4 Stars for Gerry’s Lions by Ashavan Doyon #MM #Romance @ashavandoyon @dreamspinners

Title: Gerry’s Lions
Author Name: Ashavan Doyon
Publication Date & Length: April 24, 2015 – 230 pgs

Gerald Tanner lost the piece of his life he loved most, his husband Adam. When faced with the prospect of another Christmas with a family who thinks he’s better off now that Adam is gone, Gerry decides instead to revisit the memory of when they met, and boards a Christmas cruise on the Sunrise. He’s not expecting to meet Leo Ystrabov. He certainly never imagined the courageous young man would challenge him into feelings of desire and the possibility of a love that isn’t his precious Adam.

Leo Ystrabov doesn’t quite know how to handle the shattered heart Gerry presents so hesitantly. But the offer is precious, and Leo can’t resist. However, with two families none too eager to accept them and a lot of baggage on both sides, their relationship faces an uphill battle. Leo will have to find his courage to be the lion Gerry sees in him.

This was a frustrating story.  While in the end, I eventually grew to enjoy the book, I had to think about the story and it was not an instant love.  It took me a good week to figure out that I did like the end result.

Leo was such a wonderful and compassionate person in this story.  However, I felt that he was taken advantage of , horribly by Gerry.  Also, because of Gerry’s families, I felt that even though I know this would have been a hard adjustment for them, due to the death of their son, they just perpetuated Gerry’s grief.  While I understand that everyone grieves in their own way, it got to a point for me where enough was enough.  Leo was almost too accommodating.

The underlying story like of Leo’s life – I loved this story.  Honestly, I think that is why I rated the book with 4 stars.  Leo’s story and family was so much more than I could have hoped for.  It helped to balance my dislike of Gerry’s story and waffling attitude towards Leo.  His family, while misguided, ultimately saves the book from my perspective.

Avid

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Ashavan Doyon spends his days working with students as part of the student affairs staff at a liberal arts college. During lunch, evenings, and when he can escape the grasp of his husband on weekends, he writes, pounding out words day after day in hopes that his ancient typewriter-trained fingers won’t break the glass on his tablet computer. Ashavan is an avid science fiction and fantasy fan and prefers to write while listening to music that fits the mood of his current story. He has no children, having opted instead for the companionship of two beautiful and thoroughly spoiled pugs. A Texan by birth, he currently lives in New England, and frequently complains of the weather.

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