Title: A Family Matter
Series: Breaking Out, #2
Author: Garry M. Tuckwell
Genre: Contemporary/Adoption
Length: Novel (264 Pages)
Publisher: Gerry M. Tuckwell (December 22, 2013)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Before falling madly in love with the boy of his dreams at sixteen, Justin Reed’s childhood had been complicated. Meeting Niall Casey had turned Justin’s life around, and with Niall by his side, Justin felt sure he could cope with whatever the world threw at him.
Ten years on, as Justin and Niall begin to think of marriage and starting their own family, cracks begin to appear in their perfect world. Justin’s father has remarried and this latest addition to the Reed family has some very strange ideas. To make matters worse, Niall’s mother begins to edge her way back into his life. Niall tries hard to believe she has changed but can’t quite leave behind the painful memories of religious intolerance and rejection.
Justin and Niall’s lives are taken over by events they can’t control. Just as it seems that their plans for a family lie in tatters, they are forced to revisit the past and lay some ghosts to rest once and for all.
ASIN: B00HGUQLKU
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Matter-Breaking-Out-Book-ebook/dp/B00HGUQLKU
Reviewer: Gigi
Review: For those who loved Justin and Niall from Breaking Out, it’s going to be a lovely and long journey through marriage and adoption for these two men.
The plot is long and somewhat predictable, following many of the ups and downs of long-term relationships, the stress and excitement of marriage, or civil union, and the life altering decision to adopt children. All the while Justin and Niall are battling family issues with their parents, specifically Niall’s mother, and Justin’s mother in law.
The drama is slow, but there’s lots of love and community support for our guys. I did find myself wanting to skip ahead a bit, but over all a loving story, and maybe a somewhat over imagined familial bliss.
Writing children into a story plot, spending time with them, and making a realistic effort at portraying a child-rearing environment is tricky. Often times writers over idealize it. Life with kids is wonderful, but it’s also painful, frightening, aggravating, stressful, and tiring. I’m expecting a third book, because Niall and Justin have a TON to learn if they think parenting is going to be anything like the blissful, warm, fuzzy wonderful time they spent taking care of their nephew Tom for a week.
Not to rain on this parade. Life is difficult, and characters like Justin and Niall face hurdles so many of us can’t even imagine, so I can’t blame the author for writing a lovely, warm story about relationships and lifelong commitments. Not to say everything is roses, I’d be arrested for assault if I had a mother in law like Maisie, or a Mom like Niall’s.
A well-written story that satisfies our need to know how Niall and Justin are doing. I hope their journey ahead is full of blessings for them and their two new additions.
