Change of Address

August 29, 2016
Brock combines heat and heart in this enjoyable contemporary. Michael, an Air Force veteran, is the son of a wealthy state governor who doesn’t know Michael is gay. On top of the constriction of the closet, he’s struggling with PTSD and aphasia after a career-ending head injury. He and his service dog move into his parents’ vacation home on Hartsbridge Island, somewhere on the east coast of the U.S. The first time Michael walks into the island’s bagel shop, he inspires a major crush in Josh, the shop’s owner. The two quickly become serious romantic partners, and everything is great until a photo of the two men kissing shows up in a local newspaper. Michael’s conservative Christian father is livid and pressures Michael to leave Josh—and the best relationship he’s ever had. Brock thoughtfully and unflinchingly covers many serious subjects, including adult illiteracy and the culture clash between Michael’s background and Josh’s liberal, working-class Jewish upbringing, adding gravitas to the romantic story. Sometimes playfully loving and other times intensely thought-provoking, this tale is a pleasure to read.

Running the bagel shop he co-owns with his father keeps Josh Goldberg busy, but he feels restless and constrained by the lack of dating prospects on tiny Hartsbridge Island. Could wounded veteran Michael Baldwin be the something more he's been looking for?Returning home from military service after having been shot would be hard for Michael even if he weren't juggling PTSD, speech problems, and his family's political aspirations. Growing up in the public eye, he's used to living in the closet, with brief forays into anonymous sex with strangers in bars. He spent most of his life doing what his politically ambitious parents expected him to, until he joined the Air Force as a way of reclaiming his identity. After being shot, he was isolated in rehab away from them, but a return to civilian life means that he must relearn to deal with his family. Luckily, he has Kaylee, a service dog trained to keep him safe and help him cope with panic. Josh is attracted to Michael as soon as he sees him, but he doesn't know if Michael is single or gay. His instant crush slowly evolves into a friendship based on understanding, mutual respect, and desire. Together, the two men learn to navigate their ways through faulty communication, self-esteem issues, and very difficult family situations. But when a candid photo threatens to out Michael, will they be able to weather the storm? Ultimately, there isn't a lot of suspense in this story, but it's worth reading for the slow build, the yummy descriptions of breakfast food, and the sweet flirtation that unfolds between Michael and Josh. The characters are all funny and likable, and if there's room for more nuance and development, well...there's nothing wrong with a bit of fluff either. An easy, sweet read for people who like happy endings. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 15, 2016
U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Baldwin has had enough of life with his father, New Hampshire's governor, and all the attendant layered motives, hidden agendas, backstabbing deals and buried secrets in places idyllic, peaceful and perfect for exploitation and photo ops. But an enemy's bullet to his head has left Michael struggling to speak and to balance. Plagued, too, by confusion and fear, he's reliant on Kaylee, his service dog, a key character in debut romance author Brock's uplifting gay romance. While recuperating at his family's summer place, Michael meets cute bagel maker Josh but can barely order breakfast, let alone ask him out. They eventually kiss and cuddle, but Josh wonders if Michael, who's gaining confidence while adapting to a post-hospital world, will move on to better, sexier, smarter, thinner prospects. The two finally have sex, but Michael's legacy of power politics and trust funds unsettles chubby Josh, a high-school dropout working in the family business. Is this a rich tourist and poor townies don't mix situation? What about Governor Baldwin's outrage? Brock's tender social-class-bridging love story features authentically decent, good-hearted, and kind protagonists who grow and learn together.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)