Junkyard Heart

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Enjoyable romance between two skittish characters, Kim (a secondary character from Leigh's House of Cards) and Jas. Kim has struggled with alcoholism for years, and Jas has left London, his past as a player, and a married lover behind. They're immediately attracted to each other but hesitant to get involved, especially when Jas thinks that Kim is in love with his beautiful, wild friend Lena.

I enjoyed Jas' interesting family dynamics, cameo appearances from Cards' Brix and Callum, and of course the description of the beautiful, rugged Porthkennack landscape (not to mention the description of two beautiful, rugged men having a shag). There's one scene involving Jas, Kim and Lena that is a little weird, but it makes a bit more sense in retrospect. Leigh's portrayal of alcoholism as a lifelong struggle is respectful and, I think, authentic.

I've only read a few of Leigh's novels but she seems to be a dependable, skilled author and I look forward to exploring her previous releases.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.