What do you think?
Rate this book
Sex & Sourdough
Anders Blankenship never intended to hike the Appalachian Trail alone, but when his boyfriend cancels, Anders steels his courage, leaving the abusive relationship to tackle the long-distance hike. Though a hiking virgin, he’s glad he made the decision when he receives threatening messages from his ex. Luckily, Kevin, an experienced backpacker, takes him under his wing.
Kevin Winters isn’t looking for a hiking partner, let alone a fling with a cute man on the rebound. After learning he has the autoimmune disorder that killed his father, Kevin left his family to wander remote trails. Convinced his future holds only pain and death, Kevin refuses to get close to anyone. The family sourdough recipes he recreates over a campfire are his only solace.
In the wilderness, Anders and Kevin discover a lot of common ground. While the future holds uncertainties they may not be ready to deal with, it might also hold the chance for happiness.
Kevin Winters isn’t looking for a hiking partner, let alone a fling with a cute man on the rebound. After learning he has the autoimmune disorder that killed his father, Kevin left his family to wander remote trails. Convinced his future holds only pain and death, Kevin refuses to get close to anyone. The family sourdough recipes he recreates over a campfire are his only solace.
In the wilderness, Anders and Kevin discover a lot of common ground. While the future holds uncertainties they may not be ready to deal with, it might also hold the chance for happiness.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2013
16 people are currently reading
518 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Thomas
8 books355 followersA.J. Thomas writes romantic suspense. She’s earned a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of Montana and worked in a half-dozen different jobs from law enforcement officer to librarian before settling down. Life as a military spouse has tossed her around the country so many times she doesn’t know how to answer when people ask her where she’s from, but she delights in living as a perpetual tourist, visiting new places and discovering amazing things.
Her time is divided between taking care of her three young children, experimenting with cooking and baking projects that rarely explode these days, and embarrassing her husband with dirty jokes. When she’s not writing, she hikes, gardens, researches every random idea that comes into her head, and develops complicated philosophical arguments about why a clean house is highly overrated. Her work has won multiple awards, including the 2013 AMB Ovation Award for Best LGBT Inter-racial Romance, and the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Contemporary Fiction.
Blog: http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://ajthomasromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJ.Thomas.Ro...
E-mail: ajthomasromance@gmail.com
Her time is divided between taking care of her three young children, experimenting with cooking and baking projects that rarely explode these days, and embarrassing her husband with dirty jokes. When she’s not writing, she hikes, gardens, researches every random idea that comes into her head, and develops complicated philosophical arguments about why a clean house is highly overrated. Her work has won multiple awards, including the 2013 AMB Ovation Award for Best LGBT Inter-racial Romance, and the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Contemporary Fiction.
Blog: http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://ajthomasromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJ.Thomas.Ro...
E-mail: ajthomasromance@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 10, 2014
This book was amazing! I'm becoming a huge fan of this author and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.
This book is different from A Casual Weekend Thing, but there are a couple of similarities, I guess. Sex & Sourdough is about Anders and Kevin. They meet on a hiking trail and because Kevin is quite experienced, he offers to help Anders on the trail. From the beginning there is an attraction but Kevin is sick and he doesn't want to do anything. He doesn't do serious. And Anders is just out of a relationship. I won't say much about the ex, but he is not going to be a favourite character of mine.
The story has a family theme running through it. Both Anders and Kevin have family issues, with Kevin having been estranged from his for a few years. It takes a lot for some of those issues to be resolved, but I like the way it wasn't an instant fix and to me it feels like there could be a sequel if the author wants one.
I love the way the author dealt with Kevin's illness. It's what brings the MC's back together after Anders finishes the hike. It also adds to the love story in a sense, but that might be just my personal taste. It won't be for everyone, and I know this, but I still can say I enjoyed the book.
Definitely worth a read if you like something that has an unexpected twist. Recommended!
This book is different from A Casual Weekend Thing, but there are a couple of similarities, I guess. Sex & Sourdough is about Anders and Kevin. They meet on a hiking trail and because Kevin is quite experienced, he offers to help Anders on the trail. From the beginning there is an attraction but Kevin is sick and he doesn't want to do anything. He doesn't do serious. And Anders is just out of a relationship. I won't say much about the ex, but he is not going to be a favourite character of mine.
The story has a family theme running through it. Both Anders and Kevin have family issues, with Kevin having been estranged from his for a few years. It takes a lot for some of those issues to be resolved, but I like the way it wasn't an instant fix and to me it feels like there could be a sequel if the author wants one.
I love the way the author dealt with Kevin's illness. It's what brings the MC's back together after Anders finishes the hike. It also adds to the love story in a sense, but that might be just my personal taste. It won't be for everyone, and I know this, but I still can say I enjoyed the book.
Definitely worth a read if you like something that has an unexpected twist. Recommended!
