Plot Summary
Austin Glass is a successful and arrogant detective who has everything he wants: a promising career, a beautiful fiancée, and a wealthy family. However, his life changes when he meets Peter, a young man who works as a prostitute and lives with his brother and two other street kids. Austin is instantly attracted to Peter, despite being straight and engaged. He decides to pursue Peter, who is reluctant to trust him and has secrets of his own.
Meanwhile, Austin is also working on a case involving a Russian mobster named Vadim, who is suspected of trafficking drugs and weapons. Austin's partner, Luis, is undercover in Vadim's organization, but his cover is blown when he is recognized by one of Vadim's men. Austin and Peter get involved in the case, which leads them to discover a conspiracy that involves corruption, murder, and betrayal.
Characters
The book features a diverse and colorful cast of characters, each with their own personality and backstory. Some of the main characters are:
Austin Glass: The protagonist of the book, a 28-year-old detective who falls in love with Peter. He is smart, sarcastic, and stubborn, but also loyal, protective, and caring. He struggles with his sexuality and his feelings for Peter, as well as his relationship with his family and his colleagues.
Peter: The love interest of Austin, a 19-year-old prostitute who lives with his brother Darryl and two other street kids, Cai and Robbie. He is shy, sweet, and innocent, but also resilient, brave, and resourceful. He has a traumatic past that haunts him and makes him wary of trusting anyone.
Luis: Austin's partner and best friend, a 32-year-old Hispanic detective who is married to Cai's sister Angelina. He is funny, supportive, and loyal, but also reckless, impulsive, and hot-headed. He goes undercover in Vadim's organization to gather evidence against him.
Darryl: Peter's older brother and guardian, a 23-year-old hacker who works for Vadim as his IT specialist. He is protective of Peter and the other street kids, but also secretive, cynical, and conflicted. He has a complicated relationship with Vadim, who saved him from an abusive foster home.
Cai: One of the street kids who lives with Peter and Darryl, a 17-year-old Chinese boy who works as a hacker and a thief. He is smart, sarcastic, and rebellious, but also loyal, courageous, and compassionate. He has a crush on Robbie.
Robbie: One of the street kids who lives with Peter and Darryl, a 16-year-old Irish boy who works as a prostitute and a drug dealer. He is cheerful, optimistic, and friendly, but also naive, impulsive, and vulnerable. He has a crush on Cai.
Themes
The book explores various themes such as love, trust, family, identity, justice, redemption, and forgiveness. Some of the questions that the book raises are:
What does it mean to love someone unconditionally?
How can one overcome the trauma of the past?
How can one balance personal happiness and professional duty?
How can one fight against corruption and injustice?
How can one find redemption for one's mistakes?
How can one forgive oneself and others?
Evaluation
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander is an entertaining and engaging book that combines romance, comedy, and mystery in a captivating way. The book has a fast-paced and well-crafted plot that keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last. The book also has a witty and humorous style that makes the reader laugh out loud at the hilarious dialogue and situations. The book also has a heartwarming and emotional tone that makes the reader care about the characters and their struggles.
The book's greatest strength is its characters, who are realistic, complex, and relatable. The book portrays the characters' flaws, strengths, fears, hopes, and dreams in a realistic and sympathetic way. The book also shows the characters' growth and development throughout the story, as they face their challenges, overcome their obstacles, and learn from their experiences. The book also depicts the characters' relationships with each other, which are dynamic, authentic, and touching. The book especially focuses on the romance between Austin and Peter, which is sweet, passionate, and believable.
The book's only weakness is its editing, which could have been better. The book has some typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies that distract from the reading experience. The book also has some loose ends and unanswered questions that leave the reader unsatisfied. The book could have benefited from more proofreading and polishing to improve its quality.
Conclusion
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander is a wonderful book that deserves more recognition and appreciation. The book is a perfect blend of romance, comedy, and mystery that will make the reader laugh, cry, and swoon. The book is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and mystery thrillers, as well as for anyone who enjoys a good story with memorable characters.
The book is available on Kindle and Goodreads . The book is also part of a series that includes two more books: Not So Innocent and Shatterproof. The author is currently working on the fourth book in the series.
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