Title: The Layover
Author: Roe Horvat
Release Date: July 19, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 104
Author: Roe Horvat
Release Date: July 19, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 104
Eight years ago, Ondro Smrek fled Slovakia and the bigotry that drove his first lover to take his own life. The demons proved impossible to outrun, though, and now, desperate for somewhere to belong, Ondro is returning to start over. During a layover in Basel, Switzerland, he meets Jamie, an American living in Scotland who is as brilliant as he is beautiful.
Jaded Ondro never would have guessed he could fall in love during a brief layover—until now. When he is put in a position to offer Jamie comfort without hope of recompense, Ondro doesn’t hesitate. Soon, he catches a glimpse of the home he longs for. But with their separation looming, confessing his feelings would only lead to pain and humiliation. Life has taught Ondro not to hope, but then, he never believed in love at first sight either...
4 Stars
Ondro and Jamie meet in an airport when both of their flights are delayed. They lock eyes while waiting in line and later, after taking a room at a local hotel, the two men meet again in the hotel bar. Ondro can't deny the connection and pull he feels towards Jamie, but they are just ships passing in the night, nothing more than a one night stand.
This was a very sweet read. As much as Ondro couldn't deny what he felt for Jamie, neither could I. The chemistry between them twas electric and you could almost reach out and grab the sparks passing between them.
I loved Jamie from the start, but it took me a bit more time to warm up to Ondro. He was a little rough around the edges, but together, as a couple, they just fit. Ondro is from Slovakia a very anti-LGBT region. The author provides a wealth of information about the political climate there and seemed to well educated/researched on the subject.
The story is well-written, and while technically it's sort of instalove, the time frame feels longer. I absolutely adored this story and loved these characters. Very enjoyable and highly recommended!
*copy provided by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.*
4 Stars
I expected a decent read, but I didn't expect the book to have such a personal feel to it - sorry that might not make sense, but please read this and see for yourself.
I'm an English reader used to taking so many rights for granted, but this book, especially in its author's foreword, made me sit up and take note that things aren't so rosy and simple for so many in the world, simply because they happen to be LGBT people in countries where it's dangerous to be LGBT. It's clear that the author did a lot of reading before writing this book, which for me, gave it the depth that the blurb certainly didn't allude to. Kudos to him/her for doing so, as it increased my appreciation of the tale.
It's in some ways quite a light tale - Ondro, a Slovak travelling home after eight years away, gets delayed at Basel airport, where he meets academic, Jamie, an American based in Edinburgh. They rub each other up a little the wrong way, then sit and talk, then part, but end up having what is meant to be a one-night-stand, before Jamie collapses with walking pneumonia and Ondro decides that he can't abandon him.
Here, the tale could have gone into make-believe and all things sweetness and light, with the guys swanning off into the Edinburgh sunset (yes, it exists despite all the rain!) and living a HEA. But, Roe Horvat doesn't do this. He/she takes us into Ondro's past, at various points in the tale, but none so much as towards the end, when he opens himself up to Jamie about leaving Slovakia, and at the very end, when they visit his mum in Slovakia.
It's not a painful read, but it is one that touched me due to the simplicity in which the author told of the things from Ondro's past. It doesn't wow me on the romance scale, but that didn't spoil the book for me, though I can't explain more, or it'd spoil the read for you. It is one that'll make you think and make you grateful for what you have. It makes me want to change things, but I'm powerless to do so, unless I go online and search out stuff like Amnesty International or HRC and sign petitions. I might just do that.
Roe Horvat, thank you for a read that opened my eyes.
ARC courtesy of Dreamspinner Press and Bayou Book Junkie, for my reading pleasure.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm an English reader used to taking so many rights for granted, but this book, especially in its author's foreword, made me sit up and take note that things aren't so rosy and simple for so many in the world, simply because they happen to be LGBT people in countries where it's dangerous to be LGBT. It's clear that the author did a lot of reading before writing this book, which for me, gave it the depth that the blurb certainly didn't allude to. Kudos to him/her for doing so, as it increased my appreciation of the tale.
It's in some ways quite a light tale - Ondro, a Slovak travelling home after eight years away, gets delayed at Basel airport, where he meets academic, Jamie, an American based in Edinburgh. They rub each other up a little the wrong way, then sit and talk, then part, but end up having what is meant to be a one-night-stand, before Jamie collapses with walking pneumonia and Ondro decides that he can't abandon him.
Here, the tale could have gone into make-believe and all things sweetness and light, with the guys swanning off into the Edinburgh sunset (yes, it exists despite all the rain!) and living a HEA. But, Roe Horvat doesn't do this. He/she takes us into Ondro's past, at various points in the tale, but none so much as towards the end, when he opens himself up to Jamie about leaving Slovakia, and at the very end, when they visit his mum in Slovakia.
It's not a painful read, but it is one that touched me due to the simplicity in which the author told of the things from Ondro's past. It doesn't wow me on the romance scale, but that didn't spoil the book for me, though I can't explain more, or it'd spoil the read for you. It is one that'll make you think and make you grateful for what you have. It makes me want to change things, but I'm powerless to do so, unless I go online and search out stuff like Amnesty International or HRC and sign petitions. I might just do that.
Roe Horvat, thank you for a read that opened my eyes.
ARC courtesy of Dreamspinner Press and Bayou Book Junkie, for my reading pleasure.
"Beneath the Stain" is my fave Amy Lane, although I don't read her anymore.
ReplyDeleteNo fave trope, just love a good story.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall ever reading a Christmas in July book; had no idea this was even a book trope now.
ReplyDeleteI prefer standalones just because I don't want to be forced to read other books first. I may not like the premise of the previous books.
ReplyDeleteI love TJ Klune's Tell Me It's Real Series; Sandy is awesome and complex and beautiful. As for doctors, I think of characters w/PhDs and veterinarians as well and no one stands out as a favorite among that long list of characters for me.
ReplyDeleteNope. Never met anyone interesting/memorable.
ReplyDeleteNope I've never met anyone interesting during a layover I don't travel often but maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteNot during a layover, but I was stranded at Chicago, O'Hare airport when 911 happened. There I met a lady who lived just a couple hours away from me. We agreed to rent a car and drive to our home state together.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have a preference, but true stand alones are not really part of a series.
ReplyDeleteHave never met anyone interesting during a layover. colby69@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteI have not. Most of my layovers have been quite short but with all of them I've kept to myself or with whomever I've been traveling.
ReplyDeleteI have not
ReplyDeleteCongrats and thanks for the post, I traveled quite a bit, met some interesting people on the plane, but not during a layover, which were typically too short. - Purple Reader,
ReplyDeleteTheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
No I haven't. I'm kind of paranoid about talking to strangers.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... not really. Usually I spent my layover sleeping *lol*
ReplyDeleteI love WAY too many audiobooks to pick a favorite, lol.
ReplyDeleteMy fave urban fantasy series is Amelia Faulkner's Inheritance books.
ReplyDelete