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Southern Comfort #1
It Started With a Dare
Boredom at the Junior Prom leads to a dare that leads to a kiss between two seventeen year old boys. Being gay in rural Georgia is no picnic. As circumstances force them together, Mark and Blake uncover truths about themselves, embarking on a daring relationship. But they’ve got one major strike against them already—Mark is unwilling to come out about his sexuality, and Blake doesn’t want to live in a closet.
Can they fan the flames of their relationship, or will it sputter and die?
Can they fan the flames of their relationship, or will it sputter and die?
231 pages, ebook
First published May 3, 2012
79 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Danielson
28 books85 followersaka Stephanie L. Danielson. I've been an avid reader since a small child. My first loves were science fiction as well as general fiction books.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
Later, I began writing my own stories with a romantic flavor to them.
With influences running the gamut from romance,sci-fi, and drama, my muse was found.
In 2007 I was first published with Love Resurrected, and have since released over a dozen other books, mostly in the contemporary gay romance genre. I am particularly fond of young adult/college age boys to write about.
When not working on a new book, I can be found shooting pool and darts, hanging out with my husband, parents, and cat, cycling, skating, or spending way too much time playing computer games.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 2, 2018
It Started with a Dare by Julie Lynn Hayes and S.L. Danielson follows Blake and Mark as they engage in their first relationship, with each other. As the tile states, things start when Mark is dared to kiss a boy (Blake).
Honestly, I thought the concept of the book sounded cute, but after reading the story—actually, very soon after beginning the story—I realized that the characters and plotline were falling very flat for me. There is basically no tension as things between the two boys progress to a comfortable place and then stay there. Characters either react to Mark and Blake in ways that were a bit too difficult for me to swallow, or which gave me whiplash. No mother would let her son’s boyfriend sleep in his bedroom while living under their roof. Best friends don’t often have fall-down nasty fights and then turn it around without some kind of a serious heart-to-heart where one, or both, are hesitant to reconnect. And there are several more examples like this.
For me, this book was a disappointment. The two most exciting characters were the ones I was supposed to hate, only because they contained greater depth and intrigue than any of the rest, but I could have overlooked all of that and said this was a decent summer beach read, if it hadn’t been for the last chapter. I’m a fan for cliffhangers throughout a book, but not at the end. Not only are we left with a cliffhanger, but the authors chose to have both of the main love interests seem interested in other boys. I understand it’s setting up for book two, but each book, in my opinion, should bring its own story to a conclusion. They could have introduced this new conflict (and one which seems a bit more interesting) into the next story.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach
Honestly, I thought the concept of the book sounded cute, but after reading the story—actually, very soon after beginning the story—I realized that the characters and plotline were falling very flat for me. There is basically no tension as things between the two boys progress to a comfortable place and then stay there. Characters either react to Mark and Blake in ways that were a bit too difficult for me to swallow, or which gave me whiplash. No mother would let her son’s boyfriend sleep in his bedroom while living under their roof. Best friends don’t often have fall-down nasty fights and then turn it around without some kind of a serious heart-to-heart where one, or both, are hesitant to reconnect. And there are several more examples like this.
For me, this book was a disappointment. The two most exciting characters were the ones I was supposed to hate, only because they contained greater depth and intrigue than any of the rest, but I could have overlooked all of that and said this was a decent summer beach read, if it hadn’t been for the last chapter. I’m a fan for cliffhangers throughout a book, but not at the end. Not only are we left with a cliffhanger, but the authors chose to have both of the main love interests seem interested in other boys. I understand it’s setting up for book two, but each book, in my opinion, should bring its own story to a conclusion. They could have introduced this new conflict (and one which seems a bit more interesting) into the next story.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach
June 5, 2012
This is well written story for young adults and their first true love. The storyline is realistic and emotionally packed with every feeling possible. Both main characters, Mark and Blake, were amazingly young, fresh and innocent. I love them both. Mark has a harsh childhood with no parents, on other side, Blake family is like a dream. They are happy and true. I really enjoyed how the contrast between both boys led toward friendship and much more. This story was warm and good. I will definitely read the second book, too.
I highly Recommend the story to ALL m/m lovers for YA!
I highly Recommend the story to ALL m/m lovers for YA!
June 18, 2012
IT STARTED WITH A DARE is a sweet story of first love, first kiss, first sexual experience for two boys, from their junior year in high school to the beginning of their senior year. SL Danielson and Julie Lynn Hayes capture the nuances of teenaged angst, bullying, friendships, and conversational tone in this very enjoyable book.
Please see my complete review, interview with the authors, and an opportunity to win a copy of this book on June 25, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Mark your calendar!
Please see my complete review, interview with the authors, and an opportunity to win a copy of this book on June 25, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Mark your calendar!
September 15, 2012
I'm surprised to see the first volume has the lowest rating out of the first three books in this series. To me, it was the best. It was sweet and romantic, but still had character development and a story. This book really got me involved with the characters and sympathizing with them, and I'd highly recommend it as a YA read.
April 14, 2013
I cannot express my disappointment enough in this book. I was so looking forward to a southern romance but alas this is not it. The story line itself is unrealistic from the very beginning. The writing is very poor. I will not be reading any more of the series at all.
May 27, 2012
I really liked this book. Two believable and likable MC's. I like the enemies to lovers plot. I felt sympathetic to both,
June 21, 2012
Great Book.
December 4, 2018
As a huge fan of YA romances, I enjoyed It Started With A Dare by SL Danielson and Julie Lynn Hayes.
The plot is a lot of fun, the flow is good, and it ends leading into book 2. Mark's relationship with his grandfather is heart-breaking. Mark's budding relationship with Blake is well developed and fun.
The plot is a lot of fun, the flow is good, and it ends leading into book 2. Mark's relationship with his grandfather is heart-breaking. Mark's budding relationship with Blake is well developed and fun.
February 6, 2017
Full review at :
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
I had such a good time reading this book.
The story it develops in New Liberty where Dylan, Mark’s friend dare him to kiss the nerdy Blake. Mark being Mark just does that in the middle of prom in front of everybody.
Blake, mortified, runs out. That’s where the story begins…
Mark is living with his grandpa George. Nobody knows, not even his best bud Dylan, that his grandpa is regularly disciplining him, sometimes with belts and sometimes with his fist. That makes Mark have anger issues. He’s hot headed and he’s harsh with everybody.
Summer comes, and he finds a job in a burger house, not that there’s many offers in the small town of New Liberty. But there is Todd, his coworker, who’s teasing him about his “boyfriend”. Words lead to action, and Mark finds himself suspended from work for a week. Later, when Todd comes along to apologise, things become even worse. George comes to find out that Mark got suspended and he kicks him out of the house. He ends up in Dylan’s parent’s house.
Blake is a shy guy, and ever since Mark kissed him, he’s been battling between hating him and wanting to be kissed again. When all his hope is gone to have a summer job, him having applied late, he got a call that he can start at this burger house he likes to go. He doesn’t know just yet that he will end up being coworkers with none other than Mark.
With them being forced to work together, they call a truce…and that truce moves forward to friendship…and that friendship moves forward being…more.
Reading the book, it brought me into that hot summer lazy atmosphere, where you can hear the fly buzzing. It’s a sweet story about two teenagers finding themselves and each other in a small town where being gay is not accepted. Through losing family and friends, they manage to fall in love and be intimate for the very first time in their lives…
***The ARC was provided by eXtasy Books. My review is an honest opinion of the book***
OptimuMM - Home of MM Book Reviews
I had such a good time reading this book.
The story it develops in New Liberty where Dylan, Mark’s friend dare him to kiss the nerdy Blake. Mark being Mark just does that in the middle of prom in front of everybody.
Blake, mortified, runs out. That’s where the story begins…
Mark is living with his grandpa George. Nobody knows, not even his best bud Dylan, that his grandpa is regularly disciplining him, sometimes with belts and sometimes with his fist. That makes Mark have anger issues. He’s hot headed and he’s harsh with everybody.
Summer comes, and he finds a job in a burger house, not that there’s many offers in the small town of New Liberty. But there is Todd, his coworker, who’s teasing him about his “boyfriend”. Words lead to action, and Mark finds himself suspended from work for a week. Later, when Todd comes along to apologise, things become even worse. George comes to find out that Mark got suspended and he kicks him out of the house. He ends up in Dylan’s parent’s house.
Blake is a shy guy, and ever since Mark kissed him, he’s been battling between hating him and wanting to be kissed again. When all his hope is gone to have a summer job, him having applied late, he got a call that he can start at this burger house he likes to go. He doesn’t know just yet that he will end up being coworkers with none other than Mark.
With them being forced to work together, they call a truce…and that truce moves forward to friendship…and that friendship moves forward being…more.
Reading the book, it brought me into that hot summer lazy atmosphere, where you can hear the fly buzzing. It’s a sweet story about two teenagers finding themselves and each other in a small town where being gay is not accepted. Through losing family and friends, they manage to fall in love and be intimate for the very first time in their lives…
***The ARC was provided by eXtasy Books. My review is an honest opinion of the book***
no-thanks
June 11, 2012Because of book 2, I'm not even going to invest in the characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews