Review - Gideon's Wish by Bryan T. Clark
What an absolutely delightful story this was. Gideon and Isaiah are an engaging, likeable couple taking the first tenuous steps towards love after they discover a mutual attraction. Isaiah's meddling yet endearing mother is the instigator, and after that it's a slow burn story which explodes into a sexy romance.
There are some heavy hitting issues. Gideon is living with HIV but because of his medication, the virus is no longer detectable. Even so, the diagnosis and betrayal of the man who infected him has left him wounded and wary of beginning a new relationship. And he is about to leave Los Angeles to go back to Costa Rica. meaning any romance is doomed from the start.
Isaiah is an ambitious ex-military man about to start training as a cop, but his life is thrown for a loop when he meets Gideon, who isn't even his type. Gradually he falls in love, unsure whether Gideon feels the same.
There's so much warmth and love in this book. It shows living with HIV isn't the death sentence it used to be, but the stigma remains. There's also the issue of a multi-racial couple finding acceptance within their families. Gideon's parents are relaxed about issues of race and sexuality, but Isaiah's brothers have a different view. Beautifully realised dialogue with Isaiah and his older brother is a standout scene.
I devoured this book in a couple of days. It was so easy to read, but at the same time, handled the thorny subjects of race and betrayal, HIV and stigma, in a convincing and intelligent manner without sugar-coating it. And the sexy scenes are super-hot as well as tender. Simply gorgeous.
BLURB
He might be Mr. Right, but their timing is all kinds of wrong… Gideon Miller is done letting his heart do the thinking for him. Been there, done that, still has the emotional scars to prove it. Besides, he’s leaving Los Angeles soon. There’d be no point in starting up a new romance now. But when he meets the off-the-charts sexy, ex-military man next door, Gideon starts to question everything… Isaiah Williams needs a fresh start. With his time in the Navy—and a painful, toxic relationship—behind him, he’s ready to start a new life. Now all he has to do is figure out how to keep his matchmaking mother out of his business…and how to not fall for his sweet, nerdy, and entirely too attractive neighbor… They’re complete opposites with nothing but trust issues in common. Their timing? Terrible. And yet…none of that matters when they’re together. Will love be enough to get Gideon and Isaiah to happily ever after? Or are they destined to remain star-crossed? “Gideon’s Wish, a standalone, steamy, lightly angsty, M/M contemporary romance, features a loveable, openly gay handyman and the not-so-openly gay alpha male of his dreams. HEA guaranteed. Download today and get ready to fall in love with your next favorite read.”