Genre: Maryann
LGBTQ+ Category: MM Bi, Trans FTM
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
What do a shy French-horn-playing accountant and a single dad trans trumpet player have in common other than both being members of the community orchestra at Theatr Fach in the little town of Llanbaruc?
Gethin’s been more or less hiding from life since his marriage broke up a couple of years ago. He joined the orchestra because his sister told him he needed a hobby rather than sitting at home brooding about his divorce.
Martin is careful who he dates because of his gender and his teenage daughter. He came to Llanbaruc as a stage manager for the Theatr Fach twelve years ago. He has a good set of friends here. Shannon’s a good kid. They’re a team.
Martin and Gethin hit it off. Will their mutual baggage prove too much to sustain a relationship?
The Review
Martin Reed is the stage-manager at the Theatre Fach. He likes living in the small sea-side town of Llanbaruc, and enjoys participating in the community orchestra and spending time with his orchestra mates.
But his main priority is his fourteen year old daughter, Shannon, who he shares with her father, Martin’s ex Lee. Martin keeps his private life private. He’s had enough of gossip, and it’s all in the past. Even though it took his ex-Lee a little time, he and Shannon have both been supportive of Martins transition.
Gethin Jones, an accountant and French-horn player, has been living a life of solitude after a divorce. He was caught up in a very bad marriage with his now, ex-Marion, who had an affair with his best friend Rob. Marion told Gethin that he was boring. And to add to the humiliation and hurt he was feeling, it seemed that others knew about what was taking place behind his back.
Gethin loves being an accountant and is good at it. He is in a business partnershi[ with Lillian Liversedge, and besides being a very good accountant, she gives Gethin an opportunity and the friendship that he needs.
Gethin also has a sister, Posey, who he appreciates very much. When things became difficult for him, she helped and protected him. She’s overbearing at times, but she encourages Gethin to get out more.
Gethin takes a leap and joins the community orchestra, where he meets Martin. Martin takes him under his wing and introduces him around. As Gethin starts to feel more comfortable, he accepts Martin’s invitation to join the small orchestra group at a pub called Dragon. Then another invitation has them spending time together at Cwm Rheidol. As they spend more time with one another, they both start to open up about their personal issues and the small town gossip. Can they survive it all and make their own lives happy?
Lester pens another delightful story from Wales about what can happen when two people share their feelings honestly and keep the lines of communication open, a tale of survival in a small town where the gossip never seems to stop. Martin and Gethin are made for each other, and it doesn’t matter what gender they are. Love is love, and that’s what counts.
Second Wind is filled with colorful secondary characters. Shannon, Matin’s daughter, so caring and understanding. Lillian such a life-saver for Gethin, and Posey is just overbearing. There’s also the Community Orchestra: Fiona, Julie, Lucy, Alan, Tim and Portia. And of course, the small town of Llanbaruc and all its gossip.
A lovely tale about a trumpet and a French horn that meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after, just in time for the holiday season!
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.
