Review - He's The One by Barbara Elsborg

Stonemason Col sees a block fall off the scaffolding and fall towards an unsuspecting employee of Asquith Hall. He dives for the young man and manages to get him out of the way. The guy isn’t Col’s type, but he still feels a spark of attraction to the man, Theo. What Col doesn’t know is that Theo is actually the heir to the estate. The two men are from vastly different worlds, and each has their own heavy baggage. Can they bridge the gap between them and build a life together, despite the forces trying to pull them apart?

This author has a penchant for stories that bring two men together for just long enough to realize they’re attracted to each other, then separating them for a length of time. They built a whole fantasy series around it. There’s an element of that in this story, but it isn’t the main theme of the plot. This is more about overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to build a life that makes you happy.

There’s a lot going on in this story, as Col and Theo uncover plots and secrets involving the estate and Theo’s parents. There isn’t really one Big Dramatic Event in the book. It’s more of an unfolding series of events that ultimately brings Theo and Col closer together.

The point of view for the story-telling alternates between Col and Theo. Theo is very reminiscent of Jonty from the author’s The Making of Jonty Bloom. Like Jonty, Theo’s irrepressible personality provides a humorous counterpoint to what could otherwise be a rather dark story line. Col is a good counterpoint to Theo. It’s more than just a difference in class. Col is quiet and thoughtful, but as the saying goes, still waters run deep.

“He's The One” is available from Amazon (commissionable link).