EVERYDAY HISTORY by ALICE ARCHER
RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2016
PUBLISHED by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
Synopsis:
Headstrong Ruben Harper has yet to meet an obstacle he can’t convert to a speed bump. He’s used to getting what he wants from girls, but when he develops a fascination for a man, his wooing skills require an upgrade. After months of persuasion, he scores a dinner date with Henry Normand that morphs into an intense weekend. The unexpected depth of their connection scares Ruben into fleeing.
Shy, cautious Henry, Ruben’s former high school history teacher, suspects he needs a wake-up call, and Ruben appears to be his siren. But when Ruben bolts, Henry is left struggling to find closure. Inspired by his conversations with Ruben, Henry begins to write articles about the memories stored in everyday objects. The articles seduce Ruben with details from their weekend together and trigger feelings too strong to avoid. As Henry’s snowballing fame takes him out of town and further out of touch, Ruben stretches to close the gaps that separate them.
My Review:
Who is this Alice Archer and what has she done with my heart? My feeble attempt at a review of this glorious book will not do it justice. ‘Everyday History’ is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching and gorgeous romances I have ever read!! The characters and the words will stay with me for a long, long time.
“Oh, God. He’s teaching me. He knew what this would do to me.”
Ruben is a student of the brilliant history professor Henry. Not knowing whether the other one is intreated or not, these two dance around each other for months. But their attraction is undeniable and breathtaking. Alice Archer has a gift for words and it was delicious watching Henry and Ruben watch each other.
“Those looks Ruben gives me reunite me with an old feeling of wanting something I can’t have. Of really wanting something I really can’t have. Will certainly never have. An exquisitely sad feeling that has always resided behind my sternum, even when I’ve managed to ignore it.”
There is an age difference here so Henry and Ruben decide right from the start that no matter what happens, they will break it off because they are simply not meant for each other. Henry wants a family and commitment, and Ruben is young and wants to play the field so to speak. He thinks that he is not ready to give Henry what he wants, so why bother prolonging the inevitable?
“Certain he’ll outgrow his infatuation, I remain professional, watch the calendar, counting on time to save me. Inside myself doors close. Locks click. I turn away. Close my eyes. Try not to see. But sunlight finds a way. As Ruben grows to fully inhabit his curious desire… I wake up.”
These two are so obviously, painfully in love and right for each other that I wanted to reach into the story and yell at them!! All of the wasted time!! All the heartbreak could have been avoided. This book unfolded into one of the most readable and passionate stories I’ve read in a long time. Henry is experienced yet acutely lonely; Ruben is young and curious yet knows who and what he wants.
“He wants to do it right, his exploration of the new world that’s captured his attention. But even more than wanting to do it right, he wants to do it right now. The sparkle of him blinds me. After deliberately, greedily touching me all over with his hands and his mouth, he stops trying to learn and allows himself to fall down the well of desire. I’m already there.”
The inevitable break-up broke MY heart! Henry was firm in his belief that Ruben needed to experience the world and Ruben was sure that he was not ready to commit to Henry. But soon Ruben saw that his life was really just a series of if not empty relationships, loveless relationships.
“With an adjustment for gender, he renews his old policy—sex, please, hold the love—as his new policy.”
Henry becomes a famous writer and must travel the country promoting his stories of everyday histories. These brilliant and emotional stories-within-a-story really sealed the deal for me with Alice Archer. I am rambling on and you really must experience this book on your own. It is simply breathtaking! The characters are loving and supportive and multidimensional and the settings are perfect. The themes of family, belonging, acceptance and love are so important and so timely. I was crying my eyes out at the end!! The plot twist was stunning and passionate and honest and just EVERYTHING.
Please read this book. You will be a better person for it! Alice Archer’s words are LIFE.
Favorite quote:
“Pressure and warmth front and back. Legs pinned. Henry’s arms around him for the first time ever. Nothing said. Nothing thought. Nothing seen except hard wind in trees swaying like underwater creatures in a complex tide.
Henry bends his head to whisper into Ruben’s ear, “I’m not waiting any longer.”
About the Author:
Alice has questions. Lots of them. Scheming to put fictional characters through the muck so they can get to a better place helps her find answers. Thankfully, the questions never end. She writes stories about people finding themselves and falling in love because doing so feels like healing. She shares them with the hope that others might find some healing too.
Alice has messed about with words professionally for many years as an editor and writing coach. She’s pretty much drenched in words from dawn to dusk (and there are ink stains on the bedding).
After living in more than eighty places and cobbling together a portable lifestyle, she has a lot of story material to sort through. It has reassured her to discover that even though cultural differences get people into a peck of trouble when they’re falling in love, the human heart can find its way in any language.
Website: http://www.alicearcher.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.archer.author