RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Wish You Were Here' by Asta Idonea
Title: Wish You Were Here
Author: Asta Idonea
Published: February 8, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Genre: Paranormal Romance; New Adult
Length: 59 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Coming of Age, Angst: Light; Comfort/Hurt; Non-Explicit; Paranormal; Novelette
About Wish You Were Here
The death of Oakley’s sister has left his family broken and buried beneath their grief. In an attempt to get out from underneath their pain, they rent an isolated cottage in the Cotswolds. For Oakley, it’s an exercise in futility. He doesn’t see much hope for things to get back to the way they used to be, and he’s bored and restless as he waits out the time until he can return to the city and university. All of that changes when he meets local boy Bobby, and the connection between them is instant. Within a few days, Oakley is ready to walk away from everything to stay with Bobby. However, Bobby has problems of his own, and they might be more than the budding romance can survive. But they might also give Oakley a new perspective on his own situation.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW: There is quite a message packed into the 59 pages of Wish You Were Here by Asta Idonea. Grief affects us all differently and for Oakley and his parents it is a tumultuous and painful time.
They are not dealing well with the death of their beloved sister and daughter. The strain is tearing this family apart. In an effort to reunite the family embarks on a vacation to a rented cottage in the Cotswolds. Unfortunately the vacation is reminiscent of something Oakley’s sister would have enjoyed.
Upon arrival Oakley encounters friendship, comfort and strength from his family struggles when meeting local boy, Bobby. Oakley and Bobby immediately make a connection, creating a strong emotional bond of protection between the two. However, Bobby has his own struggles and secrets that ultimately define their relationship.
This is a truly beautiful coming of age story that crosses time. With characters who mesh very well together.
The tragedy is heartfelt and its impact on those left behind is honest, if not brutally, depicted. The family struggles are real with the emotions exuding from each page.
In Wish You Were Here, Asta Idonea gives us a short story packed with sentiment and self-awareness. With a remarkable ending causing one to pause and immediately reflect back upon its message.
A copy of Wish You Were Here was provided to Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
About the Author
Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.
Asta launched her writing career in 2011 and divides her efforts not only between MM and mainstream works but also between traditional and indie publishing. Her works span the genres, from paranormal to historical and from contemporary to fantasy. It just depends what story and which characters spring into her mind!
As a day job, Asta works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys music, theater, cinema, photography, and sketching. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel; all of which have provided plenty of inspiration for her writing. She is never found too far from her much-loved library/music room.
For more works by Asta visit her Nicki J. Markus website.
