What do you think?
Rate this book
Gay Youth Chronicles Complete Chronology #15
Temptation University
Brendan is beginning his college football career at Indiana University in Bloomington, but his relationship with his high-school-age boyfriend, Casper, is strained. Brendan knew parting from Casper would be tough, but he didn’t count on the temptations of a major Midwestern university. He’s surrounded by hot young men and the hottest of them all is his very own team-mate and the quarterback of the IU football team, Gabrial Diaddio. Brendan knows he’s in trouble the moment his eyes fall on Gabrial. When Gabrial begins to pursue him, Brendan’s troubles only deepen and he begins to wonder if he should keep up his long distance relationship with Casper or free himself to explore the sexy, college boys who surround and entice him. Marc is bold, openly gay, and still in high school, but when he meets Dorian his confidence in his ability to be himself is shaken. Marc is a skater and soccer jock. Dorian is incredibly sexy and cute, but he’s also stereotypically gay. Marc finds himself drawn to Dorian, but when Marc’s team-mates give him a hard time about his new “girlfriend” he has second thoughts. Should he suffer the taunts and ridicule of his team-mates or push Dorian away to protect his reputation as a jock?
- GenresLGBTGayM M Romance
316 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2011
17 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Roeder
99 books210 followersMark A. Roeder grew up in southern Indiana - near a small town similar to those that appear in his novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 2, 2025
Brendan Brewer graduates from his small town Indiana high school (class of 1982) where he was a football prodigy and an openly gay student. He's off to college at a large Big Ten university in Bloomington, leaving behind his friends and a boyfriend of almost two years. Will he be able to make a long distance relationship work? Will he be able to compete at the collegiate level?
Meanwhile, Marc, another young gay man from Brendan's home town meets a boy and discovers he may have some internalized homophobia when the boy turns out to be more effeminate than Marc is comfortable with.
The author Mark A. Roeder has over 20 novels to his credit concerning gay youth in the Midwest and has a loyal following of fans. His books have featured stories about homophobia, teen suicide, coming-out in the rural Midwest, and bullying long before these topics became the hot button issues they are today.
As a man who came of age in the Midwest just slightly before the period covered in these books and who came out in the 80's I find that there's much to identify with in these books. I'm particularly glad to see that new topics such as internalized homophobia and infidelity are covered in this latest book that may widen people's conceptions.
I found this book to be a compelling and engrossing read, and will most probably read it again and again, as I have a number of Mark's books. I would strongly recommend this book but, while it can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest that The Soccer Field Is Empty or Someone Is Watching or A Better Place would be a better place to start. Though they have their sadder elements, they give the reader some valuable background information as to this book's main characters.
Meanwhile, Marc, another young gay man from Brendan's home town meets a boy and discovers he may have some internalized homophobia when the boy turns out to be more effeminate than Marc is comfortable with.
The author Mark A. Roeder has over 20 novels to his credit concerning gay youth in the Midwest and has a loyal following of fans. His books have featured stories about homophobia, teen suicide, coming-out in the rural Midwest, and bullying long before these topics became the hot button issues they are today.
As a man who came of age in the Midwest just slightly before the period covered in these books and who came out in the 80's I find that there's much to identify with in these books. I'm particularly glad to see that new topics such as internalized homophobia and infidelity are covered in this latest book that may widen people's conceptions.
I found this book to be a compelling and engrossing read, and will most probably read it again and again, as I have a number of Mark's books. I would strongly recommend this book but, while it can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest that The Soccer Field Is Empty or Someone Is Watching or A Better Place would be a better place to start. Though they have their sadder elements, they give the reader some valuable background information as to this book's main characters.
July 10, 2015
Okay, I might be a little bias but I love Brendan and Casper. They are my fave couple from the series. But beyond that I do enjoy a good temptation story. I was convinced that there would be some cheating at some point but I like the way things played out. I can't say I particularly liked Dorian in the beginning, but he grew on me by the end, he's still not my fave but better.
I'm still dying to know what Casper ends up doing. I know he and Brendan buy a small farm and Brendan becomes a football coach but I can't recall if it was ever said what Casper did. In this book he tells Brendan that he won't be taking care of the farm while he's teaching. I always had this image of Casper becoming a college professor but after this book that turned into a writer, something he can do from home... but we already have a writer in the series. It's burning a hole in my mind.
I'm still dying to know what Casper ends up doing. I know he and Brendan buy a small farm and Brendan becomes a football coach but I can't recall if it was ever said what Casper did. In this book he tells Brendan that he won't be taking care of the farm while he's teaching. I always had this image of Casper becoming a college professor but after this book that turned into a writer, something he can do from home... but we already have a writer in the series. It's burning a hole in my mind.
June 23, 2025
These books are Incredible!!
It's not very often I get hooked on an author, but Mark Roeder has captured my brain with his books. These stories bring you into the life of the person and help you see and feel from their point of view. I find myself carrying the emotions of his characters with me, hoping I can change myself and others for the better. If you want to read a story with Heart and value about humanity, read these books are enjoy! Loving others is truly needed in our world and acceptance of others for who they are!
It's not very often I get hooked on an author, but Mark Roeder has captured my brain with his books. These stories bring you into the life of the person and help you see and feel from their point of view. I find myself carrying the emotions of his characters with me, hoping I can change myself and others for the better. If you want to read a story with Heart and value about humanity, read these books are enjoy! Loving others is truly needed in our world and acceptance of others for who they are!
February 9, 2026
Temptation - indeed - so accurately portrayed!
I liked the precision with which the characters of the guys were depicted, and the showdown was quite a surprise! An excellent read...
I liked the precision with which the characters of the guys were depicted, and the showdown was quite a surprise! An excellent read...
January 19, 2015
I listened to this book from audible, but don't see the correct edition.
The two main characters in this story that the POVs come from are not a couple. Marc and Brendan attended the same high school in small town, Indiana. Brendan is graduating and heading to college and Marc is still there for another year. It’s a story of Brendan’s struggles the following fall, being parted from Casper, the boyfriend he lived with, and the temptations in college of other men and abstinence after having constant access to Casper. Marc struggles with falling for another high school boy that doesn’t fit the image of his usual crushes and hookups. For him the temptations lie in denying his feelings especially when the femininity of Dorian is remarked on by his soccer teammates.
I appreciated the growth that Marc experiences and the support from his friends in accepting his feelings and loving someone for who they are and not what they look like. I could empathize with Brendan especially since Gabrial, his teammate, actively pursues him, and at how hard it is to stay faithful to Casper. I cringed every time it seemed that the temptations were too much, between Gabrial’s attentions and the warnings he receives from many fellow students that long distance relationships don’t work.I didn’t want to see him hurt Casper, not just because Casper seems really sweet, but because it is obvious hurting his boyfriend would destroy Brendan. Just as it seems it is inevitable, he finds support in an unlikely ally. I liked the way it ended, but the book only spans about 5 months and ends in October of Brendan’s freshman year at college and Marc’s senior year of high school.. That is still a lot of time in which Brendan’s will could get weak, especially since Casper is only a junior in high school.
Besides Brendan, Casper, Mark and Dorian, there are several other gay couples that make appearances in this story and several heterosexual friends that form a big support system. I found them all to be interesting, and when I peeked at the author’s website, I saw that there were many books by this author featuring the same small town of Indiana, the same town the university is in, and many of the same recurring characters. And though I struggled the very first time listening to this, I truly enjoyed this story the second time around, and hope to read or listen to more books by this author soon. It shows that sometimes second chances are important. I would have hated to miss this awesome bit of storytelling.
The two main characters in this story that the POVs come from are not a couple. Marc and Brendan attended the same high school in small town, Indiana. Brendan is graduating and heading to college and Marc is still there for another year. It’s a story of Brendan’s struggles the following fall, being parted from Casper, the boyfriend he lived with, and the temptations in college of other men and abstinence after having constant access to Casper. Marc struggles with falling for another high school boy that doesn’t fit the image of his usual crushes and hookups. For him the temptations lie in denying his feelings especially when the femininity of Dorian is remarked on by his soccer teammates.
I appreciated the growth that Marc experiences and the support from his friends in accepting his feelings and loving someone for who they are and not what they look like. I could empathize with Brendan especially since Gabrial, his teammate, actively pursues him, and at how hard it is to stay faithful to Casper. I cringed every time it seemed that the temptations were too much, between Gabrial’s attentions and the warnings he receives from many fellow students that long distance relationships don’t work.I didn’t want to see him hurt Casper, not just because Casper seems really sweet, but because it is obvious hurting his boyfriend would destroy Brendan. Just as it seems it is inevitable, he finds support in an unlikely ally. I liked the way it ended, but the book only spans about 5 months and ends in October of Brendan’s freshman year at college and Marc’s senior year of high school.. That is still a lot of time in which Brendan’s will could get weak, especially since Casper is only a junior in high school.
Besides Brendan, Casper, Mark and Dorian, there are several other gay couples that make appearances in this story and several heterosexual friends that form a big support system. I found them all to be interesting, and when I peeked at the author’s website, I saw that there were many books by this author featuring the same small town of Indiana, the same town the university is in, and many of the same recurring characters. And though I struggled the very first time listening to this, I truly enjoyed this story the second time around, and hope to read or listen to more books by this author soon. It shows that sometimes second chances are important. I would have hated to miss this awesome bit of storytelling.
March 10, 2017
What can I say? I can't get enough of Mark's Gay Waltons meets Scooby Doo series! Recently I spent a month on the Cancer Ward and a Kindle full of Bloomington Boys helped ease the pain. Thanks Mark
November 5, 2014
Title: Temptation University (Gay Youth Chronicles, #10)
Author: Mark A. Roeder
Narrator: Robert G. Davis
Cover Artist: Ken Clark
Publisher: Self-Published
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Young Adult
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Long Novel (10 Hours and 38 Minutes)
Heat Rating: ♨♨
Book Rating: ★★★★☆
This book was purchased by the reviewer.
The story is about young love and learning ones path in life. Brendan and Casper are lucky in that they have accepted their sexuality. Here they work through what love really means. They realize the difference between lust and love and determine the type of men they want to be. This story does look at temptation from multiple angles and in the end wraps things up well while leaving room for more to Brendan and Casper’s story. I have to admit I did find the acceptance of gays out of sync for the time-frame of the book. Maybe I was projecting what I felt as a closeted gay man in the 80’s into my comprehension of the story.
Complete Review at WoDF - Temptation University (Gay Youth Chronicles, #10)
Author: Mark A. Roeder
Narrator: Robert G. Davis
Cover Artist: Ken Clark
Publisher: Self-Published
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Young Adult
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Long Novel (10 Hours and 38 Minutes)
Heat Rating: ♨♨
Book Rating: ★★★★☆
This book was purchased by the reviewer.
The story is about young love and learning ones path in life. Brendan and Casper are lucky in that they have accepted their sexuality. Here they work through what love really means. They realize the difference between lust and love and determine the type of men they want to be. This story does look at temptation from multiple angles and in the end wraps things up well while leaving room for more to Brendan and Casper’s story. I have to admit I did find the acceptance of gays out of sync for the time-frame of the book. Maybe I was projecting what I felt as a closeted gay man in the 80’s into my comprehension of the story.
Complete Review at WoDF - Temptation University (Gay Youth Chronicles, #10)
July 22, 2014
Perhaps its just me, but I think the Gay Youth Chronicles are going on way too long. Every time there is a new boy that somehow has to fit in the storyline and we have to make up some weird story too make sure he does.
Brendan and Casper are separated because Brendan graduates from school. Then he goes to university, where of course almost every guy is either gay or bi and lusting after him. But he wants to stay loyal to Casper and fights temptation with all his heart. And just when he is about to give in, Casper comes for a visit and all is well again.
I really love Roeder stories, but they are just getting a bit unbelievable and boring.....
Brendan and Casper are separated because Brendan graduates from school. Then he goes to university, where of course almost every guy is either gay or bi and lusting after him. But he wants to stay loyal to Casper and fights temptation with all his heart. And just when he is about to give in, Casper comes for a visit and all is well again.
I really love Roeder stories, but they are just getting a bit unbelievable and boring.....
July 29, 2013
Throughout the book, I grew more concerned about how Mark would bring the book to a satisfying ending in the ever fewer pages remaining. Not surprisingly, he surprised me with a perfect solution. Each book in the chronicles move the stories along.
March 17, 2012
I love this book.
June 28, 2014
Kind of juvenile with not a lot of plot to the story. I kept thinking that something would happen and then the book was over.
April 21, 2012
Love Brendan and Casper!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews