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Once in a Lifetime
Offered a yearlong medical research fellowship in France, Shane Johnson has many hopes for the experience: a chance to improve his French, an opportunity to hone his research skills before starting his PhD at Baylor, and the freedom to live life as an openly gay man for the first time. He’ll chronicle his year abroad with its challenges, victories, and setbacks as he struggles to balance his faith with his sexuality.
As he navigates the shoals of a first kiss, a first relationship, and perhaps even lasting love, Shane will have to balance his newfound emotions with his long-term plans, and he’ll face the decision of how his once-in-a-lifetime experience will fit into the life he wants to lead.
As he navigates the shoals of a first kiss, a first relationship, and perhaps even lasting love, Shane will have to balance his newfound emotions with his long-term plans, and he’ll face the decision of how his once-in-a-lifetime experience will fit into the life he wants to lead.
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Tachna
149 books407 followersAriel Tachna lives outside of Houston with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. Before moving there, she traveled all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She’s bilingual with snippets of four other languages to her credit, and is as in love with languages as she is with writing.
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at arieltachna@gmail.com.
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at arieltachna@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 21, 2018
A very sweet coming out, friends to lovers. So romantic. And so real. You get to read from his perspective the whole time and it's just remarkable to read. I loved it.
June 20, 2017
Not my style at all. This is written as what we're supposed to believe is a journal. However, even that's not believable to me because there are so many things that no one would write in their journal. SMH...
January 22, 2012
Shane can't pass up the opportunity to study in France for a year as a medical researcher before starting graduate school. As a still-mostly-closeted gay man, France is also an opportunity to explore his homosexuality without the judgment of his fundamentalist college and family. It's the perfect chance to find himself--and just perhaps the man he wants to spend his life with.
Shane is a young man (22 for most of the story) who knows what he wants. Although he's inexperienced, he's not willing to settle or let others make his decisions for him, and he's not afraid to stand up for himself. It makes him an honest, appealing character. The strength of his Christian faith and how he comes to integrate it with his homosexuality is inspiring, whether you share his faith or not. (As an agnostic, I had some difficulty appreciating his conflict, but his point of view was conveyed so well that it wasn't necessary in order to feel his resolve.)
Discussing his love interest strikes me as a bit of a spoiler, so I'll mention only that I adored him, rooting for him even when he wasn't a love interest at all. I would have been crushed if they hadn't gotten together in the end.
The supporting cast is nice, fairly vast without being overwhelming. They are all conveyed through Shane's viewpoint and thus flavored by Shane's perceptions, but they're still strongly-developed enough to be mostly memorable. (I still mix up some of Jean-Mathias's friends, but they're more an exception than a rule.)
The regard Shane and his ultimate love interest have for each other is adorable and although they move slow once their relationship is established it's impossible to miss the sexual tension between them. The sex itself is never graphic, given the story format, and the disconnect somehow makes it that much hotter.
Speaking of story format, the story is told as a series of journal entries. This limits it to first-person point-of-view, but has the advantage of limiting the voice--my huge complaint lately has been with omniscient-narration stories where the POV changes erratically. The journal entry format makes it easy to get to know Shane and, through him, the rest of his world.
There was never a point at which this story lagged for me; once I started it, I devoured it in a sitting. It was tight and well-done, with charming characters and a well-realized setting. I loved the more unusual aspects of Shane's character explored in this story, and certainly look forward to revisiting it.
Shane is a young man (22 for most of the story) who knows what he wants. Although he's inexperienced, he's not willing to settle or let others make his decisions for him, and he's not afraid to stand up for himself. It makes him an honest, appealing character. The strength of his Christian faith and how he comes to integrate it with his homosexuality is inspiring, whether you share his faith or not. (As an agnostic, I had some difficulty appreciating his conflict, but his point of view was conveyed so well that it wasn't necessary in order to feel his resolve.)
Discussing his love interest strikes me as a bit of a spoiler, so I'll mention only that I adored him, rooting for him even when he wasn't a love interest at all. I would have been crushed if they hadn't gotten together in the end.
