‘Spanish Bay’ by Hans M Hirschi - Book Tour Launch + Review
Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi
Spanish Bay
Published by Beaten Track Publishing
Genres: Romance, LGBT
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
196 pages
Release Date: October 10, 2015
Release Date: October 10, 2015
Synopsis
Spanish Bay is a feel-good novel about two young men who, despite having the odds stacked against them, never give up, always see the silver lining, work hard, and are committed to their families, come what may. Chris, a Texan native who recently moved to Carmel, rescues wheelchair-bound Neil from bullies. Neither question the love that develops between them, although their life together is not without challenges. When Chris’s parents die in a car accident, their young love faces the ultimate test. Will they be able to cope with the additional responsibility of raising Chris’s baby brother Frank, who is also confined to a wheelchair?
Spanish Bay is about love overcoming obstacles, and finding happiness, wherever you are.
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Check out the trailer for Spanish Bay
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Review
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Review
If you were at GRL 2015, you might have noticed the queen was visiting, but not any old queen. No. This was the Queen of Unconventional Happy Endings. I can't imagine who bestowed that title upon them...
Anyway.
When I signed up to the Spanish Bay blog tour, I'd hoped to have more time to put this post together so I could add a little extra something. Alas, I am not King Cnut (and no, that is not a typo, and yes, there are several ways that this can be read...).
It pays testimony to how well established an author is when they can a) get a reputation for unconventional happy endings, and then b) write a novel with a happy ending that is unconventional only if compared to their back catalogue. This is, of course, to say that Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi is perhaps the first of his novels where the ending is more the typical HEA we associate with MM/gay romance.
This is the story of Chris, a twenty-one-year-old Texan on a 'road trip' that he didn't make through choice. Indeed, he is not from the sort of background that affords the luxury of road trips, which is how he ends up in Carmel, California.
It's a romance, so it's also Neil's story. Neil is nineteen and about to graduate high school. His family background is very different from Chris's; his parents are supportive, accepting, and comfortably well off.
When Chris and Neil connect, Chris is taken aback by the contrast between Neil's parents and his own, and it's lucky for Chris, because when tragedy strikes, it is Neil's parents who come to the rescue.
But Chris is bigger than the sum of his parents and upbringing.
A review isn't the place for a synopsis; nor is it the place for giving away too much about a story and spoiling other readers' enjoyment of it. That said, the blurb tells us that Neil is disabled. He's a wheelchair user, but it's largely irrelevant to the story. It's a very small part of Chris and Neil's new relationship, and only enters into the story at points where Neil is limited by the able-bodied design of the modern world. Stairs and no elevators, pedals in cars, counters that are too high - these are all familiar obstacles to people who rely on wheelchairs.
Hans Hirschi doesn't keep pushing it in the reader's face, though. It's there, as part of the narrative of Neil's life. It's relevant to how Chris and Neil first meet. It is an aspect of their romance that is explored with dignity and given as much on-page consideration as it needs. There is far more to this story than that.
It is difficult in one novel to go from first encounter to established relationship without that first encounter feeling like 'instalove', as the more cynical would call it, or 'love at first sight', as us romantics see it. It does happen in real life, and often. Without getting fully onto my soap box, it irks me when readers use it as a stick to poke a story with, and it says more about them than the story they are reviewing.
In summary, Spanish Bay is Hans Hirschi's most typical romance to date. As always, there are obstacles to be overcome, and the mix of acceptance and rejection from family members. There is some tragedy, but it's nowhere near as gut-wrenching as one might find in Hirschi's other novels. What's also different this time, is that it is a novel for all ages - young adult and upwards. It's a story of hope, optimism, determination and success.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End
Anyway.
When I signed up to the Spanish Bay blog tour, I'd hoped to have more time to put this post together so I could add a little extra something. Alas, I am not King Cnut (and no, that is not a typo, and yes, there are several ways that this can be read...).
It pays testimony to how well established an author is when they can a) get a reputation for unconventional happy endings, and then b) write a novel with a happy ending that is unconventional only if compared to their back catalogue. This is, of course, to say that Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi is perhaps the first of his novels where the ending is more the typical HEA we associate with MM/gay romance.
This is the story of Chris, a twenty-one-year-old Texan on a 'road trip' that he didn't make through choice. Indeed, he is not from the sort of background that affords the luxury of road trips, which is how he ends up in Carmel, California.
It's a romance, so it's also Neil's story. Neil is nineteen and about to graduate high school. His family background is very different from Chris's; his parents are supportive, accepting, and comfortably well off.
When Chris and Neil connect, Chris is taken aback by the contrast between Neil's parents and his own, and it's lucky for Chris, because when tragedy strikes, it is Neil's parents who come to the rescue.
But Chris is bigger than the sum of his parents and upbringing.
A review isn't the place for a synopsis; nor is it the place for giving away too much about a story and spoiling other readers' enjoyment of it. That said, the blurb tells us that Neil is disabled. He's a wheelchair user, but it's largely irrelevant to the story. It's a very small part of Chris and Neil's new relationship, and only enters into the story at points where Neil is limited by the able-bodied design of the modern world. Stairs and no elevators, pedals in cars, counters that are too high - these are all familiar obstacles to people who rely on wheelchairs.
Hans Hirschi doesn't keep pushing it in the reader's face, though. It's there, as part of the narrative of Neil's life. It's relevant to how Chris and Neil first meet. It is an aspect of their romance that is explored with dignity and given as much on-page consideration as it needs. There is far more to this story than that.
It is difficult in one novel to go from first encounter to established relationship without that first encounter feeling like 'instalove', as the more cynical would call it, or 'love at first sight', as us romantics see it. It does happen in real life, and often. Without getting fully onto my soap box, it irks me when readers use it as a stick to poke a story with, and it says more about them than the story they are reviewing.
In summary, Spanish Bay is Hans Hirschi's most typical romance to date. As always, there are obstacles to be overcome, and the mix of acceptance and rejection from family members. There is some tragedy, but it's nowhere near as gut-wrenching as one might find in Hirschi's other novels. What's also different this time, is that it is a novel for all ages - young adult and upwards. It's a story of hope, optimism, determination and success.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End
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Tour Dates
Oct 12th Happy Geek Media Tour launch & Excerpt
Oct 13th Bike Book Reviews Review & Unique Excerpt
Oct 13th Alina Oswald Unique Excerpt
Oct 13th Spectra Unique Excerpt
Oct 14th Unconventional – Expressions of Reality Review & Music Playlist
Oct 15th Michaela Writes Unique Excerpt
Oct 16th Muffy Wilson Literotica Guest Post, Playlist, Author Q&A
Oct 19th Art, AIDS, & Others Author Q&A
Oct 20th DP’s Cafe Unique Excerpt
Oct 21st Photography, Poetry and Indie Authors Music Playlist
Oct 22nd De-Blog Review
Oct 23rd Blak Rayne’s Blog Unique Excerpt, guest post, Q&A
Oct 26th For the Love of Men Unique Excerpt
Oct 27th E-Book Builders Excerpt & Playlist
Oct 28th The Story of Being Dark Spotlight Special
Oct 29th Kelly S. Gamble Guest Post & Playlist
Nov 2nd Caddy Rowland: Slice of Life Guest Post
Nov 3rd Wake Up Your Wild Side Guest Post
Nov 4th The Gar Spot Unique Excerpt
Nov 5th Sarah Bell Reviews Review, Playlist
Nov 6th KP’s Cafe Review & Recipe
Nov 9th Kryssie Fortune Spotlight Feature
Nov 10th Nic Starr Guest Post & Music Playlist
Nov 11th Rainbow Gold Reviews Review
Nov 11th Just Olga Review, Unique Excerpt, Guest Post
Nov 11th GayListBookReviews Review
Nov 13th Happy Geek Media Review & Closing Special
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Hans M Hirschi (b. 1967) has been writing stories ever since he was a child. Adulthood and the demands of corporate life efficiently put an end to his fictional writing for over twenty years. A global executive in training and channel development, Hans has traveled the world and had previously published non-fictional titles. The birth of his son and the subsequent parental leave provided him with the opportunity to unleash his creative writing once again. With little influence over his brain’s creative workings, he indulges it, going with the flow. A deeply rooted passion for, faith in a better world, in love, tolerance and diversity are a red thread throughout both his creative and non-fictional work. His novels might best be described as “literary romance, engaging characters and relevant stories that won’t leave you untouched, but hopeful.” Hans is a proud member of the Swedish Writers’ Union and the Writers’ Center in Sweden.
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Spanish Bay Tour brought to you by…
Happy Geek Media
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