Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh (Porth Ewan Bay #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Junkyard Heart

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Porth Ewan Bay #2

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ The drifting photographer and the man who knows just what to do with lost things that wash up on the beach. Get lost in this smoking hot trends-to-lovers hurt/comfort MM romance.

Tired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porth Ewan, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart.

Kim’s free-loving reputation precedes him, and he’s as generous with his inked-up body as he is with his time. The sex is hot, the easy friendship even better, and Jas’s time with him building his family’s new farmhouse canteen is everything Jas was missing in his empty city life.

But Kim’s carefree existence isn’t as simple as it appears. He’s worked hard to vanquish his demons and build his dreams, but the devil on his shoulder is ruthless, and when it comes to call, their happy bubble bursts like it was never there at all. The canteen opening looms, but Kim is gone in more ways than one, and it’s down to Jas to shore up Kim’s soul and convince him that he deserves his place in Jas’s heart.

*Previously published with the Porthkennack shared world series, these books have been significantly reworked and re-edited

REVIEW: ⟫ This book crept on me, much the same way that Kim crept up on Jasper. Jas is in no position for a relationship – he still bears the scars from his last one, and returning to Porth Ewan was meant to be a bit of a bolthole while he sorted himself out. Meeting Kim one morning changes that in momentous ways that Jas could never have imagined.

I adored the first Porth Ewan book and didn’t think I could love anyone more than I loved Brix and Calum, but Jas and Kim swept me away and dragged me into their relationship with their open hearts, vulnerability and the beauty of what they create together. I love love love reading these stories and cannot believe how well Garrett Leigh creates such characters that make you feel so much for them, root for them, and sigh happily when they reach their well deserved happily-ever-after. I’m fascinated by the hints we have of things in the future – Lena and the baby come to mind with that one – and can only say that alongside the Rebel Kings, these may well be my favourite characters by this writer.

House of Cards by Garrett Leigh (Port Ewan Bay Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ House of Cards

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Porth Ewan Bay #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ What's better than one broody tattoo artist? TWO, that's what. Hurt/comfort, friends-to-lovers, and forced proximity combine in this gorgeous second chance MM romance.

Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.

Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.

Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porth Ewan tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.

*Previously published as part of the Porthkennack shared world series, these titles have been significantly reworked and re-edited, with strong links to the Rebel Kings MC universe*

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my poor aching heart! When I saw that Garrett Leigh had released another story adjacent to the Rebel Kings, it was an instant click. And I thought I knew what to expect – the Rebel Kings stories have obliterated my heart more than once.

But then along came Calum and Brix and I truly knew heartbreak. Calum was such a gentle, beautiful soul that the beginning of this story brought out so much rage in my heart, I swear if Rob had been in front of me, I’d have skinned him alive. But fear not, Brix found Calum and offered him sanctuary.

The relationship between these two was so soft and easy, the trust rebuilding slowly, whilst the love between them was obvious to everyone but them. Brix has bricked himself behind a massive wall ever since his diagnosis, only letting people in so much before he hides again. He’s doing everything right to maintain his health but he’s not really living. Until Calum comes back into his life and he see someone he could want a future with. If only he wasn’t too scared to reach out for it.

Like pretty much every other Garrett Leigh book I’ve ever read, this one grabbed me by the heart and made it very difficult to care about anything else until I’d reached the conclusion. The characters – both new and those familiar to me from the other series – were fully fleshed, amusing, aggravating and people you could well imagine spending an evening with. But front and centre, Calum and Brix were absolutely spot on. I adored these two men and as we meandered our way to their happy end, I was grinning like a lunatic whilst wiping a tear from my eye. I’m seriously pleased that this is a new series and I cannot wait for Kim’s story. An obvious five star story for me.

I received an ARC from GRR.