REVIEW: 'House of Cards' by Garrett Leigh
Title: House of Cards
Series: Porthkennack #4
Author: Garrett Leigh
Published: July 17, 2017
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist: G.D. Leigh/Black Jazz Design
Genre: Erotic Romance; Contemporary Romance
Length: 249 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Bisexual; Comfort/Hurt; Friends to Lovers; Second Chance; Tattoos/Piercings; HEA; Standalone; CW: Infidelity; CW: Off-Page Emotional and Physical Abuse, Suicide Attempts
About House of Cards Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.
Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.
Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porthkennack tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW: House of Cards was written by Garrett Leigh as her contribution to the Porthkennack universe series published by Riptide Publishing. This is the first of the series I’ve read, and it can be read as a standalone, but after looking at the previous books in the collection I’d definitely like to read them all.
Centered around the seaside Cornish town of Porthkennack, with its rugged natural beauty and host of wacky characters, House of Cards is a friends to lovers story with several intense issues at its heart. Running from an abusive relationship, Calum Hardy stumbles into his long lost friend Brix Lusmoore at a train station in Cornwall.
The friends have lost touch but their reunion turns out to be perfect timing for both men.
The abuse Calum has suffered from his recent ex has wreaked total havoc on his self esteem. Garrett Leigh paints a picture of a once confident, smiling man who is all but unrecognizable to Brix when they meet up again after four years.
After reconnecting with his friend, and living and working in Porthkennack, Calum is able to get healthy again and find some joy in life.
Brix, on the other hand, has returned to his boyhood home to escape a deeper, more life altering problem. Including any details in this review would spoil the skillful way Leigh has crafted the reveal, but it is safe to tell you that Calum’s stalwart support is just what Brix needs.
I’m typically not a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope, but this story really worked for me.
Talk about a slow burn...well this one’s pretty slow, but it is exactly what these characters need to be able to come to terms with their issues.
It also makes these guys’ past history believable. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, but their friendship is the foundation.
House of Cards isn’t your typical Garrett Leigh novel, but it won me over with its steady pace, creative characters, and interesting story line. There’s enough going on in this novel that I didn’t miss the high angst and intensity of her usual writing. This book is a soothing comfort read which I highly recommend.
A copy of House of Cards was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Riptide Publishing, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
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.
For more from Garrett be sure and visit her website!
