Review: Fields of Gold by Dev Bentham

Fields of Gold (Tarnished Souls #2) by Dev Bentham
Loose-Id
Novella: 119pgs
3.75 Pants Off (Almost A 4)

Blurb:
Life is full of compromises. That's what Avi Rosen tells himself. He's a yeshiva boy turned historian, working on his dissertation and stretching his meager stipend by moonlighting as a closeted politician's houseboy. Their relationship used to feel like a real affair. Lately it seems more like a job.

It isn't until he meets someone decent that he realizes how corrupt his life has become. Pete is a tall blond farmer who charms Avi with his dazzling smile and his straightforward life. But even if he can believe this refreshingly honest man doesn't have his own political agenda, will Avi find the strength to emerge from the dark life he's chosen and find a future in the sun


Review:
Avi Rosen is a struggling student, both financially and emotionally. He has been working on his dissertation for years and sees no end in sight. When he gets hit by a van and is thrown off his bicycle, he is rescued by Pete a good-looking farmer with a beautiful smile. There is only one problem; Avi has a complicated relationship with a closeted politician. Though lately it’s more business deal than a relationship. He is a glorified kept boy who doesn't have to worry about where to live.

So meeting Pete has Avi questioning many things. Like wanting a real relationship, going outside with your lover, and just being together. Instead of just this dirty little secret, but as Avi would say, "It’s complicated". Doesn’t mean he can’t get to know Pete and experience what he has to offer. Even though he might end up breaking the man’s heart, and his own.

I like this story but then there are things that make me like it less. I find the author always manages to push already skeevy situations and make them a bit more dirty. Avi is character that has to grow on you, he is not easily likable and it's hard to feel sympathetic towards him. Eventually I did warn up to him, because he's a little jaded and a whole lot of naive.

I think this should have been a bit longer, I am dissatisfied with the ending. Without spoiling, there was this big thing about organic for farmers that affected Pete and then it was glossed over by the end. I felt like yeh, he has Avi now but what about his business. It was an important point of the plot that later felt insignificant. I am just really curious about how it would have affected him.

Overall, I liked the story but I didn't love it. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book. Pete and Avi are cute but they needed a bit more to solidify their relationship. I feel like Pete is a getting a bad deal, cus Avi was so skeevy for a bit. In the long Dev does write a nice story that always brings out strong emotions in me.

Review: Book #1 Learning From Isaac