Review: Perfect Score by Susan Roebuck

Review by Jax.

Book Blurb: "Perfect Score" is set in mid West USA in the 1960s and is a story about family relationships, corruption, growing up, integrity, responsibility, and being a man of worth in a society of the worthless. The two main characters are Alex and Sam. Alex, who lives with a wealthy uncle, is a blend of musical genius, stubbornness and firmly believes in his fantasy that his love for Sam is reciprocated. Sam has more direction in his little finger than Alex has in his whole body. He’s strong, yet of small stature and has developed a tough outer-coating after the knocks of a traumatic up-bringing which left him homeless. His one aim in life is to earn enough money to look after his disabled sister. He has no time for a spoiled, rich, guitar player. Sam also stutters and has what is probably a severe form of dyslexia. When Sam unexpectedly disappears, Alex begins a somewhat bungling quest to find him, only to discover that Sam has a fearsome enemy: Alex's powerful and influential yet sociopathic uncle. As Alex spirals downwards towards alcoholism, many questions need answering. Just why did Alex's evil uncle adopt him at age eleven yet deny him any affection? And what's the mystery behind Alex's father's death? Both seem to face unbeatable odds. Are they doomed to follow separate paths forever?

My Thoughts: If you have a problem with same sex relationships, neither this book nor this review are for you. However, I hope that you can push past your issues on that topic and read on.

This is a love story, pure and simple. For anyone who is looking for a 'romance' full of nothing more than throbbing manhoods, move along. While I do enjoy those, this is something sweeter. It is life, with it's pitfalls and heartbreaks, and love that doesn't erase all hurts, but makes them bearable and worth enduring.  It isn't a story that pulls you along at a breakneck pace, but one that you want to savor. I took my time reading this, not wanting to miss the details that make these characters into real people.

Sam and Alex are both amazing individuals, with strong talents and daunting challenges in their lives. There are points in the story that you can't imagine two people more different, and times when you realize they aren't so different after all. I worried for them during the rough spots, and prayed that they'd find their happy ending. It wasn't the perfect fairy tale ending that I would have liked for these friends, but music needs it's high and low notes to make a Perfect Score.

Publisher: Awe-Struck Publishing

Released: September 21, 2010                                   More info:

This PDF was received from the author for review.