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Tangled Web
Fifty-eight year old, reticent banker, Kevin Baker works out regularly hoping to spot the man he's become infatuated with, hunky Jake Whittiker. Kevin and Jake both have secrets. Secrets capable of destroying even a remote chance at happiness for the two men as they attempt to escape the meaninglessness of one night stands and brief encounters. Passion and testosterone, lies and omissions, tangled webs brought about by deceit. Untangling the myriad threads and revealing the truth is their only chance, but what will it truly cost?
- GenresM M Romance
58 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Terry O'Reilly
82 books40 followersSince retiring, Terry spends his time writing, working with animal rescue groups, walking his three dogs, pumping iron while listening to Harry Potter audio books and riding/showing his champion Quarter Horse.
His interest in Native American culture stems from the fact that in tracing his heritage, he found his great grandfather was an Illini.
His interest in Native American culture stems from the fact that in tracing his heritage, he found his great grandfather was an Illini.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 23, 2011
This was a bit hard for me to review. I think it will also not be to the taste of all m/m readers as it touches a very big bug-a-boo for some. It hits you right on the first page:
"Kevin had had few hits to his ad. He figured it was because he’d been honest and included the information that he was married."
Yes, main character Kevin is married and quite unrepentantly having anonymous encounters with men through various hook-up sites. He’s older, he’s got grown children and he loves his wife, but he knows he’s been gay for quite awhile and pursues that part of his life outside of this boring normal work/home life. He’s currently been obsessing over Jake, a big bear of a guy at the gym although he doesn’t even know his name and has never spoken with him.
Before he gets together with Jake you get a picture of Kevin’s life. He’s a bit obsessed with Jake, can’t wait to get out of work and get to the gym, even turning down this younger guy on the website who would like to get together with him and finding ways to avoid his wife finding out what he’s doing. I said he’s unrepentant, but he does feel guilty sometimes. He knows he’s not attracted to his wife, but he doesn’t want to hurt her and she’s been a stay at home wife so has no means of support, however he rationalizes things like the sermon at church about being faithful, by convincing himself that because he’s gay, it doesn’t really apply to him. He comes across as a bit pathetic.
He finally gets together with Jake and they head to Jake’s place for some hot sex. However he neglects to tell Jake that he’s married. After they have sex, which somehow in the mix-up is condomless, Kevin has a very rude awakening (I won’t reveal the details) but there is no way Kevin is going to be able to keep the fact he’s been with men a secret anymore, and Jake’s not interested in a married man.
The story skips ahead a few months when Jake checks on him and they find a solution to their problems and agree to start dating even though Kevin insists on remaining married so his wife has medical benefits, etc.
Did the author redeem Kevin? Sort of? Some may find that Kevin got his comeuppance when he was forced to tell his wife and deal with the fall-out. And he’s open with her about being married in name only. I felt sorry for Jake. His screw-up was truly a misunderstanding and not something purposeful on his part, unlike Kevin’s deception. I get that Kevin wanted to do the right thing by his wife, but it rubbed me the wrong way. There is also insta-love as on their first date (second or third time speaking) they declare love.
I found a few editing errors with wrong words, but on the whole I liked the author’s style. I get it that lots of married gay men are in Kevin’s position, it’s just hard to be sympathetic with a man who doesn’t love someone, but continues with a sham because they are too lazy or frightened to get out. You can divorce someone for a million reasons, you don’t have to tell them you’re gay if you don’t want. It’s a personal thing for me. So I think some people will enjoy perhaps a less rose-coloured glasses view of gay relationships, and they are both in their 50′s which is a nice change, but others will want to avoid it if cheating is an issue for you.
"Kevin had had few hits to his ad. He figured it was because he’d been honest and included the information that he was married."
Yes, main character Kevin is married and quite unrepentantly having anonymous encounters with men through various hook-up sites. He’s older, he’s got grown children and he loves his wife, but he knows he’s been gay for quite awhile and pursues that part of his life outside of this boring normal work/home life. He’s currently been obsessing over Jake, a big bear of a guy at the gym although he doesn’t even know his name and has never spoken with him.
Before he gets together with Jake you get a picture of Kevin’s life. He’s a bit obsessed with Jake, can’t wait to get out of work and get to the gym, even turning down this younger guy on the website who would like to get together with him and finding ways to avoid his wife finding out what he’s doing. I said he’s unrepentant, but he does feel guilty sometimes. He knows he’s not attracted to his wife, but he doesn’t want to hurt her and she’s been a stay at home wife so has no means of support, however he rationalizes things like the sermon at church about being faithful, by convincing himself that because he’s gay, it doesn’t really apply to him. He comes across as a bit pathetic.
He finally gets together with Jake and they head to Jake’s place for some hot sex. However he neglects to tell Jake that he’s married. After they have sex, which somehow in the mix-up is condomless, Kevin has a very rude awakening (I won’t reveal the details) but there is no way Kevin is going to be able to keep the fact he’s been with men a secret anymore, and Jake’s not interested in a married man.
The story skips ahead a few months when Jake checks on him and they find a solution to their problems and agree to start dating even though Kevin insists on remaining married so his wife has medical benefits, etc.
Did the author redeem Kevin? Sort of? Some may find that Kevin got his comeuppance when he was forced to tell his wife and deal with the fall-out. And he’s open with her about being married in name only. I felt sorry for Jake. His screw-up was truly a misunderstanding and not something purposeful on his part, unlike Kevin’s deception. I get that Kevin wanted to do the right thing by his wife, but it rubbed me the wrong way. There is also insta-love as on their first date (second or third time speaking) they declare love.
I found a few editing errors with wrong words, but on the whole I liked the author’s style. I get it that lots of married gay men are in Kevin’s position, it’s just hard to be sympathetic with a man who doesn’t love someone, but continues with a sham because they are too lazy or frightened to get out. You can divorce someone for a million reasons, you don’t have to tell them you’re gay if you don’t want. It’s a personal thing for me. So I think some people will enjoy perhaps a less rose-coloured glasses view of gay relationships, and they are both in their 50′s which is a nice change, but others will want to avoid it if cheating is an issue for you.
May 29, 2009
n Baker, banker, husband and father, is not happy with his job, his marriage or his life at the moment, and wants more than he has - preferably with someone else. He goes to his local gym to burn off some of his frustration and to ogle the eye candy that strut their stuff at the machines.
He quickly set is eyes on one member in particular but has trouble connecting at the gym. He makes every effort to finds out this dream man’s name – Jake Whittaker. After missing him for days on end his luck finally turns. Only his eye candy is also hunting – and he’s the prey.
When the night goes as expected and passion burns brighter than anything either of them have ever experienced, they are over the moon. They quickly fall to earth when both realize the risk they took was and is greater than they imagined when they started the night.
Terry O’Reilly’s Tangled, is not for the faint of heart. Tangled deals with all the issues head on that are normally skirted over in romance novels.
It’s a refreshing change to read a story where the protagonists are in for a penny and in for a pound situation. Married and not happy in his home life Kevin, albeit secretly, goes through all the obvious avenues to hook up with people of a like mind. He quickly sets his eyes on and makes every effort to catch the eye of one of the most attractive men he’s seen in a long time at the gym.
Jake knows a good thing when he sees him, and makes no bones about going after Kevin, but the one thing he needs to make clear to him is also the one thing that neither of them may be able to live with.
While the book would be considered a novella, it does pack a mighty punch – morality is tested, emotional upheavals are rampant through the pages, tears are shed. But hope and the fact that with patience, perseverance and a whole lot of compromising, even the tangled web we weave can become untangled to give us ultimate pleasure.
He quickly set is eyes on one member in particular but has trouble connecting at the gym. He makes every effort to finds out this dream man’s name – Jake Whittaker. After missing him for days on end his luck finally turns. Only his eye candy is also hunting – and he’s the prey.
When the night goes as expected and passion burns brighter than anything either of them have ever experienced, they are over the moon. They quickly fall to earth when both realize the risk they took was and is greater than they imagined when they started the night.
Terry O’Reilly’s Tangled, is not for the faint of heart. Tangled deals with all the issues head on that are normally skirted over in romance novels.
It’s a refreshing change to read a story where the protagonists are in for a penny and in for a pound situation. Married and not happy in his home life Kevin, albeit secretly, goes through all the obvious avenues to hook up with people of a like mind. He quickly sets his eyes on and makes every effort to catch the eye of one of the most attractive men he’s seen in a long time at the gym.
Jake knows a good thing when he sees him, and makes no bones about going after Kevin, but the one thing he needs to make clear to him is also the one thing that neither of them may be able to live with.
While the book would be considered a novella, it does pack a mighty punch – morality is tested, emotional upheavals are rampant through the pages, tears are shed. But hope and the fact that with patience, perseverance and a whole lot of compromising, even the tangled web we weave can become untangled to give us ultimate pleasure.
February 2, 2010
This short story (~50 pages) tackles a lot of elements and unfortunately not all successfully. However, there is definite promise to the author’s writing and while this particular offering didn’t work completely, I’m intrigued enough to read other books by O’Reilly. Aptly named, Tangled Web deals with a myriad of issues all stemming from Kevin’s self-denial and his secret fantasies. While the story had some problems with the telling, I was left with the definite feeling that older gay men may identify with the characters and storyline much more so than I – perhaps a better target audience.
Kevin Baker is an older gentleman, staid in his life with a boring job as a banker and living in hiding as a gay man within his marriage. Kevin is described as in good shape but with thinning hair as he approaches fifty-nine. He is gay and doesn’t necessarily have a problem with his sexuality as he knows he’s always been gay, but struggles with his “duty” of having sex with his wife. He comes across very content with his life and never considers leaving his wife, even as he longs for the love and sexual passion of another man. Kevin’s character is still very much a mystery as his past history is never explained and leaves numerous questions unanswered. If he’s always been gay, why did he get married? How was he able to be married for thirty years while struggling with his feelings? Has it always been a struggle? Kevin didn’t get married until he was almost thirty but claims Gloria, his wife, was the only woman he ever dated and a childhood sweetheart, thus begging the question of did he really know he was always gay? The answers to all of these questions and more would certainly have given more depth and understanding to Kevin as a character and explain his present situation.