The supporting cast is nice, fairly vast without being overwhelming. They are all conveyed through Shane's viewpoint and thus flavored by Shane's perceptions, but they're still strongly-developed enough to be mostly memorable. (I still mix up some of Jean-Mathias's friends, but they're more an exception than a rule.)
The regard Shane and his ultimate love interest have for each other is adorable and although they move slow once their relationship is established it's impossible to miss the sexual tension between them. The sex itself is never graphic, given the story format, and the disconnect somehow makes it that much hotter.
Speaking of story format, the story is told as a series of journal entries. This limits it to first-person point-of-view, but has the advantage of limiting the voice--my huge complaint lately has been with omniscient-narration stories where the POV changes erratically. The journal entry format makes it easy to get to know Shane and, through him, the rest of his world.
There was never a point at which this story lagged for me; once I started it, I devoured it in a sitting. It was tight and well-done, with charming characters and a well-realized setting. I loved the more unusual aspects of Shane's character explored in this story, and certainly look forward to revisiting it.
December 30, 2015
This book was a bit of a dissapointment for me. I was expecting Shane to have the time of his life, which he obviously has.. I guess I just wasn't expecting the religious aspect. Not that I didn't like that, I just had a difficult time reading about it. I felt it became too personal. Like i was a peeping Tom!
Shanes inability to make any decisions is a pain in the butt. I can understand the need to sometimes talk things through with friends/family e.g. but to have conversations about relationship and sex with strangers, asking them for advice when they hardly know you is beyond me. And the fact that he had these in-depth conversations so often did that I often had to skip several passages.
When I purchased this book I had no idea that it would be a diary. Had I known I would have never bought it. I like being able to understand the characters, and it should be no shock to anyone that a diary dosn't really do that.
The part I enjoyed was the obvious love and devotion between Shane and his fated lover ;) The fact that he is willing to let Shane take his time and get used to who he is is heartwarming to say the least.
Shanes inability to make any decisions is a pain in the butt. I can understand the need to sometimes talk things through with friends/family e.g. but to have conversations about relationship and sex with strangers, asking them for advice when they hardly know you is beyond me. And the fact that he had these in-depth conversations so often did that I often had to skip several passages.
When I purchased this book I had no idea that it would be a diary. Had I known I would have never bought it. I like being able to understand the characters, and it should be no shock to anyone that a diary dosn't really do that.
The part I enjoyed was the obvious love and devotion between Shane and his fated lover ;) The fact that he is willing to let Shane take his time and get used to who he is is heartwarming to say the least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2016
Dear book, I'm sorry we didn't work out like I thought we would. While I liked the story that filled your pages, I just didn't like the way it was written...
The story is written like a journal which is obviously something that doesn't work for me. The characters stayed distant and w/o a real connection between them or me. Clear case of: it's me, not you dear book...
The story is written like a journal which is obviously something that doesn't work for me. The characters stayed distant and w/o a real connection between them or me. Clear case of: it's me, not you dear book...
March 3, 2019
couldn't get til the end. Had to drop it. Sorry, too boring.
August 7, 2011
Once in a Lifetime by Ariel Tachna
Release Date: July 8th, 2011
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Page Count: 182
Source: Directly from publisher for review
Offered a yearlong medical research fellowship in France, Shane Johnson has many hopes for the experience: a chance to improve his French, an opportunity to hone his research skills before starting his PhD at Baylor, and the freedom to live life as an openly gay man for the first time. He'll chronicle his year abroad with its challenges, victories, and setbacks as he struggles to balance his faith with his sexuality.
As he navigates the shoals of a first kiss, a first relationship, and perhaps even lasting love, Shane will have to balance his newfound emotions with his long-term plans, and he'll face the decision of how his once-in-a-lifetime experience will fit into the life he wants to lead.
What Stephanie Thinks: This gay romance is unlike anything I've read before. I could almost classify it as Young Adult because it is a coming-of-age story that introduces heart-pounding firsts and nostalgic lasts. It's an extremely intimate journal that accounts Shane's overseas life -- one that is an unpredictable adventure, always.
Shane, even in his private journal, sounds insecure; there are lots of "I guess"es and "I think"s in his writing that, while I personally find annoying, actually serve as powerful characterization, showing how unsure of his sexuality and how socially vulnerable he is. His innocence makes me feel really protective him, like I want to shield him from the inevitable heartbreak he will experience. But I'm also very proud of him by the end of the story, of how cooperatively he learns his life's lessons and how he accepts who he truly is and what his heart truly wants.
Tachna details the beauty and breathtakingness of France well. A lot can happen in a year -- so much, that one's entire life can change -- and this warm novel, told by the young, inexperienced voice of an uncertain gay student, speaks loudly about the journey of self-discovery. Sometimes, new environments are just what we need to really feel that sort of realization, and this is demonstrated by the lovable Shane as he describes his gay lifestyle and longing, making the book much more than a romance.
Stephanie Loves: "He didn't answer me then because he was afraid it was the wine talking, not my heart, and that I didn't know what I was saying or that I'd regret saying it in the morning.
The only thing I regret is being blind for so long."
Radical Rating: 8 hearts-Would recommend to lots of really good friends.
Release Date: July 8th, 2011
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Page Count: 182
Source: Directly from publisher for review
Offered a yearlong medical research fellowship in France, Shane Johnson has many hopes for the experience: a chance to improve his French, an opportunity to hone his research skills before starting his PhD at Baylor, and the freedom to live life as an openly gay man for the first time. He'll chronicle his year abroad with its challenges, victories, and setbacks as he struggles to balance his faith with his sexuality.
As he navigates the shoals of a first kiss, a first relationship, and perhaps even lasting love, Shane will have to balance his newfound emotions with his long-term plans, and he'll face the decision of how his once-in-a-lifetime experience will fit into the life he wants to lead.
What Stephanie Thinks: This gay romance is unlike anything I've read before. I could almost classify it as Young Adult because it is a coming-of-age story that introduces heart-pounding firsts and nostalgic lasts. It's an extremely intimate journal that accounts Shane's overseas life -- one that is an unpredictable adventure, always.
Shane, even in his private journal, sounds insecure; there are lots of "I guess"es and "I think"s in his writing that, while I personally find annoying, actually serve as powerful characterization, showing how unsure of his sexuality and how socially vulnerable he is. His innocence makes me feel really protective him, like I want to shield him from the inevitable heartbreak he will experience. But I'm also very proud of him by the end of the story, of how cooperatively he learns his life's lessons and how he accepts who he truly is and what his heart truly wants.
Tachna details the beauty and breathtakingness of France well. A lot can happen in a year -- so much, that one's entire life can change -- and this warm novel, told by the young, inexperienced voice of an uncertain gay student, speaks loudly about the journey of self-discovery. Sometimes, new environments are just what we need to really feel that sort of realization, and this is demonstrated by the lovable Shane as he describes his gay lifestyle and longing, making the book much more than a romance.
Stephanie Loves: "He didn't answer me then because he was afraid it was the wine talking, not my heart, and that I didn't know what I was saying or that I'd regret saying it in the morning.
The only thing I regret is being blind for so long."
Radical Rating: 8 hearts-Would recommend to lots of really good friends.
October 3, 2011
Part travelogue, part teen-aged girl's diary as written by a 22 year old man. I both enjoyed and was puzzled by this book. The year-in-France is wonderfully written, like a virtual tour of some of the most scenic places. It was also nice not to see religion as a sledgehammer wielded by homophobic zealots. Shane's religious faith is his bedrock, but also a bit of a snag for a man coming out of the closet. Chapter after chapter of "Is he the One?" "What should I do?" "What is love?" Can I have sex now?" "WWJD", or more accurately, what would St. Paul Do? It just seems to me highly unlikely that a 22 year old gay man who is sleeping in another man's bed, kissing and exhibiting a hard-on is still going to get up in the morning a virgin.
