Review Tour: Just Outside of Hope by Ron Kearse

Title: Just Outside of Hope

Author: Ron Kearse

Genre: LGBTQ

Sequel to Road Without End

Just Outside of Hope, the sequel to Road Without End, moves through the early years of the 1980s. It takes us from the Canadian Prairies to the pubs, bath houses and nude beaches of Vancouver, British Columbia.

It is now September 1980 and ex-Lieutenant Jim Whitelaw is dealing with the guilt he feels from the fall out of a military tribunal, and lingering family issues which make things worse. But just as he feels he’s getting his life together, cracks appear once more and he has to make some serious decisions.

Meanwhile, in a matter of a moment, Jim’s friend and sometimes lover Bert Gilhuis, finds himself trapped in a serious situation that eventually sees him set off on new adventures in Vancouver.

These are two more stories in the continuing series of the lives of gay men who lived through the most exhilarating and terrifying of times.

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My Rating: 4.5 Stars

My Review:

As a 30 something YO bisexual female who has never really had to hide who I am I can quite honestly say I have no idea what it would be like in the 80’s as a closeted, or newly outed gay male. I have been very lucky to be born into a much more accepting society compared to 40 years ago.

That being said Ron Kearse wrote such a descriptive and complicating winding tale in such a beautiful way that even I could imagine what it was like for them.

Throughout the book I grew so attached to the characters in such a way that at times I felt their heartbreak and struggle was my own. And not for one moment was I ever sure exactly how the story was going to end up.

This was an amazing read – incredibly insightful and thoroughly eye opening. Thank you Ron for sharing your views and work with us!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and was in no way compensated for my views.

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