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Hearts & Crafts #3
The Leaving Kind
Without heart, there is no art.
Cameron has been running for years—from responsibility, disappointment, war, and loss. Despite his fatigue, his body and mind refuse to rest. Returning home and supporting his younger brother helped, until Nick proved he no longer needed Cam’s care. But before Cam can decide to move on again, he meets someone else who could use a little help.
Victor is done with love. He’s done with men. He’s also done, apparently, with being a brilliant, if temperamental, artist. Now he’s just temperamental and would rather watch his gorgeous handyman dig in the garden than paint. It doesn’t take long, however, before Cam’s face—replete with stories—has Victor itching to pick up a brush again. If only painting people wasn’t fraught with sad memories.
Neither plans for more than friendship, but it quickly turns to sex, and then feelings intense enough to send them both running. Only by risking their hearts and sharing the pain of the past can they turn this love into the staying kind.
This is part of the Hearts & Crafts series and can be read on its own but is best enjoyed as part of the series.
Cameron has been running for years—from responsibility, disappointment, war, and loss. Despite his fatigue, his body and mind refuse to rest. Returning home and supporting his younger brother helped, until Nick proved he no longer needed Cam’s care. But before Cam can decide to move on again, he meets someone else who could use a little help.
Victor is done with love. He’s done with men. He’s also done, apparently, with being a brilliant, if temperamental, artist. Now he’s just temperamental and would rather watch his gorgeous handyman dig in the garden than paint. It doesn’t take long, however, before Cam’s face—replete with stories—has Victor itching to pick up a brush again. If only painting people wasn’t fraught with sad memories.
Neither plans for more than friendship, but it quickly turns to sex, and then feelings intense enough to send them both running. Only by risking their hearts and sharing the pain of the past can they turn this love into the staying kind.
This is part of the Hearts & Crafts series and can be read on its own but is best enjoyed as part of the series.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2023
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Jensen
38 books238 followersIf aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of twelve novels–including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke–and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/czGhYz
Kelly is the author of twelve novels–including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke–and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/czGhYz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 24, 2023
Not even close to the beauty of Weekends with Oliver though it should have been amazing. All I’ll say is that Cam deserved better than Victor. And it’s not even Victor’s fault , it the author’s. She sprang the fact that Victor has a mental illness on us way towards the end and she let us believe for 70% of the book that he was just a tad melodramatic and a bit down for being dumped when in reality he suffered from bipolar disorder. By then I was already annoyed with his antics and indecision and I couldn’t go back to liking him even after the reveal of his illness. 🤷🏻♀️
3 stars because I love Kelly Jensen’s stories and her writing.
3 stars because I love Kelly Jensen’s stories and her writing.
July 2, 2024
As I start writing this review, I’m not sure whether or not I’ll leave a rating but I don’t like low rating a book without explanation. Depending on how well I can wrangle my thoughts and how much emotional energy I have when I’m finished, I’ll see if I feel comfortable with rating or if I just leave it blank.
I did not like this story. I didn’t like it for specific, easy to pinpoint reasons as well as vague, amorphous ones. Before I get to the reasons I disliked The Leaving Kind, I want to say I loved the first book in the series, Sundays With Oliver and had a very good feeling about Jensen as a storyteller. If not for that, I never would have picked up The Leaving Kind because I was pretty disenchanted with the middle book in the series, Shelf Life, and kind of questioned Jensen not only as a storyteller but some of her worldview as well. Having finished The Leaving Kind, my feelings of distaste for Jensen’s style have grown and my niggles about her worldview have only increased.
Within the first few chapters, I started feeling like I wanted to DNF. The story wasn’t resonating and I had a vague sense of this feels forced and fake. I kept feeling like the story was like one of those plastic models of food, the highly realistic ones I’d see in the windows of restaurants in Japan. They look so real and delicious but if you tried biting into one, you’d break your teeth. That was the perception I had of the characters and plot of this story, beautiful in theory but fake, inauthentic. But it was early and, based on how beautifully Sundays With Oliver resonated and how right both Nick and Oliver’s quirks and neurodiversity felt, I believed that Jensen had the talent and insight to turn it around. I was wrong. Horribly wrong. Not only did the story continue to fail, it got worse. And worse. And worse.
As I continued reading, new story elements and character traits and idiosyncrasies continued to be added, each a new piece of food added to the table that was the story. The problem was that some of the food felt authentic and real and was genuinely satisfying but even more of it felt brittle and plastic, pretty on the surface but flavorless and jaw breaking. I was wading through a story meal that felt like a crapshoot, feeling alternately fulfilled or duped depending on the trait or plot point. Some of the representation felt good as far as I could tell but a lot felt wrong, off and/or poorly portrayed or conceptualized.
That, on its own, was bad enough but what broke me were the micro aggressions.
I low key ranted in my review of Shelf Life about Gray’s endless anti vegan thoughts and comments. Well, don’t ya know, Jensen brings that anti vegan sentiment right back in this one too.
…in deference to his vegan little bro, Cam had planned for the joyless eaters. He had black bean and rice burgers chilling in the fridge, a dairy-free pasta salad, and plenty of green shit.
How sweet, Cam thinks of his brother as being joyless for being vegan and provides plenty of shit for him to eat.
“What’s cooking?” He sniffed, brow wrinkling. “Is that bacon?”
“Does it smell like bacon?” Oliver leaned forward, his expression all gleeful anticipation.
“It does.”
“Want to try it?”
“Depends on what it’s made of.”
“Fungus.”
A man should not be so proud of a word like fungus, or the fact he was trying to pass it off as bacon. But that was Oliver for you.
“Yeah, I’ll pass.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried vegan/vegetarian bacon so I can’t comment on it and it’s subjective anyway, but I am vegetarian and I am blown away by what food scientists are doing with plant based meats! It’s impressive and thinking food scientists, vegan restauranteurs and home cooks shouldn’t be proud of creating amazing, satisfying and tasty vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes is narrow minded and backward thinking. Jensen needs to step into the 21st century and get over her vegan food derision. Or not, she can simply continue to alienate a growing part of the general population and potential readers.
On a completely different note, there’s this:
He’d never have pictured Gray and Aaron as a couple. They were so different, and not only because of the color of their skin.
Really? 😑🙄 He couldn’t picture them together because they were… 👀… 👀… different races, among other things… 😬😑🤯 Really!?! Giiiiirlllll, you said the quiet part out loud.
Later, pondering all his poor choices in men, Victor thinks:
He’d entertained men who rambled endlessly about subjects Victor found tedious, who dressed better than he did (so annoying), who exercised properly and proudly, who believed in deities Victor had never heard of, adhered to ridiculous diets, didn’t read for fuck’s sake, and who didn’t understand art. Or who thought they did and continuously challenged Victor’s talent.
What a bunch of dealbreakers, am I right!?! *sarcasm* Heaven forbid you have a friend or partner who is enthusiastic about things they love or who enjoys exercising or… or… or… is a different religion! *gasp!* 😱 The horror! Or who is a vegan or vegetarian or goes on a diet 😱 Or doesn’t enjoy reading or art 😱😱 To say I LOVE reading is a gigantic understatement. Honestly, I probably spend more time reading than I do anything else except maybe sleeping… I’m pretty sure I don’t read more than 7 hours every single day 🤔 But no matter how much I love reading and can’t imaging not loving it, I sure as shit am not going to judge people that don’t. Once again Jensen, step into the 21st century and stop yucking others yum and deriding others whose religions, pastimes and preferences are different.
Going back to the religion thing, what’s especially weird and confounding about it is that Victor was born in a hippie commune and grew up in a loving poly family with 2 dads and a mom called Sunbeam, Moonshine and Rainstorm and no one ever knew or cared which of the dads was Victory’s (yep, that’s his real name) biological father. Moreover Victor had children with his best lesbian friend and they all lived and loved together and as their authentic and queer selves, never marrying each other or hiding their truth from their kids or the world. So it seems especially incongruous and inorganic that Victor of all people would talk smack about people who worship differently than he does. It’s like Jensen wanted to write something progressive but couldn’t help letting her true (conscious or subconscious) beliefs shine through into the story. And I’ll back that up with how Oliver wasn’t vegan in Sundays With Oliver but embraced Nick and his veganism so completely that he dedicated himself to creating delicious vegan foods and pastries. He’s so happy and good at it that he ends up starting a successful vegan catering business. Once again, it feels like Jensen tried being open minded and progressive but was so over it by the time she finished SWO that she lost her mind and couldn’t contain the vegan bashing ever after (or even in SWO to an limited extent.)
Ug! 😑 Individually, I might have been able to overlook or cringe and get over the things that I didn’t like about the story or found offensive and/or micro aggression-y but the story failed for me on the whole. There was just so much that felt not-quite-right as far as representation (but I’m not trying to write a whole book here) and the micro aggressions and bad takes have soured me to the point that despite having loved and identified with Sunday’s With Oliver, I think I’m going to pass on Jensen in the future. Maybe I’d try a KU title but this series was not KU and I’m a little annoyed with myself for trusting Jensen after all the bs in Shelf Life, so at this point my plan is to listen to my gut.
I liked Cam but other than that, low key hated this one. Though there’s a whole lot more I could say about the ways this one didn’t work for me or feel particularly well conceived, I’ve droned on long enough. I still haven’t settled on a rating though. 2 stars at best but 1 star may be right. Leaving the star rating off for now. If the story stays in my head in either a bad or good way, maybe I’ll settle on a rating later.
Edited to add July 1, 2024, a few days after writing my original review:
I don’t mean to go on and on about it, but I can’t help but think how readers would have reacted if Jensen had Nick, who is vegan, talk and think about meat eaters in a way analogous to the way Cam and Gray thought and talked about vegans. How would readers feel if Nick endlessly thought and talked about meat eaters as heartless, cruel, animal hating murderers over and over and over throughout the series? Because that’s the analogous portrayal. To be fair, I do know some vegans and vegetarians have that attitude, but I do not and neither did Nick and honestly just wish people could respect others food and dietary choices without being assholes about it.
And on that note, I am decided. 1 star.
I did not like this story. I didn’t like it for specific, easy to pinpoint reasons as well as vague, amorphous ones. Before I get to the reasons I disliked The Leaving Kind, I want to say I loved the first book in the series, Sundays With Oliver and had a very good feeling about Jensen as a storyteller. If not for that, I never would have picked up The Leaving Kind because I was pretty disenchanted with the middle book in the series, Shelf Life, and kind of questioned Jensen not only as a storyteller but some of her worldview as well. Having finished The Leaving Kind, my feelings of distaste for Jensen’s style have grown and my niggles about her worldview have only increased.
Within the first few chapters, I started feeling like I wanted to DNF. The story wasn’t resonating and I had a vague sense of this feels forced and fake. I kept feeling like the story was like one of those plastic models of food, the highly realistic ones I’d see in the windows of restaurants in Japan. They look so real and delicious but if you tried biting into one, you’d break your teeth. That was the perception I had of the characters and plot of this story, beautiful in theory but fake, inauthentic. But it was early and, based on how beautifully Sundays With Oliver resonated and how right both Nick and Oliver’s quirks and neurodiversity felt, I believed that Jensen had the talent and insight to turn it around. I was wrong. Horribly wrong. Not only did the story continue to fail, it got worse. And worse. And worse.
As I continued reading, new story elements and character traits and idiosyncrasies continued to be added, each a new piece of food added to the table that was the story. The problem was that some of the food felt authentic and real and was genuinely satisfying but even more of it felt brittle and plastic, pretty on the surface but flavorless and jaw breaking. I was wading through a story meal that felt like a crapshoot, feeling alternately fulfilled or duped depending on the trait or plot point. Some of the representation felt good as far as I could tell but a lot felt wrong, off and/or poorly portrayed or conceptualized.
That, on its own, was bad enough but what broke me were the micro aggressions.
I low key ranted in my review of Shelf Life about Gray’s endless anti vegan thoughts and comments. Well, don’t ya know, Jensen brings that anti vegan sentiment right back in this one too.
…in deference to his vegan little bro, Cam had planned for the joyless eaters. He had black bean and rice burgers chilling in the fridge, a dairy-free pasta salad, and plenty of green shit.
How sweet, Cam thinks of his brother as being joyless for being vegan and provides plenty of shit for him to eat.
“What’s cooking?” He sniffed, brow wrinkling. “Is that bacon?”
“Does it smell like bacon?” Oliver leaned forward, his expression all gleeful anticipation.
“It does.”
“Want to try it?”
“Depends on what it’s made of.”
“Fungus.”
A man should not be so proud of a word like fungus, or the fact he was trying to pass it off as bacon. But that was Oliver for you.
“Yeah, I’ll pass.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried vegan/vegetarian bacon so I can’t comment on it and it’s subjective anyway, but I am vegetarian and I am blown away by what food scientists are doing with plant based meats! It’s impressive and thinking food scientists, vegan restauranteurs and home cooks shouldn’t be proud of creating amazing, satisfying and tasty vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes is narrow minded and backward thinking. Jensen needs to step into the 21st century and get over her vegan food derision. Or not, she can simply continue to alienate a growing part of the general population and potential readers.
On a completely different note, there’s this:
He’d never have pictured Gray and Aaron as a couple. They were so different, and not only because of the color of their skin.
Really? 😑🙄 He couldn’t picture them together because they were… 👀… 👀… different races, among other things… 😬😑🤯 Really!?! Giiiiirlllll, you said the quiet part out loud.
Later, pondering all his poor choices in men, Victor thinks:
He’d entertained men who rambled endlessly about subjects Victor found tedious, who dressed better than he did (so annoying), who exercised properly and proudly, who believed in deities Victor had never heard of, adhered to ridiculous diets, didn’t read for fuck’s sake, and who didn’t understand art. Or who thought they did and continuously challenged Victor’s talent.
What a bunch of dealbreakers, am I right!?! *sarcasm* Heaven forbid you have a friend or partner who is enthusiastic about things they love or who enjoys exercising or… or… or… is a different religion! *gasp!* 😱 The horror! Or who is a vegan or vegetarian or goes on a diet 😱 Or doesn’t enjoy reading or art 😱😱 To say I LOVE reading is a gigantic understatement. Honestly, I probably spend more time reading than I do anything else except maybe sleeping… I’m pretty sure I don’t read more than 7 hours every single day 🤔 But no matter how much I love reading and can’t imaging not loving it, I sure as shit am not going to judge people that don’t. Once again Jensen, step into the 21st century and stop yucking others yum and deriding others whose religions, pastimes and preferences are different.
