Painted (The Art of Love Book 2) by Merry Farmer

Continuing with The Art of Love series, we meet the family painter, Rhys, as he struggles to come to terms with his sister's death and start to live life again in Painted.

From the blurb:

The art of love is listening to your heart when your head tells you what you’re doing is so, so wrong….

Painter Rhys Hawthorne is a rising star in the art world and a favorite teacher at the Hawthorne Community Arts Center, but his inspiration has been stuck for weeks, he’s still grieving for his sister, who lost her life in a car crash, and his personal life is a mess…because he can’t stop thinking about younger, vulnerable Early Stevens, who is not only confused about their life, they’re an employee of the family.

Getting tangled in a forbidden infatuation is the last thing Rhys needs…

Early is still coming to grips with being nonbinary and figuring out what they want in their life, and now their parents have kicked them out of the house. The only light in their life is the Hawthorne family, who have taken them in. But living at Hawthorne House only puts Early into forced proximity with his crush, Rhys. They might not know what they want or how to navigate the pitfalls in front of them, but they know they want Rhys.

But will one night of accidental passion between Rhys and Early help both of them get unstuck and find their path, or will their scandalous feelings for each other put the entire Hawthorne family in jeopardy?

Heather's Review:

This is not your light, fluffy holiday romance... it tackles real grief, real family struggles and how people can lash out to those they're closest to in the throws of that grief... it also depicts one loving and supportive family and another who are controlling and hurtful...

I absolutely love Early!  They're just so wonderful and sweet, with an amazing heart and a backbone of steel!  They are such a beautiful character and while they make missteps, they totally know what they want!

Rhys is so broken and in so much pain that he lashes out and doesn't trust that he can ever be happy - this was gut wrenching to read, but Early was such a positive light that they balanced out!

So emotional, so moving and such a hard won HEA - with a little levity provided by The Brotherhood!

Painted is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription