The
Collective Obsessions Saga continues with book six, Hearts Desires.
Brose
Larkin finds himself falling in love with a local "tomboy" who bests
him at every turn. Despite having known her since high school, she is the
antithesis of his ideal woman in her simple attire and direct manner. Brose
knows he has met his ultimate match in Bridget Gallagher.
Shannon's
son Jamie Page begins to understand his lifelong yearnings but fears his family
will never accept them. His first love affair with a nefarious character nearly
costs his life, but brings to light his hidden desires.
Jamie's
sister Angela Page suffers an emotional collapse after discovering she cannot
have children. She holes herself up in the attic at the Larkin mansion, much
like her ancestors Molly and Patrick Larkin did before her.
Happiness
continues to elude the family, as if a dark shadow of evil has settled over the
Larkin estate.
I'm
also pleased with the book cover, which depicts two main characters in the
specific storyline: Jamie Page and Jack Sansovino. The back photo frame of the
dog is significant as the pooch figures prominently in a final scene with Jack
in Megan's Legacy (to be released around the end of 2013).
With
the release of Hearts Desires, there are only two more books to go before the
Collective Obsessions Saga is finally complete (The Twilight and Megan's Legacy). The long journey has almost come to a full-circle. Quite literally,
it's a dream come true.
Character Comparisons: I'm fairly liberal in
my political and social views, so same-sex relationships and marriage have
always been issues I consider to be basic human rights. It shouldn't be an
issue at all in 2012, frankly. We are all free to choose our own path in life,
and it's not up to anyone else to restrict our choices or to pass judgment. Judge not lest ye be judged…Or is it people who live in glass houses should not throw stones?
Throughout
all eight books in the Collective Obsessions Saga, there are only two central
male characters that are gay in relation to the Larkin family. This wasn't
something I did on purpose, but rather the characters just happened to blend
into the storyline with their lives already written in my imagination. In other
words, the two specific characters simply - and inadvertently - worked out that
way. They are also related by blood (second cousins twice removed), but never
actually meet as they appear in different time periods.
The
first man was Jean-Claude Sullivan (grandson of Colm Sullivan from Passion Forsaken), who appeared in Quixotic Crossings, followed by The Twain Shall Meet
and Enthrallment.
Fate
continues to entangle the Larkin and Sullivan families amidst madness, murder
and obsessive love. Colm and Molly's grandson Jean-Claude Sullivan finds his
life driven by greed and perversely tainted pleasures. Beloved family chef
Claude Mondoux watches helplessly as Colm slowly loses his mind in ghostly
visions of Molly, while Colleen Larkin seeks love in the arms of another man
with deadly consequences...
Jean-Claude
was married with a son (George Sullivan aka Ben Webb) when he meets Mason
Berger, his co-worker at the Larkin Gazette. Jean-Claude's storyline occurs between
1934 and 1985, the earlier portion of which was not known as a time of sexual
tolerance. Jean-Claude and Mason are eventually forced out of Larkin City. They
begin a new life in Paris, where they are able to live together relatively free
of harsh judgment.
From
Quixotic Crossings:
It
didn't take George long to fully understand the true nature of his father's
relationship with Mason Berger. He was slightly repulsed but not overly
shocked, having suspected Jean-Claude's inclinations for a long time just by
the tone of his letters and the affectionate mentions of Mason. The more time
he spent with the two men the more he realized how instinctive their
relationship was.
Jean-Claude
and Mason seemed to flow together. They finished each other's sentences, or
they sniped at each other playfully, just like an old married couple. In truth,
the two men were married in a spiritual sense, their unconditional love evident
in every touch and vocal gesture.
The
second gay man is Jamie Page, son of Shannon Larkin and Scott Page, who appears
in parts three through eight of the Collective Obsessions Saga. However,
Jamie's sexuality is not really explored until Book Six: Hearts Desires (which
takes place from 1996-2000).
Jamie's
first romantic experience comes about in the form of Jack Sansovino, who first
appeared in Enthrallment as Carly O'Reilly's sous chef. During a Christmas
party in Enthrallment, Jack spikes Carly's drink with Flunitrazepam (aka
roofie, date-rape drug) and then takes her to his flat, where he rapes her. He
also allows several of his "buddies" to take turns with her. The
"buddies" are actually bookies and loan sharks to whom Jack owes
money. He permits them to rape Carly repeatedly in order to erase his gambling
debts to them.
Now
back to Hearts Desires – it is the first of my books to be classified in the
LGBT genre. Hearts Desires also falls into family epic and romance, where it
sits with the other titles in the Collective Obsessions Saga.
Jack
Sansovino knew Jamie Page was staring at him. He saw the young man from the
Amber Whale kitchen as he cooked lunch dishes, and took a particular interest
in his flawless handsomeness and quiet demeanor. When Jack entered the dining
area, he deliberately walked toward the window overlooking the harbor. The
lunch crowd had been fast and furious, and he was ready for a break, but his
real reason for venturing out was to get a closer look at the solitary diner.
Jack
paused just to the left of Jamie's table, pretending to take a long look out
the window into the harbor. He crossed his arms and drew a great sigh, knowing
the action would attract Jamie's attention.
In
Hearts Desires, Jamie is unaware of Jack's sorted past and falls promptly in
love with him. Jack is not gay, but hooks up with Jamie in order to take
advantage of his wealth and prestigious family name. The deception takes a
psychological toll on Jack, so he begins to drink and gamble heavily again. He
beats and rapes Jamie in a drunken rage one night, and then flees Larkin City a
wanted man.
Not
to worry, though. Jamie finds gentle love with another man in The Twilight,
which is part seven of the Collective Obsessions Saga (due for release this
summer). While I don't want to give too much away, Jack ultimately gets his
comeuppance in Megan's Legacy, the final book in the saga.
Read excerpts from Hearts Desires >
No comments:
Post a Comment