Do you remember that bit in Fairly Oddparents where Timmy became evil and had this dark cloud hanging over him wherever he went?
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There3.5 stars
Do you remember that bit in Fairly Oddparents where Timmy became evil and had this dark cloud hanging over him wherever he went?
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There. That one.
Well that pretty much described how it was reading this book. A constant dark cloud hanging over my head. With a hundred percent chance of thunderstorms.
Not that it wasn't a good book, mind. It was. Really good. Henry and Rock are not capable of writing anything bad, I think. I bet even their grocery lists have well-developed plots and sympathetic characters. And they write hurt-comfort like no one's business. The Good Boy made me bawl and giggle and clutch my hands to my bosom like a loyal fangirl at a Backstreet Boys reunion concert.
No giggles here, though.
This one only had me bawl and wail and sob. The only thought I had almost the entire time I was reading this book was that it was sad. So sad. So fucking sad. I couldn't hear the sound of the romance or the kink over my lamenting on how sad this was.
I even gave this an apocalyptic background. I mean, no matter how the town was described or how it was supposed to be a sunny afternoon or something, my mind kept picturing a bleak ghost town under a cloudy sky and with something smoky and burning in the background. Kind of like The Walking Dead but with more dark clouds. And less walkers.
Coz it was constant. The sads, I mean. There was no break from it. Unlike The Good Boy with the fascinating supporting characters and the random shouts of bending like a Vietnamese hooker, this just had the depressed ex-con, the uberly serious cop, and the interchangeable background people. All of them surrounded by this shroud of anguish.
It was one heartbreaking scene after another that when something really really bad happened - worse than usual, I mean - (view spoiler)[(the depressed ex-con almost died) (hide spoiler)], I didn't feel a thing. Kinda like the guy in the Red Wedding reaction video I saw where, when he saw Catelyn getting her throat cut after all the others were murdered, he just said, "I don't even care anymore. I'm fucking dead inside."
I echoed that sentiment. Desensitized by all the sads is me.
But, again, this was a good book. The characters are fleshed out and they made me genuinely care what happens to them individually and as a couple. The book was so hard to put down because despite everything being so damn heartbreaking, you still stick around to hold the MCs' hands and hope with them that things work out at the end.
Henry and Rock are a great team and I'd still read whatever they come up with in the future. I just want at least a dash of happy in my romance books. And I didn't feel like I got it in this one....more
I was all "Thaswatamtokinabawt!" almost the entire time I was reading this book. It alternated from heartbreaking to hilarious and, while my roommate I was all "Thaswatamtokinabawt!" almost the entire time I was reading this book. It alternated from heartbreaking to hilarious and, while my roommate was looking at me funny while I ugly cried one moment and laughed my ass off the next and it was emotionally exhausting being dragged from one point of the spectrum to the other, I didn't care. This is one of the best releases of the year, and I already know Lisa Henry pretty much shits awesome, but I'm also glad this collaboration happened because J.A. Rock, I think I'm also gonna stalk you now.
The first part of the story was its strongest, IMO, when we were introduced to the players and teased with the possibility of a romance. Lane's part of the story was soul-crushing and we couldn't help but want to give him a couple of bucks and a huge hug. He was broken and abandoned and so damn sad, my heart broke a little every time it was his turn with the story.
Derek wasn't that interesting at first, but he grew on me with just being this solid, stable - albeit financially struggling - guy who was so lonely but also appreciated that he might not have the relationship he wanted but he had some of the most fascinating people and animals surrounding him so it was all good. 'Cause they were pretty awesome - these people and animals around Derek. His sister is what I want to be when I grow up, his mom is always on the lookout for possible subs for him, his ex is a shameless bratty sub who says it like it is, and his sister's macaw spews out lines like, "I used to bend like a Vietnamese hooker."
The middle part dragged a bit for me, however, when the two MCs got it on. It might have been because I wanted to be teased more and wasn't ready for the smexin to commence. Or maybe the MCs got a bit domestic and shit, but there were still so many uncertainties and I wanted at least one of them to be dealt with. I just couldn't enjoy the sex and the normal couple stuff they were doing when there were still conversations they needed to have.
The flashbacks also gave me a bit of a tick. I kinda get why a part of Lane's story had to be told in flashbacks, but I couldn't help but get a little bit pissed every time I had to pause with Lane and Derek's present just to read about the horrible experience Lane had that was implied at the beginning of the book.
Even with the weak middle, the story ended beautifully, though. When things came to a head and Derek and his family got all protective and supportive and Lane took my heart and minced it, it was wonderful.
Oh, and if you're put off by the puppy play part that was mentioned in the blurb and other reviews, Emma wrote a brilliant post about it that made me want to fangirl. So check it out.
And check this book out because Henry and Rock might be my new OTP....more
This book is so much more than what its cover and title imply and it's unfortunate how I almost missed out on decent writing and memorable c4.75 stars
This book is so much more than what its cover and title imply and it's unfortunate how I almost missed out on decent writing and memorable characters just 'cause I was expecting a gay spoof of - written in the same level of competence as - that book that shall not be named. Thankfully, I'm a huge GFY slut so the reluctance didn't last very long and boy am I glad I finally checked this baby out.
Andrew temporarily moved to NYC to take care of his sister who's been fighting cancer. His initial plan was to survive on acting gigs while in the city, but after having no luck getting something that pays, he reluctantly accepts an offer to work as a male escort. I'm saying reluctantly because the guy's a staunch defender of his heterosexuality and is pretty much afraid of gay people. In his job, he meets Cormac - a closeted politician, some interesting clients, yummy fellow escorts, and we get to share in Andrew's confusion with his gender preference, his devotion to his sister, his issues with his father, and his delicious baby steps into the world of buttsex and blowjobs.
The thing, though, is this book is not as lighthearted as one might think based on its blurb. I thought it was at first and was getting myself all geared up to just enjoy some superficial angst with lots and lots of chemistry-less sex, but that just shows you what I know, which is practically nothing.
Andrew is not just an airhead with a convenient excuse to whore himself out. He's actually a pretty confused guy who just needs a bit of push, a little bit of shove, and some serious penetration in order to realize some truths about himself. Truths that he could arguably live without, but are essential to him living his life the way it's supposed to be lived - honest, unashamed, and happy. If the way to those truths had to be painful, arousing, and/or touchingly heartbreaking, he - and in turn, we, as a reader - just needs to suck it up and make sure the Kindle stays dry in spite of the embarrassing snot and tears flowing perilously close to its screen. Especially since Cormac, the gay virgin closeted hottie of a politician, also has to face and own up to his own truths and the HEA might be sweet, but these boys had to work for it.
This is not saying that the story is an angst-fest the likes of which only witnessed in Amy Lane books. It's still pretty light despite its potential to be grittier - not that I'm complaining, mind. Andrew gives us a look at the life of a male escort with the naked waiter gigs and near-naked house cleaning jobs with a light hand on both humor and seediness. What I mean is he didn't make fun of the jobs too much that they felt like a shot from an R-rated sitcom nor did he infuse his stories with the expected seedy narrative complete with self-flaggelation. I'm ok with either, but it was nice to get something from the middle in this case.
He also had a chance to preach on gay rights, BDSM, and the meaning of life, but thankfully treated all with the same brush as he did the majority of his story - with a "This is what I think. I've made my position clear. I'm not gonna beat you over the head with it". It might not be much, and I like having a bit of a lecture in my romance novels, but the author showed restraint with the lecture and I appreciated it.
What I didn't appreciate much, though, is the skimping in the description of the setting. New York City, in most stories I've read, has always been treated as a beloved supporting character. Every detail is usually lovingly described. With this one, the story could have been set in any other big city and I wouldn't have noticed the difference. Sure, the other MC waxed poetic with his love for New York, but Andrew clearly doesn't feel much since he barely gives the city a glance. I wouldn't normally notice something like this, but I kept on forgetting where the book was set while reading and had to stop and think about it. That should not happen when the setting is NYC, IMO.
Other than that, though, this is a great book - light while still tackling heavy subjects; the author giving the subplots the seriousness they deserve but practicing admirable restraint when it comes to over dramatizing the angst. The love story felt real and showed a lot of chemistry between MCs. The supporting characters were memorable and not just there to fill the pages with rentboy candy.
A recommended read especially if you've read S.A. Reid before since I belatedly found out Reid and Baggins are the same person. ...more
When a book dipped in awesome is practically dedicated to you..
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Why did I not read this sooner? Why? You know what, this is what happens when yoWhen a book dipped in awesome is practically dedicated to you..
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Why did I not read this sooner? Why? You know what, this is what happens when you psych yourself out with glowing reviews and make yourself believe reality could not be as good as the hype and that you should wait for a cheaper copy anyway since Amazon can charge a bit too much for a Kindle copy sometimes and that you should finish that Ward book you started even though it has been feeling like work recently reading how Ward practically puts a gun against English language's head so she can make up these expressions she thinks bad-ass men use.
Fortunately, I clicked the buy-now button and am now a faithful member of the Church of Abandon.
This book is brilliantly written and touched each of the strings in my fangirling, Tumblr-addicted, gif-obsessed, male-male shipper heart. I can wax ovary-destructive, but I won't be able to write anything as hilarious and accurate and creative as what the fangirls did in this book. If you're looking for a proper review, though, back away from this space and check out some of the more articulate thoughts by other users. All I can offer right now is a loop of incoherent mental thoughts followed by cartwheels and chinhands....more
Emotional roller coaster ride thy name is Gillibran Brown.
These books have pretty much ruled my weekend. I've been alternately sobbing and laughing ouEmotional roller coaster ride thy name is Gillibran Brown.
These books have pretty much ruled my weekend. I've been alternately sobbing and laughing out loud and aww shucks-ing and wanting to throw my Kindle on the floor and setting it on fire. Family members can't talk to me without their heads bitten off. I haven't walked my dog. And I'm about to purchase the next book and saying to hell with work tomorrow 'cause this chick's not gonna sleep until she knows what went on with Gilli and his Daddies in 2008.
I'd write a review, but I'm off to the next book in the series. And the next. And the next. Then, I'm reading every diary entry on Gilli's wBrilliant.
I'd write a review, but I'm off to the next book in the series. And the next. And the next. Then, I'm reading every diary entry on Gilli's website. God, I think I'm addicted to this immature, insecure, totally adorable cheeky sub. ...more
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