Review: Random Acts by Mia Kerick

Bradley Zelder can't find his way in life. After struggling for nearly a decade, he has yet to complete his college degree. Working as a school custodian, living in blue-collar Landsbury, MA, his love life is as empty as the rest of his existence. But on his way home after another disastrous date, his truck breaks down in upscale Oceanside. When he thinks life can't get any worse, a man who is the epitome of Boston elite and everything Bradley finds attractive and intimidating helps him move his truck to the side of the road. Ashamed of his lot in life, Bradley almost lets the opportunity slip away, but he comes to his senses in time and tracks Caleb down.

From a random act of kindness, romance begins to grow, filling all the dark corners of Bradley's empty life—until a random act of violence threatens to take it all away. Bradley must step up and be the man Caleb believes him to be. Caleb rescued him from a life without hope. Can Bradley rescue him in return?

Bradley was in and out of relationships and always bailed before things got too serious. Until some random stranger decided to help a fella out.

I loved the awesomely awkward beginning of Bradley and Caleb's relationship during the first date. Bradley was so awkward I was embarrassed for him.  I also laughed at him, but I was mostly embarrassed.  Luckily, Bradley decided to try just being himself in front of Caleb, instead of trying to be something he's not.

The beginning was cute with the budding of their new relationship and I kind of wanted more of that rather than what happened towards the last 30% or so. But I'll get back to that. While, I liked Caleb and I thought he was good for Bradley, he came off as very stiff and almost stilted. I can't think of anyone I know who really talks like that. I'm sure they exist, but not in my everyday world. It definitely threw me out of the story a few times. It showed the difference in the characters, but a more relaxed Caleb would have been nice.

Random Acts. They happen everyday and the 'random' theme was used throughout the book. I especially liked how it showed in Bradley's workplace. Bradley wasn't exactly proud to be a school janitor, but through his act of kindness he found joy in his work. It was also used in a negative way against Caleb in an act of violence. 

This is when the tables turned and it was time for Bradley to really show what he's made of. Lemme tell you, the man did not disappoint. If I hadn't like him already, this sealed the deal. He got into more than he bargained for with Caleb and he took it all in stride. He was completely there for Caleb and proved himself wholeheartedly. 

Caleb had some problems from his past that came back up after the attack. I thought it was interesting and I liked the tie in to the major theme of the story. But, I would have liked more closure. The guy was really messed up and it felt rushed and too easily fixed in the end. I also could have done without the whole 'mystery' part of the story.

I do love Mia Kerick and I have a couple of her books under my belt. Two five stars and now a three and a half star, while this isn't my favorite of hers, she holds a firm spot on my auto-buy list. I enjoyed Bradley and Caleb and would want more of them, especially if it delved more into Caleb and his past.

 

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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