Genre: Contemporary Romance, MM Romance
My Review - 5 Stars
This was just WONDERFUL. This is the fourth book I've read by Northcote and we're now in auto-buy territory.
Stephen is still recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, which completely derailed his life. He’s always tended to be a loner and it’s very hard for him to accept he needs help, much less accept it from strangers. He doesn’t want to try another house cleaner and he definitely doesn’t want someone else repairing the garden that was his pride and joy.
Luke, on the other hand, is grappling with addiction. He quit using substances but alcohol is still very much a temptation, although he isn’t ready to admit he has a problem there either. He’s essentially retired early from work after making a mint and has too much time on his hands. When a mutual friend suggests Luke head out to the country for the summer and help Stephen out, both men are wary but agree to give it a try.
Stephen is an utter grump and it was a great balance to Luke’s more easygoing nature. There’s a line about how Stephen’s face transforms when he smiles and I realized grumpy men becoming more attractive when they smile = my catnip. These two were barely interested in each other at first but then there are these zings of awareness even though they both have very good reasons to not test the water.
Stephen is insecure about the way his body has changed since the illness and he doesn’t want to become dependent on anyone else, only for them to leave him. There is a fair bit of ableism on Stephen’s part, FYI, although his doctor friend and Luke are accepting of him and his limitations. He’s still dealing with the death of his parents a decade prior, along with his boyfriend breaking up with him when he got sick. Luke, on the other hand, has a passel of commitment issues thanks to an unstable childhood. He’s only supposed to be in Wales for a short time before he needs to head back to London and figure out what’s next.
They shouldn’t do anything more and yet they do and it was such a lovely evolution. Of course, things do go awry at one point, forcing the men to own up to their true feelings, as well as take concrete steps toward health and wellness. They both had such wonderful character arcs and I adored them together.
Luke’s enthusiasm about the garden and the chickens was so endearing. He was a true city boy but the country is where he starts to really come alive. Plus, as the title suggests, there’s such rich symbolism when it comes to gardens and such.
I also must give kudos to the cats who have personalities all their own and who often stole the show.
CW: Guillain-Barré syndrome, depression, past suicidal ideation, substance abuse, alcoholism, past death of parents (cancer, suicide, heroin overdose), ableism
Synopsis
When two broken men look to each other for help, an unexpected romance blooms.
Stephen’s home, deep in the heart of the Welsh valleys, suits his reclusive nature. However, as he recovers from illness, he’s struggling to manage alone. As nature reclaims the land he’s poured his heart into cultivating, he becomes increasingly unhappy. His only outlet is his blog, where he documents the decline of the garden that had been his pride and joy.
Luke is more used to a concrete jungle. He was a high-flyer, living and working in London, until addiction sent him into free fall. Now on the road to recovery, he still wants to make some changes, but he’s unsure where to find the purpose and fulfilment he craves.
A mutual acquaintance suggests Luke visits Stephen to help him out for a while, and a seed of hope is planted. From prickly beginnings, shoots of friendship emerge, blossoming into a deeper connection when they act on their mutual attraction.
This was only ever supposed to be a temporary arrangement, and soon Stephen will be able to manage on his own again. But both men need each other in ways they’re afraid to admit. If their love is going to last for more than one season, they’ll need to find the courage to be honest.
This book is a standalone read with a satisfying happy ending.
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