As a married (but gay) man, Kevin transfers his longing for the love of another man to the object of his fascination. Jake is a body builder at their gym and although the two have never spoken, Kevin fantasizes about Jake and fancies himself in love with the stronger man. Very little is known about Jake except he is clearly an openly gay man and mistakes Kevin for the same. After a few aborted tries, the two finally are able to hook up together for some steamy sex that changes from an innocent one-night stand into something much more. Jake has an obviously tender heart and a conscience as evidenced by his thoughtful actions even well after the proverbial paint as dried. However miscommunication and lies lead to far reaching consequences for both men and Kevin must face the truth of his actions.
Without giving away too much as the “twist” certainly caught me way off guard, the resolution was very interesting. This turned the story from being a weak first offering to something deeper with more potential. It may not please hard-core romance fans but it had a genuine honesty that struck a cord. While not a perfect ending, it may be an honest situation that married gay men find themselves struggling to handle. Unfortunately there were problems inherent within the writing as the style and prose was often too simplistic and felt amateurish. The descriptions and characterizations fell flat with very little complexity or depth to the writing, leaving the story too one-dimensional. The shorter length certainly worked against the story, as more detail on the characters and better descriptive writing would have helped.
While this story had some issues as I’ve described, the author shows potential. O'Reilly depicts honest emotions and issues that gay men face instead of an overly flowery fantasy of two sexy gay men romping to a happy ever after. In addition, it’s not often I’m flat out shocked by a twist in a story and this achieved not only that, but in an entirely believable way. For a first story (which I *think* this is), it’s not bad. I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer.
Kevin Baker is an older gentleman, staid in his life with a boring job as a banker and living in hiding as a gay man within his marriage. Kevin is described as in good shape but with thinning hair as he approaches fifty-nine. He is gay and doesn’t necessarily have a problem with his sexuality as he knows he’s always been gay, but struggles with his “duty” of having sex with his wife. He comes across very content with his life and never considers leaving his wife, even as he longs for the love and sexual passion of another man. Kevin’s character is still very much a mystery as his past history is never explained and leaves numerous questions unanswered. If he’s always been gay, why did he get married? How was he able to be married for thirty years while struggling with his feelings? Has it always been a struggle? Kevin didn’t get married until he was almost thirty but claims Gloria, his wife, was the only woman he ever dated and a childhood sweetheart, thus begging the question of did he really know he was always gay? The answers to all of these questions and more would certainly have given more depth and understanding to Kevin as a character and explain his present situation.
As a married (but gay) man, Kevin transfers his longing for the love of another man to the object of his fascination. Jake is a body builder at their gym and although the two have never spoken, Kevin fantasizes about Jake and fancies himself in love with the stronger man. Very little is known about Jake except he is clearly an openly gay man and mistakes Kevin for the same. After a few aborted tries, the two finally are able to hook up together for some steamy sex that changes from an innocent one-night stand into something much more. Jake has an obviously tender heart and a conscience as evidenced by his thoughtful actions even well after the proverbial paint as dried. However miscommunication and lies lead to far reaching consequences for both men and Kevin must face the truth of his actions.
Without giving away too much as the “twist” certainly caught me way off guard, the resolution was very interesting. This turned the story from being a weak first offering to something deeper with more potential. It may not please hard-core romance fans but it had a genuine honesty that struck a cord. While not a perfect ending, it may be an honest situation that married gay men find themselves struggling to handle. Unfortunately there were problems inherent within the writing as the style and prose was often too simplistic and felt amateurish. The descriptions and characterizations fell flat with very little complexity or depth to the writing, leaving the story too one-dimensional. The shorter length certainly worked against the story, as more detail on the characters and better descriptive writing would have helped.
While this story had some issues as I’ve described, the author shows potential. O'Reilly depicts honest emotions and issues that gay men face instead of an overly flowery fantasy of two sexy gay men romping to a happy ever after. In addition, it’s not often I’m flat out shocked by a twist in a story and this achieved not only that, but in an entirely believable way. For a first story (which I *think* this is), it’s not bad. I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer.
September 1, 2013
I didn't quite get this book. I think the author might have been going for a more "real world" situation as opposed to a fantasy romantic one. If you look at it from a real life perspective it isn't bad but I'm the kind of person who enjoys romance and a touch of nonrealism in my love stories so for that reason I didn't really love this book.
I did like that the MCs were in their 50's. it's hard to find books with older character!
I did like that the MCs were in their 50's. it's hard to find books with older character!
November 24, 2015
While this book did have a few redeeming qualities, due to a lack of editorial contribution I would not recommend.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews