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Willow
Making decisions is sometimes difficult for Willow Shaw, but loving Cade Lawson comes easily. Too bad Cade regards him as too young to know his own mind.
As a favor for an old friend, cop Cade Lawson is keeping a watchful eye on his young neighbor, Willow Shaw. He'd thought that would involve some hanging out, watching movies and heart-to-heart talks on college life.
But the Will who moved into his apartment building wasn't the same little boy who'd worshiped his father's friend. No, this Willow is rowdy, defiant, challenging, and alluring. He stirs feelings that Cade is uncomfortable with.
Cade might be uncomfortable, but Willow Shaw is desperate. He's had a crush on Cade for years, and he'd hoped it would fade away one day. Hiding his growing feelings is his top priority, even if it means acting like a prick, because there is absolutely no way a man like Cade—strong, decisive, handsome, and experienced—is going to be attracted to him.
As a favor for an old friend, cop Cade Lawson is keeping a watchful eye on his young neighbor, Willow Shaw. He'd thought that would involve some hanging out, watching movies and heart-to-heart talks on college life.
But the Will who moved into his apartment building wasn't the same little boy who'd worshiped his father's friend. No, this Willow is rowdy, defiant, challenging, and alluring. He stirs feelings that Cade is uncomfortable with.
Cade might be uncomfortable, but Willow Shaw is desperate. He's had a crush on Cade for years, and he'd hoped it would fade away one day. Hiding his growing feelings is his top priority, even if it means acting like a prick, because there is absolutely no way a man like Cade—strong, decisive, handsome, and experienced—is going to be attracted to him.
76 pages, ebook
First published November 14, 2012
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 24, 2013
Willow by Lee Brazil is a gay romance between an older Cade Lawson and a younger Willow Shaw. Cade is best friends with Willow's father and there's almost 20 years difference in their ages. If that's not a big enough obstacle, Willow thinks his father hates him for being gay. Willow also has problems with focusing--too much external stimulation and he freezes and can't make a decision.
On the surface, this sounds like the ingredients for a great story. Unfortunately, the only things Cade and Willow have in common are family history. Cade and Willow's relationship devolves from one of hero-worship and puppy love to out-and-out hostility. When Cade makes an effort to break through to Willow, the novel skirts around BDSM with blindfolds and handcuffs but doesn't really get into the lifestyle. That's the problem with Willow, the novel lacks focus.
The characters also don't engender much affinity. I at least want to like the main characters in a romance novel. Instead, I found myself wondering why Cade is wasting time with someone as young and inexperienced, while also trying to figure out just what Willow finds so fascinating about Cade. At the same, the ending was a major disappointment. The story just comes to an abrupt halt, leaving many issues unresolved. If Willow is part of a new series, it's off to a very rocky start. I have too many questions and not enough ambition to seek the answers in a sequel.
Reviewed by Creative Ink Romance Reviews
On the surface, this sounds like the ingredients for a great story. Unfortunately, the only things Cade and Willow have in common are family history. Cade and Willow's relationship devolves from one of hero-worship and puppy love to out-and-out hostility. When Cade makes an effort to break through to Willow, the novel skirts around BDSM with blindfolds and handcuffs but doesn't really get into the lifestyle. That's the problem with Willow, the novel lacks focus.
The characters also don't engender much affinity. I at least want to like the main characters in a romance novel. Instead, I found myself wondering why Cade is wasting time with someone as young and inexperienced, while also trying to figure out just what Willow finds so fascinating about Cade. At the same, the ending was a major disappointment. The story just comes to an abrupt halt, leaving many issues unresolved. If Willow is part of a new series, it's off to a very rocky start. I have too many questions and not enough ambition to seek the answers in a sequel.
Reviewed by Creative Ink Romance Reviews
April 2, 2013
Wow, this went so fast, I was stunned when it ended. Great story, great characters, but it was over too soon.
This is the story of a budding relationship between a very bright, mixed up college student Willow, and his older neighbor Cade who happens to be friends with his father. Cade has been asked to keep and eye on Willow. Willow is a bundle of mixed emotions, with rebellious feelings thrown into the mix. He's had a crush on Cade since he was 10. Lots of angst, misunderstandings abound. You'll have to read it to see if they work it out. Loved the grocery shopping scene. It's a gem.
I give it a cart full of stars. Please let me go shopping with them.
This is the story of a budding relationship between a very bright, mixed up college student Willow, and his older neighbor Cade who happens to be friends with his father. Cade has been asked to keep and eye on Willow. Willow is a bundle of mixed emotions, with rebellious feelings thrown into the mix. He's had a crush on Cade since he was 10. Lots of angst, misunderstandings abound. You'll have to read it to see if they work it out. Loved the grocery shopping scene. It's a gem.
I give it a cart full of stars. Please let me go shopping with them.
November 23, 2012
The ending to this one was too abrupt and left way too much unresolved.
November 20, 2012
2.25 stars
Willow had known Cade since he was about 8-yr old and Cade was 19-yr old. At the time, Willow's father helped and mentored Cade--who was neglected by his family. They became good friends, and when Willow got accepted to a college in a different city, they were neighbors.
Instead of having a good relationship, however, the 19-yr old Willow and 30-yr old Cade--now a cop--were always fighting. Willow often irritated Cade by challenging him and openly showing off his affection to Slim, his bf. In turn, Cade--although not by intention--disturbed Willow whenever he f*cked his friend-with-benefit, Andre. Since they shared a wall, Willow could heard everything.
Neither of them was aware that they had feeling for the other. Would they finally realize it, or was it too late?
This book suffered badly from too many things cramped in one short novella. Father-son relationship. Voyeurism. Old-young relationship. Teen angst. Open relationship. Teen drug. Sexual experiments. Rape drug. Etc. Etc. Instead of serving as layers or depths, those issues felt like a litany of things the author wanted to have in the book, without much coherent association with each other. As a result, I didn't feel sympathetic toward anyone of them. And that's not good for any book.
Had this been a longer novella, it may have worked better.
Willow had known Cade since he was about 8-yr old and Cade was 19-yr old. At the time, Willow's father helped and mentored Cade--who was neglected by his family. They became good friends, and when Willow got accepted to a college in a different city, they were neighbors.
Instead of having a good relationship, however, the 19-yr old Willow and 30-yr old Cade--now a cop--were always fighting. Willow often irritated Cade by challenging him and openly showing off his affection to Slim, his bf. In turn, Cade--although not by intention--disturbed Willow whenever he f*cked his friend-with-benefit, Andre. Since they shared a wall, Willow could heard everything.
Neither of them was aware that they had feeling for the other. Would they finally realize it, or was it too late?
This book suffered badly from too many things cramped in one short novella. Father-son relationship. Voyeurism. Old-young relationship. Teen angst. Open relationship. Teen drug. Sexual experiments. Rape drug. Etc. Etc. Instead of serving as layers or depths, those issues felt like a litany of things the author wanted to have in the book, without much coherent association with each other. As a result, I didn't feel sympathetic toward anyone of them. And that's not good for any book.
Had this been a longer novella, it may have worked better.
December 22, 2012
I've never written a negative review.I really don't believe in them.The only thing about this book is that it ends at the end of a sentence it seems.One minute your reading & enjoying it and then it just ends.It's not like this was a free download or advertised as a very short story.If it was then I stupidly overlooked it which makes this totally my fault.The reason for my disappointment is only because of the way it ended.It was a good story up until then & because of that ending I will never purchase this authors work again.I don't feel she can be trusted.I could've spent that money on a book with a better ending.Yes as you can see I'm a little ticked off.So I wish this author good luck in the future.Sorry to say I'm not a fan of the really bad ending books.Also Shame on her editor for letting her end it this way,with not even a mention of a sequel.*??????*
November 29, 2012
Started ok but the ending was way too abrupt, I didn't even realize it was the end.it feels as like it's stopped half way through the story.there are way too many unresolved issues, like the outcome with willows father and weather Cade can convince willow that he really wants them to be together. It would have been a good story except for the fact that the story is incomplete. Also nothing has been resolved about what happened at the club while they seem to have come to terms with it, I think something should have been done to find the guy who drugged them, the situation to have been discussed with Andre and slim, but it seems to b a side note through it... Sorry if I've rambled but this book was looking so promising then just, well,flopped.
November 29, 2012
*I got a free ARC of this book from Manicreaders in exchange of an honest review*
Full review to come soon, both here and at Risqué Reviews
It was well written, but I took issue with a couple of things that will be explained in my full review.
Full review to come soon, both here and at Risqué Reviews
It was well written, but I took issue with a couple of things that will be explained in my full review.
November 28, 2012
Wow! Really enjoyed this one!
December 1, 2012
Really enjoyed the story. Loved getting to know Willow a little bit at a time. Love the way Cade is willing to explore with him. Hoping for a sequel!
January 7, 2014
Wasn't ready for this to end. The ending was just abrupt, it really need a couple of more chapters and then an epilog.
dnf-not-4-me
October 11, 2014Poor reviews.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews