Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali

MomentofSilenceLGTitle: Moment of Silence
Series: Moments in Time, #4
Author: Karen Stivali
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Novel (230 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 18th 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn’s most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world’s best babka.

He headed to NYU ready for anything—except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors. He’s got friends who treat him like family, and he’s proudly running the largest LGBTQ teen shelter in Manhattan. Life is good, but he’s still falling for the wrong men.

When charming, sexy Quinn Fitzpatrick begins work at the shelter, Jason falls hard and fast. Quinn is tall, blond, funny—damn near perfect. Only if Quinn’s gay, even he doesn’t seem to know it. If he does, he’s not telling anyone. And he’s about one ceremony away from becoming a Catholic priest.

Long hours of work turn to long nights of talking and laughter, and Jason dares to hope this time he’s falling for the right guy. But Quinn’s got a past to deal with and major decisions to make about his future.

When Quinn leaves for a silent retreat, Jason knows the silence may change everything.

ISBN: 978-1-62380-968-3

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7096

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Jason Stern’s life went from comfortable and full to complicated and barren with just two words… I’m gay. His loving and devoted family cut him off with one wave of his father’s hand.

Determined to finish college but now homeless, Jason continues classes and checks in at a local shelter. Thankfully, a friend from college sees Jason in line at the shelter and takes him to dinner, then offers him a room at his place. From then on Jason has a new family, they may not be blood, but they accept Jason as he is and don’t condemn him for being who he is.

A few years later Jason is now running the shelter that is a safe haven for LGBT youth. Life is pretty grand, if Jason weren’t extremely attracted to the newest volunteer, Quinn Fitzpatrick… a priest in training that is on a hiatus while he figures out if the clergy is the life he wants to lead.

Quinn Fitzpatrick has always struggled with his attraction to the same-sex. His religious upbringing coupled with his mother’s disdain for that type of lifestyle have caused Quinn to try to be something, someone who he is not.

On a hiatus from his training, Quinn is finding it harder and harder to lie to himself about who he is. His attraction to Jason doesn’t help matters any. Jason is an amazing guy though, as much as he wants something more with Quinn, he keeps those thoughts and feelings close to the heart and does his best to just be Quinn’s friend. This time it’s not two little words that change Jason’s life, its one little thing… a kiss.

It took me a few chapters to get into this story as the first three books were about a different couple. I assumed book 4 would continue their story. But once I got to know Jason I was very interested in where his story would go.

I also spent about half the book holding my breath, waiting for the bottom to fall out. I must say, I’m happy that I kept reading with both those struggles because this was such a great story, quite possibly better than the original trilogy.

I loved Jason! His character, his personality, his inner monologue as he navigated his constantly changing relationship with Quinn. The fear of losing Quinn and then having to accept that he just might. It was heartbreaking.

And if you think you’ll dislike Quinn because of all that, you won’t. Quinn’s struggle with his sexuality and what is expected of him is very real, very well written and will cause you to be torn as well. As a reader I was so drawn into both characters reality and torn on how I wanted the story to go.

Slow to start but so well written, the situations had reality and depth and the characters were well-developed and flawed, which made them that much more real for me.

It’s an emotional, smexy, intriguing story, and I highly recommend the read. If you haven’t read the first 3 books you can still read this one, it is a stand-alone story in itself.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *