Vagabond Heart

By A.J. Llewellyn

Gay prostitute Tinder McCartney thought he had it made in WWII Honolulu…until true love and an attack on Pearl Harbor turned his life upside down.

Tinder McCartney is the only gay male prostitute working in Honolulu, HI during World War II. Like the 200 female prostitutes who live and work on Hotel Street, he services the armed forces drifting in and out of the islands. His life and work are controlled by the local police, yet because the cops don't think that there can be that many ‘depraved' men wanting the comfort of another man, Tinder is not only busy, but often in danger.

Living by very strict rules enforced by the police, Tinder cannot own or drive a car or bicycle, can't ride street cars or be seen in the company of other men. He can't visit bars or restaurants or swim at Waikiki Beach. Savagely attacked by two men one night, he is rescued by a local businessman, Jason Qui, the son of a Chinese immigrant and a former New England missionary.

Jason is not Tinder's usual type. But Jason offers to protect and house him. It seems like the ideal business arrangement until Tinder's Vagabond Heart can no longer handle the arrangement… and then on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbour is attacked, turning the entire world upside down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Nov 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9780857153357

A.J. Llewellyn

A.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled. A.J. never lacks inspiration for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasions this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions. A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.

Reviews for Vagabond Heart

[dianeyu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I believe I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. A.J. Llewellyn paints a portrait of Hawaii in a time just prior to the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese. His setting is so lush and filled with details that you can't help but feel you were there.Tinder has given up a career with an architectural firm in California to return to Hawaii upon his mother's death, only to find that he cannot find work. In desperation he works as the only male prostitute servicing the thousands of sailors who pass through Honolulu.Things are not easy for Tinder but he finds joy when he meets Jason. Time spent with Jason turns into a passionate affair. But Jason is determined to fulfill his duty to marry and raise a family.This was a tender and lovely romance with a great deal of heart. Combine that with the obvious research that went into the story and you have a five star read that will be among your favorites.

[Estarianne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was OK. I found the sex scenes a bit distracting at times, they seemed to interrupt the flow of the story. The characters are fine but not memorable.