Author: Brynn Stein
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages/Word Count: 246 Pages
At a Glance: Overall this was a good book, with a slow build and slow burn romance.
Reviewed By: Pia
Blurb: Branson Farrell lost his parents when he was thirteen, and for the last ten years his brother, Mac, eight years his senior, has taken care of him. But Mac’s love came at a price. Both brothers were raised to believe being gay was completely unacceptable, and Branson has almost convinced himself he can be what Mac expects. When he looks at a man in a bar and Mac notices, Mac drags him off in horror.
Mac’s distress and disgust leads to a car accident that leaves Branson injured and Mac in a coma. Branson heals and stays at Mac’s bedside, but when Mac doesn’t recover, he is moved to a long-term care facility. There, Branson meets openly gay, confident, and attractive Liam Sullivan. Liam stirs feelings Branson thought he’d rid himself of, and to honor his brother, Branson fights tooth and nail against his attraction. When the cost of denying who he is becomes too high, Branson must battle a lifetime of hatred that’s been beaten into his body and mind to try for something of his own.
Review: In Brynn Stein’s For Mac, we meet a young man named Branson Farrell, who is not only healing from a car accident but is coming to terms with the fact that Mac, his older brother and only family he has left, may never recover from his injuries. We also meet Mac’s nurse Liam, a young easy going, openly gay man who stirs feelings in Branson that he would rather be left un-stirred.
Let me start out by saying I liked this book. To me it was about overcoming struggles and other people perceptions of how you should live your life, realizing that families can be made in not just the biological way, and I think a lot of research must have been done for the story, which was good because it gave it a realistic feel. However, I kept getting frustrated with Branson. I wanted him to do something, to be brave and make a move and stick to it, not retreat any time anything happened. Liam must have the patience of a saint to take things so slowly and not get frustrated too. I also found the book a little bit repetitive. Most of the story happened at the care facility or Branson’s house; I guess I wanted to see more of their lives.
Overall this was a good book, with a slow build and slow burn romance. I would recommend having the tissues handy, though, as parts are sad.
You can buy For Mac here: