Death threats drove him from his country. Can he ever find asylum from his past? Hernán had family, college, and a future in El Salvador. Until a vicious gang targeted him as gay. Threatened with murder, he braved a nightmare journey toward a new life. Now, haunted by his trek, he hides from immigration trouble as well as his enemies. He prays to pass in Provincetown unnoticed. But a handsome man …
But a handsome man with a secret like Hernán’s is vulnerable to predators.
Colin is in town for a wedding when he falls into the harbor. The man who rescues him is dark-haired, dark eyed and gorgeous. He’s also a target because of his immigration status. Colin owes a debt, and wants to repay it by helping his savior escape the monsters who would exploit him.
Asylum is a standalone gay romance novel but contains spoilers for the prior novel September. Trigger warnings for brief references to off-page sexual abuse of a child and adult.
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Highly recommended. Winter has taken a topical and controversial subject and brought life and humanity to it. Hernan flees El Salvador, under the threat of death, into the United States and meets Colin, an immigration activist who takes up Hernan’s cause and helps him seek legal asylum in this country. In the process, the two fall in love and join forces in their cause. While at times the writing style tended to be a bit florid for my tastes ( particularly some of the descriptions and situations involving Colin) you can’t help but sympathize with what the characters are going through. The flashback chapters recapping Hernan’s journey into America are harrowing and among the most compelling pieces of writing I’ve read in any genre in several years. Yes, it’s a tough read at times, but well worth the effort. Winter is pushing the boundaries of the genre with the topic and characters in this novel -compelling and insightful.
Next up in Robert Winter’s Pride and Joy series, Asylum is an intimate look at one man’s quest for freedom and the trials he undergoes to achieve it. As is his way, Winter infuses so much emotion into his characters that it’s like we’re making the journey with them. Just a heads up, there are some trigger warnings for this one, which Winter delves into with depth and intensity.
While each book in this series could technically be read as a standalone, there are some huge spoilers if you don’t read the novel September first. I also think you’ll enjoy this one more with the background to those characters; plus September is a beautiful and compelling story and one of my all-time favorites.
Asylum opens with Colin, Brandon’s loyal friend in September, heartsore and feeling sorry for himself at Brandon and David’s wedding reception. Recognizing that being guarded and closed off isn’t earning him the kind of attention he wants, Colin knows it’s time to make some changes in his life.
Colin is kind and generous, and as it turns out, knows how to fight for what he wants. Plus his job is to assist immigrants in assimilating to life in the United States. When he meets Hernán he recognizes a soul in need, not to mention the man is gorgeous, so it’s natural he wants to help.
What happens in this story turns out to be much more than just a romantic connection for Colin. He grows as a person, overcoming his shy nature and lack of self-confidence, while he helps Hernán. Colin’s evolution and healing is a huge part of the story.
Hernán’s journey is also powerful and compelling and I’m not even going to try to do it justice here. In his author’s note Robert Winter mentions he bases some of Hernán’s story on a combination of true events, which are amazing and unfortunately not unique. Just know that despite the stigma he suffers growing up suspected of being gay in El Salvador, despite the trauma he endures making the journey to the United States, Hernán’s compassionate nature won’t allow him to pass by a soul in need. When he reaches out to Colin, this relationship turns out to be pivotal for both of them.
If you’re like me you’ll be anticipating the powerfully erotic scenes Winter is known for, and one of my favorite aspects of his novels. Due to the sensitive nature of Asylum there’s a long and highly developed build up to Hernán and Colin’s inevitable connection. Based on friendship and mutual respect, the romance between these men is slow moving and sweet. Trust me these two make it to sexy-times, but it’s after they both feel comfortable and the groundwork has been laid. It totally works here, and I promise you it’s worth the wait!
I’m reluctant to write any more about Asylum except to say it’s an exciting and fast moving story with some creative plot twists I didn’t expect (my jaw actually dropped more than once). I hope reviewers don’t give too much away and that everyone will be able to experience this one the way I did.
Looking ahead for this series, I’ve got my fingers crossed for Hernán’s cousin Rudy’s story. One of the nicest parts of this novel is getting to see what a lovely person Rudy is. I admit he didn’t make the best impression on me in September, but now that I know where he’s coming from, I can understand him. Rudy longs for love but knows he needs security, he believes the only way to get what he needs is to be a boy toy for someone like Gerald Nimble.
Ugh, David’s old friend Gerald Nimble. While I know there’s always more than one side to every story, Gerald is going to have to do some serious groveling to get into my good graces! Still, these two characters have history and a hot as hell age-gap I adore. If anyone can make me love them as a couple it’s Robert Winter. I’m sure even Gerald Nimble must have some redeeming qualities (in addition to the size of his bank account and the kinky skeletons in his closet).
If you have a chance, try to check out the charming trailer to Asylum on YouTube. You’ll get to view some of the places in Provincetown that inspire the beautifully descriptive narrative from this series. Robert Winter also appears on screen to set up and read from a scene which brings up some of the worst memories from Hernán’s past. The voice and inflections he uses in his representation of skeevy Gerald Nimble gave me the shivers, it’s so great.
Fans of September won’t want to miss the compelling tale that is Asylum, and I hope we won’t have to wait too long for the next book in this series.