One Way Street by Laney Cairo

[reviews_and_ramblings]

This is a very strong book. But it also an heartbreaking one and full of hope. But I had no doubt, since Laney Cairo is the author of Bad Case of Loving You, another very strong book.

Shane is an Australian Rules Football player. He is young and he plays for a winning team, so he should be very happy. He has also a beautiful girlfriend and some very good friends. But he is on the edge of suicide. One year before he has badly dumped his male lover, bending over the pressure of the team and the public opinion that couldn't consider the idea of a football gay player. Dale was the only true thing in his life and now he hurts so much, in body and soul, that only through mix of pills over pills he can go on. And in the end it arrives the day when it seems impossible to bear another day. And he goes to the apartment he shared with Dale, the only place he feels like home.

Dale is returning for the first time in a year to the apartment, and he is surprised to discover that Shane has continued to come to the place in all these months. So he decides to stop and to see if the man will appear. But the man he sees is not the same man he remembers. Shane is clearly sick, and drugs addicted. He needs help to heal, but he also needs someone who will stay beside him when he finally will take some hard decision. This is not more a choice for Shane, but a necessity if he doesn't want to fall apart.

The path of Shane through the healing from his injures, rebuilding his life and coming out will be slow and painful, but Dale will be a steady presence: even if Shane is a strong professional football player and Dale a businessman, it's this late who is the strong core of their relationship, and not only now that Shane is ill. Even before Dale was the stronger in the relationship, even if he didn't force Shane to take decision he was not ready to take. And another think I like in this book, is that not all the faults are on one side: true, Shane preferred to dump Dale rather than coming out, but also Dale has made some mistakes.

The interaction between the two main characters is wonderful. Both characters are real and full of layers... you hardly manage to have an idea and soon after the author unveals a new layer that throws out all your careful filed information.

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Comments

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

Elisa,
This sounds like a great story. Thank you for your rec!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's very good. I think the High Ball series has always very good stories. Elisa

[chrissymunder.livejournal.com]

I have to confess that if it's written by Laney Cairo it's going to become one of my favorites. I can't tell you how many times I've read Bad Case of Loving You and Undercover Blues

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think like you. I bought it even without reading the blurb, and am very satisfied. Elisa

[mychael-black2.livejournal.com]

Absolutely agreed. Very strong, powerful book. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's very involving, I like it a lot. Elisa

My thoughts exactly!

[(Anonymous)]

I just finished this. A compelling story indeed and Elisa you have expressed it well. Hope her next story is not too far away.

Re: My thoughts exactly!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Glad you agree with me. Laney Cairo is a very good writer. Elisa