REVIEW: 'The Remaking of Corbin Wale' by Roan Parrish
Title: The Remaking of Corbin Wale
Author: Roan Parrish
Published: November 27, 2017
Publisher: Riptide Publishing Cover Artist: Natasha Snow/Natasha Snow Designs
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 237 Pages
Tags: Gay; MM; Comfort/Hurt; Opposites Attract; Virgin; Kink: Sex Toys; Holiday: Chanukah; HEA; CW: Off-Page Domestic Violence
About The Remaking of Corbin Wale
Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.
Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.
When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Roan Parrish brings her A-game with The Remaking of Corbin Wale.
An absolutely stunning novel, the prose is fluid and expressive, the characters are complex, and a positive message of hope is woven throughout. This one is so magical it gave me tingles and I was wishing it would never end.
Everything in Alex’s life has fallen apart so he moves back to his hometown to open his dream bakery and hopefully get a fresh start. From the moment Corbin steps into his shop all Alex can think about is seeing him again. He obsesses over every connection they make and longs for more. Parrish does a great job of building Alex’s desire for Corbin with anticipation that is just wonderful.
The sections of the novel told from Corbin’s point-of-view allow us to learn more about him. Used to being shunned by the people in town, Corbin has created his own world. His imaginary friends have become real to him and he illustrates their stories in his special notebook. Corbin is very attracted to Alex but has been told his whole life that he is cursed, if he lets someone into his life they will die, so Corbin has resigned himself to never finding love.
The attraction between these two is clear from the start and builds steadily over the course of the novel.
The Remaking of Corbin Wale is the best kind of slow-burn romance, leisurely and steamy with very little angst. The anticipation I felt for these two to get together paled in comparison to the sparks that flew when they finally did!
The first time Alex and Corbin go to bed together has got to be one of the most erotic scenes I’ve ever read, and is made even more so thanks to the painstaking build-up.
There’s so much more to Corbin’s life that I’d love to know about: How did he survive after his aunts died? What’s the story surrounding their deaths? Give me more details about this curse he lives under! And I could read a whole novel just about the characters Corbin creates…Parrish is leaving us space to wonder and interpret and relate to our own experiences.
The Remaking of Corbin Wale is a hard story to get out of my mind. I was transfixed by the beautiful, hypnotic quality of Parrish’s words. I loved the magical, mystical concepts of fate and chance and creating hope for the future. I’ll be so glad if this is the first book in a new series, and we don’t have to wait long for the next one!
A copy of The Remaking of Corbin Wale 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.
About Roan Parrish
Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
For more from Roan be sure and visit her website.
