Title: Through the Years
Author: Brynn Stein
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (177 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63216-287-8
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 13th, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Zane
Blurb: Edward and Gene were instantly drawn to each other when they met at college in Maryland. Fast friends, they developed a “closer than brothers” relationship. But then Edward began to feel more for Gene. In 1967, those kinds of feelings would not be tolerated. Not even by Edward himself.
Gene always thought he was asexual. He had never been attracted to anyone… until he met Edward. He dreamed of Edward as more than a friend throughout college, but he knew Edward would not welcome that kind of attention. So Gene wasn’t surprised when Edward reacted badly to a drunken kiss just before Edward’s graduation. He was surprised when Edward moved to Florida and had little to do with him for years afterward.
When fate finally brings them back together, Edward is married and has a little girl. Gene gladly accepts the role of “Uncle Gene,” happy to have Edward in his life in any capacity. Together, they face all the trials and tribulations life throws at them, including the death of Edward’s wife, and as each grows and matures, their life views change. The relationship they’ve secretly wanted all along is closer than ever, and if Edward can break free from his homophobic upbringing and admit his feelings for Gene, there might still be a chance for them to share their lives in the way they both desire.
A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5539
Review: What, to me, is an epic love story? An epic love story spans decades, starts young and ends old. It withstands the best and worst, and everything in between. This love transforms itself and those it overtakes, can be both selfless and selfish. It is surrounded by romance and tragedy. There is history, family and friendship, betrayal and anger. It runs the gamut of every emotion and shows all sides of the story.
Epic love is about imperfect people who break but love and passion that will not. Even if they don’t live forever, their love should. Their story should elicit laughter and smiles. It should show love and tenderness. You should find yourself immersed wholly and completely. And if it can make you cry good and hard, even better.
Edward and Gene’s story is a perfect example of the above. From the first word to the last, author Brynn Stein carefully built their world, their life, their love. After a painful rift in their earlier years, Edward and Gene rekindled and strengthened their friendship, though not without pain and strife. They grew together and apart in love and in pain. There were moments of closeness, moments of distance, of happiness and misery.
Over time, they effectively built a family; kinship of blood and non-blood ties. That family built lives, withstood great pain and experienced great love. They stood strong together as a whole when parts faltered. They fought through illness, death, alcoholism, betrayal and all the things that come to pass as life runs its course. They battled homophobia, internally and via external pressures of the world. Through the Years, through their eyes we saw things change socially, legally and personally, for these two men and everyone they loved.
As they matured, so did their family. They grew up. Their little ones grew up. Life changed. Things changed. People changed. But their love did not. Appropriately titled, “Through the Years” shares its name with a famous Kenny Rogers song, which is brilliantly used as a literary soundtrack as the story begins to come to a close. There are no surprises here, no clear happy endings. Just a wonderfully written story with a positive, realistic ending that was worthy of Edward, Gene and their loving family.
Thank you, Brynn Stein, for giving me Gene, Edward and their epic love story. Thank you for making my eyes so wet I could barely see the words in front of me. Thank you for writing this beautiful and timeless tale of love. Thank you for making my night. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to a certain Kenny Rogers song… again…
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com **