Length: 91,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Olive Us Designs
North Star Trilogy Pre-Order
Blurb
Hugo Thorson fell in love when he was sixteen. He’s maybe been in love since, but probably not. He’s been too busy directing plays to devote much time to men who can’t accept all of him. No one ever made him feel like his first love did.
Kevin Magnus married a woman and has two children, but the marriage wasn’t happy. In the shadow of divorce, he’s striving to be a better father, but he’s still a work in progress.
When Hugo and Kevin bump into each other at the lake, memories of their last kiss incite a new first kiss. Visions of the life they always wanted are vivid, but so much stands in the way of their dreams. Hugo is out and proud but no one knows Kevin’s bisexual. If Kevin comes out, he risks losing custody of his kids. If he doesn’t walk hand in hand with Hugo, he risks losing the love of his life.
The curtain may never rise on their second act.
My Two Pennies Worth
Sparks is story of second chances, first and only loves, and learning to love yourself.
It’s a story that spans 17 years, and we as readers get to experience the first joys of young love and the sting of loss and to a degree, betrayal. The layout of the story is interesting. The teenage chapters are titled in a different way to the chapters set in 2013, so you instinctively know what time period you’re reading about. And these flashback chapters only last while Hugo and Kevin are getting reacquainted, to about half way through the book.
The teenage story has a feel of innocence that is lacking from the present. And that is only to be expected.
Hugo is jaded after one bad relationship too many. But while his personal life hasn’t worked out, he has followed his dream and is working in theatre. And he’s embraced that femme part of himself that he used to keep locked down.
Kevin is bisexual. In the flashback chapters I really felt for the teenage Kevin, under the thumb of a domineering father for whom he can do nothing right. Where the only time he can be himself is when he’s with Hugo. Hugo might be the actor but it’s Kevin who’s playing a part. And he’s still playing the part 17 years later. As an adult it’s harder to feel sympathy for Kevin. To remain married to a woman he no longer loves simply to please a man who didn’t deserve his respect or love, let alone years of his life. My initial reaction to that was ‘grow a pair, Kevin’. But his dad is dead when we meet him in the present and Kevin is finally making changes in his life. He embraces meeting Hugo again and re-establishing a relationship, but he’s naturally cautious about revealing the nature of the relationship to others. I don’t think this is out of any desire to remain in the closet but more because he’s concerned about the effect it may have on his access to his children due to his pending divorce.
Talking of the children, kids in romance stories are generally a sticking point with me, too perfect, or precocious, but the kids in this story were well-written and realistic.
The character I didn’t like I’m afraid was Summer. First the name wound me up, because, well it was summer and hot and I sometimes thought she was a season. I found she grated on me, the all-knowing fag hag, jumping up and down and getting defensive on Hugo’s behalf. The ‘oh you’re so perfect for me, if only you didn’t love the D’ thing she had going on. I instinctively didn’t like her, and never warmed to her over the course of the book.
The setting of the lake is very evocative. I wanted a house on the lake by the time I’d finished.
This is the first book in a trilogy, so not everything is wrapped up by the end but it’s a great start to chasing their HEA.
June 26 - BooksLaidBareBoys, Mainely Stories, Kimmer's Erotic Book Banter, June 28 - Cupcakes & Bookshelves, June 30 - Katie's Book Corner Reviews, Dog-Eared Daydreams, July 2 - Diverse Reader, July 4 - Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, Xtreme Delusions, July 6 - Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Lillian Francis, Making It Happen, Gay Media Reviews, Mikku-chan
Author Bio
She wanted to read about men falling in love with each other. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and see characters navigate the unpredictability of life. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.
Her stories have been USA Today’s Happily Ever After Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her family and friends and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.
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Thanks for taking the time to read and review. <3
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