Review: Butterfly Hunter by Julie Bozza

It started as a simple assignment for Aussie bush guide Dave Taylor – escort a lone Englishman in quest of an unknown species of butterfly.

However Nicholas Goring is no ordinary tourist, his search is far from straightforward, and it’s starting to look as if the butterflies don’t want to be found.

As Dave teaches Nicholas everything he needs to survive in the Outback he discovers that he too has quite a bit to learn – and that very often the best way to locate something really important is just not to want to find it…

You know those quiet days. Those days where nothing particularly exciting happens and you're able to do the small things you love, but at the end, you sit back and realize that a wonderful day kind of snuck up on you. Completely unintentionally.

That's Butterfly Hunter.

I was totally caught by surprise. I had no idea how hard I fell in love with Nicholas and Dave and their butterflies. No idea.

Sure, I saw all the 4 and 5 star reviews. Sure, I knew that most of my friends loved it. But while I was reading I thought it was a nice enough story. But then, all of a sudden, my heart is breaking. And I realize that I have fallen head over heels for these characters and am smacked in the face with too much emotion. 

Ms. Bozza is a genius.

Dave is so utterly likeable and endearing. I can totally see why Nicholas was taken with him right away. Nicholas was just as great and I'm pretty sure Dave noticed him right away, too. No matter how much he tried to deny it. For the first half or so, it was just Nicholas and Dave building their friendship and the foundation for their beautiful relationship. Gah, it was beautiful. Not to mention the building of sexual tension. The tension! And, oh, once the tension broke... the kissing.

The kissing.

They didn't even need to go further, or I didn't need to read about it at least, because just their kissing was so damn sexy it about did me in.

I have to mention the butterflies and the significant part they played in the story. Nicholas' passion for them was admirable and the way Dave supported him was perfect. I loved the symbolism and what they meant for Nicholas, how he connected and saw himself in them. The butterflies were the perfect secondary character.

I don't know that I've ever read such a lovely book. The tone was quiet and slow and just beautiful.