Seizing his one chance to escape, Ethan Hosking leaves his violent ex-boyfriend, leaves his entire life, and walks into the path of a raging bushfire. Desperate to start over, a new man named Aubrey Hobbs walks out of the fire-ravaged forest, alive and alone. With no ID and no money, nothing but his grandfather’s telescope, he goes where the Southern Cross leads him.Patrick Carney is the resident lighthouse keeper in Hadley Cove, a small town on the remote Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. After the tragic death of his lover four years ago, he lives a solitary life; just him, a tabby cat, the Indian and Southern Oceans, and a whole lot of loneliness. He’s content with his life until a stranger shows up in town and turns Patrick’s head.Patrick never expected to be interested in anyone else. Aubrey never expected to be happy. Between Aubrey’s love of the stars and Patrick’s love of the ocean, these two fragile hearts must navigate new waters. If they can weather the storm of their pasts, they could very well have a love that eclipses everything.
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Review by Twinsie Tenise
Because I cannot give it all of the stars in the galaxy I guess we will go with the max allowed– 5 STARS!!!
This was not an easy read. I happened upon it in a book rec group. A person was asking for something emotional. I grabbed it because I love a book that makes me FEEL although I was a bit skeptical because most emotional book recs fall flat for me in the feels department.
Ethan is trying to start over after narrowly escaping his abusive ex with his life. The last beating he gave him was the worst yet and Ethan was done being a punching bag. With a raging bush fire causing residence all around him to be forced to evacuate, Ethan did something pretty dumb but completely necessary if he wanted to live another day. Ethan walked towards instead of away from the fire and when he emerged on the other side, Ethan no longer existed. Aubrey Hobbs was now his name and it was time to try and start over.
Patrick is just trying to get trough each day. He lives a life of solitude as the lighthouse keeper and local handyman in a tiny coastal town in Australia that borders 2 oceans. There is a sadness inside of him that will never go away. It almost seemed as if he couldn’t allow himself any sort of happiness as it would be a betrayal to his partner who died at sea several years prior.
Both of these men are broken in their own way and both believe they do not deserve happiness. When the mystery man in town keeps catching the eye of single lighthouse keeper, Patrick is determined to spend more time getting to know Aubrey Hobbs. And the more time the 2 spend with one another, the harder it becomes to resist the obvious attraction. However they are both scared of the outcome should they decide to act on their emotions. Aubrey is damaged goods. No one will ever want him. And Patrick just isn’t ready to give his heart to another after what happened the last time. Little did either of them know in the beginning but they will need one another in order to heal.
My eyes were puffy by the time I finished this book. I cannot count the times I either teared up or flat out bawled. My heart physically hurt. I know what you are thinking- it was only a book. Well you can zip it because this wasn’t just any old book. This book made me feel all the things and I loved it so much. Book #44 of 2024 earned a spot on my yearly top 10 that is for sure.
Now I’m off to investigate. As if my TBR pile isnt already overflowing, I need to know if one of the side characters from this book ever got his own story.
N.R. Walker is an Australian author who loves her genre of LGBTQIA+ romance. First published in 2012, she now has over 70 books, many which are also audiobooks, and numerous translations done in nine different languages.
She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it but wouldn’t have it any other way.
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N.R. Walker was voted 2019 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards All-Time Favorite Author and 2020 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards Hall of Fame
Read more on nrwalker.net
