Book Review: Full Moon in Leo by Brooklyn Ray
The Details
Media Type: ebook
Title: Full Moon in Leo
Author: Brooklyn Ray
Publisher: Self Published
Pages/Length: 229
Release Date: October 1, 2020
Source: Xpresso Book Tours/Author
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Small-town magic, two heavy hearts—one unforgettable winter solstice
Cole Morrison left Jewel’s snow-covered fir trees ten years ago. But after a disastrous family Thanksgiving, Jewel seems like the only place left to go. When a run-in with a gorgeous stranger leaves him with debt to pay, Cole’s escape from his past turns out to be much more than a lonely Christmas vacation.
Jesse Carroway, the local Jewel witch, has been running his family’s successful, small-town Apothecary ever since his grandmother passed away. When Cole stumbles into his shop and accidentally wrecks a good portion of his inventory, Jesse does the only thing he can possibly think of—offers Cole a job and himself some help for the upcoming holiday rush.
Cole’s clumsy with candles and doesn’t trust easily, but soon Jesse gets a peek at the guy behind his bad-boy reputation. As the nights lengthen toward Yule, Jesse wonders if magic is to blame or if Cole might’ve fallen into his life for a reason…
The Review
What a heartfelt holiday story. I would categorize this as a coming home type story as well. It was all beautifully blended into a story of a man coming to terms with his family and life choices and falling in love with a local witch in the process. After an awkward and frustrating Thanksgiving at home, Cole escapes to his aunt’s cabin hoping to avoid the small town he grew up in. Fate had other plans.
Firstly, I adore Jesse’s character. They were so comfortable and honest about everything they were feeling it was a delightful way to build their character. The alternating narration gave us lots of insight into both Cole and Jesse’s feelings and anxieties. They both struggled to identify their growing feelings for each other and I really enjoyed the slow burn of their romance.
Cole’s character is complicated and full of growth. He’s fresh off a prison term, looking to start over, and simultaneously being ostracized again by his family. When he runs into Tara, his old friend from his childhood, he’s reminded of everything he left behind. A supportive friendship and an understanding that bad decisions don’t have to define your future is a necessary part of Cole’s journey. Tara is such a delight. Her character is witty and charming and the perfect amount of sarcastic. I want to have a friend like her.
I really enjoyed the alternating narration and reading what both Jesse and Cole were thinking and feeling. It really added to the story to see it from both sides as they learned about each other and their friendship blossomed into romance. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy a good holiday romance with well thought out characters and a bit of magic.
Brooklyn Ray (they/them) is an award-winning author of Queer Paranormal Romance and Erotica. They’re a fan of fresh brewed tea, long walks through the woods, and evenings spent reading sexy books. They write about witches, necromancers, and other magical creatures, and moonlight as a tarot and palm reader in the Pacific Northwest. Find them on Instagram @brooklynrayauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16971356.Brooklyn_Ray
https://twitter.com/brookieraywrite
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One Comment
Giselle
Great review! This sounds like a great holiday read with some great character development, especially! Lovely review!