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Intervention
As a musician at the popular college café Coed Joe’s, high school senior Kai Manter is never lacking for male attention. Out, proud, free-spirited, and sexually aware, Kai sets his sights on his darkly Gothic and undeniably bad-tempered coworker, Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university. Sporting long hair and alluring hippie style, Kai expects his interest will be reciprocated, with satisfying sex as the end goal. That’s what usually happens. But Jamie’s lessons in life have been harsher. Having been sexually abused by his older stepbrother for several years, Jamie has grown an impenetrable outer shell meant to keep the world at a safe distance.
Kai is angry at first when he takes the brunt of Jamie’s bad temper, but after Kai accidentally discovers the abuse Jamie has suffered, he wants to fix things. Kai’s plan is based on what he knows best—music—and he stages a “musical intervention” to let Jamie know he’s not alone and things can get better. When Jamie’s perspective changes and he emerges from his shell, Kai changes, too, gaining a whole new understanding of what sex can be when love is there too.
Kai is angry at first when he takes the brunt of Jamie’s bad temper, but after Kai accidentally discovers the abuse Jamie has suffered, he wants to fix things. Kai’s plan is based on what he knows best—music—and he stages a “musical intervention” to let Jamie know he’s not alone and things can get better. When Jamie’s perspective changes and he emerges from his shell, Kai changes, too, gaining a whole new understanding of what sex can be when love is there too.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2013
8 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Mia Kerick
42 books539 followersMia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another at a dance conservatory, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishing houses for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.
Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 26, 2015
The cover is awesome and I liked Mia Kerick a lot in her The Red Sheet, so I had great expectations about this one. However, it started weak, it finished weak and everything in between felt long.
And if I ever hear "bro" or "dude" another one time, I won't be held responsible for my actions. And saying "J" for Jamie when the name is so short and beautiful was something I couldn't explain. No comments about "K" for Kai. It all irritated me immensely.
Maybe I'm giving too much importance to small facts but truth is, when I get bored, I pay too much attention to collateral details. In those cases I can remember foods, nicknames and Science exams in books even better than what the characters do during the whole story.
I couldn't shake the feeling this book was a copy of Omorphi. It's quite similar. YA book with a sporty MC1 who meets the MC2 who is always beautiful and blond and has had a traumatized past in the hands of a relative who was supposed to protect him. And of course, MC1 wants to protect him and rescue the damsel in distress. It was too pretentious and sometimes I rolled my eyes at all the drama llama. The music theme was too pretentious for me. The artsy theme was too pretentious for me. I didn't like Omorphi and hearing the same music here didn't help, not when the author wasn't able to make up for such an unoriginal plot.
There is a bad very bad person, a loyal very loyal friend and counselor, and a sad very sad conflict that makes the heroes closer and that consolidates their relationship. So far, nothing new and interesting.
And if I ever hear "bro" or "dude" another one time, I won't be held responsible for my actions. And saying "J" for Jamie when the name is so short and beautiful was something I couldn't explain. No comments about "K" for Kai. It all irritated me immensely.
Maybe I'm giving too much importance to small facts but truth is, when I get bored, I pay too much attention to collateral details. In those cases I can remember foods, nicknames and Science exams in books even better than what the characters do during the whole story.
I couldn't shake the feeling this book was a copy of Omorphi. It's quite similar. YA book with a sporty MC1 who meets the MC2 who is always beautiful and blond and has had a traumatized past in the hands of a relative who was supposed to protect him. And of course, MC1 wants to protect him and rescue the damsel in distress. It was too pretentious and sometimes I rolled my eyes at all the drama llama. The music theme was too pretentious for me. The artsy theme was too pretentious for me. I didn't like Omorphi and hearing the same music here didn't help, not when the author wasn't able to make up for such an unoriginal plot.
There is a bad very bad person, a loyal very loyal friend and counselor, and a sad very sad conflict that makes the heroes closer and that consolidates their relationship. So far, nothing new and interesting.
October 9, 2013
Kai Manter is a young, talented musician that’s proudly out, very sexually active, and finds himself uncharacteristically attracted to a shy, aloof waiter at the café where he performs. That shy waiter, who is prone at times to demonstrate a wicked temper, is Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university. There are very serious reasons for Jamie’s temperament and it won’t be easy to break down Jamie’s walls and allow Kai in, but with the help of his friends and his own determination, Kai sets out to prove to Jaime that he’s serious about him and their love.
Sigh, so I don’t really know how to review or rate this, partially because I think many people will like this much more than I did, and that I may just be a bit burnt out on YA or too distanced from teenagers these days. I can’t even honestly say if teenagers actually think, act and speak like this, but it felt not quite there. And that just might be because it didn’t speak to ME or it actually could be the author’s style.
I will say that the writing style almost had a frenetic pace, that didn’t fit the plot points well in my opinion. I kept imagining the guy who did the Micro Machine commercials, John Moschitta Jr., speaking to me throughout my reading. This is a story of serious topics, from incest, abuse, even stalking, and yet the WAY it was all handled left me with a distaste in my mouth. And I don’t feel like I can articulate why. Part of me thinks it wasn’t given the soberness these issues deserved and the levity with which it was handled at times upset me. That’s not to say that the characters didn’t discuss things with their friends, with adults and with each other. That’s not to say that the characters didn’t reflect on the issues or think these things weren’t as bad as they were, but something in the overall tone felt off. Just way off. I wanted it to slow down. Let the moments breathe, let the reader AND Jaime process. Too many events, too many detailed days, too much dialogue and I never felt I could appreciate each serious moment on its own.
I liked that Kai tried to relate to Jaime through music, and even more importantly with specific playlists. I related to that because I enjoy book playlists, or think of songs that trigger memories for me. Those parts were great, but the rest of this book didn’t work for me. I couldn’t relate or really even like any of the characters unfortunately. It was all a bit oddly frivolous and sappy, which is just not me.
BUT, again, this might all just be me. I do think many of my friends that generally like young adult and super sweet books will like this, but anyone that is even slightly against melodrama, young adult books, or lots of sentences with (other parts of sentence in parentheses); you might want to pass.
Sigh, so I don’t really know how to review or rate this, partially because I think many people will like this much more than I did, and that I may just be a bit burnt out on YA or too distanced from teenagers these days. I can’t even honestly say if teenagers actually think, act and speak like this, but it felt not quite there. And that just might be because it didn’t speak to ME or it actually could be the author’s style.
I will say that the writing style almost had a frenetic pace, that didn’t fit the plot points well in my opinion. I kept imagining the guy who did the Micro Machine commercials, John Moschitta Jr., speaking to me throughout my reading. This is a story of serious topics, from incest, abuse, even stalking, and yet the WAY it was all handled left me with a distaste in my mouth. And I don’t feel like I can articulate why. Part of me thinks it wasn’t given the soberness these issues deserved and the levity with which it was handled at times upset me. That’s not to say that the characters didn’t discuss things with their friends, with adults and with each other. That’s not to say that the characters didn’t reflect on the issues or think these things weren’t as bad as they were, but something in the overall tone felt off. Just way off. I wanted it to slow down. Let the moments breathe, let the reader AND Jaime process. Too many events, too many detailed days, too much dialogue and I never felt I could appreciate each serious moment on its own.
I liked that Kai tried to relate to Jaime through music, and even more importantly with specific playlists. I related to that because I enjoy book playlists, or think of songs that trigger memories for me. Those parts were great, but the rest of this book didn’t work for me. I couldn’t relate or really even like any of the characters unfortunately. It was all a bit oddly frivolous and sappy, which is just not me.
BUT, again, this might all just be me. I do think many of my friends that generally like young adult and super sweet books will like this, but anyone that is even slightly against melodrama, young adult books, or lots of sentences with (other parts of sentence in parentheses); you might want to pass.
October 9, 2013
4.25*
“To intervene when words alone weren’t enough.”
Kai is a healthy young man in a lot of respects, a healthy sex life, a healthy self esteem, a great family and he has a wonderful relationship with his older brother Chuck. He is a very talented musician, popular, his life is right on track.
Jamie is the opposite in almost every way. He was called 'Pretty Vacant' throughout his high school years, because although he's pretty, he never interacted with anyone. He doesn't make eye contact, he doesn't smile, he doesn't talk and when he does it's who Kai calls ' bitchy Jamie'.
Kai soon realizes there is far more to Jamie than meets the eye.
“His overall style was a paradox of dark and bright, of bold and artsy, of “keep your distance” and “please notice me.”
Kai is probably the first person in Jamie's life to really see him.
He wants to help and devises a plan "So I became dedicated to sending daily messages of inspiration… to Jamie Arlotta, who still wouldn’t speak to me.”
It took me a while to get through this story, I would stop and listen to the songs that Kai picked to tell Jamie all the things he wanted him to know.
It's a beautiful way of speaking, of sharing. He let his love of music speak for him.
Slowly Kai sees there is also 'shy Jamie' 'sweet Jamie' ' scared Jamie', but it takes a while for Jamie to trust Kai enough to show him his other sides.
The story is told from Kai's POV and I loved seeing how caring for Jamie, wanting to help him and falling in love with him changed Kai's life as much as it changed Jamie's.
Jamie is messed up from what his stepbrother did to him and is still doing to him.
Kai and his family, especially his brother Chuck, are wonderful, so supportive, patient and kind to Jamie, even when it's not easy. Jamie doesn't make it easy for Kai , it often felt like for every step forward he took one step back. “I also knew this was gonna be a very long road with Jamie. And there’d be no shortcuts.
But it was the road I’d chosen.”
But I guess when you haven't felt safe in your home, in your life, since the age of 14, trust and hope are going to be damn hard.
Kai understood that “From what little I knew of him, I could assume Jamie had morphed into a different person—a distant, cold, kind of cynical dude—thanks to the helplessness and fear he’d been forced to live with. All that pain and betrayal had forever changed his relationship with the world and everyone in it. So, yeah, sometimes it was just too damned late to say “sorry.”
This felt like a 'quiet' story, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of emotions and music and art and interaction, but it felt mature, slow, a realistic development and well paced.
I loved how the music and art played such a huge roll for these young men.
Jamie is a wonderful artist in his own right and has used his art to make his life bearable. He shows it in how he decorates his place, as Kai calls “in his crayon box of a crib ". He uses it to communicate with Kai, to thank people and to help tell his story.
I got to know and understand Kai better than Jamie, but seeing how much Kai felt for him, made me love Jamie too. I feel Kai changes at least as much as Jamie does, possibly more. He matures and learns as much as he wants to do things for the man he loves, he also has to let him do it for himself and in his own way.
This is a wonderful YA story. It is serious but also sweet and hopeful. The cover is amazing and the way art and music in all its forms are used to help tell the story was a highlight for me.
June 9, 2014
My review on Greedy Bug Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 10, 2013
GAH!! Where to start? First off, trigger warnings! There is mention of non-consensual sexual violence in this book, though none of it is explicit. Also, please have tissues handy - you will need them.
This was a beautifully written story, pulled me in from the word go, with a voice that sounded authentic and believable.
Kai is a high school senior working as a musical performer at a coffee shop/hang-out and otherwise flirting and shmexing any boy who catches his eye. Not interested in a relationship, he hones in on one of the waiters at the shop, only to be harshly rebuffed by whom his friend Mandy, a waitress at the same shop, calls Pretty Vacant.
Jamie, the waiter, has a reputation of not connecting with anyone. He's nice enough to the customers and good at his job, but doesn't hang out with his co-workers or seeks out any friendships. A loner for quite some time, he's been written off by most of his peers.
Clearly, something is going on.
Kai, intrigued and slightly miffed, decides Jamie is a challenge. A couple of things happen that involve a huge burly guy named Evan (who initially claims Jamie owes him money), and Kai has sufficient intuition to realize that not all is as it seems.
Thus, he begins to pursue Jamie in the best way he knows - staging an intervention with his music, with the songs he sings. He begins to reach out, and as he learns more about what is really going on, the reader sees a huge shift in Kai's personality.
More angst ensues, but the two boys begin a relationship that from the start tugs on your heartstrings. I hurt for Jamie as more of his story comes out, and I was feeling hugely proud of Kai who does a complete 180 and keeps his approach slow and tender, knowing he has to move carefully to gain Jamie's trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting cast the author created, from Chuck (Charlie), Kai's big brother, Mandy, his friend, even Kai's parents - they all played a specific role without ever becoming cardboardish and flat. Sure, Mandy is queen bitch on occasion, but there's more depth to her than that, once she's aware of what's going on. Little by little, these people show Jamie that there is another way, that he doesn't have to deal with the issues in his life on his own, and that it's okay to let someone in, to let them help you.
Kai's character growth is tremendous, but so is Jamie's. He goes from being a scared rabbit using his "bitchy Jamie" persona to keep people away to standing up for himself and seeking resolution to the situation. He grows day to day, becoming stronger every time, without forgetting that he's standing on someone's shoulder for that boost he needed to take charge of the issue.
Sure, there are setbacks. Evan, Jamie's brother, is a troubled, evil person, and there were plenty of times when I would have liked to get my hands around his neck to choke the crap out of him. And while the issue wasn't resolved to my liking, it was resolved in a way that worked best for Jamie, empowering him because he gets to make the decision on it.
The theme that to understand a man one has to walk in his shoes for a few miles is repeated throughout. It's something that Kai has to learn just as much as Mandy does. Her derision of Jamie (Pretty Vacant) changes over time, and she learns that sometimes someone who keeps away isn't snotty or 'vacant' at all but hurting and dealing as best as he knows. It's a lesson we all need to learn.
I adored Chuck. He was the quintessential big brother, lending a helping hand and kicking Kai's ass when warranted. He listened, he helped, and he guided Kai to where he needed to be, to get a different perspective of things and to support Jamie as best as possible.
Throughout this book, "Wind Beneath My Wings" kept running through my mind. Kai, with help from his family, really becomes that uplifting wind to help Jamie soar, to help him fly.
It was gorgeous. I cried many tears, but they were all worth it. Kai's voice is authentic throughout this book, written entirely in his limited POV, and thus we get treated to his inner monologue and see the growth he experiences, from being confused as to why he's so intrigued by Jamie to starting to get it to really understanding that his job in Jamie's recovery is not to lead the charge, but to be the uplifting wind under Jamie's wings. At its core, this book describes a beautiful first love between the two boys who must overcome difficult obstacles to succeed.
Open your eyes to the world around you. Sometimes, all it takes is a good look at someone with different eyes, and a little intervention to help them along.
No man is an island. We'd do well to remember that.
And you can't really know what anyone is going through until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Remember that too.
This is a YA title from Harmony Ink Press and was given to me as an ARC free of charge. A positive review was not promised in return.
This was a beautifully written story, pulled me in from the word go, with a voice that sounded authentic and believable.
Kai is a high school senior working as a musical performer at a coffee shop/hang-out and otherwise flirting and shmexing any boy who catches his eye. Not interested in a relationship, he hones in on one of the waiters at the shop, only to be harshly rebuffed by whom his friend Mandy, a waitress at the same shop, calls Pretty Vacant.
Jamie, the waiter, has a reputation of not connecting with anyone. He's nice enough to the customers and good at his job, but doesn't hang out with his co-workers or seeks out any friendships. A loner for quite some time, he's been written off by most of his peers.
Clearly, something is going on.
Kai, intrigued and slightly miffed, decides Jamie is a challenge. A couple of things happen that involve a huge burly guy named Evan (who initially claims Jamie owes him money), and Kai has sufficient intuition to realize that not all is as it seems.
Thus, he begins to pursue Jamie in the best way he knows - staging an intervention with his music, with the songs he sings. He begins to reach out, and as he learns more about what is really going on, the reader sees a huge shift in Kai's personality.
More angst ensues, but the two boys begin a relationship that from the start tugs on your heartstrings. I hurt for Jamie as more of his story comes out, and I was feeling hugely proud of Kai who does a complete 180 and keeps his approach slow and tender, knowing he has to move carefully to gain Jamie's trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting cast the author created, from Chuck (Charlie), Kai's big brother, Mandy, his friend, even Kai's parents - they all played a specific role without ever becoming cardboardish and flat. Sure, Mandy is queen bitch on occasion, but there's more depth to her than that, once she's aware of what's going on. Little by little, these people show Jamie that there is another way, that he doesn't have to deal with the issues in his life on his own, and that it's okay to let someone in, to let them help you.
Kai's character growth is tremendous, but so is Jamie's. He goes from being a scared rabbit using his "bitchy Jamie" persona to keep people away to standing up for himself and seeking resolution to the situation. He grows day to day, becoming stronger every time, without forgetting that he's standing on someone's shoulder for that boost he needed to take charge of the issue.
Sure, there are setbacks. Evan, Jamie's brother, is a troubled, evil person, and there were plenty of times when I would have liked to get my hands around his neck to choke the crap out of him. And while the issue wasn't resolved to my liking, it was resolved in a way that worked best for Jamie, empowering him because he gets to make the decision on it.
The theme that to understand a man one has to walk in his shoes for a few miles is repeated throughout. It's something that Kai has to learn just as much as Mandy does. Her derision of Jamie (Pretty Vacant) changes over time, and she learns that sometimes someone who keeps away isn't snotty or 'vacant' at all but hurting and dealing as best as he knows. It's a lesson we all need to learn.
I adored Chuck. He was the quintessential big brother, lending a helping hand and kicking Kai's ass when warranted. He listened, he helped, and he guided Kai to where he needed to be, to get a different perspective of things and to support Jamie as best as possible.
Throughout this book, "Wind Beneath My Wings" kept running through my mind. Kai, with help from his family, really becomes that uplifting wind to help Jamie soar, to help him fly.
It was gorgeous. I cried many tears, but they were all worth it. Kai's voice is authentic throughout this book, written entirely in his limited POV, and thus we get treated to his inner monologue and see the growth he experiences, from being confused as to why he's so intrigued by Jamie to starting to get it to really understanding that his job in Jamie's recovery is not to lead the charge, but to be the uplifting wind under Jamie's wings. At its core, this book describes a beautiful first love between the two boys who must overcome difficult obstacles to succeed.
Open your eyes to the world around you. Sometimes, all it takes is a good look at someone with different eyes, and a little intervention to help them along.
No man is an island. We'd do well to remember that.
And you can't really know what anyone is going through until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Remember that too.
This is a YA title from Harmony Ink Press and was given to me as an ARC free of charge. A positive review was not promised in return.
January 13, 2014
I loved the slow burn of this story, the pace was perfect. You can’t rush the healing process of a broken boy. Kai’s patience is a key element in this story. He is not good with words but music speaks for him.
He can show Jamie that his love is sincere and that he is in for the long run. Something that neither Jamie nor Kai have experienced before, love and intimacy beyond sex.
A review for GayListBook Reviews
He can show Jamie that his love is sincere and that he is in for the long run. Something that neither Jamie nor Kai have experienced before, love and intimacy beyond sex.
A review for GayListBook Reviews
July 9, 2014
After 60 pages I couldn't take it anymore. This book is like a playlist with a little story here and there.
I get that the "Soundtrack" mentioned in a book is a tool to transport emotions/suck the reader in/let the reader bond with the story.
The problem for me was that the constant mentioning of songs/lyrics was way to much and the story wasn't interesting enough or better didn't live up to the songs/lyris mentioned.
Sometimes the songs didn't even fit. For example: Singing "you oughta know" to a boy who was raped??? Not a smart move in real life. But the author picked one line that suited her out of the whole song and didn't care about the overall context.
You can't throw a list of emotional tunes at me and the story in between is boring as hell/clinical/not emotional at all. You can't throw power-songs/lyrics at me to get me in the mood and then let nothing happen in the story...
The lack of emotions in this case is a really bad thing since the book is rape-themed...
This book reads like a bad party game the author participated in: Pick three gay themes out of a hat, press "radio" on google play music 3 times with different genres and then try to connect the songs by creating a story around them.
As mentioned above I gave up on page 60. I NEVER did that before. I will definitely finish it sometime but only because I'm ocd that way not because I really want to/enjoy it. So this review is maybe going to change once I can get myself to finish the book...
P.s.: I finished the book because I felt bad for giving a negative review after the first 60 pages. Sadly my opinion hasn't changed. The rest if the book was mostly very clinical with a lot of "dude" and "bro" thrown into the mix. The overall theme (rape/"incest" between step brothers) didn't touch me at all because of the way it was described. The book was really lacking in the emotional department. Bad read.
I get that the "Soundtrack" mentioned in a book is a tool to transport emotions/suck the reader in/let the reader bond with the story.
The problem for me was that the constant mentioning of songs/lyrics was way to much and the story wasn't interesting enough or better didn't live up to the songs/lyris mentioned.
Sometimes the songs didn't even fit. For example: Singing "you oughta know" to a boy who was raped??? Not a smart move in real life. But the author picked one line that suited her out of the whole song and didn't care about the overall context.
You can't throw a list of emotional tunes at me and the story in between is boring as hell/clinical/not emotional at all. You can't throw power-songs/lyrics at me to get me in the mood and then let nothing happen in the story...
The lack of emotions in this case is a really bad thing since the book is rape-themed...
This book reads like a bad party game the author participated in: Pick three gay themes out of a hat, press "radio" on google play music 3 times with different genres and then try to connect the songs by creating a story around them.
As mentioned above I gave up on page 60. I NEVER did that before. I will definitely finish it sometime but only because I'm ocd that way not because I really want to/enjoy it. So this review is maybe going to change once I can get myself to finish the book...
P.s.: I finished the book because I felt bad for giving a negative review after the first 60 pages. Sadly my opinion hasn't changed. The rest if the book was mostly very clinical with a lot of "dude" and "bro" thrown into the mix. The overall theme (rape/"incest" between step brothers) didn't touch me at all because of the way it was described. The book was really lacking in the emotional department. Bad read.
probably-not-but-freebie
July 3, 2018Freebie at Harmony Ink: https://www.harmonyinkpress.com/books... :-)
December 1, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
...And honestly? I didn't hate it but I didn't like it either. I liked Kai and I liked Jamie but I found a lot of the dialogue between the two to be silly and if I'm honest not really dialogue that would be used by two 18 year old boys. And the overuse of the word "Dude" had be wanting to pull out my hair. No one. NO ONE says dude that much. Ever.
The story had a lot of potential but the writing let it down and for that fact I had to give this two stars because I found it really hard to read.
...And honestly? I didn't hate it but I didn't like it either. I liked Kai and I liked Jamie but I found a lot of the dialogue between the two to be silly and if I'm honest not really dialogue that would be used by two 18 year old boys. And the overuse of the word "Dude" had be wanting to pull out my hair. No one. NO ONE says dude that much. Ever.
The story had a lot of potential but the writing let it down and for that fact I had to give this two stars because I found it really hard to read.
dnf
May 10, 2016***Audiobook*** I tried, I really tried. I made it to about 30%, but I just can't take it any more. I can't listen to Kai say "dude" one more time. Just FYI, the word "dude" appears in this book 238 times. I even tried switching from audiobook to just plain reading this one to see if the dude-factor would be less annoying. Unfortunately, it was not. So I'm out. DNF....
February 4, 2015
WOW! Just, WOW!
February 22, 2014
I have a hard time reading books containing incest. The subject matter is a heinous one and I laud author, Mia Kerick, for attempting to tackle it in her newest book. When I got to the first part in Intervention where the history of incest was clearly stated, I didn’t think I’d be able to read the book. But, I pressed on. I’m not sure if it had to do with the skilled way in which Ms. Kerick wrote it or my determination to get through a troubling story. I say all this to be sure you know where I was while reading Intervention.
Intervention is really a beautiful story about the healing power of music, the redemptive power of love and the over all power of trust in another human being. Kai is the musical entertainment at Coed Joe’s, the coffee shop near the arts college where both his parents teach, his brother attends, and he hopes to attend next year. He is a senior in high school, gay and sexually promiscuous. His only “relationship” ended in him being stalked. A theme began in the book at this point that I will address as I continue. Kai threatened to report his stalker several times, but did not do it.
Jamie is a server at the same coffee shop. He is a freshman in college majoring in Fine Arts. People have nick-named him “Pretty Vacant”, because while he is pretty to look at, there seems to be nobody inside. There is nothing behind Jamie’s eyes. The reason he presents this façade to the world is that Jamie is being molested. Let’s call it what it is: raped, by his older step-brother. It started when Jamie was only fourteen. His step-brother convinced him, as most predators do, that if Jamie told anyone what they were doing together, bad things would happen. I won’t spoil the story by telling you what he threatened Jamie with.
At Coed Joe’s, Kai is very taken with Jamie and tries to ask him out but gets frozen out. He decides to use his platform as a literal platform, to send messages to Jamie. He calls them musical Interventions. Every night he plays and sings songs tied to a single theme. The themes are aimed at letting Jamie know he is not alone, that he can heal and that Kai is someone he can trust. Slowly, Kai gets Jamie’s attention and they begin a tentative relationship built on that trust. Jamie is socially and romantically immature, so things progress at a glacial pace with a lot of backsliding and boundary issues on Jamie’s part.
Kai is abnormally patient with Jamie’s demands and limitations. For a young man who, until very recently was pretty much a slut to give up sex entirely based on the outside chance that Jamie, this damaged, tortured soul may somehow be able to participate in a normal sexual relationship with him wasn’t plausible for me. He is eighteen, drowning in hormones and I am a realist. I was unable to suspend disbelief for that behavior.
***Lisa you may want to put this section behind a spoiler alert***
Jamie and Kai fall in love. It is not insta-love, which I was happy to see. A slow developing of trust and deepening of feelings was so much more realistic and developed beautifully. Ms. Kerick wrote of the loss of Jamie’s innocence as he told Kai about the abuse he had suffered at his step-brother’s hands. The way Kai’s brother, Chuck just so warmly welcomed Jamie into their lives and treated him normally was very sweet to read. Jamie really began to blossom in the presence of all that love and normalcy. He began to meet with a counselor on campus and made strides in putting his healing on paper, in his art. He was making amazing progress.
Then Jamie’s father was hospitalized with heart trouble. This was the very thing that Jamie had feared for years. It was also the axe that his step-brother held over his head. If Jamie told anyone about the abuse, his father’s bad heart would certainly be unable to handle it and he would have a heart attack and die. In his rush to get to his father’s side, Jamie forgot his cell phone at school. He got stuck at his parents’ house that night and his step-brother raped him.
When Jamie got back to campus, he was Pretty Vacant Jamie again. He told Kai he never wanted to see or talk to him again. He shut everyone out. The guilt he carried over the continuing abuse coupled with the guilt he felt about “cheating” on Kai was too much for him to bear. He quit his job and planned to go home for the summer, where his step-brother assured him the abuse would continue. Jamie felt he was out of options.
Kai, with the help of Chuck and some friends was slowly able to bring his Jamie back out of his shell. They made arrangements for summer living, they rebuilt trust while Kai assured Jamie that what had happened was not cheating, it was rape. Jamie grew so strong that he began to take control of his own healing. He decided to tell his father the truth during a session with his counselor.
Ms. Kerick wrote realistically that Jamie’s father didn’t believe him at first. He tried to rationalize it away as Jamie being confused, though he did eventually believe him. What followed was, unfortunately, all too real. Jamie’s dad wanted time to speak to his wife and ASK the molester to leave. Jamie promised to give him this time while thinking about whether or not to press criminal charges. Where was the father’s outrage that his son had been so horribly abused by someone he, himself had invited into their home? Why was he not demanding immediate justice for his son? Keep in mind that most states have mandated reporteing laws and the therapist at the very least would have been required by law to report the abuse.
Following the theme started when Kai didn’t report his former boyfriend’s stalking, Jamie decides, under pressure from his father and step-mother, not to file criminal charges against his step-brother. I am astounded that an author would write a book directed at a YA audience and allow this to be part of the story. Ms. Kerick had the power to show our young people that child molesters can’t get away with their abuse. She had the reins to empower Jamie to take back control of his life by seeing justice done. She chose to instead have Jamie give in to the pressure applied by his father and step-mother and let the monster roam free. How will Jamie ever have true peace in his soul if he knows his rapist is out there and could show up at any moment to rape him again? This is just a dangerous message to present to our young adult readers.
***End spoiler***
My strong feeling about incest come across very clearly. Having been molested myself as a teenager, I found Jamie’s behavior to be realistically portrayed by Ms. Kerick. The fear of everyone and for those he loves, the constant one step forward, two steps back dance with healing. The reluctance to rock the family boat. These are the ways in which sexually abused youth really act. Their every move continues to be controlled by their abuser’s threats.
But, we as publishers, authors, reviewers and even readers have the power to change this! We can write realistic books about molestation in which the victim takes his power back and uses it to get justice for himself. We can show these kids that they can change from victims to victors. This is the most important plot point all YA books which address sexual or physical abuse should contain. Tell someone. If they don’t believe you tell someone else. Shout it from the rooftops until someone believes you. And get equity for yourself. You didn’t deserve to be abused, but you do deserve justice for your abuser.
Intervention is really a beautiful story about the healing power of music, the redemptive power of love and the over all power of trust in another human being. Kai is the musical entertainment at Coed Joe’s, the coffee shop near the arts college where both his parents teach, his brother attends, and he hopes to attend next year. He is a senior in high school, gay and sexually promiscuous. His only “relationship” ended in him being stalked. A theme began in the book at this point that I will address as I continue. Kai threatened to report his stalker several times, but did not do it.
Jamie is a server at the same coffee shop. He is a freshman in college majoring in Fine Arts. People have nick-named him “Pretty Vacant”, because while he is pretty to look at, there seems to be nobody inside. There is nothing behind Jamie’s eyes. The reason he presents this façade to the world is that Jamie is being molested. Let’s call it what it is: raped, by his older step-brother. It started when Jamie was only fourteen. His step-brother convinced him, as most predators do, that if Jamie told anyone what they were doing together, bad things would happen. I won’t spoil the story by telling you what he threatened Jamie with.
At Coed Joe’s, Kai is very taken with Jamie and tries to ask him out but gets frozen out. He decides to use his platform as a literal platform, to send messages to Jamie. He calls them musical Interventions. Every night he plays and sings songs tied to a single theme. The themes are aimed at letting Jamie know he is not alone, that he can heal and that Kai is someone he can trust. Slowly, Kai gets Jamie’s attention and they begin a tentative relationship built on that trust. Jamie is socially and romantically immature, so things progress at a glacial pace with a lot of backsliding and boundary issues on Jamie’s part.
Kai is abnormally patient with Jamie’s demands and limitations. For a young man who, until very recently was pretty much a slut to give up sex entirely based on the outside chance that Jamie, this damaged, tortured soul may somehow be able to participate in a normal sexual relationship with him wasn’t plausible for me. He is eighteen, drowning in hormones and I am a realist. I was unable to suspend disbelief for that behavior.
***Lisa you may want to put this section behind a spoiler alert***
Jamie and Kai fall in love. It is not insta-love, which I was happy to see. A slow developing of trust and deepening of feelings was so much more realistic and developed beautifully. Ms. Kerick wrote of the loss of Jamie’s innocence as he told Kai about the abuse he had suffered at his step-brother’s hands. The way Kai’s brother, Chuck just so warmly welcomed Jamie into their lives and treated him normally was very sweet to read. Jamie really began to blossom in the presence of all that love and normalcy. He began to meet with a counselor on campus and made strides in putting his healing on paper, in his art. He was making amazing progress.
Then Jamie’s father was hospitalized with heart trouble. This was the very thing that Jamie had feared for years. It was also the axe that his step-brother held over his head. If Jamie told anyone about the abuse, his father’s bad heart would certainly be unable to handle it and he would have a heart attack and die. In his rush to get to his father’s side, Jamie forgot his cell phone at school. He got stuck at his parents’ house that night and his step-brother raped him.
When Jamie got back to campus, he was Pretty Vacant Jamie again. He told Kai he never wanted to see or talk to him again. He shut everyone out. The guilt he carried over the continuing abuse coupled with the guilt he felt about “cheating” on Kai was too much for him to bear. He quit his job and planned to go home for the summer, where his step-brother assured him the abuse would continue. Jamie felt he was out of options.
Kai, with the help of Chuck and some friends was slowly able to bring his Jamie back out of his shell. They made arrangements for summer living, they rebuilt trust while Kai assured Jamie that what had happened was not cheating, it was rape. Jamie grew so strong that he began to take control of his own healing. He decided to tell his father the truth during a session with his counselor.
Ms. Kerick wrote realistically that Jamie’s father didn’t believe him at first. He tried to rationalize it away as Jamie being confused, though he did eventually believe him. What followed was, unfortunately, all too real. Jamie’s dad wanted time to speak to his wife and ASK the molester to leave. Jamie promised to give him this time while thinking about whether or not to press criminal charges. Where was the father’s outrage that his son had been so horribly abused by someone he, himself had invited into their home? Why was he not demanding immediate justice for his son? Keep in mind that most states have mandated reporteing laws and the therapist at the very least would have been required by law to report the abuse.
Following the theme started when Kai didn’t report his former boyfriend’s stalking, Jamie decides, under pressure from his father and step-mother, not to file criminal charges against his step-brother. I am astounded that an author would write a book directed at a YA audience and allow this to be part of the story. Ms. Kerick had the power to show our young people that child molesters can’t get away with their abuse. She had the reins to empower Jamie to take back control of his life by seeing justice done. She chose to instead have Jamie give in to the pressure applied by his father and step-mother and let the monster roam free. How will Jamie ever have true peace in his soul if he knows his rapist is out there and could show up at any moment to rape him again? This is just a dangerous message to present to our young adult readers.
***End spoiler***
My strong feeling about incest come across very clearly. Having been molested myself as a teenager, I found Jamie’s behavior to be realistically portrayed by Ms. Kerick. The fear of everyone and for those he loves, the constant one step forward, two steps back dance with healing. The reluctance to rock the family boat. These are the ways in which sexually abused youth really act. Their every move continues to be controlled by their abuser’s threats.
But, we as publishers, authors, reviewers and even readers have the power to change this! We can write realistic books about molestation in which the victim takes his power back and uses it to get justice for himself. We can show these kids that they can change from victims to victors. This is the most important plot point all YA books which address sexual or physical abuse should contain. Tell someone. If they don’t believe you tell someone else. Shout it from the rooftops until someone believes you. And get equity for yourself. You didn’t deserve to be abused, but you do deserve justice for your abuser.
May 10, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.5 Stars
This is a tough read about a tough subject. It reminded me that through all the ugly you can still see the beautiful.
Kai is just finishing his final year of high school and lives life to suit himself. His last relationship landed him a stalker so casual sex is his mantra. Wham bang thank you man and out the door is the motto he is happiest with.
His latest target is the sexy Goth waiter he works with and is going to prove a bigger challenge than most.
Jamie Arlotta is an art student at the local college and works as a waiter at the local coffee shop where all the students hang out. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t talk to people and he certainly doesn’t hook up. His public persona is cold, spiteful and mean.
When Kai first tries to strike up a conversation with Jamie it is completely unsuccessful. The mean words that come out of Jamie’s mouth are almost enough to make him walk away until he finds him being bullied by another man and looking scared for his life. The other man is Jamie’s older brother and when Kai finds him bullying him for a second time a few days later Jamie lets his secret slip out in a moment of anger. He has been sexually abused by his brother and the man is back and showing an interest in him again.
Kai is floored by this revelation and doesn’t know what to say or do. Jamie runs and refuses to talk to him again. It seems the only time Jamie ever acknowledges Kai is when he is singing at the cafe where they both work, so Kai comes up with a plan. He will speak to Jamie through his music.
He plans a musical intervention.
Slowly but surely Jamie starts to thaw and reaches out to develop a tentative relationship with Kai.
This book is full of pain. Jamie carries around confusion, shame, disgust and so many other emotions within the walls that he has built. He has been blackmailed by his abuser to stay quiet and to believe it his own fault. The picture in his apartment of the little boy hiding under the table damn near broke my heart.
Kai, for the first time in his life wants to pursue another man for something other than sex. For such a young man he was compassionate and thoughtful even though at times he was so far out of his depth you felt he was drowning. When he couldn’t find the words he used his music and really spoke to Jamie. His mission in life was all about finding the lyrics to convey his feelings, support and understanding.
Abusers are evil people from all walks of life who thrive on having power over another person. Jamie may have left the house that the abuse happened in but he could never get away from the memories. He couldn’t get away from his brother who had no intention of losing his power. The cycle is absolutely heart breaking.
One night back at the family home and the cycle starts again and I literally wanted to kill someone at this point. Any trust Jamie had built, any walls that he had brought down, any happiness he had felt was taken away from him in that moment. Kai is left confused, hurt and angry and has no idea what has happened. It is back to the music, back to the lyrics, back to hope and one last intervention.
4.5 Stars
This is a tough read about a tough subject. It reminded me that through all the ugly you can still see the beautiful.
Kai is just finishing his final year of high school and lives life to suit himself. His last relationship landed him a stalker so casual sex is his mantra. Wham bang thank you man and out the door is the motto he is happiest with.
His latest target is the sexy Goth waiter he works with and is going to prove a bigger challenge than most.
Jamie Arlotta is an art student at the local college and works as a waiter at the local coffee shop where all the students hang out. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t talk to people and he certainly doesn’t hook up. His public persona is cold, spiteful and mean.
When Kai first tries to strike up a conversation with Jamie it is completely unsuccessful. The mean words that come out of Jamie’s mouth are almost enough to make him walk away until he finds him being bullied by another man and looking scared for his life. The other man is Jamie’s older brother and when Kai finds him bullying him for a second time a few days later Jamie lets his secret slip out in a moment of anger. He has been sexually abused by his brother and the man is back and showing an interest in him again.
Kai is floored by this revelation and doesn’t know what to say or do. Jamie runs and refuses to talk to him again. It seems the only time Jamie ever acknowledges Kai is when he is singing at the cafe where they both work, so Kai comes up with a plan. He will speak to Jamie through his music.
He plans a musical intervention.
Slowly but surely Jamie starts to thaw and reaches out to develop a tentative relationship with Kai.
This book is full of pain. Jamie carries around confusion, shame, disgust and so many other emotions within the walls that he has built. He has been blackmailed by his abuser to stay quiet and to believe it his own fault. The picture in his apartment of the little boy hiding under the table damn near broke my heart.
Kai, for the first time in his life wants to pursue another man for something other than sex. For such a young man he was compassionate and thoughtful even though at times he was so far out of his depth you felt he was drowning. When he couldn’t find the words he used his music and really spoke to Jamie. His mission in life was all about finding the lyrics to convey his feelings, support and understanding.
Abusers are evil people from all walks of life who thrive on having power over another person. Jamie may have left the house that the abuse happened in but he could never get away from the memories. He couldn’t get away from his brother who had no intention of losing his power. The cycle is absolutely heart breaking.
One night back at the family home and the cycle starts again and I literally wanted to kill someone at this point. Any trust Jamie had built, any walls that he had brought down, any happiness he had felt was taken away from him in that moment. Kai is left confused, hurt and angry and has no idea what has happened. It is back to the music, back to the lyrics, back to hope and one last intervention.
October 13, 2014
***AUDIO REVIEW**
Kai and Jamie both work at Co-ed Joe's, Kai is a musician and sings for his supper, Jamie waits tables. Jamie is closed off from everyone and everything around him, Kia is a (his words!!) slut. Jamie catches Kai's eye, and Kai goes in for the kill. And gets rebuffed. Kai keeps trying, but when Kai discovers WHY Jamie has shut himself off from the world, he uses everything at his disposal to make Jamie his.
Had I come across this book, I would have passed it over. It billed, on Amazon, as a YOUNG ADULT. But I was asked to audio review it, and I didn't know that at the beginning. AND I'm so glad I didnt!
Kai is a year younger than Jamie, in his last year at High School, but he knows who he is and what he wants, and Kai wants Jamie. When faced with Jamie's brick wall of emotional nothingness, he pulls out the stops and goes for it. BUT while doing so, Kai changes in ways he never thought possible. He openly admits, at the beginning of the book, to being one to take what he wanted, how he wanted, and as often as he wanted. But faced with falling for Jamie makes him change, he doesn't just want Jamie, he begins to need him, his company, his love.
When Kai finds out about Jamie's history, and the abuse he has been suffering, Kai changes, again. He realises there is more to life than sex, and even if Jamie never fully lets of his past, Kai wants him in his life.
I loved Kai. The entire book is written from his point of view, in the first person, (more on that) so we get to feel his thought processes, yes, FEEL, them. We get to go through all of Kai's thinking about how to get Jamie, how to keep him, and most importantly, how to love Jamie in a way Jamie can accept.
Its well written, with sweet scenes between Kai and Jamie as they learn what works for them, and Jamie grows more confident with Jamie. It deals with some very difficult subjects so I've filed it on the over 18 shelf, BUT I've also filed in on the Young Adult shlef. Odd?? yes. But I've filed it over 18 ONLY because of the subject it deals with. The book is almost clean, some kissing and touching, thats all.
Tristan Wright narrates this book, and he has a young voice, suited well to telling the tale of an 18 yr old boy dealing with things that some adults would struggle. His (American) accent isn't too strong, and he keeps his tone clear and even, meaning I got every single word. The distinction between the characters is obvious, making a smooth transition when having a conversation with multiple characters. I should like to hear him read something else, but I can only find more YA books.
The only thing I can fault it on is we ONLY hear from Kai. Jamie really needed to have his say.
5 Fangs, excellent story and extremely well narrated.
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
Kai and Jamie both work at Co-ed Joe's, Kai is a musician and sings for his supper, Jamie waits tables. Jamie is closed off from everyone and everything around him, Kia is a (his words!!) slut. Jamie catches Kai's eye, and Kai goes in for the kill. And gets rebuffed. Kai keeps trying, but when Kai discovers WHY Jamie has shut himself off from the world, he uses everything at his disposal to make Jamie his.
Had I come across this book, I would have passed it over. It billed, on Amazon, as a YOUNG ADULT. But I was asked to audio review it, and I didn't know that at the beginning. AND I'm so glad I didnt!
Kai is a year younger than Jamie, in his last year at High School, but he knows who he is and what he wants, and Kai wants Jamie. When faced with Jamie's brick wall of emotional nothingness, he pulls out the stops and goes for it. BUT while doing so, Kai changes in ways he never thought possible. He openly admits, at the beginning of the book, to being one to take what he wanted, how he wanted, and as often as he wanted. But faced with falling for Jamie makes him change, he doesn't just want Jamie, he begins to need him, his company, his love.
When Kai finds out about Jamie's history, and the abuse he has been suffering, Kai changes, again. He realises there is more to life than sex, and even if Jamie never fully lets of his past, Kai wants him in his life.
I loved Kai. The entire book is written from his point of view, in the first person, (more on that) so we get to feel his thought processes, yes, FEEL, them. We get to go through all of Kai's thinking about how to get Jamie, how to keep him, and most importantly, how to love Jamie in a way Jamie can accept.
Its well written, with sweet scenes between Kai and Jamie as they learn what works for them, and Jamie grows more confident with Jamie. It deals with some very difficult subjects so I've filed it on the over 18 shelf, BUT I've also filed in on the Young Adult shlef. Odd?? yes. But I've filed it over 18 ONLY because of the subject it deals with. The book is almost clean, some kissing and touching, thats all.
Tristan Wright narrates this book, and he has a young voice, suited well to telling the tale of an 18 yr old boy dealing with things that some adults would struggle. His (American) accent isn't too strong, and he keeps his tone clear and even, meaning I got every single word. The distinction between the characters is obvious, making a smooth transition when having a conversation with multiple characters. I should like to hear him read something else, but I can only find more YA books.
The only thing I can fault it on is we ONLY hear from Kai. Jamie really needed to have his say.
5 Fangs, excellent story and extremely well narrated.
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
Read
October 22, 2013I don't think I can rate this. Sorry, but I can't do it. I'll tell you why in a rant and not much of a review below.
I can also say that I HATED Mandy. I wanted to backhand her a bunch of times to tell her to keep her mouth shut.
I LOVED Charlie/Chuck :) He made me smile.
The constant use of "dude" was a little much. Especially during declarations of love. "I love you, dude". Yeah, cause that sounds sincere. Yeah, yeah, they are a couple of 18 year olds, but in my opinion, Jamie and Kai were more mature than the average 18 year old.
The ending
I will say this I LOVED Kai's Music Intervention!!!! The way he sat down and really thought about his playlists was amazing and heartfelt. I also loved Kai's relationship with his parents :) Open, honest, and communicative! I loved it.
I can also say that I HATED Mandy. I wanted to backhand her a bunch of times to tell her to keep her mouth shut.
I LOVED Charlie/Chuck :) He made me smile.
The constant use of "dude" was a little much. Especially during declarations of love. "I love you, dude". Yeah, cause that sounds sincere. Yeah, yeah, they are a couple of 18 year olds, but in my opinion, Jamie and Kai were more mature than the average 18 year old.
The ending
I will say this I LOVED Kai's Music Intervention!!!! The way he sat down and really thought about his playlists was amazing and heartfelt. I also loved Kai's relationship with his parents :) Open, honest, and communicative! I loved it.
November 9, 2013
I have a hard time reading books containing incest. The subject matter is a heinous one and I laud author Mia Kerick for attempting to tackle it in her newest book. When I got to the first part in Intervention where the history of incest was clearly stated, I didn’t think I’d be able to read the book. But, I pressed on. I’m not sure if it had to do with the skilled way in which Ms. Kerick wrote it or my determination to get through a troubling story. I say all this to be sure you know where I was while reading Intervention.
See the entire 3.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire 3.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
October 18, 2013
I liked how music was used to reach out to another person and convey emotions, a nicely done and moving dimension of the story. Otherwise, I think this was not the right book for me since I could not relate to or accept how the plot unfolded; particularly, one painful event in the climax seemed unnecessarily cruel to happen again, followed by a rather abrupt ending.
February 25, 2016
This was so good.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
October 20, 2013
Excellent story, despite the extreme overuse of the word "dude."
October 27, 2014
Full Review http://thebloggergirls.com/2014/09/14...
Kai is a high school senior who plays music at a local coffee shop when not in school. He’s planning on going to the local university for musical theory and is incredibly talented. He meets Jamie, a waiter at the coffee house and a college freshman, and is instantly attracted to the snarky, solitary boy.
Over several weeks Kai is rebuffed by Jamie time and again, and just when he thinks he’s finally going to give up on Jamie, he saves Jamie from a beating by Jamie’s older brother, Evan.
It turns out that Evan has been doing a hell of lot more than just beating Jamie, and it has caused Jamie to be the surly, reclusive boy that he is.
Kai, with the help of his way-cool older brother, Chuck, devise a plan to help Jamie “recover” by conducting a “musical intervention”. In other words, Kai plays set-lists each night that tell Jamie it’s ok to hurt, ok to be angry, ok to need help, ok to find new love and ok to stand up and tell the truth.
Over time, Kai wins Jamie’s trust and the two get romantically involved. With Kai’s and Chuck’s help they even convince Jamie to confront his family with the awful truth and help Jamie to move out and away from the horror.
**
First, all hail the awesome cover. It is really eye catching and tells its own story. Awesome.
Now understand, this is a YA book, so it has some features that separate it from an “adult” book. (That sounds creepier than it is, but you know what I mean.) First, though Kai is very sexually active, the boys only have what is essentially hinted-at sex. Almost fade to black, but not quite that pristine.
Also, the audience is clearly not adults. Kai calls Jamie Dude, or Buddy, or Bud, ad-nauseam, to the point that, for a grown-up reader, it can be really distracting, and feels detached or unemotional. Also, the music referenced is fairly modern, and without knowledge of the lyrics, some of the meaning to be found in the “intervention” is lost. Mia does a fairly good job of summing up the lyrics for the reader, but I think if you know the songs the book has more meaning.
Another issue I ran into was the “slang”. I’m not sure if it was done intentionally or not, but anyways is used frequently. Not just in dialog, spoken by the teens, but in the paragraphs of explanation, that is not dialog. This is a pet-peeve of mine, and it definitely brought me out of the story.
There were times when I felt like the horror Jamie experienced was a little down-played, but it’s hard to know whether that was intentional or not. Was it just the way a “boy” would deal with this (meaning Kai) or was it a way to make the story a little more palatble? I’m not sure. It was a great topic to face for the YA audience, and in a way, I can understand the “lessening of the blow” to ease the reader into the topic.
I also can’t say I agreed with the way Evan’s confession and subsequent “compromise” was handled – you’ll have to read it to see what I mean – but I think that when someone confesses to crimes this heinous, jail time is deserved, family or not. I know Jamie was concerned for his father’s health, but really?
I loved Kai’s internal dialog, funny, smart and sincere. I also loved Chuck and the rest of Kai’s family, how they helped to support Kai and in turn showed Jamie what a healthy family looked like.
The relationship between Jamie and Kai was also a strong point in favor of the story. I appreciated what each brought to the relationship. Kai grew a lot and his high self esteem, great family, and glowing optimism for the future was exactly what someone with Jamie’s past needed to heal.
I think, in the end, if you have suffered from abuse/know someone who has, you will be interested in this story. If you are a young adult, you will find something in this story for you. If you love music and current music especially, there’s something in this story for you. All in all, I was pleased with the book, and if I had been (ahem) several years (dare I say decades) younger, I would probably have really loved this book.
Audio review:
Tristan Wright was the “right” guy for this narration. (See what I did there?) He did an excellent job. He had several different voices he used to great effect, and even his female voices were good. The sound quality was excellent and the teen-speak was perfect.
I had enjoyed Tristan Wright’s narration of Superhero by Eli Easton and would look for him in the future as a good narrator, especially for youngish guys.
I give the book a 3.5 of 5 stars, the narration a 5 of 5 stars for an overall of 4.5 of 5 stars.
Overall Impression:
4.0 stars I really liked it!
*I received a copy of this audio book from the author/publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
Kai is a high school senior who plays music at a local coffee shop when not in school. He’s planning on going to the local university for musical theory and is incredibly talented. He meets Jamie, a waiter at the coffee house and a college freshman, and is instantly attracted to the snarky, solitary boy.
Over several weeks Kai is rebuffed by Jamie time and again, and just when he thinks he’s finally going to give up on Jamie, he saves Jamie from a beating by Jamie’s older brother, Evan.
It turns out that Evan has been doing a hell of lot more than just beating Jamie, and it has caused Jamie to be the surly, reclusive boy that he is.
Kai, with the help of his way-cool older brother, Chuck, devise a plan to help Jamie “recover” by conducting a “musical intervention”. In other words, Kai plays set-lists each night that tell Jamie it’s ok to hurt, ok to be angry, ok to need help, ok to find new love and ok to stand up and tell the truth.
Over time, Kai wins Jamie’s trust and the two get romantically involved. With Kai’s and Chuck’s help they even convince Jamie to confront his family with the awful truth and help Jamie to move out and away from the horror.
**
First, all hail the awesome cover. It is really eye catching and tells its own story. Awesome.
Now understand, this is a YA book, so it has some features that separate it from an “adult” book. (That sounds creepier than it is, but you know what I mean.) First, though Kai is very sexually active, the boys only have what is essentially hinted-at sex. Almost fade to black, but not quite that pristine.
Also, the audience is clearly not adults. Kai calls Jamie Dude, or Buddy, or Bud, ad-nauseam, to the point that, for a grown-up reader, it can be really distracting, and feels detached or unemotional. Also, the music referenced is fairly modern, and without knowledge of the lyrics, some of the meaning to be found in the “intervention” is lost. Mia does a fairly good job of summing up the lyrics for the reader, but I think if you know the songs the book has more meaning.
Another issue I ran into was the “slang”. I’m not sure if it was done intentionally or not, but anyways is used frequently. Not just in dialog, spoken by the teens, but in the paragraphs of explanation, that is not dialog. This is a pet-peeve of mine, and it definitely brought me out of the story.
There were times when I felt like the horror Jamie experienced was a little down-played, but it’s hard to know whether that was intentional or not. Was it just the way a “boy” would deal with this (meaning Kai) or was it a way to make the story a little more palatble? I’m not sure. It was a great topic to face for the YA audience, and in a way, I can understand the “lessening of the blow” to ease the reader into the topic.
I also can’t say I agreed with the way Evan’s confession and subsequent “compromise” was handled – you’ll have to read it to see what I mean – but I think that when someone confesses to crimes this heinous, jail time is deserved, family or not. I know Jamie was concerned for his father’s health, but really?
I loved Kai’s internal dialog, funny, smart and sincere. I also loved Chuck and the rest of Kai’s family, how they helped to support Kai and in turn showed Jamie what a healthy family looked like.
The relationship between Jamie and Kai was also a strong point in favor of the story. I appreciated what each brought to the relationship. Kai grew a lot and his high self esteem, great family, and glowing optimism for the future was exactly what someone with Jamie’s past needed to heal.
I think, in the end, if you have suffered from abuse/know someone who has, you will be interested in this story. If you are a young adult, you will find something in this story for you. If you love music and current music especially, there’s something in this story for you. All in all, I was pleased with the book, and if I had been (ahem) several years (dare I say decades) younger, I would probably have really loved this book.
Audio review:
Tristan Wright was the “right” guy for this narration. (See what I did there?) He did an excellent job. He had several different voices he used to great effect, and even his female voices were good. The sound quality was excellent and the teen-speak was perfect.
I had enjoyed Tristan Wright’s narration of Superhero by Eli Easton and would look for him in the future as a good narrator, especially for youngish guys.
I give the book a 3.5 of 5 stars, the narration a 5 of 5 stars for an overall of 4.5 of 5 stars.
Overall Impression:
4.0 stars I really liked it!
*I received a copy of this audio book from the author/publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
October 29, 2013
I've read and enjoyed Mia Kerick's novels before, so I eagerly picked up Intervention with a certain set of expectations. Not only did she surpass them, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find out it was for a younger audience. She treated the characters' ordeal with such understanding tenderness and formed her protagonists with an endearing sensitivity that even readers of adult gay fiction would have resonated with - it didn't matter that this was for a more tween demographic, it was a great read regardless!
Kai Seashell Manter, despite the flower-child name his hippie parents bestowed upon him, is a very lucky dude. His musically inclined parents managed to raise three children into a close-knit family while following the Grateful Dead around, eventually settling down in Hartwick, Massachusetts to teach music in Dascomb Arts University (DAU). All his siblings are musically inclined: Ella on piano, now an art teacher at a local high school after she married; and Charlie, who Kai considers his best friend and whom he positively adores, is a master of woodwind instruments and a senior majoring in Music Education at DAU. Kai's singing talent shines when he's strumming Sheila (his guitar), or when he configures his Yamaha to sound like a baby grand. This lands Kai a regular gig at the popular DAU cafe Coed Joe's, where Kai's good looks and sweet pipes also land him a string of boyfriends that feed the burgeoning passions of a young gay man about to hit his prime. Then the gorgeous Goth waiter Jamie "Pretty Vacant" Arlotta walked into Kai's line of sight. At first Jamie's 180° switches between Sweet Jamie and Bitchy Jamie were intriguing (albeit annoying), but when Kai found out Jamie was coping with being repeatedly abused sexually by an older stepbrother, Kai is moved to help - and in helping has fallen deeper for the college freshman than any casual relationship he's had in the past. How does Kai reach the frightened boy with the nasty protective armor and the trauma-riddled life? Music was Kai's talent, and music was what he would use to intervene.
I am amazed at how deftly Mia Kerick manages to incorporate a main character suffering from repeated sexual abuse into a YA novel and get the character to the end of the story without compromising her younger audience or dumbing down the story. I had mentioned I was not aware of the intended demographic for Intervention until I started writing this review - I think however that even in an adult fiction her character Jamie would have fit in just fine. To me that proves Mia Kerick is an expert in creating damaged characters that strive for better than the treatment they got. The interesting premise to me in this story is that Ms. Kerick paired her broken protagonist with a polar opposite. Despite an onset of hormones peaking, Kai actually seems like a really sweet guy, and his elder brother Charlie (Chuck as Kai calls him) sounds the complete opposite of Jamie's stepbrother. That pairing helped diffuse the gritty ugliness of Jamie's suffering - with the story's point of view entirely Kai's, he could guess but not clearly conceive what Jamie went through, and his efforts to help are generous and caring, making Jamie's ordeal palatable to the younger audience and endearing both characters to the reader. The other unexpected delight that surprised me was my reaction to the list of songs Kai would sing at Coed Joe's to reach Jaime - with just the titles of songs, or just describing the gist of a song's message as it related to Jamie's plight, the author moved me and helped me imagine how Kai managed to get through to Jamie. There was a point in the story when Kai was actually making inroads helping Jamie with his predicament that Jamie hit a bad setback, and emotionally 'slammed the door' on Kai's help and good intentions. The songs Kai sang as described by the author had my eyes welling up and reaching for the tissues - I probably let out a sob or two by the time he finished and I laughed at myself for being moved so.
Of course I recommend this book to the intended YA audience! I would even recommend it to all other readers of various demographics who enjoy contemporary romances. A character-driven story with endearing protagonists, Intervention helped me see the widening range of troubled teens Ms. Kerick could create, and as this one rockets up the charts, I hope to see more of her work in the future.
Kai Seashell Manter, despite the flower-child name his hippie parents bestowed upon him, is a very lucky dude. His musically inclined parents managed to raise three children into a close-knit family while following the Grateful Dead around, eventually settling down in Hartwick, Massachusetts to teach music in Dascomb Arts University (DAU). All his siblings are musically inclined: Ella on piano, now an art teacher at a local high school after she married; and Charlie, who Kai considers his best friend and whom he positively adores, is a master of woodwind instruments and a senior majoring in Music Education at DAU. Kai's singing talent shines when he's strumming Sheila (his guitar), or when he configures his Yamaha to sound like a baby grand. This lands Kai a regular gig at the popular DAU cafe Coed Joe's, where Kai's good looks and sweet pipes also land him a string of boyfriends that feed the burgeoning passions of a young gay man about to hit his prime. Then the gorgeous Goth waiter Jamie "Pretty Vacant" Arlotta walked into Kai's line of sight. At first Jamie's 180° switches between Sweet Jamie and Bitchy Jamie were intriguing (albeit annoying), but when Kai found out Jamie was coping with being repeatedly abused sexually by an older stepbrother, Kai is moved to help - and in helping has fallen deeper for the college freshman than any casual relationship he's had in the past. How does Kai reach the frightened boy with the nasty protective armor and the trauma-riddled life? Music was Kai's talent, and music was what he would use to intervene.
I am amazed at how deftly Mia Kerick manages to incorporate a main character suffering from repeated sexual abuse into a YA novel and get the character to the end of the story without compromising her younger audience or dumbing down the story. I had mentioned I was not aware of the intended demographic for Intervention until I started writing this review - I think however that even in an adult fiction her character Jamie would have fit in just fine. To me that proves Mia Kerick is an expert in creating damaged characters that strive for better than the treatment they got. The interesting premise to me in this story is that Ms. Kerick paired her broken protagonist with a polar opposite. Despite an onset of hormones peaking, Kai actually seems like a really sweet guy, and his elder brother Charlie (Chuck as Kai calls him) sounds the complete opposite of Jamie's stepbrother. That pairing helped diffuse the gritty ugliness of Jamie's suffering - with the story's point of view entirely Kai's, he could guess but not clearly conceive what Jamie went through, and his efforts to help are generous and caring, making Jamie's ordeal palatable to the younger audience and endearing both characters to the reader. The other unexpected delight that surprised me was my reaction to the list of songs Kai would sing at Coed Joe's to reach Jaime - with just the titles of songs, or just describing the gist of a song's message as it related to Jamie's plight, the author moved me and helped me imagine how Kai managed to get through to Jamie. There was a point in the story when Kai was actually making inroads helping Jamie with his predicament that Jamie hit a bad setback, and emotionally 'slammed the door' on Kai's help and good intentions. The songs Kai sang as described by the author had my eyes welling up and reaching for the tissues - I probably let out a sob or two by the time he finished and I laughed at myself for being moved so.
Of course I recommend this book to the intended YA audience! I would even recommend it to all other readers of various demographics who enjoy contemporary romances. A character-driven story with endearing protagonists, Intervention helped me see the widening range of troubled teens Ms. Kerick could create, and as this one rockets up the charts, I hope to see more of her work in the future.
November 3, 2014
High school senior Kai Manter, a musician at a popular campus cafe is out, proud, and overly confident. When he turns his sights on Jamie Arlotta, a usually quiet, ill-tempered coworker and college freshman, he believes his interest will be easily reciprocated. After all, that's how it's always been for Kai. Jamie proves differently. His troubled past with a sexually abusive step-brother has left him wary and broken in ways Kai can't possibly understand, but he wants to. Trying to figure out a way to get through to the hardened Jamie when he doesn't seem to have a lick of interest in anything coming out of Kai's mouth certainly won't be easy, but Kai has to try. A musical intervention just might be the thing to get Jamie to finally listen, but that doesn't mean it'll be enough to heal the past and present wounds.
Intervention was the first Young Adult I'd picked up in a while. Perhaps nothing had caught my interest in that genre enough to get me reading, or maybe I'd been too focused in on the more adult side of novels. Either way, I'm happy something about the blurb caught my attention and I gave it a chance. I have to say, the novel was the first ever YA GLBT I've ever read, also, so that's something new to add to my list as well. Interestingly enough ... while I'm at it, I should point out this was the first audiobook I've listened to. I prefer ebooks or, even better, a physical copy in my hands, so I wasn't quite sure how this was going to work out for me reading/listening wise. However, once I figured out the speed of the reader I preferred, and settled in, I really enjoyed listening.
Kai and Jamie are both interestingly complex characters, and complete and total opposites. They just are. From their styles, to their lives, to their attitudes, behaviors, and outlooks, the two guys are just at way separate ends of the spectrum. Given Jamie's bringing up compared to the much more open, lax way Kai was allowed to spread his proverbial wings in a healthy, honest way, it's not really a far stretch when it comes to wondering why. Some readers might find Jamie to be ... without sounding completely insensitive ... juvenile. In some ways, a lot of them, he is. Mentally, emotionally, he's definitely stuck at a younger age because of the experiences with his step-brother. Frankly, that's a more truthful and real approach for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse than most people realize. Once that situation takes place, it's happened. There is no magic wand to wave and make it go away. It's a personal and public struggle a person battles with for the rest of their life. I was incredibly impressed the author didn't simply wave that wand and make Jamie all better. He had to work, and he still has to work to get better beyond the happily ever after the story provides.
By no means is this story a easy read. There's some trigger warnings that should be taken into account. Jamie is so tragically broken you can't help but want to shield him from everything. Kai just happens to be the one person willing to take on that giant task and get the job done.
I genuinely enjoyed reading Intervention. I thought the story and characters were relate-able for their age group and situations. I felt the author handled the *many* difficult topics in the novel with care, sensitivity, and understanding, but not necessarily with a kid gloves sort of attitude that would have totally turned me off. As the title and blurb suggests, there's quite a bit of musical suggestion and influence to the story, so that gives it an added appeal as well. And as for the narrator, that was a great choice in voice to read this tale. He was perfect for it, really.
This audiobook has me scrolling through the lists for my next read/listen from audible. Well done to the author.
Intervention was the first Young Adult I'd picked up in a while. Perhaps nothing had caught my interest in that genre enough to get me reading, or maybe I'd been too focused in on the more adult side of novels. Either way, I'm happy something about the blurb caught my attention and I gave it a chance. I have to say, the novel was the first ever YA GLBT I've ever read, also, so that's something new to add to my list as well. Interestingly enough ... while I'm at it, I should point out this was the first audiobook I've listened to. I prefer ebooks or, even better, a physical copy in my hands, so I wasn't quite sure how this was going to work out for me reading/listening wise. However, once I figured out the speed of the reader I preferred, and settled in, I really enjoyed listening.
Kai and Jamie are both interestingly complex characters, and complete and total opposites. They just are. From their styles, to their lives, to their attitudes, behaviors, and outlooks, the two guys are just at way separate ends of the spectrum. Given Jamie's bringing up compared to the much more open, lax way Kai was allowed to spread his proverbial wings in a healthy, honest way, it's not really a far stretch when it comes to wondering why. Some readers might find Jamie to be ... without sounding completely insensitive ... juvenile. In some ways, a lot of them, he is. Mentally, emotionally, he's definitely stuck at a younger age because of the experiences with his step-brother. Frankly, that's a more truthful and real approach for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse than most people realize. Once that situation takes place, it's happened. There is no magic wand to wave and make it go away. It's a personal and public struggle a person battles with for the rest of their life. I was incredibly impressed the author didn't simply wave that wand and make Jamie all better. He had to work, and he still has to work to get better beyond the happily ever after the story provides.
By no means is this story a easy read. There's some trigger warnings that should be taken into account. Jamie is so tragically broken you can't help but want to shield him from everything. Kai just happens to be the one person willing to take on that giant task and get the job done.
I genuinely enjoyed reading Intervention. I thought the story and characters were relate-able for their age group and situations. I felt the author handled the *many* difficult topics in the novel with care, sensitivity, and understanding, but not necessarily with a kid gloves sort of attitude that would have totally turned me off. As the title and blurb suggests, there's quite a bit of musical suggestion and influence to the story, so that gives it an added appeal as well. And as for the narrator, that was a great choice in voice to read this tale. He was perfect for it, really.
This audiobook has me scrolling through the lists for my next read/listen from audible. Well done to the author.
January 13, 2014
B+
There is one thing I love just as much as I love books and reading and that is music.
So when a good book comes with a great playlist, I am in my element.
This is an honest story about two boys in very different places in life, with a lot of healing and growing to do.
Kai is an adorable character, I love being inside his head. He had a very unconventional upbringing, with hippie parents. He had a very happy childhood, a loving family. He is a very sincere guy, and up until meeting Jamie he enjoyed his life and his sexuality in a very open way, just as horny as the next boy. Taking his relationships very lightly, with one bad breakup in his past he is trying to move forward.
Jamie, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He is a very complex character, with so many layers to his personality. He goes from cold to hot. Angry Jamie, to sweet, to frightened Jamie and everything in between.
Music is Kai's way into Jamie's heart. The way he has to break those walls Jamie put up and see what's going on behind them, who the real Jamie is. It takes awhile, some serious effort on Kai's part but he gets past them and what he finds is a broken boy, stuck in an abusive relationship, a prisoner of his own fears and demons.
I loved the slow burn of this story, the pace was perfect. You can't rush the healing process of a broken boy. Kai's patience is a key element in this story. He is not good with words but music speaks for him.
He can show Jamie that his love is sincere and that he is in for the long run. Something that neither Jamie nor Kai have experienced before, love and intimacy beyond sex.
There are mentions of sexual abuse, you should be prepared for that. You will be so invested in Kai and Jamie's relationship that it will break your heart to read it.
The family unit, Kai's family, was amazing. I love them, especially his brother Charlie. They are not just brothers but best friends, confidants. Charlie is Kai's rock when he needs him most, completely unconditional.
As a YA book I think the author deals with the difficult issues in a way that is real but not crude. The boys are turning into adults, they are learning to do that together. They have adversities that they must overcome, but it's all part of the same process.
This coming of age story will warm your heart, bring love and music into your life. I found myself going over my playlist, on my phone as I have most of the songs Kai plays, and listening to them while reading. I recommend you try that, it will be a completely different reading experience.
I will leave you with one of the many fabulous songs Mia Kerick chose to be part of her book.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OAOdq...]
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
There is one thing I love just as much as I love books and reading and that is music.
So when a good book comes with a great playlist, I am in my element.
This is an honest story about two boys in very different places in life, with a lot of healing and growing to do.
Kai is an adorable character, I love being inside his head. He had a very unconventional upbringing, with hippie parents. He had a very happy childhood, a loving family. He is a very sincere guy, and up until meeting Jamie he enjoyed his life and his sexuality in a very open way, just as horny as the next boy. Taking his relationships very lightly, with one bad breakup in his past he is trying to move forward.
Jamie, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He is a very complex character, with so many layers to his personality. He goes from cold to hot. Angry Jamie, to sweet, to frightened Jamie and everything in between.
Music is Kai's way into Jamie's heart. The way he has to break those walls Jamie put up and see what's going on behind them, who the real Jamie is. It takes awhile, some serious effort on Kai's part but he gets past them and what he finds is a broken boy, stuck in an abusive relationship, a prisoner of his own fears and demons.
I loved the slow burn of this story, the pace was perfect. You can't rush the healing process of a broken boy. Kai's patience is a key element in this story. He is not good with words but music speaks for him.
He can show Jamie that his love is sincere and that he is in for the long run. Something that neither Jamie nor Kai have experienced before, love and intimacy beyond sex.
“But when all was said and done,
the love between us in the little bed,
as well as in our hearts,
was so real I could practically touch it.”
There are mentions of sexual abuse, you should be prepared for that. You will be so invested in Kai and Jamie's relationship that it will break your heart to read it.
The family unit, Kai's family, was amazing. I love them, especially his brother Charlie. They are not just brothers but best friends, confidants. Charlie is Kai's rock when he needs him most, completely unconditional.
As a YA book I think the author deals with the difficult issues in a way that is real but not crude. The boys are turning into adults, they are learning to do that together. They have adversities that they must overcome, but it's all part of the same process.
This coming of age story will warm your heart, bring love and music into your life. I found myself going over my playlist, on my phone as I have most of the songs Kai plays, and listening to them while reading. I recommend you try that, it will be a completely different reading experience.
I will leave you with one of the many fabulous songs Mia Kerick chose to be part of her book.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OAOdq...]
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
November 1, 2013
A couple of cute guys (a promiscuous rock musician and a troubled artist) involved in an angsty romance? After reading the blurb on the back of Mia Kerick’s latest novel, I had only three words to say, “sign me up.”
In brief, it tells the story of Kai, a young musician who uses music to reach out to Jamie, a troubled waiter at the coffee shop where he performs. At first blush, it would seem that the character who undergoes the most dramatic transformation over the course of the story is the standoffish Jamie, who must overcome serious emotional damage from years of sexual abuse at the hands of his stepbrother, Evan. But upon more careful scrutiny, one can see that it’s Kai who grows and matures the most. He starts out an arrogant, irresponsible playboy and ends up a caring, mature and devoted lover. Their slow burning romance is one of the story’s chief attractions and, if you like a good hurt-comfort yarn, you will not be disappointed here.
But it isn’t only her two leads that fascinate. All of Kerick’s characters are fairly well defined and distinctive. I especially enjoyed Kai’s hippie family; his older brother Chuck, in particular. As a matter of fact, it would have been nice to see his part expanded a bit so the reader could know more about his own life beyond merely the relationship with his brother and Jamie. And of course there’s the musical element, which is at the very heart of the tale. It’s clear Kerick is a music lover, as evidenced by the carefully curated selection of modern pop tunes she’s chosen for Kai’s “musical intervention.” As a music lover myself, as well as a pop-culture fan in general, this proved to be one of the book’s most entertaining elements. It helps if you’re familiar with the multitude of songs referenced here, but most of them are so popular it’s likely that the average reader will know at least some, if not all, of them.
Since I generally tend to avoid romance fiction, I was (as always) somewhat put off by the overabundance of corny, adoring exchanges between Kerick’s protagonists, [believe me, there’s enough schmaltz here to make a mountain of matzoh balls!]. I'd go as far as to say half of those scenes could easily be cut without damaging the story as a whole. But that well-worn romance trope was mercifully offset by the darker themes explored through Jamie’s relationship with Evan. And, be warned, it gets very dark indeed.
But caveats aside, I believe that readers of M/M Romance and Gay YA will most assuredly be charmed by Intervention.
Three and a half stars.
In brief, it tells the story of Kai, a young musician who uses music to reach out to Jamie, a troubled waiter at the coffee shop where he performs. At first blush, it would seem that the character who undergoes the most dramatic transformation over the course of the story is the standoffish Jamie, who must overcome serious emotional damage from years of sexual abuse at the hands of his stepbrother, Evan. But upon more careful scrutiny, one can see that it’s Kai who grows and matures the most. He starts out an arrogant, irresponsible playboy and ends up a caring, mature and devoted lover. Their slow burning romance is one of the story’s chief attractions and, if you like a good hurt-comfort yarn, you will not be disappointed here.
But it isn’t only her two leads that fascinate. All of Kerick’s characters are fairly well defined and distinctive. I especially enjoyed Kai’s hippie family; his older brother Chuck, in particular. As a matter of fact, it would have been nice to see his part expanded a bit so the reader could know more about his own life beyond merely the relationship with his brother and Jamie. And of course there’s the musical element, which is at the very heart of the tale. It’s clear Kerick is a music lover, as evidenced by the carefully curated selection of modern pop tunes she’s chosen for Kai’s “musical intervention.” As a music lover myself, as well as a pop-culture fan in general, this proved to be one of the book’s most entertaining elements. It helps if you’re familiar with the multitude of songs referenced here, but most of them are so popular it’s likely that the average reader will know at least some, if not all, of them.
Since I generally tend to avoid romance fiction, I was (as always) somewhat put off by the overabundance of corny, adoring exchanges between Kerick’s protagonists, [believe me, there’s enough schmaltz here to make a mountain of matzoh balls!]. I'd go as far as to say half of those scenes could easily be cut without damaging the story as a whole. But that well-worn romance trope was mercifully offset by the darker themes explored through Jamie’s relationship with Evan. And, be warned, it gets very dark indeed.
But caveats aside, I believe that readers of M/M Romance and Gay YA will most assuredly be charmed by Intervention.
Three and a half stars.
November 18, 2013
Touching but difficult to read
*NOTE: I received a free review copy of this story.*
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- I found the story very romantic, but not in a mushy, hearts-and-roses sort of way. In a modern, awkward-but-well-intentioned, teenaged sort of way.
- Jamie is a tragic character, and Kai describes him in heartbreaking terms that somehow manage not to turn Jamie into a wimp. The overall feeling I was left with was compassion rather than pity, and I very much wanted Kai’s plan to make Jamie’s life happier succeed.
- Kai has an interesting voice. The bluntness with which he relates the events of the story creates a unique personality that probably wouldn’t have come across as well if the story had been told in third person.
- I loved seeing Kai’s attitude toward physical intimacy change as he fell in love. This is perhaps my favorite line from the book: “I freaking cherished his body, just because it was where his spirit lived.”
CONS:
- Kai makes ample use of the word “dude,” which began to annoy me very early on and was slightly crazy-making by the end. I’m not sure whether I’m woefully out of touch with teenagers or Kerick was trying just a little too hard to make her protagonist sound young and hip, but I really wanted Kai to use pronouns and/or the characters’ names more often. Example: “There was a lot I still wanted to communicate to the dude.” This is just one of many, many instances when “him” or “Jamie” would have sounded less forced to me.
- Kai’s passion for music is well-described, but much of the description relies on telling the titles of songs he’s playing. If you’re not familiar with the songs, then parts of the book won’t hold much import for you because some of the emotional impact of Kai’s singing them for Jamie relies on knowledge of the lyrics, which Kerick does not always include. Here’s an example: “The second I sat my [rear] behind the keyboard, I dove right into ‘Broken,’ by Lifehouse, for obvious reasons.” Well, I don’t know this song, so the reasons weren’t obvious to me.
Overall comments: This is a touching (and at times heartbreaking) look at a damaged soul who is trying to open up to the world but doesn’t know how--and about the young man who is patient enough to wait while it happens. However (possible slight SPOILER here), if you are a rape victim or know someone who is, this might be very difficult for you to get through. It was for me.
*NOTE: I received a free review copy of this story.*
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- I found the story very romantic, but not in a mushy, hearts-and-roses sort of way. In a modern, awkward-but-well-intentioned, teenaged sort of way.
- Jamie is a tragic character, and Kai describes him in heartbreaking terms that somehow manage not to turn Jamie into a wimp. The overall feeling I was left with was compassion rather than pity, and I very much wanted Kai’s plan to make Jamie’s life happier succeed.
- Kai has an interesting voice. The bluntness with which he relates the events of the story creates a unique personality that probably wouldn’t have come across as well if the story had been told in third person.
- I loved seeing Kai’s attitude toward physical intimacy change as he fell in love. This is perhaps my favorite line from the book: “I freaking cherished his body, just because it was where his spirit lived.”
CONS:
- Kai makes ample use of the word “dude,” which began to annoy me very early on and was slightly crazy-making by the end. I’m not sure whether I’m woefully out of touch with teenagers or Kerick was trying just a little too hard to make her protagonist sound young and hip, but I really wanted Kai to use pronouns and/or the characters’ names more often. Example: “There was a lot I still wanted to communicate to the dude.” This is just one of many, many instances when “him” or “Jamie” would have sounded less forced to me.
- Kai’s passion for music is well-described, but much of the description relies on telling the titles of songs he’s playing. If you’re not familiar with the songs, then parts of the book won’t hold much import for you because some of the emotional impact of Kai’s singing them for Jamie relies on knowledge of the lyrics, which Kerick does not always include. Here’s an example: “The second I sat my [rear] behind the keyboard, I dove right into ‘Broken,’ by Lifehouse, for obvious reasons.” Well, I don’t know this song, so the reasons weren’t obvious to me.
Overall comments: This is a touching (and at times heartbreaking) look at a damaged soul who is trying to open up to the world but doesn’t know how--and about the young man who is patient enough to wait while it happens. However (possible slight SPOILER here), if you are a rape victim or know someone who is, this might be very difficult for you to get through. It was for me.
March 16, 2014
It’s said that time is the great healer, but love can be every bit as powerful when it comes to mending the soul. This is certainly the case for one of the heroes in this poignant coming of age tale by Mia Kerick. Written with real tenderness, and featuring a protagonist whose voice grabbed my attention from the opening sentences, this is one of those novels that made me feel all warm and tingly inside. It left me with the belief that, no matter how damaged or embittered a person may be, there is always hope, the chance that things will get better.
High school senior Kai Manter—talented, confident, and sexy as hell—is unaccustomed to guys turning him down. Moreover, his evening shifts playing gigs at the popular college café, Coed Joe’s, earns him plenty of male admiration. Therefore, when he sets his sights on Jamie Arlotta, his beautiful but unapproachable coworker, Kai fully expects his advances to yield some no-strings-attached sex. Nothing could have prepared him for the vehemence of Jamie’s hostility, or that this rejection would arouse in him a single-minded determination to gain Jamie’s trust.
With the aid of music, his most comfortable mode of expression, Kai reaches out to Jamie. He assures him that he understands he’s in pain, that he wants to be there for him. Little by little, Kai coaxes Jamie into opening up, and soon learns that he has deep-rooted issues, planted there by years of sexual abuse. It also becomes clear that he is fast losing his heart to the broken young man. Kai has no idea whether Jamie will ever heal sufficiently to return his feelings, but the one thing he does know is that he has to do whatever it takes to help him.
What appealed to me most about 'Intervention' was that it’s primarily a story of character development. As the narrative opens, Kai is a cocksure young man whose main concern, besides his music, is scoring his next quick lay. Jamie, on the other hand, is an emotional wreck, who uses his bitchy tongue as a weapon to hold people at arm’s length. The more deeply Kai falls in love, the more I realized the self-assurance conceals a genuine kindness, and the patience with which he draws Jamie out, gradually revealing the sweetness beneath the animosity, truly touched me.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and Boys on the Brink
High school senior Kai Manter—talented, confident, and sexy as hell—is unaccustomed to guys turning him down. Moreover, his evening shifts playing gigs at the popular college café, Coed Joe’s, earns him plenty of male admiration. Therefore, when he sets his sights on Jamie Arlotta, his beautiful but unapproachable coworker, Kai fully expects his advances to yield some no-strings-attached sex. Nothing could have prepared him for the vehemence of Jamie’s hostility, or that this rejection would arouse in him a single-minded determination to gain Jamie’s trust.
With the aid of music, his most comfortable mode of expression, Kai reaches out to Jamie. He assures him that he understands he’s in pain, that he wants to be there for him. Little by little, Kai coaxes Jamie into opening up, and soon learns that he has deep-rooted issues, planted there by years of sexual abuse. It also becomes clear that he is fast losing his heart to the broken young man. Kai has no idea whether Jamie will ever heal sufficiently to return his feelings, but the one thing he does know is that he has to do whatever it takes to help him.
What appealed to me most about 'Intervention' was that it’s primarily a story of character development. As the narrative opens, Kai is a cocksure young man whose main concern, besides his music, is scoring his next quick lay. Jamie, on the other hand, is an emotional wreck, who uses his bitchy tongue as a weapon to hold people at arm’s length. The more deeply Kai falls in love, the more I realized the self-assurance conceals a genuine kindness, and the patience with which he draws Jamie out, gradually revealing the sweetness beneath the animosity, truly touched me.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and Boys on the Brink
July 19, 2015
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Kai Manter is a charming, self confident high school senior with a pair of latter-day hippies as parents and two supportive siblings. Musically gifted and good looking Kai is out and proud and brags in the first chapter about his last 10 conquests.
But then he spots Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university who works as a waiter at the coffee house where Kai sings. Jamie has earned the nickname "Pretty Vacant" due to his good looks and his stand-offish attitude with anyone that tries to be friendly.
Turns out that Jamie was molested by a step-brother who is still giving him problems though moving out of the family home has stopped the worst of it.
I really like both MC's. The relationship that irrepressible young gay musician Kai has with his older brother is just great.
However I'm had a bit of trouble with the whole "Music as Intervention" idea. As much as I believe in the power of music to grab and change one's emotions, the way it's used in this story, (and the many song titles) just seems a bit far-fetched to me. But it's integral to the story and if one can set that aside, the story is a really touching look at how these two come together to affect Jaimie's recovery.
Kudos to the author for making this more than just a "rescuing a tragic waif" tale. The way that Kai grew through this story really made it a worthwhile read. Also the feelings that Kai had toward the end when he wasn't needed as much for rescuing, rang true and made this a richer and deeper story.
Tristan Wright narrates the audio-book and does a great job with the many male voices. His energetic and optimistic interpretation of Kai and his meeker and more childlike voice for Jamie really worked well together. For the most part Tristan isn't too annoying when trying to voice the female characters. There is one crying female that got a bit grating but then I've never been good with crying women.
Tristan Wright also narrated the audio-book version of A Broken Kind of Life but THAT was stiff competition with Tyler Stevens having done such a phenomenal job with the adult version (Aaron)
Kai Manter is a charming, self confident high school senior with a pair of latter-day hippies as parents and two supportive siblings. Musically gifted and good looking Kai is out and proud and brags in the first chapter about his last 10 conquests.
But then he spots Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university who works as a waiter at the coffee house where Kai sings. Jamie has earned the nickname "Pretty Vacant" due to his good looks and his stand-offish attitude with anyone that tries to be friendly.
Turns out that Jamie was molested by a step-brother who is still giving him problems though moving out of the family home has stopped the worst of it.
I really like both MC's. The relationship that irrepressible young gay musician Kai has with his older brother is just great.
However I'm had a bit of trouble with the whole "Music as Intervention" idea. As much as I believe in the power of music to grab and change one's emotions, the way it's used in this story, (and the many song titles) just seems a bit far-fetched to me. But it's integral to the story and if one can set that aside, the story is a really touching look at how these two come together to affect Jaimie's recovery.
Kudos to the author for making this more than just a "rescuing a tragic waif" tale. The way that Kai grew through this story really made it a worthwhile read. Also the feelings that Kai had toward the end when he wasn't needed as much for rescuing, rang true and made this a richer and deeper story.
Tristan Wright narrates the audio-book and does a great job with the many male voices. His energetic and optimistic interpretation of Kai and his meeker and more childlike voice for Jamie really worked well together. For the most part Tristan isn't too annoying when trying to voice the female characters. There is one crying female that got a bit grating but then I've never been good with crying women.
Tristan Wright also narrated the audio-book version of A Broken Kind of Life but THAT was stiff competition with Tyler Stevens having done such a phenomenal job with the adult version (Aaron)
November 13, 2013
Synopsis:
As a musician at the popular college café Coed Joe’s, high school senior Kai Manter is never lacking for male attention. Out, proud, free-spirited, and sexually aware, Kai sets his sights on his darkly Gothic and undeniably bad-tempered coworker, Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university. Sporting long hair and alluring hippie style, Kai expects his interest will be reciprocated, with satisfying sex as the end goal. That’s what usually happens. But Jamie’s lessons in life have been harsher. Having been sexually abused by his older stepbrother for several years, Jamie has grown an impenetrable outer shell meant to keep the world at a safe distance.
Kai is angry at first when he takes the brunt of Jamie’s bad temper, but after Kai accidentally discovers the abuse Jamie has suffered, he wants to fix things. Kai’s plan is based on what he knows best—music—and he stages a “musical intervention” to let Jamie know he’s not alone and things can get better. When Jamie’s perspective changes and he emerges from his shell, Kai changes, too, gaining a whole new understanding of what sex can be when love is there too.
My Thoughts:
It was alright, but could have been better. I can't decide if it'd be more YA or NA. I guess NA what with all of the cursing. Very light on anything sexual, which was understandable considering what Jamie was dealing with. It had some sweet moments, but could be kind of cheesy at times. And after school special-y.
I liked Kai. He was pretty sweet. He tried not to be pushy, but sometimes, I just wanted him to chill. The best part of the book was seeing Jamie be who he really was. I was proud of Kai for being able to bring that out of him.
I hate Evan. He was just disgusting. Kai's ex Noah as a douche, too.
I'm not completely sure I'm happy with the way things played out in the end, but Jamie has to move on and heal at his on pace. I'm mostly just glad he has a pretty strong support system in the Manter clan.
As a musician at the popular college café Coed Joe’s, high school senior Kai Manter is never lacking for male attention. Out, proud, free-spirited, and sexually aware, Kai sets his sights on his darkly Gothic and undeniably bad-tempered coworker, Jamie Arlotta, a freshman at the local arts university. Sporting long hair and alluring hippie style, Kai expects his interest will be reciprocated, with satisfying sex as the end goal. That’s what usually happens. But Jamie’s lessons in life have been harsher. Having been sexually abused by his older stepbrother for several years, Jamie has grown an impenetrable outer shell meant to keep the world at a safe distance.
Kai is angry at first when he takes the brunt of Jamie’s bad temper, but after Kai accidentally discovers the abuse Jamie has suffered, he wants to fix things. Kai’s plan is based on what he knows best—music—and he stages a “musical intervention” to let Jamie know he’s not alone and things can get better. When Jamie’s perspective changes and he emerges from his shell, Kai changes, too, gaining a whole new understanding of what sex can be when love is there too.
My Thoughts:
It was alright, but could have been better. I can't decide if it'd be more YA or NA. I guess NA what with all of the cursing. Very light on anything sexual, which was understandable considering what Jamie was dealing with. It had some sweet moments, but could be kind of cheesy at times. And after school special-y.
I liked Kai. He was pretty sweet. He tried not to be pushy, but sometimes, I just wanted him to chill. The best part of the book was seeing Jamie be who he really was. I was proud of Kai for being able to bring that out of him.
I hate Evan. He was just disgusting. Kai's ex Noah as a douche, too.
I'm not completely sure I'm happy with the way things played out in the end, but Jamie has to move on and heal at his on pace. I'm mostly just glad he has a pretty strong support system in the Manter clan.
November 9, 2014
This is such a sweet lovely coming of age love story between two teenage guys. When I first saw the blurb I was like 'oh cool, I love an M/M story' but how wrong was I. This is so much more.
Kai is in his last year of high school and planning to study music at college next year. His parents both teach there and they are from the hippy generation school of thought. They love their two sons and as long as they are happy with their life decisions, that's all that matters. Kai is passionate about music and plays several instruments. He also has a job singing at a local coffee bar.
Jamie is a guy in his first year at college that also works at the same coffee bar, when he isn't working he seems to spend a lot of time there. He catches Kai's eye and Kai wants to get to know him better. Direct contact does not seem to work with Jamie. He can be very cold, moody and off-handish. Kai decides to stage an intervention by putting together selected playlists of songs to sing in an effort to speak to him through music.
It takes a long time and a series of other events between Kai and Jamie but they eventually become friends which then grows into love.
This is a very slow building story but it is perfect. Nothing too hurried about this and it shouldn't be either. Jamie has had, and still has so much going on in his life so anything faster than this would make him run. Kai is very sensitive to Jamie's needs and feels so much for him that it overwhelms him. He is very protective of Jamie. I love how vulnerable and sweet Jamie is once he comes out of his shell and learns to trust Kai.
There are so many beautiful, heartfelt moments in this story that I frequently had tears in my eyes. This is a coming of age love story between two young men. One is stronger than the other and will have to fight the good fight for both of them. In the end the fight will be worth it.
Note: I listened to the audio version of this :)
Kai is in his last year of high school and planning to study music at college next year. His parents both teach there and they are from the hippy generation school of thought. They love their two sons and as long as they are happy with their life decisions, that's all that matters. Kai is passionate about music and plays several instruments. He also has a job singing at a local coffee bar.
Jamie is a guy in his first year at college that also works at the same coffee bar, when he isn't working he seems to spend a lot of time there. He catches Kai's eye and Kai wants to get to know him better. Direct contact does not seem to work with Jamie. He can be very cold, moody and off-handish. Kai decides to stage an intervention by putting together selected playlists of songs to sing in an effort to speak to him through music.
It takes a long time and a series of other events between Kai and Jamie but they eventually become friends which then grows into love.
This is a very slow building story but it is perfect. Nothing too hurried about this and it shouldn't be either. Jamie has had, and still has so much going on in his life so anything faster than this would make him run. Kai is very sensitive to Jamie's needs and feels so much for him that it overwhelms him. He is very protective of Jamie. I love how vulnerable and sweet Jamie is once he comes out of his shell and learns to trust Kai.
There are so many beautiful, heartfelt moments in this story that I frequently had tears in my eyes. This is a coming of age love story between two young men. One is stronger than the other and will have to fight the good fight for both of them. In the end the fight will be worth it.
Note: I listened to the audio version of this :)
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