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Chase Series #1
Chase of a Lifetime
On Jim’s first night home, during his college graduation party at his mom and dad’s ranch, he runs into his best friend’s dad, Len Mayfield, a rugged, handsome investment banker in his late thirties who rides horses and wears a cowboy hat when he’s not working. Len’s life isn’t much different from Jim’s. He’s been in the closet forever, he’s trapped in a marriage of convenience, and he’s resigned to his circumstances.
That is until Len runs into the grown up version of Jim Darling at the graduation party and things start to get a little messy. What happens after that blossoms into something neither of them ever expected. A long seduction leads to fantastic love-making. There’s enough passion, heartache, and frustration to challenge their fragile relationship in more ways than one.
Will Jim Darling find a way to come clean with his mom and dad so he can find the happiness he’s always wanted? And will Len Mayfield find the courage to finally come out of the closet and walk away from a life that has never made him happy?
That is until Len runs into the grown up version of Jim Darling at the graduation party and things start to get a little messy. What happens after that blossoms into something neither of them ever expected. A long seduction leads to fantastic love-making. There’s enough passion, heartache, and frustration to challenge their fragile relationship in more ways than one.
Will Jim Darling find a way to come clean with his mom and dad so he can find the happiness he’s always wanted? And will Len Mayfield find the courage to finally come out of the closet and walk away from a life that has never made him happy?
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2012
6 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Field
180 books216 followersRyan @ryanfield Hybrid author of over 100 published modern romance novels and stories, including AN OFFICER AND HIS GENTLEMAN, FANGSTERS, and THE RAINBOW DETECTIVE AGENCY. He is a Lambda Award-winner with a short story and he's always more than thankful for reader reviews. In fact, he cherishes reviews from real readers, and that means good or bad reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 16, 2012
I'm kind of at a loss on how to review this. On one hand, I love the older/younger man theme. On the other, I had a problem with one of the main characters.
Jim is an almost 21 year old college graduate. He's gay and deep in the closet. He comes home to Texas from Princeton and is faced with his parents and the confusion of where he is going with his life... personally and professionally. His former best friend's dad, Len (who is married), is at a graduation party given in Jim's honor. Len pretty much pursues Jim relentlessly and the circumstances surrounding that initial meeting were a little odd, to say the least. It had the Mrs. Robinson vibe which I am sure was the point. The younger folks are saying "Who?" That particular scene in the book showed Jim to be very naive (VERY naive) and for a young man his wording was quite dated. Once I got beyond the initial "HUH?" of that the book flowed pretty well. I liked Jim. His confusion and naivete showed quite clearly. I did feel that Len was taking advantage of Jim from that moment on and the feeling only got stronger as the story unfolded. Cain (the so-called best friend) was a complete jerk. There was nothing likable about him from the first time he was mentioned. That feeling was only added to as the story played out.
Without giving details, I will say that there is one point in the book that I would normally say is unforgivable for me. I have stopped reading books at the 90% mark if this particular thing happens and I put the author on an automatic "never again" list. In this case? I was basically saying "Go you!" The normal anger that I would feel toward an author for throwing something like that in did not happen in this case. I was actually happy to see it. I should probably be ashamed of myself but I'm so not. I was not happy with Len and the way I felt that he was using Jim so the above-mentioned part of the story worked. Len was a hypocrite in my eyes. He waited until after the fact (so to speak) to finally do the right thing and then he was a big baby about it. I was quite pleased with the way Jim handled that particular situation.
I have a huge pet peeve when it comes to certain things in a book I'm reading. The building up to something and then have it all come together so quickly that the ending feels rushed and I end up feeling cheated. While the ending of this book most definitely could have used a few more paragraphs (in my opinion) it seemed to work in this case.
Overall a very good read. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Jim is an almost 21 year old college graduate. He's gay and deep in the closet. He comes home to Texas from Princeton and is faced with his parents and the confusion of where he is going with his life... personally and professionally. His former best friend's dad, Len (who is married), is at a graduation party given in Jim's honor. Len pretty much pursues Jim relentlessly and the circumstances surrounding that initial meeting were a little odd, to say the least. It had the Mrs. Robinson vibe which I am sure was the point. The younger folks are saying "Who?" That particular scene in the book showed Jim to be very naive (VERY naive) and for a young man his wording was quite dated. Once I got beyond the initial "HUH?" of that the book flowed pretty well. I liked Jim. His confusion and naivete showed quite clearly. I did feel that Len was taking advantage of Jim from that moment on and the feeling only got stronger as the story unfolded. Cain (the so-called best friend) was a complete jerk. There was nothing likable about him from the first time he was mentioned. That feeling was only added to as the story played out.
Without giving details, I will say that there is one point in the book that I would normally say is unforgivable for me. I have stopped reading books at the 90% mark if this particular thing happens and I put the author on an automatic "never again" list. In this case? I was basically saying "Go you!" The normal anger that I would feel toward an author for throwing something like that in did not happen in this case. I was actually happy to see it. I should probably be ashamed of myself but I'm so not. I was not happy with Len and the way I felt that he was using Jim so the above-mentioned part of the story worked. Len was a hypocrite in my eyes. He waited until after the fact (so to speak) to finally do the right thing and then he was a big baby about it. I was quite pleased with the way Jim handled that particular situation.
I have a huge pet peeve when it comes to certain things in a book I'm reading. The building up to something and then have it all come together so quickly that the ending feels rushed and I end up feeling cheated. While the ending of this book most definitely could have used a few more paragraphs (in my opinion) it seemed to work in this case.
Overall a very good read. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
May 30, 2012
I am not sure how to review this book because I'm not sure how I feel about it after reading it....So many things were good but equally, many things annoyed me.
Jim is a 21 year old college graduate. He has known he is gay for forever but is yet to admit this to anyone. He returns home for the summer to think about what he wants to do now and where he is going in his life. He is unsure of how to go forward both in his personal as well as his professional life. His parents hold a graduation party for Jim where he bumps into best friend's dad Len (aged 37). Len begins to flirt with him and Jim unwillingly ends up at Len's house. This is what annoyed me the most, this scene was so bizarre. The writing was stilted, Jim sounded odd when he spoke and the whole situation had me cringing!!! First of all Len came across a bit pervy to me and Jim came across as a VERY NAIVE 21 year old!!! I will say though that the writing and the story improved after that and I LOVED the heartwarming moments between Jim and his parents. I also LOVED how Jim found himself again. I didn't like Cain and for most of the story I didn't like Len. However Len totally redeemed himself, Cain didn't!!
The story kept building and building but once it all came together it was pretty much over. It seemed almost rushed. I would have loved an Epilogue which I think would have finished the story off nicely. I would also love to know what happens to Len and Jim next!
Jim is a 21 year old college graduate. He has known he is gay for forever but is yet to admit this to anyone. He returns home for the summer to think about what he wants to do now and where he is going in his life. He is unsure of how to go forward both in his personal as well as his professional life. His parents hold a graduation party for Jim where he bumps into best friend's dad Len (aged 37). Len begins to flirt with him and Jim unwillingly ends up at Len's house. This is what annoyed me the most, this scene was so bizarre. The writing was stilted, Jim sounded odd when he spoke and the whole situation had me cringing!!! First of all Len came across a bit pervy to me and Jim came across as a VERY NAIVE 21 year old!!! I will say though that the writing and the story improved after that and I LOVED the heartwarming moments between Jim and his parents. I also LOVED how Jim found himself again. I didn't like Cain and for most of the story I didn't like Len. However Len totally redeemed himself, Cain didn't!!
The story kept building and building but once it all came together it was pretty much over. It seemed almost rushed. I would have loved an Epilogue which I think would have finished the story off nicely. I would also love to know what happens to Len and Jim next!
