FAMILY OBLIGATIONS by Vivien Dean & Rick R. Reed

Publisher: Amber Quill Press

Date published: 06/23/13

ISBN: 978-1-61124-445-8

Gay / Contemporary 

E-book

Reviewed by Helen

Weblink: http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/FamilyObligations.html

Obtained via publisher

Tate D'Angelo’s father has died aged sixty-two of cancer, and Tate’s life is suddenly changed. At the end of the viewing a man he doesn’t know says he was a friend of Tate’s father and gives Tate a thumb drive with the letters he wrote to Tate’s dad and that Tate’s dad wrote to him. Several days later Tate reads the letters, which give him a new view of the father he loved.

This review is going to be very short because it’s almost impossible to say anything about the story without mentioning a spoiler. I really wish I could say more, to explain why I liked the book, but that would ruin it for other people.

The bulk of the book is the letters themselves, with Tate’s thoughts and reactions to them. Through the letters we see how much Tate’s father loved him and how important he was to his dad. We also learn about his father.

The main characters are well drawn with multiple layers. The historical aspects are handled well. The story is engrossing, well written, and challenging. The ending is particularly good and a delightfully appropriate climax to the book. I really enjoyed the book and the unfolding story.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.