3,5 starsThe first two books in the series blew me away. I love them both to pieces. It is why I was delighted to hear that the author decided to write one more book in the series.
Now when I finished it, I can't say that I loved it as much as I loved the previous books. Actually I have very conflicting feelings about it.
There were a lot of moments that reminded me WHY I loved this series so much, and as always I admired this special talent of Nick Wilgus to make readers cry and laugh on the same page. Not many authors are capable of it.
But I also have to admit, that this book has other moments that I personally found pretty annoying, and if someone would have asked me after I had finished it,
"WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO HAVE THE BOOK#3", I would have probably answered with
"No".
I started this book totally
virgin, it is why the beginning put me IMMEDIATELY in a state of shock.
I don't think I spoil you the story if I'll say, that Noah died 6 years ago and we meet Wiley and Jackson at the period of time when they try to adopt Tony,a seven year old boy. They want an orphan kid, whom nobody else wants, and yes, you can be sure, that Tony doesn't have a line of needy couples behind: he is a messed-up traumatized deaf kid with HIV and,
"according to the reports in his file, about 40 percent of his body, including most of his low back, his right hip, and his genitals, had been severely burned when he was four year old".
Of course it is not that easy and cloudless in RL for our MCs as one can imagine. There are some obstacles on their way to a happy family. Tony's health, Tony's mother who is in jail but who still has her rights to decide WHO can adopt her son, then there are suddenly some personal problems of our married couple....Though the life has never been EASY for Wiley and Jackson, but they always managed it the best way.
Nick Wilgus has presented Wiley Cantrell, his first person narrator, always from both sides: not just as a loving and caring father, but also as a respectful and passionate partner. In
Go Tell It on the Mountains he has to face one of the most important choice in his relationship of nine years.
My favorite parts of the book include Tony and Wiley. Nick Wilgus writes MAGIC if it about Tony. And OMG, HOW he does it! It is always SOOOO personal and intimate and emotional and heart-breaking...
He DID already magic to me making me to a fan of the series, because I. NORMALLY. DON'T. LIKE. KIDS. IN. MY.BOOKS. Not at all.
But I couldn't have enough of Noah, and I couldn't have enough of Tony.
I think it could have been a fantastic book, maybe a 5 stars book for me, if the author hadn't brought Amelia in the story. The idea itself, to adopt two children, didn't convince me.
Amelia appeared from nowhere and doesn't matter how I really tried to like her, I didn't, unfortunately. Just the opposite: her presence suddenly reminded me that I actually dont't like kids in my books. It was too much of her, she talked too much, and BECAUSE Tony couldn't talk but just sign, his character downgraded unexpectedly to a secondary role. And...I started to lose my interest in the story.
Thanks God, the last part of the book has been devoted to Tony alone, even if the circumstances were dramatic.
Bottom line:-Nick Wilgus is a great writer, who can make you smile, laugh and cry hot-swap non-stop.
-I believe that he can inspire people to adopt needy children. And it is awesome.
-The author tells the story mostly with DIALOGUES. The whole book is written in the form of dialogues. You HAVE to like it to enjoy it.
-I don't think this series needs more books. If Nick Wilgus will decide to write one more sequel, I think, I'll skip it.
You just can't miss it if you've already read the first two books of the series. You have to read it. Period. *** ARC provided to Gay Book Reviews by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***