Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Under the Jasmine Flowers
AUTHOR: W.S. Long
PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC
LENGTH: 237 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2019
BLURB:
Jojo Arias, a Spanish-Filipino mestizo, didn’t expect to meet a U.S. Marine in a tony bar in the Philippines. But, Jojo can’t deny the electricity they have once he meets Adam.
Although they come from different worlds, they struggle to keep their relationship private to protect Jojo’s status and position as an heir to one of the wealthiest and powerful families in Filipino society. Billions of dollars could be easily lost if his family business is jeopardized by Jojo’s secret love affair.
Because of his standing in society, Jojo is pressured to abandon Adam and live a life in the closet. But he doesn’t want to leave the man he loves. As he struggles to maintain their secret romance, things begin to unravel and Jojo has to make a life-changing decision. Should he choose to stay with his family, or does he have the courage to pursue the love of his life?
REVIEW:
This book broke my heart in so many ways, but yet it’s a beautiful story at the same time. It’s a hard story. Cultures are different and not as accepting as others. Goodness, you still see the problems we have in the states and we are far more progressive than others. But this story, is about so many things. It’s about loss, grief, anger, and more, but it’s also about hope, love and finding oneself and the road they want to travel. It’s about finally being true to oneself. And learning what’s really more important in your life.
Jojo never wanted to take over the family company. But since his brother died, he’s been stuck having to fill that role. And along with his brother’s death still looming, he has become more angry and more grief filled. He’s pushed people away, and there’s a rift between many of his family because he’s not allowed to be himself. Which is a gay man in a culture that isn’t accepting. As well as his father. And most of his family. But not all. But one night in a bar, on his way out the door, a beautiful, blond haired, blue eyed Marine caught his eye. And his life started changing before his eyes. Before he knew it, he was falling in love. And having to hide behind his friends and others to keep their relationship secret. But along with the secrets, came some more misery. He didn’t want to have to hide Adam and who they were, but he didn’t know how to make his family understand. It wasn’t until an incident with his cousin, that had caused Adam to have to go back to the states early. And because of it, Jojo had to make up his mind. What was more important…his father’s company or his happiness?
My heart ached for these two in this book. I hate that other cultures can’t accept that love is love and everyone deserves it no matter who they are. Male/male, female/female, or whoever. And having a family that can’t support you in the matter just makes it worse. I hate when families don’t back up their children. And give them the support they so desperately need as they find themselves. So for Jojo having to hide himself all the time, is heartbreaking. He’s miserable in a life he can’t seem to get free of. And now that he has Adam, he’s happier than he’s been in years. Except for the part where they have to hide everything they are. But sometimes, the pressure gets too much and you just have to let loose. And for Jojo, he was falling apart at the seams. He was finally starting to lash out and make his voice known of his unhappiness and how he wasn’t liking how things were turning out. It was sad it had to come this, but it was finally what needed to happen in order for Jojo to move on. And it was long overdue. He needed Adam, and the love that Adam gave so freely to him. He needed him in his corner as he was. Adam did everything he could to support Jojo and know that no matter what the outcome, he was in for the long haul. It was just up to Jojo to decide when.
Sometimes it takes something drastic to change the way our lives work out. Sometimes it doesn’t. I hate for Jojo that it did, but if it pushed him in the direction he needed to be in order to be free, then it had to be done. He had just as much right at happiness as anyone else, and it was time to live for himself and for Adam. It’s a beautiful story, but hard.
RATING: 
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