August 8, 2012
1.5 stars. There were several times that I considered not finishing this book, but continued to the end. I instantly disliked Les and found him very sleezy from the beginning and my opinion did not change throughout the book. I don't have a problem with age differences in m/m romances, but the relationship between Jim and Les just did not work for me and at times seemed kinda creepy. Unfortunately, this book was just not right for me.
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March 15, 2015DNF 10%.
MOST AWFUL WRITTEN BOOK EVER !!! What the f*** was/is that? And what kind of plot was/is that? OMG it is sooooo bad! Do noch bother. I repeat DO NOT BOTHER with this book!
MOST AWFUL WRITTEN BOOK EVER !!! What the f*** was/is that? And what kind of plot was/is that? OMG it is sooooo bad! Do noch bother. I repeat DO NOT BOTHER with this book!
July 1, 2016
Collage graduate, Jim Darling, has returned home to Texas from Princeton, confused and conflicted, the weight of the world on his shoulders as he grapples with not only the fact he has to tell his father that he doesn't want to follow in the ol' man’s footsteps, go to law school and join the family law firm, but also that he’s a gay.
Jim has never been with a man, but he knows he’s gay. On his first night home, he spots his best friend’s father, the strikingly handsome, youthful and rugged cowboy, Len Mayfield. Jim's heart flutters and something inside him comes alive, to the point it scares the hell out of Jim and he leaves his own graduation party.
Turns out, Len Mayfield has a huge secret of his own--living a concocted lie that only he and his wife know. Len has come to feel trapped in his marriage of convenience, a partnership both spouses agreed to long ago and now which circumstances stand to hurt those Len loves the most, his son—whose rebellious antics have caused more than their fair share of family drama--and his son’s best friend, the adorable and cautious, Jim Darling.
Sparks fly when Len meets Jim Darling at the graduation party his parents planned. Jim feels something he’s never experienced before and his longing for Len soon becomes overshadowed by his fear of discovery after he and Len begin a long, seductive and eventual torrid love affair, sneaking around town, in hotels, indiscriminate and risky locations.
Drama flares again with Cain and Len takes off to address the trouble, leaving Jim to ponder of his relationship with an older, married man. Jim grown impatient and makes demands Len is not yet willing to see through. Their relationship goes from hot and heavy, to slow and heart retching. Growing stronger, Jim comes out to his mother, and later to his father right before Cain returns home for the summer.
Chase of a Lifetime by Ryan Fieldhad me from the beginning pages, with naive and closeted college graduate Jim, running into his best friend's closeted cowboy father. The instant attraction between Jim and Len, awesome sex, hot romance and serious pull of the heart-strings helps make this gay romance between older man, younger man convincing in possibility. The final third of the novel will have the reader rushing through the pages to discover if these two--with everything working against the—will survive together. A truly great gay romance!
Jim has never been with a man, but he knows he’s gay. On his first night home, he spots his best friend’s father, the strikingly handsome, youthful and rugged cowboy, Len Mayfield. Jim's heart flutters and something inside him comes alive, to the point it scares the hell out of Jim and he leaves his own graduation party.
Turns out, Len Mayfield has a huge secret of his own--living a concocted lie that only he and his wife know. Len has come to feel trapped in his marriage of convenience, a partnership both spouses agreed to long ago and now which circumstances stand to hurt those Len loves the most, his son—whose rebellious antics have caused more than their fair share of family drama--and his son’s best friend, the adorable and cautious, Jim Darling.
Sparks fly when Len meets Jim Darling at the graduation party his parents planned. Jim feels something he’s never experienced before and his longing for Len soon becomes overshadowed by his fear of discovery after he and Len begin a long, seductive and eventual torrid love affair, sneaking around town, in hotels, indiscriminate and risky locations.
Drama flares again with Cain and Len takes off to address the trouble, leaving Jim to ponder of his relationship with an older, married man. Jim grown impatient and makes demands Len is not yet willing to see through. Their relationship goes from hot and heavy, to slow and heart retching. Growing stronger, Jim comes out to his mother, and later to his father right before Cain returns home for the summer.
Chase of a Lifetime by Ryan Fieldhad me from the beginning pages, with naive and closeted college graduate Jim, running into his best friend's closeted cowboy father. The instant attraction between Jim and Len, awesome sex, hot romance and serious pull of the heart-strings helps make this gay romance between older man, younger man convincing in possibility. The final third of the novel will have the reader rushing through the pages to discover if these two--with everything working against the—will survive together. A truly great gay romance!
December 21, 2012
"Chase of a Lifetime" by Ryan Field is a wonderfully sweet and sexy May and December romance story.
Jim comes home from college and has never really come out and confided in anyone that he is gay. He believes it is a terrible and horrible secret, which will devastate his family. Then as a shock he meets an older man, Len, with ironically the same problem but in a more complicated sense.
Will Jim finally get the life and peace he wants?
MY THOUGHTS
"Chase of a Lifetime" was well-written, and I loved every word of this story. I down-loaded it free from a All Romance website being very skeptical. By the first chapter, I was hooked. I stayed up until the wee hours of the night reading it. I loved the style of the writer, the story, the characters, the smexy scenes and everything about it. Especially, the end which left me crying.
This book is an gay erotic book, but romance is romance, love is love and great writing pulls it all together! If you love ROMANCE, read this book... it will leave you wanting more. I certainly do!
For this and so much more, I give "Chase of a Lifetime" by Ryan Fields a whopping 5 stars! Kudos to Ryan!
Emily Guido - Author of "The Light-Bearer Series"
February 12, 2015
This book was reviewed for Musings of a bookworm
OK I read a lot of good things about this book but for me it really didn't do anything for me. I found the constant reminder that he was doing his best friends dad was annoying and the first time they are alone together was completely cringe worthy, creepy almost with how he was coming on to Jim. I found I really didn't care if they never saw each other again and Jim was the most annoying man with his sentences starting with 'ah well' and as for the sex, well I had high hopes for it being on the kinky side but no.. it was really vanilla considering at the beginning Len informed Jim he knew he wanted to be dominated. All in all this book was a disappointment so much so I could not be bothered to finish it even though I got to 83%.
OK I read a lot of good things about this book but for me it really didn't do anything for me. I found the constant reminder that he was doing his best friends dad was annoying and the first time they are alone together was completely cringe worthy, creepy almost with how he was coming on to Jim. I found I really didn't care if they never saw each other again and Jim was the most annoying man with his sentences starting with 'ah well' and as for the sex, well I had high hopes for it being on the kinky side but no.. it was really vanilla considering at the beginning Len informed Jim he knew he wanted to be dominated. All in all this book was a disappointment so much so I could not be bothered to finish it even though I got to 83%.
December 16, 2012
I read one third of it and I doubt the rest could get better: stereotypes, repetitions, typos (for ex. naval for navel), the absolutely creepy and stupid way Len is coming on to Jim the first time, illogical things: 21 years old Jim thinks that Len is 49 years old, finds out Len is only 37 and one sentence later he compliments him for looking even younger than 37.
I don't put this under DNF because I prefer that my friends with the same taste as me see my opinion about it.
I don't put this under DNF because I prefer that my friends with the same taste as me see my opinion about it.
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January 24, 2023This short book was available free today. The story started well but I found the scene where Mr Mayfield was hitting on Jim to be a bit silly and Jim's responses quite immature. However, as their relationship evolved, I actually started liking Len Mayfield. A nice short freebie read.
August 27, 2016
Finished reading it and it was wonderful, heartbreaking in places and shed more than my fair share of tears. So glad they finally got what they wanted in the end!
August 27, 2016
Great read!
May 21, 2019
How is no one talking about cheating??!??!
The book was alright. The beginning seemed to be like a porn plot with Len telling Jim he was afraid of the dark. Lol.
But the rest of it flowed smoothly. I really dont understand people making such huge deal about the age gap when it is clearly written in the blurb. For me their realtionship was strong. Until Jim went and did that unforgivable thing. I dont think how cheating can be forgiven. I really wanted Len to find happiness with someone else.
The book was alright. The beginning seemed to be like a porn plot with Len telling Jim he was afraid of the dark. Lol.
But the rest of it flowed smoothly. I really dont understand people making such huge deal about the age gap when it is clearly written in the blurb. For me their realtionship was strong. Until Jim went and did that unforgivable thing. I dont think how cheating can be forgiven. I really wanted Len to find happiness with someone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2013
I decided to get this one when I read the blurb of a guy getting together with a neighbor and his dad's best friend. I just knew that would make for a dramatic read even if nothing else even happened. And, yes, this one had that 'can't end well edge of disaster' feel through much of the story when I was just waiting for the secrets to come out.
But it wasn't just about the drama of clandestine romance. This is told from a first person perspective of a guy who, yes he has just finished college, but is in essence a likeable innocent young soul who has been confused and lonely much of his life. He hasn't hid himself so much as he's just been so ordinary that he gets looked over and others assume about him. This was like a combo 'Coming of Age-Coming Out' story. I found myself chuckling over Jim Darling. He's a late bloomer and he doesn't get why suddenly he goes from being part of the background to someone that everyone is noticing. He doesn't know what to do with the attention or the expectation that is placed on him.
And he really doesn't know what to do with the odd behavior that his dad's friend, Len, who is also his high school best friend's dad displays toward him. Personally, I didn't know what to do with it either. Len wasn't exactly smooth in his attempts to show his interest in Jim. I'm glad I didn't go with my first reaction to Len which was to set the story aside. Len sort of grew on me after that when I worked it out what the deal was. Len was experienced with getting together with other men, but this thing with Jim knocked him off his game a bit too. This was Len's first time to want something special.
But all too soon reality sets in and Jim realizes that he wants more- in fact, he wants it all. He doesn't want to live his life in secret with a secret lover. He is ready to tell everyone in his circle the truth. The trouble is that Len is not and can't bring himself to be that honest. The truth has a way of coming out though and that's when things spiral out of control for both guys.
I was vested in the story and felt the tension and heartbreak wondering how things would work out. But it was good stuff. I actually growled when there was the HFN/abrupt ending because I was still reeling from the final scene. Looking forward to sequel after I enjoyed this one.
But it wasn't just about the drama of clandestine romance. This is told from a first person perspective of a guy who, yes he has just finished college, but is in essence a likeable innocent young soul who has been confused and lonely much of his life. He hasn't hid himself so much as he's just been so ordinary that he gets looked over and others assume about him. This was like a combo 'Coming of Age-Coming Out' story. I found myself chuckling over Jim Darling. He's a late bloomer and he doesn't get why suddenly he goes from being part of the background to someone that everyone is noticing. He doesn't know what to do with the attention or the expectation that is placed on him.
And he really doesn't know what to do with the odd behavior that his dad's friend, Len, who is also his high school best friend's dad displays toward him. Personally, I didn't know what to do with it either. Len wasn't exactly smooth in his attempts to show his interest in Jim. I'm glad I didn't go with my first reaction to Len which was to set the story aside. Len sort of grew on me after that when I worked it out what the deal was. Len was experienced with getting together with other men, but this thing with Jim knocked him off his game a bit too. This was Len's first time to want something special.
But all too soon reality sets in and Jim realizes that he wants more- in fact, he wants it all. He doesn't want to live his life in secret with a secret lover. He is ready to tell everyone in his circle the truth. The trouble is that Len is not and can't bring himself to be that honest. The truth has a way of coming out though and that's when things spiral out of control for both guys.
I was vested in the story and felt the tension and heartbreak wondering how things would work out. But it was good stuff. I actually growled when there was the HFN/abrupt ending because I was still reeling from the final scene. Looking forward to sequel after I enjoyed this one.
November 26, 2013
I'm not really sure how to rate this book. I decided to give it two stars since the premise was good and I actually managed to finish the book. The storyline is one that I could really get behind except the character are just way to unbelievable.
Jim is really naive and acts like a teenager, Len I have no words for. The come on he made to Jim in the opening of the story was like a cheap porn story cliche. The beginning was creepy enough that I actually stopped reading it and had to come back to it at a later point. The story evens out some and Len becomes less a dirty old man and just a plain old closet case. Unfortunately Jim does no growing up at all. For a 21 year to hang out at his parents, hide in his room, and imagining becoming Mr. Mayfield by marriage instead of deciding a career is just way too juvenile for someone his age. I'm not sure why these two are even together or come out for each other since there is nothing but sex between them. I actually think they would have been better off apart.
Cain, the best friend, only materializes in the book to discover the *shocking truth* and get pissy.
Jim is really naive and acts like a teenager, Len I have no words for. The come on he made to Jim in the opening of the story was like a cheap porn story cliche. The beginning was creepy enough that I actually stopped reading it and had to come back to it at a later point. The story evens out some and Len becomes less a dirty old man and just a plain old closet case. Unfortunately Jim does no growing up at all. For a 21 year to hang out at his parents, hide in his room, and imagining becoming Mr. Mayfield by marriage instead of deciding a career is just way too juvenile for someone his age. I'm not sure why these two are even together or come out for each other since there is nothing but sex between them. I actually think they would have been better off apart.
Cain, the best friend, only materializes in the book to discover the *shocking truth* and get pissy.
June 13, 2014
Western contemporary M/M in the closet romance with a 21 year old coming to terms with becoming a sexually active adult with a 37 year old mature deeply in the closet father of Jim Darling's childhood best friend. I really didn't like Len Mayfield because he treats Jim with tender love when behind the doors of sleazy motels, but won't show anything publicly which just shames Jim like a dirty secret.
Jim was clueless as anyone will be in their first love so I had to forgive the young man, whereas Len is a mature adult who should have known better then to start a relationship with such a great guy, when Len knew that it wasn't going to go anywhere. I was sad that there might be no HEA, but at the same time Jim was so young that we're supposed to have some heart break before we become adults so I won't spoil how it ends but there is a real HEA.
Nothing really original with this May/Nov love story. If you like that sort of age gap in your romance then check out On the Island because there were some similar themes about how an older mature adult deals with a young new lover.
200 pages
2 stars
Jim was clueless as anyone will be in their first love so I had to forgive the young man, whereas Len is a mature adult who should have known better then to start a relationship with such a great guy, when Len knew that it wasn't going to go anywhere. I was sad that there might be no HEA, but at the same time Jim was so young that we're supposed to have some heart break before we become adults so I won't spoil how it ends but there is a real HEA.
Nothing really original with this May/Nov love story. If you like that sort of age gap in your romance then check out On the Island because there were some similar themes about how an older mature adult deals with a young new lover.
200 pages
2 stars
January 9, 2021
An interesting look into, what some might call a 'twisted' age discordant relationship.
Jim, a young college graduate returns home and soon finds that he is the object of interest of his best friend's father. Len and his wife have been in a marriage of convenience for a long time, keeping up appearances for their son Cain. Jim and Cain have been best friends all through school. How do you tell your best friend, your parents, and yourself, not only that you are gay but having an affair with your best friend's dad?
These are just some of the issues that Jim must now face. He has fallen in love with a man who may not be able to give him the open, honest relationship he wants and needs, yet there is no one else he can think of.
I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Jim announced his relationship with Len was not over to his parents but unfortunately we don't get to see that. It would be interesting to see this story move forward to the life that it seems apparent that these two men will eventually build with each other.
Needless to say this was a very interesting read and very hard to put down.
Jim, a young college graduate returns home and soon finds that he is the object of interest of his best friend's father. Len and his wife have been in a marriage of convenience for a long time, keeping up appearances for their son Cain. Jim and Cain have been best friends all through school. How do you tell your best friend, your parents, and yourself, not only that you are gay but having an affair with your best friend's dad?
These are just some of the issues that Jim must now face. He has fallen in love with a man who may not be able to give him the open, honest relationship he wants and needs, yet there is no one else he can think of.
