“David was contemplating the wreck of his home life and his career. He realised with sickening clarity exactly how much this meant. He was going to lose everything he had taken for granted for the last few years – friends and acquaintances, his parents and siblings, the routine of life at the depot, the house he and Mona had shared for the last five years, his marriage and his kids.”
After being best friends from the age of nine, David and Alan had not seen each other for six years after Alan had left their home town in Yorkshire for a life in London. Then, one February day, they met up by accident when Alan got on the bus that David was driving. Having reconnected immediately, the true depth of their feelings became clear despite the fact that David was now married with two kids. After David started a new job driving an express service to London, the two twenty-five year olds began an affair – the course of which was the subject of the first book in this series, Veering off Course.
Setting a New Course opens with the aftermath of David facing a major crisis on one cataclysmic August night. It’s a difficult time as he tries to come to terms with a new life in London with Alan, his feelings of guilt about his marriage and his fears for the future of his two sons, whom he misses terribly.
David is brought almost to his knees when the problems he is facing are compounded by the actions of a vengeful wife. Is his relationship with Alan strong enough to withstand the strain Of these events? Can he reach an agreement with his wife about the future of the kids? And is his father willing to heal the breach that has developed between them?
At a moment of crisis, intervention from an unexpected source helps to reduce the emotional temperature. Can calm reflection lead to a new course being set for Alan and David?
My Rating - 4.5 Stars!
Wow! Setting a New Course is a riveting romance by Chris Cheek. The second book in the Navigation Quartet by Chris Cheek, it's picks up where Veering off Course leaves off. That said, it's actually easily read as a standalone, as the past events are summed up well.
David and Alan's relationship began when they were kids. They were best friends. Until life took them down different paths.
Now they are together, as boyfriends. Unfortunately, David's wife wasn't so happy about this.
Their story is one of two different lives lived. The one David picked. And the one he is now choosing.
I have a lot to say about this book. First of all, don't get caught up on the cheating. Yes, there is cheating, as David was cheating on his wife. But, it's the age old tale of being closeted and choosing the easier route in life. He thought he loved his wife, and it wasn't until seeing Alan again, that he knew he wasn't happy.
Second, I have to address the author's writing style. I originally didn't read Veering off Course because of the unique style. I plan to change that though, as I need to know how things went down when they met up again. But, seriously, the writing style is not my typical taste. Everything is written in a more posh and proper manner; both the style and the language used. You could easily change a few things up and have it be a historical romance.
But, on the first page, David's plight caught my attention. I am thrilled to have read this book. His journey is nothing unique and my heart hurts for him throughout.
There's plenty of pain throughout David's journey. He has to deal with his angry soon to be ex wife and the fight to see his children. There's plenty of homophobia surrounding him, most of it caused by his wife and mother in law.
The men have their share of problems as a couple too. Both external and internal. There's no doubt they're in love. These men are damaged and luckily they make one another better. They fight through their fears and frustrations, mistakes and miscommunications. They will have a happy ending, so fear not.
One of the most beautiful themes of this tale is that of friendship. The author wonderfully explores the importance of being in a gay community and the automatic understanding that comes within the community. I love this.
As well, the author takes us on David's journey of feeling inferior to his London crowd. David is "just" a bus driver and feels he doesn't fit in with the arts crowd or the businessman crowd. The sad part is that David loves being a bus driver. It's heartbreaking to see the automatic stigma he feels from it when in a more sophisticated crowd. I wanted to cry for him. But, in the end, the author takes him on a beautiful journey towards self worth.
Overall, Setting a New Course is well worth a read. I love every second of this Chris Cheek storyline. These men and their journey had me captivated throughout.
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