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Wheat Kings and Pretty Things
As soon as he graduated high school, Paul Thompson fled the tiny, heavily Ukrainian town of Liddon, Saskatchewan, for bigger and better things. Now in his late thirties, Paul owns a struggling art gallery in Toronto. His grandmother’s one-hundredth birthday is approaching, and Paul will return to place where he grew up for the first time since he left.
The town—and the province—don’t match Paul’s memories. Have they changed? Or has he? He reconnects with Dylan Shevchenko, an old friend who now teaches phys. ed. in Regina. When Paul learns his grandmother had an Aboriginal son he never knew about, he wonders what else he missed while he was away. Did he make the right choice all those years ago? He receives the rare opportunity to start over when he discovers a gallery for sale in Regina. He’s faced with a choice between his youthful dreams in the big city and making a life with Dylan in a place that somehow finally feels like home.
World of Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.
The town—and the province—don’t match Paul’s memories. Have they changed? Or has he? He reconnects with Dylan Shevchenko, an old friend who now teaches phys. ed. in Regina. When Paul learns his grandmother had an Aboriginal son he never knew about, he wonders what else he missed while he was away. Did he make the right choice all those years ago? He receives the rare opportunity to start over when he discovers a gallery for sale in Regina. He’s faced with a choice between his youthful dreams in the big city and making a life with Dylan in a place that somehow finally feels like home.
World of Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
30 people want to read
About the author
G.S. Wiley
60 books15 followersG.S. Wiley is a writer, reader, sometime painter, and semi-avid scrapbooker who lives in Canada.
Visit G.S.'s web site at http://wileyromance.googlepages.com/.
Visit G.S.'s web site at http://wileyromance.googlepages.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 19, 2017
Paul hasn't seen classmate Dylan since graduation night twenty years ago when their graduating class (all eleven of them!) partied, and Dylan unexpectedly kissed Paul. Paul couldn't wait to get out of town the minute he graduated, but a lot of things can change in twenty years, and people change as well. Now Paul's back in town for his grandmother's 100th birthday.
The blurb basically tells the plot of this novella, but in just 45 pages the author does a nice job of fleshing out characters and developing a story that feels nicely complete at the HEA ending. Wheat Kings and Pretty Things is a sweet story about reassessing your dreams and deciding on happiness. Paul's grandmother tells him about happiness:
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
The blurb basically tells the plot of this novella, but in just 45 pages the author does a nice job of fleshing out characters and developing a story that feels nicely complete at the HEA ending. Wheat Kings and Pretty Things is a sweet story about reassessing your dreams and deciding on happiness. Paul's grandmother tells him about happiness:
That’s what’s important in life, Paul. We didn’t used to believe that, but it’s the truth.” [...] “Just be happy. People your age don’t have any excuse not to be.I enjoyed this story and recommend it for anyone looking for a story about what happens when you return to your roots. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
August 13, 2017
3.5 stars
Paul Thompson left Liddon, Saskatchewan, twenty years ago and he never really looked back. He wanted to leave the heavily Ukrainian small town, being out and gay, wanted to be free and reached for something better. The night before he left, Dylan Shevchenko -- not exactly best friend from high school but they knew each other, considering there were only total eleven students in the grade 12 -- kissed Paul. He never really considered that night very much, until he returned to Liddon for his grandmother's 100th birthday.
I always love "coming home" theme and I think, for a short story, Wheat Kings and Pretty Things did that job wonderfully. I felt the contemplative thoughts that Paul experienced -- that maybe Liddon wasn't all that bad, that living in big city like Toronto with his struggling art gallery might not exactly be living the dream. I LOVE things like this ... it makes me feel rather melancholic and that's always a good feel when I'm reading.
I wish there is more to this story though. It's a short one and I crave for more. Plus the ending feels a little bit HFN to me, although I believe that Paul gets his happiness with Dylan.
By the way, I LOVED the title :).
Paul Thompson left Liddon, Saskatchewan, twenty years ago and he never really looked back. He wanted to leave the heavily Ukrainian small town, being out and gay, wanted to be free and reached for something better. The night before he left, Dylan Shevchenko -- not exactly best friend from high school but they knew each other, considering there were only total eleven students in the grade 12 -- kissed Paul. He never really considered that night very much, until he returned to Liddon for his grandmother's 100th birthday.
I always love "coming home" theme and I think, for a short story, Wheat Kings and Pretty Things did that job wonderfully. I felt the contemplative thoughts that Paul experienced -- that maybe Liddon wasn't all that bad, that living in big city like Toronto with his struggling art gallery might not exactly be living the dream. I LOVE things like this ... it makes me feel rather melancholic and that's always a good feel when I'm reading.
I wish there is more to this story though. It's a short one and I crave for more. Plus the ending feels a little bit HFN to me, although I believe that Paul gets his happiness with Dylan.
By the way, I LOVED the title :).
October 25, 2017
As a recent “addition” to Canada, and not having had the time to explore beyond Toronto, I was especially curious to find out more about Saskatchewan. The story took me from the tiny (fictional) town of Liddon - which Paul, the main character, escaped as soon as he was able after high school graduation - to Toronto, where he spent twenty years enjoying big city life, and right back to the next biggest town near Liddon, the not-fictional Regina. But ‘Wheat Kings and Pretty Things’ gave me more than fantastic sense of what life in the “Land of the Living Skies” is like and how it has changed versus twenty years ago. It is also populated with a quirky, very special, and utterly charming (well, most of them) set of characters. I was spellbound from beginning to end!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 10, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This short novella is part of the Dreamspinner Press World of Love collection, and there’s a great sense of place woven through the story. Wiley perfectly showcases both a tiny town, and the bigger city of Regina. I was drawn in by the author’s lyrical writing, absorbed completely in the melodic tone. The style and description pulled me in and allowed me to get lost in the story.
Paul needed a different life, and the moment he got the chance to escape, he did. While I was a little surprised by how much he didn’t know about his life back home, I really enjoyed watching him react and relearn about the place where he’d grown up, and about those with whom he’d spent his formative years. He’s settled in his skin, but he needs to open his eyes. And I loved the journey he went on.
The romance is sweet and lovely, a reconnection with a classmate who has changed and grown in the years apart. Dylan wasn’t the best of people, it seems, but at the start of the story, he begins to show that he’s changed. And as Paul and Dylan reconnect, Dylan shares his thoughts and feelings from so long ago.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This short novella is part of the Dreamspinner Press World of Love collection, and there’s a great sense of place woven through the story. Wiley perfectly showcases both a tiny town, and the bigger city of Regina. I was drawn in by the author’s lyrical writing, absorbed completely in the melodic tone. The style and description pulled me in and allowed me to get lost in the story.
Paul needed a different life, and the moment he got the chance to escape, he did. While I was a little surprised by how much he didn’t know about his life back home, I really enjoyed watching him react and relearn about the place where he’d grown up, and about those with whom he’d spent his formative years. He’s settled in his skin, but he needs to open his eyes. And I loved the journey he went on.
The romance is sweet and lovely, a reconnection with a classmate who has changed and grown in the years apart. Dylan wasn’t the best of people, it seems, but at the start of the story, he begins to show that he’s changed. And as Paul and Dylan reconnect, Dylan shares his thoughts and feelings from so long ago.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
November 3, 2017
4 stars
Sundown in the Paris of the prairies ...
This book is as Canadian as can be ... from the title to the small-town Saskatchewan setting and Ukrainian family. It felt very authentic and real to me. The romance itself had a real feel but almost too real, maybe not quite enough spark or emotion?
Sundown in the Paris of the prairies ...
This book is as Canadian as can be ... from the title to the small-town Saskatchewan setting and Ukrainian family. It felt very authentic and real to me. The romance itself had a real feel but almost too real, maybe not quite enough spark or emotion?
August 9, 2017
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Wheat Kings and Pretty Things is a short story in Dreamspinner Press' World of Love Stories. For the most part, this story takes place in Saskatchewan.
Paul and Dylan grew up in Saskatchewan and graduated with a class of only 11 students. Paul being gay was not hidden in high school and he was not comfortable. Dylan was one of the students that picked on Paul for being gay but on the day of their graduation, he kissed Paul. Both men moved on with their lives, with Paul escaping to Toronto and living his life there. But Paul's grandmother is having her 100th birthday and Paul returns for the party, against his will. Dylan and Paul run into each other, and though is surprised by Dylan, they find they have more in common than expected.
This story is only 45 pages long, so it's a quick read! Considering how short the story was I felt that I got a good impression of who each of the MC's is and what's important to them, though Paul's idea of a good life did change throughout the story. Though supporting characters only had a brief time in the story, I didn't feel short changed on their characterization. This was an enjoyable, quick read!
Rating: 4 stars
Wheat Kings and Pretty Things is a short story in Dreamspinner Press' World of Love Stories. For the most part, this story takes place in Saskatchewan.
Paul and Dylan grew up in Saskatchewan and graduated with a class of only 11 students. Paul being gay was not hidden in high school and he was not comfortable. Dylan was one of the students that picked on Paul for being gay but on the day of their graduation, he kissed Paul. Both men moved on with their lives, with Paul escaping to Toronto and living his life there. But Paul's grandmother is having her 100th birthday and Paul returns for the party, against his will. Dylan and Paul run into each other, and though is surprised by Dylan, they find they have more in common than expected.
This story is only 45 pages long, so it's a quick read! Considering how short the story was I felt that I got a good impression of who each of the MC's is and what's important to them, though Paul's idea of a good life did change throughout the story. Though supporting characters only had a brief time in the story, I didn't feel short changed on their characterization. This was an enjoyable, quick read!
Rating: 4 stars
November 20, 2017
This was an adorable and quick read and is part of the World of Love series. This was the first I have read of the series, and I followed just fine. So it can be read as a standalone.
I found this author easy to read and the editing was good. The author did capture my heart with the two MC’s and their love affair that started over twenty years ago. The supporting characters were good, but Paul’s grandma was my favorite. She made me laugh quite often.
Paul left his hometown twenty years ago after graduating night and the kiss that shocked him. He built a life in the big city and opened a gallery with Cleo. He must return to his small hometown for his grandmother’s 100th birthday. Paul really has lost touch with anything going on in his family and home from his youth.
Dylan has never left and has built his life in his small town. He hasn’t seen Paul since he kissed him on graduating night and ran off. Dylan was not the nicest of people in his youth but has come to terms that he’s gay.
Paul and Dylan spend time together and have passion between them all while attending the celebration. They, of course, have situations come up, in which separates them again.
You ask what situations? You ask why they go separate ways if there was a strong g passion there? Can they come together again? Well, I have one response to those questions. Read the book. You will enjoy it. Happy reading.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
I found this author easy to read and the editing was good. The author did capture my heart with the two MC’s and their love affair that started over twenty years ago. The supporting characters were good, but Paul’s grandma was my favorite. She made me laugh quite often.
Paul left his hometown twenty years ago after graduating night and the kiss that shocked him. He built a life in the big city and opened a gallery with Cleo. He must return to his small hometown for his grandmother’s 100th birthday. Paul really has lost touch with anything going on in his family and home from his youth.
Dylan has never left and has built his life in his small town. He hasn’t seen Paul since he kissed him on graduating night and ran off. Dylan was not the nicest of people in his youth but has come to terms that he’s gay.
Paul and Dylan spend time together and have passion between them all while attending the celebration. They, of course, have situations come up, in which separates them again.
You ask what situations? You ask why they go separate ways if there was a strong g passion there? Can they come together again? Well, I have one response to those questions. Read the book. You will enjoy it. Happy reading.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
August 8, 2017
Paul left as soon as he graduated to go to Toronto and become an artist. When that fell through he opened a gallery that is now struggling.
He goes back home to Lidden for his Grandmothers 100th birthday and receives some great advice from her.
Dylan is a teacher in Regina and makes a confession to Paul that could affect his decisions.
Wheat Kings and Pretty Things is a sweet short story about life, growing up and decisions.
There are some surprises, lots of intriguing characters and a sweet romance with an HEA
I thought the story was good but it cut off quickly and would have been a great longer story.
October 17, 2017
That was so short and vague.
October 19, 2017
I really liked the things with coming home after years away from it, and found your first crush and the one who crashed your heart million years ago at the same time.
But I didn't really get into Dylan and Paul's relationship, I need more 'intimacy' between the two men after separated for that long. Not only sex, but something's missing. The chemistry?
I have no idea. It's just I need more of Dylan and Paul, instead of Paul's family secret and his gallery.
I know, I'm greedy for romantic moments, I didn't find it here it frustrated me.
Overall, this was and okay read, not memorable enough for me, sorry.
*Dreamspinner press provided the ARC for an honest and fair review.*
But I didn't really get into Dylan and Paul's relationship, I need more 'intimacy' between the two men after separated for that long. Not only sex, but something's missing. The chemistry?
I have no idea. It's just I need more of Dylan and Paul, instead of Paul's family secret and his gallery.
I know, I'm greedy for romantic moments, I didn't find it here it frustrated me.
Overall, this was and okay read, not memorable enough for me, sorry.
*Dreamspinner press provided the ARC for an honest and fair review.*
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews