In My Father’s House: A Novel

Bentley L. Dean III is heir to a financial empire. He is all set to marry a woman of equal pedigree when plans go awry: Bentley reveals his gay identity to his father, who then disowns him with just four words, “Not in my house.” Bentley moves to exotic South Beach, Florida, and sets up an elite modeling agency that attracts the best local male and female talent. An elusive Hollywood insider contracts the agency to provide eye candy for an exclusive party. At the event, Bentley’s protégé, an impressionable college student named Jah, meets the host of the evening, African American movie star Seth Sinclair, and is eventually lured into an abusive down-low relationship with Sinclair. While Bentley is trying to save Jah, Bentley’s father suffers a life-threatening heart attack, which brings father and son toward repairing their broken relationship. With Bentley back in his father’s good graces, he is able to focus his resources to find and rescue Jah, but not without dangerous outcomes looming ahead. This decent-read posthumous work is subtitled The Chronicles of Bentley L. Dean, suggesting an intended series. –Vanessa Irvin Morris

E. Lynn Harris (1955-2009) is the author of ten previous novels and the memoir What Becomes of the Brokenhearted. His recent novels Just Too Good to be True, I Say a Little Prayer, A Love of My Own, and Any Way the Wind Blows hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications. He founded the E. Lynn Harris Better Days Foundation, a nonprofit company that provides support to aspiring writers and artists.

“In My Father’s House” was to be the first in a new series by author E. Lynn Harris. In this novel he introduces Bentley Dean, Miami resident and owner of a modeling agency. A former resident of Detroit, and in fact nearly Detroit royalty, Bentley left Detroit and his father behind when he broke a family-approved engagement to live life with his male partner. This decision left Bentley estranged from his family and still struggling to build the life and success his wants.

Having reconstructed a family of his own based on business partners and friends, Bentley is struggling to make a go of his business due to the recession and his love life due to a man who is not as ready to live life openly gay as is Bentley. The struggles he is facing cause him to make some tough decisions – both financially and personally. The book follows his life during these life-altering decisions that bring both promises of success and danger to Bentley.

I suspect that in some ways, E. Lynn Harris may have still be fine tuning the novel before his death, yet it is a satisfying story in many ways. Unfortunately as it was planned as the first in a series it ends in a less that satisfying cliff hanger and almost abruptly.

That aside, I mourned the loss of this genre-changing authors as I read this, presumably his last novel

Bentley L. Dean III abandoned his life of wealth after being ostracized for his same sex preference. He and best friend Alexandria established an up and coming legitimate modeling agency. A lucrative business proposal glistens in its presentation to Bentley although his intuition tells him that this request poses a dark and dangerous threat to his health as well as his business. The business venture requires gorgeous gay friendly models that have to sign a disclosure promising to never tell who or what happens at this party with big name celebrities attending. Jahron Anthony Borden is a young gay man that Bentley’s welcomed into his world as a brother and tries to steer him from the evils of the world. All the while Bentley’s yearns for his father’s love and to be welcomed back into the fold.

E. Lynn Harris’ latest literary project is as fulfilling as his previous works. He dares to tackle the subject of homosexuality by portraying it in a fashion that is discreet, truthful, as well as dignified. Young Bentley chose to live his life without apology and separated himself from his family and their wealth, was it really worth it? Is true love truly an option for a `gay’ man when so many wants the fruits as long as it’s behind closed doors? How real is the danger that lurks in the shadows? Will Bentley’s intentions be enough to shield young Jah from the evils that await him and his sexual preference? Will Bentley humble himself and chose his father’s love over the love of the clandestine lifestyle? Or will Bentley’s father release his biased opinion and accept his son as is before it’s too late? In My Father’s House, Mr. Harris depicts choices, reactions, misery, love, hate, cruelty, callousness, prejudices, disgrace, perseverance, faith, death, and courage. Mr. Harris did a thorough job in eliciting real and raw emotions as well as believable scenarios that pique the reader’s curiosity. As usual, Mr. Harris mos def delivered in all aspects of this charming novel.