I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Jim announced his relationship with Len was not over to his parents but unfortunately we don't get to see that. It would be interesting to see this story move forward to the life that it seems apparent that these two men will eventually build with each other.
Needless to say this was a very interesting read and very hard to put down.
December 21, 2012
This book had the potential to be so good. I really liked the story line and the characters were very intriguing. Unfortunately the dialogue was so stilted and the sex scenes so emotionless it completely ruined it for me. Jim is a young gay man who doesn't know for certain he is gay until he encounters his best friend's father after his graduation party. The way Len comes onto Jim is ridiculous with Jim's reactions bordering on juvenile. I almost stopped reading that early in the book but my curiosity got the better of me and I really wanted to see how things played out between them. There was plenty of sex but it read as monotone and definitely not as hot as it could have been. Jim's reactions to both Len and his son Cain made him a doormat that I couldn't even sympathize with by the end. The only redeeming scene is when Jim comes out to his father. That brought tears to my eyes and was written well, but the rest of the story felt lacking in emotion and true feeling.
June 21, 2012
This is the second inter-generational story I have read this week and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The writing was terrific and the characterisations were believable. My main problem really was the sleazy nature of Len when he first appears in the novel - I doubt even a naive 21 year old would have been enticed into a liaison of any description with that approach. Otherwise the developing story between Jim and Len is thoroughly believable as both are in the closet and not wanting their families to know about their affair. Of course there had to be a villain in the piece who turns out to be Cain, Len's son, who is a nasty piece of work but is really the catalyst who causes Jim and Len so much grief. All in all a very good read but could have done with another chapter or an epilogue to fully round off the story.
March 2, 2013
Such a let down. I was looking forward to reading this book and feel cheated out of what could have been a great story.
The typos drove me crazy.
Len disgusted me in the first scene with Jim. How could Jim have been so completely clueless, scared, and nervous at first and yet he'd had such a vivid fantasy life and spent the last four years jackin' off with huge toys.
Then the term submissive was used a couple of times and I didn't think Jum was submissive - he just fell for every taunt Len threw at him!
As for Cain being his best friend - well, maybe it should have read only friend because Cain never acted like a friend in my opinion.
I did like the way Jim's parents handled the news that their son was gay. I think I liked the parents more than the main charachters.
The typos drove me crazy.
Len disgusted me in the first scene with Jim. How could Jim have been so completely clueless, scared, and nervous at first and yet he'd had such a vivid fantasy life and spent the last four years jackin' off with huge toys.
Then the term submissive was used a couple of times and I didn't think Jum was submissive - he just fell for every taunt Len threw at him!
As for Cain being his best friend - well, maybe it should have read only friend because Cain never acted like a friend in my opinion.
I did like the way Jim's parents handled the news that their son was gay. I think I liked the parents more than the main charachters.
January 28, 2017
I did struggle with the start of this, but once I'd got through Jim and Len's forst re-meet, it got better and I got more into the story.
Its when Len first gets Jim to take him home and then manipulates the situation, I was annoyed at both of them but particularly Jim. I didnt mind the age gap issues, especially once we found out what that was. I actually felt more sympathy with Len, hiding away in his self imposed prison. Jim does seem to do his 'by to man' growing up in the space of a heart beat but he was a better character after that.
Once I got more into the story, it did move along quite well and the sense of impending doom was ever present.
And it had a nice ending as well. To readers, get through the first round of parties and then it does seem to get better.
Its when Len first gets Jim to take him home and then manipulates the situation, I was annoyed at both of them but particularly Jim. I didnt mind the age gap issues, especially once we found out what that was. I actually felt more sympathy with Len, hiding away in his self imposed prison. Jim does seem to do his 'by to man' growing up in the space of a heart beat but he was a better character after that.
Once I got more into the story, it did move along quite well and the sense of impending doom was ever present.
And it had a nice ending as well. To readers, get through the first round of parties and then it does seem to get better.
