Jude’s too chained to his work to notice what he’s missing by being terminally single, but a new face in the village soon catches his attention. City boy Isha is gorgeous, and when he starts to haunt Jude’s reptile shop as well as the hook-up app on his phone, he's a welcome distraction from Jude’s business problems.
For a control freak like Isha, letting Jude under his skin is an existential meltdown, but Jude’s not in the market to be anyone’s queer crisis, not when he’s facing troubles of his own. Unlocking their lives could push both men apart forever, but it might be a risk worth taking if sharing is the key to their happy future.
I actually ended up enjoying this one more than I initially thought I would. Because snakes. Actually, snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos... you name it and in case you're wondering, I'm not a fan. However, I did end up learning a couple things about these creatures and I always enjoy that.
In true Garrett Leigh fashion there is much angst and pain in Jude and Isha's journey. Isha is queer and in the closet to everyone except his ex-wife/best friend. For years he's been perfectly fine with his occasional Grindr hookups then along comes Jude and throws everything off-kilter.
Jude is a struggling pet shop owner and a bit... eccentric. I actually really like Jude but he does have a hard time communicating as does Isha which makes the push/pull extra push/pull-y.
They do clearly have some sort of voodoo connection between them that defies explanation and I'm fine with that. Where things got dicey was Isha's closetedness. I honestly couldn't understand why it was such a huge deal. His entire circle of friends are queer, his kids are young enough that they're going to take it in stride and keep on loving him just as much as ever and his ex-wife already knows and accepts him so... *scratches head*?????
BUT, I will say I understand people get things in their head for whatever reason and it's difficult to shift out of that mentality; however, that obscurity doesn't translate well in the written word here especially considering the whole situation was over and done with in the blink of an eye without a backwards glance giving the whole thing an air of contrivance.
Jude ends happily with Isha making the adjustment to blissful domesticity in the epilogue and I enjoyed watching them find their way. Though I would've appreciated a little more happy than the epilogue.
Definitely doesn't compare to Lucky but still an absorbing hurt/comfort romance that stays true to Ms. Leigh's form and one I would recommend to fans of her work.
A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
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