CW: Abusive ex, depression, Talk of previous suicide attempt / suicidal idealizations
One MC is HIV positive, has some struggles with that and how to tell others

3 1/2 STARS


This was my first time reading anything from Garrett Leigh but it won't be my last.

All in all I really enjoyed House of Cards. At times things were a bit slow and I would skim a few pages to get back into things, but for the most part it was a enjoyable read. I quite liked Calum and Brix, seeing them making a home life together -- even before they realized it as such -- was sweet. Add in some lap hens and feed-me-now cats and it was often quite fun.

This book does touch on some pretty heavy subjects but I felt like the author did them justice. I've heard this is pretty common for the author so I can see why their books might not work for everyone though. But I'll be back to try another one.

I absolutely adored this book, which was both a bit of a delightful surprise and the first step in laying a foundation of affection for everything that comes after this!

Another great story. This time around we have Calum Hardy who is forced to come into his own after leaving an abusive relationship. His first mm relationship. Calum first realized he was bi-sexual when he got to work with and become friends with Brix Lushmoore. He and Brix never fully explored but they were friends until Brix disappeared but years later Calum finds himself lost and Brix is their to help him.

However, Brix has his own past and demons and with Calum back in his life its making him want more.

I loved Calum and Brix and the chickens and everyone from Porthkennack. Their story was sweet and all of the characters were great.

Reviews shared on V's Reads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads: https://vsreads.com/2017/11/02/their-lives-are-a-house-of-cards-a-review/

This is a contemporary M/M romance set on the Cornish coast town of Porthkennick.

Calum is a young and talented tattoo artist who’d been making some decent money in his studio, but his abusive partner had been stealing assets, and messing around on him, and he’s at his wit’s end. He tosses out his phone, grabs a bag of essentials and gets on a train to Truro, out near where he’d grown up, and ends up running into Brix Lusmoore. Calum had met Brix years ago and thought they had a connection when they worked together in a tattoo parlor back in London. But, Brix disappeared without explanation four years before, and none of their common friends had any info on where he’d gone.

Meeting now, in a time where Calum is vulnerable, is right time, right place. Their friendship is not difficult to rekindle, as Brix provides a haven for Calum to live and recover from his abuse. He’s trying to build a clientele in Brix’s shop, to help pay for his lodging, and though he does this anonymously, his unique skill at dot-work have pulled some of his clients from the city into Porthkennick. That brings Calum’s ex to the area, looking to browbeat, or beat, Calum back into being his obedient meal ticket. The resilience he develops by living with and connecting to Brix gives Calum the strength to stay out of the negative situation.

Brix has mixed feelings about having Calum pop in from his past. He’d liked Calum a lot, but he’s afraid to fall in love again, knowing that he’s not well enough to have the kind of relationship he’d want with Calum. That said, the companionship they begin to experience with each other seems to be enough for the moment, and, as Calum investigates Brix’s odd mannerisms–and pirate family members–he’s drawn even more closely to Brix.

I really liked how this story developed. It’s sweet and slow-burning, with fun elements, like Brix’s penchant for rescuing retired laying hens from the chicken pie/soup. Calum is such a tender-hearted guy, it was hard to witness his abuse, and the after-effects of it. Brix was frustrated that his departure impacted Calum, and feels guilty that Calum met up with his abuser, knowing that had he’d stayed they would have been together…and Calum would have been safe. Calum realizes that he was so timid, and his insecurity allowed him to become prey to his ex. His new life with Brix is more satisfying than any part of the years before combined. Their building trust and honesty lead to a satisfying relationship for both of them. I read a review copy via NetGalley.

House of Cards is a super-slow-burn romance but it's also the story of a friendship.

Both MCs have lived very difficult lives and have secrets about their pasts. Calum just kept it a secret from his new friends but he shared it with the reader from the start. We learned what was going on with him pretty much from the first page but throughout the story we learned more details about the situaton he was in to better understand what he was going through.

On the other hand, Brix's secret only got revealed near the end of the story but there were clues along the way so it wasn't difficult to guess what it was. Still, I wasn't disappointed that I was able to guess it early or by the way the author handled it.

Since it's pretty clear from the prologue what Calum was going through I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he was in a very toxic relationship for four years. I couldn't understand how he could have landed in the situation he was in when the book started but later on he opened up about his past to Brix and it became clear how little by little he found himself in a deadend with no way to escape.

I would have liked to see more of the journey he had to go through in order to gain his life back and to find himself again after being with an abusive and manipulating person for so long but sadly that didn't happen here. While it passed time for him to ovecome what had happened, we just saw the results, we didn't see the process and that's something that I feel was missing from the story.

As I said this is a slow-burn romance and it only had one sex scene near the end but it didn't feel like the story was lacking anything because of that. It was actually the opposite. Both MCs had a lot going on and they hadn't seen each other for many years so it was fitting that first they had to establish a connection again and work in getting their friendship back. There was attraction between them but they had to have a few conversations and earn each other's trust again before it went anywhere.

I think this is the first story I've read that features a chicken as a side character. And a well liked one too! Bongo was a sweetheart, she was a resqued lab chicken that liked to cuddle with Calum. How sweet is that! Ok, it's also smelly but let's not focus on that.

There are so many interesting secondary characters in this story that I can't just pick one as a favorite. Brix had an amazing group of mismatched friends, every one of which had his own interesting story. We learned some of them and we just got teased about some others. I'm just glad that the next book in the Porthkennack series by Garrett Leigh is around the corner and it features Kim. I was hoping I'll get to know his story!

4.5 stars



* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.

Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.

Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porthkennack tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.




The Bad:
The book ended.


The Good:
Porthennack is whack. Seriously, this is one messed up town and I totally want to go there. The people are just... crazy, in all the best ways. Brix's family. Oh my god. Just. Yeah, hilarious. Brix himself is awesome. He's sensitive, intelligent, funny... He rescues chickens and protects his crazy criminal relatives, and takes in broken friends. Which is fitting because Brix's pretty broken himself.

Calum is definitely lost and broken and escaping a terrible relationship. Once he starts getting back to himself he's also sweet and funny. He finds himself falling for Brix, but Brix keeps a distance between them and he doesn't trust himself anyway.

When these two finally take the leap to be together it's beautiful They find love and hope for the future neither really thought was possible. House of Cards is my first Garrett Leigh book, but it definitely won't be my last.

House of Cards was a super sweet romance. The synopsis didn't prepare me for these characters. Brix is unexpected and he heartbreaking and he is so easy to fall in love with but he holds himself apart. Calum is lost, broken and needing a light to cling to. They fit together so well and yet their pieces are jagged and broken. They need mending.

I truly loved this story. Both men needed saving but only one knew it. It was a beautiful love story that was seriously sweet and the perfect light read. It had its deep moments but it wasn't one that kept me clutching my chest in heartfelt emotion. This author is amazing at making feel invested in the characters and the outcome of their choices. This book was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend this book to all who love sweet romance.

3.5* Didn't quite hit the spot for me, but it was refreshing to read a tale set in the UK and see how laid back we are.

This book can be read as a standalone in the Porthkennack series, but for me, it wasn't the strongest addition, though I appreciated reading another tale set in the UK and seeing again how accepting we generally are of everyone.

It's a tale that works because of the leads' past relationship, but, I did have to suspend disbelief a little that Calum and Brix would end up in each other's lives so coincidentally and without many questions asked. I did like how they rekindled what was more a friendship than a romance for me, and that their feelings grew from there. I did think that the 'issue' that was revealed was handled pretty well, with the right amount of apprehension from one, and of acceptance and love from the other.

I also liked seeing that the people on the periphery of this tale were of the LGBTQ community and that no-one seemingly had any issues with them, their lives and their plans. There was a whole lot of acceptance, love and support in this tale, which was heartwarming.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Riptide Publishing, for my reading pleasure.

House of Cards was written by Garrett Leigh as her contribution to the Porthkennack universe series published by Riptide Publishing. This is the first of the series I’ve read, and it can be read as a standalone, but after looking at the previous books in the collection I’d definitely like to read them all.

Centered around the seaside Cornish town of Porthkennack, with its rugged natural beauty and host of wacky characters, House of Cards is a friends to lovers story with several intense issues at its heart. Running from an abusive relationship, Calum Hardy stumbles into his long lost friend Brix Lusmoore at a train station in Cornwall.

The friends have lost touch but their reunion turns out to be perfect timing for both men.

The abuse Calum has suffered from his recent ex has wreaked total havoc on his self esteem. Garrett Leigh paints a picture of a once confident, smiling man who is all but unrecognizable to Brix when they meet up again after four years.

After reconnecting with his friend, and living and working in Porthkennack, Calum is able to get healthy again and find some joy in life.

Brix, on the other hand, has returned to his boyhood home to escape a deeper, more life altering problem. Including any details in this review would spoil the skillful way Leigh has crafted the reveal, but it is safe to tell you that Calum’s stalwart support is just what Brix needs.

I’m typically not a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope, but this story really worked for me.

Talk about a slow burn...well this one’s pretty slow, but it is exactly what these characters need to be able to come to terms with their issues.

It also makes these guys’ past history believable. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, but their friendship is the foundation.

House of Cards isn’t your typical Garrett Leigh novel, but it won me over with its steady pace, creative characters, and interesting story line. There’s enough going on in this novel that I didn’t miss the high angst and intensity of her usual writing. This book is a soothing comfort read which I highly recommend.

t’s been a while since I read a romance as realistic as Garrett Leigh’s “House of Cards.” Here are two men attracted to one another, but too lost in their own distorted self-images to perceive what’s in front of them.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance as realistic as Garrett Leigh’s “House of Cards.” Here are two men attracted to one another, but too lost in their own distorted self-images to perceive what’s in front of them.

When Calum walks in on his lover/business partner in bed with another man, he buys a train ticket, not noticing where he’s headed, and trashes his cell phone. It’s not that he’s surprised by the infidelity. He’s devastated with self-loathing for staying in an emotionally and financially abusive relationship. As he later will soon note, “Who needed closure on bullshit what was never real?”

Brix comes across an inebriated Calum at the station near Porthkennack, Brix’s hometown, and recognizes the man who’d been Brix’s tattoo apprentice ten years earlier. Calum informs Brix, “’I’ve just…lost myself, you know? And I don’t know how to get it back.’”

Brix identifies. Four years earlier, he’d fled back from London (where the men were friends) after his own life fell apart.

Calum finds a disconnect in Brix, who lacks compassion for himself, while saving lost souls, including hens headed for slaughter. When Calum asks, Brix explains,

“’Nothing’s ever perfect … It’s a house of cards, nothing more. You can’t count on anything ‘cept yourself, and even that’s a bonehead idea.’”

And here’s where “House of Cards” is a cut above many romances, where co-dependent characters wish to be rescued, like helpless hens. Brix is well aware everyone must rescue him/herself. As he muses about his often-drunk father, “John could look after himself. The fact that he often didn’t, wasn’t something Brix could fix.”

Sometimes we read erotic romances to be swept away from mundane love. Yet Ms. Leigh finds extraordinary beauty in the ordinary. Or, as Calum thinks of Brix, both men are “made of glass: strong and pure, but fragile.”

In addition, Garrett. Leigh has a true ear for dialect and for place, like when Brix grumbles, “’Dinner’s getting’ cold, and my belly feels like its throat’s been cut.’”

Porthkennack is almost its own character in the story. Brix tells Calum, “’I reckon the world would be a darker place without the souls that keep us warm.’” The town is filled with interesting, quirky characters who deserve to have their own stories told.

This standalone is installment four in Riptide’s Porthkennack series, each written by a different writer. Hint, hint, Ms. Leigh. Can you write a follow-up? Pretty please with blue icing on top?

Once again, I wish I had ½ stars to grant “House of Cards” a 4.5.

I found this book to be alright, but overall not especially memorable. I did enjoy some of the characters, but found the overall plot to be a bit...overwrought. I wouldn't nessecarily count it out, but I won't be actively recommending it either.

Calum Hardy runs from his London life after finding his controlling boyfriend cheating on him in their bed. He gets on a train to a destination unknown, while his now ex-boyfriend shuts down his tattoo parlor, blocks his access to his bank account, etc. because it was all in the ex-boyfriend's name and he's a jerk to put it mildly.

Calum ends up near Porthkennack in Cornwall, and is spotted by Brix Lusmoore, who was a tattooing mentor for Calum in London, before Brix also did a runner from London four years ago. Brix takes him into his home and gives him a job at his tattoo shop for as long as he likes. Calum starts to put his life back together surrounded by several secondary characters at the shop that many times seem to get more interesting hints of a plot than Calum and Brix.

Brix has a weird relationship with his family, many of which fit the stereotype of a Cornish smuggler. An aunt dumps her illegal stuff on his property on the regular, making him move it so he won't get in trouble if it's found, but he sort of shrugs it off as her being lazy about not wanting to haul it into a cave where the family has stashed stuff for years. Calum has his controlling ex-boyfriend in his recent past, but there's not much in the way of closure there beyond Calum rescuing an old tattooing machine from his shop after the ex-boyfriend sells it and the stuff left inside is being junked. Both of their histories, especially when you add in the reason Brix left London, could have meant a lot of hurt/comfort in the plot, but there didn't seem to be much in the way of comfort.

The big spoiler about Brix just... wasn't much of a twist to me. Didn't seem to make a huge impact on the plot other than to give the super slow burn of a romance a reason to get doused. I appreciate the author bringing up the issue in modern terms, but it still seems like something from a book over a decade ago in the overall plot. I figured it out pretty early on, and I think it might have worked better if laid out to the reader earlier instead of holding onto it as a twist. Might have given a better look into Brix's mindset and reasons for the way he does things.

This is my third venture into the fictional town of Porthkennack. One was historical (A Gathering Storm), and this one and “Broke Deep” are contemporary. I enjoyed the historical one the best, and oddly it's because I could understand it more than the contemporary titles. The modern slang is more difficult to decipher for some reason.

I like to try connected series, but I'm not finding myself really hooked by this one. Perhaps it's just not my cuppa, but I think part of it is the stories don't seem at all connected other than by location. Maybe that's not happening yet because the individual authors are planning on writing their own arcs instead of tying into each other's works, or it's just too early in the series for that level of world building. I'm used to seeing other characters referred to in a series like this, and so far there is none of that and I find I miss it.

If you are a fan of the "hurt/comfort" angsty brand of romance, House of Cards will be right up your alley. You've got Callum, who flees an abusive relationship without money, job or self-esteem, and Brix, a friend Callum hasn't seen in four years, who comes from a family of smugglers and is dealing with illness and secrets he can't share with anyone. Callum is desperately grateful to Brix for giving him a home and a job, while Brix is trying to take care of Cal and his other employees without letting them realize how much he is struggling. I couldn't help wishing the two men would just sit down and talk to each other instead of agonizingly angsting in private, but that wouldn't have been true to their personalities.

I wasn't terribly interested in the tattoo art that both men excelled at, but the other shop employees added a little more color to the story (and one is slated for his own book later this year). Plus any MC who is dedicated to rescuing and re-homing chickens them deserves his own happy ending.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
I've been wanting to read Garrett Leigh for some time now (I think I have at least 4 books by this author on my TBR) and so when I had the opportunity to review House of Cards I grabbed it. As a reader who loves books that make me feel like I've traveled to a new, wonderful place, House of Cards seemed like a very good place to start reading this author.

Calum runs from his business partner and lover after a devastating betrayal that opens his eyes to just how terrible his ex has treated him over the years. He's a bit depressed over it all and jumps on a train to it's final destination in Porthkennack. Penniless and homeless, he has no where to go. That is until a blast from past finds him destitute on a bench outside the train station.

Brix Lussmore spots his old friend Calum at the train station and comes to his aid, offering a place to stay and a job at his tattoo shop. Calum isn't the first person that Brix has rescued as Calum soon finds out.

"Whatever bought you to Porthkennack, you'll be safe from it here. Brix looks after all of us."

And it's that fateful meeting at the train station that starts a reconnecting of these two men. There's a good bit of sexual tension as both realize that they have feelings for each other that started years ago back in London. Now that they have a second chance, they'll have to get to a place of trust and love to share their darkest secrets, and that isn't an easy ride. An emergency involving Brix's father helps push them to facing their fears and that's when life gets beautiful.

Both Calum and Brix are learning to live after the circumstances that have brought them to Porthkennack. This is very much of a book about experiencing those hard life-lessons and what happens in the aftermath. I loved both of these characters. Calum's tendency to get depressed and down on himself was a natural outcome of what he'd been through in his London relationship. Brix's penchant for helping the less fortunate fit well with his character and background as well. It all made for a very emotionally realistic romance between Calum and Brix that I loved because it's about learning to live and love again after life kicks you around.

As a first time reader of Garrett Leigh, I was impressed with some of the lines in House of Cards that hit me just right. I haven't highlighted so many wonderful passages in a very long time, and I loved that about House of Cards and Garrett Leigh's writing. I think this was my favorite, a quote from Brix:

"Everything means something if it hurts, Cal. It has to, or we ain't f*cking human."

Definitely enjoyed this friends-to-lovers story. I found I could relate to what these characters were feeling and I absolutely adored the setting for the story. I definitely want to go back to Porthkennack.

An ARC was provided for review.

House of Cards is a beautiful, slightly melancholy story. Calum's running after being betrayed by his "boyfriend". I say boyfriend with quotes because he wasn't a real boyfriend, he was an abusive loser and Calum deserved so much better.

He ends up in the small village of Porthkennack and runs into an old friend, Brix. Brix is one of those kinds of guys who takes care of everyone and everything around him. And Calum will be no different. As they move back into their friendship, I was aching for both of them, knowing they each held pain in their hearts. But watching their love bloom was a beautiful thing. Brix's secret holds the power to break their relationship, though and he's not so sure he wants to test their fledgling relationship with it. Can Calum and Brix make a relationship work once Brix's secret comes to light?

Though this is the first book by Garrett Leigh I've read, it most certainly will not be the last. I found House of Cards to be one of those books that sticks with you. Calum and Brix are both beautifully real characters, and their story is one I won't soon forget.

It's been about ten days since I read House of Cards the first time. You heard me right - the first time because when I sat down to write the review I remembered why I enjoyed it so much I had to read it a second time. It's not often I re-read a book (who has that kind of time!) but when a story and its characters grab me and draw me in, sometimes it's worth another look.

Calum had lost it all - his home, job, lover, everything except what he had on his back when he caught his jerkwad boyfriend cheating on him. It wasn't necessarily the healthiest situation but this final straw had him wanting to escape. So he boards a train to get away, far away with no destination in mind. He arrives alone, penniless, drunk and no idea on what to do. Fate puts him in the path of an old friend and that encounter brings him something he didn't expect - a chance to rebuild his life doing something he loved and the possibility of something more.

Brix and Calum. Honestly, I can't tell you which character I liked better. Brix and his down to earth or Calum in his dire situation. There is history between these two which made their reconnection very familiar. There wasn't instant fluidity but the fragile connection leading to rekindled friendship, that is what drew me in. Both have qualities and quirks I just adored. Brix and his chickens, very honorable and had me giggling. Calum, full of low self-esteem, picking himself up and starting again. They were friends before and were secretly attracted to each other. I really enjoyed the reconnection as friends, the slow build-up of their lives and the eventual romance they discovered.

Now, what would a great story be without a stellar group of supporting characters! Lena, Kim, and Lee really help bring this story together. Their introductions to Calum are memorable and their continued interactions with both main characters had me wanting more of them. My personal favorite is, of course, Bongo. She may not have a very important part and may have come off as a prop, but I can't help but think, she is what got Calum on his healing process. Besides, who doesn't love a cuddly chicken?

I picked up my first book by Garrett Leigh on a whim and now I am a full on fan. Her stories are rich with feelings and characters that I just can't get enough of. I have officially gone into stalker mode and am gobbling up her books as fast as I can. Anyone who isn't reading Ms. Leigh is sorely missing out. Get House of Cards, read it and find out why, IMHO, she is one of the most amazing MM authors I have ever read.

reviewed by Jac

Reviewing this was hard because I really liked it but because I expected something completely different  - and not so somber - it took me a while to get into the story. I have read every book by this author and Garrett Leigh is an auto-buy kind of author for me.

One thing you can count on is that Leigh does not write fluffy, happy stories. It's guaranteed that she will hit you in the feels. Both Brix and Calum have their own burdens to bear and they're not light ones. House of Cards starts with Calum walking in on is boyfriend cheating on him. He has done so before but this time Calum just leaves the apartment, goes to the train station and buys a ticket to somewhere far away. This is how he ends up in Porthkennack, where Brix finds him stranded at the station.

Brix and Calum are no strangers, they knew each other before Brix left London. Calum was Brix apprentice in his tattoo shop and they were close friends. But it's been years since they saw each other, and a lot happened since then. Nowadays Brix rescues chickens when he's not in his tattoo shop, or dealing with his family. When Brix finds Calum slumped over on a bench outside the train station he can't not help him. Even though he abruptly left London, he never stopped caring for Calum.

From the first moment I met Calum and Brix I wanted to know more about them, and I loved witnessing them reconnecting, getting to know each other again and helping the other to heal. They complement each other perfectly. Brix doesn't only give Calum a place to live, he also gives him a home. And Brix so desperately needs someone he can let his walls down with and someone who takes care of him for a change. I loved how Leigh handled the characters reconnecting again. It takes them time and is a slow process, but by the end of the novel I had no doubts that their relationship would hold for a long time.

House of Cards is very character driven. There is no added - unnecessary - drama. It's a very quiet and solemn kind of story. And for me that's where my expectations hindered my enjoyment of it. I knew going into this, that it wouldn't be a light story - they never are for this author - but I didn't expect it to be so gloomy and just would have liked something a bit more hopeful. I'm not saying there is no hope in this story, but it takes a bit to show.

One thing I really, really loved about House of Cards though was that the surroundings really came to life on page. I fell in love with Cornwall in this story - I could almost taste the salty air of the Cornish coast, feel the rain and the rough wind on my skin.

If you're looking for a quiet read, that's rather somber and without a lot of drama and action, then this is definitely for you!

4.5 - 5 Stars...

I've mentioned before that Garrett Leigh has a talent for taken broken characters and putting them back together - but not before tearing them apart at least one more time. House of Cards, wasn't quite that bad this time, but she did manage to break my heart regardless.

House of Cards began with Calum escaping a bad relationship with nothing but the clothes on his back. He had no idea where he was headed, but anywhere had to be better than London. Luckily he ended up in the perfect spot... for both him and Brix.

I loved these two together. Brix may have come to Calum's rescue and offered him a chance to both rekindle an old friendship and a chance to start over, but Calum basically offered him the same. They gave each other exactly what they needed.

For a lot of reasons, this is hands down my favorite book in this series so far. From the main characters to the supporting characters, I fell in love with them all. This group of Porthkennack residents gave readers a whole different view of life there. Which brings up the fact that you don't have to read all the books in the series to enjoy each one individually. I'm still not recommending skipping any of them... even though I've skipped the historical books in the series, for now at least. That's just another do as I say, not as I do moment and since I haven't used that excuse for a while, I feel totally justified. ;)

I received House of Cards in exchange for a fair and honest review.

J'ai eu un vrai coup de cœur pour la plume de l'auteur avec ce livre ... C'est mon tout premier d'elle, le premier d'une longue série, je pense, tant j'ai été charmée et happée par cette écriture à la fois rude et délicate.

Rude, de par ce vocabulaire typiquement britannique, cette atmosphère mélancolique insufflée tout au long du livre, tant par les paysages, que par l'histoire de ce petit coin de Cornouailles reculé, ou encore par les tenants et les aboutissants de l'intrigue en elle-même.

Délicate, aussi, de par la pudeur qui se dégage de cette histoire qui n'a rien d'une romance classique. D'ailleurs, pour moi le terme 'romance' est bien trop galvaudé au regard de ce livre.
Pudeur et délicatesse donc, au point d'ailleurs que j'ai presque été gênée lors de la lecture des quelques scènes intimes, tant j'avais l'impression d'être de trop dans l'équation.

Après avoir lu la dernière ligne, je peux dire que j'ai le sentiment d'être privilégiée, d'avoir pu passer ces quelques heures en compagnie de ces personnages à la fois doux et écorchés par la vie. J'ai aimé voir leur relation progresser, les liens se renouer et les sentiments s'affirmer. Ils m'ont touchée, chacun à leur manière, et quelque chose me dit qu'ils garderont une place spéciale dans mon cœur.

J'ai beaucoup aimé également l'environnement dans lequel se déroule ce roman, les scènes au salon de tatouage sont nombreuses et là encore, on peut ressentir la connexion entre les personnages, mais aussi entre le personnage, lui-même et son art.

Les personnages secondaires sont excellents, ils occupent une place importante dans le récit, l'auteur offre beaucoup de détails sur eux, au point qu'on s'y attache également.
Et puis il y a les "filles" de Brix, qui m'ont donné le sourire à plusieurs reprises, et qui m'ont parfois fait mourir de rire (le fou rire à 2h du mat', je crois que je m'en souviendrai !).

Bref, une magnifique découverte que cette histoire pleine de mélancolie ! ♥

See link below