Bridging Hope (Bridging Hearts 1) by Greyson McCoy at Dreamspinner Press
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Bob-O-Link on 28-May-2024 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Bob-O-Link on 28-May-2024 |
When workaholic Pierce Simms’s sister passes, he suddenly finds himself unemployed, back in the hometown he fled, and raising his niece and nephew. Despite that, he’s confident he has things under control—at least until his sister’s high-school sweetheart shows up.
With his teaching grant ended, Dalton O’Dell is at loose ends and tight purse strings. Just as the world crashes down on him, he learns his ex-girlfriend has passed and named him guardian of her two young children. Chaos ensues when he and her brother, Pierce, are forced together to raise the toddlers in Pierce’s family farmhouse.
Nestled in the enchanting beauty of the farm, Pierce and Dalton bond over the challenges of co-parenting and their shared grief as unexpected love blossoms. Love might not be enough, however, if they can’t learn to bridge the gap between their different worlds and overcome the trauma of their pasts.
The plot is sufficiently outlined in the blurb, and given the work’s categorization, you can bet your money there will be sex and a satisfactory resolution. So – why bother reading this novella? It’s a lovely romance, told in an episodic fashion. Through this style we are introduced to independent versions of two main characters, and their interaction with each other. Essentially, it’s a charming, romantic biography of Pierce and Dalton, and though the style may occasionally seem trite, reading it will remind us of the best of love and family.
Style is of much importance, such as the beginning, set in a damp January fog in a desolate churchyard. Pierce, in mourning, is matched up soon as a joint guardian for his sister’s two- and four-year-old children. Pierce has long avoided his “home”, having made a quick escape from his abusive father. Yet, perhaps ironically, Pierce’s father left him the family farm, and his sister Lizzie left him her children! But Lizzie has included Dalton, a long-time friend, as co-guardian. Conveniences abound as Dalton and Pierce are both in need of habitation and employment. And both almost immediately confess to being gay. They both place the kids’ welfare above an almost irresistible attraction to each other, setting sensible boundaries. The arrangement meets the respective needs, while author McCoy – with an “eerie and deeply symbolic” hooting of an owl, brings us back to early 20th century no-gothic romances.
The heroes promised to go slow, but why waste sex-empty hours with the kids at school? “Wanna see if we’re any good in the sack?” asks Dalton. They promptly test their compatibility. “Yes, harder! Give it to me, Pierce.” Note that well-written erotica tends to put aside reality for wishful events – such as rapidly serial oral sex and two acts of intercourse, the energy for which is easily physically and emotionally fueled. Dalton is ravished and wanted.
The men establish a routine of dropping the kids at school, and rushing home to pound each other into the mattress. The author, of course, hints there are problems to come (no pun intended!). Their relationship strains with the necessary efforts to earn and parent – and the realization they need to make decisions as to whether or not they want the kids. The occurrences of their present situation are catalytic to sorting the answer.
Having parented 20th century children, I am well aware how computers and earphones have replaced printed texts for entertainment, but ‘Bridging Hope’ contains enough sex to keep the kettle on the stove hot (sounding country?): it is more TV soap opera romance than fine literature, but hooray for the good sex, the emotional magnetism, and the invasive human problems. Pierce and Dalton experiment, take risks, and learn that when you have kids, love alone isn’t enough – the kids are the most important thing.
I highly recommend this novel, and it’s blessedly brief!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook |
Length | Novella, 76 pages/24686 words |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 26-March-2024 |
Price | $3.99 ebook |
Buy Link | https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/bridging-hope-by-greyson-mccoy-12441-b |