Reviewed by Cinnamon
TITLE: Runaway
SERIES: World of Love
AUTHOR: Nic Starr
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 86 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2017
BLURB:
Dr Nathan Powell is ready to settle down near his family, and hopefully find the man of his dreams. He returns to the small coastal town where he grew up, but while life is simpler than it was in the city, there are also complications—like patients’ reactions to an openly gay doctor. And like running into Nate’s first love, Damien, an out-and-proud local business owner who is unwilling to be any man’s dirty secret. The reunion reignites old desire even while it stirs up Nate’s guilt over the way things ended with Damien.
When Nate’s nephew runs away, Damien accompanies Nate on his mission to find the young man. The drive to Sydney, and the search of the city, gives Nate time to reconnect with Damien—and to wonder if he made the right decision years ago—when he determined a future for them was impossible. Is a fresh start realistic for two men in their forties? But before he can ponder the second chance they’ve been given, Nate must locate his nephew.
REVIEW:
Runaway is a great novella about second chances and the hardship of adolescence written with lots of heart and compassion. This book is part of the World of Love series which shows love at different parts of the world. I love reading Nic Starr and her wonderful books set in her gorgeous home, Australia. I love stories set in a place I haven’t been before but dream about going and Sydney and its area is exactly like that.
The writing is solid as always and the plot-line is a good combination of the re-connection of two guys who used to be best friends with benefits and the search of a runaway teenage boy. The different elements are woven together and we get to know our characters bit by bit with all the details coming together nicely as the story comes full circle by the end. Even if we get a HFN ending we understand that Nate and his nephew, Jackson, help each other to move on and both change their lives for the better.
Our reconnecting MCs, Damien and Nate, still have great chemistry and their attraction is palpable. Their renewed connection is real and well-paced with a true promise for a wonderful future together. The glimpses we get to their past tells a nice and real first-love story. With the flashbacks we can put together their shared history and also understand what they mean to each other and what conflicts they had in the past. However, I would have loved to read more details about them together as teens. I loved the prologue and understood its significance later, but missed some more from the story. I understand the limits of a novella and we get all the feels, don’t get me wrong, but I just wanted more… which only shows how much I like these guys. Have fun and enjoy this story!
RATING:
BUY LINKS: