Reviewed by JustJen
Title: Finding Home
Author: Garrett Leigh
Heroes: Leo/Charlie
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 178 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: October 9, 2017
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: How do you find a home when your heart is in ashes?
With their mum dead and their father on remand for her murder, Leo Hendry and his little sister, Lila, have nothing in the world but each other. Broken and burned, they’re thrust into the foster care system. Leo shields Lila from the fake families and forced affection, until the Poulton household is the only place left to go.
Charlie de Sousa is used to other kids passing through the Poulton home, but there’s never been anyone like his new foster brother. Leo’s physical injuries are plain to see, but it’s the pain in his eyes that draws Charlie in the most.
Day by day, they grow closer, but the darkness inside Leo consumes him. He rejects his foster parents, and when Charlie gets into trouble, Leo’s attempt to protect him turns violent. When Leo loses control, no one can reach him—except Charlie. He desperately needs a family—a home—and only Charlie can show him the way.
Review: It’s not very often that I pick up a YA book, but with Garrett Leigh at the wheel, I just had to give this one a spin. I was not disappointed. This is a story about foster kids, so of course it is going to be a bit sad, but it is well worth it to see them get a second chance and the love and family they deserved.
Leo and his little sister, Lila, have been dealing with a hideous father their whole life. Abuse and miserableness are nothing new to them where family life is concerned. When their father breaks a restraining order, they must watch from the cupboard they hide in as their mother is murdered, their house is on fire, and then their father barricades them in. Leo somehow manages to get them out, but not without injury to himself. Needless to say, the physical ailments are the least of his problems.
After their current family gives up on them, they are thankfully sent to the Poulton home. The Poulton’s have mostly grown kids of their own, but have taken fosters over the years, though they make sure it is a family decision and that the health and well being of that core family remains intact. Charlie is one of the kids they ended up adopting and is close in age to Leo.
As you can imagine, it is very difficult for Leo to trust anyone, especially men. He starts to open up to Charlie slowly but surely, and their bond and attraction grows. Charlie’s warmth and understanding goes a long way toward showing Leo that he can find happiness when he never thought he deserved it. They still go through some major bumps, and it is anything but easy to get there, but this beautifully written story captivated me and had me cheering Leo (and Charlie) on to reach out and grab hold and to not give up. He was lucky to find and couldn’t have asked for a better home with the Poultons – people who really do care and are doing it for the right reasons.
I loved watching Leo and Charlie finding their first love, sharing and exploring with kisses and cuddles and would love to read about them again some day in their future to see how their lives actually turned out further down the road. This was another winner from Ms. Leigh, and I can easily highly recommend it.
Overall Impression: It was amazing!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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