What do you think?
Rate this book
Distance: Curses and Blessings
Carlo Vertucci has had deep feelings for his best friend William for many years. To get over it, he accepts a tempting job offer in Boston and moves to the East Coast, 3,000 miles away.
The cross-country distance is supposed to bring some peace to Carlo’s life. This is put to the test every time he returns for a visit to San Francisco. After all, this is the city where his adopted family lives – the same family William Powell also belongs to.
As much as Carlo loves these people, there are two things he the routine discussions of his non-existent love life and the ensuing looks of pity.
To avoid those looks, he asks Brennan Collier – colleague and friend with benefits – to step in as a boyfriend for show. What follows is a “family reunion” with catastrophic consequences. Incidents that not only make Carlo think, but also plunge him and Brennan into various adventures.
The cross-country distance is supposed to bring some peace to Carlo’s life. This is put to the test every time he returns for a visit to San Francisco. After all, this is the city where his adopted family lives – the same family William Powell also belongs to.
As much as Carlo loves these people, there are two things he the routine discussions of his non-existent love life and the ensuing looks of pity.
To avoid those looks, he asks Brennan Collier – colleague and friend with benefits – to step in as a boyfriend for show. What follows is a “family reunion” with catastrophic consequences. Incidents that not only make Carlo think, but also plunge him and Brennan into various adventures.
Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Nele Betra
103 books24 followersI live with my family in the south of Germany. Our son is now grown up, sought the distance a few years ago and my husband I regularly lock in the garage to his motorcycles to have my peace. As you can see, my humor takes some getting used to. No seriously, we love and respect each other and I am grateful every day anew to know him by my side.
Under the pseudonym Nele Betra I write romantic stories in different genres as well as genre mixes.
At the beginning of 2014 I had a spontaneous idea: I could write a story. So I sat down and just did it. No one could have even guessed what that would mean for me and my future.
In the meantime, I've given up my job and work as a freelance author - a fact that I enjoy to the full after thirty years of working in the private sector. I certainly won't take the freedom that comes with it for granted.
As you can see, I don't belong to the species of author who has been writing down stories since childhood. A hobby turned into a vocation. On days when I'm not sitting at the computer breathing life into my protagonists, I really realize that.
My stories evolve during the writing process, which always makes it exciting for me, because I almost never know beforehand in which direction a plot will develop. Sure, I know the novel's heroes at the beginning, and they end up finding happiness together, but as the saying goes, the journey is the destination. They love each other. They hate each other. Fate - or rather I turn their lives upside down, make them tumble over imaginary precipices to catch them with a happy ending.
For me, there is nothing better than to emotionally abduct my readers and immerse them in the world of my protagonists. Nevertheless, I try to address important and sometimes serious issues and make them thought-provoking. But not without conveying a certain lightness. In my eyes, life is also not always sky-high or sad to death. Everything is in balance. Drama, love, lust, humor, suspense are the ingredients with which I spice my novels. I am only satisfied when the book is closed at the end with a relieved sigh and people are happy that everything turned out well in the end; I was able to give a few hours of joy.
Under the pseudonym Nele Betra I write romantic stories in different genres as well as genre mixes.
At the beginning of 2014 I had a spontaneous idea: I could write a story. So I sat down and just did it. No one could have even guessed what that would mean for me and my future.
In the meantime, I've given up my job and work as a freelance author - a fact that I enjoy to the full after thirty years of working in the private sector. I certainly won't take the freedom that comes with it for granted.
As you can see, I don't belong to the species of author who has been writing down stories since childhood. A hobby turned into a vocation. On days when I'm not sitting at the computer breathing life into my protagonists, I really realize that.
My stories evolve during the writing process, which always makes it exciting for me, because I almost never know beforehand in which direction a plot will develop. Sure, I know the novel's heroes at the beginning, and they end up finding happiness together, but as the saying goes, the journey is the destination. They love each other. They hate each other. Fate - or rather I turn their lives upside down, make them tumble over imaginary precipices to catch them with a happy ending.
For me, there is nothing better than to emotionally abduct my readers and immerse them in the world of my protagonists. Nevertheless, I try to address important and sometimes serious issues and make them thought-provoking. But not without conveying a certain lightness. In my eyes, life is also not always sky-high or sad to death. Everything is in balance. Drama, love, lust, humor, suspense are the ingredients with which I spice my novels. I am only satisfied when the book is closed at the end with a relieved sigh and people are happy that everything turned out well in the end; I was able to give a few hours of joy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little different in that the mc’s Carlo and Brennan spend a lot of time physically apart. I loved that Carlo was finally able to find happiness. He has so many mental and physical scars from his abusive parents and William’s rejection. Brennan is sweet and really wants a relationship instead of the strictly physical arrangement they currently have. This was a low angst, quick read with almost no heat. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.
July 3, 2023
He moves away to try to deal with his feelings for them but he goes back occasionally which does not help. He asks another to be his pretend boyfriend but this will have consequences which he never expected. What is going to happen for the? How will it all go ? See just what is going to happen
July 5, 2019
Nele beweist es hier auch wieder einmal, man kann ein tolles Buch schreiben ohne viel Sex,
es ist sehr gefühlvoll geschrieben,
spannend von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite,
alle Protas sind toll beschrieben,
eine super Geschichte, die es mir nicht erlaubte, das Buch wegzulegen, ohne das ich es ausgelesen hatte
es ist sehr gefühlvoll geschrieben,
spannend von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite,
alle Protas sind toll beschrieben,
eine super Geschichte, die es mir nicht erlaubte, das Buch wegzulegen, ohne das ich es ausgelesen hatte
July 17, 2023
The book was well-written and kept my attention throughout. The characters were well-developed, likable, and relatable. Carlo was kind of a hot mess, but he meant well. Brennan was such a sweetheart, and all he wanted was a real relationship with Carlo instead of the FWB or the fake BF things. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and watching their romance blossom over time. Even though it took awhile for Carlo to get on the same page as Brennan, it was still very satisfying to get to see them together finally, but for real this time. I love this author’s writing style, and this was another book that was well worth the read.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2023
Carlo has moved across the county to put some distance between himself and his unrequited love for his best friend William. He still goes back for visits with William and his family.
Deciding to avoid the numerous questions about his love life he asks colleague and friend with benefits Brennan to come with him as his "boyfriend".
Brennan is sweet and really wants a relationship instead of the strictly physical arrangement they currently have.
This was an enjoyable story and a nice addition to the Three Friends Trilogy.
Deciding to avoid the numerous questions about his love life he asks colleague and friend with benefits Brennan to come with him as his "boyfriend".
Brennan is sweet and really wants a relationship instead of the strictly physical arrangement they currently have.
This was an enjoyable story and a nice addition to the Three Friends Trilogy.
July 4, 2023
Carlo made a wise decision to move away from his best friend William. He'd always wanted more and William didn't. Unfortunately, he has cut all ties and so still ends up back visiting William and family and has to deal with their questions about his relationships, or lack thereof. Cue the fake boyfriend trope. Brennan steps in to help Carlo out but when they go back and see William and everyone else there are surprises in store. Nothing was easy for these two but I enjoyed the characters and plot of this one very much.
July 6, 2019
Auch diesmal hat die Autorin wieder ein wunderschönes Cover für ihren Roman.
Diesmal ist Carlos Mittelpunkt der Geschichte. Nachdem er in Boston einen Neuanfang gestartet hat um seine Gefühle für William zu vergessen. Aber nicht nur diese möchte er vergessen, sondern auch, was ihm in seiner Jugend widerfahren ist. Allerdings packt er dies ganz falsch an, als er seinen Freund und Kollegen Brennan bittet seinen Alibifreund zu spielen und beide in ein ungewisses Abenteuer stürzt.
Die Autorin hat mich mit ihrem humor- und gefühlvollen Schreibstil wieder begeistert. Sie hat ihren Protagonisten mit sehr viel Liebe zum Detail Leben eingehaucht und sie sehr sympathisch und realistisch beschrieben.
Auch in diesem Buch hat sie die perfekte Mischung aus Liebe, Drama, Spannung und Erotik gefunden, so dass ich meinen Reader gar nicht mehr weglegen konnte und in der Handlung versunken bin.
Fazit:
Gelungenes Ende der Reihe. Eine Liebesgeschichte, die das Herz berührt.
Diesmal ist Carlos Mittelpunkt der Geschichte. Nachdem er in Boston einen Neuanfang gestartet hat um seine Gefühle für William zu vergessen. Aber nicht nur diese möchte er vergessen, sondern auch, was ihm in seiner Jugend widerfahren ist. Allerdings packt er dies ganz falsch an, als er seinen Freund und Kollegen Brennan bittet seinen Alibifreund zu spielen und beide in ein ungewisses Abenteuer stürzt.
Die Autorin hat mich mit ihrem humor- und gefühlvollen Schreibstil wieder begeistert. Sie hat ihren Protagonisten mit sehr viel Liebe zum Detail Leben eingehaucht und sie sehr sympathisch und realistisch beschrieben.
Auch in diesem Buch hat sie die perfekte Mischung aus Liebe, Drama, Spannung und Erotik gefunden, so dass ich meinen Reader gar nicht mehr weglegen konnte und in der Handlung versunken bin.
Fazit:
Gelungenes Ende der Reihe. Eine Liebesgeschichte, die das Herz berührt.
June 29, 2019
Der dritte Teil der Three Friends Reihe ist sehr intensiv. Voller Gefühl, aber auch mit Spannung und Drama 🥺❤️
Angst, Mut, Liebe, Vertrauen und ein bisschen Sex 😉❤️ Carlos Vergangenheit ist ein riesiges Problem und ganz schrecklich. Sie steht zwischen ihm und Bren. 🥺
Ich habe mit beiden so sehr gelitten, die Autorin versteht es wunderbar deren Gefühle zu beschreiben, sodass man gar keine andere Wahl hat, als mit ihnen zu fühlen 😉
Die ganzen Beschreibungen der Umgebung und Situationen ist sehr bildlich, weshalb man einfach immer mittendrin ist. Bren und Carlos begleitet.
Hach, ich bin noch ganz geflasht und spreche eine absolute Leseempfehlung aus 🤓📖. Natürlich gibts fünf verdiente ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Angst, Mut, Liebe, Vertrauen und ein bisschen Sex 😉❤️ Carlos Vergangenheit ist ein riesiges Problem und ganz schrecklich. Sie steht zwischen ihm und Bren. 🥺
Ich habe mit beiden so sehr gelitten, die Autorin versteht es wunderbar deren Gefühle zu beschreiben, sodass man gar keine andere Wahl hat, als mit ihnen zu fühlen 😉
Die ganzen Beschreibungen der Umgebung und Situationen ist sehr bildlich, weshalb man einfach immer mittendrin ist. Bren und Carlos begleitet.
Hach, ich bin noch ganz geflasht und spreche eine absolute Leseempfehlung aus 🤓📖. Natürlich gibts fünf verdiente ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews