Release Day Review ~ New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz

Release Day Review ~ New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz

Title: New Orleans Second Lines
Author: Lynn Lorenz
Release Date: July 17, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 246

GodReads ~ Dreamspinner ~ Amazon

Matt and Lane grew up together, best friends, sharing almost all their secrets. But on the last day of college, those secrets spilled in one night of passion and tore them apart, sending Matt to the West Coast and Lane home to New Orleans.

Now, Hurricane Katrina is set to destroy New Orleans. This might be the worst time to try for a second chance, but nothing can keep Matt from Lane. The man he let get away.

For Lane, no hurricane can pry him from the city, especially without Sebastian. The older man has been a dear friend and his landlord since Lane returned from college. Sebastian refuses to flee, preferring to stay in his Creole cottage in the French Quarter and ride out the storm.

Sebastian’s life becomes intertwined with Lane’s, as Matt finds out when he’s drawn into capturing Sebastian’s memoirs of being gay in New Orleans. The elder gentleman’s stories are full of surprises and lessons for the young men.

The most important ones Sebastian teaches them—and himself—are that second chances don’t come along often, and you’re never too old to fall in love.

First Edition published as Pinky Swear, Pioneers, and C'est La Vie by Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure, 2010.

3.5 Stars

After reading the blurb, I thought what I was getting was a good second chances romance set against the backdrop of my city, New Orleans, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but what I got was much more. While, yes, this is Lane and Matt's story, a friends to lovers/second chance love story, it was also very much Sebastian's, Lane's elderly landlord, story too.

Lane and Matt were best friends growing up, but they had very different childhoods. Matt lost his mother at a young age and is the sole responsibility of his abusive, alcoholic father, while Lane comes from a much more financially stable home with parents who love him.

Lane and Matt's portion of the story was just okay. It started out as a nice coming of age story, but the reunion between them felt too rushed. They hadn't seen one another in five years and I really wish the author had given us less of their past and concentrated more on the present. It seemed as soon as they made up and admitted their love, the author moved to Sebastian's portion of the story. While they remain a big presence in Sebastian's part of the book, it wasn't their story.

After losing his long-term partner in the mid 80's to AIDS, Sebastian has been alone for decades now, but when he meets Ray, an older gentlemen who makes him feel things he hasn't felt since he lost his partner, Frank, Sebastian has to decide if he wants to open himself up to love again.

Sebastian's portion of the story was interesting, his coming of age portion was told in flashbacks, as Sebastian relived them by interviewing with Matt, for an article he's writing. Through Sebastian's stories we see what it was like to grow-up in 1950's New Orleans as a gay man. While it wasn't accepted, it was more looked over in the French Quarter, where Ray spent a good part of his time.

This was two sweet stories all wrapped up into one delightful read. I loved Lane and Matt's story and they had amazing chemistry, even if I did want to punch Matt throughout some of the book. They fit together and I absolutely loved the support they received from not only Sebastian, but Lane's parents as well.

I really loved seeing a bit of the New Orleans gay scene, during the 1950's and later through Sebastian's eyes. It was interesting and entertaining. I loved seeing two men who you would think are well past their prime at finding love, do just that. It shows that you're never too old to find love if you open yourself up to it.

This was an enjoyable read filled with so many emotions, but above all, it's filled with friendship and love. Recommendable!

*copy provided by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.*