December 22, 2012
at the moment I have to put this down and maybe come back to it later. The story so far is not appealing to me. It is a older man-younger man story, but I am only about 1/3 of the way into it and it is creeping me out. Because the 21 year old college graduate is so naive and innocent it is like reading about a 15 year old. Then his friend's dad is hitting on him and trying to seduce him and he is not getting it so it only adds to the weirdness. Could not get past that. Maybe I will try this again latter and try to push through that to see if it gets better, but not for now.
December 24, 2012
Hmm. Not as good as the synopsis led me to believe. I do have the second book, but right now, think I will save it for another time.
There was alot of sex, which usually doesn't put me off, but something about the main character seemed too sheltered and 'little-boy' like for my comfort. His narrative sounded more like a teen-ager to me than a 21-year-old. A bit of a disappointment, but it was a free-read.
Since it is a series, thinking the second book might 'rescue' this one with some maturity...
There was alot of sex, which usually doesn't put me off, but something about the main character seemed too sheltered and 'little-boy' like for my comfort. His narrative sounded more like a teen-ager to me than a 21-year-old. A bit of a disappointment, but it was a free-read.
Since it is a series, thinking the second book might 'rescue' this one with some maturity...
January 9, 2015
I was hoping to like this book more but it was slightly ridiculous reading at times when a young man knows in his heart to leave but time and again gets talked into doing something that he does not want to do. The author would argue that he really did not want to leave but at some point it becomes repetitively stupid. Maybe the second book will avoid this annoyances for me. I plan to read it. Len being older than Jim and now having Cain's son is an interesting turn of events. With any luck book 2 will be more captivating than number 1 was.
September 4, 2015
The Graduate rip-off. I would have felt better if the author acknowledge that the plot was a completely taken out of Dustin Hoffmans movie- except for the gay twist.
I've seen some of his work and it seems he likes twisting plots from iconic movies.
Despite of this, I can't say he's not without creativity because he is. He captures the character's personality and desires. There is a certain depthness in his hero that wasn't fully brought to surface in the movie.
I guess this proves that whichever comes first, books are still superior to movies?
I've seen some of his work and it seems he likes twisting plots from iconic movies.
Despite of this, I can't say he's not without creativity because he is. He captures the character's personality and desires. There is a certain depthness in his hero that wasn't fully brought to surface in the movie.
I guess this proves that whichever comes first, books are still superior to movies?
September 25, 2012
While I did enjoy the story in whole, there were a few areas in the biginning were I felt like the story dragged a little. Some a lot of Jim's actions and reactions to Len's advances in the biginning were a little too unrealistic and innocent to me. But once the story moved past the first night it improved greatly, I was truly captivated with it and found it very hard to put down.
December 19, 2012
This book really disappointed me. The plot is flat, and it never gets that spark that makes a M/M or any romance work. I have read books from this author before that are well thought out and with much better chemistry. This story I would skip, it lacks connection, it was like I was reading a story instead of being inside the story experiencing it with the characters.
July 8, 2012
I enjoyed this one. It was fun to read. The characters were very likable. The way it ended tells me that there is more to this story. I hope so, because I want to see how Len and Jim adjust with the changes that have come about in their lives.
October 8, 2012
I became quite frustrated with the characters in this book while reading it.
Spoilers...
Could Jim really be that naive? Could Len really be that self centered & manipulative? While the sex scenes were hot, they seemed empty of meaning. I really didn't like Len at all in this book.
Spoilers...
Could Jim really be that naive? Could Len really be that self centered & manipulative? While the sex scenes were hot, they seemed empty of meaning. I really didn't like Len at all in this book.
October 19, 2012
I'm not sure what this book was trying to do, but it was a very bad version of the movie The Graduate. It was just awful. Creepy older guy perving on a younger man who used to be his son's best friend. Icky sex scenes that were not sexy at all and WTF ending.
January 29, 2013
glad this was free because i wouldn't have wanted to pay for it. did not like either of the main characters--one was whiny, the other manipulative and, at first, downright creepy. the characters improved a little bit as the story went along, but still, not a keeper.
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