Hi guys, we have Mia Kerick stopping by today on the first day of her blog tour for Love Spell, we managed to pin Mia down to answer a couple of questions for you, we have a great excerpt, there’s a fantastic giveaway and we have Cat’s review for you to enjoy, so check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link
Love Spell
by
Mia Kerick
Strutting his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug orange tuxedo as this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon feels so very right to Chance César, and yet he knows it should feel so very wrong.
As far back as he can remember, Chance has been “caught between genders.” (It’s quite a touchy subject; so don’t ask him about it.) However, he does not question his sexual orientation. Chance has no doubt about his gayness—he is very much out of the closet at his rural New Hampshire high school, where the other students avoid the kid they refer to as “girl-boy.”
But at the local Harvest Moon Festival, when Chance, the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper Donahue, the Pumpkin Carving King, sparks fly. So Chance sets out, with the help of his BFF, Emily, to make “Jazz” Donahue his man.
An article in an online women’s magazine, Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love with You (with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure), becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
Quirky, comical, definitely flamboyant, and with an inner core of poignancy, Love Spell celebrates the diversity of a gender-fluid teen.
Hi guys, we have Mia Kerick popping in to show off the cover to her upcoming release Love Spell, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so check out that cover and excerpt and then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Love Spell
by
Mia Kerick
Strutting his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug orange tuxedo as this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon feels so very right to Chance César, and yet he knows it should feel so very wrong.
As far back as he can remember, Chance has been “caught between genders.” (It’s quite a touchy subject; so don’t ask him about it.) However, he does not question his sexual orientation. Chance has no doubt about his gayness—he is very much out of the closet at his rural New Hampshire high school, where the other students avoid the kid they refer to as “girl-boy.”
But at the local Harvest Moon Festival, when Chance, the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper Donahue, the Pumpkin Carving King, sparks fly. So Chance sets out, with the help of his BFF, Emily, to make “Jazz” Donahue his man.
An article in an online women’s magazine, Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love with You (with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure), becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
Quirky, comical, definitely flamboyant, and with an inner core of poignancy, Love Spell celebrates the diversity of a gender-fluid teen.
Today we have the Mia Kerick & Michael Bower from the Anthology KICKASS stopping by. Mia and Micheal both speak about things worth fighting for, there’s a great giveaway and we have Lisa’s review. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link… just remember all this is in aid of Eric Arvin so don’t forget to purchase your copy <3 ~Pixie~
KICKASS
(Anthology)
by
Keira Andrews, Connie Bailey, Sophie Bonaste, Tara Bluhm, Michael J. Bowler, A.L. Boyd, Jade Crystal, Catherine Dair, Fiona Fu, Nancy Hartmann, JP Kenwood, Mia Kerick, Jackie Keswick, Eleanore Pavelle, Kate Pavelle, Jonathan Penn, Tali Spencer, Taomi, Rayne Vogel, Brandon Witt, Scott C. Pavelle
With a special foreword by Eric Arvin’s sisters Angela Arvin-Young and Amy Arvin
Against bad odds, he persevered. Wit, grit, and guile pulverized his scary opponent into a sad pile of dust.
Eric Arvin is Kickass.
Even a kickass hero needs a hand from a secondary
character, and Eric needs that extra power boost right now. This anthology is a volunteer effort organized by Eric’s fans and fellow writers in order to help him raise funds and help cover the cost of his high-tech recovery. His wicked sense of humor is intact, but his body needs a bit of help.
These stories are meant to inspire. They’re a warm hug, a wave from afar, a wink and a nod. Discover new authors and graphic artists as you, too, get revved up to slay whatever ails you!
Illustrated edition !
KICKASS ANTHOLOGY was produced in order to raise funds for the medical recovery of our friend and colleague, author Eric Arvin.
All artwork, both written and graphic, was donated free of charge.
All proceeds will go directly to Eric Arvin and his family.
Blurb: In his junior year at a public high school, sweet, bright Casey Minton’s biggest worry isn’t being gay. Keeping from being too badly bullied by his so-called friends, a group of girls called the Queen Bees, is more pressing. Nate De Marco has no friends, his tough home life having taken its toll on his reputation, but he’s determined to get through high school. Zander Zane’s story is different: he’s popular, a jock. Zander knows he’s gay, but fellow students don’t, and he’d like to keep it that way.
No one expects much when these three are grouped together for a class project, yet in the process, the boys discover each other’s talents and traits, and a new bond forms. But what if Nate, Zander, and Casey fall in love—each with the other and all three together? Not only gay but also a threesome, for them high school becomes infinitely more complicated and maybe even dangerous. To survive and keep their love alive, they must find their individual strengths and courage and stand together, honest and united. If they can do that, they might prevail against the Queen Bees and a student body frightened into silence—and even against their own crippling fears.
Review: Casey Minton is young naive and jaded. An incident in his past brought on by his “best friends” has left him vulnerable and he suffers from frequent panic attacks. His family life is fantastic though. His parents know he is gay even though he isn’t out at school and they are very understanding, he has a great relationship with his little sisters, but his mother is extremely over protective after the incident in the 9th grade.
Nate De Marco is the poster boy for tall, dark, handsome and brooding. A loner at school and at home, having to live with an abusive uncle because his parents aren’t there. He takes the brunt of the abuse to protect his little sister. Again, he knows he’s gay but he hasn’t told anyone, not even his family. He just takes everything one day at a time, going through the motions.
Zander Zane is the popular guy, he’s in thick with the ‘in crowd’ but he’s not cruel or ignorant and passive like the rest of his peers. He’s kind of quiet and laid back, hiding under all that hair, until the day he’s partnered up for a class project with Casey and Nate. And so the story of the three unfolds told from three very unique and differing points of view. Nate tells his part through his personal diary. Zander’s thoughts and emotions show in email communications with his brother. and the reader follows the story in real-time with Casey, as he navigates through high school on the shit list of the Queen B’s and in the arms of the last two people on earth he ever fathomed would be there to comfort him when the bottom falls out.
What starts out as a commitment to work together turns into a genuine friendship as the three learn more about each other every day. Before long shy, longing stares and touches that start out innocent but grow with intensity and heat bring the three together in a dangerous but beautiful threesome. As with everything in their relationship, it’s a gradual growth, and Kerick manages to capture each different young man’s thoughts and feelings throughout.
Casey is just a genuinely good person with a soft heart and a kind soul. This gets him into some serious trouble that not even his guys can save him from. Some people are just evil to the core, their mission in life is to make everyone else miserable, but this particular Queen B has her sights set on Casey. Nate is the quiet giant. He makes it his mission in life to protect what he loves, and that is Casey and Zan. When he can’t protect Casey, it almost tears him apart. And Zan, he is the glue that holds these three together. He has the most laid-back attitude and everyday life of the three. He makes it his mission to raise awareness at school and get everyone under the Queen B’s influence to think for themselves. Individually each of these characters has their own weaknesses but together, as a trifecta, they find a love and a strength they never knew they had.
I just fell in love with this story and with these three guys. It took me a couple of chapters to get with the flow of writing as being told from three distinctly different POV with emails, diaries and in real-time. But once I figured out how the book was going to read, I was completely engrossed in the story. The storyline was engaging and thought-provoking and the three ML were so endearing. While there were a couple rough patches with some deep seeded hate, there was a lot of love in between. This is a must read guys, especially if you’re looking for a story about finding true love in the oddest of places and not only standing up for yourself, but what is right and the people you love. ** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews ** http://www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Hey guys, a bunch of us bloggers have got together to show our support for T.J. Klune and Eric Arvin by joining up for the Grand Adventures blog tour. This blog tour is to bring to attention the wonderful authors who donated a story and Dreamspinners Press who are donating 100% of the income from the sale to Eric & T.J. and there’s even a great giveaway for you to enjoy! I know the people in this genre are just incredible! So check out what the authors have to say, visit Dreamspinners Press and have a look at the great Grand Adventures goodies and click our Rafflecopter link to win some of those great goodies 🙂 ~Pixie~ p.s. I’d like to give a shout out to Brandilyn from Prism Book Alliance for pulling us bloggers together and organizing our roles in this tour 😉
Description:
On September 1, 2011, TJ Klune wrote, “…it’s not about the ending, it’s about the journey…” in a review of Eric Arvin’s Woke Up in a Strange Place. With those words, two men began a journey of love and invited us to ride along. TJ and Eric have shared so much with us: their wonderful books, their smiles, their humor, their lives, and their inspiring devotion to each other. In December of 2013, their journey took a detour when Eric was taken to the emergency room. He survived the surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma from his brain stem, but the challenges TJ and Eric face are far from over.
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eric’s continued recovery, to help bring strength to TJ, and to show both of them just how much love surrounds them. Grand Adventures is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love. We’re going on some grand adventures for a great cause. Thank you for joining us.
One hundred percent of the income from this volume goes directly to TJ and Eric.
Foreword by S.A. McAuley
An Unexpected Thing by John Amory (Sequel to Protection)
The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
When Friendship Becomes More by Sophie Bonaste
Isle of Waiting by Sue Brown (A Missing Moment from Isle of Waves)
The Jogger by KC Burn
Holding Court by Cardeno C.
For Dear Life by Mary Calmes
Under the Full Moon by Ellis Carrington
Stripped by Shae Connor (2nd Edition)
That Place Across the Hall by C.C. Dado
Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Cops and Comix by Rhys Ford
Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Tomorrow by John Goode
From Fantasy to Friends by CR Guiliano (A Companion to For You)
Hello everyone! My name is John Amory, and my contribution to the Grand Adventures anthology is titled “An Unexpected Thing.” This short is actually a sequel to a story that Dreamspinner published last June in its Daily Dose compilation called “Protection.” The new story picks up about two years after Jamie and Ben met; both are back from London and traveling the West Coast. Jamie is en route to a shooting competition with Ben in tow, but when their plane is diverted, they are forced to find their own way through the Cascades to Seattle. They, of course, find something else along the way.
I have never met TJ or Eric, but I was struck by their struggle like everyone else. We are all a family of authors and readers in this genre, and it felt like someone in our family had suddenly fallen ill. I wanted to help, especially since TJ’s book Into This River I Drown had such an effect on me. When “Protection” was accepted for publication last year, it was the first book I chose from Dreamspinner’s catalog to read, so that I could get a feel for their audience, their authors, the style of stories they publish, etc. I was blown away by River, which is, in so many ways, a really atypical (but still brilliant) M/M romance. There was so much else going on: grief, redemption, faith, closure, all of these things played into the book’s themes, and they’re all things I think TJ handled beautifully. So I began “An Unexpected Thing” as a sequel to “Protection” that contained a guest appearance by two of TJ’s characters from Roseland, which seemed only appropriate given its ties to River. I eventually re-edited the story to not include TJ’s characters (since, if all the authors did that, it would be taxing on TJ to edit and approve each story), but the essence that those characters brought to the story is still there, as well as some other Easter eggs for fans of TJ’s book. “An Unexpected Thing” is about finding love in places you never thought you would, with people you never thought you would. That’s something I got from Into This River I Drown and from TJ and Eric’s personal story, and I think it’s something universal: keep your eyes and heart open, because The One might be someone you’d never notice otherwise.
Thanks for reading and for supporting Grand Adventures! You can find me on Twitter (@JohnAmory) or on GoodReads. Feel free to drop a line! Happy reading!
About John Amory:
John Amory is and always will be a hopeless romantic, which he blames on watching too many episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 growing up. He began writing stories and poems as a child, continuing through high school. He put writing on the backburner for a number of years, during which time he finished both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English, and is thrilled to be creating again now that he knows what “free time” means.
In another life, John is a newly minted college professor, as well as an actor/director/choreographer/playwright whose work has been performed in New York City and elsewhere. He is also obsessed with television and keeps two blogs on the subject: one for general reviews and comments (faketvcritic.blogspot.com), and one devoted solely to So You Think You Can Dance (cuttingsytycd.blogspot.com).
Feel free to drop a message here or on Twitter to say hi!
1. Tell us about your contribution to the anthology.
My short story is called When Friendship Becomes More.
Here’s the official blurb, because it explains the story better than I could:
Despite their differences, Jamie and Roy are not only college roommates, but best friends. What Jamie doesn’t know is that Roy has had a crush on him for years. When Jamie realizes Roy’s feelings during a camping trip with friends, the attraction will either prove mutual, or it will tear their friendship apart.
I’m really proud of this short story. It has moments that will make you laugh and cry. I hope everyone out there loves it as much as I do.
2. What is your favorite TJ and Eric memory?
Well, I haven’t been lucky enough to meet TJ or Eric in person. But I remember reading the news of TJ’s proposal in October of last year. I was instantly touched by the obvious love between the two men. It may not have been a showy proposal like that Home Depot one that went viral a few months ago, but it was one of the most love-filled proposals I’ve ever seen. And isn’t that what’s really important?
3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?
When I heard about the anthology it was a no-brainer. I knew I had to help TJ and Eric in any way I could. And since writing is one of my favorite things to do anyway, it was a win-win.
4. Do you have anything to say to TJ and Eric?
I just wanted to say that you two are both some of the strongest people I’ve ever known. I wish you only the best as you go forward. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!!!!
About Sophie Bonaste:
Sophie Bonaste is a novelist who never set out to be a novelist. As a child, she wanted to be a Broadway actress and spent her childhood in numerous productions. But when adulthood set in and reality took over, Sophie chose to up the theater for a steady paycheck and instead turned to writing as a creative outlet. She stumbled into the M/M genre through fanfiction and never looked back. Sophie is quite happy with her change in artistic expression and doesn’t plan to stop writing for a long time.
A self-proclaimed nerd, Sophie is an avid fan of all things Star Wars and Harry Potter. (Sophie is a member of the Slytherin house, for those who were wondering.) Sophie also spends many hours watching and re-watching nerdy television shows. When she is not obsessing over the latest and greatest in nerdy entertainment, Sophie can be found screaming at her television during American football games. (Go Pack Go!) Sophie currently lives in Pennsylvania, about twenty minutes from her childhood town of The Middle of Nowhere.
If you don’t want to talk, but you want to read more about my works, please use these links.
Harmony Ink – Sophie Bonaste
Dreamspinner Press – Sophie Bonaste
GIVEAWAY!
20″ x 26″ (image size: 16″ x 24″) signed & matted print of the Grand Adventures cover Grand Adventures Paperback $30 Dreamspinner Press Giftcard
Starts: 12:01 AM EDT on 29 Mar 2014 End: 11:59pm EDT on 8 April 2014
Blurb: One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person—helpful, generous, and chivalrous—a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn’t recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape.
Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can’t hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it.
Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He’s attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before “the change.” Where he’d been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he’s a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations.
Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his “superjock” former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan’s newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he’s genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott’s trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan’s obsession.
Review: The Red Sheet is a gay YA story that allows the reader a glimpse into the mind of the both the bully and his target. Then you get to watch as the bully becomes the protector and falls in love with said target, but he’s going to have to work for it!
Bryan Dennison’s life is a memory of a dream. He cannot reconcile the person he used to be, and only vaguely remembers, with the person he is now. The most important person to him now is Scott, but Scott is not so easily convinced of Bryan’s motivations. So Bryan sets out to prove to Scott that he has changed, he loves him and he is worthy of Scott’s love in return.
Scott Beckett doesn’t trust Bryan any further than he could throw him! He doesn’t believe Bryan can’t remember. The superjock or superjerk, either fits, that made his life hell, now wants to protect him and be his friend. Whatever. As the story unfolds Bryan learns more about the person he was; mean, cruel and almost vindictive. And slowly but surely how he becomes more than who he was, and earns Scott’s love in return.
Kerick really conveyed a different side of the bullying in high school aspect than I’ve ever read, and she did it well. The reality of this story was shocking and made my skin crawl. This is a reality that young LGBT YA teens have to deal with from their peers on a daily basis, to the point some believe that dying is better than living. It saddens and sickens me. If just one of these teens could see things from the perspective of Bryan and Scott, I think this book should be required reading in school. Can we turn it into an after school special?
Loved it, if my previous statement wasn’t a given, this is a must read! The topic is dark yes, but the execution is wonderful, taking a different road to explore the highly debated issue of bullying.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
Blurb: After graduating from high school early, twenty-year-old Philippe Bergeron spent the past several years lost among the stars while fishing off the New England coast. A shoulder injury ends his dream of living reclusively on the water, and he finds himself lost among the bright lights of New York City. His older brother, Henri, has asked Philippe to chaperone his seventeen-year-old niece, Sophie, on her tours of the city’s legendary dance programs.
Sophie meets with professional dancer and choreographer, Dario Pereira, to prepare a routine for her college auditions. Dario’s cool perfection and immaculate style contrast with Philippe’s awkward scruffiness, but it wakes desires Philippe thought he’d left behind. When the attraction is surprisingly returned, Dario’s confidence won’t let Philippe remain invisible. Unsure but curious, Philippe relaxes his rule of isolation, and as the summer progresses, his relationship with Dario leads him to a surprising discovery of his submissive sexual tendencies and a greater sense of self-awareness.
Tragedy threatens to destroy the connections Philippe has made and forces him to retreat into the shadows of his past, far from the radiance of Dario’s love. Ultimately, he must decide if it is time to stop hiding and set himself free
Review: Philippe Bergeron is quiet and withdrawn. In NYC, with his niece for the summer, as her guardian, while she looks at dance schools and colleges, he meets the enigmatic dance instructor, Dario Pereira. There is definitely a mutual attraction simmering underneath, but Philippe just wants to be invisible. After the death of his mother years ago, something inside him broke. He’s spent the last several years literally hiding out, until his brother talked him into chaperoning Sophie this summer.
Dario is confident and beautiful, where as Philippe is scruffy, awkward and withdrawn. Dario makes damn sure that Phil knows he is interested and the relationship slowly progresses. Dario opens up a confidence that is hidden away inside Phil and makes him feel loved and wanted. But is Dario’s love enough to pull him out of his self-imposed exile? Dario refuses to let him hide, but when Dario is injured in an accident that brings all the memories of Phil’s mother’s death rushing back, Phil does the only thing he knows how to do. He hides. Will his love for Dario and the emptiness he feels bring them back together? Or will Philippe spend the rest of his life alone, hiding.
I loved the concept of this story. The laid back, relaxed introvert meets the loud, outspoken, and mesmerizing dancer that turns his life upside down. Philippe has seriously closed himself off from any type of emotion for fear of feeling the anguish he felt over the death of his mother. Dario has to help him find those feelings of love again. And when push comes to shove, Dario steps back and allows Philippe the time to figure it out for himself. The title is quite fitting. Dario brings him out of hiding by loving him.
My only complaint was the intimacy between the two ML. It was as if a tug of war was going between a Mature YA rating and a New Adult rating. I just wanted Kerick to choose one side or the other. There were scenes where less racy, more passionate was appropriate. But there were also times I wanted Dario to rock his socks off, and it didn’t quite make it there. Overall, this was a really good story about figuring out who you are, what you want, and that life is all about taking risks to achieve true happiness.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for MM Good Book Reviews*
Blurb: Braving the start of high school, longtime childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton quickly realize they are entering a whole new world colored by their family responsibilities. Ben is trying to please his strict father; Timmy is taking care of his younger sisters. While their easy camaraderie is still comfortable, Ben notices Timmy growing distant and evasive, but Ben has his own problems. It’s easier to let concerns about Timmy’s home life slide, especially when Timmy changes directions and starts to get a little too close. Ben doesn’t know how to handle the new feelings Timmy’s desire for love inspires, and his continuing denial wounds Timmy deeply.
But what Timmy perceives as Ben’s greatest betrayal is yet to come, and the fallout threatens to break them apart forever. Over the next four years, the push and pull between them and the outside world twists and tears at Ben and Timmy, and they are haunted by fear and regret. However, sometimes what seems broken is just a little bent, and if they can find forgiveness within themselves, Ben and Timmy may be able to move forward together.
Review: The story is told from Ben’s POV as he relives their story, his, and Timmy’s. Ben and Tim, as their friends call them, are pretty much inseparable until normal adolescent problems and hidden feelings start to get in the way. Ben is trying so hard to please his unappeasable father while Tim is dealing with issues of his own. He starts to pull away from Ben, partying and doing drugs. When Tim realizes he has feelings for Ben that go beyond friendship and tries to explore them, Ben shuts him down, not wanting to admit to himself that his feelings for Tim go beyond friendship as well. In an attempt to protect his friend, Ben makes a decision that has severe consequences.
I loved that this story was told from the one characters POV, almost like a journal he’d written about their life together. As you live Ben and Tim’s life through Ben’s eyes, you get to see them grow and change so much. Through the good and the bad, they truly are meant to be together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect; they aren’t broken, just bent. After Ben broke Tim’s trust, they fell apart for a while. Both of them went through a lot of personal growth throughout and came out the other side stronger. Ben’s voice is passionate and smooth, and you can almost feel his pain when he has to let Tim go. Even finding their way back to each other, Tim admitting how hurt he was and yet, how much he still loved Ben.
Let me start by saying Cover Love! That is what drew me to this book initially. Then the blurb sealed the deal. What I got was a really good gay YA story. Kept my attention from start to finish with mild angst and subtle character development. Definitely recommend this one.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
Blurb: Robby Dalton is the perfect all-American boy. He played the sports his father chose for him in high school, attended the college his father selected, and has worked hard to conform to his father’s macho views. But emotionally he doesn’t fit anywhere, and he can’t connect with a woman beyond a few uninspired dates. Robby’s not in the closet, because he’s never guessed he’s gay. Now he owns a small commercial construction company, and one night after work he runs into Savannah Meyers. He finds her fascinating and agrees to a date, thinking maybe this woman would be different.
But Savannah has her own agenda. She is looking for a love match for her roommate, Tristan Chartrand, whom she rescued from the streets years ago. He’s like a brother, and her only family, so she wants him safe and happy. Her plan seems to begin well, because when Robby meets Tristan, he’s surprised to find it’s Tristan he wants, not Savannah. But some people in Robby’s life don’t approve of Tristan’s lowly station in life, and some don’t approve of Robby being gay. Some people are full of hate and violence, and Robby and Tristan will need courage and strength if a loving future is to be part of the deal.
Review: Package Deal? Well what can I say? It was certainly a package deal with my emotions. I don’t often mention authors, but Ms Kerrick certainly does know how to wring emotion out of her readers. Every now and again you start reading a book thinking it’s going in one direction and then you get yanked in another and you have zero complaints about the new direction. There is no way for me to explain how I feel about the book without giving away plot secrets and I simply refuse to do that and rob a reader of the exact same pleasure I had as the characters of Robby, Tristan and Savannah are revealed. The m/m genre is often full of beautiful men having unbelievable sex; or broken men who have to claw their way back to life. This book takes all those things and then adds a subtle twist that makes it stand out and drag the reader into the plot.
The characters of Robby, Tristan and Savannah are very real and you realize that the HEA will never be possible without these three people, because true happiness is about acceptance of self and of others and being in a good place emotionally. Readers will watch these three characters evolve in breathless anticipation. In the novel, the first theme is that of relationships – the relationships formed by the main characters demonstrate how complicated our lives and relationships can be and become, especially as we try to navigate the ravages and trauma of childhood, loss and abuse and then align them to our current reality.
There are many ways in which the story of a straight man falling for a gay man can be done. In this story, it’s done as an effortless exposure into Robby’s psyche, and as part of his slow revelation about who he is and who he wants to be as a man. Watching Robby come into his own was especially fulfilling in light of where Tristan was on his own journey of self discovery. The second theme in the story is that of family – the families we are born into and the families we make. All are important because they ultimately define who we are and who we can become.
When one reads a book, the aim is to climb into the pages and live the life that you are reading about. To feel what the characters feel and for that moment be transported to that place that they inhabit. This book takes the reader from the rough visceral edge of pain felt by its characters to the gentle feelings evoked by the love they feel for each other. It becomes especially compelling because the story is narrated by three main characters, each with a unique perspective that allows the reader to experience the emotions of that character.
The book is an exceptionally good read. It’s not a ‘feel good’ romp, but instead it’s a masterful piece of writing that allows great character sketches to tell some very human stories which allow the reader to begin to love the characters and truly trust that everything happens for a reason because we are all destined to be happy in the end.
Blurb: After a hard life filled with experiences, he’d rather not remember but can’t forget, Brett Taylor decides he doesn’t need anyone or anything. He gets a job at a bar in a nothing little town where he can fish and race dirt bikes and hide from the world. So naturally as he’s walking across the parking lot at his new job, reminding himself how self-reliant he is, he meets someone he can’t shove aside.
Brett can’t help but admire Cory Butana, the kid who lives above the bar where his father is the principal bartender. Unwanted by either parent, the sweet, personable Cory grew up neglected and hungry for affection. Now he’s determined to make something of his life, even if he has to work himself ragged to do it.
Cory shouldn’t have to suffer like Brett did, and Brett wants to lend a hand. But when their relationship evolves into something Brett isn’t ready to need, he reacts… and the consequences may destroy their fledgling future. With scars like theirs, forgiveness is never easy.
Review: I have to be honest. I really wanted to like this novel, but a huge part of me, didn’t like it or didn’t connect with the story. Beggars and Choosers stars Brett and Cory. Two very different boys sharing the same problems.
I loved Brett. I found him to be interesting and unique. Brett was a school dropped out and lived alone in a small apartment after his mom kicked him out. She was a very popular prostitute and drug addict. He got a job at a small pub and it was there where he met Cory. I somehow didn’t connect with Cory. He was almost in the same predicament as Brett. He had an alcoholic dad and he had to work to buy his personal belongings. All his father did was play his crappy music and get drunk. I have no idea why I didn’t connect with him like I did with Brett.
This novel was well written and it covers a period of several years of their lives. Now, this is the confusing part of the novel. All throughout the novel, the author kept jumping from one POV to the other. Add that to the fact that the story was written by months and it confused me a little. It made it hard to keep up and sometimes there were huge gaps in the story. I really did not like that. I would have loved that this novel was written in Brett’s POV only. It would have made it easier to read.
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a good young adult novel about two very diverse boys as they become one and find the true meaning of love and happiness.
Blurb: After struggling through dishonesty, betrayal, and the kind of pasts they’d like to leave behind them, Brett Taylor and Cory Butana are back together and starting to build a new life. Brett has a good job. Cory has started college. But not everything goes the way they planned.
Still recovering from the emotional and physical repercussions of a brutal assault, Cory finds himself trapped by his own insecurity and fear, unable to believe that his heart is safe with Brett or that his body is safe without him. On the other hand, Brett has total faith in Cory’s love and commitment, even though he still struggles with his own ghosts.
With girls flocking to Brett’s side and a wannabe-lover lab partner feeding his doubts, Cory can’t find a way to tell Brett about the unfinished business that haunts him. If Brett wants to save him, he’ll have to see through Cory’s deception in time.
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Brett and Cory are starting their new life together. Cory is in college and Brett is the manager of a bar. they have their little apartment and their love for each other. But, not everything is perfect. Cory lets his doubts about Brett get the better of him, with his ‘not so’ secret admirer feeding Cory doubts. can Brett really know what he wants when he has never been with a man before? Brett can see that Cory is hiding something, but it is much worse than he feared. Can Brett help Cory protect himself before it’s too late or will Cory’s past catch up with him.
It isn’t very often that I read a book and I fall madly in love with a character, but Brett stole my heart with his incredible love for Cory. Cory and Brett have already been through hell together in Beggars and Choosers and in this story they are starting their new life together. Brett is settling into his new job and Cory is starting college. They both have a security in the other and want nothing more than the other. But, Cory begins to have doubts about Brett’s gayness when Ian, his lab partner and wannabe-lover, tries to drive a wedge between them. Brett does his best to prove his love for Cory with his every breath. He does his best to protect him and knowing that Cory needs it, he encourages Cory to learn to protect himself.
Mia Kerick has written a wonderful story of true love, haunting danger and trying to protect those you love, while adding in finding confidence in yourself and trusting those you love. Cory is a character that needs protection, but feels that he has to protect others. With Brett’s encouragement, he discovers a part of himself that he thought he had lost. Brett never wanted anyone but Cory and feels like he has failed when Cory has doubts about him. He also has to deal with his jealousy when Cory is pursued by another student. All the characters we meet are great with some of them standing out more than others, but they all make this story interesting.
I loved how this story was laid out, with the POV changing between Cory, Brett and at one point to Ian, there is no mistaking when the POV changes and how well we can connect with each character. In fact, even without the headers, the personality of each character shines through. I adored how even their new friends came together for them and I really liked that Cory’s dad came through for him. Cory’s fear is described beautifully and his realization of his inner strength as he confronts his monster is wonderful. Brett’s confidence in Cory is well founded.
I recommend this to those who love destroying the monsters of the past, unwavering love, wonderful lovemaking, two men who are made for each other, new friends, danger, fear, happiness and forgiveness and a very lovely happy ending.
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