Going back to the religion thing, what’s especially weird and confounding about it is that Victor was born in a hippie commune and grew up in a loving poly family with 2 dads and a mom called Sunbeam, Moonshine and Rainstorm and no one ever knew or cared which of the dads was Victory’s (yep, that’s his real name) biological father. Moreover Victor had children with his best lesbian friend and they all lived and loved together and as their authentic and queer selves, never marrying each other or hiding their truth from their kids or the world. So it seems especially incongruous and inorganic that Victor of all people would talk smack about people who worship differently than he does. It’s like Jensen wanted to write something progressive but couldn’t help letting her true (conscious or subconscious) beliefs shine through into the story. And I’ll back that up with how Oliver wasn’t vegan in Sundays With Oliver but embraced Nick and his veganism so completely that he dedicated himself to creating delicious vegan foods and pastries. He’s so happy and good at it that he ends up starting a successful vegan catering business. Once again, it feels like Jensen tried being open minded and progressive but was so over it by the time she finished SWO that she lost her mind and couldn’t contain the vegan bashing ever after (or even in SWO to an limited extent.)
Ug! 😑 Individually, I might have been able to overlook or cringe and get over the things that I didn’t like about the story or found offensive and/or micro aggression-y but the story failed for me on the whole. There was just so much that felt not-quite-right as far as representation (but I’m not trying to write a whole book here) and the micro aggressions and bad takes have soured me to the point that despite having loved and identified with Sunday’s With Oliver, I think I’m going to pass on Jensen in the future. Maybe I’d try a KU title but this series was not KU and I’m a little annoyed with myself for trusting Jensen after all the bs in Shelf Life, so at this point my plan is to listen to my gut.
I liked Cam but other than that, low key hated this one. Though there’s a whole lot more I could say about the ways this one didn’t work for me or feel particularly well conceived, I’ve droned on long enough. I still haven’t settled on a rating though. 2 stars at best but 1 star may be right. Leaving the star rating off for now. If the story stays in my head in either a bad or good way, maybe I’ll settle on a rating later.
Edited to add July 1, 2024, a few days after writing my original review:
I don’t mean to go on and on about it, but I can’t help but think how readers would have reacted if Jensen had Nick, who is vegan, talk and think about meat eaters in a way analogous to the way Cam and Gray thought and talked about vegans. How would readers feel if Nick endlessly thought and talked about meat eaters as heartless, cruel, animal hating murderers over and over and over throughout the series? Because that’s the analogous portrayal. To be fair, I do know some vegans and vegetarians have that attitude, but I do not and neither did Nick and honestly just wish people could respect others food and dietary choices without being assholes about it.
And on that note, I am decided. 1 star.
September 12, 2023
I truly appreciate what Jensen is doing with this series. This book possibly most of all. None of them have swept me off my feet and put hearts in my eyes, but they approach romance as something that you weave into your life, not a thing that completely takes it over. Which is both pragmatic and rather lovely.
This book, and the whole series, are solidly four stars. Super solid. Well-built, no cracks in the foundation, passes inspection every time. This book also took some time to get going. It felt like a bit of a slog until about 35-40% and then, I was hooked. Read the rest of the book in a couple of sittings, totally invested. I'm not sure what could be done to that first third to hook me sooner, but it is the one thing I wish was slightly different.
I know why it takes a while to get going: these characters need time to feel comfortable with each other (or comfortable with themselves wanting to be comfortable with another person that way possibly, a very fine distinction) and we need to see that play out. I have no advice, other than to say, I believe it is worth sticking with it, even if it seems slow at first.
Cam is the star of this one, for all of Vic's dramatics (he improves upon closer knowledge). To see the heart of him after he was kind of a goofy side character in the first book. The way he shows up for people expecting nothing . . . some stuff he does and thinks made me tear up a couple of times. I didn't full on cry, but misted over a bit.
For anyone who complains that characters seem too young (which, I mostly dispute, ppl are idiots at every age, and nothing makes you dumber than love or the possibility of falling in it. That being said) I think this is the one of the most mature romances I've read. Which is to say, even though it hurts, they mostly do the right things or fix what they've messed up.
(If you struggle with depression or PTSD, this book deals with both, so make sure you're in the right head space before diving in.) (Also, I was kindly provided an advanced copy from Gay Romance Reviews.)
This book, and the whole series, are solidly four stars. Super solid. Well-built, no cracks in the foundation, passes inspection every time. This book also took some time to get going. It felt like a bit of a slog until about 35-40% and then, I was hooked. Read the rest of the book in a couple of sittings, totally invested. I'm not sure what could be done to that first third to hook me sooner, but it is the one thing I wish was slightly different.
I know why it takes a while to get going: these characters need time to feel comfortable with each other (or comfortable with themselves wanting to be comfortable with another person that way possibly, a very fine distinction) and we need to see that play out. I have no advice, other than to say, I believe it is worth sticking with it, even if it seems slow at first.
Cam is the star of this one, for all of Vic's dramatics (he improves upon closer knowledge). To see the heart of him after he was kind of a goofy side character in the first book. The way he shows up for people expecting nothing . . . some stuff he does and thinks made me tear up a couple of times. I didn't full on cry, but misted over a bit.
For anyone who complains that characters seem too young (which, I mostly dispute, ppl are idiots at every age, and nothing makes you dumber than love or the possibility of falling in it. That being said) I think this is the one of the most mature romances I've read. Which is to say, even though it hurts, they mostly do the right things or fix what they've messed up.
(If you struggle with depression or PTSD, this book deals with both, so make sure you're in the right head space before diving in.) (Also, I was kindly provided an advanced copy from Gay Romance Reviews.)
October 19, 2023
I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars rounded up.
The Leaving Kind, the final book in Kelly Jensen’s Hearts and Crafts trilogy is a beautifully written and heartfelt romance between two men in mid-life who are facing significant changes in their lives and who aren’t looking for love, but find it anyway. Big life changes have been a theme of the series – in book one, Nick and Oliver became empty-nesters; in book two, Grey suffered a heart-attack and had to re-think his approach to life while Aaron faced issues around family expectations – and now, we meet Victor, a highly-strung artist who has sworn off love and Cam, who has spent most of his life running away from so many things that he’s not sure he can ever learn how to stay.
Cameron Zimmermann – older brother of Nick from Sundays with Oliver – suddenly appeared on his brother’s doorstep after being away for twelve years, some of them spent in the military and the rest spent moving around from place to place and never putting down any roots. Two years later, Cam is still living in the family home in Milford (Nick having moved in with Oliver) which he’s ‘looking after’ for his niece, Emma, until she finishes college, and works for a local landscaping supplies firm. He’s mostly content – he likes his job and the people he works with, and he does his own thing, watching Star Trek marathons, helping Oliver with his weekend markets, and hooking up when he wants, but never looking for anything deeper or more lasting. He’s one of those people who needs to be constantly on the go, for reasons he doesn’t care to examine too deeply – or at all, if he can help it.
But in the last few months, the job that has always kept him busy has started to become less so, with custom falling every day thanks to increased competition from a new superstore. Cam knows the writing is on the wall for Shepard’s Tree Farm, and wonders how much longer the owner is going to be able to keep things going. He had never planned to stay in Milford indefinitely, but this is the best job he’s had in years and he’s not ready to move on yet.
Victor Ness is a successful artist specialising in landscape paining because after his father’s death, he couldn’t face portraiture any more. After his upcoming show is bumped in favour of a new artist and his agent tells him his recent work hasn’t been doing so well, he realises that’s maybe it’s time for him to try a different approach to finding material for his next series. But that will mean facing up to the loss that has shaped so much of his life – and admitting to some truths he’s still not ready for.
Cam and Victor’s first meeting is not exactly the stuff dreams are made of. Cam arrives with a delivery of trees and mulch to see two men yelling at each other across the lawn, which is strewn with boxes, bags and piles of clothing. Victor, clad only in his underwear and a colourful silk robe, knows he should have ended things between him and his cheating ex sooner rather than let things drag on and end up in a shouting match on his front lawn, but an afternoon and evening spent with his good friends Chardonnay and Sauvignon leaves him not caring all that much about good ideas. He just wants Tholo out and to be left alone to indulge in his bad mood – not to be intrigued by the lived-in face and the sparkling brown eyes of the guy who has just turned up to deliver the the stuff he ordered for the garden.
The next day, Cam is unable to resist going back to Victor’s place, just to check he’s okay, and then another day, to put a tarpaulin over the mulch – still sitting in a heap in front of the garage – to stop it getting washed away in an incoming storm. Victor isn’t especially welcoming either time, but at least Cam can see he’s alive and well – and even if he is still slobbing about in his robe, he has, at least, changed his underwear.
As his concern for Victor begins to take up residence in Cam’s brain, he’s also trying to come up with a plan for what he’s going to do after Shepard’s closes down. The last few delivery jobs he’s done have also elicited enquiries as to whether he can do the actual landscaping work in addition to just delivering the supplies, and when he speaks to his boss about it, she’s absolutely fine with Cam taking on the extra work. Before long, Cam has a list of potential clients and a potential workforce – but he can’t possibly run a small business. He doesn’t have the know-how or the money to finance it and he’s never wanted to be responsible for other people. Yet the possibility of building something of his own and making it work is there – if he can just get past his fears and insecurities and go for it.
The chemistry between these two crackles right from the off, but both men are wary of acting on it. Cam makes very clear that he’s not interested in a relationship, that he’s already pegged Victor as a commitment kinda guy, and that he doesn’t want or need any complications. His one serious relationship ended very badly and he isn’t going there again. Victor may have got out of a relationship only recently, but he knows it was really over long before that; and in any case, that isn’t what is making him cautious about getting involved with Cam. He’s never been one for casual sex and knows he has a tendency to “want to make a relationship out of the most unremarkable meetings” – which Cam clearly doesn’t want. But he likes Cam – a lot – and while he doesn’t understand why he’s so commitment shy, he respects his position and is happy with friendship. Except that friendship isn’t necessarily uncomplicated either – and the more time they spend together and the more they get to know each other, the clearer it becomes that ‘uncomplicated’ isn’t going to work for either of them. Admitting to their intense mutual attraction and falling into bed together as friends is all well and good – but they’re unprepared for depth of what they’re starting to feel for each other, and it’s scary. Is this what they really want? And if it is… they’re going to need to find the courage to take a long, hard look at past hurts and insecurities and work out how to overcome them if they’re to make a life together.
I’ve said this before about Kelly Jensen, but I really appreciate the way she writes stories about mature characters with a variety of life experience who have been around the block a few times and who – perhaps – have fallen into established patterns they need to break out of if they’re to find real happiness. Cam and Victor are both struggling with a weight of grief and loss neither of them has ever really fully addressed, and which affects them in very different ways, but which somehow strengthens the developing bond between them.
A few familiar faces pop up during the course of the story, and I was so pleased to see how much closer Cam and Nick have become and how far their relationship has progressed. They obviously love each other dearly, and I really liked that Nick is now able to step up to give his brother the emotional – and practical – support he needs. Victor’s family is great, too; he and his bestie, Tereza, decided to have kids together – they have a son (Sage) and a daughter (Coriander) – and even though they’re no longer living in the same house, they’re still very important to each other and Tereza is an amazing friend. There’s a really touching scene between father and son (who is now a father himself), where Sage very gently lets Victor know he’s worried about him and offers his unconditional love and support.
Victor and Cam are complete opposites in so many ways, yet their affection and love for each other bleeds off the page. All the characters in the book are vividly realised and individual, and I absolutely loved the romance and how these two guarded men learn that love isn’t something they have to run from. The Leaving Kind is a beautiful, gentle romance full of warmth and heart and life – and I’m putting it onto my keeper shelf.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance.
The Leaving Kind, the final book in Kelly Jensen’s Hearts and Crafts trilogy is a beautifully written and heartfelt romance between two men in mid-life who are facing significant changes in their lives and who aren’t looking for love, but find it anyway. Big life changes have been a theme of the series – in book one, Nick and Oliver became empty-nesters; in book two, Grey suffered a heart-attack and had to re-think his approach to life while Aaron faced issues around family expectations – and now, we meet Victor, a highly-strung artist who has sworn off love and Cam, who has spent most of his life running away from so many things that he’s not sure he can ever learn how to stay.
Cameron Zimmermann – older brother of Nick from Sundays with Oliver – suddenly appeared on his brother’s doorstep after being away for twelve years, some of them spent in the military and the rest spent moving around from place to place and never putting down any roots. Two years later, Cam is still living in the family home in Milford (Nick having moved in with Oliver) which he’s ‘looking after’ for his niece, Emma, until she finishes college, and works for a local landscaping supplies firm. He’s mostly content – he likes his job and the people he works with, and he does his own thing, watching Star Trek marathons, helping Oliver with his weekend markets, and hooking up when he wants, but never looking for anything deeper or more lasting. He’s one of those people who needs to be constantly on the go, for reasons he doesn’t care to examine too deeply – or at all, if he can help it.
But in the last few months, the job that has always kept him busy has started to become less so, with custom falling every day thanks to increased competition from a new superstore. Cam knows the writing is on the wall for Shepard’s Tree Farm, and wonders how much longer the owner is going to be able to keep things going. He had never planned to stay in Milford indefinitely, but this is the best job he’s had in years and he’s not ready to move on yet.
Victor Ness is a successful artist specialising in landscape paining because after his father’s death, he couldn’t face portraiture any more. After his upcoming show is bumped in favour of a new artist and his agent tells him his recent work hasn’t been doing so well, he realises that’s maybe it’s time for him to try a different approach to finding material for his next series. But that will mean facing up to the loss that has shaped so much of his life – and admitting to some truths he’s still not ready for.
Cam and Victor’s first meeting is not exactly the stuff dreams are made of. Cam arrives with a delivery of trees and mulch to see two men yelling at each other across the lawn, which is strewn with boxes, bags and piles of clothing. Victor, clad only in his underwear and a colourful silk robe, knows he should have ended things between him and his cheating ex sooner rather than let things drag on and end up in a shouting match on his front lawn, but an afternoon and evening spent with his good friends Chardonnay and Sauvignon leaves him not caring all that much about good ideas. He just wants Tholo out and to be left alone to indulge in his bad mood – not to be intrigued by the lived-in face and the sparkling brown eyes of the guy who has just turned up to deliver the the stuff he ordered for the garden.
The next day, Cam is unable to resist going back to Victor’s place, just to check he’s okay, and then another day, to put a tarpaulin over the mulch – still sitting in a heap in front of the garage – to stop it getting washed away in an incoming storm. Victor isn’t especially welcoming either time, but at least Cam can see he’s alive and well – and even if he is still slobbing about in his robe, he has, at least, changed his underwear.
As his concern for Victor begins to take up residence in Cam’s brain, he’s also trying to come up with a plan for what he’s going to do after Shepard’s closes down. The last few delivery jobs he’s done have also elicited enquiries as to whether he can do the actual landscaping work in addition to just delivering the supplies, and when he speaks to his boss about it, she’s absolutely fine with Cam taking on the extra work. Before long, Cam has a list of potential clients and a potential workforce – but he can’t possibly run a small business. He doesn’t have the know-how or the money to finance it and he’s never wanted to be responsible for other people. Yet the possibility of building something of his own and making it work is there – if he can just get past his fears and insecurities and go for it.
