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The Truth
In the late 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, John Radley is an agent working for MI6. He feels no shame in being an “office” agent rather than out in the field, and he knows his work at home is crucial to the safety of his country.
Anthony Holland is quite different. He is the flashy, handsome field spy, the kind of man on which James Bond was based, and he's all too aware of his appeal. John hates him on sight. It's a one-sided hatred, though, and Holland soon makes his attraction to John obvious. When Anthony comes to John after a mission gone bad, displaying his true emotions rather than a calculated facade, John's feelings change.
They begin a covert affair, made all the more difficult by their positions and by the fact Anthony is so rarely in the country. But one day, two years after their first meeting, Anthony leaves for a mission and doesn't come back. John always knew their relationship would likely end this way, but he never forgets Anthony.
Now, twenty years later, as the Soviet Union crumbles, John finds evidence that indicates Anthony is still alive. Although retired, John puts everything he has into finding the love of his life...for a second time...
Gay / Nostalgic Contemporary (1960s-era/1970s-era/1990s-era)
Anthony Holland is quite different. He is the flashy, handsome field spy, the kind of man on which James Bond was based, and he's all too aware of his appeal. John hates him on sight. It's a one-sided hatred, though, and Holland soon makes his attraction to John obvious. When Anthony comes to John after a mission gone bad, displaying his true emotions rather than a calculated facade, John's feelings change.
They begin a covert affair, made all the more difficult by their positions and by the fact Anthony is so rarely in the country. But one day, two years after their first meeting, Anthony leaves for a mission and doesn't come back. John always knew their relationship would likely end this way, but he never forgets Anthony.
Now, twenty years later, as the Soviet Union crumbles, John finds evidence that indicates Anthony is still alive. Although retired, John puts everything he has into finding the love of his life...for a second time...
Gay / Nostalgic Contemporary (1960s-era/1970s-era/1990s-era)
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
G.S. Wiley
60 books15 followersG.S. Wiley is a writer, reader, sometime painter, and semi-avid scrapbooker who lives in Canada.
Visit G.S.'s web site at http://wileyromance.googlepages.com/.
Visit G.S.'s web site at http://wileyromance.googlepages.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 24, 2013
Wow great story!
It's beautiful and sad and hopeful with a wonderful happy ending. The blurb itself was bittersweet, so I knew what to expect and honestly I liked that the book was rather short, since I'm not sure if I'd venture reading something long with such a heartbreaking premise. As it was it's perfect: the present (1991) mixes with the flashbacks from 60-70s where the we could see how John and Tony's story unfolded.
Amazing book, one of those that will stay with you long after you finished reading.
It's beautiful and sad and hopeful with a wonderful happy ending. The blurb itself was bittersweet, so I knew what to expect and honestly I liked that the book was rather short, since I'm not sure if I'd venture reading something long with such a heartbreaking premise. As it was it's perfect: the present (1991) mixes with the flashbacks from 60-70s where the we could see how John and Tony's story unfolded.
Amazing book, one of those that will stay with you long after you finished reading.
October 6, 2013
We all know what James Bond does on a normal workday. But have you ever wondered what Miss Moneypenny’s life was like? And, to take the game one step further, what if they actually were a couple, Moneypenny and James? What if James got tired of all those airheaded, shallow Beauty-Queens he has to do the nasty with as a part of his job and wanted something real with a solid, reliable, reasonable person?
In most spy novels, it’s the James Bond types who get the spotlight, but this book is different. John Radley is something like Moneypenny to Anthony Holland’s Agent 007, and it’s John’s voice that tells the story. Often in flashbacks; actually, after the opening scene the novella is mostly scenes from the past, as John is reliving his and Tony’s passionate and loving relationship, those three years they actually spent together, while he’s trying to find Tony again after a separation that lasted twenty years.
Aside from the fact that he works for MI6, John is an ordinary guy. A paper pusher, if you like; a single parent who raised his sister’s orphaned daughter; a doting grand-uncle to his adoptive daughter’s kids. But he’s also a constant to his friend, a man who never loses faith, even when he’s told his lover has died a traitor. His steadfast heart helps him pick out Tony in a crowd, even upon seeing him only for a second, and then John stops at nothing to try and get Tony back.
As I said, this is a unusual spy thriller. Yes, there are codes, kryptic messages and helpful secretaries, dead drops and faked deaths. There’s suspense and danger and secrecy. But above all, this is a story of lasting love, of faith and devotion. It’s a quiet tale, and yet suspenseful, a moving story, but without sentimentality.
If you’re in the mood for a calm, intelligent and thought-provoking story set behind the scenes of the gittering world of espionage, thry this little book. It’s worth it.
review originally written for http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com
In most spy novels, it’s the James Bond types who get the spotlight, but this book is different. John Radley is something like Moneypenny to Anthony Holland’s Agent 007, and it’s John’s voice that tells the story. Often in flashbacks; actually, after the opening scene the novella is mostly scenes from the past, as John is reliving his and Tony’s passionate and loving relationship, those three years they actually spent together, while he’s trying to find Tony again after a separation that lasted twenty years.
Aside from the fact that he works for MI6, John is an ordinary guy. A paper pusher, if you like; a single parent who raised his sister’s orphaned daughter; a doting grand-uncle to his adoptive daughter’s kids. But he’s also a constant to his friend, a man who never loses faith, even when he’s told his lover has died a traitor. His steadfast heart helps him pick out Tony in a crowd, even upon seeing him only for a second, and then John stops at nothing to try and get Tony back.
As I said, this is a unusual spy thriller. Yes, there are codes, kryptic messages and helpful secretaries, dead drops and faked deaths. There’s suspense and danger and secrecy. But above all, this is a story of lasting love, of faith and devotion. It’s a quiet tale, and yet suspenseful, a moving story, but without sentimentality.
If you’re in the mood for a calm, intelligent and thought-provoking story set behind the scenes of the gittering world of espionage, thry this little book. It’s worth it.
review originally written for http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com
October 2, 2013
Review Written for http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
In the 1960’s John is an agent for MI6 during the cold war but he is an office agent, when he meets field agent Tony. The meeting doesn’t go off as well as John knows to trust no one and in those days you had to be careful with sexual identity.
This was a pretty good book of espionage and love. I do not know a lot of the Cold War so I was a little lost at times and the story does skip back and forth from his past at work, past at home and present. Having said that, the romance alone here was heart gripping. It is a very beautiful story of love, both of family and of another man.
I recommend this if you like espionage, spies, men that hold tight to family responsibility and a deep love story.
In the 1960’s John is an agent for MI6 during the cold war but he is an office agent, when he meets field agent Tony. The meeting doesn’t go off as well as John knows to trust no one and in those days you had to be careful with sexual identity.
This was a pretty good book of espionage and love. I do not know a lot of the Cold War so I was a little lost at times and the story does skip back and forth from his past at work, past at home and present. Having said that, the romance alone here was heart gripping. It is a very beautiful story of love, both of family and of another man.
I recommend this if you like espionage, spies, men that hold tight to family responsibility and a deep love story.
August 13, 2016
Uff. For being so short, this packed a punch, right to the heart.
The Truth is quite the eloquent little story, spanning over 20 years of Tony & John's unconventional relationship. It has a wonderful historical element, taking into account the context of the 60s and eventually the 90s in the simplest of ways that really just spoke to me.
Furthermore, the voice behind the story was just beautiful. I loved the little pop-culture references, and how they were used to make details more clear (as in the case of Jackson Pollock's artwork).
It grabbed me by the heart quickly, and held on, and I certainly enjoyed the short ride.
The Truth is quite the eloquent little story, spanning over 20 years of Tony & John's unconventional relationship. It has a wonderful historical element, taking into account the context of the 60s and eventually the 90s in the simplest of ways that really just spoke to me.
Furthermore, the voice behind the story was just beautiful. I loved the little pop-culture references, and how they were used to make details more clear (as in the case of Jackson Pollock's artwork).
It grabbed me by the heart quickly, and held on, and I certainly enjoyed the short ride.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews