Since requesting this book, I have lost interest and will not be reviewing it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

I love this Porthkennack series. Well I've only read Garrett Leigh books in this series so maybe its just Garrett and not just the series, but I want to read the whole series because what I have read so far is great. I love these brooding men where the sea helps calm their turbulent hearts.

Kim Penrose & Jas Manning.

"I don't know you yet, Jas. But I'd like to, and believe me, I haven't ever known anyone perfect. Flaws make us human. Wonderfully human,"

"Dear God." Red laughed. "You've met your evasive match there, Kim. No wonder you've been pissing in circles for weeks.

At first I always thought Kim & Len were soul mates from House of Cards #4, so I was a little surprised the effect Jas had even though I knew Kim was bisexual. However, as much as I loved Lena, Jas and Kim just fit so much better.

I did love this book, but I did find that Jas's story was to similar to Calum & Brix from the House of Cards, which lessened parts of the story for me. If that part was different I would have loved this book even more.

Junkyard Heart is my first Porthkennack book so I can tell you it is a good standalone and probably a great in-series book.
The angst is manufactured by the past of the two MCs, Jas and Kim. There is a slightly despondent tone throughout the book, and it brings to mind the ambiance at times of Wuthering Heights, with the gloomy weather and the stark atmosphere.
Jas has returned from London, heartbroken and finds things of interest but is not taking proper care of himself, which worries his family and friends.
Kim is just as imperfect but acknowledges his confusion. Together Jas and Kim try to find a way out of the muddle they’ve put themselves in. I loved their commitment to a green environment and that kind of saved them for me.
Plenty of spicy sex and characters who are not presented as simply straight or gay. It’s nice to see that in a novel.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

Wow, what a ride. Kim and Jas’s relationship was anything but easy. I have read this book twice now and enjoyed it each time. And I still wanted to hit Jasper over the head and tell him not to be so touchy regarding Kim’s relationship with Lena. Granted, he had every reason to be gun-shy after what his ex did, and I have never experienced anything like what he went through. I am far from an expert, so my opinion here might not have a lot of merit. I still think he should have listened to Kim’s explanation about his relationship with Lena instead of storming off.

And boy did I love Lena. She is the kind of friend you wish and dream for. Loyal, smart, kind and talented; her looks are irrelevant. She is a big part of Kim’s life and it’s understandable that they have difficulty letting go. Their relationship is no longer sexual but it is intimate. Kim states early on that they are soul mates, but they would never be together again. I completely understand that and felt so sad and yet at the same time happy because Kim and Jason are fated too.

This was such a lovely and gritty story in that it doesn’t gloss over the realities of life. No, Kim doesn’t fall off the wagon, but he does have moments where he needs help, whether he admits it or not. This is Garrett Leigh’s specialty: giving you real characters, real plots, and a roller coaster heart twisting journey.

Although I truly enjoyed this story, there were elements that didn’t work for me and I thought (personal opinion) could have been done differently to show the characters growing and maturing together. A prime example is when they are somewhat in the middle of their relationship and Kim is stressing over meeting the barn opening deadline. He is putting way too much pressure on himself. Yet he doesn’t ask for help and it’s only after something goes wrong that Jasper basically brow beats him in to asking for help from his friends. I felt Jas should have recognized Kim’s stress earlier and done something about it before it came to this point and beyond. This part bothered me because I didn’t think it gave Jasper enough credit as an observer or as someone who cares about Kim’s well-being.

The writing is excellent – Garrett Leigh is a true talent and treasure to have in the MM genre. These characters are genuine and flawed, which is perfect for me. I especially love how they loved each other, and can’t wait for the chance to read more about these men if Garrett ever decides to write more.

Overall I rate this with 4.25 stars

that i know of i havent read any of the others in this series... i did feel like at times i might have wanted to read the others to understand just a little bit more but overall it was a really good story. it kept me interested.. it kept me curious.. and i laughed. i enjoyed it and am glad i read it

Beautifully written modern romance book with plenty of angst, Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh is a truly spectacular story. The characters she created are complex with fully developed back stories and unique personalities. The quaint little seaside Cornish town where this story takes place is full of eclectic individuals who really help bring the story to life. While this is book 7 of the series, they are each standalone stories that can be read out of order.

The Characters
Jas leaves the chaos of London for the quiet of a Cornish seaside town. His self confidence is a bit damaged. He came back to Porthkennack where he used to spend his vacations as a kid with his father, stepmother and brothers. He is welcomed into the arms of his family, however, he definitely holds himself at arms length from them. You can see how hesitant he is to fully embrace his family and a life in Porthkennack. He meets Kim at a county fair and sparks fly. He is drawn to Kim and can’t seem to stay away, no matter what his head seems to keep telling him.

