Monday, July 15, 2019

[96-ENG] Review: Made in Lisbon - Ana Newfolk ||+Blog Tour||

Ana Newfolk
Series: Made In
Volume: 5/?
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: 60 000 words
Pages: 227

Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮

Three years have passed, since Vítor's husband lost his battle against cancer, but during all this time the man has remained faithful to his beloved, as he doesn't believe that he could love anyone else. It turns out, however, that his heart doesn't share this opinion, because unexpectedly it starts to beat faster for a very attractive young man.
Tiago runs an LGBTQ Youth Center by himself, and at the same time, his life revolves around finding his brother who escaped from home eight years ago. However, the routine of his everyday life changes when he meets a handsome, older man who, like Cinderella, arouses Tiago's interest, and then escapes from the "ball". Nevertheless, this is enough for fate to weave Vítor's and Tiago's paths together into a tight knot impossible to untie.


"Made in Lisbon" is the fifth installment of the "Made In" series, consisting of short novellas and longer novels connected with one another by a group of protagonists around whom the stories presented in the series revolve. To tell the truth, I have the impression that this part differs to a large extent from the previous ones, as it seems to be much heavier due to the topics it raises. We can find here some really sweet scenes, but the novel contains a large dose of drama, which definitely dominates over everything else. However, it should be noted that, despite all this, the novel doesn't make the readers depressed, but it rather shows them a glimmer of hope that they can see in each of the problems discussed in the book. And "Made in Lisbon" is focused exactly on this mentioned hope. The author seems to put the greatest emphasis not on dramatic events in the characters' lives, which don't have any positive consequences, but on ending them and on the brighter side of life.

One of the above-mentioned, very serious topics that appear in "Made in Lisbon" are family problems related to its dysfunction. In fact, the novel revolves around them because, due to their diversity, they form the foundation of all the other problems the characters need to face. The author presents them in a very moving and graphic way, in terms of feelings and emotions that followed the dramatic events in Vítor's and Tiago's life during their youth, and which they still feel. However, I think that in this respect the most important thing is looking for a way to change the situation, clarifying misunderstandings and rebuilding broken family ties. Not without significance is the fact that the people responsible for the drama in the characters' life are no longer alive, which allows Vítor and Tiago to focus on healing their wounds without looking into the eyes of the corporeal demons of the past.

In "Made in Lisbon" I really love the fact that the author uses the motif of a new life after partner's death, and thus a new beginning. I think that Ana Newfolk really shows in a perfect way the complex feelings that a person who "remains" and has a chance to start living again, fall in love again feels. What fascinated me the most in the way this motif was presented is the fact that Vítor puts himself in his dead husband's shoes, and thanks to it he admits that he feels jealous when he thinks that after his death his beloved could find someone else, but at the same time he would like him to be happy. To tell you the truth, I was relieved, because Vítor's thoughts fully reflect mine, and some time ago I was afraid that they made me an extremely selfish person. Yet, I admit that this is the first time that I've seen such an approach to this topic in literature.

Another huge subject raised in "Made in Lisbon" is child sexual abuse. Undoubtedly, this is a very difficult, extremely serious and painful problem, however, for children's well-being, it should not be considered as taboo. Without a doubt, the great advantage of the way Ana Newfolk addresses this problem is the gentleness and subtlety with which it was presented in the novel. The author doesn't make a show out of it. Instead, to a certain extent, she focuses on how sexual abuse can be perceived by children and how the perception of this sick behavior changes as the child grows up. To me it is also important that the author doesn't show to much details that would deter us, but limits it to a minimum necessary to give the novel more depth, as well as the characters' experiences, and simply to present the problem.


To sum up, "Made in Lisbon" is a serious and deep novel in which the characters are struggling with real problems. However, the most important subject here seems to be hope, which ray we see among the shadows cast by the demons of the past. This is undoubtedly a book worth recommending.


Headcanon: Tiago sometimes prepares dinner for Vítor, when he's very tired after work. Most often the dinner is burnt, but Vítor eats it and praises it anyway.

Fanfiction idea: Vítor and Tiago spend their holidays by the sea. They visit museums, see monuments, swim in the sea and enjoy their intimate time together. Their leisure is so active that they return home happy but tired.

AU idea: As a funny birthday present, Vítor receives a voucher for a dance course from his son. Not wanting to waste money, the man sign up for the lessons taught by young, handsome Tiago. Seeing the way Tiago moves when dancing, Vítor can barely take his eyes off him.


