Hail Storm

by D.J. Manly

What do you do when being with the love of your life means you alienate the other person you love most in this world?

Chance and his buddies adore the band Hail Storm so much they form a tribute band in their honour—never knowing that Chance has a bigger connection to the lead singer of the group than he is aware of. At a fan reunion for the band, Chance finally meets the members of Hail Storm, and a secret related to Chance’s health years before is revealed.

Whisked into the world of rock ‘n roll, Chance will become torn between Hail, the brother he never knew, and the enigmatic Storm, to whom he is gradually losing his heart. Can he risk his brother’s wrath and confess the torrid affair he is having with the man Hail loves, or will Chance abandon Storm in order to keep his brother’s love?

Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the Sins of Autumn anthology by Total-E-Bound.

Genres: M M Romance, Music, Gay, Short Stories

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2012

About the author

I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t written and told stories. When I’m not writing, I’m dreaming about writing, doing something wild and adventurous, or trying to make the world a better and more open minded place to live in. I adore beautiful men, and I know I’m not alone in this! Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life!

Reviews

[SheReadsALot · Rating 1 out of 5]

ONE & A HALF STARS--I can't believe this story has such high ratings. Did we read the same story? I am going to be the first one then giving an honest review.

This book was like a wreck that you know is going to happen but you just can't look away, or in my case stop reading because just when I figured it might turn the proverbial corner.

It didn't.

This book is a giant pile of tears, bad names (Chance, Danson...Hail? Yuck), juvenile-weak soap opera antics, the tears, the limp dialogue and the tears.



Here's a zinger from this story:

""Don't you think it's weird we're both gay?" Chance asked.

"Maybe it's in the genes?" He made a face. "I don't mean Levi's"

I.

Can't.

The other issues with this story is the author is most certainly British and the story is supposed to be set in America. However, the story is so heavily British with terms and expressions. And a little research would have went a long way (ex. the legal drinking age for adults in America is 21 not 18)

But I rated this 1.5 stars so something must be okay...

My Only Something Good: the odd love triangle theme- where the secret half brother falls in love with his brother's sometimes lover- that forbidden aspect was the only redeeming thing. The sex, when the men weren't acting like lovelorn princesses, was hot.

Would I recommend this story any of my friends?

Would I recommend this to a stranger?

Just...

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Torn between a lover and a newly discovered brother, Chance's sweet dream world turns into a bittersweet reality.

Chance Laurence is the only son of two doctors. Loved by his mother and father, he's lived the proverbial charmed life. Set on an undesired medical path by his parents, Chance rebels a little with his musical hobby.

Chance's music idol is Hail Dean from the group Hail Storm. Against his father's wishes, Chance pursues his wish to attend a Hail Storm fan concert. He's blown away when he meets Hail Dean. Hail leaves Chance his number so they can keep in contact. Chance is baffled by all this attention. He agrees to go to LA to spend a little time with Hail. While Chance loves Hail Dean, he lusts after Storm. Storm is the other half of the band. Unconfirmed rumours of Hail and Storm's relationship give Chance hope to spend some time with Storm. When Chance arrives in LA and stays in Hail's home, that's when the bombshell drops.

This story moves very fast. It's all from the perspective of Chance who is an average young male, ready to go off to college. Abruptly, he's pulled into a whirlwind by Hail. It's not only a huge lifestyle change. It's also a shock when a deeply hidden truth is revealed. His world slowly starts to crumble at the foundation until the erosion is too great. Everything falls apart and Chance is left all alone.

This story is a classic Mr. Manly filled with conflicted love and angst. The love is more than just between two male lovers. It also showcases the love between brothers and how it can go wrong. This tale also demonstrates the love between father and sons. How does a father choose between two different sons and treat them in such extreme differences? This pulls the reader into the book to bond with the characters. It pulls emotions out of the reader and causes them to rail and demand, "Why? Why?"

I liked every character in this book which is a hard feat to accomplish. No one in this story was completely evil or bad. Instead, there are good people making bad choices. The consequences slay me. Watching the secrets burst open and cause reckless damage pulls on my heartstring for every character. I can't be mad at the ones keeping the secret. They did it to try and avoid hurting someone they love. Yet when the dark secrets are revealed, the one they tried to protect is staked through the heart. No one wins; everyone loses.

Yet this story doesn't have a depressing ending. Instead, Mr. Manly guides us into a believable resolution with an ending I can accept. With bated breath, I'm eased into a conclusion where the characters can move on. This moving tale of forbidden love is recommended to m/m lovers who know the heart does not always choose whom it loves.

[Lena Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Hail Storm', by D.J. Manly, is an intensely emotional story which literally kept me awake at night. Chance being caught between loving his brother and his brother's heart's desire, Storm, made my heart ache. It is like watching an inevitable train wreck unfolding before my eyes, knowing that on this path, they are all destined for heart break, yet unable to prevent it. Incurring his brother's wrath is the last thing Chance wants to do, but sometimes things have to be torn apart in order to be rearranged in the proper order; this was never more true than in this story.

I'm amazed at how well D.J. was able to resolve conflicts, which, to me, seemed unresolvable, and conclude the story in a manner which made me smile through my tears. Thanks, D.J., for evoking such strong emotions within me and reminding everyone that everything happens for a reason.

NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[L12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Fun short read. Exactly what you expect no real surprises. Its a short story so alot is sorta rushed, but well done. I wish we could have seen a bit more of them falling in love more then just lust, but again its a short story so its ok. Alot was packed in this :D