Patchwork Paradise by Indra Vaughn

PatchworkParadise_600x900Title: Patchwork Paradise
Series: N/A
Author: Indra Vaughn
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 275 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (March 28th 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Oliver and Samuel’s relationship is fairy-tale perfect. They share a gorgeous house in Antwerp, go out with their friends every weekend, and count down the days to their dream wedding. But their happy ending is shattered one late night, and just like that, Ollie is left bereft and alone.

The months that follow are long and dark, but slowly Ollie emerges from his grief. He even braves the waters of online dating, though deep down he doesn’t believe he can find that connection again. He doesn’t think to look for love right in front of him: his bisexual friend Thomas, the gentle giant with a kind heart and sad eyes who’s wanted him all along.

When Thomas suddenly discovers he has a son who needs him, he’s ill prepared. Ollie opens up his house—Sam’s house—and lets them in. Ollie doesn’t know what scares him more: the responsibility of caring for a baby, or the way Thomas is steadily winning his heart. It will take all the courage he has to discover whether or not fairy tales can happen for real.

ISBN: 9781626493803

Product Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/patchwork-paradise

Reviewer: Aerin

Review: I have a hard time finding my words when it comes to writing a review for this one, and I had to wait a few days after finishing it, because I didn’t want any fucking tears on my laptop while writing the review.

This book is angst heavy people, really, really heartbreaking, and I wasn’t expecting it. I realized after reading the blurb that Oliver lost the love of his life (Sam) but never in a million years did I imagine I’d be crying my heart out while “living” through the whole series of events that led to Sam’s death.

I was hoping I didn’t get to meet Sam in this book, I thought for sure he would be already dead at the beginning, and once I realized that was not the case, I REALLY hoped I wouldn’t like him very much. WRONG!!! I LOVED HIM!!!…. for as little as I got to know him, I loved Sam and thought he was perfect for Oliver. There was lots of crying people, like “tear-your-heart-out” crying, because that’s what it felt like when Sam died and Oliver submerged into his grief.

When the period of grieving got a little easier to read through, I seriously doubted that I’d like Thomas and Oliver together. Sam was just too perfect for Oliver and I couldn’t imagine Thomas taking his place. I gotta give it to Indra, because she managed to make me love Thomas and accept him as a suitable replacement for Sam.

In fact, I really didn’t have to compare them to one another because to me, Thomas wasn’t any sloppy seconds. The dude is hot as fuck, and he’s been in love with Oliver for years,. Since the very first time they met. Thomas kept his feelings to himself because he realized what Sam and Oliver had was special,.  I can’t imagine how bad it hurt him to be close friends with them, watch them be so in love with each other, and know deep down that the only person he’s ever loved will never his.

And then…. there’s a baby! I’m telling you people, there’s nothing hotter than a half-naked Thomas holding a sleeping baby on his chest! Whew, be advised ladies, your hearts will melt and your panties will catch fire, because Thomas+baby is just that adorably hot! There was some humor after the baby came to live with Thomas and Oliver, because nasty baby diapers and projectile vomit on unsuspecting men is freaking hilarious, and after all that angst, the humor was more than welcome.

I love angst in my books, it’s usually a must for me, but this was a dash too much even for me. Or maybe not exactly too much angst, but not enough happy times to overcompensate for all the suffering I’ve done. My philosophy is if you’re going to make me bleed for your books (go ahead, I like it) give me at LEAST the same amount of happy, joyful, and don’t forget sexy times to make up for it. I didn’t feel like I got enough happy, and I definitely didn’t get enough sexy. I know Indra can write a sex scene hot enough to catch my IPad on fire, so I was disappointed we didn’t get more “set-the-sheets-on-fire” times.

Another thing that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was Cleo, Imran, and all that drama that came from Thomas sleeping with Cleo (relax, it was before him and Oliver got together). This was an angst-heavy book to start with, so I felt that all the secondary characters’ drama was unnecessary and unwelcome. Please don’t think this is one of those dramatic books that make you role your eyes, because it’s really NOT, but even the realistic drama added too much heaviness to the book.

Overall this was a great book, nicely written, but don’t make the mistake of starting it without a ton of tissues handy. And yes, there’s a HEA (a beautiful one, full of smiles and warm feelings), so you won’t be suffering in vain.

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