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Title: Home is the Heart
Author: JM Gryffyn
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 96
Characters: William O’Sullivan, Brock
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Historical, Romance
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
The last thing war-weary veteran William O’Sullivan expects to find while walking his family’s property is the love of his life, but that is exactly what happens. Under the summer sun, well-born Irishman Will meets gypsy lad Brock, and the two are instantly love struck.
Their newfound love may be rock solid, but so are the obstacles in their way. Will is expected to marry his childhood sweetheart and produce an heir for the family estate. Brock has his own waggon now and is expected to marry another Traveller. The roads to their futures are embedded firmly in the past—and don’t include their love. Running off to America seems a perfect solution, but in the mean streets of New York City, they very quickly find that even a love as strong as theirs must be earned.
Review:
William O’Sullivan has just returned home from being in held in a German war camp for months. Restless and fighting the terrible memories of war and from his untimely capture, William is determined not to stay at his childhood home in Ireland, and he dreams of having another life, not the one that his father has planned for him. One day he meets the sexy and sultry gypsy, Brock, and William is immediately enchanted by the younger man’s zest for life and determination to make William his lover. Unable to resist Brock’s sweet charms, he soon falls into the gypsy’s bed and falls in love with the seductive man. Since their affair is forbidden, they must sneak around and find ways to be together without being discovered. But, one day when they are found together, both men must make difficult choices if they are to stay together. Will they both have the strength and determination to make their love last?
I really liked this book a lot. There aren’t many gay romances set in this time setting and in Ireland, so I really enjoyed the lyrical language and the way the forbidden love between William and Brock worked out. In many ways, the setting is just as much of a character in this book as William and Brock are. From the author’s descriptive passages, I could see the loveliness of Ireland as well as the grittiness and somberness of early New York City. I felt like I was there experiencing these things with the characters, and as a reader, I really appreciated that.
I also really loved the characters in this book. At first glance, William and Brock come from different lives and are seemingly different people. But, as their relationship evolves, they quickly find a middle ground and are truly meant to be with one another. I loved their determination to be together, and also the way they really looked out for each other. The love and friendship they have between them was truly a lovely thing to read, and I couldn’t help but hope they would find a way to stay together forever.
Home is the Heart is a fast-paced, highly romantic book that immediately swept me up into the lives of these uniquely written characters. It has some angst in it, but it’s not overdone. Instead, it focuses on the relationship and love between the main characters. Once I started the book, it definitely kept this reader enthralled with William and Brock’s story until I finished the last word.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
