Strays and Lovers by John Inman

Forty-six-year-old Eddie Hightower has a problem. He’s all alone. The only thing that saves him from facing that stark reality is the fact that he isn’t really alone at all. He has a house full of pets and a refuge full of stray unwanted animals he spends every waking hour trying to place in homes. While he loves what he does with all the joy in his heart, that same poor aging heart is still missing something. And Eddie knows exactly what it is. Romance.

But wait. Cue the music. Suddenly, beyond all hope, it happens. In the small desert town of Spangle, California, where Eddie lives, comes a sad young stranger with piercing gray eyes. They are the palest, most stunningly beautiful eyes Eddie has ever seen. Poor Eddie Hightower is swallowed up in their silver depths and disappears without a gurgle. The stranger’s name is Gray Grissom. Gray, like his eyes. Without hesitation Eddie opens his doors—and his heart—to the lost young man. After all, that’s what Eddie does. He finds homes for strays. But this is one stray Eddie intends to keep for himself.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
Strays and Lovers starts by introducing us to 46-year-old Eddie, who runs an animal rescue centre from his home in rural Southern California. The story starts off slowly as we learn about Eddie and his animals and the lonely life he lives. At that point, it isn’t particularly interesting. But the story got interesting when Eddie meets 20-something year old Gray at the local hardware store.

Gray is a bit of a mystery and not the nicest or most social guy you’d ever meet. Not at first, at least. I really enjoyed getting to the bottom of Gray’s at time rude behaviour and seeing Eddie and Gray’s story unfold from two men attracted to each other to two men falling in love.

I think my favourite thing about Strays and Lovers is the laid back feel to the story. It is a lovely, easy to read romance. A solid three stars from me.

JOHN INMAN is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and the author of over thirty novels, everything from outrageous comedies to tales of ghosts and monsters and heart stopping romances. John Inman has been writing fiction since he was old enough to hold a pencil. He and his partner live in beautiful San Diego, California. Together, they share a passion for theater, books, hiking and biking along the trails and canyons of San Diego or, if the mood strikes, simply kicking back with a beer and a movie.

John's advice for anyone who wishes to be a writer? "Set time aside to write every day and do it. Don't be afraid to share what you've written. Feedback is important. When a rejection slip comes in, just tear it up and try again. Keep mailing stuff out. Keep writing and rewriting and then rewrite one more time. Every minute of the struggle is worth it in the end, so don't give up. Ever. Remember that publishers are a lot like lovers. Sometimes you have to look a long time to find the one that's right for you.”

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Strays and Lovers by John Inman to read and review.