It’s been said that if you love someone, set them free. If they come back they’re yours; if they don’t they never were. But what does it mean when they come back into your life—as your sibling’s significant other? At twenty-five years old, Cal Adams has only ever truly loved one man, the one who broke his heart three years earlier—Andrew Hall. Since then, he has searched for meaningful … meaningful relationships but cannot smolder the flames of the past his family remains unaware of.
As the holiday season approaches, Cal’s younger sister, Claire, brings her boyfriend home to meet the family. When she arrives, Cal is shocked to meet her boyfriend, who is none other than Andrew. In a darkly humorous tale, Cal decides to show his ex what he missed out on.
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A Family Affair is a dramatic romance novel following Cal, a man who has had his heartbroken and is heading home for the holidays. But what was supposed to be just another family holiday turns into a dramatic affair once Cal’s sister shows up with Cal’s ex-boyfriend on her arm. What we uncover as readers is a dramatic past that Cal and Andrew share, and all the ups and downs of their past relationship.
Author Rob Loveless provides readers with a melodramatic gay romance novel that combines humor and authentic human drama in riveting ways. Cal’s character is methodically developed as his past is slowly revealed and we see Andrew’s various trespasses. This is an LGBT love story but I think anyone will be able to relate to the love story, family drama, and the swirling emotions, if not the characters, because the themes explored in the book are universal and revealed in intriguing ways throughout the novel.
Home-for-the-holiday stories are rife with drama and the author knows how to build the drama in real time, slowly revealing things to the reader, to create a story and a main character that is endearing. I loved following Cal’s story because I empathized with him, but at a certain point I wasn’t even sure what would happen next. I love romance stories that give me a warm feeling, I’m a sucker like that, and this story gives readers a touching ending that makes this perfect for light reading, like watching a Hallmark movie, but with a dip into some darker emotions.
A Family Affair is an impassioned romance novel that follows a compelling character as he navigates the emotional hurdles that come with having your heart broken, and then facing the one that broke it. This is an enthralling story that fans of romance books will devour.
Well that was a pleasant surprise! Just scrolling through NetGalley the other day, and I came across A Family Affair. New author Rob Loveless (this looks like it’s his first published novel) puts his unique spin on an awkward family situation. Your ex is your sister’s new boyfriend? Plus, I’ll admit, the words “darkly humorous” in the précis grabbed my attention.
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down, and I tore straight through A Family Affair. Loveless’ style is engaging and easy to read. It’s an entertaining story with well developed characters and complex, interesting relationships. The timing, the dialogue, and the humor all work.
My only complaint is that Cal’s ruminations became a bit repetitive. I started wondering if I was that obsessive in my early 20’s…? Though I guess if I’d been treated the way Cal was, by a jerk like Andrew, then I might have been.
Mr. Loveless lets the tale unfold in real time, and pops in a few flashbacks so we get to watch while Cal grows to realize how poorly he’s being treated by Andrew. What a player! This guy deserves everything he gets, and more.
The last two chapters are fantastic with a wonderful confrontation, and reconciliation, between the siblings. And a happily-for-now ending that I think pleases us all. Definitely looking forward to whatever Rob Loveless brings us next.