Hunter Carlisle is gay. But not a single soul knows about his big secret. Not even in his church does he feel brave enough to talk about his burden. And a burden, it is.

For his whole life Hunter has pretended to be someone that he is not. He’s always had girlfriends and, although he honestly cared about them, he never really connected with them, nor really loved.

His current girlfriend, Kara, has a job which requires a lot of travelling on her side. A welcome situation for Hunter, because it means less time where he needs to pretend to be a perfect boyfriend.

Hunter has felt alone his whole life. As a teenager he became a Christian and found his love for God. This love helped him over the worst times in his life, but the love of another person who loves him for who he really is, is what he truly needs.

Due to his stressful life, he suffers with back problems. When his old friend Ellen recommends her massage therapist Gabe, he gives it a try.  Gabe cures him from his back problems, but more so with Gabe he finally finds, what he needs: a person he can be his true self with.

Still, one problem remains: lying to his family and friends.  His journey is not over yet. This book gives you an insight into a man who has had to carry a burden his whole life.

After ‘A Beautiful Mess‘ from John Herrick, which I read earlier in the year, one thing was clear: I needed to read more from this author. Between these walls was the second book I’ve read so far and I might say it won’t be the last. It has been a while since I had the pleasure reading books as good as these.

The author has the rare talent writing in a way you can really feel with the characters. He always finds the right words and drags you into the story letting you forget all about your own life. For the time reading, you are in the book, in the character. Hunter is sad, You are sad. Hunter is happy, You are happy. When he feels helpless, that feeling is right there with you too. That’s how it feels to read Between these Walls.

The ability to write about a man with such a big secret and his struggles in life with such passion and sensibility really is a gift.

If you are into well-written, entertaining and foremost touching novels you are going to love Between These Walls. And you won’t be disappointed, trust me.

About the Author

When he decided to become a novelist, John Herrick did not expect to invest the next twenty years in what would seem a grueling, disconnected process.

A native of St. Louis, Herrick fell in love with writing fiction at eight years old, and by age eleven, his goal shifted from short stories to novels—and turning a hobby into a career.

Challenged with a constant flow of fresh ideas and lack of patience to complete such long-term projects, he merged the written word with another love: music. Herrick spent fifteen years developing his songwriting and lent several songs to benefit recordings by nonprofit entities.