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Stolen Summer
The horror of Evan and Colin's stolen summer may be over but the nightmares remain. Can their love survive the fallout?
The last thing journalist Evan Harrison expects to hear, when he returns from covering the war in Afghanistan, is that his best friend, Colin Williams, is in love with him.
Colin, an Oxford Professor with a poet’s soul and a roving eye, turns out to be a temptation Evan can’t resist. What he discovers is that sex with Colin is hot, wild and relentless. The two of them embark on a passionate affair and Evan knows he’s going to spend his days with Colin - after one last assignment.
A western journalist in Pakistan is too tempting a target for local insurgents. Evan's 'Oh-shit' sense fails dismally when he is taken hostage and spends four months refusing to let his captors grind him down by clinging to memories of the lover he left behind. Freedom from captivity, however, doesn't bring freedom from terror. The legacy of Evan's ordeal results in meltdowns and nightmares that threaten to destroy his life with Colin. He can't even seek comfort in lovemaking because the pills intended to save his sanity kill his desire.
Evan seizes a chance to put his nightmares behind him by taking one final assignment, covering unrest in Jordan. Colin sees Evan’s decision as the end of a relationship he fought hard to save. If Evan makes it back to England in one piece, winning Colin back will be the toughest assignment he’s ever faced.
The last thing journalist Evan Harrison expects to hear, when he returns from covering the war in Afghanistan, is that his best friend, Colin Williams, is in love with him.
Colin, an Oxford Professor with a poet’s soul and a roving eye, turns out to be a temptation Evan can’t resist. What he discovers is that sex with Colin is hot, wild and relentless. The two of them embark on a passionate affair and Evan knows he’s going to spend his days with Colin - after one last assignment.
A western journalist in Pakistan is too tempting a target for local insurgents. Evan's 'Oh-shit' sense fails dismally when he is taken hostage and spends four months refusing to let his captors grind him down by clinging to memories of the lover he left behind. Freedom from captivity, however, doesn't bring freedom from terror. The legacy of Evan's ordeal results in meltdowns and nightmares that threaten to destroy his life with Colin. He can't even seek comfort in lovemaking because the pills intended to save his sanity kill his desire.
Evan seizes a chance to put his nightmares behind him by taking one final assignment, covering unrest in Jordan. Colin sees Evan’s decision as the end of a relationship he fought hard to save. If Evan makes it back to England in one piece, winning Colin back will be the toughest assignment he’s ever faced.
210 pages, ebook
First published August 29, 2011
6 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Meade
18 books113 followersI'm fairly new to this writing lark. Stolen Summer is my first published book, there's another, 'Orion Rising' which will be released in March 2012, by Total E Bound and my latest novel, an m/m contemporary, 'Mourning Jack' will be released by Total E Bound in May 2012. Stay tuned!
I love to write and my characters never leave me alone until their story is told.
To those of you who've taken the time to read Stolen Summer and review and/or rank it, thank you so much. I'm glad I've written a book that you like.
NOTE: If you are an author who (a) does not appear to read books in my genre and (b) is attempting to friend me just for the purpose of spamming, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Thank you.
I love to write and my characters never leave me alone until their story is told.
To those of you who've taken the time to read Stolen Summer and review and/or rank it, thank you so much. I'm glad I've written a book that you like.
NOTE: If you are an author who (a) does not appear to read books in my genre and (b) is attempting to friend me just for the purpose of spamming, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Thank you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 16, 2012
REVIEW EDITED/COMPLETED JULY 16, 2012
I touched the soldier's cheek. Some days there were worse things than heartaches.
Well, this was kinda interesting.
I'm not sure if a romance author is doing herself/himself a favor if she/he is making political or religious statements. When I was reading about the interview with Al Masood, the proverbial alarm bell went off. I have to admit I was a bit surprised and I suppose this could or will be an issue for some readers. Everyone knows it's a sensitive topic and as far as I can judge, political and religious statements in romance novels should be avoided.
As it is, I was never ever in Pakistan nor Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, our Federal Department of Foreign Affairs issued a Travel Warning for countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan (among other countries of course). I still remember the Swiss couple who was being held captive in Pakistan for more than nine months in 2011/12. Despite the warning they were traveling to Pakistan. I will freely admit that l was among those Swiss people who thought the same: "What a bad call." As a matter of fact, I don't care if some parts of a so-called "dangerous" country are considered safe. I still don't feel the need to travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan. Further, I am not a Middle East expert. Having said that, I will refrain from commenting the author's statements. On the other hand, I'm enjoying my pastime by reading romance novels. And yes, I did enjoy Stolen Summer. Very much so. Mind you, I will only review the romance between Colin and Evan and how I felt about Evan's captivity and PTSD.
Dear Evan,
After covering the war in Afghanistan you come home and your best mate, Colin Williams, is declaring his love for you. It's not so surprising, isn't it? You two are embarking on a passionate and hungry love affair. But pretty soon it's more than an affair. As it is, it's a matter of the heart. You are sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with Colin--after one last assignment in Pakistan. That said, off you go but unfortunately you don't come back as scheduled because you are being held captive for more than four months. It's the time of your Stolen Summer.
Evan, it's damn hard for me to witness your captivity. It's bad. Your pulse is pounding but so is mine, that's for sure. You are terrified and only Colin's love and all those good memories are keeping you alive. I believe you, Evan, this is such a bad place to realize that you are in love with Colin. I am rather impressed with your stress management techniques (press-ups and sit-ups). You are trying to adopt a daily routine. Well done, Evan. Hygiene is totally non-existent. Mind you, don't expect any niceties such as toothpaste or mouthwash or decent meals either.
Well, the real problem is not your captivity though. The real problem is the whole fallout after you came back home. We all know that no one walks away from a hostage situation without scars. All around you, life carries on. But you cannot go on like before your captivity. You suffer from panic attacks and terrible nightmares. You are not ready to leave your house. All you want to do is crawl into bed and stay there. Avoid any noise and crowds; avoid the real life.
Sometimes you are back in that place again. You feel things crawling in your beard and beneath your clothes. And all the scratching in the world can't get rid of the constant itch. Months of dirt and filth are ingrained on your skin. You stink and your hair is heavy with grease. Evan, I completely understand why you want to crawl out of your own skin. I really do. Finally you take a shower; you scrub your skin until you bleed. Whatever you do, though, you cannot get clean. Ah, Evan, I'd like to hold you. It's intense, raw, very believable and sad. I am so sorry for you.
I know you cannot forget what happened, however, you have to deal with it eventually. You totally depend on Colin. Then again, you can't let your loved ones carry you forever. Sometimes you are just a self-absorbed arse. Having said that, there comes the moment when you have to pull out the finger and sort things out for yourself. Colin did save your soul and sanity. He put you back together. Without Colin you are nothing, Evan. You owe him a lot. Ultimately you have to put yourself back together.
Evan, I was a little bit annoyed when you went off to Jordan. I just thought it was all about the rush again. Admittedly, you were employed by the paper and your boss sent you off to another last assignment. But still. I was not happy with your decision. And why ask Colin anyway since you made up your mind already??
I really liked your story, Evan. Your creator has a very engaging writing style. Your hunger for each other was incredibly palpable. Your love was passionate and I enjoyed watching you two together--in and out of your bedroom. *grin* Further, I think you are two very likable characters. I don't intend to being mean, however, I have to admit that your captivity and the heavy case of PTSD are the best aspects of your story. It was very well done. You know I was there with you. I felt for you. I hurt for you. Ultimately I am so glad everything turned out well for both of you.
I wish you and Colin the very best.
Take care.
Baba
What I disliked
Just some minor issues:
I don't know how many times Evan brushed Colin's hair away, and during the first half of the story Evan told how Colin smelt--numerous times. A little bit repetitive for my liking but really nothing major though.
Another matter was the lack of psychological counseling. After being diagnosed with PTSD I would have expected more and better counseling. Seeing a family doctor and prescribing some anti-depressants is not good enough.
The ending was a bit too corny for my liking.
I touched the soldier's cheek. Some days there were worse things than heartaches.
Well, this was kinda interesting.
I'm not sure if a romance author is doing herself/himself a favor if she/he is making political or religious statements. When I was reading about the interview with Al Masood, the proverbial alarm bell went off. I have to admit I was a bit surprised and I suppose this could or will be an issue for some readers. Everyone knows it's a sensitive topic and as far as I can judge, political and religious statements in romance novels should be avoided.
As it is, I was never ever in Pakistan nor Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, our Federal Department of Foreign Affairs issued a Travel Warning for countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan (among other countries of course). I still remember the Swiss couple who was being held captive in Pakistan for more than nine months in 2011/12. Despite the warning they were traveling to Pakistan. I will freely admit that l was among those Swiss people who thought the same: "What a bad call." As a matter of fact, I don't care if some parts of a so-called "dangerous" country are considered safe. I still don't feel the need to travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan. Further, I am not a Middle East expert. Having said that, I will refrain from commenting the author's statements. On the other hand, I'm enjoying my pastime by reading romance novels. And yes, I did enjoy Stolen Summer. Very much so. Mind you, I will only review the romance between Colin and Evan and how I felt about Evan's captivity and PTSD.
Dear Evan,
After covering the war in Afghanistan you come home and your best mate, Colin Williams, is declaring his love for you. It's not so surprising, isn't it? You two are embarking on a passionate and hungry love affair. But pretty soon it's more than an affair. As it is, it's a matter of the heart. You are sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with Colin--after one last assignment in Pakistan. That said, off you go but unfortunately you don't come back as scheduled because you are being held captive for more than four months. It's the time of your Stolen Summer.
Evan, it's damn hard for me to witness your captivity. It's bad. Your pulse is pounding but so is mine, that's for sure. You are terrified and only Colin's love and all those good memories are keeping you alive. I believe you, Evan, this is such a bad place to realize that you are in love with Colin. I am rather impressed with your stress management techniques (press-ups and sit-ups). You are trying to adopt a daily routine. Well done, Evan. Hygiene is totally non-existent. Mind you, don't expect any niceties such as toothpaste or mouthwash or decent meals either.
Well, the real problem is not your captivity though. The real problem is the whole fallout after you came back home. We all know that no one walks away from a hostage situation without scars. All around you, life carries on. But you cannot go on like before your captivity. You suffer from panic attacks and terrible nightmares. You are not ready to leave your house. All you want to do is crawl into bed and stay there. Avoid any noise and crowds; avoid the real life.
Sometimes you are back in that place again. You feel things crawling in your beard and beneath your clothes. And all the scratching in the world can't get rid of the constant itch. Months of dirt and filth are ingrained on your skin. You stink and your hair is heavy with grease. Evan, I completely understand why you want to crawl out of your own skin. I really do. Finally you take a shower; you scrub your skin until you bleed. Whatever you do, though, you cannot get clean. Ah, Evan, I'd like to hold you. It's intense, raw, very believable and sad. I am so sorry for you.
I know you cannot forget what happened, however, you have to deal with it eventually. You totally depend on Colin. Then again, you can't let your loved ones carry you forever. Sometimes you are just a self-absorbed arse. Having said that, there comes the moment when you have to pull out the finger and sort things out for yourself. Colin did save your soul and sanity. He put you back together. Without Colin you are nothing, Evan. You owe him a lot. Ultimately you have to put yourself back together.
Evan, I was a little bit annoyed when you went off to Jordan. I just thought it was all about the rush again. Admittedly, you were employed by the paper and your boss sent you off to another last assignment. But still. I was not happy with your decision. And why ask Colin anyway since you made up your mind already??
I really liked your story, Evan. Your creator has a very engaging writing style. Your hunger for each other was incredibly palpable. Your love was passionate and I enjoyed watching you two together--in and out of your bedroom. *grin* Further, I think you are two very likable characters. I don't intend to being mean, however, I have to admit that your captivity and the heavy case of PTSD are the best aspects of your story. It was very well done. You know I was there with you. I felt for you. I hurt for you. Ultimately I am so glad everything turned out well for both of you.
I wish you and Colin the very best.
Take care.
Baba
What I disliked
Just some minor issues:
I don't know how many times Evan brushed Colin's hair away, and during the first half of the story Evan told how Colin smelt--numerous times. A little bit repetitive for my liking but really nothing major though.
Another matter was the lack of psychological counseling. After being diagnosed with PTSD I would have expected more and better counseling. Seeing a family doctor and prescribing some anti-depressants is not good enough.
The ending was a bit too corny for my liking.
October 27, 2011
** Spoilers**
The relationship between Colin the college professor and Evan the journalist is interesting, angsty and romantic, they become lovers after ten years of friendship. Evan the adrenalin junkie who after his experiences in Afghanistan, should never have gone to Pakistan, his complete and utter disregard for Colin’s concern or opinion was selfish. Evan is captured and held hostage for 4 months and very lucky to make it out alive, suffering from anxiety attacks and flashbacks it’s a long difficult healing process, Evan eventually recovers with Colin’s loving assistance.
Did Evan learn his lesson? Of course not he then decides to go to another hot spot, I was totally shocked and just did not get it “I kept saying to myself are you insane you are going to lose the best thing that’s happened to you and for what”……I didn’t care how much money he was going to get for this story, once Colin expressed his objections and told him of his fears that should have been the end of it in my opinion, even Colin’s ultimatum did not sway Evan from his single mindedness. I actually felt like thumping him, I am not sure what he was trying to prove maybe he had to go back one more time to fully heal!
One issue I did have was while Evan was imprisoned for those 4 months you never got to hear Colin’s side of the story how he was coping with Evans kidnapping nothing, absolute zilch. I was disappointed in this part of the story I really wanted to know what was going on with Colin as well.
Absorbing, suspenseful and nicely written!
The relationship between Colin the college professor and Evan the journalist is interesting, angsty and romantic, they become lovers after ten years of friendship. Evan the adrenalin junkie who after his experiences in Afghanistan, should never have gone to Pakistan, his complete and utter disregard for Colin’s concern or opinion was selfish. Evan is captured and held hostage for 4 months and very lucky to make it out alive, suffering from anxiety attacks and flashbacks it’s a long difficult healing process, Evan eventually recovers with Colin’s loving assistance.
Did Evan learn his lesson? Of course not he then decides to go to another hot spot, I was totally shocked and just did not get it “I kept saying to myself are you insane you are going to lose the best thing that’s happened to you and for what”……I didn’t care how much money he was going to get for this story, once Colin expressed his objections and told him of his fears that should have been the end of it in my opinion, even Colin’s ultimatum did not sway Evan from his single mindedness. I actually felt like thumping him, I am not sure what he was trying to prove maybe he had to go back one more time to fully heal!
One issue I did have was while Evan was imprisoned for those 4 months you never got to hear Colin’s side of the story how he was coping with Evans kidnapping nothing, absolute zilch. I was disappointed in this part of the story I really wanted to know what was going on with Colin as well.
Absorbing, suspenseful and nicely written!
July 5, 2012
That was excellent! This book has all the elements that could make a melodrama - a friends-to-lovers somewhat-GFY romance that is damaged after far too short a time, war, hostage-taking, captivity, PTSD. But in S.A. Meade's hands this is an intense, believable and understated story. Stolen Summer has a realistic plot and deeply felt emotions that are more poignant for not being overdramatized. This has to be one of the best depictions of PTSD that I have read, with all the consequences it has on the characters and the relationship. Evan and Colin are hot and sweet and real together, and I was pulling for them all the way, throughout a story that I could not put down. Recommended.
October 2, 2011
Who says romance is dead? Evan and Colin's story getting to know each other as lovers was perhaps one of the most beautiful I've read in a while. Along with that you get an actual story with many topics explored and touched upon yet it stayed right on course and didn't become overwhelming. The bumps in the road, the highs and lows were nicely balanced and mostly believable. Did I think Evan got off(...no pun intended) too easy in the end? Yeah, maybe. I have no doubt Colin won't let him get away with another stunt like that again! Another author to keep an eye on.
October 2, 2011
4,5-5 stars
That`s why I`m sticking to the m/m romance genre - for the pleasure of reading books like this!
That`s why I`m sticking to the m/m romance genre - for the pleasure of reading books like this!
February 17, 2015
Goodness. I adored this book. Why hadn’t I read it sooner? This was lovely. I am going to hop on a small soap box for a moment though. ‘Kay? So, I know this is labeled as gay for you on a lot of shelves but I wouldn’t call it that. I think, or believe, both Evan and Colin are bisexual and have fallen for the same sex when the opposite wasn’t working. They’d both dated and had relationships with women but, the feelings between them have been there off and on for ten years, this wasn’t a flip deal of “today I’m ordering cock off the menu instead of vagina.” No, for me, this was a proper journey with friends to lovers, an intimate and emotional of journey of two best friends falling in true love and all the good and bad that comes with it.
Told in the POV of Evan Harrison, we meet the journalist while on the job on Afghanistan deep in the chaos of the Middle East post nine-eleven. Evan loves his job; the thrill and rush of the third world countries and being able to tell the stories of the struggles with patience and empathy. Yet, while he enjoys it, he wishes for more from back home. His current girlfriend Katy does fine while Evan is away in all areas and though it should bother Evan it doesn’t. What does bother Evan is not having contact with his best mate Colin and that the memories of what could have been and what Evan secretly longed for carry him through the days on the job when there is not human contact from back home. Yeah, Evan longs for Colin, dreams about shared intimate moments with Colin and could care less about who Katy is possibly shagging during his absence.
When Evan returns home, the issues with Katy are at a standstill and he takes the time to hang out with Colin when he comes down for a visit. This visit was amazing. The way the boys are as mates is natural and easy going. They really are the best of friends and yet when Evan tells Colin about his next assignment that will take him to Pakistan, a question is asked during a night of drink and honesty and Colin does what he has to, to turn their friendship around and then some.
This story was told beautifully. The writing itself was gorgeous but the relationship between Evan and Colin was amazing. There is no telling of the size of anatomy, or holes that are so tight etc. You don’t need those overused details because while the sex is hot, it’s intensely intimate, sensual and real. These two are so real and you feel the emotions flow through them and off the page. You feel Colin’s love for Evan; the ten years he hid his feelings for him and fell in love with his best friend. You feel Evan and his quiet, quick acceptance of Colin as his lover because it never felt wrong and felt like home. You feel it. You don’t need measurements between these two, you want the connection they have each and every time they touch and you get it. You so get it and it’s so beautiful.
While this story has is gorgeous moments it does have its angst. As the blurb tells you, Evan is taken hostage while in Pakistan and his time as a hostage is heartbreaking. There is not a lot of physical torment that happens to him during this time, but the mental suffering he endures it what could break a person down. If it weren’t for the memories of Colin that Evan holds onto tightly, he wouldn’t make it.
The authors style reminds me of poetry at times, the way it is written. There are lines you would normally want to blend together with a comma if you were an editing freak, but after you read them, you understand the way they are written, with an eloquent flow of words leading you to an amazing realization, you get it. You just do. I did and I loved the quiet soliloquys of Evans as he watches Colin sleep or simply watches the light come through a window. It’s gorgeous and emotional and brilliant.
The story deals with issues and the biggest one is the PTSD that Evan goes through. I like that the author didn’t make this story violent even though violence was all around Evan and could have led to him being violent. The author takes an approach to the trauma and takes it all inside the mind where most of suffers struggle to make it through the day. The wounds one sustains, aren’t always visible to the naked eye and those who are there to mend us, endure wounds of their own in the process.
Now I know this seems heavy and at times it was but this isn’t sad or melancholy. It’s an almost quiet tale with men trying to find their way from being friends to being in a relationship. The fight from both Evan and Colin was so honest and lovely to read. I adored them; adored that they argued, that they made up, that they teased each other, laughed together, cried together and they communicated. Yes, you read that right, even when the goings got tough and the words were brutally honest, these two communicated and that makes a huge difference. No big misunderstanding between them, just the things that happened between two people in a committed relationship when you learn it’s not all about you. When you think you are being open to your partner’s feelings only to realize you are quite a selfish arse. Yeah, these two are in a real relationship and this book - Evan and Colin, what they have to gain, to lose and go through was tangible.
Stolen Summer was an exquisite read, a wonderful friends to lovers tale where giving in and giving all to love, triumphs.
