Unforgiven

By: Ruth Clampett

Narrated by: Eric London, Iggy Toma

Would you live a lie to hold onto the one you love?

Dean and Jason are best friends, like brothers since boyhood, now architecture students and college roommates. They've always had each other's back, but when one walks in on the other with another man, everything changes. How do you explain to your best friend that he's the one you've always wanted, that until now your life has been a lie?

Desperation and shame are two dirty words that run through Jason's veins. He carries the scars from a wayward priest who stole his innocence and left him shattered. Meanwhile for years he's watched Dean pursuing woman after woman, as his own heart slowly breaks.

When their world blows apart, they learn the powerful bond between them has more fire than either understood. Can two broken souls find the light in their darkness and come together to make a whole, or will sins of the past be forever unforgiven?

©2017 Ruth Clampett (P)2017 Tantor

Hooked

Loved it! Loved it so much I stayed up hours past bedtime to finish it. Narration was good and drew me in. Loved the storyline. Love Dean and JJ. Great wrap up! I would love to watch the movie!

Too much is never enough

This is my second, and definitely last book by Ruth Clampett. While I’m rating it one star higher than my first book, if her’s, it was an unbearable mishmash of ideas that become a series of predictable burdens to bear.

While I found that the combination of Iggy Toma and Eric London worked on a higher level, I was so disappointed in London’s limp voiced reading of this story that I couldn’t believe he was the same narrator I loved in Clampett’s other MM romance. His dithering, nearly passive voices for both characters were in complete contrast to their descriptions. I wanted to stop several times but managed to persevere.

The book itself. This book was published several months before Encore. I despised Encore for giving an incredibly unlikable main in Charlie. While Jason isn’t as horrible as Charlie, he is nearly as unlikable, more exhausting.

The premise should be simple. Jason is a college senior who is rooming with his childhood best friend Dean. On the surface, both guys are busy ladies men on campus, and sharing a dream of becoming architects. However Jason has a secret. Well, he has many, but the one that is set to cause the most trouble is that he is secretly gay and in love with Dean. In most MM romance, that is enough.

However, Clampett prefers to literally drown her readers in storyline. Jason is also keeping secrets about being abused by a priest, and that he also has a short lived encounter with a camp counselor - all while a minor. Add in his overbearing religious mother and Jason is the full package.

Elements of the story work, but Clampett doesn’t seem able to help herself. The preview blurb informs the reader that Dean walks in on Jason. Well, he sure does. Mere pages into the book. We begin the dance. First Dean is repulsed and angry. He’s cruel to Jason. Then Jason begins playing games with Dean, putting Dean in awkward situations. All the while Jason is having graphic flashbacks to his abuse.

There is so much sex in this book. Dean with women, Jason recalling being with women, their childhood circle jerks, Jason and fellow student Ramon (who I am convinced shows up in the other book), then Jason and Dean, then add in Jason’s very graphic recollections. It’s too much.

Jason also falls into that trap of a trope that he’s unworthy of being loved, that his abuse was his fault. Had Clampett wanted to explore this seriously, great. Instead there is a side trip to a dungeon. He becomes so cringey that I flipped to preferring Dean - who was a tiresome douche for much of the first part of the book. I think she believes going all in all the time is the right recipe. That works for people who need to be constantly stimulated and pulled back and forth. But I think most of us want a bit more substance.

I do not recommend.

omg

this story was so amazing!!!
I listened from start to finish in 1 day!
for sure saved in my favorites

good

great book. had me crying at some parts of the book. but over all its one of my favorites.

Good!

Loved my first adventure with this author. The story was well paced, the characters had depth and growth from begining to end, a ND it took me on a journey. I can't wait to see what this author has in store for me next!

Pleasant surprise

I had this book on my TBR list for a long time. I finally listened and I’m so glad I did. I hated Dean through half the book, but then he turned it around. He was there for Jason when he needed him most. You won’t regret it if you spend a credit on this book, go for it.

Bff to lovers

I was not a fan of Dean in the beginning. He could never really seem to see Jason even though they were almost inseparable. But he too comes around and becomes a better friend to Jason. I loved the ending. The narration was super great. I will always be the biggest fan of Iggy Toma. I melt when he speaks!!!

What a ride!

Wow! What a book. Jason and dean have been friends since they were little. There relationship turns romantic, and hold on because it is a ride. There were happy moments, sad moments, and down right hot 🔥🔥moments. I couldn't put the book down! As for the narrators they nailed it! They both did a awesome job!! I can't wait to read more by this author !!!!

Maybe worth a credit.

It reads like it used to be a fanfiction. So much that I think I can guess the fandom.

Decent listen~

This story is spicy~ and almost immediately, no slow burner here. I love it! The plot is a little intense, and the ending seemed detached somehow, but overall it was still interesting and easy to listen to. The voice actor that narrates Jason straight up sounds like a young Nathan Lane haha, that being said they both did a good job, though their female voices are not the best. But given that it’s about two dudes, it’s not a big deal. Overall, it’s a great story and would definitely recommend listening to it!