Book Review: Finding Zach by Rowan Speedwell

Title: Finding Zach
Series: Finding Zach, Book 1
Author: Rowan Speedwell
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: May 2010 by Dreamspinner Press

For five years, Zach Tyler, son of one of the worlds richest software moguls, was held hostage, tortured, and abused. When he is rescued at last from the Venezuelan jungle, he is physically and psychologically shattered, but he slowly begins to rebuild the life he should have had before an innocent kiss sent him into hell. His childhood best friend David has lived those years with overwhelming guilt and grief. Every relationship David has tried has fallen apart because of his feelings for a boy he thought dead. When Zach is rescued, David is overjoyed and then crushed when Zach shuts him out. Two years later, David returns home, and he and Zach must come to terms with the rift between them, what they feel for each other, and what their future could hold. But Zach has secrets, and one of them might well destroy their fragile love.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Heart-wrenching book about a troubled lead finding some life peace. Readers with triggers should skip this book but others will enjoy the angst-filled romance.

The Set Up: Zach’s family owns the world’s richest and foremost software company but it didn’t save him from five years of captivity filled with abuse and torture. Two years after his rescue, Zach comes home to reunite with David, the love of his teenage years, but can Zach and David ever have a relationship?

Why I Read this Book: I read a recent release of this author and really enjoyed it so am working through her backlist.

What I Liked: This author pulled no punches with Zach’s recovery and that made this book for me. If an author sets up a character like Zach who has been kidnapped, abused and tortured for five years, then this needs to change him and the people who care about him forever. How they’re all changed and how they build new relationships is what this story should be about it—and it is. Foremost is the relationship between Zach and David who have a long history together. Fifteen year old Zach admitted his feelings for eighteen year old David and this starts the events which lead to his captivity. Now seven years later, Zach’s ability to connect with David and David to Zach is what is in question. Zach’s realistic issues with intimacy, both sexual and emotional, are brilliant laid out and never swept under the rug. Does this mean readers will be frustrated as Zach makes a step toward David only to pull back? Yep, but when David finally is able to knock down Zach’s walls it will be more emotionally rewarding for the long, hard road to get there.

What I Also Liked: As I said, this novel focuses on rebuilding relationships and this was brilliantly done. Zach’s relationship with his parents, Dick and Jane, is part of the story and I thought that exceptional storytelling. David’s relationship with his mother and with Dick and Jane, who he grew up with, are also part of the story and community of people trying to rebuild after the horror of Zach’s kidnapping which hurt them all.

I love that the author didn’t rush Zach’s healing in the least but let it unfold organically. A therapist is part of the rebuilding for Zach and his parents and includes David. How Zach finds a new life and how David supports him is so well done and kept the integrity of this difficult story.

What I Didn’t Like: Readers should be aware this novel has graphic accounts of Zach’s torture and abuse. Then, as with many abuse survivors, Zach has issues with sexuality that may be triggering or difficult for readers to read. I never felt like this abuse was used for sexual titillation but to tell who Zach’s character is now.

IMO: This isn’t an easy read as I was deeply invested in Zach’s recovery and his relationship with David as adult men trying to build a life together. If MM readers like angst-filled, emotional romance and can read a character surviving horrendous abuse, then I recommend this novel.

J9’s Rating:

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