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Almost Insurmountable Differences
This ebook is not available for purchase since the author withdrew it from sale.
What do you get when you match up an Orthodox Jewish New Yorker with a Southerner from the Bible Belt? A struggle that burns so hot that they recognize love is worth overcoming their differences. After things begin to untangle, Zev and Chris must fight against all odds or else risk Zev living a loveless life, a life of lies, while Chris mourns letting the love of his life slip away. Can they adapt to the other's traditions or will cultural limitations and family strictures win out over love?
What do you get when you match up an Orthodox Jewish New Yorker with a Southerner from the Bible Belt? A struggle that burns so hot that they recognize love is worth overcoming their differences. After things begin to untangle, Zev and Chris must fight against all odds or else risk Zev living a loveless life, a life of lies, while Chris mourns letting the love of his life slip away. Can they adapt to the other's traditions or will cultural limitations and family strictures win out over love?
- GenresM M Romance
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2012
19 people want to read
About the author
B.D. Lewis
1 book2 followersB. D. loves language, especially when it’s used to create good stories and has had plays produced in NYC and elsewhere as well as speeches delivered, although by others: politicians and celebrities needing words to convince voters or accept major awards. Now B. D. has created queer love stories and M/M romance that is not your mother's romance and and hetero love stories and family sagas.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 28, 2012
3.5 stars. This is an interesting story about two guys, Zev and Christian, who meet in NYC while Zev is home from Harvard for the Jewish high holidays and are immediately attracted to each other. They come from completely different backgrounds but they seem to have a connection and have a really hot time together before Zev's parents come home and his grandmother gets out of the hospital. Chris can't believe how different he feels about Zev than he's ever felt about anybody and he's really hurt and dejected when Zev pretty much blows him off after he returns to school.
They happen to see each other again at a charity event and Chris takes his anger out on Zev and they end up in a fight. Neither of them wants to really admit what might be happening between them, but they are definitely happy to be together again even if they are both scared. Zev's grandmother does her best to support Zev and also she is quite cordial to Chris.
The rest of the story is about how they try to reconcile their feelings for each other with the realities of their lives - particularly Zev's family and their threats to disown him. Zev's grandmother is the bright spot in his family and she is surprisingly OK with Chris being both a man and a non-Jew. She had a happy marriage and life and she wants to see her grandson happy. Zev's parents have a more difficult time and Chris has not even told his family he is gay. Needless to say they have a lot of obstacles to overcome if they want to be together.
In some ways I think the story was a little light in addressing some of the things that come up in a mixed relationship/marriage, but overall I think the author did a good job in shedding light on what it's like for people who were raised in two different faiths to try to reconcile that with wanting to make a life with someone who doesn't share those traditions. Maybe because I was in a mixed relationship for so long I have a special affinity for these stories. I remember what it was like to be welcomed with open arms by some and held at arms length by others in my ex's family.
Generally, I liked this author's style and I look forward to reading more.
They happen to see each other again at a charity event and Chris takes his anger out on Zev and they end up in a fight. Neither of them wants to really admit what might be happening between them, but they are definitely happy to be together again even if they are both scared. Zev's grandmother does her best to support Zev and also she is quite cordial to Chris.
The rest of the story is about how they try to reconcile their feelings for each other with the realities of their lives - particularly Zev's family and their threats to disown him. Zev's grandmother is the bright spot in his family and she is surprisingly OK with Chris being both a man and a non-Jew. She had a happy marriage and life and she wants to see her grandson happy. Zev's parents have a more difficult time and Chris has not even told his family he is gay. Needless to say they have a lot of obstacles to overcome if they want to be together.
In some ways I think the story was a little light in addressing some of the things that come up in a mixed relationship/marriage, but overall I think the author did a good job in shedding light on what it's like for people who were raised in two different faiths to try to reconcile that with wanting to make a life with someone who doesn't share those traditions. Maybe because I was in a mixed relationship for so long I have a special affinity for these stories. I remember what it was like to be welcomed with open arms by some and held at arms length by others in my ex's family.
Generally, I liked this author's style and I look forward to reading more.
December 30, 2012
I really, really enjoyed reading this book.This debut novel by B.D. Lewis takes a very illuminating look into the world of the Jewish faith and the conflict that can result when men from two very different religions fall in love.
This is a very skillful portrayal of the bumpy and often difficult journey to overcome the prejudice and expectations of others while also balancing the needs and wants of each other. This is a very honest and sensitive look at what people in love will do to make their relationship work and I really look forward to reading many more stories from this very talented newcomer.
Please see Trish's complete review on Jan. 4, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
This is a very skillful portrayal of the bumpy and often difficult journey to overcome the prejudice and expectations of others while also balancing the needs and wants of each other. This is a very honest and sensitive look at what people in love will do to make their relationship work and I really look forward to reading many more stories from this very talented newcomer.
Please see Trish's complete review on Jan. 4, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
January 9, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about two very different young men who fall in love and struggle to overcome lots of obstacles in order to be together. Zev and Christian, both studs with sensitive sides they’re reluctant to show, are different from any of the men I’ve ever encountered in other stories. I also liked the other characters and would hope they appear in this author’s future works. The family members were fascinating, even if not all of them were always likeable, and they and the men’s friends were not unimportant, as secondary characters in this genre so often are. Their friends’ precocious little son almost stole the show everywhere he appeared. I wanted to hold him and hug him so I understood why he made Zev and Chris want to have a family of their own. I fully understood why Zev’s grandmother, a wonderful character, fell in love with him, too. Reading about Zev’s Orthodox Jewish family’s customs brought me back to my early years. This wasn’t one of those typical dreadful info dumps, but actually added to a story that rolled along at a good pace, without one dull moment. It was heartwarming how Zev’s family’s love for their son eventually overcame every tradition they had lived with and the same holds true for Chris’ mother. A member of the older generation, surprisingly, was the most accepting. There was no shortage of amusing moments in this story that kept my interest right to the end. It made me sorry when it was over. I hope to see many more works from this talented newcomer and hopefully read more about everyone in this story. I don’t hesitate to give it five stars.
February 1, 2013
This story is enchanting. Chris and Zev, who hail from different types of arch-conservative religious and cultural backgrounds, struggle against the conflicts they face. The reader gets to see weaknesses behind their tough outer shells as the men fight hurdles created by society, family, and by Zev and Chris themselves. How greatly the men care for each other through the twists and turns in their lives is touching as is their thoughtful concern about the effect of their love on their families. I was pulled into the emotions both men went through during their trials and tribulations and I found myself being heavily invested in the outcome.
Lewis knows how to set a scene. Because of the author’s excellent use of language, I could experience the ambience at important events like charity galas in the soaring Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum. We’re also taken for a peek into the world of luxurious Fifth Avenue penthouse co-ops, not far from the one Jackie O lived in, overlooking the reservoir named for the her, around which a sweaty, hunky Chris does his running before encountering well-dressed, elegant Zev outside Central Park the first time.
Potential readers should know that this story differs from typical M/M romance that often bounces from one sex scene to another, and although there’s enough passionate sex to satisfy anyone desiring that, this story wouldn’t be classified as erotica as it’s a moving love story. Readers who want romance with meat on its bones and aren’t satisfied with stereotypical figures like cops, cowboys and soldiers that often populate M/M romance, and demand more, will enjoy this story that combines romance and literary fiction.
B. D. has a good future writing a new M/M cross-genre, something different from what I’m used to and tiring of. The former “publisher” mistakenly promoted this as a holiday story but that cheated the story of its true worth. A knowledgeable publisher would’ve realized this is more than that. Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations do figure in it, but they’re not the major part since the story goes from the Jewish High Holy days through New Year’s. I consider myself fortunate to have read this before it became unavailable but understand how the author felt. I hope it will be available again from a publisher who respects the author and the story enough to provide a decent cover so others will get the opportunity to enjoy this delightful story. No author should suffer by having his/her work have the same stock cover as other books; it’s an insult to hard-working writers.
This read was like going on an ocean crossing, filled with excitement and turbulence, where the voyager is relieved upon reaching the destination. Chris and Zev have places to go and opportunities to grow, as do the people in their lives, so this story could be expanded. The oldest and youngest characters, a grandmother and a preschooler, are as marvelous as the two protagonists and even the dog and cat both have personality. How much the author knows and loves the subject matter comes across on every page; no amount of exhaustive research could’ve accomplished this.
There may be those who object to mixing religious themes with graphic sex but this could turn out to be for our times what Roth’s groundbreaking Portnoy was for his. For me, the religious matter was integral to the story and interesting to learn and the sex demonstrated the men’s infatuation better than describing it would’ve done. I want to see more coming from Lewis in the future.
Lewis knows how to set a scene. Because of the author’s excellent use of language, I could experience the ambience at important events like charity galas in the soaring Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum. We’re also taken for a peek into the world of luxurious Fifth Avenue penthouse co-ops, not far from the one Jackie O lived in, overlooking the reservoir named for the her, around which a sweaty, hunky Chris does his running before encountering well-dressed, elegant Zev outside Central Park the first time.
Potential readers should know that this story differs from typical M/M romance that often bounces from one sex scene to another, and although there’s enough passionate sex to satisfy anyone desiring that, this story wouldn’t be classified as erotica as it’s a moving love story. Readers who want romance with meat on its bones and aren’t satisfied with stereotypical figures like cops, cowboys and soldiers that often populate M/M romance, and demand more, will enjoy this story that combines romance and literary fiction.
B. D. has a good future writing a new M/M cross-genre, something different from what I’m used to and tiring of. The former “publisher” mistakenly promoted this as a holiday story but that cheated the story of its true worth. A knowledgeable publisher would’ve realized this is more than that. Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations do figure in it, but they’re not the major part since the story goes from the Jewish High Holy days through New Year’s. I consider myself fortunate to have read this before it became unavailable but understand how the author felt. I hope it will be available again from a publisher who respects the author and the story enough to provide a decent cover so others will get the opportunity to enjoy this delightful story. No author should suffer by having his/her work have the same stock cover as other books; it’s an insult to hard-working writers.
This read was like going on an ocean crossing, filled with excitement and turbulence, where the voyager is relieved upon reaching the destination. Chris and Zev have places to go and opportunities to grow, as do the people in their lives, so this story could be expanded. The oldest and youngest characters, a grandmother and a preschooler, are as marvelous as the two protagonists and even the dog and cat both have personality. How much the author knows and loves the subject matter comes across on every page; no amount of exhaustive research could’ve accomplished this.
There may be those who object to mixing religious themes with graphic sex but this could turn out to be for our times what Roth’s groundbreaking Portnoy was for his. For me, the religious matter was integral to the story and interesting to learn and the sex demonstrated the men’s infatuation better than describing it would’ve done. I want to see more coming from Lewis in the future.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews