The Opera House

Title:  The Opera House

Author: Hans M. Hirschi

Publisher:  Yaree

Length:  269 pages

Rating:  A List

Up All Night Satisfaction

Blurb:  The Ultimate Loss

Raphael doesn’t believe in a higher power, or in anything, for that matter. After the death of his son, his life shattered, Raphael regrets that he didn’t lie about some perfect paradise, and he pushes away everything that once mattered to him—his lover, his job, his reputation as a top architect. Then he meets Brian, a homeless, maybe hopeless kid.

A Second Chance

Brian’s a street kid. When he disappears, Raphael realizes that he cannot fail another person, and he launches a full-out search. What he finds both breaks his heart and begins to heal it.

A Little Magic

The price of saving Brian is high, maybe too high. But Raphael is no stranger to sacrifice, and he’ll risk everything to save Brian and reunite with the man Raphael now loves. The question is—How? Like the architecture of the opera house Raphael designs, the steps to regaining his life will depend not just on careful planning, but faith, hope, and maybe just the magic of love.”

Review:  A dramatic and moving story filled with heartbreak, romance and hope. My tears were falling before the end of the first chapter. As with all of this author’s work, I got an actual feel of the characters and their emotions and a sense of how it really is. Hans doesn’t sugarcoat his characters they are very realistic, a bit rough around the edges and slightly lacking.

Raphael’s world shatters when he loses his only child, his thirteen year old son Jason, to Leukemia. While struggling to come to terms with Jason’s death and their last conversation, Raphael’s life takes him on a compelling journey from life and love lost, to life and love found. Raphael struggles with his emotional health unsure if he’ll find the man he once was or if his heart will ever heal. As the months pass his journey brings him new love and new reasons to live, but Raphael’s journey doesn’t run smooth with many pitfalls and sharp turns. I liked Raphael I felt his sadness, his anger and confusion when life hit him low, I rooted for him when he has a chance of happiness.

Warren is devastated with the loss of Jason. Warren had been a second dad to Jason, loving him like his own son, since meeting Raphael when Jason was a toddler. Warren and Raphael’s relationship deteriorated quickly following Jason’s death with Raphael blaming himself than blaming Warren. Raphael blames everything and everybody. I felt for Warren, he tried to help Raphael even through his own grief, he gave as much support and love to Raphael as he possibly could give, it was painful to read.

Brian is a homeless kid who has been disowned and left to face an uncertain and brutal life on the streets. With guts and determination Brian does his best to fend for himself, although earning money on the streets almost ends with his demise. Brian finds a friend in Raphael, and he trusts him, something Brian swore he would never do again, he’s been let down and hurt painfully.

Is this friendship their savior, can life be that simple sometimes? With a little bit of magic, Micki who is Brian’s social worker and their Knight in shining armour (Hot motorcycle guy), might just be able to add hope to their happy ever after.

Storm warning: A good supply of tissues needed for this one.

Reviewed by Teddy