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Beach Duo #0.5
Glitter
Since the day Josh met Laurence, he was positive the man was a preening peacock escaped from the Exotic Bird Exhibit. There was something raw and bright, eye-catching and absolutely, unashamedly gay about Laurence. He was outrageous, outgoing, and wild enough to drive Josh up a figurative wall. Josh didn’t expect Laurence to be anything other than who he was, so long as he did so a good ten feet away from him.Josh and Laurence's friendship was more like two enemies circling each other around mutual friends. Their arguments were legendary.Until one night, fate stepped in and changed everything. There was a hard truth waiting for Josh around the next corner. An attraction that could not be denied. One that refused to be ignored.Would their tenuous friendship survive the fallout between these two reluctant friends? Could a love that took four years to emerge be stronger than either had ever anticipated? Or were they destined to remain merely frenemies?
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2012
3 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Diana DeRicci
71 books186 followersDiana DeRicci is the sexy, flirty pen name of Diana Castilleja. A romance author at heart, DeRicci’s writing takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual adventure, where a happily-ever-after is still the key to any story.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 22, 2013
3.35*
Cute friends to lovers story.
Josh was supposed to be at least a bit homophobic in the beginning, we are told, I never really saw it, it was more of a push-pull between the flamboyant and out and proud Lawrence and Josh, who oddly doesn't quite know what it is about Lawrence that just got him all revved up.
It took a few years, but Josh figured it out, he's gay, or at least he's gay for Lawrence.
Lawrence was understandably unsure of Josh's real feelings and intentions, but it really was pretty conflict and angst-free story.
It ends sort of abruptly and with some very open questions, but since I've read the other ones in this series, I know how their story continues...so, not a big problem, for me.
My only real niggle and what sort of confused me was why the rich, professor Dom Sean and his two little young subby boys were in this? It felt so random and out of place, and they were really so cliche and unnecessary to this story, at least for me.
Cute friends to lovers story.
Josh was supposed to be at least a bit homophobic in the beginning, we are told, I never really saw it, it was more of a push-pull between the flamboyant and out and proud Lawrence and Josh, who oddly doesn't quite know what it is about Lawrence that just got him all revved up.
It took a few years, but Josh figured it out, he's gay, or at least he's gay for Lawrence.
Lawrence was understandably unsure of Josh's real feelings and intentions, but it really was pretty conflict and angst-free story.
It ends sort of abruptly and with some very open questions, but since I've read the other ones in this series, I know how their story continues...so, not a big problem, for me.
My only real niggle and what sort of confused me was why the rich, professor Dom Sean and his two little young subby boys were in this? It felt so random and out of place, and they were really so cliche and unnecessary to this story, at least for me.
April 12, 2012
A sweet friends-to-lovers story.
Four college friends, Gregg, RJ, Josh and Laurence, always hang out together. In those, Josh--son of a Colorado farmer, and Laurence--a proud, flamboyant gay boy, often fought with each other and traded insults. Laurence assumed they didn't get along with each other much because Josh was a homophobic prick, and Josh because he didn't know how to behave around a man with glitter who believed he was a caveman.
One night, RJ invited them to erotic gay club. Soon, Laurence was missing for a while with some guy. This triggered jealousy on Josh part. When the guy tried to force himself on Laurence, Josh just lost it. He hit the guy and brought Laurence home.
Laurence couldn't believe that Josh had a feeling for him. He kept denying it, and trying to convince himself that Josh was not gay. But, Josh kept doing things that made Laurence confused. Will he risk to open himself for broken heart if Josh is not serious?
A nice story with likable characters. But, it could use some improvements.
The other two friends, Gregg and RJ, are the MCs of their respective sequel book. Gregg in The Charlie Factor and RJ in Doing Love Right.
Part romantic, part funny (the MC's name is Laurence Toliver!)... If you're up to relatively angst-free, sweet friends-to-lover book, give this a try.
June 20, 2012
I was all in until about halfway through, after which I felt like someone threw a handful of darts at the dartboard all at the same time - I felt scattered. DeRicci did a fantastic job in the first part of the book, particularly in building a light GFY (or - "I just figured out I was gay because of you") story. I loved how the story just took me along without too much thought, and how the sexual tension built between the two MCs.
Then the author introduced the wise BDSM guru at the gay leather bar, who randomly offers advice to a stranger...he also brings two underage Italian homeless boys back to the US with him after they try to rob him. Of course, he is good enough to wait until they are 18 before seeing if thy would be his submissives. That majorly pulled me out of the story, and then I just found too much to nitpick - too dramatic, too cliche, etc.. In the end though, I think it was primarily that this shift from one aspect/dimension of the story was fairly abrupt, leaving me feeling disconnected; as if there were two separate stories. Perhaps, if there was more lead-in or build-up, I would have been more comfortable.
All of the above makes it sound like there are major issued with this book - there weren't. It was OK- the author wrote a perfectly good book. I just didn't like it as much as I think I should have because of the above. So- really liked the first half + rather disliked the second = 2-stars.
PS - Sean creeps me out.
PPS - since when is a BJ a bigger deal than sticking your tongue in someone's ass?
Then the author introduced the wise BDSM guru at the gay leather bar, who randomly offers advice to a stranger...he also brings two underage Italian homeless boys back to the US with him after they try to rob him. Of course, he is good enough to wait until they are 18 before seeing if thy would be his submissives. That majorly pulled me out of the story, and then I just found too much to nitpick - too dramatic, too cliche, etc.. In the end though, I think it was primarily that this shift from one aspect/dimension of the story was fairly abrupt, leaving me feeling disconnected; as if there were two separate stories. Perhaps, if there was more lead-in or build-up, I would have been more comfortable.
All of the above makes it sound like there are major issued with this book - there weren't. It was OK- the author wrote a perfectly good book. I just didn't like it as much as I think I should have because of the above. So- really liked the first half + rather disliked the second = 2-stars.
PS - Sean creeps me out.
PPS - since when is a BJ a bigger deal than sticking your tongue in someone's ass?
April 13, 2012
3.5 stars
I loved all the characters they were sweet interesting and fun. So cute and adorable I was left feeling all warm and happy. Nice easy read I enjoyed it very much.
I loved all the characters they were sweet interesting and fun. So cute and adorable I was left feeling all warm and happy. Nice easy read I enjoyed it very much.
April 12, 2012
3.5 stars
When we first met Josh and Laurence in The Charlie Factor, they were getting married. This is their story -- when the relationship starts.
I agree with Arthur's review regarding Josh's 'homophobic' behavior, which I can't really believe since it's only being told not shown. There is enough tension, push-and-pull, regarding Josh's realization that he's gay, and Laurence's concern about whether Josh will stay gay. I like the tentativeness on Josh's part, his worry because he doesn't know how to do gay thing. Often GFY stories just dismiss this and go straight to sex. At least Josh seems to be genuinely assessing his feeling regarding Laurence.
The ending, for me, is a little too abrupt. I think I would like to know how Josh informs his family. But I also know that a story can get too long without merit -- so all in all, it's a nice and likeable story.
Except for the "baby" as terms of endearment *sigh*. My personal pet peeve. This time, there's 25 of them. I need a break from any M/M romance story with "baby" as terms of endearment. Immediately!
When we first met Josh and Laurence in The Charlie Factor, they were getting married. This is their story -- when the relationship starts.
I agree with Arthur's review regarding Josh's 'homophobic' behavior, which I can't really believe since it's only being told not shown. There is enough tension, push-and-pull, regarding Josh's realization that he's gay, and Laurence's concern about whether Josh will stay gay. I like the tentativeness on Josh's part, his worry because he doesn't know how to do gay thing. Often GFY stories just dismiss this and go straight to sex. At least Josh seems to be genuinely assessing his feeling regarding Laurence.
The ending, for me, is a little too abrupt. I think I would like to know how Josh informs his family. But I also know that a story can get too long without merit -- so all in all, it's a nice and likeable story.
Except for the "baby" as terms of endearment *sigh*. My personal pet peeve. This time, there's 25 of them. I need a break from any M/M romance story with "baby" as terms of endearment. Immediately!
April 12, 2012
3,5 stars
Ami said it all here
Cute,easy to read love story,likeable characters,slow build up with tiptoing around each other and fragile-porcelain-treatment in and out of the bedroom...made me smile with just the occasionally raised eyebrow...
Ami said it all here
Cute,easy to read love story,likeable characters,slow build up with tiptoing around each other and fragile-porcelain-treatment in and out of the bedroom...made me smile with just the occasionally raised eyebrow...
April 14, 2012
3.5 stars - Such a sweet story and I loved all the characters. I really enjoy reading a book that when I finish it has made me smile.
December 26, 2013
3.5*
Light, sweet romance between flamboyant Laurence and straight ' not so gay friendly ' Josh, but of course in true GFY style the love/hate relationship changes when Josh realises that he might not be as immune to pretty Laurence after all. No surprises but its enjoyable and has its moments. I actually found myself wanting a bit more of secondary characters Sean and his two subs Misha and Natali I liked them a lot!
Light, sweet romance between flamboyant Laurence and straight ' not so gay friendly ' Josh, but of course in true GFY style the love/hate relationship changes when Josh realises that he might not be as immune to pretty Laurence after all. No surprises but its enjoyable and has its moments. I actually found myself wanting a bit more of secondary characters Sean and his two subs Misha and Natali I liked them a lot!
May 4, 2018
3 stars
This was okay, there were some things that didn't work for me that well. I didn't really like Josh in the very beginning, he came across as just an ignorant fool. I did like Laurence a lot. He was fun and seemed to have a personality. I appreciated the way Josh's crush was handled, he tried to fight it, it irritated him, he was angry being confronted with his feelings.
I found Sean like a weird addition to this story. Like it was random and odd. I don't know.
I liked RJ, though he kinda pissed me off when Laurence was telling him about Josh. I don't know.
This was okay, there were some things that didn't work for me that well. I didn't really like Josh in the very beginning, he came across as just an ignorant fool. I did like Laurence a lot. He was fun and seemed to have a personality. I appreciated the way Josh's crush was handled, he tried to fight it, it irritated him, he was angry being confronted with his feelings.
I found Sean like a weird addition to this story. Like it was random and odd. I don't know.
I liked RJ, though he kinda pissed me off when Laurence was telling him about Josh. I don't know.
May 27, 2012
Okay, so I adore both friends-to-lovers and gay-for-you themes. When you put them together, it's virtually guaranteed that I'm going to love the result. And this book was no exception. I made the mistake of opening this at like 8:30 at night to read for just a few minutes before bed. I was instantly mesmerized and honestly could not stop reading, and I can't remember the last time that happened when I knew I had to be up for work the next morning.
I've not yet read the other books in the series, so this was my first time meeting Laurence and Josh. I totally fell in love with both of them! They both came across as so genuine and sweet and perfect for each other. I was hoping so much for them to finally work through their various issues and obstacles and be happy together that I couldn't stop reading until I was satisfied that they were.
I also found the pacing of their journey to be perfect. It wasn't the sudden "Hey, I'm gay now! Have sex with me!" that I've seen before. Nor did we have to read about years of denial and avoidance before the issue was finally faced.
I adore how balanced their relationship was, too. That they both had to take turns reassuring the other, and they both got the chance to come to terms with the changes in their friendship. Having them each take turns needing and providing reassurance made it seem much more like a relationship than story lines in which there is a pursuer and a pursued, and I LOVED it!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I've not yet read the other books in the series, so this was my first time meeting Laurence and Josh. I totally fell in love with both of them! They both came across as so genuine and sweet and perfect for each other. I was hoping so much for them to finally work through their various issues and obstacles and be happy together that I couldn't stop reading until I was satisfied that they were.
I also found the pacing of their journey to be perfect. It wasn't the sudden "Hey, I'm gay now! Have sex with me!" that I've seen before. Nor did we have to read about years of denial and avoidance before the issue was finally faced.
I adore how balanced their relationship was, too. That they both had to take turns reassuring the other, and they both got the chance to come to terms with the changes in their friendship. Having them each take turns needing and providing reassurance made it seem much more like a relationship than story lines in which there is a pursuer and a pursued, and I LOVED it!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
June 12, 2012
***********SPOILERS AHEAD************
Just to be clear, it isn't that I didn't like this book. It was okay. Maybe I would have given a more positive review had I read the book that was a prequel? (maybe sequel?) to it. There were some parts that I really liked and others that I thought could have been improved.
As for what I liked... I liked the banter between the two main characters when it happened. I thought that there were some moments that were very well done- such as Laurence's apprehension toward his changing relationship to Josh(and Josh's relationship toward his sexuality). And there were some lines in the first chapter that made me believe that Josh was homophobic, which made me interested in where the relationship was going to go. However, I felt that as soon as the first chapter ended, so did the plot. I had expected more antagonism between the two main characters. However, the relationship I thought the author was building in the first chapter did a weird semi-circle/handstand/180 and in about chapter 3 and disappeared into a forgotten limbo (along with Josh's personality). Afterwords, the antagonism was only mentioned in passing. And then all pretenses were dropped as sexy times ensued.
It was a cute story, but I think more work needs to be done on it.
Just to be clear, it isn't that I didn't like this book. It was okay. Maybe I would have given a more positive review had I read the book that was a prequel? (maybe sequel?) to it. There were some parts that I really liked and others that I thought could have been improved.
As for what I liked... I liked the banter between the two main characters when it happened. I thought that there were some moments that were very well done- such as Laurence's apprehension toward his changing relationship to Josh(and Josh's relationship toward his sexuality). And there were some lines in the first chapter that made me believe that Josh was homophobic, which made me interested in where the relationship was going to go. However, I felt that as soon as the first chapter ended, so did the plot. I had expected more antagonism between the two main characters. However, the relationship I thought the author was building in the first chapter did a weird semi-circle/handstand/180 and in about chapter 3 and disappeared into a forgotten limbo (along with Josh's personality). Afterwords, the antagonism was only mentioned in passing. And then all pretenses were dropped as sexy times ensued.
It was a cute story, but I think more work needs to be done on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2012
I had not read any of this series but it seems this book was written after some of the others. I am glad I started with this one.
Laurence and Josh were frenemies for 4 years before their relationship changed. I liked the fact that the story didn't start with their romance but gave a view of them before and how they came together.
This was a typical, 'I'm not gay' to 'Okay, maybe I am gay' story but it was the characters and writing that made me want to read on. Laurence and Josh were hilarious when they got going at each other.
The one thing I can say I did not like about it was that it seemed to just end with no real closer. I guess because it was written after the others it is expected that you know how their relationship turns out, but when reading it first it ends in a strange place.
Overall, I really liked it and bought the next in the series.
Laurence and Josh were frenemies for 4 years before their relationship changed. I liked the fact that the story didn't start with their romance but gave a view of them before and how they came together.
This was a typical, 'I'm not gay' to 'Okay, maybe I am gay' story but it was the characters and writing that made me want to read on. Laurence and Josh were hilarious when they got going at each other.
The one thing I can say I did not like about it was that it seemed to just end with no real closer. I guess because it was written after the others it is expected that you know how their relationship turns out, but when reading it first it ends in a strange place.
Overall, I really liked it and bought the next in the series.
April 30, 2013
Given this was a prequel and numbered 0.5, I somehow thought it would be a short story. However I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a longer story.
Very much a gay-for-you story, we follow the (supposedly) straight Josh as he realises that he has feelings for Laurence. It was nicely done, particularly the scenes where Josh starts to explore the physical side of his relationship with Laurence.
It also has some humour. My favourite line: "Laurence was the first time he'd truly been able to watch the infamous 'twink' in the wild, its natural habitat".
Very much a gay-for-you story, we follow the (supposedly) straight Josh as he realises that he has feelings for Laurence. It was nicely done, particularly the scenes where Josh starts to explore the physical side of his relationship with Laurence.
It also has some humour. My favourite line: "Laurence was the first time he'd truly been able to watch the infamous 'twink' in the wild, its natural habitat".
December 17, 2013
I love it when a fellow Texan does well. Diana gave us main characters that you can't help but want to snuggle with. With one slow bloomer and a very out and proud twink finally falling into each other after four years of friendship, and you have an endearing coming out story. Sweet and sexy. Yes, there is a lot of hot sex, but that is my favorite thing about this genre and I'm not too scared to admit it.
June 25, 2012
Really loved these guys. I'm a sucker for a gay virgin, so it's no big surprise that I enjoyed this story. I got a great picture of these two in my head and their relationship was completely entertaining. Not to mention the sex, very nice!
April 13, 2012
It was gd book but not as good as the first two.. The ending was like "Huh, that's it?" But it's still a great book.
April 17, 2013
Cute, sweet story.
May 8, 2014
DNF.
Am reminded why I DNFed book 1. This writer's prose is stiff and ungainly. It's painful to read.
Promptly removed all her books from my TBR.
Am reminded why I DNFed book 1. This writer's prose is stiff and ungainly. It's painful to read.
Promptly removed all her books from my TBR.
December 19, 2025
𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘪 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴, 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴. 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘹@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘱𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵.
December 31, 2017
4.5 points
April 28, 2012
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story about Josh and Laurence. Josh and Greg and RJ and Laurence are four friends in college in California. Josh is a rancher's son from Colorado, so Cali is really a culture shock for him. He is uncomfortable around Laurence - especially that first year and they have a bit of antagonistic relationship in a kind of friendly way. Laurence and RJ are gay, but they are not a couple. Greg and Josh are straight - or are they? Greg is dating Rachel and wants to marry her, but she dumps him and breaks his heart. RJ has to leave school due to financial and other difficulties, but the four remain good friends. As the last year of school begins, they all go to a bar to cheer RJ up a bit. Laurence goes off to the loo and when he doesn't return, Josh gets worried and goes to find him. What he finds, or rather interrupts, are some guys attacking Laurence in the men's room. Josh manages to beat them away from Laurence and in the process realizes how protective he feels towards his friend. Laurence gets very drunk and Josh takes him home and puts him to bed and he can't help noticing how beautiful Laurence is. A few weeks later they all go to a gay bar and Josh and Laurence nearly get into a fight in the line up. Once inside, Josh is again protective of Laurence, but Laurence wants to dance. He has been spying a guy on the dance floor for a while and then dances with him. While he's dancing, someone sends a drink over to Josh for another table. As a courtesy (and as instructed by RJ), Josh goes over to say thank you and let the guys know he is there with his friends. When he meets Sean, he is surprised by what Sean has to say. He encourages him to work it out with Laurence - even though Josh tries to insist that they are just friends. When Laurence goes off with the dance partner, Josh is very upset but tries to hide it. Eventually they return and the guy wants to take Laurence home even though Josh says he's taking him home. Next the guy demands Laurence's phone number. When he won't give it, the guy starts being very rude and Josh loses it and punches the guy. Josh and Laurence leave and Josh takes Laurence home, where Laurence asks him to come up so he can take care of his hand which was cut during the fight. As he fixes up the hand, Josh kisses him. It is the beginning of their relationship. While Josh is not exactly open about his relationship with Laurence, he is not ashamed either. He's not sure how he will tell his parents and he hasn't told any of his friends yet either. He really does seem to be dealing with his realization fairly well, now that he has figured out that he is gay. He does truly care for Laurence and they have been friends for four years, so they have a history to build on. I'm anxious to see how all this plays out in the next two books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2012
I guess I'm late to the party because I haven't read the others in the series... the stories in which this is a prequel to. That is probably a good thing as I can start from the very beginning.
This was a nice friends to lovers AND enemies to lovers story. Two guys who seem to despise each other but have a reluctant friendship because of the others in their little group who are all close.
I liked the story fine though the ending was very rushed in my opinion. My biggest pet peeve when reading a book is reading page after page of a story leading up to something and then it ends abruptly. That is what happened in this book and that irks me. While things came together for the most part, so much more could have been added. While I am sure Josh and Laurence are mentioned in other books in the series, I felt that there was one particular thing that definitely should have been addressed in this one that was not. Yes, it looks like they will have their HEA but I still ended this frustrated.
Overall a good book. I just wish the author would have given the Josh and Laurence the ending they deserved.
This was a nice friends to lovers AND enemies to lovers story. Two guys who seem to despise each other but have a reluctant friendship because of the others in their little group who are all close.
I liked the story fine though the ending was very rushed in my opinion. My biggest pet peeve when reading a book is reading page after page of a story leading up to something and then it ends abruptly. That is what happened in this book and that irks me. While things came together for the most part, so much more could have been added. While I am sure Josh and Laurence are mentioned in other books in the series, I felt that there was one particular thing that definitely should have been addressed in this one that was not. Yes, it looks like they will have their HEA but I still ended this frustrated.
Overall a good book. I just wish the author would have given the Josh and Laurence the ending they deserved.
February 8, 2015
4.5 Stars Glitter
I loved reading Glitter it had a great balance between story and romance never losing one to enhance the other and I am excited to read the next instalment of this series.
Josh Daily was just a naïve kid from Colorado when he headed for school in LA.
Laurence Toliver knew who he was and wasn’t afraid to show the world. You either accepted him or you avoided him.
Josh will soon realise things are accepted here that he was not accustomed to in his home town including two of his friends that are openly gay. Josh found it hard over the last four years to be around Laurence at times but it wasn’t what everyone thought, Josh is confused by the way Laurence make him feel. When out with their friend, Josh finds himself punching someone in defence of Laurence and this isn't the first time Josh has felt the need to protect him. That night would change everything though because Josh will tell Laurence the truth. But will Laurence believe what Josh has to say, when he has avoided him for four years? Can the man Laurence has adored from afar really be gay? And where do they go from here!
I loved reading Glitter it had a great balance between story and romance never losing one to enhance the other and I am excited to read the next instalment of this series.
Josh Daily was just a naïve kid from Colorado when he headed for school in LA.
Laurence Toliver knew who he was and wasn’t afraid to show the world. You either accepted him or you avoided him.
Josh will soon realise things are accepted here that he was not accustomed to in his home town including two of his friends that are openly gay. Josh found it hard over the last four years to be around Laurence at times but it wasn’t what everyone thought, Josh is confused by the way Laurence make him feel. When out with their friend, Josh finds himself punching someone in defence of Laurence and this isn't the first time Josh has felt the need to protect him. That night would change everything though because Josh will tell Laurence the truth. But will Laurence believe what Josh has to say, when he has avoided him for four years? Can the man Laurence has adored from afar really be gay? And where do they go from here!
May 15, 2012
An adorable, sweet, and sexy romp. It stars two background characters from its sequel, The Charlie Factor, but the books can be read in either order. Laurence is flamboyant and sassy, with healthy self-esteem and dignity. He shares his body and his affection generously, while carefully guarding his heart. He has gotten under Josh's skin from day one.
Josh is supposedly uncomfortable with gays, but this isn't evident in any offensive way. He can't relate to Laurence at all for the first years of their acquaintanceship. Then an incident in a tavern restroom triggers feelings of protectiveness and anger in him on Laurence's behalf. Their relationship evolves from that point, and it's a fun, touching, and very hot ride.
Although the romantic theme of this book--straight guy/gay feelings--is the same as its sequel, the stories and their characters are quite different, and both novels are well worth a read. Recommended.
Josh is supposedly uncomfortable with gays, but this isn't evident in any offensive way. He can't relate to Laurence at all for the first years of their acquaintanceship. Then an incident in a tavern restroom triggers feelings of protectiveness and anger in him on Laurence's behalf. Their relationship evolves from that point, and it's a fun, touching, and very hot ride.
Although the romantic theme of this book--straight guy/gay feelings--is the same as its sequel, the stories and their characters are quite different, and both novels are well worth a read. Recommended.
July 17, 2012
3 stars, almost, but not exactly. It was a likeable and light story about two friends, one gay & one straight, but maybe there is more than just friendship... And maybe the straight guy is not as straight as he was thinking... Nothing original, but I don't need original, if the book is well written, funny and has something 'special'. Uhmm, not this time. This title is rather average, with better and worse parts. There were moments when I was satisfied, but there were also moments, e.g., sex scenes, when I had no idea what's going on :/ If I didn't know better, I would think that it was first book by this author.
Or maybe I'm picky... ;)
Or maybe I'm picky... ;)
February 2, 2021
Wow! Really thought the progression of Josh was handled well. The sex scenes were sensual and hot. I'm neither pro or con "Gay 4 You". I think unless someone is staunchly con then it is really worth reading. That's assuming sweet, college, coming into your own, stories are not a con too. ;o) The other characters were likable & added to the story. The writing flowed. I'm sure it wasn't error free, but nothing threw me out of the story.
Want to read
April 12, 2012Goodness, a Beach Duo prequel! Who knew? Hmm... will it be a The Charlie Factor or a Doing Love Right?
Read
May 7, 2012I absolutely loved this! Great writing and I loved getting to read about Josh and Laurence. I thought it was a well done gay for you type of plot and really liked that there was conflict for both of them and not a "now I'm gay let's jump into bed. The end" type of story. Very good read...I'm really enjoying pretty much everything I read by this author.
October 15, 2016
Aw! I loved this! A bit too sappy sometimes, but far too hot and well written for that to be much of an issue. I liked the author. Heh. I wouldn't mind reading RJ and that professor's story either. Especially the professor. Woohoo! Hurrah to gay menage!
Anyway, this was wonderful. Totally worth it.
Anyway, this was wonderful. Totally worth it.
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