Please see my full review at http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=...
Please see my full review at http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=...
December 2, 2012
I can't remember when was the last time I read a book so precisely written. This is a diary of a young man and it reads like that all the way. There are things you would expect in a diary from his stay in France. I know how difficult it is to keep yourself in line if you decide to write something so specific.
To make it even better, it's not just the style, but the whole characteristics of Shane. Consistent throughout the book, brought up with his choice of words and thoughts. Just brilliant!
The downside of this strict realism is the story, because if you're spoiled with stories where something thrilling is going on (from angst to action to horror), you may feel like nothing much happened in this book. Personally, I don't mind. It was a pleasure to read and that's what counts!
August 30, 2011
I loved the journal style, it reminded me so much of my own journals on my own travels. The style and content are both very similar to what I wrote, which had the effect of reminding me of my own adventures even while I was completely absorbed in Shane's. I loved his determination to find ways to meld his faith and his sexuality, and to be true to himself. And the way each of his relationships developed, but of course especially the one with Jean-Matthias.
December 17, 2014
This was a pretty good book. It was a solid 3 star. It was written all as a journal. I was concerned how I would connect with the characters when I started reading since it was all strictly from Shane's POV. This proved to be accurate. Although it was written well enough for me to know what was going on and how the MC felt, it was hard to feel any connection with any other character because it was all Shane's perception and words, rather than hearing the others speak them.
September 22, 2013
Interesting insight into the mind of someone just coming to terms with both self and sexuality. The journal style kinda threw me and felt almost too personal sometimes but it was interesting to see it that way. What I didn't like was Shane's complete dependence on religion. While he's questioning everything else in his life, this is the one thing that remains unshakable to him and I felt it was also his most restricting aspect that he never even touched on.
July 10, 2011
A hard one to rate and describe because the writing is very good. Its the diary format where it becomes unstuck. Shane's thoughts and journal entries are unusual and an interesting way to tell a story, not my thing. I missed feeling the emotional connection towards the other characters. A slow moving romance, unfortunately it didn't really grab me.
January 29, 2012
4.5 Stars. I loved this book. It suprised me because I didn't think I would like the journal entry type of book, but it really worked for this story. I also loved the ending and who he ended up with, great choice if you ask me.
August 18, 2011
3.5 Ravens. Ariel Tachna is a good novelist who fully defines her characters and stays devoted to the qualities that make them who they are. To read this review in its entirety, please visit http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=...
February 25, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up
sweet story of a gay 22 year old from a Christian college in West Texas on a year long placement in France determined to be himself for the first time. Told in the form of a diary. No angst, no drama, just a nice snapshot of his life and first experiences as an out gay man.
sweet story of a gay 22 year old from a Christian college in West Texas on a year long placement in France determined to be himself for the first time. Told in the form of a diary. No angst, no drama, just a nice snapshot of his life and first experiences as an out gay man.
August 29, 2013
This one was difficult for me to get used to. We are reading his journal and for the first quarter of the book I really struggled and thought I would put it down and not finish it. Luckily, things picked up and I found myself wondering what would happen next.
October 26, 2012
Well, I'm finished... Took me 2 days but it's done.
My impressions are a bit difficult to put in words. I'll say it was definitely interesting. It's wasn't my kind of thing though. I'm not a religious person so I couldn't relate at all. Still interesting though.
My impressions are a bit difficult to put in words. I'll say it was definitely interesting. It's wasn't my kind of thing though. I'm not a religious person so I couldn't relate at all. Still interesting though.
April 23, 2016
i am loving this authors versatile writing technique. This book was written in first person p.o.v. I really enjoyed reading this as journal entries. The story was wonderfully constructed, and I was surprised by the outcome(good surprise)!
September 15, 2011
Interesting diary entry format. I loved the MC and reading about his experiences. Different in the fact that he held Christian beliefs and stuck to them.
Want to read
March 25, 2017NTS: Story takes place in France.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews