Read the thing (5):
Maybe read the thing (1):
Added to TBR:
“This. You. Dinner, music, movies. I liked all of that. I want more.”
In a word: Read the thing. This book didn’t actually have as much to do with music as I thought it was going to, which was fine with me since I’m not really passionate about music one way or the other, especially in books. I was totally here for the budding relationship between Jack and Mark. Jack is a fairly new transplant to Bluewater Bay, and he lives in and runs a general store with his younger sister. Mark is a costume designer on Wolf’s Landing and sings in a choir in his spare time. It’s mostly by chance that they meet, but they develop something of an instant connection that eventually deepens into something more serious. Jack, who is hiding a massive secret in his past, isn’t entirely sure that he should open himself up to this man he’s just met, but it soon becomes clear that this is a risk he’s willing to take. What initially drew me to this book (aside from it being a part of Bluewater Bay) was that it has two autistic main characters: Jack’s sister Margaret, and Mark. It’s not often that you see autistic main characters, especially in lead romantic roles (I can only think of two others off the top of my head), so I was excited to read this. I was not disappointed. Mark and Margaret are on different ends of the autism spectrum, so it looks different on both of them, and they both deal with it in different ways. Jack’s understanding of autism (which stems from being so close to his sister) is probably why his relationship with Mark is less fraught than it could have been. There is a bit of a breakup involved, but it all comes about from Jack’s hang-ups about the past he’s running away from, nothing to do with Mark specifically. Speaking of Jack’s past: what I would’ve liked was more about that and maybe a more definite resolution. It’s fine as it is now, but I’m always a fan of some well-deserved vengeance. Though having said that, going any deeper into that whole mess would have made the book longer and would change the overall story into something completely different.
The Summary: (from Goodreads) Jack Daley left his music career behind—along with his domineering father—and is struggling to make a new life for himself and his autistic sister in Bluewater Bay. When a summer storm sweeps a handsome stranger into his general store, Jack is more than ready for a fling. No strings attached, because Jack can’t share the secrets he and his sister are hiding from. Unfortunately, his feelings refuse to stay casual.
Mark Keao is married to his job as a costume designer on Wolf’s Landing. He’s autistic, so he’s used to people not knowing how to interact with him, but that doesn’t mean he wants to be a hermit. Especially when he meets Jack Daley, who dances with brooms, shares his love of the blues, and gets him like no one else. But relationships have proven complicated in the past.
Just when Mark is ready to try anyway, Jack pulls back. But Mark isn’t giving up, and neither is Jack’s sister. And then there’s the music both men love, bringing them together time and again. It will take trust, though, to bring them together for good.
[this book is currently out of print]
In A Word 