Simple Treasures by Alan Chin

Title: Simple Treasures

Author: Alan Chin

Genre: Western/Native Indian/Native American

Length: Novella

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 30, 2011)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 1/2Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Newly released from a mental institution, Simple’s first job is caring for Emmett, a crusty drunkard dying of cancer on a ranch in Utah. Simple’s first fragile friendship is with Emmett’s grandson Jude, a gay youth in Gothic drag who gets nothing but grief from his grandfather. In an attempt to help both men, Simple, a Shoshone Indian decides to perform a ceremony that will save Emmett by transferring his spirit into the body of a falcon.

Working to capture a falcon will bring Emmett and Jude closer as Jude and Simple’s growing love for each other blossoms, but all is not well. When the ranch, Jude’s future, and Simple’s happiness are threatened, more than Emmett’s spirit faces a bleak future.

Review: This is not your usual romance; this book touches you with its simplicity. There are no huge sex scenes, there’s some conflict but mostly it’s about life.

Simple has just been released from a mental institution where he did not belong.  he doesn’t look back just forward.   he reads the last ten pages in his journal every day; as he can now no longer remember anything from the day before, he writes his life down so he can manage.  Jude wants to live his life away from this town; he plans to move to San Francisco as soon as he has enough money.   Simple fascinates him and he plans to get to know him better.

At first, I thought that Simple truly was nuts, but he really isn’t.   he is just very immersed in his Indian roots. His interaction with Emmett is brilliant and his encouragement to Jude in reconnecting with his grandfather is good.  I thought Emmett was brilliant for such an ornery old man and the way he embarked on becoming a warrior.  Jude starts to change and maybe learn some control.

There were one or two things that I wasn’t sure about and was left too unresolved for me, what happened to the guys from the Institute that tried to grab Simple? What about the men that Lance tried to sell the ranch to?

I really enjoyed this book and recommend this to anyone who wants a simple gentle romance.