Homespun

Title: Homespun

Author: Layla M. Wier

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 104 pages

Rating: B

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb: For twenty years, Owen Fortescue, a down-to-earth farmer in upstate New York, has had an on-again, off-again relationship with volatile New York City artist Kerry Ruehling. Now that same-sex marriage is recognized in New York, Owen wants to tie the knot. But Kerry responds to the proposal with instant, angry withdrawal. Owen resolves to prove to Kerry that, regardless of the way his family of origin has treated him, family ties don’t necessarily tie a man down. With help from his grown daughter, Laura, who loves them both, Owen hopes to convince Kerry that his marriage proposal isn’t a trap, but a chance at real love.

Review: I love books with older main characters so it was a treat to read Owen and Kerry’s story. Love isn’t something that people stop striving for after they hit 40, which is proven by these two men. As a youth centric society there are lots of books with hard bodied 20-somethings falling in love but there are lots of men out there that don’t fit that mold.

Owen lives with his grown daughter on a sheep farm out in the middle of nowhere and for years Kerry has come and gone as he pleased, a big city artist struggling and looking for solace in the farm. After all these years Owen wants more which sends Kerry into an emotional tailspin. One rarely thinks a man Kerry’s age could be so afraid of love and commitment, a facet I wasn’t expecting in this mature adult relationship.

I so wish the book had been novel length! I wanted to see how the relationship progressed over the years, which is something that is thought of in fleeting moments by the characters. But I understand not everything can be a novel despite what I want!

Do not read this expecting tons of steamy sex acts, this book is sweet and at times sensual. The language in this book is evocative and lush, much of the most beautiful prose talks about the land, the sheep, and the wool. Just a lovely story about a long-term, nontraditional couple.

Reviewed by Jules