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Here's some more about:

Book Title: Made in Lisbon (Made In Series Book 5)
Author: Ana Newfolk
Cover Artist: Rhys Athanasiadis-Lawrence, Ethereal Ealain
Trope/s: May-December
Themes: Hurt/comfort
Heat Rating: 5 flames








Blurb

Three years after his husband’s death, Vitor is still grieving. Too young to be alone and too old to start again, he feels stuck. Accepting a new job in Lisbon is just what he needs, but it also means going back to the city that sealed his fate nearly thirty years ago.
Between looking for his missing brother and running an LGBTQ Youth Center, Tiago doesn’t have time for dating or commitment. When his best friend asks him to find a family member that ran away years ago, Tiago welcomes the distraction.
A past full of secrets.
An anonymous kiss that turns their world upside down.
When past and present clash, will the two men put everything aside and give themselves a chance at happiness? Or are the things keeping them apart stronger than their feelings?

Made In Lisbon is a 60k word May-December MM romance with hurt/comfort themes, lots of steam and a HEA.


Made In Lisbon can be read as a standalone but will be better enjoyed as part of the Made In Series as characters and stories from previous books appear in this story.





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Excerpt
Excerpt from Vítor’s POV

The doorbell rang right on time.
"Hey, sweets, how are you doing?" Luís asked before enveloping me in one of his big bear hugs. I allowed myself to melt into it before I answered.
"I'm okay."
I’d met Luís on the same night I'd met Rodrigo at a student party. I'd been talking to Luís and had thought he was cute, but Rodrigo stole my heart from the first moment our eyes met. When Dri had stolen me away at the party I'd thought I'd never see Luís again, but when we'd bumped into each other at the university campus a few days later, we went out for coffee and ended up becoming good friends.
"Are you really okay?" He put a hand on my chin to tilt my head up so I could look him in the eye.
"I was going through Dri's shirts earlier and it brought back some memories. Hey, I don't suppose you want his shirts? You're the same size." Despite asking the question I was relieved when Luís said he didn't feel right taking the shirts, and besides, he didn't have any use for them since he was an artist and spent more time covered in paint than in nice clothes.
"So, where's this dinner then? I've not eaten since breakfast in anticipation. And since the others aren't here, I expect a mega portion."
I smiled and guided him to the kitchen.
This house was Rodrigo's indulgence. When he'd asked me to marry him, even before it was legal for two men to marry in Portugal, he'd promised he'd design the best house in the country. I never needed something so big, but the kitchen was the one part of the house I was grateful I'd allowed him to indulge in the design.
The food was perfect as always, then again, cooking this meal most Sundays for nearly thirty years, I could almost do it wearing a blindfold.
We ate mostly in silence, which was welcome because I was feeling out of sorts. I also wondered what was in Luís' mind. In the nearly thirty years I'd known him I'd never seen him go longer than a few minutes without talking. Even when we were younger, he'd always been the one who would bring someone into the conversation by asking the right questions and making them feel like they were the only person in the room.
That was how he'd got me talking that night in the bar, until a single look from Rodrigo had made me feel like he and I were the only people on the planet.
The thought made me shiver. Luís looked at me but didn't say anything.
Since it was just the two of us, I hadn't bothered making dessert, but I had made an effort to get Luís' favorite pastries.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Luís said before stealing one of the mini palmiers part dipped in chocolate with a sprinkle of coconut.
"Several times."
We took our coffees and a plate with the tiny pastries and sat in the living room facing the garden.
"What's going on?" Luís asked before I had a chance to take a sip from my coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"Something's not right."
I took a deep sigh. What could I tell him? That I felt like part of me had died with my husband and the other part was slowly dying because my son wouldn't talk to me? That I hated going to work because the desk next to mine was empty? Was three years too long to still be missing him? Or not long enough?
"Talk to me, sweets," Luís said, putting his hand on my cheek and rubbing his thumb gently over my skin. I always loved how tactile Luís was, almost like touching people was part of his language.
"I don't know what to say. I feel lost without Dri and Mateus won't talk to me. I don't know how to handle it all on my own."


About the Author


Ana Newfolk was born in Portugal but has lived in the United Kingdom for so long, even her friends sometimes doubt if she really is Portuguese. 

After getting hooked on reading gay romance, Ana decided to follow her lifelong dream of becoming an author.

These days you can find her in front of her laptop bringing her stories to life, or in the kitchen perfecting her recipe for the famous Portuguese custard tarts.

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