Broken Boys Despise Deceit by JB Heller is a new adult, second chance, love triangle, contemporary romance involving a friends with benefits arrangement gone wrong.
Broken Boys Despise Deceit is the third book in the Broken Boys series, and can be read on its own or enjoyed in series order. Now pay special attention to that "enjoyed in series order" comment. If you want the full effect of story, you really do need to go and read the first two books. Trust me on that. Otherwise there could be a little confusion. Especially when it comes to Kass.
Typically this is where I would recap the story. But honestly, the description that JB Heller has created, perfectly sets the stage. It tells you what you need to know without telling you the full story. So I apologize, but I'm going to skip the recap this time around. I'm afraid of spilling too many details, when in reality it's best for the reader to experience this book just knowing what the description says. Does that make sense? I think it does.
Broken Boys Despise Deceit was a quick read, but definitely had some harder topics discussed throughout. From Scout's traumatic past, to the health issues that Mase's dad was facing, to the emotional issues that both characters were dealing with, it was just a lot. Kass definitely has some issues as well, but his were not as pronounced as the other two. I enjoyed just about every moment of it. I will admit tears fell a couple times, but I chalk that up to me being an emotional reader.
Mase struggles with wanting a happily ever after. Quite frankly he doesn't believe in them.
"Finding a decent woman is like finding Willy Wonka's golden ticket."
But it has been years since he's witnessed what a loving relationship could be. So he doesn't have that exposure. He doesn't have the knowledge of what a true love can be. Mase is perfectly content keeping it to friends with benefits. Nothing more is needed. That is until he catches feelings, and it freaks him out.
Speaking of a FWB relationship, that is exactly what he and Scout have had for the last year. It's working out great for both of them. That is until one night when everything changes.
Mase and I, we're like two forces of nature coming together to create a beautiful cataclysmic event. It's big, it's beautiful, it's loud, it's completely devastating, it's us.
Friends, we are getting our moment of conflict early on in this book. And everything that happens after this point is just setting the ball in motion. Things are about to change, and no one is really going to be the same. Is that a bit dramatic? Eh, maybe. But it's also truthful. Once you read the book, you'll understand.
Now you're probably wondering, where does Kass come into play in this story? Well...Kass arrives on scene right after the moment of conflict. It's who Scout calls when she needs a ride to urgent care. She tried calling her bestie Chance, but Chance was a bit "busy" with Carter. Kass has had a crush on Scout for a while now, but she doesn't feel the same way.
I wish I could fall for someone like Kass. He's sweet, caring, and kinda sexy in a hot nerd way.
So when she turned to him in a time of pain, that relationship, that friendship, changed. And what transpired has the potential to change her friendship with Chance as well. Therefore it's of no surprise what Scout chose to do next.
And what happened next changed Mase completely. He became more focused on helping train Zeke, and he started going rounds with Trick. It worked out well because Trick had some issues he needed to work out in the ring as well, so having Mase to spar with worked out perfectly. As Mase deals with his dad's declining health, his time at the gym increases even more so. Then there's the fact that only ONE person knows where Scout is, and all that person will say is that she's safe and doesn't want to be found.
Flash forward a year. Chance and Carter just received news about a baby girl, and Mase is excited to be an uncle. Although he has no clue what to do with a baby. Carter tells Mase all about the baby, and how she has down syndrome just like Carter's sister Bella. Mase is overjoyed about his best friend's news, and decides to do a little shopping to spoil the baby. Zeke tags along for the adventure, and he also let's Mase know that Milo, his partner, is offering to do pallative care for his dad. So when the time comes, he has someone in his corner. While the guys are finishing up their shopping spree at Target, a woman walks by with a baby strapped to her chest. Mase would know that woman anywhere. It's Scout. Of course right when they are beginning their conversation, two things happen. One a panic attack sets in, and two Kass appears and asks a question. From that scene on Scout, Mase, and Kass become a team. They have a mission to accomplish, and it's going to a bit of time to figure it out. Of course they also need to talk to Chance about it all.
That reconnection scene in the Target parking lot doesn't quite sit well with me. The way it all played out just had Scout on the defensive. I don't care for how Mase or Kass acted. All they could think about was themselves. They didn't stop to think about Scout, or little Harley. I'm glad Zeke was there though as he was the only one in control. The other two were just focused on if Harley was theirs or not.
I will say I did like how Scout handled the difficult conversation. She could have easily chose not to share that with the guys. She could have easily just done the test, and said she'd be in touch. Instead they became a team.
The first scene at Carter and Chance's house brought on a little laughter. It lightened the mood just a smidgen. Especially since everyone knew that Chance could sniff out their story, and she did. Chance was immediately curious, and was not taking no for an answer.
The second scene at Carter and Chance's is where the truth came out. Everything was revealed, and it truly was a judgement free zone. I think that Chance was just so excited to have her best friend back in town. She needed her. She missed her. And now they were both moms, and they could do this together.
The scene at the gym brought on the tears. When Trick said what he did, and when Zeke went to call Milo, the tears just started flowing. What can I say, I'm an emotional person.
Mase's community, his surrogate family, now gathered around him. Together they remembered, they celebrated Mase's dad. They gave him the send off he deserved. All his pain was over, and now it left Mase to grieve. Thankfully he had his friends by his side. Of course the fact that his relationship with Scout was getting back on track was just a bonus. These two were going to get their happily ever after. It may have taken a year apart for it to happen, but it was happening.
Loved this book. I will say love triangle isn't my favorite trope, it's actually towards the bottom of the list, but this book was still good. I hope you'll pick it up and give it a read. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Broken Boys Despise Deceit.
Laura
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Cover Design: Tally Story Designs
Photographer: Regina Wamba |
Friends with benefits are all fun and games until someone goes and catches feelings…
Unfortunately, that idiot would be me. I didn’t know how or when it happened, I just knew I couldn’t let it change things between Scout and me.
But with one wrong move, the choice was taken away from me and she skipped town without so much as a goodbye.
For over a year I’m left wondering what made her run. But nothing could have prepared me for the truth. I hate secrets and despise lies, yet she’s guilty of both.
I need to figure out how to trust her again because there's only one thing I know for sure right now... I can't let her slip through my fingers a second time.
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Start from the beginning:
Meet JB Heller
JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her early 30's. She lives on a mini farm with her family and a few cows, sheep, a parrot, cats, fish, dogs, and a butt load of chickens. It's JB's dream to one day add a llama to the mix and an alpaca or two.
She writes across several genre's including RomCom, Romantic Suspense and Contemporary. You can always expect a healthy dose of heat, intrigue and wit in her stories.
Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)
Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.
Thank you to J.B. Heller, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Broken Boys Despise Deceit.
