Monday, April 2, 2018

Blog Tour: Asylum by Robert Winter (Review, Excerpt, Guest Post + Giveaway)

Title: Asylum

Series: Pride and Joy book 2

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher: Robert Winter Books

Release Date: April 2, 2018

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 120000

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

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Synopsis

Death threats drove him from his country. Can he ever find asylum from his past?

Hernán had family, college, and a future in El Salvador. Until a vicious gang targeted him as gay. Threatened with murder, he braved a nightmare journey toward a new life. Now, haunted by his trek, he hides from immigration trouble as well as his enemies. He prays to pass in Provincetown unnoticed.

But a handsome man with a secret like Hernán’s is vulnerable to predators.

Colin is in town for a wedding when he falls into the harbor. The man who rescues him is dark-haired, dark eyed and gorgeous. He’s also a target because of his immigration status. Colin owes a debt, and wants to repay it by helping his savior escape the monsters who would exploit him.

Hernán yearns to trust the kind man who offers him sanctuary. Will his demons destroy his chance at a future with Colin?

Asylum is a standalone gay romance novel but contains spoilers for the prior novel, September. Trigger warnings for brief references to off-page sexual abuse of a child and adult.

Excerpt

Brandon noticed as well and turned to follow Rudy’s gaze. He sighed. “Gerald. Of course. David ’n I managed to avoid him all summer. Guess my luck ran out.”

The newcomer was not as tall as David, but probably broke six feet. His silvering hair swept back dramatically, and he wore a fisherman’s sweater and jeans that looked too tight. His face was a bit jowly; Colin would place him around fifty-five or so. He had presence, though. He surveyed the restaurant like he owned the place, spotted Rudy, and walked over.

“I assume he’s working today,” Gerald said to Rudy, oblivious to the presence of customers.

Rudy flushed. “Yes, working. As in busy. Just like every time you come in here.”

Gerald looked down his nose at Colin, and then did a double-take when he focused on Brandon. “Oh. We’ve met.” His gray eyes narrowed in concentration. “Bradley, wasn’t it?”

Rudy said, “It’s Brandon. He came to the party you had last year, with David Something-or-other.” A glint of malice twinkled in Rudy’s eye as he added, “I remember how often you talked about David after that. Too bad he’s off the market. He and Brandon just got married yesterday.”

Gerald’s eyebrow twitched. “Married?” A flash of regret, confusion and longing crossed his face. Blankness covered it all quickly as Gerald turned to sneer at Rudy. “Well, I guess Brandon here knew how to play the game better than you.”

Rudy flushed and Brandon turned red. Colin saw he was about to do something rash. He picked up his fork and said loudly without looking at the asshole, “Thank you for stopping by, but we’re just about to eat. Rudy, could I get another tea?”

Gerald was clearly unused to being dismissed. Before he could say anything, Colin focused on Brandon. “So, David is off sailing with your sisters?” Rudy tittered and disappeared, and Brandon’s color returned to normal. Gerald stood there a few seconds longer before stomping off to a table in the corner of the restaurant.

“Nicely done,” Brandon said. “I almost lost it, but you kept cool.”

“Hey, I learned how to cut from the best hostess in Bergen County, New Jersey. You should see my mother working the room at a charity event. Icicles trail in her wake if anyone displeases her.”

“Charity events?” Brandon asked curiously. Colin realized his slip. He usually tried very hard not to mention his parents or anything about his family, so it was no wonder Brandon would take the opportunity to ask.

“Sometimes. Anyway, sailing?”

Brandon waited a moment, but then nodded. “David rented a boat to take Jo-Lynn, Suzanne and Matt out on the bay. I think Terry was goin’ with ’em too.” He chuckled. “Joe says the Lord may have walked on water but he prefers dry land.”

As they chatted, Colin noticed Gerald wave Rudy over to him. Rudy looked around the restaurant, but apparently could find no way to refuse without Gerald causing a scene. The restaurant was quiet enough he heard Gerald order Rudy in a peremptory tone, “Tell him to come out and talk to me.”

Rudy shook his head. “He’s working. He can’t take a break.”

Gerald snorted and gazed over the menu. “I could always have a chat with Claude. You know Claude, don’t you, Rudy? The owner of this restaurant? I think he might be shocked to find out what’s going on in his kitchen.”

Rudy flushed and pursed his lips. He looked around nervously, and then disappeared to the interior of the restaurant. A few moments later, he returned, accompanied by another man. He was slightly shorter than Rudy, and looked a few years younger, but the family resemblance between the two was strong.

That was why Rudy had looked familiar to Colin—he was clearly related to the man he led out. The man who had saved Colin the previous night.

