Title: Rainbow Connection
Series: N/A
Author: Alexa Milne
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (126 pages)
Publisher: MLR Press (May 1st 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Mick Flanagan has kept himself hidden since his only lover died three years ago. He works at night, keeps to his routine, has impressive facial hair, and avoids contact with other people.
Enter Ceri Llewellyn, with his constantly changing rainbow-coloured hair, who seems determined to talk to him. Gradually, Mick tells his story and begins to trust Ceri, but Mick has a past that contains more than just a dead lover.
Can Ceri show him that he deserves to be loved and, above all else, help him find his true self?
ISBN: MLR-1-02015-0403
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=AMRAINBW
Reviewer: Prime
Review: Alright, first off, let’s get Kermit the Frog out of our heads before we begin.
This is one fun book. Certainly interesting, we are introduced to a character, Mick, who is probably agoraphobic to some degree with OCD chucked in for good measure. Then there is Ceri, he is something of a knight in shining armour to Mick.
Mick’s back story is wonderfully interesting and heartbreaking. This is a guy who has been mentally abused by two people who apparently had unconditional love for him. Mick is an odd mix of naive, innocent and easily lead but his character is totally lovable.
He finds it difficult to move on. His mental scars are holding him back and probably exacerbated by his mental condition. Mick is very set in his routine – including his work hours and his shopping day/time. Mick works security, a job that was found for him when he was left floundering after the death of his lover.
This is where Ceri enters. He is an intriguing character in his own right. He works driving truck/filling vending machines, which is how he meets Mick. Ceri is interested but knows that Mick is the complete opposite to his type of guy. Ceri is certainly the opposite of Mick’s type with his rainbow coloured hair and motorbike. It is through meeting Ceri and through Ceri’s POV that we find out more and more about Mick. I’m going to put it out there, that Mick is more interesting character out of the two. Though Ceri is a wonderfully cuddly and sweet character in his own right.
As a side note, any Whovians are going to get a kick out of this book. Mick and Ceri begin to bond over the TV show Doctor Who, which even includes a road trip to Wales where the show is filmed. Seriously, as an avid fan I was cursing Ceri for not saying David Tennant was his favorite doctor but inordinately pleased that Captain Jack was a favorite companion. I will also guarantee that many fans will smile and know immediately the specific episodes being referenced, most of which from 9 and 10 era New Who.
I’m going to have to concede the heavy Doctor Who references increased my enjoyment but even without these, this is completely my type of book. That would be the reason why I read it. Sweet and wonderful, it is an interesting view on two very real characters who have their own issues.
I loved it, I hope others do too!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *