Goodbye Paradise by Sarina Bowen Review

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4 Smooches

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Synopsis

Most people called it a cult. But for twenty years, Josh & Caleb called it home.

In Paradise, there is no television. No fast food. Just long hours of farm work and prayer on a dusty Wyoming ranch, and nights in a crowded bunkhouse. The boys of the Compound are kept far from the sinners’ world.

But Joshua doesn’t need temptation to sin. His whole life, he’s wanted his best friend, Caleb. By day they work side by side. Only when Josh closes his eyes at night can they be together the way he craves.

It can never be. And his survival depends on keeping his terrible desires secret.

Caleb has always protected Josh against the worst of the bullying at the Compound. But he has secrets of his own, and a plan to get away — until it all backfires.

Josh finds himself homeless in a world that doesn’t want him. Can Caleb find him in time? And will they find a place of safety, where he can admit to Josh how he really feels?

Warning: Contains a hot male/male romance, copious instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain, and love against the kitchen counterThis book was previously released under the title: In Front of God & Everyone.

Review

Sarina Bowen originally released Goodbye Paradise under the pen name Nealy Wagner but has now rereleased it with little changes under her name. I was extremely intrigued in this story from the moment I read the blurb. I enjoy a good cult book and after dabbing on the polygamist cult in her book, Keepsake, I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I have read some of Sarina’s male/male books before and in general I am a fan of the genre.

Overall, the story kept my attention and I loved Caleb with all my heart. I fell for him the moment he let his true self shine through and I wanted him to be the strong loving man I knew he could be. I went back and forth with Josh, for the most part though I loved him. The twist in the story got me mad for a moment but also eager had me eagerly reading to find out how it all plays out.

I will say that there were a instances where the story wasn’t everything I was hoping for. Times when I would have like a little more from them but Caleb and Josh’s heat and sweet nature with each other won me over and in the end I did really enjoy it.

~miranda