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For the Heart of Phillip #2
Refugees
Sequel to “For the Heart of Phillip”. This tale picks up where the other left off; except following the two men who were left behind with broken hearts, Robert and David.
Robert, who lost his battle for the heart of Phillip, and David, who lost out on his chance with Andrew.
Can they bond together over their shared pain and heartbreak or will the ‘old feelings’ come back to haunt them again after a crisis happens with one of their exes?
Buckle up for a dramatic ride in these two men’s lives who go from strangers to friends to lovers to who –knows-what!
Robert, who lost his battle for the heart of Phillip, and David, who lost out on his chance with Andrew.
Can they bond together over their shared pain and heartbreak or will the ‘old feelings’ come back to haunt them again after a crisis happens with one of their exes?
Buckle up for a dramatic ride in these two men’s lives who go from strangers to friends to lovers to who –knows-what!
254 pages, ebook
First published May 24, 2011
17 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Danielson
28 books85 followersaka Stephanie L. Danielson. I've been an avid reader since a small child. My first loves were science fiction as well as general fiction books.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 19, 2012
AN M/M ROMANCE ... TO BE SURE!, March 19, 2012
By William Maltese
S. L. Danielson's REFUGEES is a book definitely to be enjoyed by readers who like their gay protagonists to be just ordinary guys, living supposedly ordinary lives, reacting with parents, friends, business associates, and siblings who seem forever supportive; gays who call each other by endearments like hon, and honey, and angel, sweetie, and dear, and who tear up at the drop of a hat and cry a lot, do a lot of hugging, cuddling, blowing of kisses, and actual kissing, while seeming to feel themselves incomplete when not in some kind of romantic involvement, preferably married (after the "bride's" father has first been asked his permission) -- but who still manage a happy-ever-after ending.
There's a lot of angst and discussions about past affairs gone wrong, and whether or not old lovers and the hurt they've caused can be forgiven (yes!). In this case, there's enough past lovers for three pairs of exes to team up for happy-ever-after endings.
If I, personally, would likely have been less forgiving than David or Robert, and, as a reader did find it a bit of a coincidence to see six people end up so conveniently teamed (by karma?) the way this book does. . .
If I'm a tad more inclined to enjoy novels set in more exotic locales, with characters involved in lives a tad more exciting and eventful (although, yes, there is an "off-the-stage" case of gay-bashing), than just getting on with their lives and finding love and contentment among the everyday mundane existence most of us lead. . .
. . . I doubt that will detract from the enjoyment of those many readers "out there" who can genuinely associate and identify with the characters Ms. Danielson has provided.
There seems to be a genuine demand in the m/m market today for gay stories that live up to the "male-romance" catch-phrase, and this book does fit within that mold and will likely provide enjoyable reading for a good many men and women who want their gay romances of the Harlequin type where no one of any consequence is really bad, nor really mean, and where love definitely does triumph over all -- for that stereotypical happy-ever-after ending.
By William Maltese
S. L. Danielson's REFUGEES is a book definitely to be enjoyed by readers who like their gay protagonists to be just ordinary guys, living supposedly ordinary lives, reacting with parents, friends, business associates, and siblings who seem forever supportive; gays who call each other by endearments like hon, and honey, and angel, sweetie, and dear, and who tear up at the drop of a hat and cry a lot, do a lot of hugging, cuddling, blowing of kisses, and actual kissing, while seeming to feel themselves incomplete when not in some kind of romantic involvement, preferably married (after the "bride's" father has first been asked his permission) -- but who still manage a happy-ever-after ending.
There's a lot of angst and discussions about past affairs gone wrong, and whether or not old lovers and the hurt they've caused can be forgiven (yes!). In this case, there's enough past lovers for three pairs of exes to team up for happy-ever-after endings.
If I, personally, would likely have been less forgiving than David or Robert, and, as a reader did find it a bit of a coincidence to see six people end up so conveniently teamed (by karma?) the way this book does. . .
If I'm a tad more inclined to enjoy novels set in more exotic locales, with characters involved in lives a tad more exciting and eventful (although, yes, there is an "off-the-stage" case of gay-bashing), than just getting on with their lives and finding love and contentment among the everyday mundane existence most of us lead. . .
. . . I doubt that will detract from the enjoyment of those many readers "out there" who can genuinely associate and identify with the characters Ms. Danielson has provided.
There seems to be a genuine demand in the m/m market today for gay stories that live up to the "male-romance" catch-phrase, and this book does fit within that mold and will likely provide enjoyable reading for a good many men and women who want their gay romances of the Harlequin type where no one of any consequence is really bad, nor really mean, and where love definitely does triumph over all -- for that stereotypical happy-ever-after ending.
December 18, 2018
This Time Around by S.L. Danielson is a sequel to For The Heart of Phillip. It follows the two men who were left with broken hearts when their partners left them for each other.
Robert and David form a bond based on being the men left behind but one that grows into so much more. They can heal their scars from the past together and look into the future. They are great characters with a sweet story that will leave you warm inside. Definitely a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Robert and David form a bond based on being the men left behind but one that grows into so much more. They can heal their scars from the past together and look into the future. They are great characters with a sweet story that will leave you warm inside. Definitely a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
February 10, 2012
David and Robert’s lives have taken a turn for the worse. Each has been dumped by his lover. What they don’t know is that their exes are now together—and their own paths are about to cross. Fate or Karma? You decide.
David returns one night to the home he shares with Andrew, only to discover his lover and almost fiancé gone, along with his small daughter. Stressed out, David finds life in the ER a bit too much to handle, so his understanding boss and friend finds him a spot as a physical therapist in a quiet office.
Robert loves Phillip with all his heart, but he knows that he’s never had Phillip’s heart, so it’s no surprise when he leaves, although it still hurts. So much so that while trying to take out his aggressions on a punching bag, he hurts his hand, and his sister takes him to get help.
David and Robert meet, although each is unaware of who the other is. At first David is taciturn and not very forthcoming, but Robert works on him until he begins to talk, and then they discover, to their amazement, that they have more in common than they’d realized.
Bound in mutual misery, they become friends, commiserating together over the men who broke their hearts. They’re both lonely and unhappy, and it seems logical that they should live together. There’s an attraction between them, but will they be able to act on it? Or will the spectre of love lost hang between them forever?
When David sees a news story about an assault and realizes it involves his ex, he can’t help but be concerned, and he and Robert fly to lend their support. This is the first time the four men have been together in one room and awkwardness ensues, but also some clearing of the air.
David and Robert take their relationship to the next level, and all should be well. Except it’s not, and ghosts are still getting in the way. Will they ever be free? Is their love real? Or is it just a pale imitation of what came before? Are they both just refugees? Forgotten and unloved?
Refugees is the sequel to Ms. Danielson’s, For the Heart of Phillip, which I reviewed previously. It’s basically a love story about picking up the pieces and moving on, not being afraid of getting hurt again, and taking chances. Both David and Robert feel as if they’ve been thrown away, like refuse, so it’s hard to be able to trust anyone with their hearts again. Ironic that Fate has brought them together, united in their joint misery.
You can read this volume without having read the first one, but I don’t recommend it. The first one explains a lot, and you see how the obsessions begin, whether you understand them or not. Especially the one concerning Phillip, but I ranted enough about that in the first review.
Ms. Danielson’s style is unique in its sparseness. She doesn’t waste words, but gets down to brass tacks quickly. Those people who eschew lengthy descriptions—or almost any descriptions at all—will enjoy this brevity on the author’s part.
She delves down to the heart of the matter, to the feelings of her characters, and draws them out, sometimes almost painfully. Her men are not stereotype beauties often found in m/m novels. They have hairy legs, and sometimes they need to lose weight, and they do have bodily functions.
However, in this novel especially, I find that these men do not stick out in my mind individually, and I often cannot remember one from another. They are almost interchangeable, with nothing giving particular definition or any defining characteristics.
Sometimes there are lapses in continuity or in common sense, things that make me scratch my head and say huh? A real wtf moment, for me, occurs late in the book. Okay, the law of probability is somewhat bent that Robert and David get together, considering that their exes are together, but putting that aside, there is a scene in which Robert and David, while at the mall, run into two other of their exes (one of whom is English and was in England), and these two exes are….. wait for it…. Together? Seriously? This defies odds, for me. Just unbelievable.
Also, her men cry at the drop of a hat. People, not just men, don’t cry as much as these guys, who turn on the waterworks whenever they’re thwarted, crossed, or frustrated. Got on my nerves. Also the interfering father who threatened to cold cock Phillip. For God’s sake, these men are way too old for parental inference, either one. Grow a backbone, boy.
Notwithstanding, her fans will enjoy it. It’s an interesting read, although I have to say that the cover is a little creepy. My daughter, while I was reading it, insisted I turn it over. The men on the cover look like zombie Sims. I think Castaways would be a more fitting title; they look like they’ve been languishing on Gilligan’s Island before the picture was taken.
Ms. Danielson certainly has her fans. I would recommend this as a light read, for anyone who finds flowery words too much to bear, and simply wants to get to it. Bare emotions, albeit sometimes illogical and confusing.
June 15, 2011
What a great story of both David and Robert. We find them both battered from bad breakups by the hands of Phillip and Andrew. Both finding out that trying to get over what happened is sometimes better sought through with a friend than being alone. Robert gets so mad about the situation he sprains his hand and winds up at a physical therapists clinic and his therapist is none other than David who is in his own way trying to come to grip with what happened.
When they find out Andrew almost gets injured at the hands of someone else they end up going to see the two who scorned them and try to make peace with them. It takes a bit for them to realize that peace will take time to heal the pain that was suffered. The boys also get to make closure with Conner and Cleve their first ex's. I definitely think this was a great wrap up to people who were left hanging in the wind.
When they find out Andrew almost gets injured at the hands of someone else they end up going to see the two who scorned them and try to make peace with them. It takes a bit for them to realize that peace will take time to heal the pain that was suffered. The boys also get to make closure with Conner and Cleve their first ex's. I definitely think this was a great wrap up to people who were left hanging in the wind.
December 29, 2018
This Time Around is a nice romance by SL Danielson.
Robert and David are both alone now that their boyfriends are together. Their relationship starts as therapist/patient, and slowly moves to more.
They have a shared experience in their hurt and pain. They're two regular guys who long for love. Together, they bond over their backgrounds and can help ease each other's pain.
Robert and David make a cute couple, who just work well together.
SL Danielson's This Time Around is a good story of healing from heartbreak and finding love again.
Robert and David are both alone now that their boyfriends are together. Their relationship starts as therapist/patient, and slowly moves to more.
They have a shared experience in their hurt and pain. They're two regular guys who long for love. Together, they bond over their backgrounds and can help ease each other's pain.
Robert and David make a cute couple, who just work well together.
SL Danielson's This Time Around is a good story of healing from heartbreak and finding love again.
November 30, 2018
very good story.. the characters were lovable and enjoyable.. it was sweet and short and overall a feel good story.i enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews