 Cheri Rosenberghas been busy this month and, in additon to reviewing Andrew Barriger's Finding Faith and Finding Peace,
she offers her perceptions of Gay Pride NYC 2004 in “Stand
Up, Stand Out, Stand Proud” (page 3)
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 Finding Faith by Andrew Barriger Paperback: 266 pages Writers Club Press (2003) ISBN: 0595263097 Taylor Connolly is a hotshot employment lawyer, who wins “a high-profile sexual harassment case levied against one of the biggest companies in town.” The fact that he is down-to-earth and non-pretentious makes him sweet and loveable…it doesn’t hurt that he is nice to look at and has a good sense of humor, too. Taylor has everything going for him. He is on top of the world until he arrives home to find his lover of two years in the arms of another man—laying on his pillow no less! Taylor’s defense mechanism is to run. He ends up on the doorstep of his best friend and confidant, Genevieve Pouissant. Gen invites Taylor to move in with her until he gets his life back together. Taylor takes to living in her charming, friendly small town and soon grows to love it—especially when he gets a crush on a cute baker and post-grad student named Tom McEwan. Taylor and Tom become fast friends and each longs to take it a step further, but neither one has the nerve to make the first move. Taylor isn’t one to care whether or not anyone knows he’s gay, but he doesn’t want to jeopardize a possible relationship with Tom. It could be that Tom doesn’t want to be outed in their small town. The more time they spend together, the more Taylor wants Tom to be part of his life…if only he could tell him. Taylor decides to buy his own house in town and enlists the help of a realtor named Faith Roberts. Faith wants more from Taylor than a commission. She is after this handsome, Jaguar-driving bachelor and is relentless in her efforts to win his favor. Meanwhile, well-meaning friends introduce Taylor to Neil Gardener, a wealthy, self-confident, super model type of guy, who is not only “out,” but he’s more than interested in Taylor. Neil makes it hard for Taylor to resist him, complicating his feelings for Tom. Andrew Barriger’s debut novel, Finding Faith, is fast-paced, fun to read, and thoroughly enjoyable. I love Barriger’s use of language, his delectable desserts, loveable characters, and suspenseful story, not in a murder mystery sort of way, but in the—who will Taylor end up with? sort of way. According to author and reviewer, Ronald L. Donaghe, “Another mark of a good writer is to create a setting so believable that the readers might be tempted to find it on the map.” Donaghe also writes, "In fact, readers will be able to smell the food coming out of the oven, taste the meals set before them, hear the music played, maybe even recognize the characters coming down the street.” I really loved reading this book and can’t wait to read Finding Peace, and any other books authored by Andrew Barriger. |
 Finding Peace by Andrew Barriger Paperback: 215 pages iUniverse; (2003) ISBN: 0595288235 What could be better than marital bliss? How about marital bliss with a marriage license? If only it were available to Taylor and Tom; perhaps then, Taylor would have a proper word to assign to his relationship with Tom. Taylor goes through the usual terms of endearment, i.e., partner, lover, boyfriend, significant other, spouse, etc., but he longs to be legally bound to, and have a permanent title for, the man he loves. In Andrew Barriger’s sequel to Finding Faith, we find Taylor and Tom setting up a home and life together in Finding Peace. For those who have read Finding Faith, which is not a pre-requisite to reading Finding Peace, you already know and love Taylor and Tom. For those who haven’t read Barriger’s first book, it won’t take long to get to know these two extraordinary men, who met by chance, fell in love, and went through all sorts of trials and tribulations before ending up a loving, committed couple. Taylor, an attorney, relocated from the city, leaving behind a cheating ex-boyfriend, to live with his friend, Gen, in a small, quaint town. Moving led to greater happiness than he ever thought possible---he met Tom. In Finding Peace, Taylor has opened a law firm in town, and, he’s still helping Tom at the bakery. Additionally, Taylor has become the town’s first gay mayor, openly accepted by his constituents. Talk about needing a 48 hour day! Tom is teaching at a local High School, and still works at the bakery. He loves the bakery and has no intention of leaving: it is the place where he first laid eyes on Taylor. Tom and Taylor manage to have some quality time together, but unfortunately, not enough. As if their hectic lives aren’t busy enough, events occur which put further demands on their leisure time together. Can a relationship withstand the stresses of careers and business, even though they possess a strong commitment? In Finding Peace, Barriger introduces us to many new and interesting characters we would be happy to call friends and family. Wayne is a troubled youth from a dysfunctional, abusive family who Tom hires to help at the bakery, allowing him more free time with Taylor. Taylor is skeptical at first, to entrust the care of the bakery to a gay young man with such a troubled past. Taylor worries about appearances. What would the townspeople think about two gay men hiring a gay teenager? Tom convinces Taylor to give Wayne a chance. They take Wayne under their wings and quickly become father figures to the high school senior. Wayne is a bright, sensitive young man who works hard and wants to make something of his life even though he was dealt a tough hand. What he finds with Taylor and Tom is more than just friendship—he finds the love and family he never knew. The plot unfolds as Taylor and Tom decide to invite both their families for the Thanksgiving holiday. The two sets of parents, who never met, have Taylor anxious with anticipation. Tom is much more laid back and tries to convince Taylor not to worry. Tom’s sister, Mandy, asks if it’s okay to invite her college friend, Eric, who has nowhere to spend the holiday. When Eric meets Wayne, sparks fly, and the plot thickens. Emmy is Wayne’s school friend and co-worker at the bakery. Emmy and Wayne have a strong bond; she helps Wayne deal with the stormy relationship with his family. She’s also there to help him come to terms with his sexuality. While Taylor and Tom are Wayne’s father figures, Emmy is Wayne’s peer. Bryce, Taylor’s straight, married, younger brother, is another character worth noting. He adds a refreshing element to the novel with his unconditional acceptance and support of his brother’s sexuality. According to the author, “He’s sort of a man’s man who doesn’t care that his brother is gay.” While Taylor’s parents are the kind of people “who meddle and then get distracted by something and disappear,” Tom’s parents are more traditional and provided him with a solid upbringing. Tom and his mom are close and she approves of Tom’s choice of a mate. There are other characters who add to the story but you’ll have to read Finding Peace for yourself to find out who they are and how they affect the world of Taylor and Tom. Plot twists and turns—not to be revealed here—make for an engrossing and entertaining read. Barriger accomplishes this feat with wit and charm. He turns adversity into something propitious, tragedy into triumph, and even manages to redeem some despicable characters. By the giving of yourself to others, you reap rewards that far surpass what you gave. Andrew Barriger is currently working on the sequel to Finding Peace, tentatively titled, Finding Hope. I can’t wait for it to be published. Finding Hope promises to have a stadium full of wonderful characters. Don’t miss this delightful series by Andrew Barriger, a talented and prolific writer. |