Choosing Home (The Call of Home #1) by Alexa Milne
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M/M, Contemporary, Romance
You can never escape from yourself.
Zac McKenzie is an ex-professional footballer with a secret he gave up his career to protect. Several years ago, he fled to his home in the North East of Scotland to avoid being outed as gay. Now, he owns a successful hotel and restaurant, but is it time to finally come out into the open?
Seth Pritchard feels he’s damaged goods. He comes to Scotland to escape memories of the accident that left him injured, his bullying stepbrothers and a life of lies.
For their whole lives, Zac and Seth have denied who they truly are to themselves as well as others. When they meet, each man is forced to confront his fears and tear them down one by one.
3 out of 5 (good)
In the first book of the Call of Home series, we meet Zac - an ex-football player and now hotel owner, and Seth - a man of mystery who is recovering from an accident and works from home. These two both of have secrets, from each other and from the world. Will they find what it takes to explain everything, or will they continue hiding?
This is a well-written and smooth story. The plot flows along, with no major angst or heartbreak throughout, apart from Seth's descriptions of the bullying he had to contend with. If anything, that would be my only complaint - things went a bit TOO smoothly. Big expectations of what would happen if Zac came out, but then it sort of fizzled away. Big expectations of what would happen if Seth came out, and then once again, it sort of fizzled away. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, it just felt a bit strange that none of the issues that had been built up to be something huge, actually came about.
On the whole though, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story, a gentle romance with spots of steam. Recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Originally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over thirty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions. Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing. She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.