When life kicks a wanderer in the bollocks, all he can do is fight for his life.Bad boy BC Brooks screwed up his lifelong dream of being captain of the English national rugby team. Lost and confused, he hides from his failures until an unexpected inheritance forces him to make a change.Graham Hodson lives for travel, adventure, and one-night stands. Wanderlust rules his life. He never expects a … Wanderlust rules his life. He never expects a brief encounter with a stranger to haunt his dreams and follow him across the world.
One diagnosis shakes both men to their core.
One journey through the depths of recovery brings two perpetual bachelors into the unknown territory of love.
The Wanderer is book one in Dahlia Donovan’s international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
”The Wanderer hits some hard truths of how cruel life can really be, but on the flip side of that, it shows that love is such a beautiful and patient thing that seriously will come out of nowhere, knock you flat on your arse and make you a better person than you ever thought you could be.” —Lil Maso for PNR Book Lover Reviews
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Opportunity was knocking loudly…
Honestly the last place Graham wanted to be was here at a wedding however his brother’s incredulous threats if he didn’t appear even his sister-in-law promised her own.
He truly embraced his passion for wandering the ups and downs even the lack of romantic prospects didn’t get to him.
Opportunity was knocking loudly and he wasn’t a fool he’d opened that lucky door.
The last thing Graham needed was to be punished like a five year-old by his twin brother.
BC couldn’t believe he was scowling at a five pound piece of fluff name Zeus his Uncle’s final dig at him.
Now if he could learn to deal with failure because his family didn’t handle it very well.
BC couldn’t stop think about Graham and how Rupert his twin brother had intentionally set him up after all he was the guy he’d had a quick feel up in a closet at a wedding.
The look on Graham’s face had been well worth it Rupert’s smooth-talking brother could hardly utter simple words he felt sorry for how uncomfortable he seemed BC compared him to a cat on a hot tin roof until he made his escape.
For a five pound mongrel he sure figured out how to share his displeasure by ruining his shoes.
The Fishermen Refuge was a charming Cornwall Bed and Breakfast.
But truthful Graham never understand the hang up on something as trivial as love hardly worth the time nor the drama it brought.
His twin was the ever annoying optimistic
and the ever eternal pain in his backside.
What? Graham had thought he’d miss heard him but no BC just invited him to go skinny-dipping in February.
This is the American version of honey hold my beer and watch this moment.
Spiders…Spiders arachnophobia I can totally sympathize with BC the eight legs demons need to die.
(And this is personally coming from someone who’s killed their only fair share to save their kid from having a heart attack.)With that said…
Graham tried to keep going even though
he hadn’t been feeling quite right lately and he wasn’t getting better.
No one is ever really prepared to hear life altering news that leaves you feeling totally helpless trying to figure out what’s your next move.
Holy hell! I have been picking some bloody heart-wrenching stories of late! This one I even lost my reading buddy, Ang on this one so I am honored to be guest reviewing over on the incredible blog, PNR Book Lover Reviews.
This is my first Dahlia book, and despite my read eyes and sever missing of the U.K, thanks Dahlia, I really did enjoy it and have been told I should really read ‘After the Scrum’ to get my Caddock-fix. Perhaps my next read.
Regardless of looking the same as his twin, Graham is the complete opposite. Where Rupert is happy to stay in Cornwell with his wife, Graham isn’t great with relationships and being a wanderer is his perfect way out of ever really having one. His work takes him from exotic worldly places, it is a high he can not get out of his soul.
Losing his spot in the English national rugby team, Boyce aka BC has become a little stuck. When his uncle passes away and leaves him his inn to him, BC is forced to stand up and get serious about his life.
He doesn’t do relationships, so finding his head spinning over a ‘causal’ hookup in the closet of his best mates wedding is leaving BC out of his depth. Especially after his “ginger spice” crush spends some time at the inn for work and makes it clear he isn’t interested other than a quick romp around the sheets . . . . and other surfaces of the inn.
Then BAM! The nice cushy rug is pulled out from under you when Graham falls ill on one of his trips, which finds BC rushing to his side, thus the start of the most heartbreaking, courageous and loving journey either men will make.
I won’t go into more detail as it will seriously spoil the book and trust me, you don’t want that. This book will have you laughing so hard at the easy banter between these two then clutching your chest as the emotions threaten to boil over.
How the hell I managed to finish this book, especially back to back with another cancer patient story that shattered my heart, is a direct credit to how well Dahlia writes. The story was easy to get into and even during the punch to the gut moments, it was hard to put down.
Do I think this book is for everyone? Hell No! I mean did you miss the part where my bestie backed out of reading before even hitting half way?
The Wanderer hits some hard truths of how cruel life can really be, but on the flip side of that, it shows that love is such a beautiful and patient thing that seriously will come out of nowhere, knock you flat on your arse and make you a better person than you ever thought you could be.
ps. Thank You, Dahlia, for my next tattoo <3
Dahlia Donovan has become an author whose books I would read without knowing what they’re about. She has a wonderful way of adding the right amount of humor while weaving a beautiful romance. Her book, After the Scrum, was my first M/M romance ever and I’ve been hooked to the genre, and this author’s works, ever since. I loved getting to see how Caddock and Francis and little Devlin are getting along in this story. BC and Graham may not have a whirlwind romance with all the gushy moments and grand gestures, but they have something real, something strong, and it comes with challenges, just the way relationships do in real life. I knew something was coming, but I wasn’t sure what. When the reveal came, it was a rough road of emotions from there! I love all the little phrases in here, many I had to look up, and I love the little jabs and teasing between all the friends. Rupert and Graham have a relationship that reminds me a lot of my younger sisters who are twins as well. It was endearing and fun to read about at the same time. This was a beautiful story with a well thought out ending. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Quiet, steady devotion and an out-of-ordinary plot: good read
I picked up this book because of the rugby players but stayed with it because it was so unexpectedly raw and real. The male leads, former rugby player turned hotelier BC and travel writer Graham, start the story with a saucy no names, no strings hook-up but their rugby social circle reunites them only to quickly throw them into the medical challenge of their lives. Graham’s illness throws so many tense moments their way and author Dahlia Donovan did a great job of laying them out with realism and sensitivity.
Yes, there is some steam but the main content is geared toward their emotional connection and especially BC’s unswerving support for Graham. I enjoyed their story and will be looking for more stories about the guys in their circle of friends.
Weddings tend to bring out the romantics in everyone. BC and Graham are no exception! They never thought they would see each other again, only to have a few cupids interfere. Once they encounter each other for the second time, they become inseparable. Doubt and insecurities have Graham running for the hills, but an illness has BC running to Graham. Through such a trying time and mortality on the line, will love conquer all?
The natural ease and flow of conversation between the two characters made this book quite an enjoyable read. There is a natural attraction and a humor that kept the story from being too heavy. There are moments where I couldn’t get the tears to stop falling. BC and Graham are absolutely great characters and very well developed. Their personalities, while quite different, they work very well together. I wish this was a series! (Psst! It looks like it is!)