Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Spending a month in Paris to write his romance novel had seemed like the perfect plan, but one week in, Phil Pearson is suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. With barely a word written, he’s fed up and ready to cut his trip short.

When Laurent Marceau sees Phil in his café, it sends him hurtling into the past, opening old wounds and reminding him of the love he lost. But, after watching the aspiring writer struggle for inspiration, he surprises himself by offering to show him Paris through the eyes of a true Parisian.

Finally bursting with ideas, Phil is delighted to put pen to paper, albeit badly at first. As the writer finds himself falling in love for the first time, Laurent knows he needs to decide quickly if he’s strong enough to return his affections, or whether it would be better for them both if he walked away. He knows he may not have a choice, once Phil finds out the truth.

Reader Advisory: A story from Love Unlocked – a collection of seven short stories and novellas – unique LGBTQ romances inspired by the Love Lock Bridge.

Book Review

Paris, as the city of love, should be the ideal place for inspiring a romance novel. But Phil, a British editor spending four weeks there to try to write his first novel, is not finding it as easy as all that. Just when he’s ready to admit defeat and return to London, he meets Laurent in a café and everything changes. Their developing relationship isn’t without obstacles, but it’s also romantic and sweet. After all, with a setting like Paris, what else could I expect?
 
Laurent sees Phil sitting in his café, struggling to write. Phil reminds Laurent of his dead lover, Arnaud, and that is all that attracts him initially. Losing Arnaud five years earlier devastated Laurent, and he only just survived the heartache. Despite Phil’s external similarities with Arnaud, he is a very different man, and Laurent begins to appreciate him for who he is. Since Laurent writes songs he can relate to the creative process, and decides to help Phil overcome his writer’s block.

Phil loves Laurent’s attempts to kick-start his creativity. As his novel progresses, he falls in love with the Paris tourists don’t get to see. But when he finds out about Laurent’s past, and his own similarity with Arnaud, severe doubt sets in. Phil has to decide whether he can overcome Laurent’s still-present feelings for Arnaud, and his fears of making some serious changes to the life he knows.

Working through the past and figuring out if he’s ready to move on isn’t easy for Laurent. But dealing with a potential shadow over their love isn’t any easier for Phil either. While there is quite a bit of angst as they figure it out, the romantic overtones of the setting and their new romance left the stronger impression on me. I love Paris, and getting to revisit it through the eyes of Phil and Laurent was a treat.

If you like stories about “creative types”, if you want to know more about two men who have to deal with the past before they can move on to the future, and if you’re looking for a read that is as romantic as it is sweet with just a touch of angst, 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 the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 67 pages/18800 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	14-February-2016
Price	$1.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Lock-Victoria-Milne-ebook/dp/B01BFSOHRM