Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out by Ryan Love

336 pages

Publisher: HQ Publishing

Release Date: April 13, 2023

Netgalley

Blurb

When 79-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share some important news, no one is prepared for the bombshell he drops: he's gay, and after a lifetime in the closet, he's finally ready to come out.

Arthur's 21-year-old grandson, Teddy, has a secret of his own: he's also gay, and developing serious feelings for his colleague Ben. But Teddy doesn't feel ready to come out yet – especially when Arthur’s announcement causes shockwaves in the family.

Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. But can they – and their family – learn to accept who they truly are?

 

Review

There is much to love about this story. For starters, there’s the setup. Imagine being a 21-year-old trying to work up the courage to come out to your family, only to have your thunder stolen by your 79-year-old grandfather. And, to make matters worse, your mother doesn’t take her father’s revelation well at all. For Teddy, it’s enough to decide he’s better off in the closet for at least a while longer. Arthur, while relieved to at last be able to live his life without hiding who he is, is worried about his relationship with Teddy’s mother. To complicate matters, Teddy finds himself falling for a young man he’s competing with for a job with the newspaper.

What follows is a romantic tale filled with wonderful tropes. We have a little angst, some jealousy, characters being oblivious about what’s obvious to those around them, first-time experiences, and a long-lost love, to name but a few. In fact, there’s so much going on in this story that keeping up with developments kept me on my toes. Since it also kept me fully engrossed in this tale, I can’t and won’t complain.

I absolutely adored Arthur. His patience and ability to forgive and forget was truly heart-warming yet never too good to be true. Teddy exasperated me as much as he endeared himself to me. Then again, he’s only 21 so his actions and reactions are only to be expected and, while it may take him a while, he does learn as he goes along and eventually makes all the right decisions.

The cast of secondary characters, while large, was varied and kept the story lively. And the same can be said for the story itself. There was quite a lot going on, apart from the (expected) romantic development and it kept the story moving along at a fast pace.

Overall, this was an adorable story as well as an easy and comfortable read. Should Ryan Love decide to write more books like this one, I will definitely read them.

And finally, in case you’re curious, here is a link to a post by Ryan Love on the Dubray Books Blog about what inspired him to write this story: https://blog.dubraybooks.ie/2023/04/11/arthur-and-teddy-are-coming-out/

 

Pride & Protection (Southern Boys #2) by K.C. Wells

259 pages

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Goodreads link: Pride & Protection

Blurb

What happens when an out-and-proud bear moves to a small Tennessee town, and takes a shine to the closeted cop?

Fireworks, that’s what.

When Del Walters agrees to go into business with his brother, he has one condition. Since he’s putting up the lion’s share, they’ll run the bike shop his way—and that means he gets to choose the name. And in a small Tennessee town, a business called Rainbow Racers, complete with a not-so-subtle sign, was always going to attract attention.

Unfortunately, it’s the wrong kind of attention, and after a few incidents, Del is forced to call on the local police to deal with the culprits. 

When Officer Taylor Cox walks into his shop, Del thinks Christmas has come early. An earlier encounter with the younger man left Del with a growing desire to know more about him. There’s only one problem—Taylor is in the closet, and there’s no way Del is going back into his.

When Taylor lays eyes on the sexy bear who owns the bike shop, he knows he’s walking into trouble. Not that he’s about to let Del know he’s interested: his view from the closet is just fine, thank you very much, and besides, that ship has already sailed, thanks to their first meeting. Now all he wants to do is forget Del even exists. But as time goes by, Taylor realizes how badly he is torn between protecting the persona he’s created, and giving in to his desires. And Del making it obvious that he wants Taylor isn’t helping matters.

Between an out-and-proud bear and a firmly closeted cop, something has to give. Problem is, it might be their hearts.

Review

If you’ve read Truth & Betrayal (and if you haven’t, you really should) you’ll remember Taylor Cox as the police officer who tries to look out for young Jake when he’s facing a personal nightmare as well as a difficult journey.

Now it is Taylor’s turn to find love in the not all too tolerant town of LaFolette, Tennessee. But, while being gay and out in this little town is difficult for anybody, it becomes nigh on impossible if you happen to be a cop and well aware that at least a few of your colleagues are out and proud homophobes.

Enter Del. He’s only moved to LaFolette to help his brother set up a bike shop. He has no intention of staying for long, after all, he’s used to living in an environment where few bat an eyelid at him being gay and he has no intention of returning to the closet any time soon.

When the two men meet the attraction is instant, but although the obstacles appear insurmountable their hearts refuse to be governed by their heads and it isn’t long before neither man can imagine being without the other. But, any happy ever after depends on Taylor showing his community who he truly is.

This was a wonderful, touching, at times laugh-out-loud funny romance. In fact, it is nowhere near as angsty or emotional as Truth and Betrayal was. Or rather, it is emotional and touching in completely different ways but no less wonderful or memorable.

I loved the two different Taylors we meet in this story. The difference between Taylor in LaFolette and the same man when he visits Atlanta with Del is as astounding as it is stunning. Taylor may be engaging in a lot of first experiences, he doesn’t waste time learning all Del has to show him and making it his own, much to Del’s delight and satisfaction.

I guess what I loved most about this story is that while the undercurrent of threats and homophobia are never far away, it shows in beautiful detail how things are often nowhere near as bad as we fear, that support can be found in surprising places, and that following your heart can bring you all you desire, even when you think that’s impossible.

Pride and Protection captivated me. I fell in love with Del the moment he was introduced and with Taylor shortly afterward. I was rooting for them to overcome the obstacles they faced and couldn’t stop turning the pages as a result. The fact that these two men are incredibly sexy together only served to make an already wonderful story even more addictive.

Long story short, I highly recommend Pride & Protection if you love a book featuring two memorable characters, a perfect balance between angst and happiness, satisfying and inspired sex scenes, and a story that will leave you happy and will stick in your mind for weeks to come.

Related review: Truth & Betrayal

Truth & Betrayal by K.C. Wells - Release Day Review

403 Kindle Pages

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Available in KU

Blurb

All the light went out of Jake’s life when his older brother Caleb died in a traffic accident. Getting through the aftermath was always going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done, but finding out that the tall stranger at the graveside was the one driving the car? At least Jake now has a target for all the rage inside him. Because the man responsible for stealing Caleb’s light from the world has no right to intrude on their grief. 

Liam had known deep down that it was a mistake to go to Tennessee, but he’d hoped saying goodbye to Caleb would ease the pain inside him. The hostile reception from Caleb’s family and friends comes as no surprise, and Liam flees before things get ugly. They obviously know nothing of Caleb’s life in Atlanta, and maybe it’s better that way. Caleb’s secrets can die with him. 

When Jake turns up at Caleb’s apartment to collect his brother’s possessions, what he discovers is the first shock in what is to be a series of revelations, turning Jake’s world upside down. New knowledge brings fresh pain and anguish. 

Jake isn’t the only one who’s hurting… 

Review

I have a problem. As some of you may have noticed, I’m a huge fan of K.C. Wells’ stories. All of them. Be they self-published, co-written, or under a different pseudonym, I’ve so far loved every single word from her. So what does a reviewer do when an author who almost invariably ends up with a five star rating, writes a book that surpasses everything she’s produced in the past? I can’t speak for anybody else but in my case it will probably lead to a lot of fan-girling, the over-use of superlatives, and plenty of nonsensical gushing. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Whereas most romances start of light and easy, giving the reader a (more often than not) false sense of security, only to bring them to tears and heartache sometime after the midway point, Truth & Betrayal threw me straight into the deep end where I feared I might drown in the tears caused by Jake’s pain.

Losing his Caleb, his only brother was bad enough. The fact that he never got to share a closely held secret with the older brother he adored, makes Jake’s grief even more heart-wrenching. Coming face to face with the man who drove the car in which Caleb died during his brother’s funeral, is more than Jake can take and he lashes out.

When Jake meets Liam again he soon discovers that he was an important part of Caleb’s life. It turns out that Jake wasn’t the only one with a secret he kept close to his chest. If Jake wants to learn more about his brother and the secret life he led, he’ll have to talk to Liam. Fortunately, Liam turns out to be a nice person who doesn’t hold Jake’s outburst against him and is happy to share information with Luke.

What starts as a quest for information soon turns into a developing friendship between Liam and Jake; a friendship that awakens unexpected feelings in both of them.

And so we venture into a developing romance without easy answers. Both men have to come to terms with the loss they suffered and the guilt falling for each other engenders. Jake has to face issues associated with being gay in a community where most would condemn him for his feelings and even his own family might abandon him. And then there’s the fact that Liam is black and Jake lives in a town were race relations are strained, at best. K.C. Wells deals with all of these in an honest yet sensitive manner. She doesn’t gloss over the problems they face but neither does she overstate them. I’m in awe of the way she managed to insert sometimes brutal realism into her story without ever making it harsher to prove a point. Here is a writer who knows there is no need to exaggerate because the plain truth is more than bleak enough.

And while I’m on the subject of realism; it doesn’t end with the issues Liam and Jake have to overcome to reach their happy ending. While an ordinary writer might have thought dealing with the gay and the race ‘issues’ was enough controversy for one story, this author goes a few steps further and also deals with open relationships, PrEP, and bare-back sex. And yet, the story never felt hurried, purposely controversial, or over the top.

Truth & Betrayal is a slow-burn love story, but it is so much more. It’s a coming of age story too. It’s a book about love; for families, for friends, and for that special person who completes your life. It’s a tale that will break your heart before putting it back together. The book will make you think, ask yourself questions, and make you feel every single emotion you can think of at least once. As per usual with K.C. Wells, the cast of secondary characters is fabulous and I have to say I’m delighted that one of them will be getting a story of his own in the not too distant future.

Long (and not altogether coherent) story short. Truth and Betrayal is the book to read if you want to completely lose yourself in a world filled with emotions. If you like stories and characters that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve closed your reader/paperback, you need to pick this one up. Be prepared to start with tears. It’s not impossible you’ll end with tears too, but those will be of a completely different nature.

As for the question as to what a reviewer does when a favourite author surpasses herself, the answer is simple. You add the title to your list of extra-special books and rate the book six stars, even if you won’t be able to actually award as many on Goodreads or Amazon. Because yes, Truth & Betrayal is that good.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Pages: 303

Date: July 4, 2016

Details: Young Adult

Library / Paperback

The blurb:

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

My thoughts:

“…don’t you think everyone should have to come out? Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it should be this big, awkward thing whether you’re straight, gay, bi, or whatever.”

Fabulous, adorable, touching, captivating and delightful are just some of the superlatives I want to use to describe Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda.

*Deep breath*

So yes, I loved this book. The story is sweet, cute and poignant. I loved the normality of it all. Simon is a teenager coming to terms with growing up and finding his way in the world. Being gay and at some point having to come out is only one of many ‘issues’ he’s dealing with. I mean there’s also his ‘overly enthusiastic and interested in their kids’ parents, how to deal with alcohol and, of course, the whole mystery of Blue not to mentioned being blackmailed.

I loved that reading the book made me feel exactly as living with a teenager used to do. It is an emotional roller coaster on which love can turn into hate and happiness into despair in moments. Everything is huge until it’s turned into nothing at all and the whole experience of just living is as exhilarating as it is confusing.

“But I’m tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe again.”

Of course, what Simon doesn’t realise but the reader is all too aware of, is that Simon is also constantly introducing himself to himself. He’s discovering sides to himself he never knew he had, he does things he couldn’t have imagined himself doing, and experiencing feelings he doesn’t quite know how to deal with.

“Do you ever feel locked into yourself? I’m not sure if I’m making sense here. I guess what I mean is that sometimes it seems like everyone knows who I am except me.

Spending time with Simon, his family, and his friends was a delight. Sure there were moments when my heart ached for him, but overall reading this book was a joy filled experience. It was wonderful to read a book about teenagers without violence or outright bullying. It made a nice chance to read a book in which the parents were accepting and loving, if maybe a bit awkward at times.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens agenda made me smile, had me laughing out loud, brought (both happy and sad) tears to my eyes and left me feeling good about life. And occasionally it presented me with little gems of writing.

“Being secure in your masculinity isn’t the same as being straight.”

This book made me so freaking grateful I did the whole teenage thing ages ago and managed to survive it more or less unscathed—even if it didn’t feel like that at the time. But then, I guess that’s exactly what this book is about and the reason it’s such a fabulous read. Which one of us over the age of fourteen doesn’t recognise these thoughts, doubts, fears and feelings? Gay, straight or otherwise inclined, we’ve all battled these demons.

In case you somehow missed the point I’m trying to make, here it is: I HIGHLY recommend this book to any reader over the age of 14. J

“People really are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows.”

Moment of Impact by Karen Stivali

MOMENT OF IMPACT by Karen Stivali

 

Pages:          130

Date:           December 21, 2014

Grade:         4+

Details:        No. 1 Moments in Time

Copy received from the author

Own / E-book

The blurb:

“Outside Collin Fitzpatrick’s dorm room is a dangerous place. Beyond his door the students of his small, conservative college think he’s straight, as does his Catholic family who'd disown him if they learned the truth. Inside, he’s safe with his incredibly sexy roommate Tanner D’Amico. Their room makes a perfect place to hide away and fall in love. The moment they cross the line from roommates to lovers, Collin becomes caught between their heavenly passionate encounters and the hellish reality that someone might find out and destroy everything. Tanner's not used to being so confined, and wants to show the world how much he loves Collin. But Collin’s not sure he’s ready for the impact stepping outside will make.”

My thoughts:

“I didn’t mean to see Tanner D’Amico’s cock. I really didn’t.”

The quote above has to be one of the best opening lines in a book I’ve ever come across. It certainly made sure the story had my attention from the very first moment. And the rest of the story kept me captivated. It would be hard, if not impossible, to not get sucked into Collin’s turmoil as he comes out of his shell and learns to admit to the feelings he’s been hiding from the world for years.

This is a story-line all of us have read before. What makes it special is Karen Stivali’s wonderful gift for storytelling. She injects exactly the right balance of sweetness, angst and humour into her stories to keep me hooked and turning the pages.

It is impossible to read to read this book and not find yourself totally caught up in Collin’s struggle. Caught between his attraction to and growing feelings for Tanner and his fear of what coming out as gay will be mean for his life and his relationships with his family and friends, Collin finds himself torn between bliss and panic most of the time.

Tanner is a wonderful breath of fresh air. His interactions with Collin are just the right balance between understanding patience for Collin’s fears and frustration at having to keep his feelings a secret. The way Tanner is presented on these pages make it perfectly understandable why Collin is smitten and had me falling for the young man too.

Because Collin has little or no experience with intimacy – never mind sex – the reader gets to join him on a very sensual and – it has to be said – hot voyage of discovery. Tanner being a more experienced and very sexy guide did the story, and my reading enjoyment, no harm at all.

This is the first book in a trilogy about Collin and Tanner and I can’t wait to see how their story will continue and what hurdles they’ll have to overcome before Collin can fully commit to what I trust will be a happy ending.

I think it’s safe to say Karen Stivali very successfully made the transition from M/F to M/M. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised; she tells a wonderful story regardless of who her main characters are.

This book will be released on January 7^th. More information can be found on the Dreamspinner Press website: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5855

CONFETTI, CAKE AND CONFESSIONS

CONFETTI, CAKE AND CONFESSIONS by K.C. Wells

 

Pages: 180

Date: 21/09/2014

Grade: 4.5

Details: copy received from author

Kindle

The blurb:

“Tony Porter and Marc Powell had lived in the same house for the past eight years, since their single parents moved in together. When Tony’s mother Marie and Marc’s father Dennis decide to tie the knot at last, it should be an occasion of great joy for everyone. Except all Marc can think about is having to spend the next two weeks with the young man he’s been in love with since he was sixteen.

Tony feels so torn about Marc coming home from college. He keeps telling himself that it’s wrong to feel this way about him. After all, in two weeks’ time they’ll be related. So when the two young men are thrown together to prepare for the wedding, tensions rise and discoveries are made.
It’s going to be a very long two weeks, and a wedding that no one will ever forget.”

My thoughts:

Confetti, Cake and Confessions surprised me. I’m not a huge fan of angst driven stories and boy does this story contain angst. In this book it works though. It makes complete sense for Tony and Marc travel from fear to uncertainty, from ecstasy to despair and from heartbroken to happy.

The boys have known each other for years and have shared a house and family for most of that time. Individually they moved from a familiar affection to attraction and even further. Neither knows the other is gay. And especially Marc is worried about how a relationship between the two of them might be perceived, by the rest of their family as well as the rest of the world.

As much as I wanted to knock Mark and Tony’s heads together on several occasions, the story was entirely plausible. The situation they find themselves in is awkward at best. Neither of them are out to their family and their parents are about to marry. Not only that, they’re also young  - barely out of their teenage years - and in love for the very first time. Each of those factors would be enough to cause issues. Put them altogether and it’s a miracle they didn’t combust.

