Boystown, Season Four

Previously in Boystown:  Max and Emmet opened up their new restaurant/club, but Ben had other plans. To get revenge on all the people who he believed had wronged him, Ben locked all the doors to the club from the outside and planted a bomb in the basement - the only problem was, he got trapped in the basement with the bomb! As the grand opening celebration began, there was an explosion, and fire began to consume the building with all the party-goers trapped inside...

This was the perfect "season" cliffhanger, so I was definitely ready to pick up book four (or should I say "season" four) to find out who died, who survived, and whose lives are forever changed by the fire. Plus, we can't forget that Derek was shot at the end of book three and left to die, bleeding out onto the sidewalk in front of his home. Did he survive? Author Jake Biondi is the perfect soap opera writer! This man knows how to write drama, how to draw the reader into these outrageous situations, and how to keep the suspense and mystery going without drawing the stories out too long. There are plenty of jaw-dropping moments, plenty of racy and heated sexual encounters, and plenty of over-the-top soap opera tropes that left me smiling and wanting for more. Betrayals, lies, secrets, break-ups, cheats, schemes, attempted murders, blackmails, and so much more - I quite honestly have found myself liking this series more than Dynasty, The Colbys, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, Dallas, or any of the other nighttime soaps!

Every except _____ manages to escape the fire (you didn't really think I was going to reveal that, did you??), but some do not escape unscathed.  Logan has severe burns on his body that leave him scarred for life, and not just physically. Will his and Justin's relationship stand the test? Max and Emmet have lost not only their club, but also their home and all of their possessions. Plus, Emmet unknowingly signed away all of his shares to the Mancini family business to Rachel, thanks to the reluctant help of Keith and Jensen, who Rachel blackmailed into assisting her with her twisted plan. And with those shares, Rachel and Marco are set to take over the Mancini business - particularly once Marco reveals the identity of the missing Mancini brother. Biondi played it well, as the revelation comes at the most opportune moment, when everyone is gathered and the most amount of lives will be affected - particularly when it is revealed there is not one, but TWO brothers!

Meanwhile, Joyelle is revealed to be pregnant, which could change the life of either Tyler or Derek forever, depending on who the father is. Of course, with any good soap, nothing is what it seems, and the shocking identity of the father is certainly a revelation worth waiting for!

And speaking of poor Derek. He does survive the shooting, but the mystery remains - who tried to kill him? His brother, Justin, becomes the prime suspect when his gun is found not far from the crime scene. But Justin claims to be innocent. Is he?  Has he truly changed his ways? And how will this affect his upcoming nuptials to Gino Ciancio?  As this is going on, David is beginning his new relationship with Cole, who has finally put Derek behind him.  But has he really?  When Derek's divorce becomes final, who will Cole choose?  And speaking of relationships, Michael's comes to an end when he finds out the secret that Keith has been keeping from him.  Can Keith survive without Michael in his life?

As if all this were not enough, Michael's brother Mateo arrives on the scene as the new Chief of Staff at the hospital.  He bring his son, Hugo, with him. Hugo is harboring a secret from his father, though - he is gay. And just as he and Jensen begin to date, Rachel appears on the scene.  Only, she's not just out for Mateo - she has her eyes set on his son as well!

All of these relationships and machinations come crashing together as Season Four reaches its conclusion, giving readers not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR cliffhangers!  Someone is pushed over a balcony to land on the hard concrete far below ... someone who is pregnant has sharp pains stabbing through her abdomen as she collapses ... someone trying to escape his past is hit by a car, his body thrown in the air, only to land on the asphalt where a pool of blood forms around him ... and a wedding party takes off in a plane that is headed for disaster!  Oh, and did I happen to mention that there is a villainous return from the dead at the end of the book that definitely sets the stage for Season Five!

Biondi has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He brings his characters to life and makes them believable, despite the crazy situations and constant partner-hopping; and all the mystery, murder, and mayhem keep my turning page after page - it's nearly impossible to put the book down until I've finished it!  Thank God this is not a television show, where I would have to wait six months or more to see what happens next.  Instead, I can just go pick up the next book and start reading to see how these cliffhangers get resolved!

RATING:  9 totally unexpected birthday gifts out of 10 for keeping the twists and turns coming and making Alexis and J.R. appear tame compared to these guys!