Book Reviews

Book Blurb

When they graduated from high school in 1962, best friends and secret lovers Jim McCutcheon and Ronnie Mayer had high expectations for the rest of their lives. Six years later, both are back in the small Nebraska town they called home, and worse, no longer together.

Once the golden boy, Jim now works on his grandfather's farm, away from the town's disappointment he didn't end up at NASA. Ronnie lives in his parents' basement, recovering from the blast that sent him home from Vietnam. Neither is where they want to be, but it takes a special request from Ronnie's mom for Jim to swallow his pride and visit.

Though it doesn't go well, it opens the door for the two young men to start communicating. One question haunts them, though. Have they changed too much to find their way back to each other again?

NOTE: This book was previously published by Amber Quill Press in 2015.

Book Review

Set in 1968, when men loving men was illegal in the US and unthinkable in a small Nebraska town, best friends and former secret lovers Jim and Ronnie are having a very hard time of it. Jim went to college with big dreams of joining NASA, only to return, unsuccessful, to work his grandfather’s farm. Ronnie enlisted in the Army, went to Vietnam, and returned physically and mentally wounded to live in his parents’ basement. With both of them too afraid and stubborn to take the first step, any sort of friendship or relationship seems impossible for more than everyone else’s reasons.

Jim ends up taking the first step, but only after Ronnie’s mother asks him to come by. Jim is ashamed about his failure, and even though he wants at least their friendship back, he doesn’t know how to approach Ronnie.

Ronnie is pretty much hiding from life. The pain caused by his mangled leg, having to wear a brace, and the constant nightmares have shaken him badly. He believes he is not fit for human company – hence his hiding place in the basement.

Both men have been wounded by life and their road back to each other is not easy. Too much has gone unsaid for too long, and it takes more than one attempt to get them to communicate again. Their progress is halting, their pain heartbreaking, and the very gradual changes may be excruciatingly slow, but they are exactly what both of them need to adjust to their new normal. I cheered them along every halting step of the way!

If you like emotional stories about lovers who almost lost each other, if you believe in true love being able to overcome almost anything, and if you’re looking for a read that is brutally honest about the obstacles while still managing to be hopeful, then you will probably like this novella.

 

 

 

 

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

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 22526 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	02-September-2016
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29_94&products_id=1863