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Portrait of a Ghost
A male/male romance about second chances... Twenty years after a tragic accident, Mark lives alone in a haunted house. Can a young artist from the big city break him free of a ghost that's more than a metaphor? Leo is too busy chasing his dreams to think about love. Then, in Mark, he meets a muse who inspires him to produce portrait after portrait. Is this obsession? Or is it something deeper? Portrait of a Ghost is a May/December contemporary gay romance novel about second chances, triumph over tragedy, and a ghost who has to learn to let go of the past. Absolutely no cheating and no cliffhangers. Always a happily ever after. Although there is a light haunted house theme, there is NO gore or horror in this novel. Expect a fast-paced read that focuses on the evolving relationship between two passionate men with a magnetic attraction to each other.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2018
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29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 29, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
The story of Dorian Gray is a classic tale of art, mortality, and the price of youthful beauty, and it’s especially relevant in the gay literary tradition. While this book isn’t a retelling, it certainly takes inspiration from the Oscar Wilde original. Mark Arrowwood is a man frozen in time, his appearance half of his actual age, who is stuck in a beautiful old house that seems to want Mark all for itself. But when he meets Leo, a handsome young artist from Brooklyn, he comes alive for the first time in years—and also sprouts his first gray hair. We’re left wondering—does Mark even want this apparent immortality? Or would be rather have another chance at love?
It certainly sounds like a compelling story, but the execution consistently disappoints. First of all, the emphasis on Mark’s looks just never created the tension it wanted to. The major conflict for the first half of the book was quite simply Mark’s young appearance—a man in his early forties who looks barely twenty. It’s odd, sure, but it made no sense to me as a main conflict. I mean, we’ve seen people like Andy Samberg and Gabrielle Union. We all know of a gorgeous person in their forties who could easily pass for someone twenty years younger. It’s not enough to form an entire story around, and even when it started becoming a piece of a larger puzzle, it still underwhelmed.
Then the haunted house elements appear. I love a good haunted house story, and I think the parts of the story in which Mark is held back by a possibly jealous and vengeful old ghost are the best parts of the book. They’re classically chilling, and a perfect way to end September and greet the spookiest month of the year. I also like how we’re kept in suspense about the actual entity holding Mark back. Is it really a spirit (possibly one of a jealous deceased lover), or is it just Mark himself, afraid to take the next step towards a new life? Unlike the tension involving Mark’s “immortality,” this suspense actually works, and I was eager to see how it ended.
The romance with Leo had some high points, but it veered too close to Twilight territory for my taste. It’s a case of true insta-love—their physical attraction is immediate, but the emotional attachment faded into the background. These two are in love (maybe even enough to break a 20-year curse), but we don’t really see it happen. And their sex scenes followed a familiar pattern for Parker Avrile—some juvenile exploration of each other’s bodies, some light sensory deprivation. Avrile’s love scenes have never been a strong point for me, and this book is no different.
By the last 10% of the story, things start coming together. Is it a government conspiracy? Alien technology? Your classic poltergeist? A case of mass hysteria? Maybe it’s a little bit of all of the above. We get a satisfying ending, but it’s a generally unsatisfying story about love and letting go of the past. As Mark moves forward with Leo, so does everything else—his appearance, his house, even his town. But we never feel the necessary tension or high stakes to make us really invested in this man who has been frozen in time for 20 years.
So Mark moves on. But before he did, I just needed to care more.
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
The story of Dorian Gray is a classic tale of art, mortality, and the price of youthful beauty, and it’s especially relevant in the gay literary tradition. While this book isn’t a retelling, it certainly takes inspiration from the Oscar Wilde original. Mark Arrowwood is a man frozen in time, his appearance half of his actual age, who is stuck in a beautiful old house that seems to want Mark all for itself. But when he meets Leo, a handsome young artist from Brooklyn, he comes alive for the first time in years—and also sprouts his first gray hair. We’re left wondering—does Mark even want this apparent immortality? Or would be rather have another chance at love?
It certainly sounds like a compelling story, but the execution consistently disappoints. First of all, the emphasis on Mark’s looks just never created the tension it wanted to. The major conflict for the first half of the book was quite simply Mark’s young appearance—a man in his early forties who looks barely twenty. It’s odd, sure, but it made no sense to me as a main conflict. I mean, we’ve seen people like Andy Samberg and Gabrielle Union. We all know of a gorgeous person in their forties who could easily pass for someone twenty years younger. It’s not enough to form an entire story around, and even when it started becoming a piece of a larger puzzle, it still underwhelmed.
