Can a priest and a rock star obey love’s call?
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld’s childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper’s calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He’s determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky’s careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past’s lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
Audible
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Okay, full disclosure. According to my Amazon buying history, I purchased this book July 25, 2017. That being said, it has languished on my TBR since then. I think mostly because I was afraid of the angst that I anticipated would come with it. I am not an angsty reader generally (I leave those books to Erin 🙂 ), I generally want as my friends would say “puppies pooping rainbows”. I had heard many times how good this book was, but was a bit scared to read it.
Yeah, yeah…I was wrong. 🙂 When I found out it was on Audible, I knew it was time, and now I am just sorry I waited so long…Although that being said,
It was definitely hard to read/listen to the drug portions of the book, even about Nicky shooting up (had an ex that did this, so…) but the authors did a fantastic job of taking that line, crossing it just enough to engage, but not so much that it squeaked me out. My heart hurt for Nicky, and how much he went through, and how hard it was for him to make himself stay clean. He was determined, and it showed.
Meanwhile, at the outset, you would not have assumed Jasper was the one who broke Nicky’s heart, or that he could be a Catholic priest, working with LGBTQ+ children while being out himself. However, he did all that, and the authors made it seamless. They didn’t put them back together instantly (this is a long book!), they took their time, brought them back together as the friends they once were first, and let them find their way back to each others’ hearts as each misunderstanding, argument, or painful memory was cleared.
I really did love this book. It was so unique, and hit so many buttons. Meanwhile, the narrator did what always makes a difference for me when I am listening, let me know through his voice, which character, MC or not, was speaking. Michael knocked it out of the park on this narration, and I’m so glad that he was my first introduction to this book. It allowed me to just enjoy it, rather than worry that I was going to be crying in the corner. (Which by the way, I did a little…but the authors gave me my HEA so all is well.) 🙂
Story:
4.5 pieces of eye candy
Narration:
4.5 pieces of eye candy