As much as I love stories with mysterious plots, overpoweringly evil bad guys, and angsty drama all over the place, what a makes a story great, for me, is the characters involved. And that is why I love Andrew Grey’s stories so much: they are always about the men first, and the events second. This is not to say what happens or the secondary characters in Andrew’s stories are in any way unimportant. It is more that his focus is firmly on the main characters. The ‘Love is…’ series is a great example of that principle, and, based on this first book, it looks to me as though this series will be much the same. The theme for this series (and yes, I peeked at the blurbs for the next three books) is physically challenged men and how they deal with life and love. A courageous theme, and one that is close to my heart, and if this first book is any indication, it is going to be a stunning series indeed.

Ken faces a nightmare most parents never have to deal with: his adopted daughter, Hanna, who has been with him for two of her six years, has cancer. The nightmare of treatments and trying to give her as normal a life as possible is taking everything he has, so it is no surprise that his boyfriend of two years, who likes to be the center of attention, decides he can’t deal with it and leaves. Ken is now on his own, or so he thinks, but the friendship that develops with his mute neighbor, Patrick, is a huge help. Ken soon wants more, needs more, but the return of Hanna’s cancer takes precedence.

Patrick is an extraordinary man. His passion was singing—until his vocal cords were damaged in an accident and he lost the ability to speak, never mind sing. He has been struggling with his inability to communicate in a “normal” way, but refuses to learn sign language—because to him that feels like capitulating and admitting he will never get his voice back. I can so relate to that! With his quiet admiration for Ken, and the growing love for Hanna, Patrick learns that there are other ways to communicate what he feels, and I loved following his progress as he figured it out. Patrick is a wonderful, giving man, and the way he overcomes the obstacle of not being able to speak just goes to show how inventive the human mind can be, and how many other ways there are to “talk” about what you’re feeling. Amazing.

The “silent love” these two men share almost from the moment they meet is amazing, touching, and made me wish there were more of it around. The world would be a very different place if there were more men like Ken. He is able to understand and appreciate the non-standard way in which Patrick shows his love. Patrick has had to deal with the loss of the one meaningful thing in his life, his voice, but he has come out the other end an even better man. Needless to say, I loved both of them.

If you like stories about unusual men who face emotional situations and obstacles that would devastate the strongest person, if you want to read an emotional story about overcoming the odds, and if you’re looking for a deeply touching love story, then you will probably like this novel. I totally adored it and look forward to the next volume.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
( )

Hands down, this was a love story. One of the best love stories that I've read in a long time. This was a beautiful story. It was nice to read a story where there was no real protagonist, unless you want to call the illness one. I've read a lot of Andrew Grey's books, and this one is easily my most favorite of all. Make sure you have a box of tissues by your side when you read this one. You're going to need them. ( )

Even if this was not a seasonal releases, coincidence wanted that I read this more or less under Christmas period and the feeling was pretty much that. Truth be told, and that is the only small fault I could find in this novel, the story of an ill little girl who wanted to celebrate Halloween and Christmas in advance since she wasn’t sure she was able to survive till the right time was the theme of a Christmas movie I used to see on television in those lazy Christmas time afternoons, when you have nothing to do if not idling in front of the television.

But the fatherly “love story” between a little girl and a kind but mute neighbor, is one of the two you will find here, the second that of the same kind, and young and handsome, neighbor with the single dad of the little girl, a renowned painter who just moved next door. Patrick was a famous singer, before losing his voice in an accident; he has now retired on the same small town where he grew up, a place where he can hide and be comfortable, people not bothering him other than to check if he is alive and averagely well. After adopting a daughter, Ken decided to move to the same small town to give his daughter a better place to grow up. The time of the move coincides with the discovery of his daughter’s illness and his break-up with his boyfriend. When Patrick starts to do small kind gestures, little by little he conquers both father than daughter.

As I said, this is the perfect story to read bundled up on the couch, maybe in front of a fire, and again, coincidence wanted I was more or less in that situation, being at home with a low fever. I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the warm feelings it left me, and I enjoyed it had the right dose of sexiness without being the main theme.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1623800080/?tag=elimyrevandra-20