by Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn
4.5 Stars
Can a priest and a rock star obey
love's call?
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld's childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper's calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He's determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky's careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past's lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld's childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper's calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.
Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He's determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.
As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.
Jasper and Nicky's careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past's lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.
Vespertine was one of those books that kept slipping on our TBR list,
something would always come up before we started reading it. But, we persevered and we are so glad, this
is a gem of a book and shining love story and we loved this fresh idea of a romance
between a Catholic Priest and a fallen Rock Star.
What we loved?
- Well written: Vespertine is
beautifully written. It is full of
angst, it is emotional, gripping heartbreaking, sweet, schmoopy, redeeming,
moving, gratifying, and so emotional.
- Tropes: There is a lot going
on here; Childhood sweethearts, opposites attract, slow burn, addiction,
coming-out, and a few more thrown in for good measure. But they all work so well together without competing
or falling apart.
- Characters: We loved Nicky and Jasper so much as men. Nicky is struggling so much, pushing against
the past, pushing against his talent and pushing against everyone interfering
in his life. And Jasper is fine to put his head in the sand and live his life
on the path that he believes God has chosen for him. They are both such strong characters and amazing
in their own ways.
What we wished was different?
- Slow Burn: So love or hate
this trope, Vespertine is a study in slow burn.
But, really with a Catholic Priest struggling with his feelings and his
vows what do you expect. But, sometimes
we wished it would have moved a teeny tiny bit faster. We were desperate for these men to
acknowledge that they both aren’t as unaffected as they want to believe.
Vespertine is one of those rare stories that we’ve come across; it is a
gorgeous book full of longing and love.
It is hard to imagine a place for a happy-ever-after between a Rock Star
and a Catholic Priest but Vespertine delivers that and SO much more.
