Lynn Burke

Ezra has returned home after 15 years in the mission field following the death of his wife. He goes to live with his best friend, Phillip, and Phillip's son, Aaron. Phillip is wheelchair-bound with Parkinson's Disease. Aaron has been his caretaker for years. The three of them were the three musketeers as Aaron was growing up. Aaron still has an attraction to Ezra. Ezra is beginning to have them for Aaron. But Ezra feels it's wrong as he is older and a pastor. Aaron slowly wears Ezra down. Then Phillip learns of their attraction. What will happen? Will they come out? Will they go their separate ways?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Ezra and Aaron. Phillip is harder to know and like as he does not speak often. It is through his actions I learned more of him, and they were not good. I did come to understand Phillip's feelings by the end of the book. I like how Aaron took care of Phillip regardless of Phillip's nastiness to him. There were days Aaron would have been glad to chuck all in. I appreciated that Aaron's thoughts and feelings went from one side to the other. It was just so real and honest.

I liked that Ezra tried to maintain his view on his religion, but I was glad when he realized that Simply Grace church was not the most progressive or enlightened. I was glad when he realized that he was denying a part of his identity that was important to him--that Aaron was more important than the judgmental people at the church.

I look forward to the next story in this amazing series.… (meer)

Zeke is a Christian counselor and is to counsel one of the pastor's daughters and fiancé before they marry. Zeke has not met the couple but when they walk into his office, he recognizes Levi as the man he met at a concert 8 months earlier. Levi recognizes him also but neither says anything. Lily picks something up between them but cannot figure it out plus she is really into her own self. She is also a talker and blurts out everything. After they leave the counseling session, Lily tells Levi her deepest fantasy. Levi does what he can to see it accomplished but that involves Zeke. Will their feelings come out? Will Lily and Levi marry?

I liked this story. There is such hungering in Zeke and Levi. Lily is obtuse about Levi and Zeke. As long as she gets what she wants, she's fine. It finally comes to a head when Zeke's past comes to town. I felt that was contrived but I understand why it was as it was as it showed a group of people who did not listen to the whole story and judged only knowing a fraction of the story as well as one side.

I loved Zeke's parents. Their talk with Zeke when he returned to Boston opened his eyes. Levi's parents were like the pastors at the church--judging without knowing the story. No wonder Levi was unconfident.

There is a lot of angst here but when Zeke and Levi finally sit down and thrash it out, they arrive where they, and I, wanted to be. Lily gets what she wants. And these three are happy and accepting of each other.

I look forward to the rest of the series.… (meer)

Malachi comes as the new youth pastor to the church where Isaiah's father is the pastor. Pastor Bram hopes that Malachi can reach his son as he is unable to. Isaiah and Malachi are attracted to each other but while Isaiah wants to explore it, Malachi is struggling with his past and his sexuality. Knowing that Isaiah wants to go to Nashville once he is of legal age, Malachi wants to spare him the problems he fell into when he went there. Isaiah does not want to hear Malachi's words. Can Malachi reach Isaiah? Will the two of them give into their attraction?

I loved this book. Malachi is so into trying to follow his religion that I could feel his pain as he thinks of Isaiah and as he slips. Isaiah is a free spirit who is just waiting to leave the parental nest. He has no use for what his father preaches but does not practice. I could understand that. There is a lot of pain. I do like that Isaiah shows Malachi the way out but not without potential loss. When Malachi finally discovers his joy, I went wild. I was like yes, yes, yes.

I liked Isaiah's mother. She was cool. I also liked Jennifer. She truly was not one to judge. She gives a lot of support to Malachi.

I look forward to reading the rest of this series.… (meer)