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Book Title: Rewind
Author: Rowan Shaw
Publisher: Self-published
Cover Artist: Molly Phipps
Genre/s: MM Romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 73 350 words/ 343 pages
Release Date: March 18th, 2019
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Tagline
Were Enzo and Florian truly meant to get a second chance or were they doomed from the start?
Blurb
The day Enzo Chevalier lost his hearing, everything changed. Forced to rebuild his future and fight for his dreams, Enzo refused to let anything take him down...until the man of his life walked out on him and shattered his heart.
Florian Beaudry had his whole life figured out. His business was flourishing and everything was settling down at last. Or so he believed...until he walked in on his girlfriend and best friend.
Still on the rebound and unable to trust another man, Enzo never expected a chance encounter with Florian. The one person he thought he would never see again. The one person he missed the most.
Were they truly meant to get a second chance or were they doomed from the start?
REWIND is an MM romance novel set entirely in France. Though part of a series, it is a standalone story without a cliffhanger.
The day Enzo Chevalier lost his hearing, everything changed. Forced to rebuild his future and fight for his dreams, Enzo refused to let anything take him down...until the man of his life walked out on him and shattered his heart.
Florian Beaudry had his whole life figured out. His business was flourishing and everything was settling down at last. Or so he believed...until he walked in on his girlfriend and best friend.
Still on the rebound and unable to trust another man, Enzo never expected a chance encounter with Florian. The one person he thought he would never see again. The one person he missed the most.
Were they truly meant to get a second chance or were they doomed from the start?
REWIND is an MM romance novel set entirely in France. Though part of a series, it is a standalone story without a cliffhanger.
Excerpt
I stared at Enzo, unsure what to do or how to react. I hadn't seen him in such a long time. When I smiled at him, the deep scar on his left cheek carved into his skin as he replied with a grin of his own, along with a shy wave. I gaped like a moron. He was even more breathtaking than he used to be, taller and stronger too.
My eyes caught on the gorgeous male with his arm around Enzo's shoulders. Something inside me sank. I could either be a coward and ignore Enzo, or I could be the bigger person and ask him to join me for a drink—even if that meant watching him flirt with that hot guy all evening.
Enzo was staring back at me without moving, so I took that as my cue to beckon him forward. The man next to him raised a questioning eyebrow, but Enzo signed at him, explaining I was someone he used to know in high school. The guy crinkled his forehead and glared at me with eyes so green, I couldn't help but stare. Even their hypnotizing tint wouldn't soften the warning in his glower.
Enzo chuckled at the guy's reaction and grabbed his hand, leading him toward me.
I had also forgotten how beautiful he was when he laughed. Even in my fondest memories, he had never looked as good as he did now. The scar on his face only heightened his splendor, especially since I knew what it represented. I tried hard not to gawk, but it felt so good to see him again and get confirmation he was well.
Enzo kept smiling at me shyly, but before he could reach my level, the other guy stood in the way.
"Florian, is that it?" he asked with a hint of hostility.
"Yeah."
I held out my hand to shake his, but he snubbed me, leaning forward instead, blocking Enzo's view. "I don't remember Enzo telling me about any friends in high school. If anything, I only remember him talking about his bullies."
I clenched my teeth at the threat under his tone. "I'm not going to hurt him if that's what you're implying."
I love second chances and this was a lovely story. I loved both Florian and Enzo, although I’ll admit I wanted to shake Florian at times, still, they were both sweet, young men. Once I discovered what had torn them apart in the first place, my heart broke for them both, but I’m glad I was able to take this journey of healing and rediscovery with them and watch them fall in love all over again.
Although set in France, really, except for one trip to Paris and a few French phrases, this story could have been set in any town, in any country. It was well-written, but the flashbacks could be jarring at times.
Florian and Enzo were sweet together and they had great chemistry. They were a little sex crazed in my opinion, but, well, they are young so... haha
This was an enjoyable story. I’m curious about Raphael and Adrien and I’ll be looking out for their story. Definitely recommendable!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Rewind is a second-chance love story for the MCs Florian and Enzo who were separated for 8 years after a violent homophobic attack where they both lost tremendously - Enzo his hearing and Florian his home and they both lost each other.
This story had all the makings of being emotional and impactful. Here were two extremely broken men due to their past circumstances. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the totality of the story - circumstances. There was a lot of backstory from their high school years and the years leading up to their reunion. Then there was a lot going on during the time they reconnected like exes that wanted them back, another homophobic attack, a long getaway, coming out, etc. And the author packed a lot of themes into this book - homophobia, bi-erasure, assimilation of deaf culture, discrimination, mental and verbal abuse...
There were a lot of characters as well, some of which were just downright unlikable and despicable and that didn’t bring out the best portrayal of the MCs. Per Shaw’s website, there are 12 different characters in this novel, some of which have separate storylines apart from the MCs.