Then the haunted house elements appear. I love a good haunted house story, and I think the parts of the story in which Mark is held back by a possibly jealous and vengeful old ghost are the best parts of the book. They’re classically chilling, and a perfect way to end September and greet the spookiest month of the year. I also like how we’re kept in suspense about the actual entity holding Mark back. Is it really a spirit (possibly one of a jealous deceased lover), or is it just Mark himself, afraid to take the next step towards a new life? Unlike the tension involving Mark’s “immortality,” this suspense actually works, and I was eager to see how it ended.
The romance with Leo had some high points, but it veered too close to Twilight territory for my taste. It’s a case of true insta-love—their physical attraction is immediate, but the emotional attachment faded into the background. These two are in love (maybe even enough to break a 20-year curse), but we don’t really see it happen. And their sex scenes followed a familiar pattern for Parker Avrile—some juvenile exploration of each other’s bodies, some light sensory deprivation. Avrile’s love scenes have never been a strong point for me, and this book is no different.
By the last 10% of the story, things start coming together. Is it a government conspiracy? Alien technology? Your classic poltergeist? A case of mass hysteria? Maybe it’s a little bit of all of the above. We get a satisfying ending, but it’s a generally unsatisfying story about love and letting go of the past. As Mark moves forward with Leo, so does everything else—his appearance, his house, even his town. But we never feel the necessary tension or high stakes to make us really invested in this man who has been frozen in time for 20 years.
So Mark moves on. But before he did, I just needed to care more.
October 4, 2018
This was very interesting. Mark is a 44 year old teacher who looks like he is in his early 20's and hasn't aged for the last 20 years. Leo is an art teacher who just recently moved to the area. There is an instant attraction to the other, but Mark is skeptical and afraid to get close to Leo because he doesn't know why he hasn't aged at all. He lives in a bit of fear and uncertainty.
There was a mystery throughout that took some time to get to the bottom of. I was confused at times because I felt like I was missing something. We eventually get there, but it was a process. I enjoyed the story, though. It was unique and refreshing.
I am voluntarily reviewing and ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
There was a mystery throughout that took some time to get to the bottom of. I was confused at times because I felt like I was missing something. We eventually get there, but it was a process. I enjoyed the story, though. It was unique and refreshing.
I am voluntarily reviewing and ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
October 23, 2022
DNF. I'm bailing at 39% during the second kissing scene because I'm bored and annoyed. This story is very slow for no particular reason I can see, and although I'd like to learn what's up with Mark, I've stopped caring.
October 5, 2018
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," or maybe it's a bit of “Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.” Whatever the basis of rumors that swirl around Mark's appearance is, nothing compares to the tragedy in his own soul. With a youthful visage and a tragic event that froze Mark from the inside out, he has little expectation of a happy future. That is, until a handsome, young Leo takes the empty art teacher's position and inserts himself into Mark's life and consciousness bringing life, color, and that insidious little emotion called hope. But it's the unseen enemy that could bring everything they're building to a deadly end if Mark can't find the will to choose Leo over his past.
There was a lot of potential here. In the story itself, the characters, the romance, and the drama. The reality, however, fell a bit short. Mark was a little easier to know because we get so much of his perspective but I felt his character lacking in strength and motivation. Things were also a bit too mysterious around him. As for Leo, he was pretty basic. We get his basic background and motivations but not a lot to really endear him to me. The rest of the cast is kind of interesting but most of them have issues with Mark yet come out as friends later...not really a smooth transition or really all that believable. Their romantic relationship could have been much more developed as well.
When we finally get to the climax it's violent in its otherworldly exhibition...but also not. I didn't actually feel any true resolution or get any concrete answers as to what was going on with the ghost thing. There was an explanation given but I just didn't think it was adequate to satisfy everything that the story was building up to. It was a little too neat and psychiatric/head shrink of an answer which felt kind of deflating. Overall the story had promise but fell short in many ways. It wasn't a bad read by any means, it just built up a whole lot but didn't fully deliver.
There was a lot of potential here. In the story itself, the characters, the romance, and the drama. The reality, however, fell a bit short. Mark was a little easier to know because we get so much of his perspective but I felt his character lacking in strength and motivation. Things were also a bit too mysterious around him. As for Leo, he was pretty basic. We get his basic background and motivations but not a lot to really endear him to me. The rest of the cast is kind of interesting but most of them have issues with Mark yet come out as friends later...not really a smooth transition or really all that believable. Their romantic relationship could have been much more developed as well.
When we finally get to the climax it's violent in its otherworldly exhibition...but also not. I didn't actually feel any true resolution or get any concrete answers as to what was going on with the ghost thing. There was an explanation given but I just didn't think it was adequate to satisfy everything that the story was building up to. It was a little too neat and psychiatric/head shrink of an answer which felt kind of deflating. Overall the story had promise but fell short in many ways. It wasn't a bad read by any means, it just built up a whole lot but didn't fully deliver.
September 25, 2018
This was a good read. I liked both Mark & Leo. I don't think there really was a ghost per se, I think it was a manifestation of Mark's guilt, anger & not being able to move on with his life after a horrific tragedy took his parents & boyfriend. I think he froze himself & once he started to live again is when he started to unfreeze. Or maybe it was a ghost, of who I have no idea, who was torturing him. Anyway, Leo's sketches were of who Mark really was. I enjoyed watching Leo break Mark out of the his living hell. I thought it was funny that the town thought he was a vampire. But it did anger me that they treated him the way they did. I really enjoyed watching them fall in love. I loved that there was an epilogue showing where they are at further down the road.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2018
Rumors surround Mark, but who wouldn't gossip when the 40-something math teacher still looks exactly the same he did when he started working there 20 years ago. And when the house he lives in is supposedly haunted.
Leo is the new Art teacher at the high school, new to town and unsure what to believe from the rumors. What he does know is that Mark captivates him and the connection they share is beyond anything he ever imagined.
Mark and Leo are great characters who share a sexy attraction and tell an enchanting tale. It kept you wondering what was happening and building up anticipation for what was to come. Highly entertaining and enjoyable. Sweet and amazing story with a wonderful ending.
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily am leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Leo is the new Art teacher at the high school, new to town and unsure what to believe from the rumors. What he does know is that Mark captivates him and the connection they share is beyond anything he ever imagined.
Mark and Leo are great characters who share a sexy attraction and tell an enchanting tale. It kept you wondering what was happening and building up anticipation for what was to come. Highly entertaining and enjoyable. Sweet and amazing story with a wonderful ending.
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily am leaving my honest review and recommendation.
October 2, 2018
This is definitely a unique story. I am not quite sure how to explain how I feel about it, though. I liked the mystery behind what was going on with Mark and his home quite a bit. Where I had a bit of trouble with it is that the story itself seemed a bit confusing at times.. like I was missing something. And not in a normal way I would feel that with a mystery book... rather in a way that made the story seem somewhat disjointed. I liked Mark and Leo and their relationship, as well as the mystery surrounding the ghost (or not ghost? Still not sure what to think about that.. but maybe that was the point?).. but something with the way the story was told did not completely work for me. That might be just personal preference, though, and this is still a fun story - especially for October!
September 24, 2018
It's more a 3.5 stars for me. HOWEVER
I found this book to be well written. I personally both liked and struggled with the book itself. When I was offered a copy of the book, I of course read the blurb. I was intrigued but also apprehensive. I am not a fan of paranormal romance, but the blurb was leading that way but wasn't falling in that category. I took the risk and as I said it was a good story. It was well written but wasn't my style. For my own personal tastes it was too much on the paranormal range.
Now if you like paranormal or intrigued by the genre by all means this book will be for you.
I found this book to be well written. I personally both liked and struggled with the book itself. When I was offered a copy of the book, I of course read the blurb. I was intrigued but also apprehensive. I am not a fan of paranormal romance, but the blurb was leading that way but wasn't falling in that category. I took the risk and as I said it was a good story. It was well written but wasn't my style. For my own personal tastes it was too much on the paranormal range.
Now if you like paranormal or intrigued by the genre by all means this book will be for you.
October 4, 2018
This book was sometimes creepy and sad, but mostly I found it sweet and hopeful. Mark was stuck in the past, grieving with no real expectation of anything better coming his way. Leo came to town from the city, ready to work off his student debt in five years before getting on with the rest of his life. When the two men met, everything began to change.
