Finding Faith
by Andrew Barriger
Paperback: 266 pages
Writers Club Press (2003)
ISBN: 0595263097
Taylor Connolly is a hotshot employment lawyer, who wins “a
high-profile sexual harassment case levied against one of the biggest
companies in town.” The fact that he is down-to-earth and
non-pretentious makes him sweet and loveable…it doesn’t hurt that he is
nice to look at and has a good sense of humor, too. Taylor has
everything going for him. He is on top of the world until he
arrives home to find his lover of two years in the arms of another
man—laying on his pillow no less!
Taylor’s defense mechanism is to run. He ends up on the doorstep of his
best friend and confidant, Genevieve Pouissant. Gen invites Taylor to
move in with her until he gets his life back together. Taylor takes to
living in her charming, friendly small town and soon grows to love
it—especially when he gets a crush on a cute baker and post-grad
student named Tom McEwan. Taylor and Tom become fast friends and each
longs to take it a step further, but neither one has the nerve to make
the first move.
Taylor isn’t one to care whether or not anyone knows he’s gay, but he
doesn’t want to jeopardize a possible relationship with Tom. It could
be that Tom doesn’t want to be outed in their small town. The more time
they spend together, the more Taylor wants Tom to be part of his
life…if only he could tell him.
Taylor decides to buy his own house in town and enlists the help of a
realtor named Faith Roberts. Faith wants more from Taylor than a
commission. She is after this handsome, Jaguar-driving bachelor and is
relentless in her efforts to win his favor.
Meanwhile, well-meaning friends introduce Taylor to Neil Gardener, a
wealthy, self-confident, super model type of guy, who is not only
“out,” but he’s more than interested in Taylor. Neil makes it hard for
Taylor to resist him, complicating his feelings for Tom.
Andrew Barriger’s debut novel, Finding
Faith, is fast-paced, fun to read, and thoroughly enjoyable. I
love Barriger’s use of language, his delectable desserts, loveable
characters, and suspenseful story, not in a murder mystery sort of way,
but in the—who will Taylor end up with? sort of way. According to
author and reviewer, Ronald L. Donaghe, “Another mark of a good writer
is to create a setting so believable that the readers might be tempted
to find it on the map.” Donaghe also writes, "In fact, readers will be
able to smell the food coming out of the oven, taste the meals set
before them, hear the music played, maybe even recognize the characters
coming down the street.” I really loved reading this book and can’t
wait to read Finding Peace,
and any other books authored by Andrew Barriger.
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Finding
Peace
by Andrew Barriger
Paperback: 215 pages
iUniverse; (2003)
ISBN: 0595288235
What could be better than marital bliss? How about marital bliss with a
marriage license? If only it were available to Taylor and Tom; perhaps
then, Taylor would have a proper word to assign to his relationship
with Tom. Taylor goes through the usual terms of endearment, i.e.,
partner, lover, boyfriend, significant other, spouse, etc., but he
longs to be legally bound to, and have a permanent title for, the man
he loves. In Andrew Barriger’s sequel to Finding Faith, we find Taylor and
Tom setting up a home and life together in Finding Peace.
For those who have read Finding Faith,
which is not a pre-requisite to reading Finding Peace, you already know and
love Taylor and Tom. For those who haven’t read Barriger’s first book,
it won’t take long to get to know these two extraordinary men, who met
by chance, fell in love, and went through all sorts of trials and
tribulations before ending up a loving, committed couple. Taylor, an
attorney, relocated from the city, leaving behind a cheating
ex-boyfriend, to live with his friend, Gen, in a small, quaint town.
Moving led to greater happiness than he ever thought possible---he met
Tom.
In Finding Peace, Taylor has
opened a law firm in town, and, he’s still helping Tom at the bakery.
Additionally, Taylor has become the town’s first gay mayor, openly
accepted by his constituents. Talk about needing a 48 hour day! Tom is
teaching at a local High School, and still works at the bakery. He
loves the bakery and has no intention of leaving: it is the place where
he first laid eyes on Taylor. Tom and Taylor manage to have some
quality time together, but unfortunately, not enough. As if their
hectic lives aren’t busy enough, events occur which put further demands
on their leisure time together. Can a relationship withstand the
stresses of careers and business, even though they possess a strong
commitment?
In Finding Peace, Barriger
introduces us to many new and interesting characters we would be happy
to call friends and family. Wayne is a troubled youth from a
dysfunctional, abusive family who Tom hires to help at the bakery,
allowing him more free time with Taylor. Taylor is skeptical at first,
to entrust the care of the bakery to a gay young man with such a
troubled past. Taylor worries about appearances. What would the
townspeople think about two gay men hiring a gay teenager? Tom
convinces Taylor to give Wayne a chance. They take Wayne under their
wings and quickly become father figures to the high school senior.
Wayne is a bright, sensitive young man who works hard and wants to make
something of his life even though he was dealt a tough hand. What he
finds with Taylor and Tom is more than just friendship—he finds the
love and family he never knew.
The plot unfolds as Taylor and Tom decide to invite both their families
for the Thanksgiving holiday. The two sets of parents, who never met,
have Taylor anxious with anticipation. Tom is much more laid back and
tries to convince Taylor not to worry. Tom’s sister, Mandy, asks if
it’s okay to invite her college friend, Eric, who has nowhere to spend
the holiday. When Eric meets Wayne, sparks fly, and the plot thickens.
Emmy is Wayne’s school friend and co-worker at the bakery. Emmy and
Wayne have a strong bond; she helps Wayne deal with the stormy
relationship with his family. She’s also there to help him come to
terms with his sexuality. While Taylor and Tom are Wayne’s father
figures, Emmy is Wayne’s peer.
Bryce, Taylor’s straight, married, younger brother, is another
character worth noting. He adds a refreshing element to the novel with
his unconditional acceptance and support of his brother’s sexuality.
According to the author, “He’s sort of a man’s man who doesn’t care
that his brother is gay.” While Taylor’s parents are the kind of people
“who meddle and then get distracted by something and disappear,” Tom’s
parents are more traditional and provided him with a solid upbringing.
Tom and his mom are close and she approves of Tom’s choice of a mate.
There are other characters who add to the story but you’ll have to read
Finding Peace for
yourself to find out who they are and how they affect the world of
Taylor and Tom.
Plot twists and turns—not to be revealed here—make for an engrossing
and entertaining read. Barriger accomplishes this feat with wit and
charm. He turns adversity into something propitious, tragedy into
triumph, and even manages to redeem some despicable characters. By the
giving of yourself to others, you reap rewards that far surpass what
you gave. Andrew Barriger is currently working on the sequel to Finding
Peace, tentatively titled, Finding
Hope. I can’t wait for it to be published. Finding Hope promises to have a
stadium full of wonderful characters. Don’t miss this delightful series
by Andrew Barriger, a talented and prolific writer.
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