‘Spanish Bay’ #Book Tour Launch + $50 #Amazon GC Giveaway + #LBGT #Romance @hans_hirschi. Plus review. The Queen of Unconventional Happy Endings Does it Again.

Hi all:

Today I’m taking part in a blog tour for the new novel of an author whose work I’ve shared a few times before (and have always enjoyed), Hans Hirschi. His new novel, Spanish Bay is now available, and I could not resist but share it with all. Ah, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Spanish Bay by Hans Hirschi

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.

AUTHOR SHOP/BEATEN TRACK SHOP/AMAZON

KOBO/INDIGO/iBOOKS/GOODREADS

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

 

Video Trailer

Just in case you can’t access the embedded version, here is the You Tube link:

https://youtu.be/uwzgjRMdUSM 

And an excerpt.  I had plenty to choose from and I found it hard, but here it goes… This is a conversation between Neil’s mother (Sarah) and her own mother, his grandmother (the fabulous Sue).

Excerpt From: Hans M Hirschi. “Spanish Bay.” iBooks.

“Sarah scowled at her mother. “That’s not the point, Mother, and you know it.”

“Then what is, dear? You keep fighting this, even though I know you think they are perfect for each other.”

Sarah broke out in tears. “I know, Mom. I’m just scared to lose my baby. Ever since he ended up in that chair, I’ve been so afraid of something bad happening to him, and look at him now. All grown up, responsible, and a father. It’s all happened so quickly.”

Sue got up and walked over to her daughter to hug her. “I know, baby. I know. But look at the two of us. You’re my only child, and you still come over here for dinner once a week. The harder you hold on to them, the more they’ll pull away. After all, I tried to let go, but you stayed. Maybe that’s the ticket?”

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.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

The giveaway for Spanish Bay has 11 randomly chosen winners; 1 will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and 10 will receive a $10 gift code to the author’s shop,

http://giveawaytools2.com/share.php?giveaway=88346493105

Here, my review:

Spanish Bay by Hans Hirshi. The Queen of Unconventional Happy Endings Does it Again.

I obtained an ARC copy of his book in exchange for an honest review as part of the launch blog tour of the novel.

This is the fourth book I have read by Hans Hirschi. I also read his blog regularly and I’m aware that another author bestowed upon him the title of ‘Queen of Unconventional Endings’ and he has taken proud ownership of the same. And in this book the author lives up to the title.

Spanish Bay is a young adult love story between two young men, Neil and Chris, who meet in very special circumstances. Neil is disabled due to a rare muscular disease and he has to mobilise using a wheelchair. He is being bullied in front of Sally’s, the café where Chris works, and he comes to his rescue. It is love at first sight. Neil is still in school, due to the time he had to spend in hospital (he is already nineteen) and both he and Chris are outsiders. Chris was thrown out of the ranch where he lived with his family when they discovered he was gay. Neil feels invisible, as people see his chair instead of him, and although he knows he is attracted to men, he’s never had the confidence to explore it any further. He worries that nobody will see past his chair.

Chris and Neil, despite their different origins (Chris’s parents are a bit of a disaster, whilst Neil’s are enlightened and supportive most of the time, if a bit overprotective, understandably), are made for each other, and they are both aware of it from the very beginning. Their love story encounters many complications and hurdles to overcome, but there are no misunderstandings, jealousy, or difficulties within the couple. All the problems come from outside, mostly through life and their families, or rather, Chris’s family. Every time things seem settled, something new comes up. The beauty of the novel (and it is a pretty short one), that made me think of a fairy tale, is that together, they are strong, they complement each other beautifully, and they conquer everything that life throws in their way. Chris has a huge heart, and Neil is mature and determined beyond his years, and they are better for being together.

There are characters that act like fairy godmothers (or godfathers), like Sue (Neil’s fabulous pot-smoking grandma), Sally (the owner of the coffee shop), Junior (Chris’s oldest brother), and Old Mr Murphy (Steve). There are some characters that do bad things, like Alexandra, but they aren’t true villains, more victims of circumstances and misguided. Everybody roots for the young couple, and not only are they happy, but they irradiate happiness around, and help create strengthen both their families.

Spanish Bay is a book that will make you feel at peace with the universe, and you’ll wish you could move and live in Carmel with the characters. If you’re looking for gritty realism and deep psychological studies full of angst-ridden characters, this is not it. But if you want a heart-warming read that will put a smile on your face while touching on matters like family relationships, disability, diversity and choice, you’ve come to the right place.

Thanks so much to Hans Hirschi for sharing his new book with me, thanks to Amberr Meadows for organising the blog tour, and thanks to you all for reading. And  you know… please, like, share, comment and CLICK!