Dreamspinner presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6362
Blurb
When Kyle Champlain’s grandmother, Molly, passes away, he returns to Wetlake, Canada, to settle her estate. Kyle spent his summers in Wetlake as a child, and now he has the chance to renew his acquaintance with some old friends, including Ryan Summers, before going home to Chicago. But when Kyle tries to pressure Ryan into a business decision, their renewed friendship—and any possible attraction–is almost immediately on the rocks.
As Kyle begins to deliver the personalized bequests from Molly’s will, he meets an odd assortment of people from all walks of life and realizes he has a lot to learn about living and love. But he’ll have to fight his parents, suspicious beneficiaries, and Ryan’s fears if he plans to stay in Wetlake.
Review
Kyle (aka Casey) has been away from Westlake for 15 years. As a teenager he got caught messing around with his boyfriend, Ryan, and subsequently rushed away and kept away until now.
Kyle has returned because his grandmother has died and he’s shocked to find Ryan still lives in the quiet town. (Turns out to take care of his ailing father.)
The two reminisce and reconnect – only a little – they are both afraid of what that holds for them. Kyle is still in the closet, Ryan is a father and afraid to be someone’s secret.
Eventually they find that there is more to their romance than just history and they find a very, very sweet HEA.
**
Keep in mind that this was an audio book and as such it lacked some of what I see many others saw by reading it.
I’m a Kate Sherwood fan, but this was a “meh” story for me. It lagged, there was very little tension to keep me engaged and the chemistry/romance was a bit too subtle to keep me involved. As a result I kept finding my mind wandering as I was listening and it took a long time for me to finish the story.
Overall, it was more of Kyle’s story about coming to grips with his past, his coming out as a gay man and his grief over the loss of his grandmother far more than the romance between him and Ryan.
The narrator did a nice job, again, nothing too compelling in either direction – good or bad.
If you are in the mood for a low angst, character driven (rather than action driven) story read by a narrator with a nice voice but not too much drama, this should fit the bill.
3 of 5 hearts
