Genre: Cozy Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Gay
Reviewer: Jay
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About The Book
More than a decade ago, Colin left the small community of Seven Lakes. College turned into grad school, which transformed into unexpected co-parenting with his ex-girlfriend. Now that his ex has moved on, Colin returns to Seven Lakes with his young daughter, hoping this might become their new home.
But Seven Lakes isn’t just a small community within the Adirondacks. Colin quickly realizes that there are things that he has forgotten, that seem to be just out of reach within his mind. His fanciful daughter, who has always believed in magic, is determined that this is the place where she will finally learn to fly, and that the dog on the beach is actually a girl who will become a new best friend. As Colin reconnects with his old friends, their behavior is both familiar and odd, both welcoming and yet angry that he abandoned their pack.
Then there’s Ash—the cute guy Colin rescued on his way into town. Ash, who just happens to be staying with his brother and sister in the trailer next door, and who is incredibly attractive, and keeps talking about putting down roots like he’s looking for a forest more than a house.
If Colin wants to make a place for himself in Seven Lakes and explore a relationship with Ash, he will need to push past the barriers in his mind and come to terms with the reality of the magical world he can’t remember. For the sake of his family and his future, he can’t forget again.
The Review
This delightful story starts very gently. Colin is heading for his family’s summer camp with his six year old daughter Angela, with a lot of holes in his memory that he doesn’t even recognise. On the way, they stop to help a stranded cyclist, Ash, who turns out to be the friend and guest of Colin’s brother Taylor.
The reader gradually realises that all is not quite as it seems in Seven Lakes. The magic, when it becomes explicit, is delicate and unusual.
This is apparently to be the first in a Seven Lakes series, and presumably further volumes will explore not only the developing relationship between Colin and Ash but the affairs of interesting minor characters, of whom there are many, including Angela who is a fascinating child.
The romance blossoms very slowly and sweetly, as does the paranormal element. A book to recommend and a series to watch out for. 5 stars.
The Reviewer
I’ve been doing book reviews on my website, crossposted or linked to various social media, for a few years. I read a number of genres but I really enjoy all kinds of speculative fiction so thought I’d like to share my views with you. I love sci fi and other speculative fiction because of the way it can, at its best, make us see ourselves in a new light. Quite apart from the exciting stories, of course! I used to be an English teacher, and I’m a writer (fantasy) so I can be quite critical about style etc. but I hope I can also appreciate properly some books that don’t appeal to me personally but might be simply perfect for others. I have, obviously, read widely, and continue to do so.