Book Review: When Robbo Met Daniel by Liam Livings

When Robbo Met Daniel by Liam Livings is a contemporary romance. Robbo is broken. He’s split up with his girlfriend. Given up on love. Forever. And now he must pretend to be happy for a friend’s week-long birthday celebration. Daniel’s boyfriend refuses to go to the celebration with him. Another nail in the coffin for their relationship. So he brings his best friend, Sam. They notice the heart-broken straight guy has attractively filled swimming shorts and a body to draw their sunglasses-obscured gazes. If Robbo can put aside how he thinks others will see him if he comes out and if Daniel can escape the history of his dead relationship, maybe they have chance. 

When Robbo Met Daniel is a romance that works on every level. I will admit that some of the phrases and reactions were unusual to me, but they were accurate and completely in character and now I know more which always makes me happy.  I like that everything was not simple, nor was everything more complicated or more drawn out than it needed to be. I liked the natural development of friendship and attraction- and how everyone needed to deal with their own issues in their own time rather than the 'love fixes everything' which is sometimes used to ignore problems for a quick happy ending. Robbo and Daniel each had things to work out for themselves and I really enjoyed that while Robbo figuring things out is part of the story, the details of the process are not all agonized over.   Coming out and figuring things out is huge, but it is also very different for different people and I loved the way it was laid out but not the focus of the entire romance.  I also loved the level of communication and honesty between Robbo and Daniel, I think this is what really sold the story for me and made me root for the couple even more. Being open about the stumbling blocks they might face and leaning on the support system they had made me so happy for them. 

When Robbo Met Daniel is  an honest and heart warming romance that leave readers confident in a happy ever after for the characters. 

Book Review: Yankees New England Adventures from the editors of Yankee Magazine

Yankees New England Adventures, from the editors of Yankee Magazine, offers readers a go-to source for in-depth travel information, with the photography and practical know-how that Yankee readers have come to expect. Whether you are interested in exploring the vibrant culture of tiny villages or big cities, eating outstanding meals in colonial inns or vintage diners, rambling through art museums or up steep wooded hills, this is the guide for you. An island stuck in the 19th century? A walk-in, stained-glass globe? A place where you can eat Thanksgiving dinner every day of the year? From the golden dunes of Nantucket to the alpine tundra of the White Mountains, from the blue waters of Lake Champlain to the green grass of Boston Common, travelers and residents alike will find over 400 local secrets, out-of-the-way places, and unique experiences in all six states of this remarkable region of America. Live the Yankee lifestyle and get on the road with Yankee’s New England Adventures.

Yankees New England Adventures is a lovely book for those that live in New England (like myself) and wonder what fun or beautiful things they might have missed over the years, and for those planning a visit. I am glad to say that I have visited most of the listed locations for my home state, and a good number of the locations in the others. I enjoyed seeing the photographs and reading the practical and succinct descriptions of locations that are familiar to me, and some that I have yet to visit. While not all of the information is absolutely correct, for instance Sleeping Giant State Park is still mostly closed- but who involved in publishing this book could have predicted a crazy tornado hitting Connecticut and causing the amount of damage it did to the area. However, I still think this is a great resource for planning a day trip or staycation if you are local, or a lovely time away for those coming from further away. I enjoyed the information and images, and the ideas the read gave me about where I can drag my family the next time I get the urge to explore.