Title: After Christmas Eve
Author: Michael Rupured
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel (315 pages)
Publisher: MLR Press (October 11th, 2013)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Mickie
Blurb: As Philip Potter wraps up his last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, 1966, James Walker, his lover of six years, takes his life. Unaware of what waits for him at home, Philip drops off gifts to the homeless shelter, an act of generosity that later makes him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute. Two men drive yellow Continentals. One is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. Both men have secrets. And as Philip is about to discover, James had kept secrets, too. But James wasn’t trying to frame him for murder…
Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=MRAFTERX
Review: After his boyfriend of 6 years kills himself on Christmas Eve. Philip Potter, a sweet, warm-hearted man, has his life thrown into chaos. He has a gorgeous man trying to seduce him, his lover’s heartless father trying to get him to leave town to save his family’s “image, and some nutjob trying to frame him for murder!
This book, while not a scalding read, is an INTENSE read. Philip Potter is a sweet and caring man who is just starting to realize that he did not know the man he loved as well as he thought he did. Nor did he realize just how bad the homophobia was around him. As he tries to move on with his life, and explore the world around him and his options to make his world a better place, he finds out he is being framed for a murder he didn’t commit. A fact which, (because he is gay), may not actually count in the justice system of the 1960’s.
This book was exciting and interesting. A real page-turner. I enjoyed the imagery of D.C. in the 60’s. As well as the author’s, own admission that ‘any inaccuracies were by his own invention’. The plot is wonderfully suspenseful; with many twists and turns; as well as heart-warming; with loads of characters, you just can’t help but like…and some you can’t help but hate. I personally couldn’t put this one down!
I highly recommend After Christmas Eve. No, it’s not a happy, or sexy love story filled with hearts, flowers, puppies & romance; what it IS, is a truly suspenseful, edge of your seat mystery. ENJOY!