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romanticread 's review for:
Place to Belong
by Claire Boston
I love this family and it is only getting better with the addition of Sean. Those that have read the rest of The Flanagan Sisters series will know what to expect – great characters, smooth writing, and a realistic story that draws you in from the start. Boston hasn’t turned away from difficult issues before and she doesn’t here either. She does a great job of putting a face to some hard social issues – like homosexuality, homelessness, teen pregnancy, abuse.
I feel so bad for Sean, that he thinks he has to hide his sexuality and that’s he’s afraid that he won’t be loved if anyone finds out. I know that this isn’t such an uncommon thing, even today (or maybe especially today), but it breaks my heart to have it laid out so well and with such an endearing character. Boston does an amazing job of capturing his fear and showing us why he feels the way he does. You know that he’s wrong about the Flanagan's but he doesn’t and she makes sure you understand that.
Hayden has a lot of patience and is willing to give Sean the time he needs to see that it’s OK to be gay, that his newfound family will still accept him. It’s not easy to hide their attraction but he’s willing to do it for now. It’s a nice contrast of the man who feels comfortable with who he is, loved and accepted by his friends & family, with the man who has been shunned for the same thing.
While Hayden is just so completely awesome (which returning readers already know), it is really Sean’s journey that we are here for. The moment that Sean realizes that he’s going to be OK is so touching and, as he gets some resolution with his present and his past, you feel such joy for him to be able to have that. Even while it is a heartbreaker that he had to be there at all.
Although this is part of a series, it isn’t necessary to have read the rest to enjoy this story but it will help you understand the rest of the characters. And they are such great stories, so why wouldn’t you want to read them all!
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
I feel so bad for Sean, that he thinks he has to hide his sexuality and that’s he’s afraid that he won’t be loved if anyone finds out. I know that this isn’t such an uncommon thing, even today (or maybe especially today), but it breaks my heart to have it laid out so well and with such an endearing character. Boston does an amazing job of capturing his fear and showing us why he feels the way he does. You know that he’s wrong about the Flanagan's but he doesn’t and she makes sure you understand that.
Hayden has a lot of patience and is willing to give Sean the time he needs to see that it’s OK to be gay, that his newfound family will still accept him. It’s not easy to hide their attraction but he’s willing to do it for now. It’s a nice contrast of the man who feels comfortable with who he is, loved and accepted by his friends & family, with the man who has been shunned for the same thing.
While Hayden is just so completely awesome (which returning readers already know), it is really Sean’s journey that we are here for. The moment that Sean realizes that he’s going to be OK is so touching and, as he gets some resolution with his present and his past, you feel such joy for him to be able to have that. Even while it is a heartbreaker that he had to be there at all.
Although this is part of a series, it isn’t necessary to have read the rest to enjoy this story but it will help you understand the rest of the characters. And they are such great stories, so why wouldn’t you want to read them all!
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***