Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: The Yuchae Blossom
SERIES: World of Love #26
AUTHOR: Asher Quinn
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 162 pags
RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2019
BLURB:
Can two men find happiness in a country that doesn’t accept their love?
When Jack Calloway is transferred to his firm’s South Korean branch on Jeju Island, he’s assigned a valet, the beautiful but shy Song Woo-bin. He stirs feelings Jack has rarely experienced for another man, but everything seems to be against them—Jack is older and Song Woo-bin’s supervisor. He is just beginning to understand the new culture surrounding him even as he accepts his own desires for the first time, and Song Woo-bin is closeted, inexperienced, and estranged from his family. Their path to each other is full of obstacles and societal disapproval. Will the two men eventually come together amid the clash and complement of Eastern and Western culture… and find a home among the yuchae blossoms?
REVIEW:
I’ve always wanted to travel to other countries. Problem is I’m terrified of heights. Kinda hard to fly, huh? But I’ve always been interested in the cultures and history of other countries and I love being able to see things through other people’s eyes. The hard part with other cultures is a lot are still very strict as far as the LGBT community. I know things in the U.S. are better, but not great. In countries like South Korea, where this book is located, is virtually non-existent. People have to hide or remain closeted. Reading books like this, kind of give you a feel of what people have to go through. It’s not a depressing book, don’t get me wrong, but it does show how fearful people can be and what links some will go in order to hide or save someone from being ruined. It’s a good book.
Jackson is not very happy. Being relocated for three years for this resort project is like a prison sentence for him. Three years away from his son. Yeah, not happy at all. And the trip is off to a rousing success. Not. Loss of luggage. Wrong name. Wrong hotel. Different executive assistant. The list goes on. Thank goodness for the new executive assistant though, or he would be in deep crap. Very deep. But what trips him up more than anything, is his new ‘valet’. He’s not used to someone doing everything for him. Including handing him his towel as he gets out of the shower. Song Woo-bin is just too much. He has him transferred and finds out it’s much different than he thought. Culture differences. They fired him instead. And it gets worse after that. Much worse. Jack finally figures out why Song Woo-bin got to him so much, but it may be too late. And if it’s not, Song Woo-bin may not return his feelings. If he does, he may not be able to act on it.
I don’t guess I will ever understand hate, bigotry and homophobia. It shouldn’t ever matter about someone sexuality. For someone like Song Woo-bin, it’s horrifying to come out usually. I don’t know how bad the laws in South Korea are now, but I know they’re still pretty rough. The story never really gives the point of view of Song Woo-bin, but by the descriptions, you can take a guess. He really seems in to Jack. He acts like he really wants to be with Jack, but culture and assholes are holding him back. I hate that. I hate that he felt like he couldn’t be himself. He went through so much hell in this book, and he’s such a sweet soul. A beautiful spirit that’s been given a too harsh life. You can’t help but love him and yearned for him to try to break free. Even if it’s quiet, just to try to love and be loved.
With Jack, I wanted to shake him hard sometimes. You know how he feels about Song Woo-bin, but sometimes he just doesn’t get a clue. And he makes things harder for Song Woo-bin. Thankfully, he’s not one to give up and I’m glad he didn’t. He dug to the root of the majority of the problem so Song Woo-bin could be free, but fear can be a powerful motivator.
This is one of those stories you can’t help but root for these guys to get together. And for everyone else to go away. In one instance, go away for good. Love is never easy. It takes work. Especially when things are battling so hard against you. But hope and determination made things all the better.
RATING:
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