The chemistry between these two crackles right from the off, but both men are wary of acting on it. Cam makes very clear that he’s not interested in a relationship, that he’s already pegged Victor as a commitment kinda guy, and that he doesn’t want or need any complications. His one serious relationship ended very badly and he isn’t going there again. Victor may have got out of a relationship only recently, but he knows it was really over long before that; and in any case, that isn’t what is making him cautious about getting involved with Cam. He’s never been one for casual sex and knows he has a tendency to “want to make a relationship out of the most unremarkable meetings” – which Cam clearly doesn’t want. But he likes Cam – a lot – and while he doesn’t understand why he’s so commitment shy, he respects his position and is happy with friendship. Except that friendship isn’t necessarily uncomplicated either – and the more time they spend together and the more they get to know each other, the clearer it becomes that ‘uncomplicated’ isn’t going to work for either of them. Admitting to their intense mutual attraction and falling into bed together as friends is all well and good – but they’re unprepared for depth of what they’re starting to feel for each other, and it’s scary. Is this what they really want? And if it is… they’re going to need to find the courage to take a long, hard look at past hurts and insecurities and work out how to overcome them if they’re to make a life together.
I’ve said this before about Kelly Jensen, but I really appreciate the way she writes stories about mature characters with a variety of life experience who have been around the block a few times and who – perhaps – have fallen into established patterns they need to break out of if they’re to find real happiness. Cam and Victor are both struggling with a weight of grief and loss neither of them has ever really fully addressed, and which affects them in very different ways, but which somehow strengthens the developing bond between them.
A few familiar faces pop up during the course of the story, and I was so pleased to see how much closer Cam and Nick have become and how far their relationship has progressed. They obviously love each other dearly, and I really liked that Nick is now able to step up to give his brother the emotional – and practical – support he needs. Victor’s family is great, too; he and his bestie, Tereza, decided to have kids together – they have a son (Sage) and a daughter (Coriander) – and even though they’re no longer living in the same house, they’re still very important to each other and Tereza is an amazing friend. There’s a really touching scene between father and son (who is now a father himself), where Sage very gently lets Victor know he’s worried about him and offers his unconditional love and support.
Victor and Cam are complete opposites in so many ways, yet their affection and love for each other bleeds off the page. All the characters in the book are vividly realised and individual, and I absolutely loved the romance and how these two guarded men learn that love isn’t something they have to run from. The Leaving Kind is a beautiful, gentle romance full of warmth and heart and life – and I’m putting it onto my keeper shelf.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance.
September 4, 2023
It's no secret that I'm a huge Kelly Jensen fan, but this, in my opinion, is her best work so far. It was excellent. The Leaving Kind is a gorgeous story of two men finding each other and themselves amid mild upheaval in their lives. I loved how Cam and Vic came together, and I love how Kelly gave both characters the space to grow individually and as a couple.
Beautifully written and captivating.
Beautifully written and captivating.
September 20, 2023
I’m enjoying this series and the different characters we’ve met in each book, but they are all quite slow burn and take a while to get going. On one hand, I can understand that as the author writes mature, complex characters and does a lot of background and world building around their lives, but I do sometimes wish the start of these books would move along a little faster. Once I get into each one, I get hooked and enjoy them so I would advise people to persevere with the slow starts.
We first met Cam as Nick’s brother in book one in this series - Sundays with Oliver. I was hoping he would get his own book and I really enjoyed seeing them get closer as brothers in this book and the appearance of other characters from the earlier books. As with the first two books in the series, I like that the main characters are older - actually older than me for a change! Cam is almost 50 and Victor is 52.
Both have their own issues going on and beware of the TWs with this one as Cam is a veteran and despite being back home for several years is still suffering from episodes of PTSD and insomnia. Victor also has his own issues with depression, but I loved his support system of his two adult kids and Tereza/Tez - the mother of his children.
This is overall a really enjoyable series and the characters are relatable. I hope there will be more - maybe Jorge has a story to tell too?
We first met Cam as Nick’s brother in book one in this series - Sundays with Oliver. I was hoping he would get his own book and I really enjoyed seeing them get closer as brothers in this book and the appearance of other characters from the earlier books. As with the first two books in the series, I like that the main characters are older - actually older than me for a change! Cam is almost 50 and Victor is 52.
Both have their own issues going on and beware of the TWs with this one as Cam is a veteran and despite being back home for several years is still suffering from episodes of PTSD and insomnia. Victor also has his own issues with depression, but I loved his support system of his two adult kids and Tereza/Tez - the mother of his children.
This is overall a really enjoyable series and the characters are relatable. I hope there will be more - maybe Jorge has a story to tell too?
September 22, 2023
I received a free copy through GRR and voluntarily reviewed it.
This is such a great series by Kelly Jensen and I really enjoyed The Leaving Kind. The Leaving Kind follows Cam and Victor. A chance encounter when Cam is delivering some garden supplies to Victor ordered slowly leads to more, they don't plan for anything more than friends, but they slowly grow closer.
I was excited to start this book as I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series. Cam is the brother of Nick, who was one of the main characters in book 1, and I was excited to read his story. Despite that I struggled through the first 30% or so of this book. I thought the start was really slow and I didn't connect as much with the characters at first or feel their connection. I even went on Goodreads to read some reviews and they all assured me it would get better and it did. Once they really start talking and their friendship starts I was hooked and the rest of the book was great.
I liked reading about Victor and Cam, they're both such interesting characters and they felt so real with their own lives, personalities and struggles. I liked reading about Cam and how he enjoyed his work and how that developed throughout the book. Victor was such a vibrant personality, but also had moods that got him down. This book could be a bit tough to read at times as well, Cam has served in the war and has been struggled finding his place ever since, where Victor is struggling with his painting career as well as his low depressive moods. I thought their struggles made them feel real and I liked reading about them and their lives. And seeing how they interacted with the other as well as the side characters.
I really liked the romance between Cam and Victor. They become friends and then more. They don't want to fall in love and they actually talk about that, but then they end up sleeping together and growing even closer and feelings get added in the mix. I tough their relationship was very well written and I really wanted them to make it work and see how they would figure it al out. The last few chapters were so good and I really liked the epilogue.
To summarize: I really enjoyed The Leaving Kind. It's a great romance read with emotional depth and characters that feel real. I struggled a bit through the first 30% of the book as it felt very slow and didn't grip me, but once their relationship starts developing I was hooked and really enjoyed the rest of the book. Both characters are great to read about and I liked how real they feel, with their own lives, personalities, jobs and struggles. I enjoyed seeing these tow grow closer and fall in love. The last few chapters and epilogue were really good and wrapped up the story well. I really enjoyed this series!
This is such a great series by Kelly Jensen and I really enjoyed The Leaving Kind. The Leaving Kind follows Cam and Victor. A chance encounter when Cam is delivering some garden supplies to Victor ordered slowly leads to more, they don't plan for anything more than friends, but they slowly grow closer.
I was excited to start this book as I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series. Cam is the brother of Nick, who was one of the main characters in book 1, and I was excited to read his story. Despite that I struggled through the first 30% or so of this book. I thought the start was really slow and I didn't connect as much with the characters at first or feel their connection. I even went on Goodreads to read some reviews and they all assured me it would get better and it did. Once they really start talking and their friendship starts I was hooked and the rest of the book was great.
