Making it Happen: Review & Giveaway: LAVENDER by Xavier Axelson

Monday, September 18, 2017

Review & Giveaway: LAVENDER by Xavier Axelson

Buy Links:

JMS Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 23,619 words

Publisher: JMS Books

Blurb

Following the sudden death of his father, Lawrence "Law" Crow must not only comfort his bereaved mother, but also find the strength to continue running the family business, a local and beloved lavender farm in the mountains of northern California. At first, consumed with his own grief and struggling to find meaning in life, Law indulges in his vices, mainly by surrendering to his sexual urges with numerous men, all in a desperate battle to forget his pain and to end the emotional turmoil tearing him apart.

But when a stunningly handsome and passionate Spanish soccer player named Garbi suddenly crosses his path, Law discovers light in the possibility of love. Does Garbi have the ability to heal Law's shattered heart, provide him with purpose, and help him fully embrace the joy of living once again amidst the beautiful and fragrant lavender fields?

Carra's Review

So about Law…he’s the kind of guy that I have a hard time warming up to, and to be honest when I first started reading this story up until about two-thirds of the way through I thought I was never going to get to any point where I would like him. Yes, he’s grieving, and yes, he feels alone and abandoned when his mother leaves to escape her own grief. What I was not happy with was how he dealt with his situation through random, meaningless sexual encounters or the occasional one-sided tryst with Denny. It wasn’t the fact that he was having the encounters that bothered me—it was the way he treated the men (especially Denny). It’s one thing to have emotionally empty liaisons as a way to cope with emotional pain, but it’s a whole other ball game when you treat those with whom you’re having relations with total disregard, indifference, and sometimes downright cruelty—even if it is only through words.

Now, that said…when Garbi enters the picture things do seem to look up for both Law and the story. Law gains focus and Garbi seems to act like an anchor for Law. At the same time, Law gives Garbi something other than playing his sport to look forward to, and the attraction between them does burn quite hot. It’s hard to see how they would be able to make things work past the short time they have together while Garbi’s team is in town, and while circumstances do offer up a chance for more the way this story ends leaves readers with a “happy for now” finish.

Even though for most of the story Law’s character was difficult for me to like, at the end I was still wanting to know if things might work out for him and Garbi past the immediate future. I may never find out, but the author did pique my interest enough to want to know how Law and Garbi end up in the long run.

This story is meant strictly for readers 18+ for adult language and situations as well as sexual content.

Author Bio

Xavier Axelson is a writer and columnist living in Los Angeles. Axelson's work has been featured in various erotic and horror anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2016 Volume 2, Best Gay Erotica 2015, Men of The Manor from Cleis Press, The Bears of Winter from Bear Bones Books, Tricks of The Trade from Bold Strokes Books and First Time Dead from May December Publications.

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