ABOUT THE BOOK

Shane
Do you want to know what it means to live like me?

It means being forced not to look at him, not to touch him, not to be left alone in the same room as him. Not to seek him out. Not to want him. Not to love him.

Do you know how it feels to spend your entire life pretending to be someone else? Do you know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t want to be loved?

I’ll tell you how it feels. It feels as if you’re living in constant torment: you know which path you should follow, but you also know that, if you follow that path, you can never turn back. And I can’t do that to him. Every day I come back, because I know that he’s waiting for me. Every day I promise him that he will never have to live without me.

Andy
Do you know what it means to live like me?

It means being forced not to touch him, not to kiss him, not to be able to leave the room while he’s still in it. Not to breathe him in, not to lust after him. Not to love him.

Do you know how it feels to spend your entire life pretending to be someone else? Do you know what it’s like to love the only person you’re not allowed to love?

I’ll tell you how it works. You can’t seem to feel anything other than him; when you walk away, you know that you’re turning your back on the only thing that’s good in your life. Yet you still walk away. Every day I leave, knowing that he will be standing there, watching. Every day I ask him to promise me that I will never have to live without him.

MY REVIEW

I didn’t choose to fall for him all those years ago–it just happened.

Shane and Andy are in love. Seems straightforward, right? Wrong. They live in a small town of 192 people, 70% of the people are over 60 years old, and their families and friends don’t know about their relationship.  Oh, and did I mention it has been going on for seventeen years.  

As they both fight hard to deny their feelings, Shane and Andy realize they can’t be without each other.  It’s frustrating to watch two good men who love each other so deeply prevent themselves from being truly happy.  Andy likes routine and hates breaking old habits. He feels safe hiding away. Hiding his true self.  He’s been the only provider for his brother for years and he has worked hard to get out from under all the debts his father had accumulated before he died. So his sense of responsibility is strong and he feels like Shane deserves so much better than him.  Shane is confident and sure of his feelings for Andy and he’s tired of hiding it. And now that his friends and family are noticing, what better way to convince Andy that it is only him that Shane wants. 

Shane and Andy’s story is very emotional and heartbreaking as they suffer alone and together. In fact, I shed a tear or two desperately wanting them to be together. What I respected most about this book was the love and support Andy and Shane get from their family and friends. Yes, some were angry about being lied to because of the lack of trust, but they come around. 

I adored this refreshingly honest and mature romance with M/M protagonists. In addition, the supporting characters are a fantastic and invaluable complement to the story.  I can’t wait to read more from this series.

Thank you to Ms. Kelly for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Kelly writes uplifting, emotional and heartwarming Romantic Fiction and Family Sagas.

She’s a bibliophile, a Yogi, a lover of English literature and a baking enthusiast.

She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar.

Follow Alex on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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