Bare

Graphic, Heavy, Uncomfortable, Memorable

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Overall cover design is underwhelming. The background color behind a pale model that does not fit the description of Ev (at all!) and the font choices are so bland and unappealing. What caught my eye was the vivid splashes of "paint" on the model. What kept my attention was the synopsis. It sounded deep, thrilling, heart-pounding.
> > Looking Deeper < <
Third-person POV.
::: NOTE :::
Subject matter is heavy and more SENSITIVE READERS NEED TO BE WARNED. It contains GRAPHIC scenes of molestation, abduction, abuse, drugging, manipulation, torture... as well as (mostly) consensual sexual acts leading to and including D/s kink.

What you see is not always what you get. Lately, I've been selecting books based on synopsis that really take a left turn while reading them. This one would be included in that pile.
Ev is vulnerable. He's been living in fear all of his life, fear of his own identity and sexuality. Raised in a midwest Political family that firmly endorsed a Brainwash the Sinners camp, one that is NEVER to be spoken of, he finds it difficult now as a college student away from their all-seeing community to find himself. It's not until he finds an ad, a chance to make some extra cash, that things start falling into place.
Adam is a summer art teacher that happens upon the live nude class that Ev's posing for. Adam makes Ev an offer that Ev's unsure why he can't seem to refuse.
Often times, I felt that Adam was taking advantage of and exploiting Ev's insecurities and vulnerabilities to benefit himself under the guise of aiding Ev in coming to terms of who and what he is. It was heavy, deep, sometimes dark and gritty. It was, occasionally, uncomfortable to read. Ev's journey is painful to read at times, and the flow is often slow and weighted down by the seriousness of the content.
There were not many true secondary characters until the later half of the book. Secondary characters were strong but not overpowering. There was a ton of angst, inner turmoil, and outside conflicts hitting Ev and Adam at an almost constant rate, but by the end, things were handled and settled. The conclusion provided a solid and mostly satisfying implied HEA, but does not provide a flash-forward glimpse past graduation or anything else.
It's hard to say if this is something I would recommend since it went in such a different direction almost from the start, but I can say with all certainty that it WILL be one that stays with me and keeps me thinking, so for that alone... yes, I would suggest it to readers that enjoy a darker, grittier novel and are not squeamish, easily offended, or too sensitive to handle some of the things that are done in this story.
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Rating: [R+] ~ Score: 4.0 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book as a raffle prize, gifted to me from Sinfully Gay with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