Scars on His Heart

'Scars on his Heart' is only the second book that I've read by Jaime Samms but so far this author has truly impressed me. I was intrigued by the blurb for this book, but I was captivated within the first few pages. Neither of the main characters behaved the way I \"assumed\" they would and the story line wasn't very predictable. What a refreshing change of pace.
\"Not for the first time, Joe cursed the day he'd ever discovered this thing in him that longed for the bonds and everything they implied. It did, as Cam had pointed out, change everything.\"
Joe's parents died when he was twelve and he went to live on his uncle Albert and aunt Marie's farm with his cousin and fifteen-year-old Cam. Cam's father worked the farm for almost a year before leaving his five-year-old son there for Albert and Marie to take in. It's the only home Cam has ever known. Joe has come home after five years away at college and he's carrying a lot of scars and a lot of secrets. Joe and Cam had one memorable moment together before Joe left and neither has been able to forget it. But Cam is a different man now, although his desire and his love for Joe have never gone away.
Cam and Aunt Marie both know that Joe is running from something and that he's hiding something. Joe just wants to feel the peace he used to feel on the farm but his mind and all the things he's done won't let him relax and find that peace he needs so badly. Well, that and someone from Joe's past, someone who thinks he owns Joe and that Joe is his commodity, comes looking for him. Until Joe can realize his own strength and learn to rely on the people who truly love him, Joe will never be free from his past. And until Cam can get past the life Joe lived for five years and recognize what he needs to do to provide Joe with the safety and security he needs, then Cam is going to lose Joe. Again.
This was an interesting story that I enjoyed. It took me quite a while to really connect with Joe, but once I did, I saw what an amazing, strong, and beautiful man he was. I got frustrated some with Cam, mainly because he didn't behave the way I thought he should, which is ridiculous, I know. However, overall, I enjoyed the complexity of these men and their struggles. There were some fabulous secondary characters which I very much adored. This is not a lighthearted book, however, but if you enjoy drama, angst, and pain, then it might be for you. In my opinion, this story has very little to do with BDSM. Instead it is a character study of one man's journey to find himself, and his lover's willingness to trust him enough to let him stand on his own two feet.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews