4.5 stars
TW: Recovering addict, ADHD character, non supportive parents of gay/bi children
It’s been a while since author Kade Boehme has released a book, but Home was worth the wait. Despite Mr. Boehme’s teasing us with a fast and furious relationship, he put these characters through their paces, made them do the work, giving them the opportunity to grow and work on their baggage. The skillful writing envoked so many emotions as these two men went from a chance meeting, to pen pals, to friends, and finally, finally more.
Needing some time away before dealing with a family Thanksgiving, Cody Diaz heads to a hotel in the Outer Banks for a weekend and while he’s enjoyed the time on his own when he sees the older guy hanging around he can’t help but be interested. So when Jase Marsh sits down next to him at the hotel bar and strikes up a conversation things get very interesting, very quickly. But, Jase is on his way for his last deployment before retirement and they agree to email each other until Jase returns, but life throws them both for a loop in the strangest of ways.
Cody is a recovering addict who has spent years trying to prove to his family that he is clean, sober, and can manage his life despite his ADHD. Despite coming out as bi-sexual his parents, who divorced when he was 10, they were in denial and Cody still trying to keep peace in the family didn’t date men around them. I loved the way his encounters with Jase and the feeling he got from being around him and some good advice from his best friend and once girlfriend/lover helped him to realize that he deserved to be happy and he worked hard on doing that. I felt for Cody who had never truly been accepted by this parents who denied him help for his ADHD as a kid along with believing he’d grow out of his bi-sexuality. His father in particular was a piece of work. To be honest, considering everything Cody had dealt with he had his life pretty together, he just had to work on the emotional aspects to truly be able to embrace his true self.
While Cody had some pretty deep issues with his family, Jase’s relationship with his mother was all smooth sailing. Jase went so far as to propose to a long time friend to make his mother happy years before which ended up ruining their friendship something he regrets and while he does have the opportunity to make amends it isn’t easy. I did appreciate that his mother fully began to realize that her inability to accept that Jase was gay, not only hurt him but strained their relationship and confessed that she was wrong.
There are other extenuating circumstances that made their relationship difficult, yet their paths kept crossing and there was a pull between them that was undeniable. Their chemistry was off the charts and even though Jase was over a decade older they were well matched both in and out of the bedroom. The intimate moments in this book were sexy and emotional and I loved the way they supported each other through the ups and downs and how easily they communicated about all things.
Home was aptly named, both of these men found in each other the comfort, love, and support they always wanted and deserved. I loved every wonderful, messy, emotional moment of this book.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.