4.5 stars.

Rowan Speedwell's Illumination is a wonderful romance that beautifully illustrates how love can triumph and flourish despite overwhelming odds.

Adam Craig lives his life in the limelight and on the road while Miles Caldwell panics the minute he leaves his property. A chance encounter brings them together and they enjoy a few passion-filled weeks while Adam takes a much needed break following the end of his band's latest tour. But Adam's escape is only temporary and no matter how much he dreads leaving Miles, he has obligations that he cannot avoid. A long distance relationship is the only option for Miles and Adam but individual issues soon take their toll. Miles's insecurities and fears cause him to doubt Adam's feelings for him and his inability to express himself causes serious communication problems for the couple.

Of the two men, Miles is the most emotionally fragile. A traumatic event in his past has left him so scarred he is virtually a hermit and he spends most days lost in painting beautifully detailed illuminations. His sister Lisa and close friends Rob and Doug provide him with unwavering support but they also enable Miles as he continues to avoid facing his problems. He is socially inept and has such a difficult time reading other people it is no surprise he continually doubts Adam's intentions.

Adam is such an incredibly confident character that it is at first difficult to see what lies beyond his rocker image. While he reached stardom with very little effort, he has had to completely bury his sexuality in order to maintain his position as the band's front man. He is growing weary of life in the closet but coming out could have a devastating impact on his musical career. After he returns to CA, Adam remains pretty steadfast in his efforts to keep his relationship with Miles on track but he is soon plagued by doubts after Miles stops communicating with him. After Adam renews an old friendship he is back on the nightly party circuit where he uses drugs and alcohol to cope with his growing uncertainties.

Illumination might have a few familiar themes but it is a refreshingly unique novel. Miles is dealing with some pretty debilitating psychological issues but they are just one facet of this multi-layered character. His past is heartbreaking and it is quite gratifying to see him finally taking steps to conquer his debilitating fears. Adam is not the stereotypical drug addicted rock star who is about to crash and burn. His use of drugs is recreational but far from harmless. This part of the storyline is a cautionary tale of how even casual use of drugs can have potentially catastrophic consequences.

Adam and Miles are instantly attracted to one another and they are very quick to act on their passion. Their sex scenes are playful but intensely sensual. What begins as a physical relationship quickly becomes much deeper as they get to know one another. As the more intuitive and observant of the two, Adam fully recognizes that something is not quite with Miles, but he does not let that interfere with his growing feelings for him. Miles is charmingly clueless about, well, pretty much everything, but he is aware that his feelings run much deeper than just sexual attraction.


I was pretty much captivated by Illumination right from the very first page. I was dying to uncover the secrets of Miles's past and Rowan Speedwell does an excellent job giving a little hint here and there which of course just made me even more curious. The complete story is revealed pretty late in the story, but is well worth the wait.

Final verdict: an emotional yet angst-free romance that is verrry sexy. ( )

How does a gay agoraphobic fine artist find love? In the pantheon of opposites attract romances, how artist Miles Caldwell and rock sensation Adam Craig of Black Varen, the band of the moment, meet and fall in love might be one of the most stirring.

After his parents die in a car crash from which he managed to walk away alive although battered, Miles Caldwell hasn't been able to leave the vacation resort property his parents owned and ran. More out of boredom than because he needs to, Miles, once a fine artist now creates illuminated manuscript pages using the techniques of the medieval monks and sells them online.

After a night performing and then partying, Adam Craig, whose real last name is Karoshewski, decides to have a cab drive him out of Chicago as he attempts to figure out what's wrong with him and his life. Seeing a sign to the lake resort where he and his family used to vacation, he has the cab drop him off.

Wandering around, reliving the past, he ends up passed out on the patio chairs of Miles' deck where Miles finds him the next morning. They find an initial connection in their shared memories of summers past when they knew each other as boys. And as two artists, they connect on an aesthetic level also.

But how can two so different people find a happily ever after since Adam's job is to perform in front of millions of people while Miles' debilitating fear of leaving the resort makes him physically ill?

Adam, for all his posturing and self-aggrandizement, is only interested in creating music. He's a decent guy who's lost in the trappings of his profession and can't find a way out. He definitely needs someone like Miles to pull him back from the funhouse mirror of fame and ground him in what's important. He's the rich lost boy we all like but pity.

Miles, on the other hand, is a fighter, someone we admire for his grit in the face of adversity. He fights his agoraphobia and has had many psychologists, none of whom have helped him. Until Adam shows up on his deck, he's nearly given up hope of finding a real life even though he has his manuscripts and a sex partner in a friend's boyfriend. Of the two, he's the more pitiable, but the more likeable.

Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=10034 ( )

3.5 stars. Good story with likable characters. I liked the pacing until the very end when it felt rushed. ( )

3.5 stars. Good story with likable characters. I liked the pacing until the very end when it felt rushed. ( )

As sweet as Adam is it was Miles that captured my heart the most. As much as Miles was dependent and alone he was very strong too. His love for Adam was fierce and he would do anything for him.

Adam was precious but had some issues to work on that isn’t saying miles didn’t but miles acknowledged his. Adam though really needed to get comfortable and say pooh on all you this is who I am. Unfortunately fear of not doing what he loved took a part in that. Okay so back to Miles whom I loved.

Miles is a recluse a cute recluse who went into the steamy scenes with wide eyed abandon. He explored and this got Adam in awe and love with Mlies. Miles was a amazing artist. He was cranky and irritating but I think that was frustration over feeling helpless about his situation. This didn’t affect Adam in face it endeared him to Miles. They have these precious two weeks and they want to see each other more. Unfortunately Miles is naggled with doubt and Adam his silly career expectations on how his personal life should happen and presto blamo no Turkey day visit. I wanted that visit to after the steamy scenes and their connection.

As they miss one another, Adam does some really sensual things to get miles to remember him (silly boy he remembers you just is afraid) and this leads to a big splat in his career. From here things for Adam go downhill. Miles is struggling to not ask Adam back in his life but is trying to get his life back. He wants ownership of himself again. Adam has a tragic incident and this leaves miles in a panic sending him over the edge. But he is so precious in what he does and his feelings come out.

A precious story of love and acceptance. It is a coming together of two souls who need each other to be strong and get over their insecurities and become the people they are meant to be. ( )