Told in the POV of Evan Harrison, we meet the journalist while on the job on Afghanistan deep in the chaos of the Middle East post nine-eleven. Evan loves his job; the thrill and rush of the third world countries and being able to tell the stories of the struggles with patience and empathy. Yet, while he enjoys it, he wishes for more from back home. His current girlfriend Katy does fine while Evan is away in all areas and though it should bother Evan it doesn’t. What does bother Evan is not having contact with his best mate Colin and that the memories of what could have been and what Evan secretly longed for carry him through the days on the job when there is not human contact from back home. Yeah, Evan longs for Colin, dreams about shared intimate moments with Colin and could care less about who Katy is possibly shagging during his absence.
When Evan returns home, the issues with Katy are at a standstill and he takes the time to hang out with Colin when he comes down for a visit. This visit was amazing. The way the boys are as mates is natural and easy going. They really are the best of friends and yet when Evan tells Colin about his next assignment that will take him to Pakistan, a question is asked during a night of drink and honesty and Colin does what he has to, to turn their friendship around and then some.
I had to risk losing you to let you know.
This story was told beautifully. The writing itself was gorgeous but the relationship between Evan and Colin was amazing. There is no telling of the size of anatomy, or holes that are so tight etc. You don’t need those overused details because while the sex is hot, it’s intensely intimate, sensual and real. These two are so real and you feel the emotions flow through them and off the page. You feel Colin’s love for Evan; the ten years he hid his feelings for him and fell in love with his best friend. You feel Evan and his quiet, quick acceptance of Colin as his lover because it never felt wrong and felt like home. You feel it. You don’t need measurements between these two, you want the connection they have each and every time they touch and you get it. You so get it and it’s so beautiful.
While this story has is gorgeous moments it does have its angst. As the blurb tells you, Evan is taken hostage while in Pakistan and his time as a hostage is heartbreaking. There is not a lot of physical torment that happens to him during this time, but the mental suffering he endures it what could break a person down. If it weren’t for the memories of Colin that Evan holds onto tightly, he wouldn’t make it.
But I thought of all the days I had missed. All that time we could’ve spent together had slipped past. They had stolen my time, they had stolen our time. I was missing it all.
The authors style reminds me of poetry at times, the way it is written. There are lines you would normally want to blend together with a comma if you were an editing freak, but after you read them, you understand the way they are written, with an eloquent flow of words leading you to an amazing realization, you get it. You just do. I did and I loved the quiet soliloquys of Evans as he watches Colin sleep or simply watches the light come through a window. It’s gorgeous and emotional and brilliant.
The story deals with issues and the biggest one is the PTSD that Evan goes through. I like that the author didn’t make this story violent even though violence was all around Evan and could have led to him being violent. The author takes an approach to the trauma and takes it all inside the mind where most of suffers struggle to make it through the day. The wounds one sustains, aren’t always visible to the naked eye and those who are there to mend us, endure wounds of their own in the process.
It’s one thing to put a body back together, but it’s another thing entirely putting a mind back. People aren’t meant to go through what you went through. It leaves scars.
Now I know this seems heavy and at times it was but this isn’t sad or melancholy. It’s an almost quiet tale with men trying to find their way from being friends to being in a relationship. The fight from both Evan and Colin was so honest and lovely to read. I adored them; adored that they argued, that they made up, that they teased each other, laughed together, cried together and they communicated. Yes, you read that right, even when the goings got tough and the words were brutally honest, these two communicated and that makes a huge difference. No big misunderstanding between them, just the things that happened between two people in a committed relationship when you learn it’s not all about you. When you think you are being open to your partner’s feelings only to realize you are quite a selfish arse. Yeah, these two are in a real relationship and this book - Evan and Colin, what they have to gain, to lose and go through was tangible.
Stolen Summer was an exquisite read, a wonderful friends to lovers tale where giving in and giving all to love, triumphs.
December 4, 2013
For a first time author, SA Meade did a wonderful job of telling the story of Evan, a journalist who covers war torn Afganistan and Pakistan, and Colin, his best friend and a University professor.
Evan and Colin are best friends who realize in their 30's that the reason they can't seem to find the perfect woman is because they are perfect for each other.
After a few months of bliss, Evan takes an assignment in Pakistan, where he is kidnapped and held for four months. After his rescue, he suffers from panic attacks and PTSD. Colin is the faithful boyfriend who devotes his time fixing Evan, both body and soul. Unfortunately, the sex takes a back seat when the meds cause erectile issues...uh oh.
Evan, stubborn bastard that he is, decides to do one more trip to the middle east and Colin kicks him to the curb. He loves him but he can't live with the worry.
The ending, when Evan and Colin reunite, is very poignant and sweet. And Evan better not run off again or Colin will kill him himself...lol
The writing was a little choppy in places and the british slang always throws me but overall it was a good story that i thoroughly enjoyed.
Evan and Colin are best friends who realize in their 30's that the reason they can't seem to find the perfect woman is because they are perfect for each other.
After a few months of bliss, Evan takes an assignment in Pakistan, where he is kidnapped and held for four months. After his rescue, he suffers from panic attacks and PTSD. Colin is the faithful boyfriend who devotes his time fixing Evan, both body and soul. Unfortunately, the sex takes a back seat when the meds cause erectile issues...uh oh.
Evan, stubborn bastard that he is, decides to do one more trip to the middle east and Colin kicks him to the curb. He loves him but he can't live with the worry.
The ending, when Evan and Colin reunite, is very poignant and sweet. And Evan better not run off again or Colin will kill him himself...lol
The writing was a little choppy in places and the british slang always throws me but overall it was a good story that i thoroughly enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2013
A beautiful romance!
Oh, man, this was a tough read for me, but I loved it! I felt so much for Evan and Colin that it was hard to catch my breath at times. Their story is the epitome of what romance should be. They were so in love and real that it will be a long time before I can let them go. It actually took me longer than I expected to finish reading this because every time I put it down, I was scared to pick to up again. Actually, it wasn't that angsty or distressing of a story, but I was still afraid. Ah, fear is real thing.
Perfection.
ETA: If you are like me and dying to read Christopher and Grace's story, it can be found in Christopher's Medal by S. A. Meade under a different pen name.
Oh, man, this was a tough read for me, but I loved it! I felt so much for Evan and Colin that it was hard to catch my breath at times. Their story is the epitome of what romance should be. They were so in love and real that it will be a long time before I can let them go. It actually took me longer than I expected to finish reading this because every time I put it down, I was scared to pick to up again. Actually, it wasn't that angsty or distressing of a story, but I was still afraid. Ah, fear is real thing.
Perfection.
ETA: If you are like me and dying to read Christopher and Grace's story, it can be found in Christopher's Medal by S. A. Meade under a different pen name.
October 25, 2011
Sorry, guys, this one wasn't for me. :(
I was ready to give 5 stars to this book when I was reading through the first quarter. Here it was a wonderful romantic story of two men getting together after having know each other for ten years. On top of it the story was written in a wonderful clear prose that made it fun and easy to read. I loved it! I could absolutely understand why everybody was raving about this book and was glad to have started reading it.
Unfortunately (so to say), Evan and Colin got together after only a few chapters. They were a couple and all tension dissipated (at least for me).
As much as I liked the interesting background of Evan's work as an journalist in conflict areas, the retelling of his time in Pakistan added nothing to his relationship with Colin, so I skimmed a lot. The heralded conflict between the two had been solved before Evan even got to Pakistan.
It got a little more interesting when Evan was back home and had to deal with PTSD (somewhere around 60% of the book). But still the conflicts got solved before they could make any impact. Around this time there came some things into play that didn't make many sense to me, e. g. Why wasn't Evan treated by a specialist? (His doctor had diagnosed PTSD and didn't send him to a psychiatrist.) If Evan's boss was such a good friend why did he ask him to go to Jordan? (He knew what Evan had been through and still asked him.) Why did Evan accept? (I didn't get the thing about depts he owed his boss at all. I would have understood if his motive had been the money so he could quit...)
I also thought that after half of the book the language got a little lax and repetitive. I haven't counted how often Evan brushed the hair form Colin's forehead, one covered the other with the duvet or everything went "tits-up". Although these are mere niggles and I would have read over them, had I been enthralled by the story.
More important for my lack of enthusiasm is the missing of an overall tension. It felt to me as if there was a number of potential conflicts that could have brought a lot of tension into the story if they hadn't been solved one by one in a serial fashion.
I was ready to give 5 stars to this book when I was reading through the first quarter. Here it was a wonderful romantic story of two men getting together after having know each other for ten years. On top of it the story was written in a wonderful clear prose that made it fun and easy to read. I loved it! I could absolutely understand why everybody was raving about this book and was glad to have started reading it.
Unfortunately (so to say), Evan and Colin got together after only a few chapters. They were a couple and all tension dissipated (at least for me).
As much as I liked the interesting background of Evan's work as an journalist in conflict areas, the retelling of his time in Pakistan added nothing to his relationship with Colin, so I skimmed a lot. The heralded conflict between the two had been solved before Evan even got to Pakistan.
It got a little more interesting when Evan was back home and had to deal with PTSD (somewhere around 60% of the book). But still the conflicts got solved before they could make any impact. Around this time there came some things into play that didn't make many sense to me, e. g. Why wasn't Evan treated by a specialist? (His doctor had diagnosed PTSD and didn't send him to a psychiatrist.) If Evan's boss was such a good friend why did he ask him to go to Jordan? (He knew what Evan had been through and still asked him.) Why did Evan accept? (I didn't get the thing about depts he owed his boss at all. I would have understood if his motive had been the money so he could quit...)
I also thought that after half of the book the language got a little lax and repetitive. I haven't counted how often Evan brushed the hair form Colin's forehead, one covered the other with the duvet or everything went "tits-up". Although these are mere niggles and I would have read over them, had I been enthralled by the story.
More important for my lack of enthusiasm is the missing of an overall tension. It felt to me as if there was a number of potential conflicts that could have brought a lot of tension into the story if they hadn't been solved one by one in a serial fashion.
August 31, 2011
Evan Harrison is a high-profile journalist. The book is opens with Evan in Afghanistan, contemplating about the ones he left behind in England, including his best mate, Colin ... and how Colin seems to be more important to him compared to his current girl-friend, Katy. One night, long ago, when both were drunk, they shared a kiss. And Evan realizes how Colin is one constant figure in his life for almost 10 years. After he leaves Afghanistan, and before being sent to another task in Pakistan, Evan reunites with Colin. Colin "shocks" Evan with his true feeling, that he has loved Evan all these years. Evan decides to embark this new relationship after all. But then, when he gets to Pakistan, Evan is kidnapped ...
I have high respect to those war journalists, imagine being out there, sending over news to other parts of the world, with danger of being killed or kidnapped and tortured. I have not read many M/M romance featuring war journalist, that is the reason I pick this one up.
The romance is written nicely, the way I like it. There is no push/pull angsty transition of "straight" Evan to "gay" Evan. They are practically have been in each other's life, and Evan accepts that he cares about Colin more than any other girls.
What I enjoy the most about the story is the description of Evan in those dangerous countries. His friendship with a captain in Afghanistan. His attempt to survive the prison in Pakistan. THEN, most of all, when he returns to England, and suffers from PTSD. How Colin helps him through it all. It's not overly dramatic, it feels subtle, but packs a punch. The love making is not blatant, but still emotional enough.
I have my eyes glassy with tears during the time when Evan decides to throw away the pills that helps him during the PTSD so his relationship with Colin can survive.
While one of my reviewer friend, MandyM points out perfectly that there are probably too many issues in one book, I still enjoy it. I love the writing style ... and the "British" tone is not too much. I think S.A. Meade can be an author I keep my eyes on.
I have high respect to those war journalists, imagine being out there, sending over news to other parts of the world, with danger of being killed or kidnapped and tortured. I have not read many M/M romance featuring war journalist, that is the reason I pick this one up.
The romance is written nicely, the way I like it. There is no push/pull angsty transition of "straight" Evan to "gay" Evan. They are practically have been in each other's life, and Evan accepts that he cares about Colin more than any other girls.
What I enjoy the most about the story is the description of Evan in those dangerous countries. His friendship with a captain in Afghanistan. His attempt to survive the prison in Pakistan. THEN, most of all, when he returns to England, and suffers from PTSD. How Colin helps him through it all. It's not overly dramatic, it feels subtle, but packs a punch. The love making is not blatant, but still emotional enough.
I have my eyes glassy with tears during the time when Evan decides to throw away the pills that helps him during the PTSD so his relationship with Colin can survive.
While one of my reviewer friend, MandyM points out perfectly that there are probably too many issues in one book, I still enjoy it. I love the writing style ... and the "British" tone is not too much. I think S.A. Meade can be an author I keep my eyes on.
March 6, 2013
Hm... I like the writing and the start was very strong.
But what I disliked right away: How the (ex-) girlfriend is the homophobic, mean bitch from hell.
And how the impending doom of the journey to Pakistan is so clearly outlined, it takes away all the suspense.
And then the real desaster seemed quite anticlimactic. Maybe it's only me, but the whole kidnapping part was - well, kind of boring. Not that I expected or wanted blood and gore, but it somehow was much milder than expected and it didn't touch me much. I was bored although this part was not very long.
What I also disliked was the near constant weeping, sobbing and crying. I am the last person to begrudge someone a good crying fit and I also think men have the same right to tears without loosing masculinity points, BUT, it was just too much. It felt as if the protag was constantly either just drying his tears, or starting to cry. That also diminished the impact of his supposed pain for me.
I think my main problem with the book was, that I didn't warm to the 1st person narrator. I felt detached and wasn't overly interested in him. I also felt that there a lot to be desired in the story and the plot (e.g. why not start a therapy instead of taking pills that ruin your life? Why is there no other journalist to do the second trip? Why so hesistant to break up with a girl that you don't love and who cheated on you? and so on...)
When he went to Jordan after what had happened the last time he travelled into a hostile, unstable country, I also lost any interest in a HEA with his boyfriend. My only feeling was "serves you right" when the protag was all miserable (including some heavy crying) because his boyfriend didn't accept his decision and left him.
And then an all-knowing elderly neighbour shared some wisdom with the clueless hero and voila HEA (I don't like this plot instrument much, as I find it quite unbelievable that people would discuss their most private feelings with strangers, but hey that's probably just me). And I would have liked the boyfriend better if he stuck with his decision to kick the egoistical and whiny protag to the curb. But so, the protag groveled a bit, offers marriage and all was great again in time for a sappy end.
But what I disliked right away: How the (ex-) girlfriend is the homophobic, mean bitch from hell.
And how the impending doom of the journey to Pakistan is so clearly outlined, it takes away all the suspense.
And then the real desaster seemed quite anticlimactic. Maybe it's only me, but the whole kidnapping part was - well, kind of boring. Not that I expected or wanted blood and gore, but it somehow was much milder than expected and it didn't touch me much. I was bored although this part was not very long.
What I also disliked was the near constant weeping, sobbing and crying. I am the last person to begrudge someone a good crying fit and I also think men have the same right to tears without loosing masculinity points, BUT, it was just too much. It felt as if the protag was constantly either just drying his tears, or starting to cry. That also diminished the impact of his supposed pain for me.
I think my main problem with the book was, that I didn't warm to the 1st person narrator. I felt detached and wasn't overly interested in him. I also felt that there a lot to be desired in the story and the plot (e.g. why not start a therapy instead of taking pills that ruin your life? Why is there no other journalist to do the second trip? Why so hesistant to break up with a girl that you don't love and who cheated on you? and so on...)
When he went to Jordan after what had happened the last time he travelled into a hostile, unstable country, I also lost any interest in a HEA with his boyfriend. My only feeling was "serves you right" when the protag was all miserable (including some heavy crying) because his boyfriend didn't accept his decision and left him.
And then an all-knowing elderly neighbour shared some wisdom with the clueless hero and voila HEA (I don't like this plot instrument much, as I find it quite unbelievable that people would discuss their most private feelings with strangers, but hey that's probably just me). And I would have liked the boyfriend better if he stuck with his decision to kick the egoistical and whiny protag to the curb. But so, the protag groveled a bit, offers marriage and all was great again in time for a sappy end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2011
We need more books like this one in this genre. It's a bloody honest book, to borrow the word, told in that reserved British voice that just emphasizes the drama. Evan is such a man - in his boldness, thirst for an adrenaline rush, stoicism and - stupidity. I wish we had the opportunity to hear Colin's voice as well, especially during Evan's absence, battle with PTSD and separation. The beginning of the new relationship, the sensuality of true love, Evan's constant fear in the captivity, men's troubles when he returned, their lowest point and reconciliation - it was all beautifully written. I can't wait to see what will S.A. Meade come up with next. A bloody good work!
October 22, 2011
This story was brilliantly written. Evan and Colin have such chemistry and the love just pours off the page. Along with a love story, there is pain, war, living with the aftermath of PTSD and then what happens in the fall out. The combination of war and love was done really well. And for those who know me, I got teary eyed - which is not easy to make me do!!
September 15, 2012
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. Evan Harrison is a journalist; his best friend, Colin Williams, is an Oxford Professor. When Evan returns from assignment covering the war in Afghanistan, Colin confesses that he is in love with him. The two then embark on a steamy and passionate love affair. Despite Colin's protestations, Evan goes on "one last" assignment to Pakistan. Unfortunately, a western journalist in Pakistan is too tempting a target for local insurgents and Evan is taken hostage. He spends four months in captivity clinging to the memories of the lover he left behind in order to maintain his sanity. Evan is eventually freed and returns home. He suffers from meltdowns, nightmares, and panic attacks; he is placed on anti-depressants that lower his sex drive. The PTSD threatens to destroy his life with Colin. Eventually, Evan - with Colin's love and support - works through the trauma. When Evan decides to take one "final" assignment covering the civil unrest in Jordan, Colin sees Evan’s decision as the end of a relationship he fought hard to save.
***Contains Spoilers***
This book was an easy read. It was well written and flowed at a nice clip. As a small aside, I was disappointed with Evan's infidelity at the start of the book. I realize that he fully intended to break up with Katy upon his return from Afghanistan, but still ... cheating irks me. Bleh! Unless Meade was using this to foreshadow Evan's propensity to be self-centered. Wow was he ever. When Evan decided to take the assignment to Jordan, without even considering Colin's thoughts or feelings, I was floored. I was so mad for Colin I saw red! After all he'd done for Evan, that was tantamount to spitting in his face. I applauded Colin's resulting email and was livid with Evan's reply. What a jerk! But when, upon his return, Evan realized the error of his ways and made amends, I softened towards him. (Although, I did feel that Colin let him off the hook a little to easily IMHO.)
Couple Gripes:
* Anti-depressants are not supposed to make you more depressed. Why didn't Evan's doc change his script?
* It was totally irresponsible for Evan's physician to treat PTSD with anti-depressants but no counseling. WTF!?!
* The ending was a little too simplistic for me insofar as Evan would (on sheer will power alone) no longer feel the wanderlust and seek out that adrenaline high that defined his life for ten years prior to his involvement with Colin.
Nonetheless, this was a solid book that I really enjoyed. I loved both Evan and Colin and their romance was sweet. I would definitely recommend this book to any fan of the genre!
I really enjoyed this book. Evan Harrison is a journalist; his best friend, Colin Williams, is an Oxford Professor. When Evan returns from assignment covering the war in Afghanistan, Colin confesses that he is in love with him. The two then embark on a steamy and passionate love affair. Despite Colin's protestations, Evan goes on "one last" assignment to Pakistan. Unfortunately, a western journalist in Pakistan is too tempting a target for local insurgents and Evan is taken hostage. He spends four months in captivity clinging to the memories of the lover he left behind in order to maintain his sanity. Evan is eventually freed and returns home. He suffers from meltdowns, nightmares, and panic attacks; he is placed on anti-depressants that lower his sex drive. The PTSD threatens to destroy his life with Colin. Eventually, Evan - with Colin's love and support - works through the trauma. When Evan decides to take one "final" assignment covering the civil unrest in Jordan, Colin sees Evan’s decision as the end of a relationship he fought hard to save.
***Contains Spoilers***
This book was an easy read. It was well written and flowed at a nice clip. As a small aside, I was disappointed with Evan's infidelity at the start of the book. I realize that he fully intended to break up with Katy upon his return from Afghanistan, but still ... cheating irks me. Bleh! Unless Meade was using this to foreshadow Evan's propensity to be self-centered. Wow was he ever. When Evan decided to take the assignment to Jordan, without even considering Colin's thoughts or feelings, I was floored. I was so mad for Colin I saw red! After all he'd done for Evan, that was tantamount to spitting in his face. I applauded Colin's resulting email and was livid with Evan's reply. What a jerk! But when, upon his return, Evan realized the error of his ways and made amends, I softened towards him. (Although, I did feel that Colin let him off the hook a little to easily IMHO.)
Couple Gripes:
* Anti-depressants are not supposed to make you more depressed. Why didn't Evan's doc change his script?
* It was totally irresponsible for Evan's physician to treat PTSD with anti-depressants but no counseling. WTF!?!
* The ending was a little too simplistic for me insofar as Evan would (on sheer will power alone) no longer feel the wanderlust and seek out that adrenaline high that defined his life for ten years prior to his involvement with Colin.
Nonetheless, this was a solid book that I really enjoyed. I loved both Evan and Colin and their romance was sweet. I would definitely recommend this book to any fan of the genre!
January 12, 2012
Evan Harrison moves from story to story, location to location in his career as a journalist. Some places are dangerous, but he always gets the story. He survives a bombing in Afghanistan by the skin of his teeth, and comes home to file the story. But that just pushes him to chase after another angle, to chase down a warlord in Pakistan who supplies weapons to the insurgents.
At the same time, he begins to wonder about his feelings for his girlfriend as well as for college professor Colin Williams. When Colin, his best friend since his college days, tells him he is in love with him, he questions if that might be why his relationships with women never quite work out.
The two men explore their feelings for each other, and Evan is surprised by how natural it feels. And how right they are together. He promises Evan that this will be his last trip and his last time to put himself in harms way.
So he leaves, and the worst happens. He is kidnapped and held captive, wondering for four long months if he will face the same fate as Daniel Pearl. And wishing he could just share one more moment with Colin. Tell him what he didn't before he left - that he loves him.
He manages to make it home, but will he manage to keep his word? Will this be it for him and danger, or will he break his word, and Colin's heart, and leave one more time? And will Colin be there if and when he comes back?
This book FLAT. OUT. ROCKS. S.A. Meade has given us a beautifully layered look at a man who is so smart and insightful, but so very very blind. Evan is able to peer out at the world and understand and explain it so well, and then stumble and hurt the one closet to him so badly.
I appreciated how it had taken Colin years to admit to his feelings and take the chance of blowing his friendship with Evan out of the water. And then, when he did, he committed with his whole heart and expected the same.
And then Evan, with his logic and clueless nature, just makes assumptions. That love is enough. That Colin will understand. That he knows best. That the Truth is worth the sacrifices he chooses for them both.
He is just such a...man.
And Ms. Meade takes him, and us, on the real adventure. What happens when you open your heart and life to another person. When decisions are for two, not one. And when you finally, finally get that love is about making the rest of your life about about putting a smile on your partner's face and peace in his heart.
So very good.
Tom
At the same time, he begins to wonder about his feelings for his girlfriend as well as for college professor Colin Williams. When Colin, his best friend since his college days, tells him he is in love with him, he questions if that might be why his relationships with women never quite work out.
The two men explore their feelings for each other, and Evan is surprised by how natural it feels. And how right they are together. He promises Evan that this will be his last trip and his last time to put himself in harms way.
So he leaves, and the worst happens. He is kidnapped and held captive, wondering for four long months if he will face the same fate as Daniel Pearl. And wishing he could just share one more moment with Colin. Tell him what he didn't before he left - that he loves him.
He manages to make it home, but will he manage to keep his word? Will this be it for him and danger, or will he break his word, and Colin's heart, and leave one more time? And will Colin be there if and when he comes back?
This book FLAT. OUT. ROCKS. S.A. Meade has given us a beautifully layered look at a man who is so smart and insightful, but so very very blind. Evan is able to peer out at the world and understand and explain it so well, and then stumble and hurt the one closet to him so badly.
I appreciated how it had taken Colin years to admit to his feelings and take the chance of blowing his friendship with Evan out of the water. And then, when he did, he committed with his whole heart and expected the same.
And then Evan, with his logic and clueless nature, just makes assumptions. That love is enough. That Colin will understand. That he knows best. That the Truth is worth the sacrifices he chooses for them both.
He is just such a...man.
And Ms. Meade takes him, and us, on the real adventure. What happens when you open your heart and life to another person. When decisions are for two, not one. And when you finally, finally get that love is about making the rest of your life about about putting a smile on your partner's face and peace in his heart.
So very good.
Tom
October 24, 2011
4.5
This book was a joy to read. Aside from the intense romance and the heartbreak and fights the heroes had to go through, the clean, flawless writing flowed smoothly, taking a backseat to the story and thus enabling me to focus entirely on the well-thought through and well wrought plot. I agree with what others have said above on the high quality of the story and the satisfaction with the ending. Really my only niggle was the way the story dragged a little during the second part. And perhaps, the way how Colin was larger than life during most of the story - he's simply too good to be true. (didn't keep me from loving him, though!)
To all the m/m purists among us, there's a small explicit m/f scene right in the beginning. It's utterly forgettable, apparently not made to titillate and indelible for the plot, but it's in there, so those who don't want to read such, consider yourself warned. It'd be a pity, though, you'd miss out on a really worthy reading experience if you skipped this book just for that one little scene.
This book was a joy to read. Aside from the intense romance and the heartbreak and fights the heroes had to go through, the clean, flawless writing flowed smoothly, taking a backseat to the story and thus enabling me to focus entirely on the well-thought through and well wrought plot. I agree with what others have said above on the high quality of the story and the satisfaction with the ending. Really my only niggle was the way the story dragged a little during the second part. And perhaps, the way how Colin was larger than life during most of the story - he's simply too good to be true. (didn't keep me from loving him, though!)
To all the m/m purists among us, there's a small explicit m/f scene right in the beginning. It's utterly forgettable, apparently not made to titillate and indelible for the plot, but it's in there, so those who don't want to read such, consider yourself warned. It'd be a pity, though, you'd miss out on a really worthy reading experience if you skipped this book just for that one little scene.
April 1, 2015
What a beautiful and wonderful love story. Evan and Colin's chemistry and love for each other is off the roof and the story is brilliantly written. I loved the from-best-friends-to-lovers plot and the ending is just plain perfect.
July 17, 2016
4 stars .... This book was awesome. I loved Collin and Evan. The story definitely had romance and it was sexy. It was set in England and I loved their sayings, i.e.. Everything went Tits up! Lol! I will definitely read this author again.
August 6, 2017
This story has a very “real” feel to it, and an extremely “real” message behind it: do not take your life for granted, and never assume your lover will understand or accept your priorities and decisions. One of the things that fascinated me about this book was the difference between Evan’s point of view (not to mention his lack of readiness to change it even the tiniest bit) and Colin’s opposing opinion which, to most people, seemed the more rational of the two. Yet every time I got to see things from Evan’s point of view, he seemed as rational as Colin.
Evan is a photo journalist who is stubborn, tends to shy away from confrontation, and is loyal to a fault. He follows his nose until the story is written, but because he cannot give up, he also puts himself into danger professionally. He is so focused on his job that there is almost no time left for a personal life, and Colin is one of the few partners who accepts that. When Evan finally manages to officially break things off with his girlfriend (whom he hasn’t been close to in a long time – he just didn’t want to face her), the relief of being with Colin is palpable. They are truly right for each other. The description of Evan’s time in captivity during his kidnapping in Pakistan is awful, his recovery is long and painful – and then he goes back to another dangerous assignment? I was yelling at him not to be so stupid. He is one of those people who think they are invincible – even though the episode in Pakistan should have taught him better.
Colin is an amazing man who clearly loves Evan more than his own life (or sanity). The way he takes care of Evan and helps him recover marks him for sainthood, as far as I am concerned. At the same time, he also enables Evan to continue with his (sorry) idiotic pursuit of covering “just one more story”. Yes, he may have gone on this last assignment for the money and so he never has to go back – but to Colin (and a large part of me) those are all excuses.
This is a great book, with characters that have a lot of struggling to do before they can find a balance. Evan’s growth is significant, and, unfortunately, comes with a lot of pain. I liked the realism of the story, the depth of the emotions both Evan and Colin go through, and the fact that it wasn’t easy for them to figure out how to make it work. If you like struggling, flawed characters, men who know what they want but have to accept that their goals may need to change, and if you want to follow them as they battle it out both inside and outside the bedroom, you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Evan is a photo journalist who is stubborn, tends to shy away from confrontation, and is loyal to a fault. He follows his nose until the story is written, but because he cannot give up, he also puts himself into danger professionally. He is so focused on his job that there is almost no time left for a personal life, and Colin is one of the few partners who accepts that. When Evan finally manages to officially break things off with his girlfriend (whom he hasn’t been close to in a long time – he just didn’t want to face her), the relief of being with Colin is palpable. They are truly right for each other. The description of Evan’s time in captivity during his kidnapping in Pakistan is awful, his recovery is long and painful – and then he goes back to another dangerous assignment? I was yelling at him not to be so stupid. He is one of those people who think they are invincible – even though the episode in Pakistan should have taught him better.
Colin is an amazing man who clearly loves Evan more than his own life (or sanity). The way he takes care of Evan and helps him recover marks him for sainthood, as far as I am concerned. At the same time, he also enables Evan to continue with his (sorry) idiotic pursuit of covering “just one more story”. Yes, he may have gone on this last assignment for the money and so he never has to go back – but to Colin (and a large part of me) those are all excuses.
This is a great book, with characters that have a lot of struggling to do before they can find a balance. Evan’s growth is significant, and, unfortunately, comes with a lot of pain. I liked the realism of the story, the depth of the emotions both Evan and Colin go through, and the fact that it wasn’t easy for them to figure out how to make it work. If you like struggling, flawed characters, men who know what they want but have to accept that their goals may need to change, and if you want to follow them as they battle it out both inside and outside the bedroom, you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 26, 2015
This was the first I’ve read of this author and it also appears to have been her first published M/M romance. If that’s the case, I can only say—Wow! It’s very, very good. Filled with not only love and romance, but also terror and suspenseful drama, it’s the story of Evan Harrison, a foreign correspondent who’s never been afraid to go where the action is to get his story.
When the platoon he’s with in Afghanistan is bombed, he’s shipped home due to the escalating danger. Once he settles in, he realizes that not only didn’t he miss his girlfriend, she didn’t miss him. But he did miss his best mate, Colin Williams, and apparently Colin missed him as well since his email is the only one Evan finds in his inbox.
Colin is an Oxford Professor and when the two reunite after Evan’s return, Colin takes the bull by the horns and bares his soul to Evan. Colin loves him with all his heart. Rather than be completely turned off, Evan is intrigued and they discuss past encounters where the sexual tension was high but they didn’t really act on it. Colin claims he’s loved Evan for ten years and when he thought he might lose Evan, he knew he had to say something.
Evan discovers that sex with Colin is hot, and much better than it’s ever been with a woman. They begin to see each other and spend as much time as possible together until the point where Evan moves in with Colin. Unfortunately, that’s just before Evan leaves on another assignment, one which he instigated. It’s in Pakistan, and despite the state department’s warnings of unrest, his magazine makes arrangements for him to have bodyguard protection and Evan parts with Colin even though Colin begs him not to go. What happens, is of course, that Evan is captured and held hostage for over four months, and the summer they looked forward to as their first vacation together is stolen from them.
But this doesn’t stop here, nor does it stop with Evan’s PTSD, and his body’s reactions to the drugs he takes to cope with that. There’s much more in store for Evan and his career, but the risks he takes may cause him to lose his new lover forever.
Without going into the balance of the story, I can only say that this book is packed with both romance, hot man on man sex, and a ton of drama and suspense. It’s so much more than I expected and I’m happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a GFY packed with action and suspense, heartbreak and romance with a capital R.
When the platoon he’s with in Afghanistan is bombed, he’s shipped home due to the escalating danger. Once he settles in, he realizes that not only didn’t he miss his girlfriend, she didn’t miss him. But he did miss his best mate, Colin Williams, and apparently Colin missed him as well since his email is the only one Evan finds in his inbox.
Colin is an Oxford Professor and when the two reunite after Evan’s return, Colin takes the bull by the horns and bares his soul to Evan. Colin loves him with all his heart. Rather than be completely turned off, Evan is intrigued and they discuss past encounters where the sexual tension was high but they didn’t really act on it. Colin claims he’s loved Evan for ten years and when he thought he might lose Evan, he knew he had to say something.
Evan discovers that sex with Colin is hot, and much better than it’s ever been with a woman. They begin to see each other and spend as much time as possible together until the point where Evan moves in with Colin. Unfortunately, that’s just before Evan leaves on another assignment, one which he instigated. It’s in Pakistan, and despite the state department’s warnings of unrest, his magazine makes arrangements for him to have bodyguard protection and Evan parts with Colin even though Colin begs him not to go. What happens, is of course, that Evan is captured and held hostage for over four months, and the summer they looked forward to as their first vacation together is stolen from them.
But this doesn’t stop here, nor does it stop with Evan’s PTSD, and his body’s reactions to the drugs he takes to cope with that. There’s much more in store for Evan and his career, but the risks he takes may cause him to lose his new lover forever.
Without going into the balance of the story, I can only say that this book is packed with both romance, hot man on man sex, and a ton of drama and suspense. It’s so much more than I expected and I’m happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a GFY packed with action and suspense, heartbreak and romance with a capital R.
June 12, 2014
This is one of those books that has been on my TBR forever. Not having read another book by the author, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. What I got was maturity. I wish I could come up with a better word, but that's all I have. S.A. Meade has such a mature writing style both with words and with plot development. There's no wild exploits, no exes bent on revenge , there was no cheating, and no second guessing. There wasn't the generated added drama to complicate things. The story was the story. I love books like this.
The blurb lays it all out very nicely. It is the plot outline from beginning to end. The relationship and the strength of Evan and Collin's bond is the true story. It's not overly dramatic. It has very little angst, but a lot of emotion. One of my chief frustrations about the genre is that very often you can tell that a female is writing a male character. I appreciate the fact that Collin and Evan felt like men. It's not that they were overly masculine. But in their conversations, responses, and romance, they were men.
I also appreciated how the family unit was written. It is how it should be.
4 satisfying stars
The blurb lays it all out very nicely. It is the plot outline from beginning to end. The relationship and the strength of Evan and Collin's bond is the true story. It's not overly dramatic. It has very little angst, but a lot of emotion. One of my chief frustrations about the genre is that very often you can tell that a female is writing a male character. I appreciate the fact that Collin and Evan felt like men. It's not that they were overly masculine. But in their conversations, responses, and romance, they were men.
I also appreciated how the family unit was written. It is how it should be.
4 satisfying stars
Read
January 17, 2012I found the author’s grasp on controversial inter-relation of these two countries …… well….pathetic and ridiculous at times. IF you have no idea or an individual experience living or have thorough knowledge of the intricate workings of the entire warfare between these two countries, then one should not state judgmental and media evolved plethora as a providential statement. I am sorry, but AS a romance novel, the author’s ASSERTION on Pak-Afghan and Pak Insurgents are very superfluous and undue and…………bewildering.
I have many, many issues and some regrettably I can’t forgo, even in the name of fiction.
The entire country seems to be a no go area!
I wanted something good to come out of the trip. I wanted to nail the bastards who helped supply men and arms to the Taliban
Huge wtf moment. Lahore, Rawalpindi, and especially Islamabad are places where you can find foreigners casually. Also, in the author’s view Pakistan is the ONLY source infesting this bastard that is supplying!?
“I know all that. I’ll have armed bodyguards.”
“Like that’s going to make a difference. You’d need a small army to keep you safe.”
“Fuck me. For someone who’s about to bugger off to Pakistan and get his head chopped off, you’re a bit bloody gutless.”
This conversation is implying as if Pakistan IS an Officially Declared War Zone!!! Heads being chopped off is mentioned as if it’s a custom like having salad before the main course!!! Extremely disappointing and excessively shallow statements made it very hard to wrap my head around a “ROMANCE” novel. He is going to Pakistan, not to a man eating tribe in an African jungle!
“Democratic government was created to protect the rights of individuals, to allow them the freedom to worship as they choose. The fact that you live in a democracy allows you to speak freely about your beliefs. What’s wrong with that?”
“It is an offence to Islam for Muslims to live under such a set of laws.”
And there is more:
“I’m sure you would. You approve of innocent civilians being killed by car bombs then?”
Al Masood shook his head. “As I said before, any death is regrettable. I comfort myself with the knowledge that if they are Muslims they are martyrs and they will find their reward in paradise.” He passed me the tea.
The author was knowledgeable in this false impression to mention this. I don’t know why a man portrayed as a knowledgeable cleric of Islam (and referred to as the “Devil Himself” in the book ) would say something so utterly fallacious about his religion knowing completely well that this is faux.
Nothing, contradictive OR EVEN neutral is further added about this issue and no doubt a person estranged to this religion will grasp a delusive notion of this ideology which is ludicrous, and twisted to the core and will move on with it.
I guess in romantic fiction, either such sensitive topics should be avoided, vaguely delineated, or SHOULD be THOROUGHLY researched before congealing them with a fictional PLOT. You can’t write fiction and then embed it with a living religion’s principals and then STATE wrong characteristics relating to it.
I know this book is not written to clarify a misconception, but then again, why leave the misconception hanging and leave it to be believed by naivety and presumption.
“We can fly to Gilgit today,” Jahangir announced. “The weather should hold.”
“You should know there’s been trouble there. There have been riots. The Shiites and Sunni don’t like each other.”
”It had been that way for years. Some things never changed. Fucking religion.
Major WTF moment. I was brought up in gilgit and deer, and I was there last year too………the Pakistan military has completely cleared it of insurgents, not to mention a complete peace treaty with Wazeeristan, and Fata. And Shiites and Sunni!!!! What. The. Hell…..they don’t have those kind of conflicts there. Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and some other, YES but Gilgit!?? Has the author actually EVER been there?? And exactly WHAT religion is “Fucking”?? The Shiites or the Sunnis? Or just “fucking religion” is a generic statement. I can’t help but assume the author has some personal grudge against a specific ethnicity.
Such petty, immature and dolt statements about any religion, culture and ethnicity is absolute absurdity. This shows unprofessionalism and lack of comprehensive literary capabilities on behalf of the author that she had to reduce herself to such ludicrous and humiliating statements.
“I hoped it would be cooler and quieter in Gilgit.The airport was a madhouse.
I literary WANT to ……ugh!!!!…….please have a look at these pics and POINT OUT the MADHOUSE the author is referring to? Also note that during the entire raid on the Northern Province, gilgit’s airport was open and available for local flights and nationals as usual WITHOUT a madhouse in sight.
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Amazing that as a journalist, all of Evan’s observance are meticulously well explained and vividly elaborated, except for the fact where he fails to mention or even “hint” once that half of Afghanistan is bombed to shreds, houses and villages pulverized and civilians desecrated! But he keeps on chanting the memory of mayhem caused to the military without any remorse for the innocent locals around!
I sent my first practice piece off. I’d stuck with the idea of writing about the growing influence of Islamic extremists in Jordan. Lord knows I had an axe to grind but I didn’t want to earn myself a fatwah, so I concentrated on what drove them rather than express an opinion
Well, “Lord knows I had an axe to grind” is ONE statement I am going to agree with the author since it explicitly defines her personal opinion….. Evan wants to grind an axe against the growing influence of Islamic “extremism” (conflictingly debatable) in a country which is an Islamic state to begin with! I have not seen many clerics (freely) giving out fatwahs against journalists covering political issues….mind you I wrote political NOT personal like drawing pictures of religious entities.
I thought journalists are supposed to bring forth the truth and an unbiased opinion when covering other nation’s ethnicity or religious fundamentals. Evan seems to be much opinionated when it comes to issues he so feverish explores without even once giving to think about the other side’s perspective! For a small civil unrest in Jordan, this paragraph was conceitedly opinionated.
It seemed a bloody shame that it could all go tits-up because of rabid lunatics.
“rabid lunatics”!! “. A decisive statement for a journalist of foreign cultural. tits-up……!!! This makes me feel as if I need to enhance my vocabulary when defining something.
I have been living in the Middle East with Dubai as my base for the past 7 years now, and I find the author’s productive research about the Middle East’s turbulent developments very shallow.
I have no doubt that the author is very talented in her writing, which was exquisite, indulging and the characters came to life. The characters were alive and warm, the plot solid and enticing, BUT, I am afraid her political and analytical aspect about various intricacies of Afghan, and Pak border, insurgents and even religion is insufficient, and at time, annoying and extremely vexing. I felt most of the disputable statements, condescending and biased. Exaggeration and conflicting vitals that cannot be conceived under fiction leave me disappointed.
This was a tedious read with perpetual inundation of unwarranted and callow assertions and disillusionments which left me baffled. Even in the name of fiction and romance majority of the novel’s matter relating to the political aspects were very hard to accept. Moreover, in the name of fiction; misconceptions being manipulated and insidiously woven fallible facts were a very bitter pill I found hard to swallow.
Between the first mullah that was the “devil himself” and the rest if I may quote“insane mullahs in Jordan” I am wondering where this novel’s fiction begins and a personal rancor ends! Maybe he should leave Colin, and go on a rampaging crusade against all mullahs and Islamic extremist, since he is not good in romance; perhaps he will find solace in the latter.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she had actually been to these places in the past year and half and such judgmental ruling in the name of fiction is very disturbing.
Fictional book or a personal grudge, I couldn’t help believing that factual incidents and atrociousness towards sects, or a culture were misrepresented, misinterpreted and Exploited for attention. I couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. Too conflicting for me to rate.
I have many, many issues and some regrettably I can’t forgo, even in the name of fiction.
The entire country seems to be a no go area!
I wanted something good to come out of the trip. I wanted to nail the bastards who helped supply men and arms to the Taliban
Huge wtf moment. Lahore, Rawalpindi, and especially Islamabad are places where you can find foreigners casually. Also, in the author’s view Pakistan is the ONLY source infesting this bastard that is supplying!?
“I know all that. I’ll have armed bodyguards.”
“Like that’s going to make a difference. You’d need a small army to keep you safe.”
“Fuck me. For someone who’s about to bugger off to Pakistan and get his head chopped off, you’re a bit bloody gutless.”
This conversation is implying as if Pakistan IS an Officially Declared War Zone!!! Heads being chopped off is mentioned as if it’s a custom like having salad before the main course!!! Extremely disappointing and excessively shallow statements made it very hard to wrap my head around a “ROMANCE” novel. He is going to Pakistan, not to a man eating tribe in an African jungle!
“Democratic government was created to protect the rights of individuals, to allow them the freedom to worship as they choose. The fact that you live in a democracy allows you to speak freely about your beliefs. What’s wrong with that?”
“It is an offence to Islam for Muslims to live under such a set of laws.”
And there is more:
“I’m sure you would. You approve of innocent civilians being killed by car bombs then?”
Al Masood shook his head. “As I said before, any death is regrettable. I comfort myself with the knowledge that if they are Muslims they are martyrs and they will find their reward in paradise.” He passed me the tea.
The author was knowledgeable in this false impression to mention this. I don’t know why a man portrayed as a knowledgeable cleric of Islam (and referred to as the “Devil Himself” in the book ) would say something so utterly fallacious about his religion knowing completely well that this is faux.
Nothing, contradictive OR EVEN neutral is further added about this issue and no doubt a person estranged to this religion will grasp a delusive notion of this ideology which is ludicrous, and twisted to the core and will move on with it.
I guess in romantic fiction, either such sensitive topics should be avoided, vaguely delineated, or SHOULD be THOROUGHLY researched before congealing them with a fictional PLOT. You can’t write fiction and then embed it with a living religion’s principals and then STATE wrong characteristics relating to it.
I know this book is not written to clarify a misconception, but then again, why leave the misconception hanging and leave it to be believed by naivety and presumption.
“We can fly to Gilgit today,” Jahangir announced. “The weather should hold.”
“You should know there’s been trouble there. There have been riots. The Shiites and Sunni don’t like each other.”
”It had been that way for years. Some things never changed. Fucking religion.
Major WTF moment. I was brought up in gilgit and deer, and I was there last year too………the Pakistan military has completely cleared it of insurgents, not to mention a complete peace treaty with Wazeeristan, and Fata. And Shiites and Sunni!!!! What. The. Hell…..they don’t have those kind of conflicts there. Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and some other, YES but Gilgit!?? Has the author actually EVER been there?? And exactly WHAT religion is “Fucking”?? The Shiites or the Sunnis? Or just “fucking religion” is a generic statement. I can’t help but assume the author has some personal grudge against a specific ethnicity.
Such petty, immature and dolt statements about any religion, culture and ethnicity is absolute absurdity. This shows unprofessionalism and lack of comprehensive literary capabilities on behalf of the author that she had to reduce herself to such ludicrous and humiliating statements.
“I hoped it would be cooler and quieter in Gilgit.The airport was a madhouse.
I literary WANT to ……ugh!!!!…….please have a look at these pics and POINT OUT the MADHOUSE the author is referring to? Also note that during the entire raid on the Northern Province, gilgit’s airport was open and available for local flights and nationals as usual WITHOUT a madhouse in sight.
Amazing that as a journalist, all of Evan’s observance are meticulously well explained and vividly elaborated, except for the fact where he fails to mention or even “hint” once that half of Afghanistan is bombed to shreds, houses and villages pulverized and civilians desecrated! But he keeps on chanting the memory of mayhem caused to the military without any remorse for the innocent locals around!
I sent my first practice piece off. I’d stuck with the idea of writing about the growing influence of Islamic extremists in Jordan. Lord knows I had an axe to grind but I didn’t want to earn myself a fatwah, so I concentrated on what drove them rather than express an opinion
Well, “Lord knows I had an axe to grind” is ONE statement I am going to agree with the author since it explicitly defines her personal opinion….. Evan wants to grind an axe against the growing influence of Islamic “extremism” (conflictingly debatable) in a country which is an Islamic state to begin with! I have not seen many clerics (freely) giving out fatwahs against journalists covering political issues….mind you I wrote political NOT personal like drawing pictures of religious entities.
I thought journalists are supposed to bring forth the truth and an unbiased opinion when covering other nation’s ethnicity or religious fundamentals. Evan seems to be much opinionated when it comes to issues he so feverish explores without even once giving to think about the other side’s perspective! For a small civil unrest in Jordan, this paragraph was conceitedly opinionated.
It seemed a bloody shame that it could all go tits-up because of rabid lunatics.
“rabid lunatics”!! “. A decisive statement for a journalist of foreign cultural. tits-up……!!! This makes me feel as if I need to enhance my vocabulary when defining something.
I have been living in the Middle East with Dubai as my base for the past 7 years now, and I find the author’s productive research about the Middle East’s turbulent developments very shallow.
I have no doubt that the author is very talented in her writing, which was exquisite, indulging and the characters came to life. The characters were alive and warm, the plot solid and enticing, BUT, I am afraid her political and analytical aspect about various intricacies of Afghan, and Pak border, insurgents and even religion is insufficient, and at time, annoying and extremely vexing. I felt most of the disputable statements, condescending and biased. Exaggeration and conflicting vitals that cannot be conceived under fiction leave me disappointed.
This was a tedious read with perpetual inundation of unwarranted and callow assertions and disillusionments which left me baffled. Even in the name of fiction and romance majority of the novel’s matter relating to the political aspects were very hard to accept. Moreover, in the name of fiction; misconceptions being manipulated and insidiously woven fallible facts were a very bitter pill I found hard to swallow.
Between the first mullah that was the “devil himself” and the rest if I may quote“insane mullahs in Jordan” I am wondering where this novel’s fiction begins and a personal rancor ends! Maybe he should leave Colin, and go on a rampaging crusade against all mullahs and Islamic extremist, since he is not good in romance; perhaps he will find solace in the latter.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she had actually been to these places in the past year and half and such judgmental ruling in the name of fiction is very disturbing.
Fictional book or a personal grudge, I couldn’t help believing that factual incidents and atrociousness towards sects, or a culture were misrepresented, misinterpreted and Exploited for attention. I couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. Too conflicting for me to rate.
July 21, 2015
Evan Harrison is an embedded reporter with an military unit in Afghanistan. He has the perfect life, or so he thinks. He gets to travel around the world, covering all the hot spots and conflicts. He has a girlfriend back home, though he can’t help but think things are needing to end between them. Half the time he’s thinking about his best friend, Colin Williams. Colin is a literature professor who can never seem to keep his hands to himself, men or women are fair game. Evan has been thinking maybe he thinks of Colin as more than a friend, and when he gets back home and finds out that Colin is really in love with him, Evan couldn’t be happier.
Now here is where I had my first issue with the book. Evan accepts the situation and his own feelings too easily. There is no real conflict or internal struggle, both of which I would expect in someone who is having to reevaluate their entire life I ended up loving them together, so I was able to get past it, but I think the story would have been richer for just a bit more attention to the idea that something like this isn’t that easy. Most people, especially men, can not just throw everything they thought they knew about themselves out the window and start all over.
Once they are together, boy do they make up for missed opportunities. I think they have sex more than they eat, sleep, or go to work. Not that I’m complaining though, passionate sex between two overly hot men is never something to complain about. They do it often, and they do it well. At this point in the book, I was thinking "Okay, the sex is hot, but what the hell else are they going to do?", I was wanting something else to happen to them. When Evan follows a lead back to some gun runners in Pakistan, gun runners who are responsible for almost getting him killed the last time he was in Afghanistan, things really start to get interesting.
Once there Evan is kidnapped and held for months on end, he didn’t know if he was going to die the next day or live to see home again. The only thing that kept him mentally strong enough to handle his situation was the picture he managed to hold onto of Colin. Once Evan is rescued and brought back home, their relationship dynamic changes and we get to see a couple work through issues that I’m not sure most of us could deal with. Evan is suffering a massive case of PTSD and it’s affecting everything around him. He has panic attacks in the grocery store, his meds are killing any desire he has for sex (and for a relationship that is superficially based on sex, that’s not a good thing), and he is checking out of life. Colin is ready to leave and the only thing that can save Evan is the very thing that may eventually send Colin out the door for good. Evan takes one last assignment, overseas yet again, something Colin can’t accept. He’s so terrified of losing Evan, for good this time, that he would rather end it now. So that’s what he does, Evan goes to cover another dangerous location, Colintells him goodbye. Since this is a romance book, you already know that they work it out in the end, and cap it off with even more hot sex.
When it’s all said and done, I’m still not sure how much I actually liked this book. I really enjoyed getting to know Evan and Colin, and I loved them as a couple. What I’m not so sure about is how I feel about the authenticity of it all. Now this is where my lack of romance book knowledge may come into play, I am an amateur after all. Despite what I said about liking them as a couple, it just never felt real to me. There was something, deep in the background, artificial about it all. It stopped me from buying into it with everything in me. In may simply be chalked up to it’s story about romance, fantasy. Fantasy isn’t supposed to be real, it’s not supposed to feel real. Or it may just be the fact that I’m not completely sold on the idea of a female writer really being able to write from a gay male perspective. I’m getting closer than I was before, I’m just not over that line yet.
Now here is where I had my first issue with the book. Evan accepts the situation and his own feelings too easily. There is no real conflict or internal struggle, both of which I would expect in someone who is having to reevaluate their entire life I ended up loving them together, so I was able to get past it, but I think the story would have been richer for just a bit more attention to the idea that something like this isn’t that easy. Most people, especially men, can not just throw everything they thought they knew about themselves out the window and start all over.
Once they are together, boy do they make up for missed opportunities. I think they have sex more than they eat, sleep, or go to work. Not that I’m complaining though, passionate sex between two overly hot men is never something to complain about. They do it often, and they do it well. At this point in the book, I was thinking "Okay, the sex is hot, but what the hell else are they going to do?", I was wanting something else to happen to them. When Evan follows a lead back to some gun runners in Pakistan, gun runners who are responsible for almost getting him killed the last time he was in Afghanistan, things really start to get interesting.
Once there Evan is kidnapped and held for months on end, he didn’t know if he was going to die the next day or live to see home again. The only thing that kept him mentally strong enough to handle his situation was the picture he managed to hold onto of Colin. Once Evan is rescued and brought back home, their relationship dynamic changes and we get to see a couple work through issues that I’m not sure most of us could deal with. Evan is suffering a massive case of PTSD and it’s affecting everything around him. He has panic attacks in the grocery store, his meds are killing any desire he has for sex (and for a relationship that is superficially based on sex, that’s not a good thing), and he is checking out of life. Colin is ready to leave and the only thing that can save Evan is the very thing that may eventually send Colin out the door for good. Evan takes one last assignment, overseas yet again, something Colin can’t accept. He’s so terrified of losing Evan, for good this time, that he would rather end it now. So that’s what he does, Evan goes to cover another dangerous location, Colintells him goodbye. Since this is a romance book, you already know that they work it out in the end, and cap it off with even more hot sex.
When it’s all said and done, I’m still not sure how much I actually liked this book. I really enjoyed getting to know Evan and Colin, and I loved them as a couple. What I’m not so sure about is how I feel about the authenticity of it all. Now this is where my lack of romance book knowledge may come into play, I am an amateur after all. Despite what I said about liking them as a couple, it just never felt real to me. There was something, deep in the background, artificial about it all. It stopped me from buying into it with everything in me. In may simply be chalked up to it’s story about romance, fantasy. Fantasy isn’t supposed to be real, it’s not supposed to feel real. Or it may just be the fact that I’m not completely sold on the idea of a female writer really being able to write from a gay male perspective. I’m getting closer than I was before, I’m just not over that line yet.
June 9, 2014
Stolen Summer is a delightful book. Evan and Colin are best friends, met at Uni, Evan a journalist and Colin an English professor meet up after Evan’s return from Afghanistan, prior to him going to Pakistan. While their professional lives are on the up, personally they limp from one lacklustre relationship to the next. Evan doesn’t really know why, but feels he’s missing something, Colin knows what he’s missing. One night Colin finally comes clean, he’s in love with Evan and has been for some time.
At this point, despite the beautiful lyrical prose, this could have been standard friend to lovers/ gay for you romance, but it so wasn’t. Evan goes to Pakistan, but rather than coming home after three weeks, he’s taken hostage. While in captivity Evan’s feelings for Colin are crystallised. The writing in this section of the book, revealing how Evan feels about the separation, his realisation that he might die was so touching, emotional and honest that I cried.
Stolen Summer is written from Evan’s perspective, and you really get to ‘feel’ his emotions, and yet at no stage was it one sided, Colin’s character came across just as intently. Evan’s journalism is crucial to the plot, his kidnap, captivity and the investigation into events in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Jordan is fascinating.
I enjoyed this book so much; I was torn between reading it greedily like I’d been deprived, and savouring the delicious prose so I ended up doing both, gulping and re reading.
On Sunday afternoon, after returning from work and a quick whisk to the pub by my husband I sat outside. My family happily engaged without me, but close to hand I sat in my old (un restored) rocking chair, the afternoon sun warm and mellow and finished Stolen Summer. A peaceful perfect moment.
I can’t praise SA Meade or the book enough, if you haven’t read it you should.
Abridged version, the best song and a bit more personal stuff on blog
At this point, despite the beautiful lyrical prose, this could have been standard friend to lovers/ gay for you romance, but it so wasn’t. Evan goes to Pakistan, but rather than coming home after three weeks, he’s taken hostage. While in captivity Evan’s feelings for Colin are crystallised. The writing in this section of the book, revealing how Evan feels about the separation, his realisation that he might die was so touching, emotional and honest that I cried.
Stolen Summer is written from Evan’s perspective, and you really get to ‘feel’ his emotions, and yet at no stage was it one sided, Colin’s character came across just as intently. Evan’s journalism is crucial to the plot, his kidnap, captivity and the investigation into events in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Jordan is fascinating.
I enjoyed this book so much; I was torn between reading it greedily like I’d been deprived, and savouring the delicious prose so I ended up doing both, gulping and re reading.
On Sunday afternoon, after returning from work and a quick whisk to the pub by my husband I sat outside. My family happily engaged without me, but close to hand I sat in my old (un restored) rocking chair, the afternoon sun warm and mellow and finished Stolen Summer. A peaceful perfect moment.
I can’t praise SA Meade or the book enough, if you haven’t read it you should.
Abridged version, the best song and a bit more personal stuff on blog
October 3, 2011
Brilliantly done, I loved how the snippets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Jordan gave a real sense of place and action, moving the story along without unnecessary minutiae. The journalist-covering-the-war angle was new for me, and I'd love to read more of that perspective.
I thought the out-for-you elements were excellent. Enough hints of past history for both Evan and the reader to be able to see this didn’t come out of nowhere. And I thought it was unusually realistic the way Evan acknowledged it while simultaneously admitting to himself that he didn’t really want to think about it or have to deal with it, and then being with Colin again and seeing how perfect it was. The parents were similarly well-portrayed as having initial difficulty but then welcoming into the family the person who can make their son so happy.
The balance of angst and romance was great, too. I really felt for both Evan and Colin, could really understand where they were each coming from, and the tension and conflict were inevitable based on who they are. The resolution was similarly appropriate. I really look forward to reading more from this author, though I do hope subsequent book blurbs don’t tell quite as much of the story.
I thought the out-for-you elements were excellent. Enough hints of past history for both Evan and the reader to be able to see this didn’t come out of nowhere. And I thought it was unusually realistic the way Evan acknowledged it while simultaneously admitting to himself that he didn’t really want to think about it or have to deal with it, and then being with Colin again and seeing how perfect it was. The parents were similarly well-portrayed as having initial difficulty but then welcoming into the family the person who can make their son so happy.
The balance of angst and romance was great, too. I really felt for both Evan and Colin, could really understand where they were each coming from, and the tension and conflict were inevitable based on who they are. The resolution was similarly appropriate. I really look forward to reading more from this author, though I do hope subsequent book blurbs don’t tell quite as much of the story.
January 4, 2016
I loved this book. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this book. It was my first full story from SA Meade (My only other experience with Meade was her chapter in The Party ). Stolen Summer dealt with some very heavy issues with love, respect, and tenderness. I truly was touched with how she dealt with Evan's PTSD and Depression issues. As a sufferer of depression, myself, I can attest that her portrayal was spot on. I will certainly be reading more from Ms. Meade in the future.
June 27, 2013
It was a slow beginning, but then it developed to a gripping tale, only to loose me again with Evan's decision to leave for Jordan. The final 20% or so of the book were very hard to follow. I know this is a romance and therefore a HEA, at least a HFN is a must; in this case I would have understood if Colin was done for good. I don't think an adrenaline junkie like Evan would be able to start working for a local rag and be happy with life. So, for me the end fell short.
June 8, 2014
Loved, loved, loved this book! I don't usually write reviews but I will if I think something is worth it and this is!
Brilliantly written from start to finish, it had me gripped throughout. I totally fell in love with both Evan and Colin and the chemistry they have together. They made me smile, cry and shout at my Kindle with all the drama that felt so realistic I could actually picture the scenes in my head.
Would definitely recommend this book and already considering re-reading it!
Brilliantly written from start to finish, it had me gripped throughout. I totally fell in love with both Evan and Colin and the chemistry they have together. They made me smile, cry and shout at my Kindle with all the drama that felt so realistic I could actually picture the scenes in my head.
Would definitely recommend this book and already considering re-reading it!
July 30, 2012
Excellent! All of the ingredients, perfetly mixed, to the exact consistency and flavor for an absolutely unforgettable romance. This one will be in the back of my mind for those times when I start losing faith in the genre.
June 8, 2013
Fantastic. That's the best word I can think of to describe this book. It made me sob and cry several times but I just couldn't stop reading it. Carried my kindle around with me constantly until I finished. Definitely a must read!!
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