Review: Whisper by Garrett Leigh

Title: Whisper

Series: Skins: Book Two

Author: Garrett Leigh

Length: 260 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: There are so many wonderful moments and lines in this book. Leigh never ceases to leave me in awe with how seamlessly she can transition between scenes that are tender or heart-tugging to those that may be filthy or even suspenseful, and then back to swoony and romantic.

Reviewed By: Jules

Blurb: Lonely physiotherapist Harry Foster has the world at his feet. A full client list, a six figure Instagram following, and a publishing deal for a book he doesn’t have time to write until his agent offers him a break—a retreat to the wild south west coast.

Cornish horseman Joe Carter is lonely too. Rescuing horses and managing Whisper Farm takes up most of his days, and by night he plays chicken with the farm’s perilous bank accounts.

At his sister’s unwelcome suggestion, he rents his only bedroom to a bloke from the city, and when Harry arrives, he’s everything Joe isn’t—calm, patient, and gorgeous enough to be exactly the kind of distraction Joe doesn’t need.

Harry doesn’t have time for distractions either—even shirtless farmers riding bareback past his bedroom window—but his moody host proves impossible to ignore.

On paper, they have nothing in common, but Joe is beautiful…glorious, and when an accident puts his life in Harry’s healing hands, the whisper of true love is inevitable. If the trouble that put the farm on its knees in the first place doesn’t get in the way.

Review: Garrett Leigh’s newest release, Whisper, is the second book in her Skins series, which I am loooooving. The first book, Dream, was fantastic; I adored Dylan and Angelo so damn much. In Whisper we get to know Harry, who we briefly met in the first book as Angelo’s physical therapist, and watch him fall in love with Joe Carter, who I fell in love with too. Leigh’s incredible talent as a storyteller is once again showcased here as she effortlessly weaves together every detail, every character, every cameo, to create yet another unforgettable romance.

Harry is a big, muscly sweetheart of a man. I was intrigued by him in Dream, so I was excited to learn more about him in this book. What we learn is that his physiotherapy practice isn’t his only gig. He also has a blog based on his physiotherapy and life coaching that has a large following and has gained the attention of a publisher. After landing a large book deal and with the deadline just a handful of months away, Harry decides he needs a quiet place to just focus and write over the summer. We also learn that Rhys—who we also met in Dream and is a sometimes third for Dylan and Angelo when they go to Lovato’s, and is a main character in the next book—is Harry’s brother! That fun fact surprised me quite a bit. And throughout the story we also learn about Harry’s background and what made him choose his current path.

The place where Harry ends up is Whisper Farm, a horse rescue farm near the coast, which is where he meets Joe. Gruff, lonely, moody, beautiful Joe. When we meet Joe, he has his hands full with the farm. He is counted on to run everything, since his father has more or less abandoned the family, and his sister Emma has debilitating anxiety and can’t always lend a hand. Joe spends his time juggling bills, dealing with local thugs whom his father has pissed off, and, of course, caring for the horses. I can’t tell you how much I loved the setting of this book. I could vividly picture the farm in my head while I was reading, and Joe’s relationship with the horses is breathtaking and fascinating. I was so touched by a couple of scenes with Joe and his horse, Mani. And, there is a scene, you guys, where Harry sees Joe out in the upper pasture, riding Shadow, who is temperamental and troubled, and he is shirtless and glorious, and it’s unbelievably gorgeous.

There are so many wonderful moments and lines in this book. Leigh never ceases to leave me in awe with how seamlessly she can transition between scenes that are tender or heart-tugging to those that may be filthy or even suspenseful, and then back to swoony and romantic. I have to share one line that I can’t get out of my head, that was said to Joe by his father, Jonah:

“A day means nothing when the years are so long. You know that better than I do. Take care of the horses, son. They’re blessed to have you.”

I loved that line and that moment so much. And, there was so much truth in it. The horses and every other creature and person on that farm were blessed to have Joe.

I mentioned cameos earlier, and there are a few… We see Angelo and Dylan, of course. We also get some Rhys. And, there is another that made my heart stutter—Dex, from Heart, appeared a few times and made me want to read his and Seb’s story again!

This book is fantastic, guys. Harry and Joe are so beautiful together. I love how Joe dares to dream of a future for them, even though things in his life have seemed so bleak for so long. I highly recommend this one! Also, I’ve never promoted anyone’s Patreon before, but Garrett Leigh posts some of the most fabulous content. All kinds of exclusive extras, deleted scenes, and sneak peeks. If you’re a fan of her work, I absolutely recommend checking it out and seeing if it’s something you might be interested in. But, for sure get caught up with the Skins series before Believe comes out. I can’t wait for Rhys and Jevon’s story!

You can buy Whisper here:
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