What Can Be by Mary Calmes

Title: What Can Be

Author: Mary Calmes

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (124pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st December 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Thirteen years ago, Eli went on a summer trip with his mother and never came back. Now, existing in a new life as Jacob Somerville, he’s again running from fear and memories, only to end up where he started. As Jacob struggles to reconnect with his father and brothers, he realizes that his lover, Craig Zhao, was the only thing filling his empty heart and standing between him and ghosts of the past. It will take the power of love—from his family, from Craig, and from himself—for Jacob to see that his life truly is filled with the promise of what can be.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=62_519&products_id=2625

Review: Oh, Mary Calmes, this is why we love you so. Eli/Jake has been hiding from the past and although he loves Craig more than anything, it has become an ingrained habit to run. Craig isn’t about to let the best thing to ever happen to him slip through his fingers so he sets about to convince Eli/Jake that there is no reason to run anymore.

This is an incredibly written book that just happens to wring your emotions out. Eli/Jake runs to his old hometown and bumps into his long-lost brother, he feels it is time for him to reconnect with his family that he hasn’t seen since he was 15 years old, he has so much to tell them about what happened all those years ago and none of it good. Craig just wants to hold onto his man and support him, he knows everything about Eli/ Jake and will do anything for him, even hunt him down when he does a runner.

Wow!   This is a touching, heart-breaking, angsty, loving, joyful wonderful story.  There isn’t much missed in this one; we even have violence and fear in the way of a flashback and re-telling of what really happened to his mother. The meeting between Eli/Jake with his brothers and father was touching and was really nicely done, although I do believe that Eli/Jake should have put his foot down with his step-mother. Craig is a fountain of support for Eli/Jake and these two men were perfect for each other.

So I have to recommend that when you read this one you have a box of tissues handy as this will bring tears to your eyes.