Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This novella was set in Nebraska in the late 1960’s. Although elsewhere in the country the Stonewall riots were happening, and hippies were experiencing free love, in the heartland things were much less progressive. It was certainly not a place conducive to romance for gay men.
Jim and Ronnie were friends for most of their lives, and in high school they became lovers, but secretly, and innocently. Jim was lucky enough to be able to afford college, so he went to Omaha after graduation, and Ronnie stayed home. Pride, and shame, led to a falling out, and then Ronnie was sent to Vietnam. The story actually begins when Ronnie comes back home, wounded, and Jim is back at his grandfather’s farm after falling short of everyone’s expectations.
I love a good hurt/comfort storyline, and this book did it very well. In the 5 years they were apart, Ronnie and Jim became men, and left the naïve highschool lovers behind. They were both changed by loss and heartache, and in Ronnie’s case, physical injury and disability. Coming back together was not automatically a given, and Ms. Dean did an excellent job of showing the fragility of their new relationship, and how they eventually found their way back to each other.
The historical details were entered unobtrusively, but clearly enough that the impact of the times and the location on the men’s personalities and actions made perfect sense. I am so thankful that I didn’t see any glaring anachronisms that bother me so much in poorly done historicals! Overall, a sweet read, fairly low angst, with relatable characters and a realistic HFN. Definitely recommended.
Cover art is lovely and eye catching.
Sales Links
Book Details:
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 