Title: Defined by Deceit
Author: A E Via
Genre: M/M Romance
Cover: Jay Aheer
Released: 27 March 2015
Blurb
Life isn't always fair, and that’s something that Llewellyn Gardner knows about first hand. His life was on the fast track until one night of extreme passion changed everything.
Now eight years later, he’s still living with the aftershocks of that night. Everywhere he turns or runs, there’s another reminder. What the hell do you do when you try to drown your demons only to find out they can swim?
Shane Smith, Jr. owner of Smith Construction, could see the emotional turmoil within his new employee — it’s why he hired him. There was something about the gorgeous, misunderstood man with the overly expressive eyes that came to their small town with a past no one was willing to overlook. Shane could see the good in Llewellyn, and those eyes of his were a clear window to his soul. Shane wasn't going to let the man live a future of solitude because his past had been plagued with deceit.
Llewellyn wasn’t sure what to think about Shane. After years of protecting himself from being tricked twice, he was now faced with worry again. What would happen to him if Shane didn’t believe his truth, and walked away? Llewellyn wasn’t sure he’d be able to survive being left alone. Again.
Excerpt
“You know the sheriff was talking about me right?” Llew’s voice was so deep and gruff, probably due in part to the nervousness that had overtaken him, but most of it was just the man’s timbre. It made Shane pause.
Shane had to clear his own throat. “Yes, Llewellyn.”
Finally, Llew looked in his eyes. “You can call me Llew.”
“Is that what everyone else calls you?” Shane smiled.
“Yes.”
“Well I have to do something that sets me apart from the rest.” Shane shrugged. “So, where you staying, Llewell?”
He thought he saw a faint smile on Llew’s face, but the alley was dark. He hoped he could get Llewellyn to trust him; he was going to need a friend.
“I’m staying at Ms. Pat’s. I rent a room there. At least I did,” Llew said sadly.
“Come on, let’s go.” Shane nodded his head towards the entrance of the alley, and Llew fell in step with him. He loved how tall Llew was beside him. Shane was just a little over six feet but Llew had to be six four or six five. He could climb this man like the strong oak tree that he was. “So, you like the room?”
“Um. Yeah. It’s real nice. Why?” Llew looked down at him, and Shane’s stomach did that fluttering thing that happened whenever that intense gaze was on him.
“Well, I built it so I was just wondering,” Shane said, teasingly.
“You do good work, Shane.”
Shane wanted to stop right where they were and breakdance on the sidewalk. He loved the way his name sounded in that deep tone. He could listen to Llew talk all day and night… especially at night. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Review
Foxy Rating = Five Fantastic Stars
*Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest
review
It’s not often I have to put my kindle down and walk away in
order to cool my temper but at 8% into this book I just had to. What happens at
8% is the point that everything I thought this book would be about got blown out of
the water.
Llewellyn Gardner had already gone through tragedy at a
young age when both his parents were killed. Being left to be brought up by his
older brother Leslie was no hardship though, he always felt loved and secure.
He was happy in his self, outwardly gay and in love with his boyfriend, who was
not so open, mainly due to the wrath he knew he would be under if his
controlling and domineering father found out. So to say that Llew is not happy
with having to hide his relationship is an understatement. He finally decides
he needs to break free from this but agrees to one last night with Moss. What
happens is the start of an almost decade long nightmare for Llew.
To say the things I really want to wax lyrical about this
amazing book would divulge a ton of spoilers and I certainly wouldn’t want to
deprive a new reader to this book from that. This book is unforgettable and I
know this as having read it over a month ago, I find myself going over every
little nuance about it even now. Most books I can forget about, this one? Nope.
I was instantly in love with Llew from the start and from
this happy go lucky eighteen year old he was, we see how total betrayal and abandonment
affects him over the coming abhorrent years. In prison for a crime he didn’t commit,
he finds himself faced with the harsh realities of life on the inside. But what
I loved about Llew was the strength and dignity he portrayed. Yes he had
moments of weakness but he held strong. I loved how he found Ace and the impact
that Ace was able to influence for the better for Llew. In a way this aided Llew
on his first steps on the outside when again he comes face to face with the
barrier of hate and misconceptions. But then he meets Shane and there begins the
walk into the light after so many years of darkness and pain.
I loved this pairing and the instant pang of chemistry was
laid at the first meeting but it was the way it was built up thereafter then
lead to an in depth and emotive romance. Even when Llew tried to protect Shane
by trying to push him away, Shane would not give up on this gorgeous mountain
of a man who was crying out to be loved and cherished.
The love between the brothers was also lovely to see and at
times I was crying along with Leslie at the injustice that had been done to his
brother. Also how the impulsive lie laid down by Moss that day also separated
the already grieving brothers.
What I loved most about this storyline was the shade and
light it gave to the reader, every emotion was wrung out and lead to a much
needed and much more rewarding HEA. The epilogue was outstanding and gave me a
happy smile as I clicked to the end. There was only one touch I would have
changed and that would be to make the timeline after the release to be over a
longer timespan to elapse, but I am being overly picky as this was a strong
five star read for me anyway.
A beautiful and poignant read that I definitely and highly
recommend if you like your romance to tell of loss, strength, love and
redemption. Fantastic.
Buy Links
Meet the Author
A.E. Via is still a fairly new author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late, great gay romance author E. Lynn Harris.
While this is only her seventh novel, she has plenty more to come. So stalk her – she loves that - because the male on male action is just heating up!
Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next.
Giveaway!
We have THREE e-copies to giveaway of this amazing book.
All you need to do is leave a comment below to win a copy - that's all!
*Contest will end 8pm GMT Saturday 25 April 2015
Winners will be chosen at random by Random.Org
Good Luck!
This sounds unbelievably interesting. Would love to read
ReplyDeleteWhat a great review. This one is high on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very interesting book. I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeletesstrode at scrtc dot com
I have read a lot of positive reviews about this one!
ReplyDelete