Review: Oyster – Fearne Hill

Genre: Contemporary

LGBTQ+ Category: Trans MTF

Reviewer: Maryann

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About The Book

Low tides threw up all kinds of unexpected and random treasures. Wedding bands, hauls of driftwood, old bones worn smooth.

Jaded oyster fisherman, Nico La Forge, had seen them all.

Or so he believed. Until one night, a cold, bedraggled, and beautiful Éti Salvador washed up on the shore.

Nico had never been in love. Wasn’t even looking for love. With the body of a revolutionary hero and a face like the devil, Nico was the sort of guy your mother warned you to stay away from. But then, Nico had never come across anyone as extraordinary as Éti Salvador before; divebombing the emotional wasteland of his heart, shaking it like a maraca.

And, overnight, like the turning of the tides, everything changed.

Oyster is an MF queer romance.

The Review

Nico LaForge, at twenty-eight, is a big part of the family business. LaForge Oyster Farms has been around since 1921, and is still going strong. Nico had even gotten his own apartment, but then tragedy befell the family, as Mum Marie got cancer.Father Stefan, younger brother Max and sister Zoe all started to fall apart. Nico moved back home and continued to carry the weight of the business and the responsibility of being the support of his Mum, Father and siblings. He tried his best to give them love and understanding during this difficult time, as they all have their own issues.

Nico, an attractive, tattooed, sometimes smelly oyster farmer, has never had a problem with the ladies, until he saves a drowning mermaid named Eti. Seems Eti is just a bit tipsy and water logged. Still, Nico recognizes who she really is.

Eti Salvador offers Nico a deal to keep her identity a secret. Nico thinks long and hard about the money offered. He could do so much with it to help his Mum. But in reality, he knows the outcome will be the same, and he doesn’t want his Mum to suffer.

Eti is a wonder, enthusiastic, always in motion and talks forever, but Nico can’t resist what he feels for her. As a friendship grows between Eti and Nico, will they be able to brave all the issues that are sure to arise?

Hill takes readers back to France with Oyster, the second book in the “Island Love” series. As with Salt, the author writes a wonderfully romantic and emotional story. Her writing is a true language of love. Once again, there’s interesting subject matter with – transphobia, oyster farming, and football (soccer) and the many exciting descriptions of the game. The oyster farming process is fascinating – Nico really is a man of the sea.

The author shares the characters’ first time together, along with frank discussions of being trans and Eti’s plans for the future. It also addresses those who are accepting and respect Eti for who she is, and how she deals with those that are transphobic. Most of all, this is a story about finding that one person, regardless of who or what they are, with whom you can share love.

The author delivers a host of interesting side characters. Nico’s best friend Florian and Charles make an appearance. Then there’s Nico’s family: Marie, Stefan, Max and Zoe. And Eti and the supportive PSG team: Fabien and his wife, Ruiz, Meyer and Dubois.

Hill does not disappoint with Oyster. She writes from the heart and never intends to hurt or shame her characters or readers. I’ve read several other books by this author, and although the subject matter may be difficult, she always covers the subjects as delicately as possible. I highly recommend Oyster, and am looking forward to the next “Island Love” story.

The Reviewer

Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.

I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.

My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!

As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.

My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.

I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.

But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.

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