Indefinite Stay by Heidi Champa

71B3M3MgD6L._SL1500_Title: Indefinite Stay

Series:   N/A

Author: Heidi Champa

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novella (123 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure (December 10th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  Rory Driskell had never seen the inside of a prison until his boyfriend Joel started serving a seven-year sentence for dealing drugs. Now, Rory spends his weekends visiting Joel at the state prison nearly four hours away from home. To make matters worse, Rory and Joel can’t even touch during their visits for fear of what might happen if the other inmates learn Joel is gay. While Joel maintains his innocence, that doesn’t stop Rory from preparing himself for the worst and for a long stretch of time alone.

During the weekends, Rory resides at the Broken Feather Motel, the only cheap place within thirty miles of the prison, wondering how he got into this mess. Then one weekend, the motel owner’s son, Stuart, is behind the counter when Rory checks in. Stuart, with his gorgeous smile and piercing blue eyes, offers Rory something he hasn’t had in a long time: a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold. But Stuart is in town only for a short time and isn’t looking for a real relationship.

Will Rory stick with the life he’s chosen, no matter how troubled, or will his feelings for Stuart push him to take a chance and finally unlock his heart?

Purchase Link:   http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/IndefiniteStay.html

Review: The premise of this story is very intriguing.  It’s not one I’ve seen explored before and that made it all the more interesting to read. The whole idea of being on the “DL” or having to remain closeted is always a compelling theme in a novel, but when coupled with the idea of prison (already an environment rife with homosexual activity), it makes for a very worthwhile read. The story did not disappoint as it explored the relationship between the closeted, since he’s in prison, Joel and his long-suffering boyfriend, Rory.

Rory is a man torn between duty and his true feelings.  He’s a man willing to forgo his own happiness for what he feels to be the bigger picture and the principled action to take, even if it means he will be the financial and emotional loser in the end.  Enter Stuart – Rory’s solution to his current not going anywhere, emotionally exhausting and financially draining relationship. His relationship with Stuart allows him to experience a small measure of happiness, yet for some reason he doesn’t think that he’s worthy of the happiness that Stuart could offer him. So Rory does what all long-suffering people do, he walks away until life tells him unequivocally that there are other options he can take.

This is the story of Rory’s journey to the realization that sometimes it’s important to take a chance and to put yourself first because when you do, you might just win in the long and short run.  Nice characters, interesting plot – all in all a very good read.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up.