Melissa reviews Finding Home by Garrett Leigh published October 9th 2017 by Riptide Publishing, 178 pages.
How do you find a home when your heart is in ashes?
With their mum dead and their father on remand for her murder, Leo Hendry and his little sister, Lila, have nothing in the world but each other. Broken and burned, they’re thrust into the foster care system. Leo shields Lila from the fake families and forced affection, until the Poulton household is the only place left to go.
Charlie de Sousa is used to other kids passing through the Poulton home, but there’s never been anyone like his new foster brother. Leo’s physical injuries are plain to see, but it’s the pain in his eyes that draws Charlie in the most.
Day by day, they grow closer, but the darkness inside Leo consumes him. He rejects his foster parents, and when Charlie gets into trouble, Leo’s attempt to protect him turns violent. When Leo loses control, no one can reach him—except Charlie. He desperately needs a family—a home—and only Charlie can show him the way.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Why I read this book: Because I love Garrett Leigh and I can’t say no to anything she writes.
I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and also hard to read at times because Leo suffered so much and so has his sister Lila, who is deaf.
Leo’s dad killed their mother and then set the house on fire. He suffers from PTSD and has nightmares and sensory problems. Charlie helps Leo cope, and they form a very quick bond. I was shocked at how quickly they formed an attachment to each other, but Charlie is a sensitive soul, and Leo is eager for someone to help him.
Since they are only 15, this is a very G rated story and I loved it. Everything they did was appropriate and completely nice. Just wait until they get older. 🙂 Charlie is a good boy and he knows what he should do and what is expected of him, but he can’t stand the idea of Leo being alone or hurt, so Leo goes against his better judgement sometimes.
There is a lot of drama and angst in this story and I was so worried these boys wouldn’t come out the other side intact, but they prove to be a lot stronger than me because not only do they make it, but they fight for and find happiness. Leo’s struggles are not over, and their life is only really just beginning, but based on what I read I think Leo will make it.
I adored Lila – she isn’t in the story a lot, but she does play a key role because she brings out all of Leo’s protective instincts (sometimes to his detriment). I would have loved to have seen more scenes with them together playing and signing to each other, but I never doubted they loved each other fiercely.
I do recommend this and think everyone will enjoy this because there isn’t much angst but there is a lot of action to draw you in. It’s also a short story but you don’t feel rushed in getting to know all the characters.
Where to buy: Amazon; Barnes & Noble; Kobo; Riptide Publishing
Garrett also writes under the pseudonym Gracie Leigh, her page is right HERE >> https://www.facebook.com/thegracieleigh/
Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.
Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards. In 2017, she won the EPIC award in contemporary romance with her military novel, Between Ghosts, and the contemporary romance category in the Bisexual Book Awards with her novel What Remains.
When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.
Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.
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