(Reviewed by Nimue)
This is an utterly lovely novel. It's a gay romance with a main character coming to terms with grief and learning how to love again. It's an emotional book, underpinned by warmth, compassion and humanity. The story is set on Crete, and the backdrop is the Minoan culture.
Laura is someone who has spent a lot of time exploring Minoan history and spirituality, so she's able to write the setting from a place of deep understanding. Her understanding really enriches the story. What's especially wonderful is that this is such a vibrant culture, distinctly different from other European cultures. At the centre of this story is the Minoan bull leaping, and the work people must have done surrounding all of this. It's an imaginative engagement with the known history, bringing it all to life and making it relatable.
I loved the sex-positive attitude that permeates the book, and the different ways this shows up in the lives of the characters. At the same time, the story is a thoughtful exploration of what grief does to a person and what unprocessed anger does too. The main character is a hot mess, heartbroken and unable to move on. He's got a lot of thins wrong and spends a lot of time making mistakes - in very understandable ways. what we see is the process of him re-engaging with life and working out how to open his heart again. This is a book rich with compassion and insight, it's a warm-hearted piece of writing with much to offer. While there is a lot of grief and loss in the back story, the tale is at its core a celebration of life and love.
Beautifully done, heartily recommended.
Find out more on the author's website - https://www.lauraperryauthor.com/leap-a-love-story
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