Bayou Book Junkie: Virtual Book Tour ~ A Life Worth Living by Tina Blenke ~ Excerpt, Review + Giveaway

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Virtual Book Tour ~ A Life Worth Living by Tina Blenke ~ Excerpt, Review + Giveaway

Author Name: Tina Blenke

Book Name: Life Worth Living

Release Date: December 9, 2015

Blurb:

Jake has been hiding in plain sight, always a few rows behind his straight-crush Quentin during their four years of college. He’s been successful so far but just as they’re about to graduate, Quentin finds out Jake’s secret and Quentin shares one of his own. He’s in the closet.

Jake isn’t about to let this opportunity pass him by especially when Quentin is scheduled to leave for the East coast in a few short summer months. Willing to keep Quentin’s secret from his upper crust politically-fueled homophobic family, Jake shares his bed and eventually his heart.

Quentin’s life in the closet is non-negotiable. His family has strong political ties and any word about their son’s sexuality would cast him out of the family and out of his inheritance which he desperately needs to finish his education. He’s been successful keeping his sexuality a secret for years until he meets the irresistibly adorable Jake at an early graduation party.

Quentin is unable to ignore his desire for Jake and makes the life-altering leap that holds his future in the balance. Locked away from the public eye, the two men admit their love for one another. In three short months, they will be forced to part ways for graduate school but the challenges of potential scrutiny, family commitment and an un-promised future may prove to be more than they can overcome.

Pages or Words: 63,267

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt:

“Cora? He’s really gone, isn’t he?”

“You did what you had to do to save both your life and his career. You didn’t do a goddamned thing wrong, you hear me? You are one of the bravest men I know,” she growled.

“Yeah, right. I’m the gayest man you know.”

“You shut the fuck up right now, Jake. I don’t let anyone bad-mouth you around me and that includes you. It takes a real man to stand up for who he truly is on the inside. The easy way out would be to hide who you are and live in the closet for fear of what the world will say or do to you.”

“Now that’s not fair,” I argued immediately, thinking of Quentin’s situation.

“And for what? Admitting that you want to love another man? It’s a beautiful romantic notion, Jake. You throw yourself bare to the world for love, the noblest feeling in the world, and all you expect in return is someone to return the feeling. And what does that rat bastard do? He shows you what it feels like to be loved, only there was a condition on it, wasn’t there? As long as he could hide you from the world and not be proud of the honest, kind and decent man that you are. He should have been yelling your name from the mountains or something. Instead? Instead, he runs and hides so he can save his face from his family.”

Buy the book:

Wilde City ~ Amazon

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review.***

Jake has been crushing on his classmate Quentin from the moment he set eyes on him nearly four years ago; now, about to graduate from college and start graduate school, and faced with the chance of having a relationship with very-much-in-the-closet-and-not-about-to-leave-it-anytime-soon Quentin, he is not about to waste it, even if heartbreak is looming on the horizon at the end of summer.

I enjoyed this book, for the most part. It's well-written and Tina Blenke takes us through an emotional roller coaster right along with Jake, from the height of happiness when his attraction to Quentin is reciprocated to the depths of despair at their separation once summer ends, and everything in between.

My heart broke for Jake several times during the book. His romance with Quentin was almost fairytale-like, but still he held back, thinking it wouldn't end well, and well, in part he was right, but there was still so much happening. And really, while I liked the book, there were times when I just wanted to shake Jake and tell him to be a bit more assertive and not accept everything that happened to him without doing more.

All in all, a very good book, with likable characters (both main and supporting), with a lovely HEA that will leave you smiling.

Rating: 4 Stars!!!

Meet the author:

Tina is a retired Air Force brat and has lived in several states as well as a handful of countries. She has always had a soft spot for literature and is a voracious reader. When she isn't writing, she can be found cuddled up with a good book. Though Tina adores a thrilling novel with sappy lovesick heroes, she is terrified of things that go bump in the night. This makes for quite a complicated relationship with zombies, something that she just can't get enough of.

Where to find the author: