HURT COMFORT + SLOW BURN + GAY ROMANCE
Listen, I have read plenty of gay romance stories in my time and The Parable of the Mustard Seed is up there with my favorites.
Let’s start with the premise: John, an Australian Samoan police officer, rescues a young boy called Caleb from a cult. Caleb grows up to be so traumatized that he self-harms and struggles with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It is John who Caleb turns to for support, friendship, and understanding. The bond they develop over the years is nothing short of stunning and I honestly enjoyed reading every second of it.
However, Caleb wants more from their relationship. Can he persuade John to cross a line and love him in a way that will satisfy them both?
This is an incredibly sad and emotional story, but it also offers hope and healing. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy reading because when a book is well written it exposes the reader to the dark and light. In other words it explores the lives of each character while taking us through the journey of bringing the threads together. Needless to say it’s always a big help when forbidden love and slow burn storytelling are thrown into the mix.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves stories built around emotional hurt, comfort, and topped off with a slow burn narrative.
Reviewed by Violeta Nedkova
