Reviewed by Dan

TITLE:  A Second Harvest

SERIES:  Men of Lancaster County #1

AUTHOR:     Eli Easton

PUBLISHER:     Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH:     206 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 1, 2016

BLURB:

David Fisher has lived by the rules all his life. Born to a Mennonite family, he obeyed his father and took over the family farm, married, and had two children. Now with both his kids in college and his wife deceased, he runs his farm alone and without joy, counting off the days of a life half-lived.

Christie Landon, graphic designer, Manhattanite, and fierce gay party boy, needs a change. Now thirty, he figures it’s time to grow up and think about his future. When his best friend overdoses, Christie resolves to take a break from the city. He heads to a small house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to rest, recoup, and reflect.

But life in the country is boring despite glimpses of the hunky silver fox next door. When Christie’s creativity latches on to cooking, he decides to approach his widower neighbor with a plan to share meals and grocery expenses. David agrees, and soon the odd couple finds they really enjoy spending time together.

Christie challenges the boundaries of David’s closed world and brings out feelings he buried long ago. If he can break free of the past, he might find a second chance at happiness.

REVIEW:

Before I even start on the review, I have a comment.  Have you seen the cover for this book? I’m not sure if it is just my eyes, but on both my Kindle and on my laptop it looks almost 3 dimensional.  Kudos.

So now let’s talk about the book. I started it this afternoon on the treadmill at the gym and was disappointed when my hour on the treadmill was over and I had to close the book long enough to get home.  Then I read it straight through to the end.  I really, really, enjoyed this one.

Christie Landon is a stereotypical New York Guppy party boy who has spent the last decade hanging out at a club called The Boiler Room.  The name says it all. Bathroom sex, lots of alcohol, lots of drugs and lots of shallow men.  In between club appearances, he shares a one bedroom apartment in Manhattan with his friend Kyle.  He is also very good at his job as a graphic artist…which pays the bills.

When Christie gets some little blue pills that a bathroom trick says are X one night, and his roommate Kyle pops both and goes through a really bad overdose scene, it is enough for both Christie and Kyle to give up partying.  Kyle falls in love with someone and moves out, and Christie decides to give up the apartment, and the partying life, and go off to the wilds of Pennsylvania Mennonite territory where his aunt has recently died and left him her house. Luckily he is so good at his job, that he can do it from anywhere, including the wilds of Pennsylvania!

David Fisher is a Mennonite farmer, who married young, lost his wife to cancer, and has two children grown and out of the house.  His farm is across the lane from Christie’s new home, and the two lonely men are slowly drawn into a friendship that crosses the border between big city guy and country farmer.  But Christie hasn’t mentioned the gay thing….

As usual, Ms. Easton has written a story that truly captivates.  Her character development is flawless, the world building is spot on, and the writing is fantastic.

I very highly recommend this book.  I think any and all of you will enjoy it.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Dreamspinner Press  

Amazon

ARe