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Solomon
Lies and deception kept them apart, but the truth might kill any hope for a future.
Twenty years after hitchhiking from Atlanta to DC, Solomon Mitchell has a peaceful life, volunteering at an LGBTQ Youth Center and directing the kids’ choir at church. He accepts his life of solitude and his small circle of friends, and he’s fine—fine!—keeping it that way. When the pastor asks to see him after a performance, he thinks nothing of it—until he sees the childhood he escaped staring at him in the shape of his high-school sweetheart, Isaac Jenkins. Who was supposed to be with him, but never made it to their rendezvous. Running again is the easy answer. Staying and fighting is way harder. But man, could Isaac make fighting worth it.
Isaac, his church’s youth pastor, is on a tour to DC, ostensibly to learn how various congregations have retained or grown their memberships. He already has low expectations and somehow, his bar is still too high. When a friend suggests visiting a church not on his list, it’s his cue to go beyond the rigid confines he’s always lived and worked in. His world spins when he finds Solomon, his first love, literally the one that got away, leading the choir. Isaac still bears a weight of guilt about their separation, and this may be his one chance to make things right. He’s not leaving without trying.
Isaac’s church leaders want him back home and give him two options: return and forget about Solomon, or defy them and watch everything he thought he knew disintegrate.
Twenty years after hitchhiking from Atlanta to DC, Solomon Mitchell has a peaceful life, volunteering at an LGBTQ Youth Center and directing the kids’ choir at church. He accepts his life of solitude and his small circle of friends, and he’s fine—fine!—keeping it that way. When the pastor asks to see him after a performance, he thinks nothing of it—until he sees the childhood he escaped staring at him in the shape of his high-school sweetheart, Isaac Jenkins. Who was supposed to be with him, but never made it to their rendezvous. Running again is the easy answer. Staying and fighting is way harder. But man, could Isaac make fighting worth it.
Isaac, his church’s youth pastor, is on a tour to DC, ostensibly to learn how various congregations have retained or grown their memberships. He already has low expectations and somehow, his bar is still too high. When a friend suggests visiting a church not on his list, it’s his cue to go beyond the rigid confines he’s always lived and worked in. His world spins when he finds Solomon, his first love, literally the one that got away, leading the choir. Isaac still bears a weight of guilt about their separation, and this may be his one chance to make things right. He’s not leaving without trying.
Isaac’s church leaders want him back home and give him two options: return and forget about Solomon, or defy them and watch everything he thought he knew disintegrate.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 31, 2022
Don’t let the crappy cover fool you. This is a satisfying, well written addition to the Highrise series. Like the earlier books it’s standalone and it’s as much a story of queer community and found family as it is a romance. I didn’t connect much with the main couple but I was all in on the rest of the story.
Jayce Ellis really excels at writing the little details that tell you a lot about a character.
Jayce Ellis really excels at writing the little details that tell you a lot about a character.
March 17, 2023
Drama, drama, DRAMA! There is lots going in this 3rd book focused on the residents of the Crestline apartment building. I love second chance romances particularly those that begin as childhood friendships. Isaac and Solomon grew up together in Atlanta. Solomon is a preacher's kid and his home life is not great. His father prefers to be addressed as Reverend Mitchell instead of Dad (!!). At age 17, they decide to run away... but only Solomon leaves. Fast forward to 20 years later and they run into each other in DC. There is so much that goes on that the author captured brilliantly. The rampant homophobia that you see among some in Black churches is unfortunate yet described well. The descriptions of Sunday school and working with the kids was so on point. Reminds me of my childhood going to church! I loved the found family that we see who surround Solomon with love and the intersection of the characters we met in earlier books - Jeremiah, Collin, Andre and the others. The drama escalates into soap opera territory with yelling, etc. at one point and I had to stop reading for a bit but when the focus is just on Solomon and Isaac, you can feel the love and connection between them. The author's dialogue for the many characters is terrific. Just love J. Ellis' voice. So would have liked a little less drama but did really enjoy this. Finally found Courtney. Had searched around but found a link at the end of this book. Yayyy!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews