Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Heartward
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 188 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 12, 2019
BLURB:
He doesn’t know that home is where his heart will be….
Firefighter Tyler Banik has seen his share of adventure while working disaster relief with the Red Cross. But now that he’s adopted Abey, he’s ready to leave the danger behind and put down roots. That means returning to his hometown—where the last thing he anticipates is falling for his high school nemesis.
Alan Pettaprin isn’t the boy he used to be. As a business owner and council member, he’s working hard to improve life in Scottville for everyone. Nobody is more surprised than Alan when Tyler returns, but he’s glad. For him, it’s a chance to set things right. Little does he guess he and Tyler will find the missing pieces of themselves in each other. Old rivalries are left in the ashes, passion burns bright, and the possibility for a future together stretches in front of them….
But not everyone in town is glad to see Tyler return….
REVIEW:
Whoooo. This one hits you right in the feels. Man. I’ve always admired people who are firefighters or go to the disaster sites to rescue and such. I honestly don’t know if I could do it. I’d like to think I would, because I would love to be able to help anyone out that’s in need but damn their jobs are hard as hell not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. It leaves a lasting effect on you that sometimes even therapy can’t seem to help. And this is one of those books. I love the characters. I love Tyler especially and little Abey and all Tyler does to try to make that little guys life better. Even when he doubts himself, like every parent does, he keeps going just to see the smile on that little face.
Tyler has seen more hell in his lifetime and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. The disaster zones and everything he’s seen in his work, is enough to often leave him nightmares. And a big nightmare was seeing little Abey in his condition and knowing he could never let that little boy go. He worked hard and he adopted that sweet little guy, but it doesn’t mean life is easy. Nightmares plague them both and for a little 3 yr old. It’s worse. But Tyler hopes by coming back home to his quiet little hometown, that life with prove easier for little Abey. And meeting Alan again after all these years, makes things even better. They seem to have hit it off quick and blossoming into what could be a good relationship. But not everyone is happy Tyler is back home and in the new job position he’s in. Or that he is gay. And life is about to get a bit harder.
Like I said in the beginning, I don’t envy guys like Tyler. I’m proud of them, even not knowing them for the work that they do, but it’s hell on them as well as the victims they are trying to help. So, I can just imagine the nightmares they have to deal with when they close their eyes at night. And knowing what little Abey went through adds to that torture. But Tyler does his best and I’m even more proud and happy for him because he not only helped this sweet little boy, but he was determined to give him a good life. And for any single parent, that’s not an easy thing to do. Hell, it’s hard most of the time for two parents. But he knew how much Abey needed love and support and not to be shoved off on somebody. And Abey just grabbed ahold of his heart and he was sunk. When Alan came along, it seemed like he could actually have a family, but was terrified because of his baggage and the things going on in town. But the one thing I love most of all about Tyler, is no matter what, he is always putting others before himself. Even if sometimes it seems like a stupid idea, he is always trying to look out for the wellfare of others. And it made me love the hell out of him for it. And Alan is perfect for him. He loves Tyler for who he is. Not his scars or whatever, but the whole package. Battle wounds and all. And in all of Tyler’s confidence in what he does, he needed someone who would love him in spite of his own doubts and fears. And that’s what he got. If in no one else, then in the face of a beautiful 3 yr old boy.
RATING: 
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