The best books you get to read are those where the characters are true to life. They are readily identifiable. The characteristics displayed from the book's players are the same ones you can say, "Hey, I know so-and-so who is just like that!"
I think that is one of the magical talents really talented authors use when webbing their stories together. They allow us to relate to the people in their stories. Warren has achieved this in the first book of "The Tales of the Circle" series, True.
Alec, our main character, is a columnist for a major newspaper and has a successful career. He's got a huge heart, a forgiving nature, and a tendency to try and fix the broken people around him. I think we all know someone just like this. The good hearted man who makes all the wrong love choices.
After Alec catches his current boyfriend - who's a real piece of work - cheating on him, he decides to make his life, and dream of writing a book about music his main priority. He books a trip to a mountain cabin in the secluded town of Melody, Montana - much to his best friend, Demarco's shock - in order to complete his project.
Except his life in the capital of Washington, DC keeps calling him back, and the book he's attempting to write isn't the project he thought it would be.
I have to say, Demarco was one of my favorite characters, which is saying something, because there were a cast of truly wonderful people. Demarco is a highly paid, very discrete, sex worker catering to the closeted politicians in DC. And he is quite a comedian! There's a reference made to "Government Hooker" which is one of my most loved songs by Lady Gaga. Tip of the hat to Warren for including that little nugget.
The tale centers around Alec's city-boy style trying to adapt and fit in to the wintry mountain town's way of life and rural customs, all while navigating a true prince charming - complete with horse - a cowboy named Tyler.
The format of the book is typical M/M Romance, where the two men meet, find a connection, and then a conflict arises they must try to resolve. In the end, a happily ever after is revealed and all is well, and this story fits that to a "T". If you need comfort, and feel-good, and a mountain man who is nothing short of the epitome of good country manners, this is the book for you.
Of special note: The townsfolk of Melody, Montana are diverse and memorable, as well as accepting - something I certainly didn't expect - probably stemming from my own biases that gay life in rural settings is particularly difficult. I think the overall protectiveness of the community to Tyler's happiness is one of the most heart-warming things I've read in a while, and gave me hope for humanity. Given the dumpster fire of the last 14 months on the world stage, I need some hope, and happiness.