I liked reading about Victor and Cam, they're both such interesting characters and they felt so real with their own lives, personalities and struggles. I liked reading about Cam and how he enjoyed his work and how that developed throughout the book. Victor was such a vibrant personality, but also had moods that got him down. This book could be a bit tough to read at times as well, Cam has served in the war and has been struggled finding his place ever since, where Victor is struggling with his painting career as well as his low depressive moods. I thought their struggles made them feel real and I liked reading about them and their lives. And seeing how they interacted with the other as well as the side characters.
I really liked the romance between Cam and Victor. They become friends and then more. They don't want to fall in love and they actually talk about that, but then they end up sleeping together and growing even closer and feelings get added in the mix. I tough their relationship was very well written and I really wanted them to make it work and see how they would figure it al out. The last few chapters were so good and I really liked the epilogue.
To summarize: I really enjoyed The Leaving Kind. It's a great romance read with emotional depth and characters that feel real. I struggled a bit through the first 30% of the book as it felt very slow and didn't grip me, but once their relationship starts developing I was hooked and really enjoyed the rest of the book. Both characters are great to read about and I liked how real they feel, with their own lives, personalities, jobs and struggles. I enjoyed seeing these tow grow closer and fall in love. The last few chapters and epilogue were really good and wrapped up the story well. I really enjoyed this series!
November 22, 2023
One day I’ll sit down and write a proper long review for the each book in this series. But now I just want to curl on the couch and cry because I’m so not ready for this series to be over… and maybe (big hopeful puppy eyes) it’s not the end (we all want the happily ever after for Jorge, don’t we?!)
These series makes you want someone to invent a machine which will allow you to become a part of the story. There is so much warmth and love and acceptance in these books; you never want to stop reading about the characters.
I don’t need some big dramas and happenings. I just want to read about Vic and Cam training Rori, see them planning and improving their garden, gathering family and friends in their home. I want to read about Gray and Aaron planning their new games. I want to read about Nick and Ollie cooking together. I want to read about all the funny projects all these characters will definitely have in the future.
These books are so much about every person on the planet Earth being artist and creator. Living itself is an act of creation. We are creating our own lives and changing and shaping the lives of people around us. The Hearts and Crafts are such a wonderful reminder to be gentle with yourself and with people around you.
Thank you so much, Kelly, for such amazing stories!
These series makes you want someone to invent a machine which will allow you to become a part of the story. There is so much warmth and love and acceptance in these books; you never want to stop reading about the characters.
I don’t need some big dramas and happenings. I just want to read about Vic and Cam training Rori, see them planning and improving their garden, gathering family and friends in their home. I want to read about Gray and Aaron planning their new games. I want to read about Nick and Ollie cooking together. I want to read about all the funny projects all these characters will definitely have in the future.
These books are so much about every person on the planet Earth being artist and creator. Living itself is an act of creation. We are creating our own lives and changing and shaping the lives of people around us. The Hearts and Crafts are such a wonderful reminder to be gentle with yourself and with people around you.
Thank you so much, Kelly, for such amazing stories!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2023
❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
👥: It was a wonderful story where both characters have time and space to grow as a person. I love them, and I spent a great time reading this book.
💞: Victor and Cameron are a lovely and touching couple. It’s about finding the right person at the right time and letting them help you. Their relationship gradually evolves from discovering each other to falling in love. And they don’t make it easy since they have to confront ghosts of the past in their way.
🪶: This story deals with heavy topics such as depression and PTSD, and according to me it was done trully and beautifully. Their story is emotional and inspiring. Maybe you will cry along the way, but it’s the kind of tears that hug your soul.
🗒: « Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found. »
✨I received an ARC by GRR for this book and I’m very grateful for it, but this is obviously my honest review.✨
👥: It was a wonderful story where both characters have time and space to grow as a person. I love them, and I spent a great time reading this book.
💞: Victor and Cameron are a lovely and touching couple. It’s about finding the right person at the right time and letting them help you. Their relationship gradually evolves from discovering each other to falling in love. And they don’t make it easy since they have to confront ghosts of the past in their way.
🪶: This story deals with heavy topics such as depression and PTSD, and according to me it was done trully and beautifully. Their story is emotional and inspiring. Maybe you will cry along the way, but it’s the kind of tears that hug your soul.
🗒: « Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found. »
✨I received an ARC by GRR for this book and I’m very grateful for it, but this is obviously my honest review.✨
March 28, 2024
Barely 3 stars. I wanted Cam to have a wonderful story. I wanted to get to know his struggles better, his mental problems. We get to know him but not really on a deeper level.
Victor is an interesting character. His life story is very unique. In my opinion the author should have been more open and clear what was the reason for his over the top behaviour. Instead we get to know him as over dramatic and maybe also addicted to alcohol. And the way his family is dealing with him doesn't indicate any kind of mental reason. The way the author throws that at the reader by the end of the book and the way it isn't really dealt with disappointed me.
The writing is partly engaging but some parts are dragging. It's not really balanced or maybe it's just how I felt it. Might be completely a me thing.
Victor is an interesting character. His life story is very unique. In my opinion the author should have been more open and clear what was the reason for his over the top behaviour. Instead we get to know him as over dramatic and maybe also addicted to alcohol. And the way his family is dealing with him doesn't indicate any kind of mental reason. The way the author throws that at the reader by the end of the book and the way it isn't really dealt with disappointed me.
The writing is partly engaging but some parts are dragging. It's not really balanced or maybe it's just how I felt it. Might be completely a me thing.
September 20, 2023
Solid conclusion to an excellent series by Jensen.
Jensen's books have been fascinating lately, written in a very naturalistic style, and this one is no different. The romance almost takes a back seat in what turns out to be a character study of both Vic and Cameron, who first become friends before starting up a sexual relationship. Neither man is a great candidate for a relationship but somehow they manage to stumble into one that's a bit deeper than either bargained for. How they get there and what they do to salvage it is the story here.
I really loved Cam's character and found him more and more fascinating as Jensen peeled back his character's layers. The pain he had gone through such as PTSD informed much of his actions even as he digs up the courage to start to live fully again, first by relating to his brother on a more equal footing and then starting his own business, a secondary storyline that I found fascinating. There was an incident towards the end that really pulled the rug out from under Cameron and I found myself cursing Jensen's name. The incident is resolved fairly well but it was definitely a sign that I was fully invested in the story.
I couldn't connect with Vic in quite the same way. It seemed to me that he brought a lot of issues upon himself. While that may have been part of the point, I still found myself wanting to shake some sense into him.
All in all, I felt that this was a strong read. It seemed to take a bit to get going but once it did I found myself turning the pages eagerly. Jensen's definitely near the top of her game here. Trigger warnings definitely apply with PTSD and depression.
Jensen's books have been fascinating lately, written in a very naturalistic style, and this one is no different. The romance almost takes a back seat in what turns out to be a character study of both Vic and Cameron, who first become friends before starting up a sexual relationship. Neither man is a great candidate for a relationship but somehow they manage to stumble into one that's a bit deeper than either bargained for. How they get there and what they do to salvage it is the story here.
I really loved Cam's character and found him more and more fascinating as Jensen peeled back his character's layers. The pain he had gone through such as PTSD informed much of his actions even as he digs up the courage to start to live fully again, first by relating to his brother on a more equal footing and then starting his own business, a secondary storyline that I found fascinating. There was an incident towards the end that really pulled the rug out from under Cameron and I found myself cursing Jensen's name. The incident is resolved fairly well but it was definitely a sign that I was fully invested in the story.
I couldn't connect with Vic in quite the same way. It seemed to me that he brought a lot of issues upon himself. While that may have been part of the point, I still found myself wanting to shake some sense into him.