Their two week journey from step-brothers to lovers was mesmerizing; their fear, uncertainty, happiness, and desperation where palpable. Their sexual explorations managed to be both sweet and extremely hot at the same time. Maybe the ease with which these two virgins got everything right the very first time was somewhat unrealistic but it didn’t really bother me. By that time they’d put each other and the reader through so many ups and downs we all deserved a satisfying climax.

It was refreshing to read about a happy and accepting family for a change. A lot of books feature disapproving families, kids being thrown out because they are gay, bullying and desperation. While Tony and Mark run into a few obstacles, those stem from their own doubts and foolish actions, not from any prejudice held by those around them.

K.C. Wells writes a wonderful story. She creates multidimensional characters that come alive on the page. Conversations between the characters sound true and sparkle. This book contained just the right mix of toe curling angst and light relief; the characters are on an emotional roller-coaster and the reader is right there with them. The result is a captivating story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until you’ve reached the end. 

HIGH AND TIGHT

HIGH AND TIGHT by Vanessa North

Pages: 81

Date: 01/06/2014

Grade: 3.5

Details: Received from Carina Press

            Through Love Romances and More

Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Pilot Adam Walker has had one great love in his life: Harris Kingston. But twelve years ago, when he accepted a scholarship and joined the Navy, he chose duty to his country over love. Their on-again off-again relationship was never more than private joy, a frustrating fact of military life.

Harris never wanted to be anyone's dirty little secret. When Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed two years ago, Adam broke his heart one last time. He's picked up the pieces and moved on, building a great career and dating guys who aren't afraid to be seen in public with him. But when Adam strolls into his salon asking for a haircut, his newfound happiness goes to hell in a handbasket.

Adam's been at war with himself for over a decade. Now on the verge of leaving the military, he's desperate to court Harris the right way and be forgiven. With two weeks' leave and a Navy man's conviction, he's ready to start over…if he can convince Harris he's ready to come out and commit.”

My thoughts:

Adam Walker was a teenager when he discovered girls didn’t excite him whereas his sister’s friend Harris Kingston did. Adam wasn’t prepared to admit he was gay though. His big dream was to be a pilot and join the navy, a dream that made the love he felt for Harris impossible. For the past twelve years Adam and Harris have only hooked up in secret while Adam was home on leave.

Harris Kingston has loved Adam since he was a teenager. For ten years he’s patiently waited for Adam while accepting his on again off again lover couldn’t commit to him. He’d hoped the reversal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ would make it possible for them to have a future together, but Adam hasn’t come back home or contacted him since. That final rejection brought Harris to the end of his patience. He’s moved on, is together with a man he’s happy with even if he can’t call it love and determined not to allow Adam to mess up his life again.

When Adam returns home on leave while deciding whether or not to extend his contract with the Navy he is determined to win Harris back. He only has two weeks to convince Harris that he is ready to come out and commit. Harris, after more than a decade of being someone’s dirty little secret isn’t sure he can face the emotional rollercoaster again. He may not be able to deny his love for Adam, he can and will put his own emotional welfare first this time.

I’m a bit ambivalent about this novella. On the one hand I loved the idea of two men who have loved each other for over a decade at last finding the courage to be together. On the other hand I wanted to slap both Adam and Harris. I found it hard to like Adam considering how he’s been treating Harris and while I adore Harris for his loyalty I wanted to scream at him to stop thinking about others and put himself first for a change. Having said that, the way the author described the two men together made the story plausible and their relationship, flawed as it was, easy to believe in, if not to accept.

I wasn’t completely convinced by Adam’s sudden change in attitude. For someone who denied his homosexuality for over a decade and actively avoided coming home in order not to deal with the man he’s supposed to love, he suddenly finds it very easy to admit to everything he’d been so afraid of. And I didn’t like the way he expected Harris to just fall in with his change of heart.

I did sympathise with Harris and completely understood his reluctance to believe Adam’s sudden change of heart. What I did have an issue with was his decision after Adam has at last come out and they spend a wonderful night together.

Adam and Harris together were beautiful and hot though and made up for a lot of my reservations. In fact, the scenes of the two men together, be it in a social setting or in private, made this book a sweet, if at times exasperating, read.

“Trust was a fragile thing, and this little bridge they built with their bodies was precious to him, he wouldn’t destroy it by beings selfish.”