Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Although Tarin's long-term relationship ended recently, he still decides to go on the long-planned camping trip with his ex. Since the relationship had been comfortable but nothing earthshaking, they both enjoyed camping, and they'd moved back to just friends easily enough, there was no reason not to.

But when he wakes up after an argument about sharing a bed, he finds his ex gone -- with the car -- leaving him miles from the nearest bus route back to Auckland and only his two feet to get him there. Despite detailed instructions from his hostess, Tarin gets lost on the unsigned, unpaved roads.

With the approaching night shrouded in a thick, creepy mist, Tarin can't believe his luck when he stumbles upon a nameless hamlet. But are the friendly, gorgeous men who live there his saviours or his downfall?

 

 

First edition published at Silver Publishing, October 2010.

Second edition published at Fireborn Publishing, October 2015.

 

Book Review

There are few things more shocking than being abandoned by someone you trust – and in Tarin’s case his being left behind in the middle of nowhere, without transportation, is worse because it is his ex-lover who does the deed. And just after they had agreed to be friends and still go on the camping trip they had planned pre-breakup. Tarin’s adventures that follow are part creepy almost-horror and part paranormal discovery, with a touching love story added for good measure. A very exciting mix, and one that worked well for me because the discovery of what was really going on was slow, and the creepy horror part was not over the top.

Tarin has broken up with his ex, presumably because they didn’t get along, but to find himself stranded in the B&B they were staying at with the ex having taken the car, is a new low. He takes it amazingly well and focuses on finding a way back to civilization. But as such stories go, instead of finding the bus stop, he ends up lost in a mysterious mist and rescued by seemingly friendly strangers. Of course, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Tarin gradually discovers there are a few very weird things about these people and how they live, and it gets stranger from there.

I can’t say much more without spoiling the surprise, but I can say that the story had me fascinated. Yes, some of it was not unexpected, but I enjoyed the creepiness of the setting. The author did a great job pulling me in, and not making it too scary for a non-horror fan like me. This story was just the right level of hair-raising and spooky for me to still enjoy it. The love that develops between Tarin and one of the men he discovers living in the mist definitely helped lighten things up a little and gave both Tarin and me a reason to persevere.

If you like creepy stories that are not too scary, if two men from different worlds finding out they belong together is your thing, and if you’re looking for a story that is as filled with darkness as it is with hope, then you will probably like this novella.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The second edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 26536 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	13-May-2023
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.jms-books.com/pelaam-c-224_380/becomes-the-rose-p-4698.html