Sandy M’s review of Heart & Soul by Shae Connor
Contemporary Gay Romance published by Amazon Digital Services 16 Nov 16
I’m going to ‘fess up here first thing. I did something I try not to do when reviewing books. When this book came through for a review request, my reason for reading it was I’d been enjoying another author’s gay romance lately and thought it would be good to read the same by someone else. In further honesty, though I tried my best not to do this, because it’s like comparing apples and oranges, I did compare the stories.
Unfortunately, this book ends up lacking. I realize in my skewed logic I’ve not been totally fair. While this is an okay book, it doesn’t have the emotion or intensity that I look for in romance. Even a book labeled as sweet or some such adjective needs at least one of those to pull a reader in, for them to care what happens to the characters.
Kellen is a musician who teaches students as day job and then plays with a band at a local bar most nights. He and his band have been at Roy’s for years now, so they’re a bit surprised when Roy tells them he’s selling the bar. But because Roy has had some recent health problems, they understand why. Taking over will be Terrence Harvey, former pro football player, and his brother. There’s a bit of a niggle when introduced to Terrence, but worry about their future has Kellen concerned.
It’s during all the work to be done during the interim when Kellen and Terrence learn more about each other that their feelings begin to show. Terrence is divorced with kids, thus he’s bisexual. He’s just as attracted to Kellen as Kellen is to him. In between cleaning the bar up some, taking trips to the zoo with Terrence’s children and Kellen’s niece, and family get-togethers, their love fully surfaces. There’s one quick scene in which they make love,
This is one of those slow-moving stories with no conflict to speak of. It’s a sweet romance, but nothing we’ve not read before.
Grade: C
Summary:
Love can sneak up on you in the last place you’d expect.
Kellen Grady has known he’s gay since he was a teenager, but he’s never been that interested in dating. A professional pianist, he’s happy spending his days teaching students of all ages and his nights working and playing at an Atlanta bar and concert venue. When former pro football player Terrence Harvey and his brother buy the bar, Kellen’s thrown by the change to his routine, but he develops a quick friendship with Terrence, drawn to his sunny nature and sharp mind. Then their relationship takes a turn when Terrence surprises Kellen with a kiss. The unexpected action, though not unwelcome, leaves Kellen faced with reevaluating everything he thought he knew—about Terrence, and about himself.
No excerpt available.
