Heart

De: Garrett Leigh

Narrado por: Dan Calley

Cornish pastry chef Seb Wright dreads the summer tourist season. The cash injection to his artisan fudge pantry is more than welcome, the extra work, less so. Then one summer, a shadowy Good Samaritan catches his eye. Irish traveler Dex is bewitching, a beautiful sullen enigma who turns Seb's world upside down until he disappears in the night, vanishing like a mystical summer rain.

Twelve months later, Dex is in the midst of a dark storm. A slave to his master, "Uncle" Braden, he spends his days cleaning caravans and his nights working in Braden's other businesses. His short summer with Seb seems a lifetime ago. Lost in the savage violence of the murky underworld, he doesn't dare dream he'll ever find his way back, until one night, a brutal crime opens the door for a chance escape. A new life beckons, old faces emerge, and immersed in the heady vibe of London’s East End, new love begins to heal his fractured heart.

©2014 Garrett Leigh (P)2020 Garrett Leigh

The darkest book I’ve ever read

I’ve read and watched a lot of dark shit. This is definitely top 3, if not number one. This book is about sex trafficking. I thought it was going to be a sweet little romance book. Nope. It was so painful that I couldn’t stop reading it. I finished the book in a day. I think this book has powerful commentary on relevant social issues, and that everyone who comes across it should read it UNLESS you get triggered by noncon and abuse. I mean I probably wouldn’t have read it if I understood how dark the book was, but ultimately I’m glad I read it. Excellently executed, extremely well written, fast paced plot, characters are amazing. Stellar job Garrett Leigh.

Hauntingly Heartwarming

This book is as close to a feel good story as any I’ve read from Garrett Leigh, and that’s including the prostitution ring, broken bones, violence and down right heartache that Dex has to go through to get to his happy ending. Seb is the type of man that every Dex out there deserves. He doesn’t make Dex feel bad about himself. He tries to get Dex to see he’s worth much more than the things that have happened to him. To realize that no matter what he thinks, he’s not defined by that. He’s only defined by what he thinks of himself and and what he wants his life to be! I even got the warm fuzzies a few times! Garrett sure knows how to take those broken hearts and mend them right up! I just love how the story doesn’t need any tension or big drama between the main characters and Seb is just a pillar of support without being overbearing or controlling. Everything is Dex’s decision and he understands that’s what Dex needs without resenting him for it! It’s so dang well written and it evokes so many emotions!

The narration by Dan Calley is phenomenal and definitely adds a new layer to the story! You feel the emotion more and the warm fuzzies are stronger from the emotional connection that’s easier to make!

Gritty love story

I’ve read a few other books by this author and thought I was prepared. I was not. “Heart” is a gritty, dark story of survival and, ultimately, love. But it’s an arduous journey to get there, with a lot of time spent in a hellhole of an underworld where Irish Travellers are bought and sold like Dex’s beloved horses. The pain the listener endures is mostly worth it, as Dex’s triumph packs an emotional punch. I dinged a star because the end felt like it dragged out a bit. Still, this a powerful story brimming with hope and well-deserved love.

Garrett Leigh does it again!

I am a fan of Garrett Leigh. Her guys are often beaten down by life, but the rewards are so great. Generally I am hesitant to use a credit on a book under 7 hours, so for one under six was a leap of faith. So glad I did. Dex is such a great character, and his journey is both horrifying and beautiful.

Dan Calley again navigates the listener on an auditory tour that is rich in variety and deep in emotion without going syrupy. Chef's kiss - pun intended.

I loved Seb, but there were some things in his story that didn't quite ring true, but its ok. The pace is on point, although there a section near the end that feels unnecessarily drawn out. Setting that aside, what is so pleasant here is that unlike some of the downtrodden guys in previous books, Dex, when in control is always moving forward. He isn't prone to fits of pique, he doesn't get mired in misunderstandings. Without expressly saying it, he is willing to try at every opportunity he is presented. As someone who has had little say in his life, even during many of the worst times, he still has compassion and a will to live.

I have already listened more than once and cannot recommend this book enough.

When I first saw the blurb for this story...

I thought two things…the first one being that there was something familiar about this story and after poking around on Ms Leigh’s list of books I discovered that I was right, ‘Heart’ is a more in depth retelling of her story ‘Gypsy Rain’ which I’ve had on my ‘To Read’ list for a while now and the second thing was that this was a story that was going to break my heart and sadly I was kinda’ right about that too…thankfully by the end of it all my heart was pretty much put back together again.

Seb’s a pastry chef and when he first meets Dex he’s running his family’s artisan fudge pantry. Seb’s enchanted by Dex and what starts as an act of kindness when Dex finds Seb’s wallet and returns it to him becomes a slow and cautiously played out effort on Seb’s part to draw Dex into his world where he can get to know him better and hopefully keep him safe or at least that was what Seb hoped for until Dex disappears without a trace.

When Dex gets the chance to escape the nightmare that’s become his life…he takes it and attempts to loose himself in the hustle and bustle of London never guessing that his path would cross with Seb’s.

Garrett Leigh without a doubt has become one of my favorite authors. Her stories are packed with emotion, they’re thought provoking and while she’s not afraid to show us the darker side of human nature, she also shows us the side that strives, hopes and struggles at times to not only persevere but to find more…to have a life that’s better…to find that someone they can love and be happy with.

Seb and Dex come from very different worlds. Seb’s grown up with the love and shelter of family, while Dex has had to rely on himself because for him family meant betrayal and being used…traded like a commodity to a man who would bring him nothing but pain and suffering. Dex also comes from a world where talking to outsiders is never acceptable no matter what and it’s this unwritten law of his culture that creates a world in which people like ‘Uncle Braden’ not only survive but thrive.

I don’t think there was honestly anything about this story that I didn’t like. I may not have totally agreed with some of the decision and actions taken by characters at times…in particular some choices that Dex made at the end, however, I can also see where the decisions he made were the ones that were right for him and ultimately they were decisions that each person has to make for themselves based on that factor…what is right for the individual in that circumstance.

As always Ms Leigh has created a story that kept me riveted to my seat from start to finish and along with the talented and insightful narration provided by Dan Calley this was a story that easily came to life for me and one that I look forward to enjoying again.

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An audio book of ‘Heart’ was graciously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.