My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Because of Ben is the story of the wild rock star and the closeted, inexperienced church boy. I really liked Ben and his bravery to pursue his desires even though those desires are forbidden by his church and family. Marco starts off as sort of directionless, more so in the first book of the Star Crossed series (Not Until Noah). He does know that he wants Ben the moment he sees him. I appreciated how Marco let Ben know of his clear interest without coming across as pushy. He puts all the control in Ben’s hands. Once Ben does take Marco’s invitation, their first intimate scenes are hot and sweet and endearing. There is a fair amount of the book dedicated to faith, God, and church. Henry gives both religious perspectives as it applies to queer people: There is Ben’s church that is unwelcoming, and there is another religious group that welcomes everyone with open arms. The “church talk” gets a bit heavy at times, but I understand its importance to the development of Ben’s character and the story. ***Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***