Hero by Heidi Cullinan

 Construction worker Hal Porter knows he’s nobody special. But when strange events draw him into a magical world, he becomes the only man who can free Morgan, a lonely, long-enchanted shape-shifter. Whether he feels he’s worthy or not, Hal is the hero Morgan has been waiting for.

However, Hal’s task becomes personal as he and Morgan fall in love. Now, to save Morgan and give himself the happily ever after he’s always longed for, Hal will need to do something far more daunting than face Morgan’s captor or finally come out of the closet…

He’ll have to believe in himself.

This title has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.

Wow this is book contains such a beautiful message!  Howard or Hal is a 37 year old extremely closeted and ashamed Catholic construction worker.  He dreams of being able to be who he is and having someone love and appreciate him just the way he is.  However, he has grown up hiding his sexuality and believing that it is wrong to want another man so he denies himself anything that could give him even a flicker of happiness.

Morgan is a being of immense power and capacity to love but he must share his love and have it returned in order to survive.  Outside forces conspire to bring Morgan and Hal together so that they will save each other, but the two must not only believe in their partner but themselves in order to gain their happiness.

I loved how the mothers of these two men may have a misguided way of trying to aid their sons in their search for love but were merely doing what they thought would help their sons the most.  This was a story about self-discovery and learning that we all have the power to save ourselves we just have to believe it and have a reason to embrace it.

Love and trust are the two most prominent themes in this sweet and sometimes sad tale of finding love in the abandoned places.

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