Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Another Enchanted April
AUTHOR: Eric Arvin
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 188 pages
BLURB: Can the idyllic simplicity of a garden change a life forever? It’s a question three men on a vacation to the small seaside town of Beechwood will find the answer to when they stay at a B&B with an expansive and breathtakingly beautiful garden. A garden with an air of the supernatural. Jerry’s there for love, Doug’s there for sex, and Tony? Well, Tony is practically dragged along against his will. A comedy of errors ensues as the three men cling stubbornly to their self-destructive ways; can a cook named Anna Magnani, a roller-skating drag queen, and the magic of the garden tame the tempest and prevent love’s labors from being lost?
REVIEW:
This sweet little story is about three best friends, Tony, Doug and Jerry.
Tony was hurt in an accident 5 years prior and he’s been living the life of a hermit. Not leaving his house for much. He’s pulled back so much from life and the chance of love that he’s stuck in that place of sadness and despair. His life is turned upside down when he’s “kidnapped” to go on vacation with his friends. This is quite possibly the best thing that has happened in his life.
Doug is the party guy of the group. He’s attractive and he knows it. He’s gotten more action in his life than is good for him. He’s a sweet guy, however, he’s so very clueless when it comes to Jerry’s feelings for him. He knows that he’s not very smart, but he uses his looks to get as much booty as he can. He feels that he’s not worth much because of the way his parents fawn all over his sister. This trip is about to help him see that he is the only one who can change how people see him.
Jerry is use to being invisible. He’s made it through his entire life like this. He’s been crushing on Doug since they met and hooked up in college. He’s been hurt so many times watching Doug get action that he’s become used to feeling not good enough. He’s this smart, wonderful guy who just needs to see that he deserves more. This holiday will help him see that and have him finally taking the stand that he needs to in order to find his way.
This story was such a sweet little read. I enjoyed reading it. Eric used humor to help you get a feel for the characters. He also used such wonderful imagery for describing the gardens at the B & B that the guys stay in. He uses this great town of Beechwod to add such character and depth to the story.
The secondary characters also added more depth and dimension to the story. Somewhere not in the story much, but when they were on the page, they were there for a reason. They gave the guys the bit of tough love or harsh truth that they needed. They showed the guys support and gave them food for thought. It was the right balance of strangers, yet honest friendship.
I liked that this was a story of journey for each character. Each one had to figure out what was really going on in their lives and take the steps to change the behavior.I liked that each guy had to do some hard thinking and really want to make the change to make their lives better. I like that really this story was about hope. I love that was the most prominent theme throughout the story.
I would say that this is a great read. You’ll cheer for these guys as they all make mistakes and then find their way. You’ll enjoy reading about these magical gardens and wish that you could find a place just like it to visit.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press :: Amazon :: ARe