When I finished this book I felt a little let-down. I felt like there was a lot of time spent dealing with character plot points and “being woke” and not so much time giving insight into the MCs to enable me to connect with them as emotionally as I expected given the blurb of the book.
Also, the author didn’t do a lot of scene setting. I never felt like I was “in” Enzo’s apartment or Florian’s office. I honestly couldn’t really get a sense of the city the story is set in, Nancy. I just never felt like I was “in” the book.
And, though the story was set in France, the characters spoke English, but sometimes flipped to French and vice versa, which was confusing sometimes.
While the book was generally easy to read and Enzo and Florian were likable, I felt like it was light on emotion and depth since the author was trying to tackle so many things.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I stared at Enzo, unsure what to do or how to react. I hadn't seen him in such a long time. When I smiled at him, the deep scar on his left cheek carved into his skin as he replied with a grin of his own, along with a shy wave. I gaped like a moron. He was even more breathtaking than he used to be, taller and stronger too.
My eyes caught on the gorgeous male with his arm around Enzo's shoulders. Something inside me sank. I could either be a coward and ignore Enzo, or I could be the bigger person and ask him to join me for a drink—even if that meant watching him flirt with that hot guy all evening.
Enzo was staring back at me without moving, so I took that as my cue to beckon him forward. The man next to him raised a questioning eyebrow, but Enzo signed at him, explaining I was someone he used to know in high school. The guy crinkled his forehead and glared at me with eyes so green, I couldn't help but stare. Even their hypnotizing tint wouldn't soften the warning in his glower.
Enzo chuckled at the guy's reaction and grabbed his hand, leading him toward me.
I had also forgotten how beautiful he was when he laughed. Even in my fondest memories, he had never looked as good as he did now. The scar on his face only heightened his splendor, especially since I knew what it represented. I tried hard not to gawk, but it felt so good to see him again and get confirmation he was well.
Enzo kept smiling at me shyly, but before he could reach my level, the other guy stood in the way.
"Florian, is that it?" he asked with a hint of hostility.
"Yeah."
I held out my hand to shake his, but he snubbed me, leaning forward instead, blocking Enzo's view. "I don't remember Enzo telling me about any friends in high school. If anything, I only remember him talking about his bullies."
I clenched my teeth at the threat under his tone. "I'm not going to hurt him if that's what you're implying."
4 Stars
I love second chances and this was a lovely story. I loved both Florian and Enzo, although I’ll admit I wanted to shake Florian at times, still, they were both sweet, young men. Once I discovered what had torn them apart in the first place, my heart broke for them both, but I’m glad I was able to take this journey of healing and rediscovery with them and watch them fall in love all over again.
Although set in France, really, except for one trip to Paris and a few French phrases, this story could have been set in any town, in any country. It was well-written, but the flashbacks could be jarring at times.
Florian and Enzo were sweet together and they had great chemistry. They were a little sex crazed in my opinion, but, well, they are young so... haha
This was an enjoyable story. I’m curious about Raphael and Adrien and I’ll be looking out for their story. Definitely recommendable!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
3.75 Stars
Rewind is a second-chance love story for the MCs Florian and Enzo who were separated for 8 years after a violent homophobic attack where they both lost tremendously - Enzo his hearing and Florian his home and they both lost each other.
This story had all the makings of being emotional and impactful. Here were two extremely broken men due to their past circumstances. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the totality of the story - circumstances. There was a lot of backstory from their high school years and the years leading up to their reunion. Then there was a lot going on during the time they reconnected like exes that wanted them back, another homophobic attack, a long getaway, coming out, etc. And the author packed a lot of themes into this book - homophobia, bi-erasure, assimilation of deaf culture, discrimination, mental and verbal abuse...
There were a lot of characters as well, some of which were just downright unlikable and despicable and that didn’t bring out the best portrayal of the MCs. Per Shaw’s website, there are 12 different characters in this novel, some of which have separate storylines apart from the MCs.
When I finished this book I felt a little let-down. I felt like there was a lot of time spent dealing with character plot points and “being woke” and not so much time giving insight into the MCs to enable me to connect with them as emotionally as I expected given the blurb of the book.
Also, the author didn’t do a lot of scene setting. I never felt like I was “in” Enzo’s apartment or Florian’s office. I honestly couldn’t really get a sense of the city the story is set in, Nancy. I just never felt like I was “in” the book.
And, though the story was set in France, the characters spoke English, but sometimes flipped to French and vice versa, which was confusing sometimes.
While the book was generally easy to read and Enzo and Florian were likable, I felt like it was light on emotion and depth since the author was trying to tackle so many things.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
About the Author
Rowan Shaw is a human being from Planet Earth (originally from the country of France). She's also the queer author of Rewind, an MM romance series set entirely in her home country.
Addicted to reading and writing, Rowan can usually be found with a book in her hands or sitting in front of her computer typing some kind of story while listening to music from the 80s.
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