Junkyard Heart

October 23, 2017
In this small-town romance—part of Riptide’s collaborative Porthkennack universe—set in Cornwall, two men forge an unexpected relationship. Photographer Jas Manning wants to get past the memories of his previous failed romance, and tattoo artist and carpenter Kim Penrose seems just the guy to give him what he needs. As they vacillate between “just friends” and “friends with benefits,” they genuinely fall for each other. However, they both have issues to confront—Kim is a recovering alcoholic, and Jas tends to self-sabotage—and, if they want any hope of a future together, they need to heal each other. Leigh skillfully portrays the atmosphere and appeal of the seaside community and its inhabitants, and her characters possess depth and charm. The physical and emotional chemistry between Jas and Kim is believable and satisfying, which helps to fuel their frequent erotic liaisons and their move towards happily ever after. However, the relative shortness of the story and the high ratio of sex to plot give this romance a rather rushed and regrettably forgettable air.

October 15, 2017
Photographer Jasper "Jas" Manning and carpenter Kim Penrose fall immediately into a hot sexual relationship, but working through their respective baggage is hard work for both of them. Recovering from the end of a relationship and the grueling pace of London, Jas returns home to get his bearings and help out on his family's farm. He's hocking jam at a farmers market when he meets Kim, who's "one of the hottest blokes [he's] ever seen in real life." They hook up later at a concert and part ways without trading numbers. Luckily, his brother is a good wingman and has gotten Kim's business card. Jas approaches Kim about building furniture for a restaurant his family is opening, and the two men begin piecing together a relationship built, at first, around sex, then friendship. During one particularly steamy round, Kim's ex, Lena, catches them midcoitus. There's some confusion about Kim's sexuality (bi/pansexual) and the relationship between him and Lena (friendly with occasional hookups) that leads to a breakdown in communication between the two men and hurt feelings. That's all fairly easily resolved, and Lena, seeing that Jasper and Kim have feelings for one another, leaves town on her own adventures and asks Jas to keep an eye on Kim. Jas is cautious because his ex was married, living as a straight man with a wife and kids. Kim is a recovering alcoholic whose depression tends to trigger when things are going well for him, so he has his own reasons to be anxious about what's unfolding between him and Jas. There are a lot of conversations between the two guys about their respective pasts and what their relationship means, which is fine, if a bit boring at times. The book is mostly redeemed by steamy sex scenes. Not a bad book, if occasionally dull.

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