Review: A fight for acceptance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2014
“From the Ashes” by Daisy Harris is Book 1 of the ‘Fire and Rain’ series that features firefighter Tomas Perez who meets Jesse Smith when he is victimized by a house fire that dispossesses him. Not only has Jesse lost the first apartment he has ever rented but also all of his possessions. Tomas is strongly drawn to the young man who also insists on rescuing his former landlords’ bull mastiff who has the unlikely name of Chardonnay. Unfortunately, both men have issues related to their respective families’ lack of acceptance of their sexual preferences and they must deal with the challenge of accepting their attraction for one another and what impact it will have on them and those around them.This poignant erotic m/m romance examines the heartache that accompanies the lack of acceptance by one’s friends and family when one doesn’t comply with their expectations. Jesse is starting to cope with his family’s rejection but when he becomes involved with a man who hasn’t overtly acknowledged his sexual preferences, Jesse has to decide what he is willing to compromise on. The story skillfully explores some of the pressures that gay men can face at home and perhaps on the job even as it introduces a variety of interesting secondary characters who hopefully will get their own stories. I wasn’t thrilled at the way the relationship did progress at first and I didn’t quite feel that there was genuine resolution for both characters by the end but at least a start has been made and I look forward to getting glimpses into their lives in future stories. Night Owl ReviewsI received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.