Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Evan Stanton is in over his head. Injured from a fall on campus, he’s let his boyfriend talk him into a senior year total immersion trip—two weeks abroad—only his boyfriend ends up dumping him shortly before takeoff. Evan gets on the plane anyway, but he’s lost his hope and added to his pain.

Chris Bale decided to spend his senior year of college clearing his head after breaking up with the girl he's dated since high school. He finds himself on a flight to Istanbul next to a surly kid with piercings and guyliner who couldn't be more his opposite. They strike up a friendship anyway, and as they make their way across a foreign land, Bale realizes he’s too immersed in Evan to let go.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Daily Dose package "Mended".

Book Review

The true test of any relationship is when the love is just as strong in bad times as it is in good. Unfortunately, Evan Stanton didn't have that kind of bond with his boyfriend. After Evan is injured in a fall, his boyfriend decides they need time apart. Discouraged, but determined not to let it stop him, Evan leaves on a journey alone, one that is destined to change his life forever.

When Evan's boyfriend dumps him, he doesn't have a contingency plan, but is determined to take the trip they had planned together. There is little wonder that Evan's condition hasn't improved considering the lack of support from his ex; how could he possibly untangle his twisted muscles and gain the strength needed to improve under such negative conditions? On the plane, he meets Bale, who almost immediately shows Evan more consideration about his disability than anyone ever has. Prone to assuming things, Evan decides that Bale is straight, which causes a lot of conflict for him. As Evan learns more about Bale, he endears himself to Evan in so many ways. Evan begins to see how special he is and his affection for the man deepens. After he discovers that Bale is not straight at all, but very available, Evan is able to embrace the sexual feelings he's tried to suppress. Evan knows that he's becoming happier and healthier as the trip goes on; he also acknowledges that Bale is a big part of the reason why. Evan's outlook becomes more positive and, even though he's hesitant, Evan wonders how he will ever get along without him.

Bale is quite a guy. He's charming in a dorky kind of way. He dresses like a preppie in kakis and button-down shirts, but is wonderfully eccentric inside. He is great at the art of distraction, usually using humor to accomplish this. His thought processes are quite odd, but he expresses them in a marvelously outlandish way. He seems to instinctively know when Evan is hurting and finds a way to make things better for him. Bale sees the pain Evan is carrying around and can't help but want to make him smile again. Bale watches out for Evan, assisting him almost before he knows he needs help, therefore avoiding embarrassment for Evan. Even though Bale nurtures Evan, he also finds ways to encourage his mobility; helping him see that he's stronger than he thinks. By the end of their trip, Bale admits how deeply he feels about Evan and how much it will hurt to let him go.

This is a love story about two seemingly different men who both want the same thing—someone who loves and appreciates them. What they find in each other is honesty and sincerity, something previously lacking in their other relationships. Although it may seem like a short time to fall in love, the truth is, in their concentrated stay together, they are required to take a deeper look at themselves than most couples do in years. I recommend this story to those who like quirky, damaged characters with hearts of gold, finding love in a most unlikely place under unique circumstances. Thank you, Ellis, I truly enjoyed this tale.

 

 

 

 

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	audio book
Length	Novella, 83 pages/22019 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-June-2014
Price
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