Unspoken Hearts

‘Found Family’, Triangles and Love

Tense, hold your breath, no one is sure what to say or do in the first part of Ryan Moore’s final segment of Gabriel and Dylan’s love story. In the midst of a family emergency, with panic at the edges and still unspoken – but felt – turmoil over their relationship and Mark’s non-acceptance, it is Gabriel that is collected, takes hold of medical decisions and clearly guides the family, and Mark, in the right direction, and then steps back quietly to the edges. Mark, in his panic and fright, in his trembling indecisiveness, notices and is grudgingly, silently grateful, and remembers the friendship he once held so dear. Jenna had called her brother Dylan, not her Father, in her distress; Gabe asks the right questions and has the contacts and resources, and Mark is left to seethe, to question, to feel his anger, his fear and his guilt; it is Mark that lashes out in his futility and recognized uselessness. This is the culmination that has been building all through these stories, a family under duress and how they handle the stresses of life. Tragedy, grief and rejection has followed them all through the years, and each character has handled these stressors in their own way, to their own capacity; they have also built a dynamic of resilience and hope, at times not living up to other’s expectations, but always coming back to their nuclear responsibilities, to the glue that holds a true family unit together, the strength of Love.
– An unusual love triangle, Gabriel and Mark (life-long best friends who have supported each other in love and death, bolstering, each being strong for the other if necessary); Mark and Dylan, father and son (always a tricky relationship in itself, full of hopes and dreams, expectations and disappointments); and now, Gabriel and Dylan together, favorite ‘uncle’, mentor and family friend now turned lover and defender, with all the responsibilities and co-dependency a love relationship requires and develops. Revolving around these principles is Jenna, the little sister, sunshine and advisor, stalwart support of her Father, but pulling for her ‘uncle’ and her big brother subtly – she never really took sides – but acted as facilitator and a kind of buffer to the intense emotions swirling around her loved ones; she remained available emotionally to all of them, ready to listen, ready to hear explanations. And, behind the scenes, a fondly remembered Caroline, wife and mother, molder of character, friend and support to Gabe, lovely and always there, even lending support if only in memory, to everyone. This has always been a lucky family.
– As tension subsides mid-way through this tale, as Jenna convalesces and danger is past, Mark comes to terms with his anger and fear, and relaxes a bit. He and Caroline included Gabriel in everything, but when illness and death intruded, when he needed Gabe the most, Gabe was dealing with his own discomfort and heartbreak, his failed relationships, losing a lover to drugs, another that betrayed him. Gabriel left to heal, and Mark felt the first betrayal, he was bereft and lonely, and had to be strong for his children; he became somewhat withdrawn, brittle, stiff, a more controlling father than he had been. Even in his support of Gabe, when he returned, he wasn’t as even tempered as he could have been. Gabriel was more remote, also, mentoring the children, present but not effusive. Dylan’s manhood, gayness and obvious attraction was a surprise to Gabe, and encouraged him out of his shell. Passion opened him to life again.
– In stages, Mark comes to terms and opens to Gabe again, to his children as well. The dinner, desert, the lovely interlude in the garden between Mark and Gabe, the rose cutting. Healing and growth for the main characters. A beautiful ending to perhaps Moore’s most intimate story, the healing of a family, acceptance, and continuity; early heat of love becoming mature, tested but not diminished. My tension abated, my eyes moistened, then dried, the quickened pulse of passion becomes the poetry of the rose; a smile at the end, and a sigh.

– Ryan Moore’s ‘bonus’ story ‘Healing Family’ is a continuation, a corollary, an epilogue from Mark’s POV, and is truly, poetically beautiful. Mark realizes his own futility in the hospital waiting room, how Gabriel takes care of everything and everyone, how he sits between Dylan and Mark to take the brunt of the anger, the sorrow, the grief, the fear, protecting not only Dylan but Mark also; just as he always has. Gabriel has been best friend, best man, witness to births and support during Caroline’s decline and death. mentor and favorite to his children; Mark and Gabriel are brothers and always have been. Mark hears Caroline’s chiding voice, as those of us that have lost hear the advice and criticism of the departed, as he realizes he has been prideful, fearful and stubborn, that he has blamed Gabe for his own weaknesses, his own fears of being alone and adrift; his fear of losing another loved one. Tissues are warranted at times, dear readers. But this is a happy ending, acceptance, renewal, trust is restored, and both men actually find words to declare their love and support for each other, their gratitude for a lifetime of family. Damn Ryan Moore for making me reach for tissues again. Did I mention the beauty of Caroline’s garden, the reverence Moore shows for Nature, for landscapes and for the nurturing of the human soul; my bad. This story is a poem to found family, life and love. Sob.

It Took A Tragedy to Heal their Wounded Hearts

Even though Gabriel knew it would be problematic going to the hospital, he still went so he could support Dylan, but he didn’t expect Mark would put their differences aside so they could support Jenna. Unfortunately, everything came to a head when Mark came to see Dylan and met Gabriel there, so he took the opportunity to revisit his previous argument about their relationship. However, Gabriel used the opportunity to open up his heart about everything, so they could begin the healing process they both needed.

As luck would have it, getting Mark’s blessing not only strengthened Gabriel and Dylan’s relationship, but it also started the process of healing all the pain caused by the death of Caroline. This is a beautifully written romance story about healing, connections and fighting for true love, but what really makes this story shine is the emotional rollercoaster all the characters went through to get a happy future.

MM Age Gap Romance

Unspoken Hearts is the second sequel to Unspoken Lust by Ryan Moore, and I found it to be incredibly heartwarming. The emotional resonance of the story was beautifully tender, and it conveys so movingly the idea that love always finds a way. This installment wraps you up in warmth and affectionate hope from Gabrielle and Dylan’s heartfelt connections to the sweet unfolding of the relationships within the pages, it truly feels like love, in all its forms, will endure.