Title: Saving Tate
Author: Will Banks
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Pages: 39
Characters: Deck and Tate
POV: Third Person
Sub-Genre: mm romance
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
You’d think that Sheriff John Decker would finally get tired of answering the domestic dispute calls at Tate and Henry’s farmhouse but it seems the only thing that Deck’s tired of is that Tate is in Henry’s bed instead of his own. He’s not happy that Henry keeps using Tate as a punching bag and seeing Tate battered and bruised proves to be more than Deck is willing to handle. Coming out is never easy, but for this Sheriff, it could mean saving more than just Tate.
Review:
Saving Tate is a well-written story about a very important, though often unnoticed, topic. Tate is a sensitive, self-effacing, taciturn, and rather sweet submissive gay man. His partner Henry is very dominant, but his dominance is misguided and becomes abusive. Rather than provide Tate with the loving guidance and control the sub needs, he bullies him and physically assaults him. Henry’s treatment of Tate worsens as his love of power increases, and he becomes obsessed with controlling his weaker partner. He beats him and then apologizes so they can have make-up sex. He plays mind games with the vulnerable sub, and he takes things so far that he even rapes the boy.
The hero of the story is Deck, who’s the county sheriff. Deck has been attracted to Tate for a long time but has found it difficult to come out of the closet in the small community. Now middle-aged, he regrets not having embraced his identity when he was younger. Had he done so, Tate may never have become involved with the abusive Henry.
Several incidents of domestic violence result in calls where Deck has to go out to Tate and Henry’s home. He realizes that Tate is being abused but is limited in what he can do because Tate will not even acknowledge that Henry is abusing him. Eventually, things go so far that Tate’s life is in jeopardy, and it is Deck who has to try to save him.
I was very moved by this powerful story. A story doesn’t always have to make you feel good to be a great story. I’m very glad I read it and will not hesitate to recommend it to others.
Reviewed By: Jeff
