Distance Between Him Gay Fiction, Gay Romance, LGBTQ Fiction
Single Ribbon Publishing
Mach 21, 2023
Kindle
307
Amazon
By each other’s side since they were eighteen, Grayson Welles must cope with the sudden loss of his longtime partner, Julian. Raised in the bible belt of Louisiana, Grayson knew he’d be admonished for falling in love with Julian Torres, whose family moved to the rural town of Felton from Puerto Rico. Accustomed to being each other’s companion, the pair made the only decision that seemed right, pursuing their dreams and surrounding themselves with fellow members of the growing gay community after running off to New York City post-graduation.
Thirty-plus years later, Grayson is now tasked with telling Julian’s family about his death and planning a funeral that will force Grayson to confront his own family given they operate the only funeral home in town. While packing to head home, Grayson discovers a suitcase of Julian’s penned journals. Finding comfort in the entries, Grayson is reminded of the birth of his relationship with Julian and many of the moments between then and present day.
Upon facing both of their families, Grayson comes to terms with a new set of realizations which threaten his prior notions of what it means to love and be a family. A lifetime of true love couldn’t be remembered any greater.
**Trigger warning: this book includes themes such as extreme grief, suicide, alcoholism, smoking, excessive language, and abuse. Please use discretion before reading if you feel you may be sensitive to these topics.**
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild
I am amazed!!!! I never saw this coming….My last book that I read to review was a new to me author and genre . It was an adorable paranormal story, with a shifter Daddy Bear storyline. It was also the author’s first attempt at writing this genre and I enjoyed it.
After placing my review for it on Amazon I scrolled thru the list checking out other work under Jack Harper’s name. The pretty cover caught my eye and I bought the Distance Between Him …. The genre saying gay contemporary romance…. I ignored and scoffed at the Warnings….After all, I have seen and read everything in my 80 year old life !. The book had all 5 star ratings and was published in March of 2023.
I read the over 300 pages over a 2 ½ day span. This is rather a long-ish time for me. THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD HOPE FOR ……I laughed, I wept, I had to take a walk…… Jack Harper if you should ever read this….You Slayed Me.
The story is about in a small rural town in the bible belt of Tennessee, called Felton. Grayson Wells and his family have lived there since he was born. His family owns the funeral home, and Gray’s dad is a mean alcoholic. Senior year a new family moves to town from Puerto Rico and Julian Torres comes to the High School.
From that moment on, Gray knew he wanted Julian. They hid their relationship for months until Gray’s Dad caught them one night and beat Julian and ran him off bleeding and then took on his own son as his Mom watched and did nothing. They then set a plan, just waiting a few months for graduation and leaving for a more gay friendly state to go to college and be together.
Getting to the Big Apple they saw an ad for a young gay couple wanting to share a place with another couple. Rent was free because the owners were affluent; they just had to chip in for food. What luck, as they both got menial job and applied for college. Julian wanted to be an author and Gray an architect ……..
The story is twofold, Jack Harper beginning this book with a shocking punch to the gut to the reader. The chapters are then defined with Grayson and Julian telling the story of their adventures and love. Except Julian’s chapters are from his diaries….30 years of them.
There were times I wept openly. There were times I had to put the book down and walk away. The author’s words came from a place that you know he respected suffering and was engaged in this telling. At the end, I was actually sobbing, knowing this book couldn’t end any other way….
The Distance Between Him is really something and a tribute to this author….Not to be missed…..
