Reviewed by Ami
Title: From Brussels, With Love
Author: Emy Calirel
Series: World of Love – Belgium
Heroes: Trevor/Jerome
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 156 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: October 18, 2019
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Dispirited after a recent breakup, Irish project manager Trevor is guilted into a trip to Brussels with his best friend. A chance meeting with cute and funny tour guide Jerome turns into a weekend of sex and friendship. Forgetting his phone at Jerome’s apartment shifts their fling into a long-distance relationship held together by postcards, texts, and stolen weekends. But distance isn’t the only thing keeping them apart—Trevor is a workaholic who values his success, while artistic Jerome is carefree but insecure.
Starting a life together means facing major challenges, but the loving words they’ve shared build a bridge across the sea—one that might let them meet in the middle.
Review:
I’ve always wanted to read a romance involving a long-distance relationship. Don’t ask me to explain why, I just want it. When I read the blurb for this one, I was intrigued. Trevor and Jerome meet in Brussels: Trevor joins a local city tour where Jerome is the tour guide. They hit it off, planning to have a one night-stand, but it turns into something more with texts, phone calls, postcards, and weekend visits.
For the most part, I liked the story. I thought the long-distance set up was good and believable. Good thing that they both live in Europe, so the weekend visit is more likely compared to across continents, I guess. I enjoyed the setting in Brussels too – one of the European cities I want to visit someday.
However, I also thought that both Trevor and Jerome had personal issues that weren’t fully communicated when they were together. Trevor nurturing heartbreak and anger after his four-years relationship fell apart (the other guy definitely only used Trevor for his career!) while Jerome’s previous relationship also ended badly, with his lover having lied to him the whole time. Not to mention they had different economic status – Trevor had more money than Jerome – fueled with Trevor’s workaholic nature.
I guess I wasn’t completely satisfied with “the sharing moments” between the two. Like there were new ripples every time they met during the weekend visits. Then suddenly POOF, it was the last chapter and things went well. Well, I just needed MORE chapters of them working out their problems before arriving to that last chapter. Maybe the author had a word limitation because From Brussel, with Love is part of Dreamspinner’s World of Love series (they usually are shorter than novels)? *shrugged*
Overall Impression: I liked it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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