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A Little Too Broken
FROM BRAD VANCE, his first full length romance novel...
When Jamie walks through the door of the Humane Society, it’s not just an animal who needs rescuing that day. Tom is there to adopt another service dog into the Canine Comrade Corps, but it’s Jamie his heart goes out to. But each man turns away, walks away, from the potential pain, the rejection, the knowledge that it’ll all end in tears…
Jamie knows damn well that the HIV he contracted from an unfaithful lover has put him out of the dating game forever in the small town of Santa Vera. Tom lost his legs in Afghanistan, and got new ones, yeah, but with a side order of PTSD to go, he thought grimly. The real problem is that only now does he realize he’s gay, now that the revelation would be just one too many things to put his family through, after everything else they’ve had to deal with.
So both men grin and bear the loneliness, put their feelings on a shelf, even as Jamie’s volunteer stint at CCC turns into friendship and, despite their resolve, something more…
When Jamie walks through the door of the Humane Society, it’s not just an animal who needs rescuing that day. Tom is there to adopt another service dog into the Canine Comrade Corps, but it’s Jamie his heart goes out to. But each man turns away, walks away, from the potential pain, the rejection, the knowledge that it’ll all end in tears…
Jamie knows damn well that the HIV he contracted from an unfaithful lover has put him out of the dating game forever in the small town of Santa Vera. Tom lost his legs in Afghanistan, and got new ones, yeah, but with a side order of PTSD to go, he thought grimly. The real problem is that only now does he realize he’s gay, now that the revelation would be just one too many things to put his family through, after everything else they’ve had to deal with.
So both men grin and bear the loneliness, put their feelings on a shelf, even as Jamie’s volunteer stint at CCC turns into friendship and, despite their resolve, something more…
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2013
30 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Brad Vance
61 books245 followersBrad Vance is the author of over twenty books. He's hard at work on the sequel to Stabitha. Keep up with Brad at BradVanceAuthor.com, or email him at BradVanceAuthor@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
October 8, 2013
Two guys who are physically damaged in different ways and therefore fighting the prejudices society hands them. This book gave me a different view on many things, for me it wasn't about the romance so much as more about dealing with everyday life when you have disabilities.
Tom is a war veteran from Afghanistan and loses both his legs during action and Jamie is HIV positive after one silly night we're he didn't take the necessary precautions and will now pay the price for the rest of his life. Both very different things, but also very similar in the way these guys have to cope with people's reactions. This was the part that made me feel so sorry for both of them which is exactly not what they wanted in probability, even if well meant. Therefore they have both given up on ever finding someone to love or having a relationship. I really liked the political views brought into the story along with the harsh reality of life. The military patching Tom up, discharging him and then "on your own buddy" the support network for such veterans needs a lot of attention. Jamie's situation is one more of "if you can afford the health insurance then everything is OK, if not - tough." Obamacare was mentioned several times and after reading this realised even more as a Brit / European guy, how desperately needed these reforms are. I felt my blood curdling with the anger, the hopelessness of the situation these guys are fighting. But they don't give up and keep the good work going. Very admirable.
They take comfort in their pets and Jamie is at a local animal rescue home looking for a suitable partner for his cat Jackson and literally bumps into Tom who is visiting with his dog Harry. Love at first sight? Is there such a thing well I like to think so, happened to me. You look at someone, there's a reaction you can't explain, but you know it's good but the problem is where do you take things from here? This is where the author very nicely lets you read the MCs thoughts. Another interesting aspect to this book. You get to really know and understand where these guys are coming from and why. Makes things a lot more realistic and understandable. For Tom the effects of PTSD is far worse than the physical disability. You are not aware of this until a certain part in the book, then the severe reality of this comes crashing home.
They are totally unsure of themselves their disabilities taking all their confidence away. This is totally normal but is exacerbated with Jamie and Tom constantly second guessing themselves and not believing that someone could be interested in them. Always used to people's reactions when they find out. Tom always wears long trousers to cover up his mechanical legs and obviously with HIV you don't know until someone is honest enough to tell you. They are so used to people turning away and making a run for it once they found out. So keep themselves very guarded as a means of emotional protection. However, the chemistry is a stringer pull. Here the author paces this out nicely and
Tom asks Jamie to help out at then animal rescue home to do the accounts on a volunteer basis and first they find a friendship, mutual understanding and a common ground due to their afflictions. It is a long way until they finally admit to themselves what is in front of their eyes and what their hormones are telling them. But it still takes a little intervention from to good friends, Ava whose Jamie's friend and Ed Toms's friend. I liked this aspect of good friends. Everyone needs someone to talk to but also give them a push when needed and this is exactly what these friends did. With a little advice and friendly cajoling make them both realise and wake up to the truth.
After they finally get their act together the last big obstacle is Tom having to tell his parents the revelation. He comes from a loving and close family and decides to keep his gayness a secret as not to upset them more. Thinking that they're conservative values would never let them except him being gay, as this was enough, but his boyfriend also being HIV positive. Well, the time comes where there's no way out if they wish to be happy together as a normal couple. One thanksgiving Tom takes Jamie with him and is determined to break the news to his parents and sister. Well, this part of the book was lovely and almost had me in tears. What happens? Well, Tom didn't need to say anything and the whole family turns the tables on him and Jamie. Really lovely. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens, but it was dealt with superbly and had me oohing and aahing for the rest of the evening - lol!
The interaction between these guys are good, although the plot in my opinion was a little thin, the main focus here really is about Tom and Jamie overcoming their obstacles and finding a love that they never believed they would ever be able to find again. The story took me a few chapter to get into, but there were some very nice moments in the story that made the wait worth it.
An enjoyable read which for me gets a solid 3.5 stars .
Tom is a war veteran from Afghanistan and loses both his legs during action and Jamie is HIV positive after one silly night we're he didn't take the necessary precautions and will now pay the price for the rest of his life. Both very different things, but also very similar in the way these guys have to cope with people's reactions. This was the part that made me feel so sorry for both of them which is exactly not what they wanted in probability, even if well meant. Therefore they have both given up on ever finding someone to love or having a relationship. I really liked the political views brought into the story along with the harsh reality of life. The military patching Tom up, discharging him and then "on your own buddy" the support network for such veterans needs a lot of attention. Jamie's situation is one more of "if you can afford the health insurance then everything is OK, if not - tough." Obamacare was mentioned several times and after reading this realised even more as a Brit / European guy, how desperately needed these reforms are. I felt my blood curdling with the anger, the hopelessness of the situation these guys are fighting. But they don't give up and keep the good work going. Very admirable.
They take comfort in their pets and Jamie is at a local animal rescue home looking for a suitable partner for his cat Jackson and literally bumps into Tom who is visiting with his dog Harry. Love at first sight? Is there such a thing well I like to think so, happened to me. You look at someone, there's a reaction you can't explain, but you know it's good but the problem is where do you take things from here? This is where the author very nicely lets you read the MCs thoughts. Another interesting aspect to this book. You get to really know and understand where these guys are coming from and why. Makes things a lot more realistic and understandable. For Tom the effects of PTSD is far worse than the physical disability. You are not aware of this until a certain part in the book, then the severe reality of this comes crashing home.
They are totally unsure of themselves their disabilities taking all their confidence away. This is totally normal but is exacerbated with Jamie and Tom constantly second guessing themselves and not believing that someone could be interested in them. Always used to people's reactions when they find out. Tom always wears long trousers to cover up his mechanical legs and obviously with HIV you don't know until someone is honest enough to tell you. They are so used to people turning away and making a run for it once they found out. So keep themselves very guarded as a means of emotional protection. However, the chemistry is a stringer pull. Here the author paces this out nicely and
Tom asks Jamie to help out at then animal rescue home to do the accounts on a volunteer basis and first they find a friendship, mutual understanding and a common ground due to their afflictions. It is a long way until they finally admit to themselves what is in front of their eyes and what their hormones are telling them. But it still takes a little intervention from to good friends, Ava whose Jamie's friend and Ed Toms's friend. I liked this aspect of good friends. Everyone needs someone to talk to but also give them a push when needed and this is exactly what these friends did. With a little advice and friendly cajoling make them both realise and wake up to the truth.
After they finally get their act together the last big obstacle is Tom having to tell his parents the revelation. He comes from a loving and close family and decides to keep his gayness a secret as not to upset them more. Thinking that they're conservative values would never let them except him being gay, as this was enough, but his boyfriend also being HIV positive. Well, the time comes where there's no way out if they wish to be happy together as a normal couple. One thanksgiving Tom takes Jamie with him and is determined to break the news to his parents and sister. Well, this part of the book was lovely and almost had me in tears. What happens? Well, Tom didn't need to say anything and the whole family turns the tables on him and Jamie. Really lovely. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens, but it was dealt with superbly and had me oohing and aahing for the rest of the evening - lol!
The interaction between these guys are good, although the plot in my opinion was a little thin, the main focus here really is about Tom and Jamie overcoming their obstacles and finding a love that they never believed they would ever be able to find again. The story took me a few chapter to get into, but there were some very nice moments in the story that made the wait worth it.
An enjoyable read which for me gets a solid 3.5 stars .
August 27, 2013
3.25 stars, rounded up because part of the price goes to a veterans' charity, and because it so rang a bell with me in its frustrations with the American health system and the way our priorities for public spending are screwed up.
This is the story of two men with major problems. Tom is a veteran dealing with losing his legs in Afghanistan and the associated PTSD which is more of a challenge than his physical recovery. He's also mostly avoiding the fact of being gay and closeted, even though he has now left the military. His family is loving, but his father is quite conservative. He works in an organization that provides service dogs to veterans, and his own service dog, Harry, is a sweetie and a nice touch to the story.
Jamie is HIV positive after a six-month relationship with a rough, dominating and inconsiderate man whom he still craves like catnip. He has a wonderful best friend, but his family all rejected him long ago. He's fanatical about announcing his status to prospective dates, so as to never do to someone else what was done to him, and as a result, even though his meds are working well, he is isolated and hasn't had sex in a long time.
There were some nice moments in here. The relationship developed slowly enough to seem real, and the guys reactions were well done. The writing was competent, although there was some head-hopping in scenes where they were together, and it didn't begin until the second chapter, so it was a bit disconcerting. And for all the guys' issues, I didn't find it a highly emotional read. There is some good sexual tension that develops, although when the sex actually happens, I missed a little bit of the emotion and issues that could have been mixed in with it. I picked this up on a whim, because I really liked the cover and I like guys with issues and it had enough well-done parts for me to feel generally satisfied.
This is the story of two men with major problems. Tom is a veteran dealing with losing his legs in Afghanistan and the associated PTSD which is more of a challenge than his physical recovery. He's also mostly avoiding the fact of being gay and closeted, even though he has now left the military. His family is loving, but his father is quite conservative. He works in an organization that provides service dogs to veterans, and his own service dog, Harry, is a sweetie and a nice touch to the story.
Jamie is HIV positive after a six-month relationship with a rough, dominating and inconsiderate man whom he still craves like catnip. He has a wonderful best friend, but his family all rejected him long ago. He's fanatical about announcing his status to prospective dates, so as to never do to someone else what was done to him, and as a result, even though his meds are working well, he is isolated and hasn't had sex in a long time.
There were some nice moments in here. The relationship developed slowly enough to seem real, and the guys reactions were well done. The writing was competent, although there was some head-hopping in scenes where they were together, and it didn't begin until the second chapter, so it was a bit disconcerting. And for all the guys' issues, I didn't find it a highly emotional read. There is some good sexual tension that develops, although when the sex actually happens, I missed a little bit of the emotion and issues that could have been mixed in with it. I picked this up on a whim, because I really liked the cover and I like guys with issues and it had enough well-done parts for me to feel generally satisfied.
November 15, 2015
Two beautiful people who connect so well
Beautiful story about Jamie and Tom, two men who's life are heartbreaking
They are sensitive, beautiful convincing personalites.
When they met each other there was a connection and they were drawn to the other.
The overthinking in their minds was so realistic.
The concept wounded war veteran and HIV and their living conditions was outstanding heartwarming described. Goosebumps !
They had to be creative with their technique in bed and that was really awsome.
The story is smooth written and very entertaining. It has my favorit end.
Beautiful story about Jamie and Tom, two men who's life are heartbreaking
They are sensitive, beautiful convincing personalites.
When they met each other there was a connection and they were drawn to the other.
The overthinking in their minds was so realistic.
The concept wounded war veteran and HIV and their living conditions was outstanding heartwarming described. Goosebumps !
They had to be creative with their technique in bed and that was really awsome.
The story is smooth written and very entertaining. It has my favorit end.
December 11, 2014
Another different and enjoyable romance from Brad Vance. A slow burn friends to lovers romance with two amazingly strong MC's that each believe they are too broken to be anything but on their own.
Jamie's now living with HIV because of some bad judgment and poor decisions in the past. Tom is living with PTSD and the loss of his legs after a tour in Afghanistan and on top of that he is trying to deal with his realization that he is gay and attracted to Jamie.
The main focus of the story is the two men dealing with their own insecurities and fighting their attraction while trying desperately to maintain their new friendship. With all the issues the men are dealing with, the story did not become too overwrought, but did not treat anything lightly. The drama and emotion are there, but so is a sense of humor the two men share and some strong secondary characters to keep pushing both Jamie and Tom to take some chances. Sometimes the POV changes were a bit jarring but really, this was an enjoyable love story and a nice change of pace from the stories where everyone is beautifully built and perfect.
Jamie's now living with HIV because of some bad judgment and poor decisions in the past. Tom is living with PTSD and the loss of his legs after a tour in Afghanistan and on top of that he is trying to deal with his realization that he is gay and attracted to Jamie.
The main focus of the story is the two men dealing with their own insecurities and fighting their attraction while trying desperately to maintain their new friendship. With all the issues the men are dealing with, the story did not become too overwrought, but did not treat anything lightly. The drama and emotion are there, but so is a sense of humor the two men share and some strong secondary characters to keep pushing both Jamie and Tom to take some chances. Sometimes the POV changes were a bit jarring but really, this was an enjoyable love story and a nice change of pace from the stories where everyone is beautifully built and perfect.
August 26, 2013
One of Brad's best books yet. This is a keeper.
February 1, 2015
3.5☆
....
No-one's too broken to find love. Such a bittersweet, emotional story.
....No-one's too broken to find love. Such a bittersweet, emotional story.
Want to read
February 18, 2015$0.99 again at Amazon US, 2/18/15
December 4, 2013
3,5 stars
Tom, a war veteran, suffers from PTSD and has lost his legs in Afghanistan. He works as a trainer for service dogs. Jamie is HIV positive, lonely and feels unworthy of love. He meets Tom when he comes to an animal shelter to adopt a cat. From the first moment Jamie feels attracted to the veteran. Tom’s missing legs don’t matter to Jamie. He just sees the man that Tom is.
The last thing either of them expects is to find someone else who knows exactly how they feel and it’s moving to watch when two men who are a little too broken become more than just friends.
The relationship between the guys develops slowly and I really liked the part when Tom takes Jamie with him to visit his parents on Thanksgiving. Tom’s father is not an easy man and his response to Jamie is… unexpected.:-)
A Little Too Broken is a touching, well developed story with a serious background. Obamacare is mentioned a few times and after reading the story as a European I realized even more how needed these reforms are. The hopelessness of the situation these guys are fighting is just devastating.
Brad Vance is donating 10% of the proceeds to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America charity.
June 16, 2017
This was an enjoyable read of how Jamie and Tom come together despite a lot of personal obstacles. Their issues are pretty topical right now - wounded war veterans, PTSD, Obamacare - and tho the author does go quite in-depth regarding some of these topics, the progression of their relationship was pretty spot on. It's at a great price right now so if you like hurt-comfort (with mild to moderate heat) then this is probably the story for you.
July 13, 2024
Two men, one a veteran with PTSD and two artificial legs, the other HIV+ and somewhat haunted by his past, slowly find their way towards loving each other. It's pretty short--I listened to the 4 1/2 hour audiobook--but heartfelt and real. As someone who has been chronically ill for thirty years, I really identified with the way they connected through their different challenges. There was a part where Jamie was thinking about how they were both "from the island of broken toys" that reminded me of being in my 20s, newly diagnosed, and connecting with other people who had walked on the shadow side, as I've always thought of it.
I definitely teared up in a happy way at one point towards the end, and I don't often tear up at books.
The book's about a decade old, and it was a reminder of a time before PrEP and Obamacare, when HIV was a rougher road than it is now but not as deadly as in the first decade of the epidemic.
Recommended.
I definitely teared up in a happy way at one point towards the end, and I don't often tear up at books.
The book's about a decade old, and it was a reminder of a time before PrEP and Obamacare, when HIV was a rougher road than it is now but not as deadly as in the first decade of the epidemic.
Recommended.
May 17, 2023
This is the second Brad Vance book I've tried (Given The Circumstances was the first, which was a DNF) and I've realized this author's work isn't for me. Nothing about this story worked for me - the writing, the MCs, the narrative structure, the romance etc.
A few minor positives included the head hopping not being nearly as severe as it was in Given The Circumstances. The paragraph-to-paragraph hopping only happened in a handful of scenes and there was only one line where the POV switched to a random character instead of sticking with either of the two MCs. I also liked the author describing Tom's rehab process of how he progressed from using a wheelchair to using prosthetics of different heights and the various issues that a military vet and double leg amputee would be dealing with (therapy, medications, mental health issues, lifestyle changes etc). I also adored the presence of multiple pets in the story, including Tom's support dog Harry and Jamie's cat situation.
My favorite part of the story was how Tom's dad (Patrick) was written. He's a grumpy, old-fashioned military vet who decided long ago that there are certain lines in the sand he wasn't willing to cross. He played a very important role in the civil rights movement during his time in the military but when it comes to LGBT issues - nope. Not happening. He refuses to entertain the thought that either Tom or his daughter will have anything except traditional hetero lifestyles (his sister is straight but has no desire to marry or have kids). But Patrick is one of those grumpy old timers whose bark is way worse than his bite. Underneath the grumpiness, the offensive statements and the stubbornness lies a heart of gold that shines through in his actions. He's the one who went out and bought Tom's support dog Harry a permanent comfortable chair that he set up in the living room so Harry can be part of the family while they watch football on Sundays. This is the same man who will rage and complain about anything he perceives as 'different' or 'weak' - which an emotional support dog would certainly qualify as for people who think that way. Jamie figures out what kind of person Patrick really is and how to deal with somebody like that, which means the Thanksgiving situation near the end was hilarious and also heart warming.
Unfortunately, nothing else worked for me. Some minor issues:
+ As in the previous book, everything related to sexy times wasn't my cup of tea. The writing was too blunt, too porn-movie like and I skimmed through every scene that referenced anything sexual
+ There was way too much crying happening with both MCs turning on the waterworks at a moment's notice
+ Every reference to Christian religion is treated as a bad (homophobic, sexist etc) thing, which made the book feel very dated
+ The author is clearly a very left-leaning individual and that's the politics he stuffs into the book and there's no nuance in most of it. Again - this made the book feel very dated.
But I could have dealt with these minor problems if the rest of the story had been done the way I wanted. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The MC's Romance vs The US Healthcare System
You may be confused because you're probably wondering: what do those two topics have to do with each other? Well, that's the problem. Nothing. The author's priority with this book is clearly on the state of the US healthcare system, specifically related to veteran healthcare rather than the romance. First - veteran healthcare is an issue that's close to my own heart and it's a topic I'm passionate about. However, I'm sick and tired of US related issues being shoved in my face constantly by the media and in nearly every corner of the internet, despite me not being American. It's gotten especially bad over the past decade so I had no desire to read about the author whining about US related issues. If I had known how heavily this book focused on specific aspects of the US healtcare system, I wouldn't have picked it up.
Second - I didn't like the author's approach. The MCs different issues (being HIV positive vs being a disabled military vet) seemed to exist to point out the shortcomings of the US healthcare system rather than being the backbone of an interesting romance. Characters are constantly making the narrative grind to a halt in order to lecture readers about issues like Obamacare, the VA, the AIDS crisis, what is and isn't covered by health insurance etc. We also get long stretches where the author info-dumps about the MCs past medical histories and medical issues. Even worse, much of their medical issues and current day problems involve them leaning on side characters for support, not each other. As a result, the MCs actually don't spend that many scenes together in the entire story.
While I found their individual medical journeys interesting, it was really disappointing to realize by the halfway mark that the MCs had barely had any scenes together. And when they do interact, the author has them constantly angsting over not being good enough for the other person so they deliberately keep each other at arm's length despite being attracted to each other. They end up having a very solid (and kind of enjoyable) friendship where they hang out and support each other but strictly in a platonic sense. The problem is that there was zero chemistry between them during this time so when they suddenly declared their feelings for each other and fell into bed together near the end, I felt nothing. Add in the sudden ILYs that are thrown around out of the blue and my dislike of the sex scenes (as stated above) and the romance fell flat for me.
Tom's Disability Progression = Telling Not Showing
My main interest in the story was on Tom being a military vet who lost both lower legs while in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the story starts a few years after the attack and by that point, Tom has happily settled into his new life. The author uses telling instead of showing to race through Tom's past, including the IED blast that led to his injuries, his time in the hospital, his period of depression while he used a wheelchair and how learning to use prosthetics and getting Harry helped him become mentally and physically healthier and leave behind both alcoholism and his dependency on pain pills and Xanax which he'd been heavily prescribed by his doctors. All of this was the stuff that I wanted to actually see in the story itself. If the summary had made it clear that these things wouldn't be shown on page then I wouldn't have bothered with the story.
Jamie The HIV 'Hero'
This last part is what really rubbed me the wrong way and it's a controversial issue. The author constantly drew parallels between Jamie contracting HIV versus Tom losing his legs. Everything related to these issues was equated by the author: how the public treats Tom/Jamie due to their medical situations, how the US healthcare system responds, how Tom/Jamie should conduct themselves etc. And I had huge problems with this because I completely disagree with the message the author was trying to send.
Jamie contracted HIV when . While it was a massive mistake on his part and I do feel sorry for him, I refuse to accept the author's insistence that Jamie's situation is equivalent to a soldier being deployed to a war zone and getting injured during combat.
Sorry, but no. I won't accept equating somebody choosing to to somebody choosing to sign up for the military and then getting deployed to a war zone and getting his legs blown off. I also won't accept equating the US healthcare system's response to the AIDS crisis to veteran healthcare. Lastly, I refuse to consider Jamie a brave 'hero' on the same level as Tom and other military vets. Based on the many, MANY scenes where the author was clearly pushing the idea that being HIV positive is just as brave as choosing to fight in a war zone and being brutally injured during combat, this is the author's main intent behind the story.
While I completely sympathize that the gay community went through a horrific experience during the AIDS crisis, I find it disrespectful to equate that situation with military vets fighting in combat. Others might disagree and that's fine but this really rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, this story didn't work for me on any level and it's clear to me that Brad Vance approaches his MM romances from a different direction than I prefer so I'm going to steer clear of his work from now on.
A few minor positives included the head hopping not being nearly as severe as it was in Given The Circumstances. The paragraph-to-paragraph hopping only happened in a handful of scenes and there was only one line where the POV switched to a random character instead of sticking with either of the two MCs. I also liked the author describing Tom's rehab process of how he progressed from using a wheelchair to using prosthetics of different heights and the various issues that a military vet and double leg amputee would be dealing with (therapy, medications, mental health issues, lifestyle changes etc). I also adored the presence of multiple pets in the story, including Tom's support dog Harry and Jamie's cat situation.
My favorite part of the story was how Tom's dad (Patrick) was written. He's a grumpy, old-fashioned military vet who decided long ago that there are certain lines in the sand he wasn't willing to cross. He played a very important role in the civil rights movement during his time in the military but when it comes to LGBT issues - nope. Not happening. He refuses to entertain the thought that either Tom or his daughter will have anything except traditional hetero lifestyles (his sister is straight but has no desire to marry or have kids). But Patrick is one of those grumpy old timers whose bark is way worse than his bite. Underneath the grumpiness, the offensive statements and the stubbornness lies a heart of gold that shines through in his actions. He's the one who went out and bought Tom's support dog Harry a permanent comfortable chair that he set up in the living room so Harry can be part of the family while they watch football on Sundays. This is the same man who will rage and complain about anything he perceives as 'different' or 'weak' - which an emotional support dog would certainly qualify as for people who think that way. Jamie figures out what kind of person Patrick really is and how to deal with somebody like that, which means the Thanksgiving situation near the end was hilarious and also heart warming.
Unfortunately, nothing else worked for me. Some minor issues:
+ As in the previous book, everything related to sexy times wasn't my cup of tea. The writing was too blunt, too porn-movie like and I skimmed through every scene that referenced anything sexual
+ There was way too much crying happening with both MCs turning on the waterworks at a moment's notice
+ Every reference to Christian religion is treated as a bad (homophobic, sexist etc) thing, which made the book feel very dated
+ The author is clearly a very left-leaning individual and that's the politics he stuffs into the book and there's no nuance in most of it. Again - this made the book feel very dated.
But I could have dealt with these minor problems if the rest of the story had been done the way I wanted. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The MC's Romance vs The US Healthcare System
You may be confused because you're probably wondering: what do those two topics have to do with each other? Well, that's the problem. Nothing. The author's priority with this book is clearly on the state of the US healthcare system, specifically related to veteran healthcare rather than the romance. First - veteran healthcare is an issue that's close to my own heart and it's a topic I'm passionate about. However, I'm sick and tired of US related issues being shoved in my face constantly by the media and in nearly every corner of the internet, despite me not being American. It's gotten especially bad over the past decade so I had no desire to read about the author whining about US related issues. If I had known how heavily this book focused on specific aspects of the US healtcare system, I wouldn't have picked it up.
Second - I didn't like the author's approach. The MCs different issues (being HIV positive vs being a disabled military vet) seemed to exist to point out the shortcomings of the US healthcare system rather than being the backbone of an interesting romance. Characters are constantly making the narrative grind to a halt in order to lecture readers about issues like Obamacare, the VA, the AIDS crisis, what is and isn't covered by health insurance etc. We also get long stretches where the author info-dumps about the MCs past medical histories and medical issues. Even worse, much of their medical issues and current day problems involve them leaning on side characters for support, not each other. As a result, the MCs actually don't spend that many scenes together in the entire story.
While I found their individual medical journeys interesting, it was really disappointing to realize by the halfway mark that the MCs had barely had any scenes together. And when they do interact, the author has them constantly angsting over not being good enough for the other person so they deliberately keep each other at arm's length despite being attracted to each other. They end up having a very solid (and kind of enjoyable) friendship where they hang out and support each other but strictly in a platonic sense. The problem is that there was zero chemistry between them during this time so when they suddenly declared their feelings for each other and fell into bed together near the end, I felt nothing. Add in the sudden ILYs that are thrown around out of the blue and my dislike of the sex scenes (as stated above) and the romance fell flat for me.
Tom's Disability Progression = Telling Not Showing
My main interest in the story was on Tom being a military vet who lost both lower legs while in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the story starts a few years after the attack and by that point, Tom has happily settled into his new life. The author uses telling instead of showing to race through Tom's past, including the IED blast that led to his injuries, his time in the hospital, his period of depression while he used a wheelchair and how learning to use prosthetics and getting Harry helped him become mentally and physically healthier and leave behind both alcoholism and his dependency on pain pills and Xanax which he'd been heavily prescribed by his doctors. All of this was the stuff that I wanted to actually see in the story itself. If the summary had made it clear that these things wouldn't be shown on page then I wouldn't have bothered with the story.
Jamie The HIV 'Hero'
This last part is what really rubbed me the wrong way and it's a controversial issue. The author constantly drew parallels between Jamie contracting HIV versus Tom losing his legs. Everything related to these issues was equated by the author: how the public treats Tom/Jamie due to their medical situations, how the US healthcare system responds, how Tom/Jamie should conduct themselves etc. And I had huge problems with this because I completely disagree with the message the author was trying to send.
Jamie contracted HIV when . While it was a massive mistake on his part and I do feel sorry for him, I refuse to accept the author's insistence that Jamie's situation is equivalent to a soldier being deployed to a war zone and getting injured during combat.
Sorry, but no. I won't accept equating somebody choosing to to somebody choosing to sign up for the military and then getting deployed to a war zone and getting his legs blown off. I also won't accept equating the US healthcare system's response to the AIDS crisis to veteran healthcare. Lastly, I refuse to consider Jamie a brave 'hero' on the same level as Tom and other military vets. Based on the many, MANY scenes where the author was clearly pushing the idea that being HIV positive is just as brave as choosing to fight in a war zone and being brutally injured during combat, this is the author's main intent behind the story.
While I completely sympathize that the gay community went through a horrific experience during the AIDS crisis, I find it disrespectful to equate that situation with military vets fighting in combat. Others might disagree and that's fine but this really rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, this story didn't work for me on any level and it's clear to me that Brad Vance approaches his MM romances from a different direction than I prefer so I'm going to steer clear of his work from now on.
July 27, 2017
This is a new to my author and I'll definitely check out more of his works.
These 2 guys have a lot to deal with...as life has kind of given them the shortest straw. I was glad to see how both Jamie and Tom improve their situations by becoming friends. They bolster each other and while they don't have the same issues, they understand each other.
I had a hard time reading about how Jamie got HIV...that Daniel should be punched in the head.
Could have used a bit more steamy details, but I'm still quite pleased ;D
These 2 guys have a lot to deal with...as life has kind of given them the shortest straw. I was glad to see how both Jamie and Tom improve their situations by becoming friends. They bolster each other and while they don't have the same issues, they understand each other.
I had a hard time reading about how Jamie got HIV...that Daniel should be punched in the head.
Could have used a bit more steamy details, but I'm still quite pleased ;D
March 2, 2014
Wow.
I REALLY wish I had more than 5 stars to give this book. I love everything about it, from beginning to end!
I REALLY wish I had more than 5 stars to give this book. I love everything about it, from beginning to end!
June 25, 2015
A very cute MM romance. Perfect for the HEA fans!
dnf
April 15, 2017 Dnf
N4M
It's all too much.
N4M
It's all too much.
August 13, 2016
The hardest part of self publishing is getting your book in front of the right audience.
This book scored on so many levels for me that it's scary. There's one long internal angst/monologue in the middle of the book that alone makes the book worth reading.
I'm almost glad that I came upon Brad's writing through totally different works: BDSM gay porn Luke's Brutal Abduction - The Whole Story and his free short stories. Even The Worst Best Luck was a good step on the way to this.
After that, I listened to a Podcast http://youtu.be/ubdLtUSkxKY and he talked about how even when he starts reading hardcore porn it eventually morphs into a romance as their relationship develops.
I also checked out his blogs and saw how important research was to him, so I was intrigued how he would go writing romance.
The book has a deal of quick flipping headhopping POV. Normally, I hate this, but I felt it worked in this case, because at times we were looking down on these characters and watching them try to work through their problems. Each carried so much baggage that their spur of the moment reactions were in both cases being repressed, so getting it immediately, rather than hearing about it next day worked.
Once again a few female reviewers complained about the lack of emotion. Yet, these guys felt 100% male to me (gay or not). The issues Tom and Jamie angsted about are important to them. Your average heterosexual female may not care as much about fairness, being respected and ego, but these are important emotional issues to males who have been brought up to believe these are what constitutes being male. Whereas most females have been brought up to believe that nurturing emotions are important.
Two important issues are the crux of these stories. The way War Veterans are treated and the difficulties of the poor needing medical assistance. The injustices associated with these are brought up. But so are the issues of acceptance.
Then there are the issues of the way animals and services can be provided to help people overcome these problems.
Perhaps these issues don't fit in a "romance" but they work in love stories and stories about two people hooking up and building a stable life together.
And if you enjoyed this, check outThe Worst Best Luck
This book scored on so many levels for me that it's scary. There's one long internal angst/monologue in the middle of the book that alone makes the book worth reading.
I'm almost glad that I came upon Brad's writing through totally different works: BDSM gay porn Luke's Brutal Abduction - The Whole Story and his free short stories. Even The Worst Best Luck was a good step on the way to this.
After that, I listened to a Podcast http://youtu.be/ubdLtUSkxKY and he talked about how even when he starts reading hardcore porn it eventually morphs into a romance as their relationship develops.
I also checked out his blogs and saw how important research was to him, so I was intrigued how he would go writing romance.
The book has a deal of quick flipping headhopping POV. Normally, I hate this, but I felt it worked in this case, because at times we were looking down on these characters and watching them try to work through their problems. Each carried so much baggage that their spur of the moment reactions were in both cases being repressed, so getting it immediately, rather than hearing about it next day worked.
Once again a few female reviewers complained about the lack of emotion. Yet, these guys felt 100% male to me (gay or not). The issues Tom and Jamie angsted about are important to them. Your average heterosexual female may not care as much about fairness, being respected and ego, but these are important emotional issues to males who have been brought up to believe these are what constitutes being male. Whereas most females have been brought up to believe that nurturing emotions are important.
Two important issues are the crux of these stories. The way War Veterans are treated and the difficulties of the poor needing medical assistance. The injustices associated with these are brought up. But so are the issues of acceptance.
Then there are the issues of the way animals and services can be provided to help people overcome these problems.
Perhaps these issues don't fit in a "romance" but they work in love stories and stories about two people hooking up and building a stable life together.
And if you enjoyed this, check outThe Worst Best Luck
March 31, 2016
When Jamie meets Tom at a pet shelter, he is immediately attracted to the ex soldier and offers to volunteer for his organization, which trains emotional dogs for war veterans. What he only finds out later is that Tom not only trains them, he has one himself, after losing both legs and suffering from PTSD. But Jamie has issues as well, he is HIV positive and thinks even if Tom was gay and interested, nothing good could come out of it.
Tom denies his homosexuality because he thinks his family could not cope with even more drama.
Still a friendship develops and both men long for each other.
If this does not sound like a fun read you probably guessed right, but still this book is definitely worth reading!
As Jamie puts it: people like it when you are just a little bit broken.... Then they can fix you, be the one to un-break you....
But they don't want you when you are just a little too broken, beyond where you can be repaired back into perfection. Some things stay broken and no one wants that!
I found that so true and honestly also for me as a regular reader of m/m romance.
I mean how many books do you know where the MC has been abused by family or former friends, has a trauma and so on?
Probably dozens or more, but how often is HIV an issue?
I have exactly 1!! other book on my shelves about it.
Unfortunately this can not be "solved" easily which makes the HEA a little difficult. Well don't worry you will get one here after all, but not solving every problem at the end made this book a little more real and relevant for me, it made me think a little bit and this is definitely more than many other gay romances ever achieve, so go ahead and read it, I was definitely not disappointed!
Tom denies his homosexuality because he thinks his family could not cope with even more drama.
Still a friendship develops and both men long for each other.
If this does not sound like a fun read you probably guessed right, but still this book is definitely worth reading!
As Jamie puts it: people like it when you are just a little bit broken.... Then they can fix you, be the one to un-break you....
But they don't want you when you are just a little too broken, beyond where you can be repaired back into perfection. Some things stay broken and no one wants that!
I found that so true and honestly also for me as a regular reader of m/m romance.
I mean how many books do you know where the MC has been abused by family or former friends, has a trauma and so on?
Probably dozens or more, but how often is HIV an issue?
I have exactly 1!! other book on my shelves about it.
Unfortunately this can not be "solved" easily which makes the HEA a little difficult. Well don't worry you will get one here after all, but not solving every problem at the end made this book a little more real and relevant for me, it made me think a little bit and this is definitely more than many other gay romances ever achieve, so go ahead and read it, I was definitely not disappointed!
May 26, 2015
When Jamie goes to the local Humane Society looking to adopt an animal, he does not realize that he maybe walking into his future. Tom is looking for a new dog to train in his Canine Comrade Corps, but there maybe more in store for him than just a dog.
Two men both resigned to living lonely lives. Jamie is HIV pos. He believes that love and a partner to share his life are in the past. Tom was injured by an IED in Afghanistan, leaving him without his legs. Both men suffer from PTSD. This undermines their feelings, with both men believing they do not deserve happiness.
What a wonderful, loving story. It delves deep into the problems with HIV,and the stigma that is still attached to it. It also, deals with wounded warriors, and the soul crushing institute, that is the VA. I highly recommend this book. It is simply beautiful. With every book I read, Mr. Vance is proving to me that he is one of the most talented and versatile writers in this genre.
Two men both resigned to living lonely lives. Jamie is HIV pos. He believes that love and a partner to share his life are in the past. Tom was injured by an IED in Afghanistan, leaving him without his legs. Both men suffer from PTSD. This undermines their feelings, with both men believing they do not deserve happiness.
What a wonderful, loving story. It delves deep into the problems with HIV,and the stigma that is still attached to it. It also, deals with wounded warriors, and the soul crushing institute, that is the VA. I highly recommend this book. It is simply beautiful. With every book I read, Mr. Vance is proving to me that he is one of the most talented and versatile writers in this genre.
January 26, 2014
I can only imagine how lonely it must be for some people in this world who feel as if all hope is lost. I really enjoyed this realistic portrayal of two guys with so much baggage finding each other. I hope the "Daniels" of the world stop doing what they do.
The romance was secondary to the plight of the guys but I enjoyed the slow build. A highlight was the back and forth scenes of Tom and Jamie in their respective showers. Nice! And I loved Tom's family's reaction to Jamie.
The romance was secondary to the plight of the guys but I enjoyed the slow build. A highlight was the back and forth scenes of Tom and Jamie in their respective showers. Nice! And I loved Tom's family's reaction to Jamie.
May 13, 2015
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! So sweet. The romance went really slow, which made sense and was written so well. The disabilities (physical and psychological) were written so realistically and pulled at the heart strings. The reaction of Tom's father brought tears to my eyes. This is one of those books that I have been thinking about after finishing it. I love when a book does that. Tom and Jamie were wonderful.
May 25, 2016
Sweet by-the-numbers 'issue' romance. Quite well done. Enjoyed.
June 4, 2015
So right brain won the argument with left brain, which resulted in me finally reading this book after passing it by for over a month. A romance with an HIV-positive MC? A disabled veteran with PTSD? Full of prejudgements, I figured it would be a pity party filled with trite lines like "You deserve better than me," and "I just can't let myself get close to anyone."
What I got instead was crisply-written context on the Walter Reed scandal and VA backlog on processing disability claims as well as highlights of concerns those with HIV and AIDS face when it comes to medical insurance coverage. Vance reframed this storyline into one about survivors. As Jamie says, "There's something appealing, yeah, sexy, about someone who gets beat down...(and) doesn't give up."
Several points were tackled head on, a perfect strategy. It is unfortunately all too common that those who know little about living with a physical disability or HIV positive status may jump to Jerry Springer-esque topics, such as 'Can you have sex? How does that work?' Vance makes several preemptive strikes, bringing these aspects up early through the voices of supporting characters in side conversations, well before the MCs are even an item. It's a tricky balance to surreptitiously educate an audience without condescending.
This is pulled off most effectively when Jamie observed, "People liked it when you were just a little broken...that you're not so unattainable...but they don't want you...beyond where you can be repaired back into perfection, as their reward for accepting those other flaws..." This is the page I would highlight and send to other writers whose characters recount heartache and the loss of a relationship after they return battle-scarred (looking at you, Lila Bruce).
Another good decision was to simply confront the temptation to compare and contrast the MCs' respective positions, that these men were not "equally broken," nor did they handle the pain and loneliness in their lives the same. For Tom, "his terror was still wrapped around him like a python, squeezing the life out of him...after that - the shame, the overwhelming sense of failure;" whereas Jamie acknowledged that "..guilt and shame reared their heads...[others] had sacrificed, for a reason. What was he suffering from other than bad decision making?"
I love being proved wrong or having my own bias called out. One of the strongest of the many selections by Brad Vance I've read yet.
What I got instead was crisply-written context on the Walter Reed scandal and VA backlog on processing disability claims as well as highlights of concerns those with HIV and AIDS face when it comes to medical insurance coverage. Vance reframed this storyline into one about survivors. As Jamie says, "There's something appealing, yeah, sexy, about someone who gets beat down...(and) doesn't give up."
Several points were tackled head on, a perfect strategy. It is unfortunately all too common that those who know little about living with a physical disability or HIV positive status may jump to Jerry Springer-esque topics, such as 'Can you have sex? How does that work?' Vance makes several preemptive strikes, bringing these aspects up early through the voices of supporting characters in side conversations, well before the MCs are even an item. It's a tricky balance to surreptitiously educate an audience without condescending.
This is pulled off most effectively when Jamie observed, "People liked it when you were just a little broken...that you're not so unattainable...but they don't want you...beyond where you can be repaired back into perfection, as their reward for accepting those other flaws..." This is the page I would highlight and send to other writers whose characters recount heartache and the loss of a relationship after they return battle-scarred (looking at you, Lila Bruce).
Another good decision was to simply confront the temptation to compare and contrast the MCs' respective positions, that these men were not "equally broken," nor did they handle the pain and loneliness in their lives the same. For Tom, "his terror was still wrapped around him like a python, squeezing the life out of him...after that - the shame, the overwhelming sense of failure;" whereas Jamie acknowledged that "..guilt and shame reared their heads...[others] had sacrificed, for a reason. What was he suffering from other than bad decision making?"
I love being proved wrong or having my own bias called out. One of the strongest of the many selections by Brad Vance I've read yet.
September 9, 2014
I'll admit it was three things that appealed to me about reading this book, although if the other two reasons weren't great ones, the third wouldn't have mattered. One, it involves animals and the Humane Society. Two, half of the proceeds goes to benefit IAVA (Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America) and the Wounded Warrior Project. And three, the price. No, I'm not a cheapskate, and I would've paid more, but when it was recommended to me, it was on sale. So, there. However, the first two reasons were enough for me to jump right into it.
Jamie and Tom meet, accidentally, at the local Humane Society. Jamie is there to see about getting a companion cat for the one he has at home. Tom is there to see if there are any possible dogs that fit his criteria to be trained as service dogs for injured service men and women. In fact, that's the company that Tom helps to run, Canine Comrade Corps. Jamie ends up asking about volunteer opportunities, much to his shock, and Tom is happy to possibly get someone to help with the paperwork. They're both attracted, but both turn from that, due to their own issues.
In some ways, Jamie and Tom are very much alike. They've both been hurt viciously, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Neither one of them believes that anyone could accept them as they are, now. They have significant trust issues and they both have serious anxiety difficulties. They're both a little bitter about the world's reaction to each of their circumstances. All of these things help to bring them together as friends. If they enjoy being in each other's company for other reason, well, neither of them needs to share that.
Overall I liked this book. I did, however, feel that I didn't get enough of an insight into each character. I had some difficulty during the read because the voice would change often and it threw me a few times. It's a good story, and certainly the issues raised regarding America's health care system and how we treat those who really need it, hit home in many ways. If you like stories where both main characters really deserve a happy ending and they're willing to fight for it, then this might be the book for you.
Jamie and Tom meet, accidentally, at the local Humane Society. Jamie is there to see about getting a companion cat for the one he has at home. Tom is there to see if there are any possible dogs that fit his criteria to be trained as service dogs for injured service men and women. In fact, that's the company that Tom helps to run, Canine Comrade Corps. Jamie ends up asking about volunteer opportunities, much to his shock, and Tom is happy to possibly get someone to help with the paperwork. They're both attracted, but both turn from that, due to their own issues.
In some ways, Jamie and Tom are very much alike. They've both been hurt viciously, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Neither one of them believes that anyone could accept them as they are, now. They have significant trust issues and they both have serious anxiety difficulties. They're both a little bitter about the world's reaction to each of their circumstances. All of these things help to bring them together as friends. If they enjoy being in each other's company for other reason, well, neither of them needs to share that.
Overall I liked this book. I did, however, feel that I didn't get enough of an insight into each character. I had some difficulty during the read because the voice would change often and it threw me a few times. It's a good story, and certainly the issues raised regarding America's health care system and how we treat those who really need it, hit home in many ways. If you like stories where both main characters really deserve a happy ending and they're willing to fight for it, then this might be the book for you.
December 21, 2013
When I read the description of this novella, I just had to read it: An HIV-positive guy and a double amputee war veteran get together over saving homeless dogs to train as service dogs. How cool does that sound? Built-in angst and legitimate survival. Wow.
Unfortunately, the total of the parts didn't meet my expectations.
When Jamie comes into the Humane Society to adopt a cat as a companion to his pet, he meets Tom who is there looking for another dog to train as a service animal. When Jamie hears what Tom does and learns that the Canine Comrade Corps needs office help, he volunteers.
Both Jamie and Tom are attracted to each other, and both feel unworthy of love. Jamie owns up to the fact that he messed up his own life by having unprotected sex with a lover who turned out to be unfaithful. He knows he hasn't been as courageous as Tom whose PTSD and amputations came from his time in the service.
Jamie's caught in a dead-end job because if he left to go to a better job, he wouldn't have health care because of his preexisting condition, and his HIV meds are too expensive without health benefits. He's also worried about getting the side effects from the drugs even though he hasn't experienced any so far.
Tom is battling day by day, trying to avoid triggers that will take away his self control. He knows the importance of service dogs since his helps him control his environment and balance his life. His job at the CCC has become the center of his life, and rightly so. He, like Jamie, wonders if he'll ever have sex again or a loving partner in his life.
When they get together, they see each other as people and not as problems. When a distraught guy comes into the CCC and threatens to kill himself, Jamie calmly talks him down while Tom's PTSD puts him in a near catatonic state. It takes both Jamie and Tom's best friend to get Tom back in control.
Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
Unfortunately, the total of the parts didn't meet my expectations.
When Jamie comes into the Humane Society to adopt a cat as a companion to his pet, he meets Tom who is there looking for another dog to train as a service animal. When Jamie hears what Tom does and learns that the Canine Comrade Corps needs office help, he volunteers.
Both Jamie and Tom are attracted to each other, and both feel unworthy of love. Jamie owns up to the fact that he messed up his own life by having unprotected sex with a lover who turned out to be unfaithful. He knows he hasn't been as courageous as Tom whose PTSD and amputations came from his time in the service.
Jamie's caught in a dead-end job because if he left to go to a better job, he wouldn't have health care because of his preexisting condition, and his HIV meds are too expensive without health benefits. He's also worried about getting the side effects from the drugs even though he hasn't experienced any so far.
Tom is battling day by day, trying to avoid triggers that will take away his self control. He knows the importance of service dogs since his helps him control his environment and balance his life. His job at the CCC has become the center of his life, and rightly so. He, like Jamie, wonders if he'll ever have sex again or a loving partner in his life.
When they get together, they see each other as people and not as problems. When a distraught guy comes into the CCC and threatens to kill himself, Jamie calmly talks him down while Tom's PTSD puts him in a near catatonic state. It takes both Jamie and Tom's best friend to get Tom back in control.
Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
November 28, 2013
2.5 stars!
I really hate giving bad reviews because I realize there's a huge amount of work going into writing a book. But there's no reason or excuse for the bad wording problem this book has. It's confusing and frustrating. The author goes from using Tom's voice to using Jamie's and then all of a sudden its he author's voice not the characters'. There is no spacing between paragraphs and there's no warning that the perspective is changing. I had to go back and re-read so many times, it made me dizzy. Besides, I found quite a few conflicting points, for example:
“Yeah,” Jamie said, wriggling into place in Tom’s arms to absorb his heat. The sheet that was all the cover Tom could stand was no protection for Jamie against the winter chill. Well, would have been, if Tom hadn’t so very, very warm. “I was sure it would end in tears, and I’m not so sure now it still won’t.”
What?!? Is it just me or that makes no sense what's so ever.... Either that damn sheet would have been no protection at all or it would have been enough...the wording is all wrong.
I love books about tortured heroes, love reading and learning about PTSD but while reading this book I did so much eye-rolling, I ended up with a severe case of dizziness.
I really hate giving bad reviews because I realize there's a huge amount of work going into writing a book. But there's no reason or excuse for the bad wording problem this book has. It's confusing and frustrating. The author goes from using Tom's voice to using Jamie's and then all of a sudden its he author's voice not the characters'. There is no spacing between paragraphs and there's no warning that the perspective is changing. I had to go back and re-read so many times, it made me dizzy. Besides, I found quite a few conflicting points, for example:
“Yeah,” Jamie said, wriggling into place in Tom’s arms to absorb his heat. The sheet that was all the cover Tom could stand was no protection for Jamie against the winter chill. Well, would have been, if Tom hadn’t so very, very warm. “I was sure it would end in tears, and I’m not so sure now it still won’t.”
What?!? Is it just me or that makes no sense what's so ever.... Either that damn sheet would have been no protection at all or it would have been enough...the wording is all wrong.
I love books about tortured heroes, love reading and learning about PTSD but while reading this book I did so much eye-rolling, I ended up with a severe case of dizziness.
February 2, 2015
Beautiful story of love that overcomes all. Brad did an amazing job on this book, with a very strong story line and beautifully developed characters that you can't keep from falling in love with. Tom, who had lost his legs in Afghanistan, struggling with what his family had gone through and eventually fitted with mechanical legs that got him back to close to normal. He still had PTSD, but being gay and not wanting to act on it or tell his family seemed to be his worst hardship of all. He met Jamie, who was the office manager of the HIV/Aids Clinic, and who also himself contracted the virus from an ex, felt he would never find another man who would want a relationship because of his affliction. When the two met, they both had an instant attraction, but because of their past and current situations, they were both afraid to get too close....They became friends under dire circumstances of danger which caused the two of them to open up to each other. This was a beautiful story about two beautiful men, heart and soul, who found want they needed and wanted, and eventually love. If you love MM Romance/Sex/Love, you will love this one. A must read. No matter what life can throw at you, you are never to broken to find love if you let it. Heartwarming story of love beyond hardships...
August 15, 2014
I bought this book a few days ago when it was featured on Bookbub. Hadn't read this author before, but the blurb sounded intriguing, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed this story about two damaged guys who pretty much think that they won't ever find love because they are too broken.
Unlike many romance novels on the market, Tom and Jamie don't have insta-love. Oh, they are definitely interested in one another, but ya know, they both have a lot of baggage to work through and they know it, so they become friends. And some time after that, they find love.
I loved the slow burn of Tom and Jamie's romance and them finding their way past their own brokenness to find love with each other. It left me with a smile, so I call that a successful read.
Also, the author highlights the plight of veterans in America as well as a couple really worthy organizations that aim to help them: Wounded Warrior Project and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, with fifty percent of the profits of this book going to these two charities. I like that very much.
Unlike many romance novels on the market, Tom and Jamie don't have insta-love. Oh, they are definitely interested in one another, but ya know, they both have a lot of baggage to work through and they know it, so they become friends. And some time after that, they find love.
I loved the slow burn of Tom and Jamie's romance and them finding their way past their own brokenness to find love with each other. It left me with a smile, so I call that a successful read.
Also, the author highlights the plight of veterans in America as well as a couple really worthy organizations that aim to help them: Wounded Warrior Project and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, with fifty percent of the profits of this book going to these two charities. I like that very much.
January 1, 2015
★★★☆☆½
Two tortured characters, for different reasons, meet in an unlikely place and become friends then lovers. I enjoyed it although, maybe due to the themes, became PSAish in places and was more political than I want to read in a romance story.
Tom had lost his legs and had PTSD and struggled to find meaning every day and was coming to the realization that he was gay and Jamie was hiv positive by a previous unfaithful lover and both were lonely and had surprisingly much in common. They started out friends but put aside the attraction they both felt for each other especially since Tom to and that made the eventual love scenes that much more special. Honesty was at the forefront. And when Tom had a a bad episode, Jamie was able to soothe Tom through it.
All in all, a well-developed effort.
Two tortured characters, for different reasons, meet in an unlikely place and become friends then lovers. I enjoyed it although, maybe due to the themes, became PSAish in places and was more political than I want to read in a romance story.
Tom had lost his legs and had PTSD and struggled to find meaning every day and was coming to the realization that he was gay and Jamie was hiv positive by a previous unfaithful lover and both were lonely and had surprisingly much in common. They started out friends but put aside the attraction they both felt for each other especially since Tom to and that made the eventual love scenes that much more special. Honesty was at the forefront. And when Tom had a a bad episode, Jamie was able to soothe Tom through it.
All in all, a well-developed effort.
October 13, 2014
A Little Too Broken is not broken at all. The story of a war veteran who had lost his legs and had PTSD and a gay man who had contracted HIV. They both had friends around them but both had a facade up of having as normal lives as they could have, under the circumstances.
They were lonely. To me, there is nothing that can hurt you more than loneliness. It can make you feel badly about yourself; it can make your health suffer and most of all, it can make you give up on life.
These two men found each other. They didn't rush, they didn't push, they just worked at having a relationship that finally evolved into love. It he end seemed a little incomplete but other than that, it was a beautiful story with a lovely feeling about it.
They were lonely. To me, there is nothing that can hurt you more than loneliness. It can make you feel badly about yourself; it can make your health suffer and most of all, it can make you give up on life.
These two men found each other. They didn't rush, they didn't push, they just worked at having a relationship that finally evolved into love. It he end seemed a little incomplete but other than that, it was a beautiful story with a lovely feeling about it.
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