Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Leaving Kind

SERIES:  Hearts & Crafts

AUTHOR:  Kelly Jensen

PUBLISHER:  Riptide

LENGTH:  338 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 18, 2023

BLURB:

Without heart, there is no art.

Cameron has been running for years—from responsibility, disappointment, war, and loss. Despite his fatigue, his body and mind refuse to rest. Returning home and supporting his younger brother helped, until Nick proved he no longer needed Cam’s care. But before Cam can decide to move on again, he meets someone else who could use a little help.

Victor is done with love. He’s done with men. He’s also done, apparently, with being a brilliant, if temperamental, artist. Now he’s just temperamental and would rather watch his gorgeous handyman dig in the garden than paint. It doesn’t take long, however, before Cam’s face—replete with stories—has Victor itching to pick up a brush again. If only painting people wasn’t fraught with sad memories.

Neither plans for more than friendship, but it quickly turns to sex, and then feelings intense enough to send them both running. Only by risking their hearts and sharing the pain of the past can they turn this love into the staying kind.

This is part of the Hearts & Crafts series and can be read on its own but is best enjoyed as part of the series.

CW:  Self-Harm (self-neglect, alcoholism)
Suicide (references)

REVIEW:

Note:  This is the third book in this series.  I would recommend reading the first book, Sundays with Oliver, for context around Cam and his family, but it’s not necessary to enjoy this story.

Cam Zimmerman is happy with his 31 hours a week at a tree farm. He picks up some other odd jobs and he’s happy being outdoors, delivering lawn supplies, planting trees, etc.  He’s spent time in the army and he’s been home for a while but nothing has seemed to fit. He came home and was living with his brother after a disastrous relationship left him broke and alone, so he’s slowly rebuilding.  He’s taking care of his parents house that is left in trust for his niece and he’s content.  Then he meets Victor.

Vic is an artist who is throwing out his ex – if he’s honest it was over long ago but now he’s been humiliated by the cheater – when Cam arrives to deliver the new trees for his property.  He’s been drinking and he’s throwing things and falls and hit his head as he’s throwing Tholo, the now ex, out of the house.  Cam is worried about the man.  He comes back the next day and see’s him prone on the floor of his studio and he’s not sure the man is alive.  He is, but he’s some worse for wear.  Cam leaves, but he can’t get the man out of his mind.

When Cam comes back to plant the trees, Vic is some better and his flirty too 😉  Cam isn’t sure what to do about this.  But he does want to help the guy out.  He is ready to plant the trees, but then he’s distracted by finding an injured dog.  While he’s taking care of her, Vic is worried that he’s scared Cam off.  He really likes him for some reason and he doesn’t want that.  He’s been wallowing a bit and then he gets bad professional news about a canceled art show and he’s not sure what he’s going to do next.  When he and Cam are together though, things go from friends to friends with benefits.

Cam doesn’t feel like he’s relationship material.  He really likes Vic, but he recognizes that he’s got a lot on his plate and he’s not sure he can do more than what they are doing.  Vic hasn’t exactly been lucky in relationships either.  They agree to go on as friends.  Funny thing happened on the way to friendship though.  Both men recognize that they are getting in way deeper than they anticipated.  Neither of them expected things to go this way.  They are both dealing with a lot of change.  Cam’s trying to maybe get a business off the ground.  Vic’s trying to maybe take his art in a new direction.  So much is happening at once and they are drowning a bit in all the change and how badly they might get hurt if this ends.  But what if it doesn’t have to?

I think this is my favorite book in this series.  I absolutely love how these two flawed men were able to work through their fears and their past hurts to figure out a way to be together.  I loved how the author rather seamlessly weaved in the couples from the past books in this series as well.  Cameron, being Nick’s brother, made Nick and Oliver and Emma fairly easy, but it was nice to see Gray and Aaron as well.  Full confession here:  I am a huge fan of this author and her work.  She writes mature characters who have been through some stuff just so well and thoughtfully.  I didn’t see a few of the reveals – particularly around Vic’s past – coming.  The fact that Cam and Vic had dealt with loss and were at a bit of a crossroads in their lives could easily have pulled them apart.  But they both had support systems that they maybe didn’t feel comfortable relying on at first.  It takes some pushing for them to figure out that yes, there is risk in loving someone.  But maybe the rewards are worth it.  Tez and Nick and Sage and Jorge and Beck and Luisa and Emma and the whole gang really come through for them in ways that neither man anticipates that they are going to need.  There are some dark moments for both of these guys after life deals them some unwelcome surprises – both personal and professional.  They are both stronger and more resilient than than they recognize at first.

There are some difficult topics to deal with for both of these characters.  Specifically the use of alcohol to self-medicate and the depression and loneliness they both feel at times are scary and familiar to them both.  Vic recognizes that he needs more support, but he’s been reluctant to pursue reconnecting with a mental health provider.  I really appreciated that the author didn’t shrink from these issue and instead, the couple – and their friends and family – were able to talk about what they needed and how they would address their situation as a couple.  Talking about things was much better than not talking about them.  Their vulnerability with each other and their losses and sorrows and fears was what they needed, even if it was damn scary.  I absolutely LOVED the way this story turned out – for everyone.  Beautifully written love story with so many feels.  Highly recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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