Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Secrets is a dirty word when it comes to relationships. What you don’t say can not only hurt you, it can bite you in the butt.

After almost five years together, Vinnie and Ethan have a policy of don’t ask, don’t tell. But unspoken questions between them are a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. An innocent remark by a friend starts an insecure Vinnie wondering about things he never considered before… such as why he hasn’t met Ethan’s family. Is he the love of Ethan’s life or just his dirty little secret? And what hasn’t he told Ethan about his own past?

An emergency phone call from Ethan’s twin sister sends them rushing to Georgia. In order to be with Ethan, Vinnie conforms to what Ethan’s family expects by being something he is not. Not everything is what it seems as Vinnie and Ethan work to redefine what family means to each of them.

Sometimes the ties that bind are the ones that might just break you.

The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about this organization.

Book Review

“Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it's the place where we find the deepest heartache.” ~ Iyanla Vanzant

Vinnie and Ethan, from 'Family Ties, Family Lies’ by Julie Lynn Hayes, have been together for five years, becoming more domesticated all the time. Because of Vinnie's painful past, he's never discussed his family with Ethan and Ethan has never brought up details about his family. A call from Ethan's twin sister, saying that his mother has had a stroke, throws Ethan into panic mode. He knows he has to go be with her. When Vinnie offers to come with him as any good partner would do, Ethan tells him he can't. Vinnie, who tends to worry more, loves Ethan with all his heart. Vinnie wonders if Ethan's family knows about their relationship or if he is Ethan's 'dirty little secret'.

This turn of events brings up a lot of questions that need to be answered. Family relationships, good or bad, make up a lot of who people are. Not sharing their upbringing has deprived Ethan and Vinnie of knowing each other at a deeper level than they currently do. When Ethan explains his family dynamics – with his father an evangelical minister who is an overbearing, homophobic bigot - Vinnie understands why he's not out to them. Ethan apologizes, telling him he's doing what he always has done, trying to protect Vinnie from his toxic family. Then Ethan admits that he's told them about Vinnie but they think his partner at work and life partner is a woman. In Vinnie's typical loving fashion, he forgives Ethan so much that he offers to go in drag. Ethan worries about putting him in such a position, but Vinnie's mind is set. He's going with Ethan to offer emotional support and, if the only way he can go is as a woman, so be it!

When they arrive in Georgia, Vinnie begins to understand even more why Ethan avoids his family. With the exception of his twin sister, nephew, and mother, things are even worse than Vinnie could have imagined. The surprising thing is that Ethan's father is quite charmed by Lavinia aka Vinnie, and congratulates Ethan on his excellent taste in women! His brother, however, is a spineless, sarcastic snake in the grass who is bitter and jealous and takes every opportunity to disrespect Ethan as well as Vinnie and his wife seems more taken with her father-in-law than her husband. This family takes the cake for being dysfunctional. The longer Ethan and Vinnie are there, the more uncomfortable they become. There doesn't seem to be any room for compromise much less truth in the scenario.

Family reconciliation for a dysfunctional family is the optimum goal but that can't always be achieved. Sometimes people just have to agree to disagree and be civil. Even that is better than open hostility to someone who is blood related to you. I think Julie did an excellent job of handling this topic while giving me hope that harmony may be possible. Learning, once again, not to keep secrets from each other, brought Ethan and Vinnie closer together, and, if possible, made their love even deeper. I love these characters. I enjoy their wit, charm, and their endearing love for each other. Anyone who is a fan of the Thorn and Rose series will love his story. For those who are new to the series, you are missing some thoroughly entertaining stories. Thanks, Julie, for bringing the boys even closer together. I can hardly wait to see what they get up to next.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 135 pages/49835 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	23-November-2016
Price	$5.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/family-ties-and-family-lies-by-julie-lynn-hayes-7794-b