Genre: Romance, Comedy, Paranormal
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
What happens when a hunky demon visits you and commands you to break all ten commandments? Or when a handsome angel orders you to do the opposite? And what if you’re Bobby Ray, and you’ve already broken nine of the ten, and thou shalt not kill is a close brick away, and the demon has tacked on a cushy afterlife in hell as a reward? Decisions, decisions. And poor Bobby Ray has never been good at one decision, let alone multiple ones. Broke, divorced, and pretty darn miserable, does he do what’s right or what’s easy?
In this darkly comical romantic adventure, Bobby Ray, with the help of numerous friends and just as many enemies, one being his ex-husband, travels from Georgia to Israel and ultimately across Egypt and the Gaza Strip in search of the one clue that will hopefully save them all, and possibly the entire world. Will good win out over evil, love over hate? Or will Bobby Ray ultimately break the universe?
The Review
Bobby Ray is in all kinds of trouble. He wants to kill Tom for sleeping with Matty (Matthias), his ex. And hey, he’s already broken all the other Commandments, so what’s one more?
On his way to finish Tom off, he’s rudely interrupted by an angel, demanding he not break that last commandment. But then comes temptation, in the form of a dark demon. They get very up close and personal, and the demon tells Bobby Ray that he wants to make a deal.
Bobby Ray can’t figure out why the angel and the demon are so hung up on this one commandment. He goes to his local Baptist church and talks with his friend, the Reverend Curtis Cunningham.
Reverend Curtis has no idea what Bobby Ray’s angel and demon issue is. He tells Bobby Ray he will do what he can to find out, but until then, he tells Bobby Ray not to do anything and to stay away from everyone.
Bobby Ray locks himself inside his apartment. Which is working great, until someone comes a pounding at his door – his ex Matty, another person he’d like to kill. Matty has been sent by the angel, and is none to happy about it. But he’s come anyway, to make sure Bobby Ray doesn’t totally screw things up.
They end up in Israel looking, for Reverend Curtis, who seems to have been possessed. And Bobby Ray still has to figure out what to do about the powerful demon.
Rosen’s latest paranormal comedy, Bobby Ray Breaks the Universe, is filled with humor, erotic passages, and some actual facts about various religions – how the Jews, Muslims, and Christians once shared very similar teachings and how that gradually changed. The stories of angels and fallen angels (demons) dwindled over time as well.
Rosen also gives the reader insight into some famous places in Israel: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, thhe Wailing Wall,and more. He knows how to mix seriousness into his comedy, along with sadness, snark, steamy moments, chaos, and loads of fun.
As Bobby Ray tries to change his destructive ways, themes of good versus evil and redemption emerge, along with the importance of friendships.
If you are looking for some chaotic fun and a tale that demands not to be taken too seriously, Bobby Ray Breaks the Universe is the book for you! Rosen brings his own unique comedy to the page and never fails to entertain.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