All in all, I felt that this was a strong read. It seemed to take a bit to get going but once it did I found myself turning the pages eagerly. Jensen's definitely near the top of her game here. Trigger warnings definitely apply with PTSD and depression.
September 3, 2023
4 stars
This one kind of snuck up on me with how much I liked and enjoyed it.
It took a while to get going as at the start Vic was the harder character for me to like, he was just all about the "drama" and a bit over the top, but then through his budding friendship with Cameron we got to know both guys and they both wormed their way into my heart.
Both have their own issues, and Victor's were probably more out in the open but Cameron's were just as bad, just hidden to an extent better. Cameron being afraid of connecting with anyone was at the same time making connections wherever he turned and he was petrified. It slowed the relationship down so they really got to know each other. They still had things that weren't spoken about and by the end all was in the open. I loved seeing the brothers interact and become even more of a family unit.
I actually understood Victor's depressive episodes, the need to just sometimes check out but to snap out of it when it got to that point and I liked that he wasn't in denial of having them. He was prepared to do what he needed to do to get help, when it got to that point that it was harder to snap out of it. His relationships with Tez and his kids were fabulous. the close bond between the family members was conveyed so well.
The part with Honey slayed me as I've been in that situation before, it wasn't was long but it was a killer to go through.
I hope we see more from this series, I'd love to see more of Jorge and hope he finds his peace.
***Arc provided by GRR***
This one kind of snuck up on me with how much I liked and enjoyed it.
It took a while to get going as at the start Vic was the harder character for me to like, he was just all about the "drama" and a bit over the top, but then through his budding friendship with Cameron we got to know both guys and they both wormed their way into my heart.
Both have their own issues, and Victor's were probably more out in the open but Cameron's were just as bad, just hidden to an extent better. Cameron being afraid of connecting with anyone was at the same time making connections wherever he turned and he was petrified. It slowed the relationship down so they really got to know each other. They still had things that weren't spoken about and by the end all was in the open. I loved seeing the brothers interact and become even more of a family unit.
I actually understood Victor's depressive episodes, the need to just sometimes check out but to snap out of it when it got to that point and I liked that he wasn't in denial of having them. He was prepared to do what he needed to do to get help, when it got to that point that it was harder to snap out of it. His relationships with Tez and his kids were fabulous. the close bond between the family members was conveyed so well.
The part with Honey slayed me as I've been in that situation before, it wasn't was long but it was a killer to go through.
I hope we see more from this series, I'd love to see more of Jorge and hope he finds his peace.
***Arc provided by GRR***
September 6, 2023
This one broke me and put me back together.
The Leaving Kind is a wonderful slow-burn romance. Cameron and Victor stole my heart; I love reading stories about older men finding love. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to review an early copy.
All three books in this series have seemed like very realistic stories but this one most of all. I have family members who suffer from clinical depression and this story seemed very real in that respect. Victor deals with mood swings and depression which causes him to sometimes push people away. His career as an artist has hit a bump in the road and that certainly didn’t help with his depression.
Cameron (Cam) has been drifting a bit since returning to his hometown. He works for a tree farm that is losing the battle to compete with one of those new big landscaping stores. He’s not sure what he will do if – more likely when – the business has to close.
I loved how much Victor loved his kids and their mother and how they decided to make a family together many years ago; and I liked how much they all accepted Cam.
The Leaving Kind moved me to tears more than once and I love books that evoke such emotional responses. I don’t know if this series is finished or not but I’m looking forward to reading more books by Kelly Jensen.
The Leaving Kind is a wonderful slow-burn romance. Cameron and Victor stole my heart; I love reading stories about older men finding love. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to review an early copy.
All three books in this series have seemed like very realistic stories but this one most of all. I have family members who suffer from clinical depression and this story seemed very real in that respect. Victor deals with mood swings and depression which causes him to sometimes push people away. His career as an artist has hit a bump in the road and that certainly didn’t help with his depression.
Cameron (Cam) has been drifting a bit since returning to his hometown. He works for a tree farm that is losing the battle to compete with one of those new big landscaping stores. He’s not sure what he will do if – more likely when – the business has to close.
I loved how much Victor loved his kids and their mother and how they decided to make a family together many years ago; and I liked how much they all accepted Cam.
The Leaving Kind moved me to tears more than once and I love books that evoke such emotional responses. I don’t know if this series is finished or not but I’m looking forward to reading more books by Kelly Jensen.
September 22, 2023
First and foremost, I love this book. Now, I do have to say that some parts were hard to read. I was made uncomfortable, sad, angry, helpless, happy, and...just all the feels. I cried more than once and worried so much for these beautiful, wounded men. But I also smiled a lot when watching them work around and through the things blocking their mental health and happiness.
The dynamic between Cam and Victor does change here and there. The ins and outs of what they are each going through are too sensitive to try to put a single term to them for the sake of this review. Suffice it to say, they may not suffer the same, but they understand how challenging the suffering is for the other and give them a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. The author made me feel what they were feeling, and it was oh so beautifully painful. I won't post spoilers, but I will say that this has become my favorite of the three books in the Hearts and Crafts series (and that is saying something since the first two were excellent in their own right). I enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books. They are strong characters who continue to add substance to whatever pages they are on.
I hope there are more in this series. I haven't seen many books with the age range of this series, and it's refreshing to see older people get the happiness they deserve.
I look forward to more from this author.
The dynamic between Cam and Victor does change here and there. The ins and outs of what they are each going through are too sensitive to try to put a single term to them for the sake of this review. Suffice it to say, they may not suffer the same, but they understand how challenging the suffering is for the other and give them a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. The author made me feel what they were feeling, and it was oh so beautifully painful. I won't post spoilers, but I will say that this has become my favorite of the three books in the Hearts and Crafts series (and that is saying something since the first two were excellent in their own right). I enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books. They are strong characters who continue to add substance to whatever pages they are on.
I hope there are more in this series. I haven't seen many books with the age range of this series, and it's refreshing to see older people get the happiness they deserve.
I look forward to more from this author.
September 12, 2023
One of the things that keeps me reading Kelly Jensen is most of her main characters are older, often in their middle years. The Leaving Kind is no exception, with one character turning 50! It turns out Victor, the artist, and Cameron, the handyman, have complementary issues that draw them to each other, that and the red-hot attraction between them. At times they seem to be in a competition as to who will leave first to “spare” the other when the relationship dies a natural death. As both of their extended families get drawn into their relationship, the additional characters bring out both the best and worst in each man. It was not a foregone conclusion these two could move from FWB to something more . As is true with most series, it is fun to see the characters from the previous books in the series in supporting roles in this book. As the blurb points out, this novel can be read alone, but it is a richer read following the first two books. I received a free ARC of The Leaving Kind from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2023
4.5/5 Cam and Victor are very different people—except for the ways that they’re similar. This was a beautiful romance as these two found one another at a time when they didn’t think they wanted this sort of complication in their lives. It was sometimes tough but so satisfying seeing them discover their new place in the world as Victor struggled with his painting and Cam figured out what he could do with his life.
