Eighteen-year-old Nephi Rafe Norton goes to Falcon Pointe University to find himself. Away from his conservative family, he hopes to discover if his attraction to men is the real deal. Encouraged to be someone a little different, he starts using his middle name. “Rafe” quickly makes friends, some of whom use a paddle to dispense caring discipline, and he lives it up—until midterms hit, and he realizes he’s flunking statistics class.
When Scotland native Éigneachán Jackson Levlin offers to help, Rafe is eager to accept—not only because Levlin is a psychologist, but also because he’s out and proud and hot as hell.
As their relationship heats up, Rafe decides to spend one last Christmas with his family before he tells them. When his little sister outs him to his siblings, they turn out to be fully supportive, and he takes heart—until he introduces Levlin to his father, who brutally dismisses both of them. Now Rafe must come to peace with his father’s rejection or risk losing Levlin—and all that he has become at Falcon Pointe—forever.
Title: Becoming Rafe
Series: A Men of Falcon Pointe Novel
Author: Thianna Durston
Release Date: May 23, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 200
I am a huge fan of Thianna Durston‘s work. I was excited to see she had a new series out but didn’t have a chance to grab it up and read it. I hate starting a series in the middle, but while the characters overlap books the stories are their own. It totally cool picking up with the third book. I never felt lost or like I had missed something important. I will tell you, I’m definitely going to go back and read the first two.
18 year old Nephi leaves his super strict Mormon family to attend college in Falcon Pointe. Nephi plans to use college as a journey of self discovery. Nephi knows he’s attracted to men, but as far as being “gay” he’s not really sure what that means. His roommate convinces him that he needs to separate the old Nephi from the new bold Nephi. He cuts his hair, pierces his ear, gets a tattoo and starts going by his middle name, Rafe.
Through his cousin Bastien, Rafe meets Levlin. Levlin is a 36 year old psychologist from Scotland. While Levlin is “out” in Falcon Pointe is family back in Scottland have no idea he’s gay and he plans to keep it that way.
The two see each other around and become friendly. It’s not until Rafe is in danger of failing his statistics class that Levlin offers his help and the chance for more. Levlin introduces Rafe to domestic discipline, which helps Rafe deal with all the stress of statistics and the looming threat of his family finding out he’s gay.
Over Christmas Rafe is outed to his family by his sister. While his brothers and sisters are supportive, his devout Mormon father can not accept it. Rafe goes back to Falcon Pointe feeling like he’d lost a part of himself. It’s only with Levlin’s help that he is able to see that family isn’t made by blood only, but those you choose as yours.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that while Rafe’s father didn’t understand his sons life style, he wasn’t screaming hateful things hiding behind his religion.
The strong relationship that all the men of Falcon Pointe have will keep me coming back for more.
5 pieces of eye candy
Thanks so much, Deanna! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Rafe & Levlin’s story. I hope you enjoy the other two books just as much 🙂