Review - Root & Stem by BL Sparrow
It’s been ten years since Kieran set foot in his father’s house and he’d rather be almost anywhere else, but he doesn’t seem to have a choice if he wants to save his career in professional hockey. It’s going to be very hard keeping his anger in check around his family, especially as they are, in part, the root cause of all the anger Kieran carries around. Not much has changed except for his half brother Theo. The once sickly boy is now a very muscular nineteen year old young man who also plays hockey. Their nine year age difference meant Kieran and Theo never had much in common and it’s hard not to blame Theo for the childhood abuse Kieran suffered, even though it wasn’t really Theo’s fault.
Although I’m not generally a fan of sports themes, it probably was only a matter of time before a story involving hockey made its way onto my to-read list. The sport is really just a backdrop to the plot and plays very little role in what happens. It’s more about past abuse coming back to haunt the present, forcing the half-brothers together.
The narration alternates between Kieran and Theo. Kieran is a very troubled man. He probably really needs professional help. We eventually find out about the abuse that is likely the root of all Kieran’s anger issues, but there aren’t many details about the specific events that landed him back home where it all started. Kieran’s anger issues bleed into to his sexual encounters, especially where Theo is concerned.
We get a little less from Theo than we do from Kieran, but there’s enough to get to know him. He could probably use a therapist too, but less so than Kieran. While it may seem at first that Theo is another victim, I’d say he ends up being the hero of the story. He displays a strength of character that is surprising for someone Kieran thinks of as a doormat.
“Root & Stem” is available from Smashwords.
