Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Weathering the Storm
SERIES: Voice Out #1
AUTHOR: Stella Rainbow
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 244 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2022
BLURB:
From roommates who barely see each other, to finding their happily ever after, Luke and Scott have a tough storm to weather.
Luke
Escaping a madman with your life barely intact and your ability to trust shattered changes you. It changed me. I didn’t remember who I was before him, my past a murky shadow, and everything in the future looked the same.
Until an ad for a roommate led me to Scott. Scott made me feel safe. He made me feel… happy. But should I allow myself to drop my walls around him when the last man I let in left me bleeding and scared of my own shadow?
Scott
Being lonely was nothing new to me. Other than my best friend and his small family, I had no one in the world and I was okay with that. Or at least, that was what I thought.
But then Luke showed up, looking to rent a room, and something about the beautiful man with his oversized hoodie and eyes full of warniness made me want to get to know him better. Something made me want to earn his trust, to see joy and adoration shine in those gray eyes. But should I let him get close when I’ve lost too many people already?
Tags:
Luke doesn’t trust anyone, Scott doesn’t let people get too close, they both break their rules for each other, some angst, but lots of sweetness, roommates to lovers, slow burn, like sloooooow burn, low heat, demisexual Scott, all the hurt/comfort, Tressa the three-legged cat, because Luke is punny with names, Mama D is a force to be reckoned with, Voice Out is a family, nightmares, comfort with cuddles, Scott is Luke’s safe space.
REVIEW:
Weathering the Storm is an engaging slow burn, hurt/comfort novel with lovable characters plus chocolate chip cookies and a kitten for extra sweetness. It features Luke, a young man struggling after escaping horrendous abuse at the hands of someone he thought was a boyfriend. Now he’s scared of strangers and knows he’ll never be able to be in a relationship again. But he’s courageously committed to starting a new chapter of his life. The first step is finding a new place to live.
Scott had his own painful history, having tragically lost all his loved ones. He’s lonely and decides to rent out the guest room in his home, not for the money but for the companionship. None of the applicants fit the bill until Luke walks through his door for an interview. Luke is visibly uncomfortable, but Scott feels an immediate connection and his protective instincts kick in. He wants to pull Luke into a bear hug but he knows better. Luke is vulnerable and unsure when he views the room, but he thinks he’s comfortable with Scott. He has trouble trusting his own judgment, though, since it’s failed him in the past. His plan is to politely coexist, spending most of his time secluded in his room, but Scott won’t have that and gently works to pull Luke out of hiding. A beautiful part of the book is how they bond over books, reading aloud to each other.
This is a gentle love story. Luke’s journey from living a nightmare to living a dream is one I completely enjoyed witnessing. His history is atrocious and beyond heartbreaking, and like Scott, I wanted to wrap him up and keep him safe, too. He is a well-written, sympathetic character. Scott is characterized perfectly as a protector and caretaker. He’s ceaselessly patient, innately understanding of Luke’s needs, and he desires nothing more than to help him heal. He needs to tread carefully, though; he knows to interact gently, give Luke plenty of space, and respect his anxieties. Luke is convinced he can’t be fixed, can’t be loved, and can’t allow himself to fall for Scott because he fears being used and dumped. I love seeing Scott prove him wrong.
Scott isn’t the only one caring for Luke. There is an array of characters in his life that give him the unconditional love and support he needs and deserves.
This is such a sweet story that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And indeed it did, in spectacular fashion, upsetting the lovely status quo. However, the beautiful epilogue – six months or so down the road – wraps the story up nicely and had me completely forgetting the previous stressful conflict. This is the first book I’ve read by Stella Rainbow and I’m very glad I picked it up to review and recommend.
RATING: 
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