Kim has his own struggles and is honest with Jas from day one about his issues with addiction. I loved his honesty and the author did an amazing job writing about some of the issues surrounding addiction. This is a guy with a difficult past, who is fighting every day to create a new future for himself. He really wants a future with Jas but is honest with himself about how hard that might be.

Both of these characters are slightly damaged but working together, hesitantly and with the occasional stumble, to create a new future.

There are some amazing secondary characters in this modern romance book. Each one plays a special part in Jas and Kim’s relationship and helps create a fully developed story. I really loved Lena and must admit, I wish she played a bigger part in this story.

The Romance
The sex is hot and the friendship is sweet. They really do jump into things a bit quickly for my liking. By 10% of the book they are getting down and dirty in a storage room. I would have liked a bit more ‘getting to know you’ but the scenes are well written, steamy, and meaningful. That first scene sortof develops into a friends with benefits relationship as the book progresses. There is a ton of heat in this book, more so than a few of the author’s previous stories.

Overall, Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh is a poignant and well written modern romance book with plenty of heat. Great development of the setting as well as secondary characters. Just enough angst to keep things interesting without being over the top.

4.5 stars...

I've said it before and I'm sure it won't be the last time... Garrett Leigh's 'super power' as an #EvilAuthor is to break both her characters and readers and slowly put the pieces back together. I know that going into every one of her books but the depth of feeling and heartbreak seems to catch me off guard every single time.

Both Kim and Jas were broken in very different ways. Kim was fighting his personal demons and Jas was working on starting fresh and leaving his past back in London where it belonged. These two were so good together, when they were together. Kim didn't think he was worthy of Jas and Jas wasn't so sure he was worthy of Kim. They were quite the pair. Yet Jas saw beyond Kim's past and wanted to help him realize his total worth. He wanted to prove to him that he was more than his demons and his past. He didn't always go about it in the right way, but his heart was always in the right place.

Pretty much all of the books in the Porthkennack series can be read as standalone, but I have to admit, I've enjoyed the past couple even more because they loosely tie into previous books and characters. Jas' family was great. The interactions between Jas and Kim's friends were easy and seamless. I loved the support and sense of family that they provided for Kim. Junkyard Heart was a perfect addition to the Porthkennack series and another beautiful heartbreak from this talented author.

I read Junkyard Heart a few days after I finished House of Cards and even though I was very, very glad that I didn’t have to wait months in order to get Kim’s story, who intrigued me from the start, this back-to-back unavoidably led me to make comparisons between the two stories.

First let me talk about the good things.

Kim: I liked him from the start, and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him.

Blackbeard’s Junkyard: I so want to see pictures of that place!

Jas and his photos: I liked the descriptions of the subjects Jas photographed, the things that intrigued him and captured his interest. I liked how he almost never left home without his camera, and how a part of his mind was always looking for a picture worth taking.

Jas’s Porthkennack family: They were loving and open people. They had a happy life, made their choices and stuck by them no matter what anyone thought about it.

Brix and Calum: We see them again! Even though they don’t have a very big part in this story, it was still nice to see that they are happy and going strong.

The things that I wasn’t thrilled about:

First of all, as we had met Kim in the previous book, I assumed that this one was going to be from his point of view. Nope! We get this story from Jas and even though I liked him, I missed Kim’s perspective, and I never felt like I understood Kim completely. Up until the end, I had the feeling that he had more things to say, more pieces to add to his past.

Also, where the first book is a slow-burn with the MCs becoming friends first and only getting together near the end of the story, here the exact opposite happens, which isn’t something that bothers me in most stories, but here it didn’t work. Kim and Jas go from a hook-up, to friends-with-benefits, to friends, to lovers in an effort to find which relationship works best for them. There was a lot of indecision at the beginning, and, to be honest, it was a little tiring. For a big part of the story I didn’t see a connection between the characters. Fortunately that changed after the 60% mark. Their relationship seemed to progress and started to mean something. They were finally getting to know each other and talking about the important things in depth instead of just mentioning them.

The timeline confused me a bit at times, maybe because I had made some assumptions while reading the previous book and they turned out to be wrong. I’m talking about Kim and Lena’s relationship. If you haven’t read House of Cards yet you may want to skip this paragraph, but the rest of the review won’t spoil anything for you. In House of Cards Lena said at some point that Kim had met someone else and he seemed excited about it, so her leaving wasn’t going to be a problem. When I learned that Kim would be an MC in a future book, I assumed that that person was the other half of the main couple and that some parts of the two books were taking place at the same time. Again, nope! If I’m not mistaken, this story takes place about a year after House of Cards, so I was disappointed because I had been all excited about seeing Kim navigate that period in his life and trying to balance the end of a relationship at the same time he was starting a new one, especially with the way his relationship with Lena worked. Of course, that’s all on me, totally subjective and has nothing to do with the story itself.

Another thing that confused me was Lena’s part in this story. I really didn’t get her involvement in the degree it happened, and I don’t think her presence here was so necessary. The context in which she appeared frustrated me, and I didn’t like it at all. Jas’s feelings for her were all over the place, and he and Kim never really talked about it. It was a side plot that never went anywhere, or at least wasn’t as explored as it could have been. As it was, it only managed to confuse and frustrate me.

The last chapter works like a sort of epilogue where we see them six months in the future and everything points towards a HEA, but some things were kind of left up in the air. In general, I think that the story had some holes and needed to cover a few more issues before it ended.

Maybe it’s the fact that I loved House of Cards so much, but this one fell a bit short for me.

I was a little disappointed with this because I've enjoyed other books by Garrett Leigh so much more. Part of it was me - I'm so sick of seeing 12-step programs promoted in fiction as if they were the One True Way that works for everybody, when they don't and there are other solutions out there - and part was the way that Jas insisted on calling Lena "Red" even after she made it clear in the way she signed her note that she would prefer he used her actual name. Reducing women to their physical characteristics is one of the most sexist things that a man can do. I'm sure blondes will know exactly how dismissive it is if they've ever had some guy call them "Blondie" over and over, even after he's been told their name. So I found Jas hard to like.

Otherwise ... there's lots of hot sex (especially the first couple of sex scenes), and I liked Kim and his furniture, and those things were enough for three stars.

It's fairly rare to find a bi-sexual MC in M/M Romance. It's unheard of to be presented with two of them like we have in Junkyard Heart.

Kim is a recovering alcoholic who still has a very close relationship with his ex-wife. I'm not sure I understood the purpose of Lena in this story. I thought it was going to develop into something else, but instead the story teased us with it then abruptly moved on.

Jas is a photographer who is just out from a long-term cheating relationship.

It's lust at first sight for these two. But, it's a small town so running into each other isn't hard to do. That helps since neither can stop thinking about the other.

There's some hesitation on both their parts, but ultimately they can't stay away from each other.

I loved the ending. It was so bright and hopeful for the future.

I enjoyed both characters but I felt a little disconnected from their feelings for each other. They seemed to develop too quickly and become very strong without me really understanding why other than chemistry.

I didn't have as much of a problem with the Cornish slang in this book as I did in the previous one. I'm not sure if the author toned it down or if I just got a little used to it the second time around. I loved the people in the town. The families and friends are all so real.

I would recommend this one.

3.5 stars

Simple yet complex, that’s how I would describe Garrett Leigh’s latest book, Junkyard Heart. So quick rundown. To get away from London and a bad breakup, Jas returns to Porthkennack and his family to start a new life. Helping his brother at a local festival, he meets a man who catches his eye. Later on that day, Jas once again runs into Kim, they have a quickie and go their separate ways. Of course, Jas can’t get Kim out of his head and conveniently runs into Kim again. What starts as a simple friends w/benefits gravitates to something more. Sounds simple, right? Wrong!

I’ve grown accustomed to her stories ripping my heart out and it was nice to have one that, while it had emotions, didn’t leave me as a sobbing pile of goo. Jas has his reason for leaving London and I hate to admit but my brain had a moment or two of thinking karma had a play in it. Kim, SMH, he has got some serious issues, and he owns them but sometimes they owned him. At first, I didn’t think much of his problem, little did I know how much it would impact his life and what would become of him and Jas. The story is mainly told from Jas’ point of reference, but it’s clear to see the truly more complex character is Kim. Don’t let his free-loving, carefree existence fool you. He’s the one that gives the story its emotional edge.

Normally, I am not a fan of stories that the MCs meet, boink, then progress to something more. Usually, all that insta-stuff I find tedious and unbelievable. However, what Ms. Leigh has done here is brought two completely likable characters together, gave them a start, let them discover each other’s faults and work it out. Along the way, we get to meet Jas’ lovable family, find out what is going on with Calum and Brix.

I have yet to try reading any of the other books in the series by the other authors, and I’m not sure if they all tie in with one another. I can say, of what I have read, they can be read as stand-alones. I will, however, recommend reading House of Cards before jumping into Junkyard Heart because of the character crossover. That and it's another awesome read by what has become one of my favorite m/m authors.


I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4, Flames - 3

reviewed by Jac

Let me start by saying, “darn the 5-star system. Because Garrett Leigh’s “Junkyard Heart” deserves 4.5 stars!” It’s a beautiful addition to the Porthkennack series, although standalone's don't miss all the collaborative stories brought to you by five award-winning, best-selling British LGBTQ romance authors.
 
Photographer Jas Manning’s mom and dad were swingers when he was conceived, and she raised him in London. After he learns his boyfriend has a wife, Jas escapes to Porthkennack, where his dad, step-mom and two half-brothers reside on a farm, and where he’d spent childhood summers. Hard drinking and bit of a rebel, himself, Jas has an understandably jaundiced view of relationships.
 
When Kim Penrose, who creates eco-friendly furniture, gives him a rocking one-nighter, Jas isn’t ready to admit it might mean more. Kim, sober less than 6 months, warns he’s a poor risk, a man who’s strained many friends’ goodwill. But the farm is preparing to open an eatery, and Jas’ brother asks him to see if Kim will design their furniture.
 
Can two men who feel broken look beyond their own pasts – and one another’s – to create a future? Kim entices Jas, suggesting, “‘A friend with benefits? ’Cause it seems like that’s all my junkyard heart is good for.’”
 
In this down-to-earth novel, sneaky memories skew two men’s vision of themselves and their relationships. Garrett Leigh gives them, and her readers the antidote, to disregard the past in favor of our present moment and the gifts it may present to us.
 
If some singers have perfect pitch for sound, authors can have a great ear for dialect. “Junkyard Heart” is a whole a cappella choir of soaring phrases, from every-day discussion to important conversations. For example, “‘Here, come and have a butcher’s at this.’” Or, “‘Where’ve you been? Thought you’d sloped off home.’”
 
Garrett Leigh must be great at puzzles. We only learn why Jas and Kim’s pasts cause their misperceptions as needed. How can she keep track of all the small bits of history? I felt off-base the entire book, the pieces not quite fitting in, until they did, creating a completely satisfying psychological drama.
 
I love Jas and Kim’s mixture of fragility and strength, each man attempting to take responsibility for himself, while getting in his own way. “‘There’s no magic pill for anything,’” Kim tells Jas. “‘You just have to find better ways of coping with reality.’”
 
Garrett Leigh looks at life with eyes opened wide, never glossing the tarnished, instead finding the shine underneath. The gentleness with which she treats Jas and Kim’s rough edges is almost a spiritual blessing. “Junkyard Heart” is a well-timed book for a season when spirits can get frayed.

I feel like I say the same thing every time I write a review on this author's books. I just really like them. Her writing and story telling style is just totally my jam. This book was no exception.
I think the almost moody style fits my image of this cold, often rainy, overcast little village. This village where people go to heal their souls.

If you've read this author's other book in this series House of Cards then you've met Kim. He's a tattoo artist that works at Brix's studio. I was a bit concerned about where this would lead because in that Kim has an ex-girlfriend he's still sleeping with. I was hoping there would not be any drama and fortunately there wasn't. It was all handled in an interesting and adult manner.

Jas has recently moved there from London due to the fallout of a bad relationship. When the book starts he's isolated and lonely but after meeting Kim things change for him. The story is not only the beginning of their relationship but the journey of each of them healing old hurts.

I thought the story was melodic and touching and I really enjoyed it. It was also nice to see Brix and Callum a decent amount in this. You do not have to read their story to enjoy this though. This can be read as a standalone.

Reviews shared on V's Reads, Amazon, Goodreads and B & N: https://vsreads.com/2017/12/08/reclaiming-a-junkyard-heart-review-and-giveaway/

This is a contemporary M/M romance set on the Cornish coast town of Porthkennack.

Jas Manning has returned to his father’s farm in Porthkennack, to sort himself out, now that he’s discovered the man he’d been “exclusively” dating for the past five years is married with children. Jas wasn’t an exclusive type, but there was something special about that guy, and having tried, and failed, monogamy Jas is done with men. Full stop.

And then he meets Kim. Kim’s lanky frame and smoldering eyes turn Jas inside out. And, it’s not long–truly–before they can’t keep their hands off one another. But it’s a one-off, right? Hard to avoid one another in such a small town, though. And why should Jas avoid Kim? Well, there’s Kim’s off-again long-time lover, Lena, and his alcoholism. Those are two reasons Jas finds to keep himself from getting romantically entangled with Kim, but they do develop a rapport, a tentative friendship, that keeps them close. Plus, Jas’ is commissioning Kim’s designs and furniture for their new organic eatery. They are bound to each other, even if Jas is loathe to acknowledge it.

I really liked how this story developed. It’s sweet and steamy, with fun elements, like reconnecting with Brix and Calum from HOUSE OF CARDS, and Kim’s straight-shooting discussion of his disease, and his sexuality. He’s pansexual for anyone keeping score, and this is part of what keeps Jas holding him at arm’s length: the idea that Kim can’t be exclusive to him. It’s wild though, how hot their sexytimes get, and Lena’s a happy witness to some of their passion. That said, these guys are hard on the revelations and long on the stubbornness. It was sweet how Jas’s stepmother (they have an odd relationship as Jas was the product of a swingers party and he feels less-than compared to his half-brothers) steps in to correct his idea of what love truly is. That sets Jas on a mission to define and expand their connection into a relationship that fulfills them both

5 Stars!!!

This book was kind of unexpected, in the sense that I knew it would be good, this is Garrett Leigh after all, but I just didn't expect Kim's problems to run so deep.

I loved Kim and my heart broke for him so many times. He'd had such a hard time dealing with his demons and continued to do so every single day. I loved Jas, too, especially once he decided to move forward and forget his past mistakes. Both men were so realistically portrayed, they were flawed and it took them time to get things right, but once they did, they were just perfect together, supporting and being there for each other. The chemistry between them was sizzling and the sex scenes were really hot.

I will admit I wasn't sure about Lena/Red at first, but I loved her inclusion into the story. It was great to see Brix and Calum, too, and have them be such an integral part of the story.

Overall, Junkyard Heart was another hit for Ms. Leigh! The book was enjoyable, poignant, steamy and showed us what living with addiction can do to a person in a believable way. I think this is my favorite book in the series so far, it was just that awesome. Highly recommendable!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Riptide Publishing for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is a wonderful treat for the soul. As with all of the best books by Garrett Leigh, there is a magical sense of place in this story and the characters are complicated and perfectly flawed.

Kim is an artist who is rebuilding his life and struggling to stay dry. And while this description makes him sound dark and angsty, he also has a playful, almost joyful side that made me fall hard for him.

Jas escapes to Cornwall after relationship breakup in London. He is heartbroken, demoralized, and trying to find his place back with his family. A photographer, he shares a creative passion with Kim. I loved watching these two find each other as they both rebuild their lives. Two damaged men make for a complicated and often difficult relationship but these two work. They complement each other pretty perfectly.

As always, I love Garrett Leigh’s England as much as her characters. I love the tiny details that make an artisanal festival come to life perfectly. I love the snippets of conversation that make characters feel immediately real and familiar. I love the way the author brings the whole community to life and not just her central characters. The writing in this story is really beautiful and this might just be the best Porthkennack book yet.

Contemptuous and gritty, this is a very fast paced story of two jaded heroes set in a small town in Cornwall. The slang abounds, and the coarseness is real. Perhaps defensively, there is a lot of cynical judgement and repeated assertions of not caring what others think.

Contemporary romances with jaded heroes are not my favourite, and this was a bit too grim for me to enjoy. Too realistic and definitely not warm, cozy, or reassuring.

It is not often that I am in the mood for an angsty book with two troubled heroes, and I just wasn't feeling this book. It was not poorly written, just didn't match my current mindset.

”I don’t know you yet, Jas. But I’d like to, and believe me, I haven’t ever known anyone perfect. Flaws make us human. Wonderfully human.”

Believe it or not Junkyard Heart is my first Garrett Leigh read! (Ducking from shame). Well, I do own a few of her backlist, I just haven’t got around to read them. Porthkennack being one of my go to series/universe, I grabbed at the chance to read this book. And fell in like with a couple of flawed characters in the book, Jas and Kim. They are not very self-assured men with reasons of their own. Yet not only they own up to that, both also accept the other’s flaws as part of the package as they do. The core of the story itself is neat, and the layers of personality - even murky past of the earlier life - lend an added oomph to it.

Having said that, I do feel Jas and Kim get attached too fast. I don’t really get the vibe of chemistry between them (other than lust). Moreover, as the story is told from Jas’ POV and Kim is the one with more problem, I sort of fail to really sense Kim’s turbulence - or the addiction and depression as a result of that.

Another plus are the supporting characters who more than make up the shortfall on the MC side. I truly adore Jas’ family with all their quirkiness and enjoy the verbal banter every chance they got.

For an introduction to the author’s works, I consider this a win; or at least the writing style’s agree with me. I’ll be sure to check her previous book in Porthkennack series and - of course - others from her backlist.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.