Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Gabriel’s Storm
AUTHOR: Sue Brown
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 193 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2020
BLURB:
A year after he lost his wife and child to a sudden storm, Gabriel Pennant stands vigil on a Cornish clifftop and spots a small boat in distress as another storm rolls in. Gabriel fights strong winds and dangerous waves to rescue an unconscious young man. He carries the man back to his cottage and sits with him until he wakes, only to discover he’s suffering from amnesia.
When Sam wakes up in the cottage of a brooding, handsome stranger with a tragic past who saved him from drowning but obviously doesn’t want him there, he remembers nothing except being captive in his own body.
Then they are trapped together as the village is cut off by a landslip, and Gabriel has no choice but to offer grudging hospitality. Gabriel finds himself unwillingly attracted to his houseguest, and Sam just wants to take away the pain in the eyes of the lonely widower. But first they need to find out who Sam is and why he’s having nightmares about men trying to kill him.
REVIEW:
Gabriel Pennant is surviving. He hasn’t been “living” in the year since he’s suffered the horrific loss of his wife and child. He feels like he’s compelled to keep watch over the sea and save anyone who needs rescuing. And lo and behold, one stormy night he does see a boat in distress and makes what might be his last decision to try to see if there is anyone aboard who needs saving. He discovers and unconscious young man who definitely needs saving as the boat is about to sink.
After taking the young man home, he finally awakes and has no idea who he is or what happened. They decide to call him Sam because he can’t remember who he is or what has happened to him, but Sam sounds as good a name as any and he feels comfortable with it. He’s got a concussion and Gabriel’s brother-in-law Toby, twin of his deceased wife, is a doctor. Toby is busy with many things as the storm that Sam’s boat was caught in has caused a lot of damage in the village and he’s needed elsewhere, so he forced Gabriel to take care of Sam in his house. What Sam doesn’t know is that Gabriel has literally not had anyone except Toby and his husband in his house since his wife and son died. He’s barely functioned in that time. He’s deeply in grief and bit of a surly character. But he does have a very protective urge over the lovely Sam.
Sam takes a few days to begin feeling better, but there are more difficulties going on in the village with a landslide that damages homes and takes out the road. There is no way to get to the police and Sam isn’t even sure who he is, so there is not trail to follow for missing persons. More disturbing though are the very real nightmares Sam has of someone trying to kill him. Sam is convinced that they are not just nightmares, but memories. Gabriel vows to keep Sam safe and help him find out who he is and what happened to land him injured on that boat.
All the while, Sam and Gabriel do a bit of a dance around each other. They are each attracted – Gabriel has made not secret that he is bisexual. Sam knows that he is gay and that he is falling for Gabriel, even though he knows that Gabriel is still grieving his son and wife. But the rest of the village is amazed that Gabriel has seemed to take more interest in everything since Sam has come along. He’s basically ignored everyone but his family in the past year – barely leaving his house except to watch over the sea.
When things finally clear up, Sam and Gabriel discover who Sam is in a very unexpected way. And while it seems like this should be a good thing, it unfortunately does not lead to the happy return of Sam’s previous life. Sam wasn’t wrong about his memories and the mastermind behind the plot is a huge surprise. The investigation lead to some pain for both Gabriel and Sam and then decisions have to be made about how to move forward. And whether or not that can be together or apart.
I really liked this story. Gabriel is a very sad man – as one would be when losing a beloved wife and child. He’s haunted that they were taken from him and he couldn’t save or find them. Sam is a wounded man – but oh so appealing. I really felt for him not know not only who he was but what had really happened to him to leave him for dead on that boat. I particularly loved Toby, Gabriel’s BIL and best friend. He’s really the catalyst for getting Gabriel to see that he must start living again. I liked that the relationship was a little bit slower moving – even though it builds only over days. I enjoyed the slow burn and the subtle dance of these too men. Recommended for those in particular who like mysteries and slow burn stories.
RATING: 
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