I didn't really look at this as a May/December story because Leo, who was actually younger, seemed to have the most life experience and confidence. He was the hero in Mark's life. It was wonderful to see the changes in Mark over time, emotionally more than physically These two had a beautiful romance. I'm sure I'll be reading this one again.
I didn't really look at this as a May/December story because Leo, who was actually younger, seemed to have the most life experience and confidence. He was the hero in Mark's life. It was wonderful to see the changes in Mark over time, emotionally more than physically These two had a beautiful romance. I'm sure I'll be reading this one again.
October 11, 2018
Kobo edition (123000255406)
A charming (and coincidentally seasonal) chiller - a haunted house, a heart- and time-frozen survivor of a fatal crash, a love story. The more far-fetched elements of the plot have a sort of Stranger Things vibe attached - a nearby secret military base which accepts responsibility for the crash (eventually) but seems to be unwilling to let things go... - though that is incidental and not important.
I enjoyed this a lot - and will probably look out more by this author.
A charming (and coincidentally seasonal) chiller - a haunted house, a heart- and time-frozen survivor of a fatal crash, a love story. The more far-fetched elements of the plot have a sort of Stranger Things vibe attached - a nearby secret military base which accepts responsibility for the crash (eventually) but seems to be unwilling to let things go... - though that is incidental and not important.
I enjoyed this a lot - and will probably look out more by this author.
September 27, 2018
Portrait of a ghost
I liked this book and both Mark & Leo. Think the town folk and the other teachers treated Mark unfairly, they thought he was a vampire instead of seeing he was struggling with the death of his parents and his boyfriend twenty years ago. He froze himself in time unable to move on until new art teacher Leo comes to town. I enjoyed watching them fall in love slowly unfreezing Mark and Mark finally seeing how Leo sees him.
I liked this book and both Mark & Leo. Think the town folk and the other teachers treated Mark unfairly, they thought he was a vampire instead of seeing he was struggling with the death of his parents and his boyfriend twenty years ago. He froze himself in time unable to move on until new art teacher Leo comes to town. I enjoyed watching them fall in love slowly unfreezing Mark and Mark finally seeing how Leo sees him.
September 28, 2018
I had have a very hard time getting into this book. I kept putting it down to go do other mundane tasks. The only reason I finished it was because I wanted to know what was going on with Mark and honestly I still don’t know what the heck was happening in this book. I found the authors writing very choppy and disjointed. I am unfamiliar with Parker Avril and honestly I don’t know if I will read anything else by this author.
June 30, 2024
Surprising gay romance
Mark lost his parents and his loving partner in an accident with an army armored truck twenty years ago. He has been receiving medical treatments from the army since. He appears not to have aged a day in all these years. He is a high school math teacher and he lives a very quiet life gossip ed about but then he meets the new art teacher. This book is about their love and the changes in Mark's life. An unusual book but entertaining.
Mark lost his parents and his loving partner in an accident with an army armored truck twenty years ago. He has been receiving medical treatments from the army since. He appears not to have aged a day in all these years. He is a high school math teacher and he lives a very quiet life gossip ed about but then he meets the new art teacher. This book is about their love and the changes in Mark's life. An unusual book but entertaining.
October 3, 2018
This was a really different type of story, and not sure if I like it or not. But I don't want my interests to cloud my review so I think it was written well, and the storytelling was good. It had a few areas I felt confused but overall a good story. Would I read it again probably not, but I would recommend it to people that enjoy this type of story.
October 3, 2018
I really enjoyed Portrait of a Ghost. It's a May/December, second chance at love story. I enjoyed the connection Mark and Leo had and seeing how it brought Mark back to life. He's been lost since the accident that claimed his parents and boyfriend 20 years ago. This was a sweet, entertaining read.
October 3, 2018
This book was interesting but also good. Even though there was talks of ghost, I felt that the ghost were figurative and literal. Mark was holding himself back because of his past. But Leo really saw who he really was. So even though change was hard it was worth it.
March 12, 2024
oyster-salt taste of pre-cum on his tongue
Author Avrile has an interesting vocabulary which has been included in this charming "Dorian Gray" ghost story. The mileau of an upstate secret military base fits the plot and enhances the mystery.
Author Avrile has an interesting vocabulary which has been included in this charming "Dorian Gray" ghost story. The mileau of an upstate secret military base fits the plot and enhances the mystery.
September 25, 2018
i really like this one.. it was so good.. and interesting and i found it sweet and entertaining. very good story
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