Both these men have pasts, families, and mental health struggles. They made me laugh, occasionally brought me to tears, and definitely had me rooting so hard for them. I enjoyed the landscaping, Honey, board games, and the persistent love of Star Trek (and spreading it to others, lol). I loved seeing them realise they had more support and love than they thought. It was wonderful seeing them come together.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
Both these men have pasts, families, and mental health struggles. They made me laugh, occasionally brought me to tears, and definitely had me rooting so hard for them. I enjoyed the landscaping, Honey, board games, and the persistent love of Star Trek (and spreading it to others, lol). I loved seeing them realise they had more support and love than they thought. It was wonderful seeing them come together.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
September 15, 2023
Cam and Vic’s romance is less an all-consuming torrent and more a vibrant strand threaded through the fabric of their respective lives: they both have things going on, they both have to work for comfort and clarity and growth– with themselves and with each other. Nothing about them together feels forced– it’s a deeply organic connection between characters that might not always be easy but definitely feels worth it, for both of them. The writing is polished and immersive, the characters easy to care about. Definitely well worth a read. As a final thought, this story is part of a series, and while it can stand alone, if you like the vibe of this one, chances are high you’ll enjoy the others too.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 16, 2023
I love the way the relationship between Victor and Cam grows over the entire book and is still a definite work in progress at the end. The writing leaves me with no doubt whatsoever that they are a HEA.
There is so much laughter and pain, and every other emotion in between. The secondary characters, like Jorge, and those from previous books (which I confess I haven't read...yet) add a rich tapestry of family, friends and animals. I like that they aren't briefly mentioned and then put aside. Both main characters are around 50 and have a generous helping of life experience, so this is just right for their story.
Will I now read more by this author? Well, I now have both previous books in this series, all 3 of This Time Forever and Counting Fence Posts loaded and ready to go.
There is so much laughter and pain, and every other emotion in between. The secondary characters, like Jorge, and those from previous books (which I confess I haven't read...yet) add a rich tapestry of family, friends and animals. I like that they aren't briefly mentioned and then put aside. Both main characters are around 50 and have a generous helping of life experience, so this is just right for their story.
Will I now read more by this author? Well, I now have both previous books in this series, all 3 of This Time Forever and Counting Fence Posts loaded and ready to go.
September 22, 2023
I love this series and for me this is the best in the series. I loved the main characters and how each had endured so much pain all they could do was agree to be friends. But soon their physical attraction and hearts took over, of course scaring them to death. Cameron and Victor broke my heart in many ways, but I loved how they became one another support. I loved watching then confront their issues and pain realizing they are stronger together than solo. The fact that they are both older makes it more special tome as you do not see many books have old gay main characters experience life's trials and tribulations while also trying to find hope and love. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
September 22, 2023
Sometimes the scariest thing is staying and working your way through the difficult and learning that you can and what is on the other side is so much better than life when you were avoiding it. The stories in this series are so good because they are older men, in this case Cam and Victor, both hovering around 50, who have lost love and are a bit hesitant to try again because it had a profound impact. But sometimes when you find someone that makes even scary things worth the try you can work your way forward. I love slow burn romances and I also like emotional stories that show not only personal growth but the power of facing the difficult together and making it to the other side.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 20, 2023
The romance in this novel was palpable and heartfelt. Cam and Victor's relationship is characterized by a love that blossoms out of sorrow and emotion. This appears to bring out the best in these two very distinct individuals who come from quite different backgrounds. At first, everything seems to move at a snail's pace, but that slowness is really part of the appeal. It hits you all at once how invested you are in Cam and Victor's happiness. It happens so naturally, along with all the other problems and feelings. You will end up smiling, but you will also be crying.I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
September 22, 2023
Stick with it. Victor, is an artist experiencing artistic block. He has been hurt and decides staying away from love, is better. Cameron, internalizes his hurt to escape, life. He's run so far, he ends up right back where he started. He has so much going on in his mind, he just can't shut his mind off. He thought he would find solace, helping his younger brother, Nick. But Nick is alright. Cameron and Victor are older gentlemen who fit if they can just move to the right angle. That is the sweetest journey with a good steady flow. Nice cover art! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2023
A strong, mature romance that develops slowly over time between two men, both dealing with losses from their pasts, fearful of loving again, not sure it is even possible. Characters continue to develop throughout the book, the way the relationship evolves is natural and realistic, and the doubts and emotions they deal with are relatable. It took awhile at the beginning to get into the characters, but picked up and had me reading to see how they could deal with their fears to be able to come together to face their future as a couple. A bit of a longer read, but a satisfying conclusion for me.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
September 17, 2023
3.5 Stars The Leaving Kind was the first read for the author with this story for me. This took awhile to get into as the narrative wasn’t grabbing me in the beginning.
Cameron 49 yrs was an ex military, delivering trees and landscaping supplies.
Victor 52 yrs had just busted up with a man when he meets Cam. He worked with the towns homeless lgbtq giving art lessons.
An okay first meeting for Cam and Victor as Cam try’s to help but they get off on the wrong foot. He really needs a badge saying Mr Helpful especially on a particular road.
The two slowly get to know each other becoming friends.
Both are healing and over coming baggage’s in their pasts.
Told with both povs for an HEA ending. I would’ve loved this if there was slightly less narrative telling.
#GRRArc
Cameron 49 yrs was an ex military, delivering trees and landscaping supplies.
Victor 52 yrs had just busted up with a man when he meets Cam. He worked with the towns homeless lgbtq giving art lessons.
An okay first meeting for Cam and Victor as Cam try’s to help but they get off on the wrong foot. He really needs a badge saying Mr Helpful especially on a particular road.
The two slowly get to know each other becoming friends.
Both are healing and over coming baggage’s in their pasts.
Told with both povs for an HEA ending. I would’ve loved this if there was slightly less narrative telling.
#GRRArc
September 15, 2023
This story was simply put, very romantic. A love that grows from emotion and sadness is what happens between Cam and Victor. They are very different men with very different backgrounds, and this seems to round them out. Everything feels a bit slow at first but that was the beauty of it. You suddenly realize how emotionally attached you are to Cam and Victor and their hope for happiness. It happens so naturally mixed in with all the other issues and emotions. You will end with a smile but there will be tears!
September 19, 2023
Cam is uncertain about his future as he works for a tree farm that is struggling to compete with larger landscaping stores. He's unsure of what he will do once the business inevitably closes down. Victor, on the other hand, battles with mood swings and depression, which often makes him push people away. To make matters worse, his career as an artist has hit a rough patch. Nevertheless, Victor's deep love for his children and their mother, as well as their warm acceptance of Cam into their family, remains the main focus of the story. Great book and series.
September 20, 2023
Victor and Cam have baggage. Victor suffers from manic and depressed episodes. Everyone he has loved has left, or at least it seems that way. Cam has a list of the dates his loved ones have dies tattooed on his left shoulder. Although they are total opposites, they need each other, and they blend well together. What starts as business evolves into friendship and they are scared to realize it's turning into love. At the mid-century mark that can be disconcerting. At times their relationship has a dreamy, almost watercolor vibe.
September 21, 2023
I loved this book! Like the first book in the series, I found Cameron's and Victor's work lives interesting and important to them. And their thoughts about changing their entire approach to their careers showed how it could completely change their lives as well. As far as the relationship is concerned, it hurt my heart how they both felt so unsuited to finding and having a special someone who would stay. Or who they would stay for.
It was so great to see all the guys from all three books and to know things were working out for all of them.
It was so great to see all the guys from all three books and to know things were working out for all of them.
August 13, 2023
This was a solidly written mature romance with characters that never entirely clicked for me. I liked the way the romance took time to grow and how each of the MCs had the opportunity to support the other in a time of need... but even so, I never really cared all that much about either of them. Other readers may well respond differently.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.
September 12, 2023
This is a beautiful written slow burn romance of two men suffering with their own past issues. Cameron suffering with PTSD and loss of loved ones and Victor and his losses and depression. It was also nice to read a story about mature men finding their way in life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Make sure to have a box of tissues handy for the last two chapters of the book.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
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