Release Day Review: Linear Park by Ken Harrison

Title: Linear Park
Author: Ken Harrison
Release Date: November 22, 2017
Category: Contemporary, States of Love
Pages: 61

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Sean and Nick’s life together was a fairy tale: childhood friends who became lovers, high school sweethearts who married after college, both handsome professionals. Sean always enjoyed a few drinks, but after the death of his father, his alcoholism spiraled out of control… and it cost him everything.

When Sean loses his job and becomes too surly and unreasonable to live with, Nick has little choice but to end the relationship. Sean can’t blame Nick for giving up—not after the arguments and the lies—but he longs for the happiness and love they shared before he spoiled everything. He resolves to get sober and win back his husband. But even if he wins his battle with alcoholism, will it be too late to save his marriage?

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

3 Stars

Linear Park tells Sean's story for the most part and how he ended up being an alcoholic and ruined his marriage and lost his job because of it. 

Frankly, I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't this. First of all, I didn't really feel like Sean hit rock bottom or really wanted to leave the alcohol. He didn't really struggle all that much with it all, either, even after quitting cold turkey. Then his mother accepted him back and his sort-of sponsor roped him into flipping a house so he could work on it. And after throwing him out, or rather bailing him out of jail and moving Sean out, Nick, his husband, just takes him back in an ending that was really abrupt. I know this is a novella, there's only so much you can fit in 61 pages, however, I really think the author missed a great opportunity here. 

Unfortunately, despite the writing being okay, the content wasn't up to par. We were told that Nick and Sean had this whole love story, and about Sean's spiralling into alcoholism after his father was diagnosed with cancer and his subsequent death, but I couldn't really see any chemistry between Nick and Sean or feel sorry for Sean, because his so-called struggle wasn't really that, plus his recovery and the resolution were just too easy and unrealistic. I'm sorry but I don't think I can really recommend this book.  

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***