: Florian and Axel are on a date when they meet one of Axel's former hook-ups. It turns out that he's a stalker, with whom Axel had problems in the past, and now it all starts again.
AU idea: Fantasy!AU, Axel is a mischievous pixie who moves into King Elliott's castle. The guards must get rid of the problems, but nobody wants to mess with the pixie, so the men decide to draw a straw. Florian's straw is the shortest so he's the one who must get rid of the unbearable creature. If he catches them.
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