The angel of his imagination.

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Robert Winter Books | Amazon

Immigration and Asylum

The most fundamental idea of a romance novel is two (or more) people overcoming great difficulties to fall in love with each other and begin a life together. In Asylum, the primary obstacle between Hernán and Colin is immigration status. Hernán is in the United States without a visa. That leaves him vulnerable to blackmail, and always in fear of being picked up and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The reason I decided to tell this story is that I’ve been appalled by the current administration’s stance on immigration. Announcing his presidential bid, Mr. Trump said, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” I expected such comments to be enough to end his campaign, but sadly they seemed to resonate with some people. Now we are watching a wall go up – literally and figuratively – to further divide the world.

I have no idea whether Mr. Trump actually believes his own rhetoric or is cynically manipulating a xenophobic segment of the population. Either way, the result is an outrageously unfair and unfounded attack on a broad swatch of people.

Estimates vary, but there are apparently between eleven and twelve million undocumented immigrants in the United States. The barriers to legal entry to the United States are many, and the options for those who come anyway without a visa are extremely limited and difficult to navigate. Asylum, in the immigration context, is a type of permission to remain legally in the country. It conveys the right to work, among other benefits. In 2016 (the most recent year I could find statistics for), more than 115,000 asylum applications were filed, and just 11,000 were granted. The greatest number of successful applications were for people from El Salvador, China and Guatemala.

To apply, the non-citizen must already be in the United States, and the application must be on file within one year after arrival (with some exceptions). To become eligible for asylum, the applicant must prove that he or she meets this definition: “Any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”

As you might guess from that confusing legal standard, those who had access to a lawyer were many times more likely to have their application granted than those who tried to do it alone. A study shows that, from 2007 to 2012, of those seeking relief from deportation (such as by asking for asylum), about fifty percent were successful with legal counsel, while just two percent of those without counsel succeeded.

One organization I’ve worked with in my prior life as a lawyer is Immigration Equality. This nonprofit calls itself the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigration rights organization. It provides legal counsel – either directly or through pro bono partnerships with various law firms – to immigrants seeking advice and legal services. The website for IE contains some remarkable and moving stories about immigrants.

As I say in the Author’s Note at the beginning of Asylum, I based Hernán’s past on the specific experiences of two young men who came to the United States without visas, and the things they endured. I altered or fictionalized certain details and locations, but the core of their journeys—as related by Hernán—is a combination of two true stories. I hope that reading of the real-life struggle some have endured to come to the United States will reach those who fear or hate immigrants, and perhaps help them make room in their hearts and country for those who truly deserve asylum.

You can find out more about Asylum on my website by clicking here.

**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**

Asylum is Book 2 in Robert Winter’s Pride and Joy series. Though you could probably read it as a standalone, I really think you should read it in the appropriate order. Asylum has characters from the first book, some tenuous ties between characters from the first story, plus Colin was a great character in book 1.

Colin’s character was really shown in the first book. He is the type of man you would want in your life and as a friend. Colin lacks self-confidence, and most people would be shocked because he seems to have it all. Colin comes from a family with a lot of money, something he’s always been embarrassed about. Colin lives a comfortable life and works hard to help others, especially those seeking asylum in the US. After drinking too much at his friend’s wedding, Colin finds himself in need of some help. That help comes from Hernan who was just in the right place at the right time. Hernan doesn’t want the thanks, praise, attention or any help from Colin but, he can’t avoid it. He’s come to the US as an undocumented immigrant, running and afraid for his life and it hasn’t been an easy journey. But, he has no idea what a drastic turn his life will take when he opens himself up to Colin.

If you’ve never read anything by this author, you really need to remedy that quickly! The author writes such in-depth, emotional, full characters and stories. He immerses you in whatever story he’s telling so that you’ll feel like you are living it. The subject matter in this one is a tough issue in the US right now, and has strong opinions on both sides. I hope that people will keep an open mind, and recognize the horrors that happen and what could drive a person to seek asylum. This may be a work of fiction, but it would be naive to believe this isn’t something that could be a very real issue. I think the author does a great job with such a heavy topic, along with the abuse Hernan has suffered.

If you haven’t read September, please do so before reading this one. I just think you’re going to enjoy the connections more! Also, the bar Mata Hari referred to later in this book is from Robert’s Nights at Mata Hari series, one of my favorites! I think what you’ll find with each of these books is that this author knows how to tell a story. He brings his characters, towns, and love to life and his work is truly one you’ll enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars!

Meet the Author

Robert Winter is a Rainbow Award-winning author who lives and writes in Provincetown. He is a recovering lawyer who prefers writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of seventeen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.