Surviving Elite High: Loving James by John H. Ames

SurvivingEHSLJ23Title: Surviving Elite High: Loving James

Series: Surviving Elite High #3

Author: John H. Ames

Genre: MM / Young Adult

Length: Novella

Publisher: Ai Press (March 1st, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb: Surviving a normal high school is hard enough. Surviving Elite High? Close to impossible! Not until you learn the difference between love and obsession…

Sixteen year old James Gordon has it all. He’s rich, studious, and bears quite a strong resemblance to Justin Bieber. So, what’s stopping him from being a normal kid in high school? The deadly jocks. They torment anyone who’s gay or possibly closeted; even though Nick Wild Hawk, star of the football team and the love of his life, John, came out to the whole school in previous years and made being gay at Elite High just another walk of life.

However, even though the jocks have bullied James nonstop and made his life a living hell, he can’t help but fantasize about the king of the jocks, Nathan Parker. Nathan is rugged, straight and the most popular guy in school. When fate intercepts and places James and Nathan under the same roof, James’ torture really begins. And yet, through it all, James hopes that that his steadfast love for Nathan will change the jock into a lover rather than an abuser. Unless a certain hot, loyal, guy in the background can find a way to show James he is really, truly loved, and has been for a long time. Before it’s too late…

Product Link: http://ai-press.net/2013/02/25/now-available-surviving-elite-high-loving-james/

Review: Well damn, I really thought this one would be Jacob’s story, but it appears to James’ featuring Jacob toward the end. If you’ve read SEH: Senior Year then you will remember John’s tutee James. James has idolized John and even more Nick, who is his number one goal. Well not Nick himself since he’s taken, but someone like him; a jock, rugged and straight.

Unfortunately in his young and obsessed mind he makes the mistake of believing that special someone could be Nathan; Nathan who bullies and terrorizes him. In James’ mind Nathan could change for their love like Nick changed for John.

Yes, it is pretty obvious and pretty fast that James is one delusional kid and this story is beyond disconcerting on that account. James is so blind in his delusions that he almost puts himself in a very, very dangerous situation. With his father marrying Nathan’s mother, and the two boys living in the same house, James finds that the bullying he had to suffer at school gets tenfold worse in his own home, his own sanctuary. And with Nathan’s bipolar behavior James really doesn’t see the monster that is right in front of him.

Jacob on the other hand has dropped college to be a car/bike mechanic in James’ dad’s shop. And he has a silent crush on James never actually admit to it. That struck me as odd, since the Jacob we met in SEH was pretty forward when it came to claiming what he wanted. Anyway, he silently provides help and companionship for James even if the latter couldn’t really see straight and realize what’s good for him.

The story gets pretty brutal from a point on. That’s not what bothered me, but the fact that the plot leapt from one scene to another in a very quick pace. Just like the young teen that leapt from emotion to emotion, love to love in the blink of an eye. The fact that it was so much in the same tone as John & Nick’s story didn’t help. In some places you really could confuse James with John.

However the story was shocking and very intriguing and the emotions behind it even if a bit overly dramatic, still very strong. I personally would have loved more Jacob/James time, but never the less I had fun reading how wonderfully Jacob grew and matured. A wonderful addition for all the fans of SEH.