Vespertine
by
Can a priest and a rock star obey love's call?
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld's childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper's calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He's determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky's careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past's lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld's childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper's calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He's determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky's careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past's lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
BUY: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)
Source: Amazon.com
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance
Standalone
My Vespertine Review . . .
This was my first time with these authors and I was pleasantly surprised. This storyline was risky and could have gone good or bad. In this case it went very well. I have read similar storylines like this with a priest and only a couple of been on the good side the others have strongly gone on the bad side.
Not only was this about a priest, but a gay catholic priest. Even trickier. I thought Leta and Indra did such a great job with this. They portrayed the conflict with the church well as well as Jasper/Jazz's conflict with himself and God's calling.
" . . . Instead religion has turned into a veneer of charity and Bible-quoting while we turn our backs on those who need us, however they may look, however they may have sinned."
" . . . God's truth is about His love, and the love we should feel for one anotehr. We can't have it both ways. We can't hate a fraction of His people and still pretend we stand for God's will. The ultimate truth is that we should care for one another wholeheartedly, even those who we think are difficult ot love."
With Nicky/Nico Blue, the authors also did a great job portraying his addiction and his attachment issues. I also loved Nicky's parents. If only everyone could have such loving supportive parents the world would be a lovlier place to live in and feel loved for who we are.
I'm not sure if how the label management of Vespertine was portrayed properly on the depths they went to manipulate their artists. If there is even an element of truth to that, then it just saddens me that people can do that to others just so they can make money.
I loved Nicky and Jazz together and I liked the final compromise that was done for them to be able to have each other. It saddens me there is so much resistance from the Church and others for something so simple as love. I was brought up Catholic but this is one of the many reasons I'm not a practicing Catholic for the hypocritical ways they say they love, but have so many rules that exclude so many people. How is that love?
Great book! And I can't wait to read more from these authors.
4 true love thumbs up
Lauren
BUY: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)
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