What do you think?
Rate this book
Beneath the Palisade #2
Courage
Theodore Engdahl’s sexual identity crisis clashes with his faith. Raised to believe homosexuality is a sin, Theo finds himself on the ropes with his girlfriend as well as his straight coworker, whom he can’t stop staring at. Luckily, before he can panic too much, Theo discovers the support system provided by the Men’s Center.
At the center, he meets Alex, and the two hit it off. Unlike Theo, Alex wears his sexuality like a favorite shirt. Alex is also easy on the eyes, but for Theo, following his example is anything but uncomplicated.
With a little help from Alex and his mentors, Ian and Harper, Theo realizes that living well requires courage. While he struggles to take the next step with Alex and to come out to his conservative parents, life beneath the palisade goes on. But when Alex and his boat disappear during a terrible storm, Theo must find the strength to hope.
At the center, he meets Alex, and the two hit it off. Unlike Theo, Alex wears his sexuality like a favorite shirt. Alex is also easy on the eyes, but for Theo, following his example is anything but uncomplicated.
With a little help from Alex and his mentors, Ian and Harper, Theo realizes that living well requires courage. While he struggles to take the next step with Alex and to come out to his conservative parents, life beneath the palisade goes on. But when Alex and his boat disappear during a terrible storm, Theo must find the strength to hope.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2013
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Joel Skelton
15 books14 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 25, 2013
This book had me in deep thoughts for a while. I’m not sure of how much I liked it and how much it frustrated me. It is unique in too many ways let me tell you that.
First and foremost, when you read the blurb of this book you come to believe that your protagonist is Theo. In a way he is… However when you start reading and go on further in the story, at least for me, there was a confusion. I thought I was to read a story about Theo’s coming to terms with his sexuality and his steps toward his new life. This story is not only that. This story is not Theo’s and Alex’s only. There are too many couples involved here. Harper and Ian, Harold and Quentin and even a lesbian couple, Petra and Betsy, make a slight appearance. You would think all these characters to be secondary, but honestly for the five first chapters I had no idea who was the protagonist, the antagonist, the lesser characters and all… They are all being monitored closely and if the four or five points of views are any indication, well there.
Now I normally love having two points of views, it makes for knowing the main characters better. In this book though, it was overwhelming being inside Theo’s mind (the inner thinking was too much for me), Alex’s mind, Harper’s mind and even Harold’s mind. It would help a lot if the voice was distinguishable, unfortunately it wasn’t.
Narration aside, the story itself was very nice. A bit sentimental but I liked the touch, it felt real. Theo’s inner struggle was pretty realistic, the inner dialogues made you feel him better, and I truly felt sorry for his case. His mother being such a good Christian, his father being the silent guy letting her rant, his confusion and terror at the beginning, they were all so very well written. I disliked the fact that you read about two or three pages and when you reached the moment you were really connecting with the character, the narration jumped to a completely different one resulting to the loss of that newly found connection. Or when things just about got heated it abruptly stopped. That was the frustrating part for me.
The story was very simple, Theo in order to get his wits about reaches over to the Men’s Center. He get help with a therapist there while in the meantime he forms a relationship with Alex. Wobbly as it was, the two men take it easy, and while there are so hard bumps down the road, some very funny bumps may I add, they manage to talk and fix it together. Very mature for their age, but I liked it. Of course on their side are Harper and Ian, they could be called Alex’s family and mentors, and they help both men ground themselves and find balance, courage and support through their journey. They guest surprise were Harold and Quentin, their story being a bit sad and inevitable. They were a nice addition, if only I didn’t have to suffer through their point of view. All in all it was a sweet story about the struggles of a young gay couple and the support their community gave them.
Not the it-blew-my-mind type of the story, but a nice, romantic and somewhat idealistic read for the fans of the genre.
First and foremost, when you read the blurb of this book you come to believe that your protagonist is Theo. In a way he is… However when you start reading and go on further in the story, at least for me, there was a confusion. I thought I was to read a story about Theo’s coming to terms with his sexuality and his steps toward his new life. This story is not only that. This story is not Theo’s and Alex’s only. There are too many couples involved here. Harper and Ian, Harold and Quentin and even a lesbian couple, Petra and Betsy, make a slight appearance. You would think all these characters to be secondary, but honestly for the five first chapters I had no idea who was the protagonist, the antagonist, the lesser characters and all… They are all being monitored closely and if the four or five points of views are any indication, well there.
Now I normally love having two points of views, it makes for knowing the main characters better. In this book though, it was overwhelming being inside Theo’s mind (the inner thinking was too much for me), Alex’s mind, Harper’s mind and even Harold’s mind. It would help a lot if the voice was distinguishable, unfortunately it wasn’t.
Narration aside, the story itself was very nice. A bit sentimental but I liked the touch, it felt real. Theo’s inner struggle was pretty realistic, the inner dialogues made you feel him better, and I truly felt sorry for his case. His mother being such a good Christian, his father being the silent guy letting her rant, his confusion and terror at the beginning, they were all so very well written. I disliked the fact that you read about two or three pages and when you reached the moment you were really connecting with the character, the narration jumped to a completely different one resulting to the loss of that newly found connection. Or when things just about got heated it abruptly stopped. That was the frustrating part for me.
The story was very simple, Theo in order to get his wits about reaches over to the Men’s Center. He get help with a therapist there while in the meantime he forms a relationship with Alex. Wobbly as it was, the two men take it easy, and while there are so hard bumps down the road, some very funny bumps may I add, they manage to talk and fix it together. Very mature for their age, but I liked it. Of course on their side are Harper and Ian, they could be called Alex’s family and mentors, and they help both men ground themselves and find balance, courage and support through their journey. They guest surprise were Harold and Quentin, their story being a bit sad and inevitable. They were a nice addition, if only I didn’t have to suffer through their point of view. All in all it was a sweet story about the struggles of a young gay couple and the support their community gave them.
Not the it-blew-my-mind type of the story, but a nice, romantic and somewhat idealistic read for the fans of the genre.
June 10, 2015
This sequel to 'Reliance' was generally a good story, catching up with Harper, Ian and Alex, but mostly because of the introduction of new characters Theo, Harold and Quentin. Alex and Theo's blossoming romance was particularly well written. Sometimes the dialogue between characters seemed to have been lifted straight from an Introduction To Relationships self-help manual, but the plot was good and the characters mostly likeable.
March 14, 2016
Another great read from Mr. Skelton that is very difficult to put down.
Courage is the second in the "Beneath the Palisades" series and picks up a couple of years after the end of the first book, "Reliance". Ian and Harper have made the resort into a thriving business and a growing family of friends and employees. Alex faces new challenges with his love life, and surviving dangerous waters both literally and figuratively. Theo enters Alex's life with a carpet bag full of issues that need his attention and the loving support of the gang. Ian and Harper are confronted with memories of their first year together when Harold and Quentin arrive at the resort for the summer. Quentin is seriously ill, and Harold is facing life alone. Ian and Harper's memories stir them to do all they can to help, knowing that this could have been them only a short time ago. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
Courage is the second in the "Beneath the Palisades" series and picks up a couple of years after the end of the first book, "Reliance". Ian and Harper have made the resort into a thriving business and a growing family of friends and employees. Alex faces new challenges with his love life, and surviving dangerous waters both literally and figuratively. Theo enters Alex's life with a carpet bag full of issues that need his attention and the loving support of the gang. Ian and Harper are confronted with memories of their first year together when Harold and Quentin arrive at the resort for the summer. Quentin is seriously ill, and Harold is facing life alone. Ian and Harper's memories stir them to do all they can to help, knowing that this could have been them only a short time ago. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
November 19, 2016
I must say that I love the "Beneath the Palisade" series - all three of them. This one, Courage, is the second in the series and follows mainly Alex Stevens' story, bringing also back-in Harper and Ian of the first series. Where the first of the series (Reliance) concentrated mainly on Harper and Ian, Courage concentrates on Alex and Theo.
I love the interaction between the characters. The new comer, Theo Engdahl, brings a new dimension regarding the "coming-out" of a young person and the possible consequences around that. Harper's Men Centre is in full function and became the meeting place between Alex and Theo as well as the place where Theo finds support and guidance.
Two new characters, lifetime partners Harold and Quentin, bring out the joy as well as the sadness that surrounds long-term relationships - being gay or hetrosexual.
I can recommend Courage to the readers. As with many gay writings, there are explicit sex scenes but they feel part of the flow of the story.
I love the interaction between the characters. The new comer, Theo Engdahl, brings a new dimension regarding the "coming-out" of a young person and the possible consequences around that. Harper's Men Centre is in full function and became the meeting place between Alex and Theo as well as the place where Theo finds support and guidance.
Two new characters, lifetime partners Harold and Quentin, bring out the joy as well as the sadness that surrounds long-term relationships - being gay or hetrosexual.
I can recommend Courage to the readers. As with many gay writings, there are explicit sex scenes but they feel part of the flow of the story.
January 22, 2013
It was nice to read a book where everyone came together to help and support. What happens in this story I wish could happen in life all the time. Great support teams and a place to go.
Even after you've lost what was most important to a person, it was nice to read there was everlasting support there as well. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you'll have to read the book. You won't regret but bring tissues. Hope to see Harold again.
Even after you've lost what was most important to a person, it was nice to read there was everlasting support there as well. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you'll have to read the book. You won't regret but bring tissues. Hope to see Harold again.
Read
January 18, 2013Stopped reading at page 260, this is not quite as much all over the place as book one, but I hate the kind of religious people who believe in a God controling life and to be honest, I would never be as forgiving as Harper about what Petra did, that level of breaching someones trust was the last straw
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2013
5 stars and a Recommended Book!
Please see Trish's review, an interview with author Joel Skelton, and an opportunity to win an autographed copy of the book on February 22, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Please see Trish's review, an interview with author Joel Skelton, and an opportunity to win an autographed copy of the book on February 22, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
November 22, 2013
I was happy to find this book in my local library--and it takes places near my hometown! It was a fun, quick read. Pieces of the plot felt forced and unrealistic, but for the most part I enjoyed the story.
January 19, 2013
3.5 stars
May 19, 2015
Superb.!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews