Bryan Hoenig has it all.
A wardrobe full of the most fashionable and one of a kind clothes, millions of adoring social media followers skyrocketing him to full-blown influencer status and a future stake in a major European construction company.
But beneath Bryan’s perfectly curated surface lies a shattered life crippled by depression and self-esteem issues. One just fragile enough that an outlandish comment from a digital stranger sends him spiraling out of control and into the intoxicating embrace of the New York City nightlife - drunk and ready for any trouble that comes his way.
As Bryan gives himself to the music and gets lost in the sweaty sea of the dance floor, he crosses paths with Vic, a tall and incredibly sexy stranger who finds himself on the receiving end of Bryan's drunken confessions.
But what started as a loose-lipped tell all at the bar turns into something darker as the lives of the two men become more and more entangled.
When Vic’s obsessive nature comes dangerously close to the surface, he immerses himself into Bryan's life, desperate to protect him from everything and anyone - by any means necessary. But how far is too far? How far will Vic go to keep the sins of his past from derailing his carefully-laid plans for the future?
Because you know what they say about the secrets we keep…the only way to truly get rid of them is to hit the kill switch.
Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sinfluenced is perfectly titled and wonderfully written. It's dark, it's sexy, it's shocking, it's impossible to put down, and touching on the world of social media influencers and obsession, it's current. Now, I'm not going to sit here and try to convince anyone that the story doesn't require some suspension of disbelief, at least I really, really hope it does but we learn every day about how dangerous obsession can be. So who knows? However, suspension of disbelief or no, I was on the edge of my seat so many times while reading this book, and that's not even what impressed me most. Nope, that goes to the characters - or the author's development of them. The thing about Bryan and Vic is that they're human, and Irons captures that completely. Neither of these guys comes across as all bad or all good. Granted, Vic's particular brand of crazy is always right there below the surface, but there were moments when I found myself almost feeling sorry for him. Only almost, but he's convinced of his feelings for Bryan, and the author makes us feel that. Then, there's Bryan, and I've gotta say that I didn't particularly like him a lot of the time. He comes across as incredibly vain. A guy that has it all and knows it, and doesn't care to flaunt it. But there's a flip side to Bryan, one that is unsure and lets social media control his feelings. One negative comment from a stranger can be devastating. Like I said, they're human, and while I'm glad they aren't real, especially one of them, they sure felt real.
This crazy, twisted ride was my first experience with BJ Irons, but it definitely won't be my last. It's a must-read, and one I won't soon forget.
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