Reviewed by Cheyl

TITLE: Release

SERIES: Rent Boys #1

AUTHOR: A E Ryecart

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 218 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 9, 2019

BLURB:

When life holds them captive, can love be their release?

Selling his body since he was a fifteen-year-old runaway, rent boy Sean Farrell has learned the hard lesson that the only way to survive the streets is to act tough and cocky. But an act is all it is, as underneath he’s never felt more adrift as he struggles with crippling self-doubt. Sean’s distilled life into three simple rules: earn enough cash to get by, stick close to the friends who have become his family — and don’t let anyone steal his heart.

Art is Laurie Cassell’s profession and passion. His calm and ordered life is just how he thinks he wants it, but it’s becoming harder to ignore the creeping feeling that calm and ordered has become dull and predictable. Laurie craves more but doesn’t know what, or not until a man with dark hazel eyes and a bad attitude swaggers into his life — and leaves with his heart.

Two men who should never have met, let alone fallen in love. Can Sean and Laurie release the other from lives that are holding them captive?

REVIEW:

*Sigh* This was a truly beautiful book. Yes, it was about some tough subjects and rough people. Sean’s “family” are all on the game and Laurie doesn’t have anyone but his friend, Toby with whom Sean has a hate-hate relationship. Well, okay maybe hate is a strong word, as is relationship, but they definitely don’t like each other.

Both Sean and Laurie are interesting men, which is why I really liked that the book is told from both POVs. Sean is, in many ways, a hard man, from a hard background, doing a hard job. Yet, given the right man he’s got the softest centre. Laurie is a bit of a mess, living a secluded life and working at an art gallery, which he loves but hardly gives him much fulfillment in his personal life. Both are struggling and both are lonely.

Another thing Laurie and Sean have in common is a difficult past. Sean’s led him into his life on the streets, Laurie’s led him to a revulsion at the thought of being touched by a rent boy. Or at least that’s what he told Sean. He even believed it himself at that point.

Sean and Laurie shouldn’t have worked. They couldn’t have been more different—Sean from a life of struggle and poverty, Laurie from money and culture. But they do work. It was clear to see they were going to work from the moment they met, but it was a struggle for them.

There were so many things that could have, and almost did, keep them apart, but against all the odds they managed to keep finding their way back and although it was by slow baby steps, they finally made it. Not only that, but they found a place for Toby, too.

I have rarely read an ending that was so satisfying without being forced. I want to read more about these people. Not only Sean and Laurie because I’m sure they all have their own stories to tell and this author has a wonderful, gritty but warm way of telling them.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon