Xylophone by KZ Snow ~ Book Review ~

Title: Xylophone

Author: KZ Snow

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publication Status: Available

Genre: M/M Romance, Contemporary Romance

Themes: Hurt/Comfort, GLBT, Abuse

ISBN: 978-1-62380-258-5

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

From the Publisher:

Daren Boothe's most significant secret centers on an unlikely object: a xylophone. That secret led him to develop his professional alter-ego, a sensual, androgynous dancer. When Dare begins his second (and considerably more wholesome) job playing clarinet in a polka band, he meets a young man who takes his grandmother out dancing. But Dare knows the man has his own secret.

Jonah Day immediately recognizes the clarinetist. Three years earlier they crossed paths in a therapist's office, but they both abandoned that route to mental health. Neither was ready then to open up about the psychological traumas that haunted them.

In an attempt to heal their wounds, Dare and Jonah turn to each other. Understanding and empathy come instantly, accompanied by ambivalence about their growing attraction. But the repercussions of victimization are many. Soon, the very experiences Dare and Jonah share threaten to drive them apart.

My View:

KZ Snow's Xylophone is a powerful and engaging look into the life left behind for the victims by pedophiles. Jonah and Dare both have horrors in their past. They come together to try to overcome them, but first they must relive them. Snow uses a combination of 3rd person narrative and first person flashbacks to tell the story of these two brave men. Each were victimized as children. Each found a less than ideal way to cope. Each needs the other in order to be able to "Play past the past".

I love that phrase "Play past the past" it indicates taking an active role in ones recovery. Confronting one's demons and moving on. Which is exactly what the main characters of this book do. Xylophone takes on a very sensitive subject matter with grace and sensitivity. There were no tears or angsty moments. Xylophone is a slow burn romance filled with healing, tenderness, and caring.

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This book was personally purchased by myself and not provided by the publisher or author in any form.