Can a young man find the courage he never knew he had when faced with losing everything he holds dear?
A few months before his final exams in secondary school, nineteen-year-old Lennart Kelly discovers he’s inherited a house on Adelaide Road in Dublin from a grandfather he never knew. Having been ignored, bullied and abused for as long as he can remember, Lennart can’t wait to leave behind his father and the small town he grew up in. Moving away as soon as he finishes his exams doesn’t cure his deep-rooted insecurities though.
Meeting twenty-three-year-old Aidan Cassidy in a gay club on his second night in Dublin, scares Lennart. Used to being ignored and ridiculed, he doesn’t trust the attention he receives and can’t believe a man like Aidan could possibly be interested in him. It takes infinite patience and understanding from Aidan to slowly coax Lennart out of his shell.
But the past refuses to stay where it belongs and Lennart’s father is determined to take the house in Dublin off his son by whatever means necessary. Just when Lennart is learning to trust and embrace life, a violent attack threatens everything he holds dear. Suddenly Lennart is in danger of losing his house, the man he’s grown to love and maybe even his life. If Lennart wants to protect Aidan and safeguard his future, he’ll have to find the courage he never knew he had.
I’m delighted to visit Mikky’s World of Books today and share a little bit of background information to my new book with you.
Scenes from Adelaide Road is my second solo novel and it’s also the second story I’ve set in Ireland. I’m well aware the Emerald Isle is not a common setting for (m/m) romance novels, but for me it felt appropriate. After all, this is where I have been living for the past eighteen years. I speak ‘Irish English’ I eat ‘Irish’ foods and I’m well acquainted with the Irish way of life.
It can be a bit of a juggling act though. On the one hand I want the setting to be as big a part of the story as the characters are. On the other hand, I have to be very careful not to turn my story into a parody. So while I may use expressions like ‘Jaysus’ and will always say ‘arse’ instead of ‘ass’, I go out of my way not to use words such as ‘begorrah’ or ‘top of the morning to you’. I’ve yet to hear those used outside a Hollywood movie and while it may sound authentically Irish to some, I can assure you it is not.
The flipside of trying to stay away from Irish stereotypes is making sure there is at least one thing in the story that is quintessentially Irish. In Scenes from Adelaide Road the uniquely Irish flavour is provided by Hurling.
Hurling is a sport played almost exclusively in Ireland. It has in the past been described as hockey mixed with murder (Jason Statham) and if you want to know why, you should take a look at the following clip:
It would be very easy to write a long and very interesting essay on hurling, but I’ll restrain myself. There is one detail of its long and illustrious history I would like to share though, especially since it is remotely connected to Lennart’s story in my book.
One of the earliest mentions of hurling, features a young man named Setanta who, when faced with a vicious dog, uses his hurley (the stick) and a sliothar (the small, rock hard ball hurling is played with) to defend himself, earning himself the name Cú Chulainn—"Culann's Hound" in the process. Did I mention this story is about 2000 years old?
No dogs or other animals were injured or killed in the process of writing Scenes from Adelaide Road but just like Cú Chulainn centuries before him, Lennart has his reasons to be grateful for both the game and the hurley in his hand.
Scenes From Adelaide Road is the heartbreaking and emotional story of a young man’s journey to self discovery. Grab your tissues and get comfy because, once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop.
Hate and disdain is everything that Lennart has ever received in life.
The only person who was supposed to love him and care for him has made his existence unbearable ever since he can remember.
Now, an inherited house from a grandfather he never knew is the way of escape he’s been waiting for and he’s ready for a change.
Little did he knew just how much his life will change the moment he decides to face his fears and step into a gay nightclub.
You’ll fall in love with Lennart on the spot. He’s been through so much, yet he finds the courage to move on and try to live the live he’s always wanted.
His biggest choice and the best he could have made is to give Aidan, the beautiful stranger he met in the club, a chance.
Trust doesn’t come easy but, at this point, he doesn’t have much to lose.
His strength is also admirable. He might be shy and awkward most of the time but he keeps pushing and he always pulls through.
Enter Aidan. Sweet, caring and patient Aidan.
He fills many roles in the story but the main ones are that of a lover and a friend.
He encourages Lennart and supports him without being pushy or overbearing.
He’s strong when that’s what Lennart needs but tender and loving also, always knowing when to push and when to back down and let Lennart figure out things on his own.
One step at a time, their relationship strengthens and their bond becomes unbreakable even during the hardest times, Aidan teaching Lennart to trust himself and to give love a chance.
I can’t even express how much I liked this story. It’s very well written, fast paced and so captivating.
I found myself tearing up or just smiling like a goof and that is precisely what a book worth reading should do to you.
Oh, the number of times I wished I could crawl inside the story and just hold Lennart and comfort him.
Thank you, Helena, for another wonderful novel. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!!
Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
