Blurb:
Can a young man find the courage he never knew he had when faced with losing everything he holds dear?
A few months before his final exams in secondary school, nineteen-year-old Lennart Kelly discovers he’s inherited a house on Adelaide Road in Dublin from a grandfather he never knew. Having been ignored, bullied and abused for as long as he can remember, Lennart can’t wait to leave behind his father and the small town he grew up in. Moving away as soon as he finishes his exams doesn’t cure his deep-rooted insecurities though.
Meeting twenty-three-year-old Aidan Cassidy in a gay club on his second night in Dublin, scares Lennart. Used to being ignored and ridiculed, he doesn’t trust the attention he receives and can’t believe a man like Aidan could possibly be interested in him. It takes infinite patience and understanding from Aidan to slowly coax Lennart out of his shell.
But the past refuses to stay where it belongs and Lennart’s father is determined to take the house in Dublin off his son by whatever means necessary. Just when Lennart is learning to trust and embrace life, a violent attack threatens everything he holds dear. Suddenly Lennart is in danger of losing his house, the man he’s grown to love and maybe even his life. If Lennart wants to protect Aidan and safeguard his future, he’ll have to find the courage he never knew he had.
Where To Buy:
Pride Publishing || Amazon || Barnes and Noble || Kobo
Review:
This was a really good story with characters that made me feel all the feels. But I had a few issues that kept creeping in and hindered my enjoyment to a degree. The overall story and plot lines were interesting and kept me wanting to read to find out what happened next and see how Aidan and Lennart grow together.
Lennart hurt my heart at the beginning of the story. He was so scarred emotionally from his upbringing and scared of continuing to be treated that way. You could feel his fear and nerves as he met Aidan and started to come out of his shell. He had such hope for a better future you couldn’t help but want it for him. However as the story progressed he kept trying to become a martyr and do everything himself to “save Aidan”. Sure Lennart hadn’t had any positive role models to base healthy relationships off. But how many times does he need to be told not to do it and that Aidan was staying before he actually put that into words and actions? Sadly more times than it should have taken.
Aidan was a total sweetheart. He fell for Lennart fast and hard. He fought for his ability to stay at Lennart’s side and truly loved Lennart as he was. He had some of his own martyrdom in the story but it was far smaller than Lennart’s and he got over it quickly. Aidan took Lennart into account in everything he did. He always made sure he was supportive and positive towards Lennart. I adored seeing how he handled Lennart’s fears and anxiety.
These two were so good together. I enjoyed how they built a relationship both quickly and slowly at the same time. It worked for them. Their need to save each other, though Lennart far more than Aidan, got in the way of truly getting to enjoy some of their success as a couple. However they have a lovely happily ever after where you can tell they’re going to make it long term. I’d love to know more about Lennart’s grandfather and Sean since they had such a fascinating role in the story.
Stars:
Four
About Helena:
Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
Author Contact:
Website || Blog || Facebook || Facebook Author Page || Twitter || Goodreads || Amazon Author Page || Pinterest || Email
Molly Lolly 