Reviewed by Kat

TITLE:  Shelter

AUTHOR:  Ashley John

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  320 pages

BLURB:

Fresh from his fourth stint in rehab, Elias James doesn’t have much to live for. His relationship with his family has never been so strained and with no real life of his own, he has nothing to live for. His overachieving twin sister and his ruthless mother’s political success as Mayor of Havenmoore has left him empty. Getting high started as an act of rebellion but the addiction soon controlled his every waking moment.

Aspiring writer, Caden Walker, thought he had the perfect life until he discovered his boyfriend in bed with his best friend. Leaving everything behind in New York, he returns to Havenmoore to re-evaluate his life from his parent’s guest bedroom. When his mom offers him a job working for the charity she runs, helping people struggling with addiction, he’s not in a position to turn it down.

Caden never expected to find what he did, but when he is assigned to work with Elias, a reluctant attraction quickly blossoms into something deeper. Can Elias find in Caden the one thing he’s always searched for or will his addiction drag him under once again? Is Caden ready to let go of his New York dream to take a chance on something unexpected? Both men are faced with difficult times of change, but can they make it through the storm to find the shelter?

REVIEW:

I have been anxiously waiting my turn to get to review one of Ashley John’s novels, having been a big fan of his since I discovered this amazing young author. I discovered his novels after reading an article he published titled “Should Women Write Gay Romance?” I have to admit that I went in guns blazing when I saw this title. I was so ready to dislike what I perceived, by the title, a trashing of female writers in this genre. Much to my surprise, I read a thoughtful, intelligent article with this young man stating his support for his fellow authors. I decided to give him a chance, being a fairly new author, and have never been disappointed that I did. I have devoured everything that he has written ever since.

Ashley John’s newest novel, Shelter, is a gritty and honest depiction of a desperate young man fighting with the demons that have pushed him into years of drug abuse and addiction. Elias James, a 26-year old addict has just been released from his fourth stint in rehab. He is the forgotten twin brother of Havenmoore’s star doctor Ellie, and the hidden, disappointing son of the town’s mayor Judy James. Elias has been assigned to Caden Walker, a support worker for Helping Hands Outreach, who has just moved back to town after finding his fiancé having sex with his best friend at his New York apartment. Caden is a writer but has worked for his mother’s charity before, helping recovering addicts. After working together for a short time the two men discover, that not only are they both gay but, there is a serious attraction.

One of the harder parts of the story is the lack of love of a mother for her son. Elias’ lingering hope that his mother will finally accept him and build a relationship with him is heart wrenching and brutal. I have seen this with youth before. Some people should never be parents. Their children cling to the hope that someday their parent/s will finally “see the light” and come to them with open arms. Unfortunately, that is not the way life happens. Mr. John portrayed this beautifully with Elias. No matter what his mother threw at him, in the back of his mind there was always a flicker of hope. A hope that that woman did not deserve. She was a vile, disgusting piece of human waste! She may have been the town’s sweetheart but she had such a cold, hard, black heart to her own children. Ellie and Elias deserved so much more. I was thrilled, however, with the twin’s reconnection. Ellie’s finally accepting that Elias did really want to change was touching and poignant.

Caden was Elias’ link back to reality and a life without the need for drugs. Having someone that Elias could count on for love, belief in him as a person and support was all he had ever needed. Their connection and devotion to one another was magical. They each needed the other so much. Elias thought that his strength came from Caden but it was both men’s love and devotion that brought out their strengths and allowed themselves to truly open their own eyes for the first time in their lives.

One of the small parts of the story I had difficulty with was Ellie being a practicing doctor. The twins were 26 years old and it is highly unlikely that she would be an established doctor, in her own practice, at that age. She also had a son, Kobi, who turned 7 years old. This meant that she had him when she was 19 and still graduated very early from medical school. I find that very difficult to comprehend happening.

I have absolutely no problem recommending this book. It is an insight into what the lack of a caring parent can do to a child. Shelter is not a whimsical, easy read. It is a book that requires a strong look at how a parent’s actions, or lack of, can emotionally scar a child and brings to light the struggles that they have with this lack of compassion and caring. A must read book!

RATING: 

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