I was sent this book By L.M. Archer or Lena as I know her and I truly am soo honoured to be one of the first people she has trusted this book with. So thank you soo much for that. This is the second of L.M. Archer's books I have read and this is the first in a brand new take me to church series of hers.
Born in Sickness is a male on male romance novel. It is quintessentially about 18-year-old boys from a small Christian and faith-driven town, who believe that God is the almighty and that homosexuality is an abomination (by the way loved that word, Lena)
Luka is an 18-year-old who knows that he finds men attractive, he also can't find it in himself to admit the truth out loud. Luka's home life is very regimented and strict as his stepdad used to be in the army. They are a very Christian family and his stepdad has very strong beliefs about what is right and wrong in the world and in people which causes Luka to bottle up the way he feels and see it as a sin rather than what it actually is. Due to them moving a lot throughout his life Luka tries not to get attached to people that is until a tall dark and mysterious young man is sat in his choir class stealing all his thoughts and attention.
Harlen is a man from a poor background, living with his mom who always works and never has time to feed him or get food in. He is strong and courageous but he keeps himself to himself. He doesn't talk to anyone other than his best friend Caden (who is hilarious and I just loved his nature throughout the book) Harlen knows he is Gay and doesn't care about what anyone thinks or so he appears but he has a bad history where people and his sexuality are concerned which is why he doesn't let people in until Luka forces his way through the walls he has built up to protect him.
The story itself is beautiful with plenty of challenges and fears to try and overcome. It is the very early days in people meeting and discovering their feelings therefore there is not a lot of sexually charged scenes but when there are they are saucy. For me the passion in this book comes from their beliefs in each other and belief in trying to figure things out in life and what others view around them. This book is really moving and has you seeing the way others who have or are going through similar circumstances would feel. I found it very eye-opening BUT The ending has pretty much killed me and I seriously need to read the next book like NOW!!
My only critique for this book would be in the middle I got a little lost in a sense of the book is written in the third person with plenty of dialogue between the characters however in the middle it felt like I was reading a script like an announcer would for sports so I felt a little disconnected at that point but around about 60% it picked straight back up and I was emersed in the emotions and feelings that were beings shared within the story.
My favourite line was "This has to be what Eve felt like in the garden if Eden because Harlen's Taste is the very definition of sin." It doesn't seem like much but when you read everything that unfolds in that scene it's just brilliant.
This book is out on the 23rd of March. Go Preorder your copy you won't regret it.
My Overall Rating is 4 💋💋💋💋
My passion Rating is 2 1/2 💋💋😘
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