Sounds like the absolute perfect description of a nighttime soap opera, along the lines of Dynasty, Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, and the rest. And if that is what you were thinking, you'd be absolutely right! Boystown is definitely a soap opera, set in the lively Chicago neighborhood referred to as Boystown. The only thing is, this Boystown, you won't find on your television. You see, this Boystown, written by Jake Biondi, is a soap opera in novel form. Biondi even goes so far as to refer to each book as a "season," and each chapter is called an "Episode." I've had these on my Amazon watch list for a while (there are eight in publication so far), and I finally took the plunge and bought the first season and read it.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I can't believe how perfectly Biondi is able to capture the feel of a nighttime soap! The perfect mix of romance, drama, betrayal, lies, greed, and secrets that could crumble an empire. It seems everyone has something to hide, and sooner or later the worlds of these characters begin to collide, and when they do, secrets are bound to come out with devastating results. And the reason I am screaming "NO!" so loudly is because Biondi also ends the book just like every nighttime soap has done since Dallas kicked it off with that jaw-dropping, shocking cliffhanger, "Who Shot J.R.?" Just as I got caught up in the characters and storylines, not only does the first season end, but it ends with a Maldavian-massacre-esque cliffhanger that leaves the reader wondering - who lived? who died? and whose lives will never be the same?
- Derek has a weekend tryst with Cole while away on business, unaware that Cole has taken a picture of his driver's license and now knows where he lives...
- Keith is preparing to propose to Emmett on New Year's Eve, but he soon becomes concerned when a dangerous voice from his past begins to make his presence known...
- Logan is an alcoholic who cannot control his liquor intake, and Max is reaching the limit of how much more he can take...
- Jesse has been sleeping with Ben Donovan, but now that he is graduating, he ends things with Ben - but Ben is not quite ready to let Jesse go...
- Cole convinces Jesse to let him find them an apartment in Chicago - and the one he finds is conveniently just across the street from the "happily" married Mancinis...
- Jesse is hired by Logan's firm, and Jesse is immediately attracted to his new boss, not caring he is partnered...
- Ben places a tracker in Jesse's phone that lets him know where his obsession is at all times, while at the same time, slowly seduces Jesse's mother...
And if all of those juicy tidbits aren't enough to pull you in, Keith's past catches up to him in the worst possible way when Emmett goes missing! Mismatched as they all may be, they pull together to try and find their missing friend. And if there were not enough secrets being hidden, Derek and Emmett's brother, Justin, shows up to help with the search - but what in the world is he doing with that gun in his suitcase? And can Officer Michael Martinez, who begins to develop an attraction for Keith, help them find Emmett before it's too late? (Well, the only thing I will tell you is, remember - this is a soap opera with a big season finale cliffhanger!) It's Dante's Cove meets Dynasty meets General Hospital (with a little bit of Soap thrown in for good measure)!
***NOTE - I do have to provide a disclaimer, as the book does contain some very explicit sex scenes, but thankfully they are quick (no pun intended there) and do not detract from the story.
RATING: 8 gold and silver wedding rings out of 10 for creating a world of characters that you want to like and hate at the same time, and for drawing you into the story just in time to leave you hanging - literally!
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