December 27, 2013
So close to 5 stars, but a couple of issues that I had to question. Some excellent themes in this book, with great primary characters who are flawed but good for each other.
I really liked the slow burn of the relationship between Anders and Kevin. I liked how there was a bit of a spark from the start, but neither acted on it, for differing reasons, though I could tell that Kevin was quickly feeling protective of Anders and acted accordingly.
It's a sweet M/M romance at the core, with a well-rounded supporting cast, some nice, some not. The author does a fabulous job laying out Anders' and Kevin's personalities as well as their circumstances (Anders' abusive, manipulative ex-boyfriend Joel, Kevin's illness that has made him leave his family and keep to himself for the last few years), and it's all done organically through the story flow, without massive amounts of info-dumping.
The two men build a strong friendship on the trail, talking about their situations, being honest in their communications (Anders figures out that Kevin has lupus), and find common ground in Kevin's sourdough bread, which gives him his trail nickname. Every so often, the ex-boyfriend pops up to cause a problem, but for a long time, he's just a fly in the ointment, a nuisance, and I didn't take him seriously. He annoyed me, yes, but I didn't expect him to go as nutso as he does in the end.
Anders' relationship with his family is strained. He's on the Appalachian trail, basically running away, because he feels stifled by their expectations, he doesn't want to follow the path they expect him to follow. His older brothers are pretty much assholes too - judgmental, hypocritical in one case, and more or less not very supportive. I got the feeling that they looked at Anders with disdain, as if he were a bother.
For about half the book, we follow Anders and Kevin on the trail, are treated to watching their friendship and then their romance unfold, even though both agree it's only a summer romance because Anders will go back to Jacksonville for law school, and Kevin will keep running away from his mom and sister so he doesn't burden them with his disease.
Up until Anders leaves, the book was perfect, and I fully intended to give it five stars, when I realized I was only half-way through. From that point on, it takes a bit of a dive into the overly dramatic, with Joel going jealous crazy psycho freak-out when he realizes that Anders meant their break-up and won't take him back. I despised Joel at that point for his actions and words, and I didn't see his purpose in the book anymore, even though I know there are people like that and his characterization was mostly realistic. It was much too dramatic at that point, and what would have been a nice, sweet romance, with Anders looking for Kevin's family and then reuniting with Kevin, instead turned into a whodunit overly dramatic, unthrilling sequence of events that had me part breathless and part scratching my head.
I also had to question what triggered Joel's freak-out, and why nobody else in Anders' family had any kind of inkling that Joel wasn't quite kosher. There were plenty of hints that I could see, since his actions didn't gel with what he'd initially used as an excuse to not accompany Anders on the trail. It's sort of explained, even though I felt bad for Anders that he had to deal with this kind of abuse.
Be that as it may, as I continued reading, I could still see the sweet story underneath, and I appreciated the growth that Anders exhibits, when he stands up for himself and what he wants, but the side plot with nutso Joel was over the top and in my humble opinion unnecessary. Including the dramatic sequence of events at the climax of the story made me feel as if my emotions were being manipulated. I thought that the gruesome scene Anders finds in his apartment was a little unrealistic, and something out of a crime drama on TV. Cue the dun-dun-dun music.
However - and this is why I'm giving this 4.5 stars after all - the book did keep me glued to the pages, and that's due to the great writing style. I needed to find out if Kevin and Anders would get their happy ending, because by that point I was fully invested in the characters.
This was my first book by A.J. Thomas, but it likely won't be the last.
I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
I really liked the slow burn of the relationship between Anders and Kevin. I liked how there was a bit of a spark from the start, but neither acted on it, for differing reasons, though I could tell that Kevin was quickly feeling protective of Anders and acted accordingly.
It's a sweet M/M romance at the core, with a well-rounded supporting cast, some nice, some not. The author does a fabulous job laying out Anders' and Kevin's personalities as well as their circumstances (Anders' abusive, manipulative ex-boyfriend Joel, Kevin's illness that has made him leave his family and keep to himself for the last few years), and it's all done organically through the story flow, without massive amounts of info-dumping.
The two men build a strong friendship on the trail, talking about their situations, being honest in their communications (Anders figures out that Kevin has lupus), and find common ground in Kevin's sourdough bread, which gives him his trail nickname. Every so often, the ex-boyfriend pops up to cause a problem, but for a long time, he's just a fly in the ointment, a nuisance, and I didn't take him seriously. He annoyed me, yes, but I didn't expect him to go as nutso as he does in the end.
Anders' relationship with his family is strained. He's on the Appalachian trail, basically running away, because he feels stifled by their expectations, he doesn't want to follow the path they expect him to follow. His older brothers are pretty much assholes too - judgmental, hypocritical in one case, and more or less not very supportive. I got the feeling that they looked at Anders with disdain, as if he were a bother.
For about half the book, we follow Anders and Kevin on the trail, are treated to watching their friendship and then their romance unfold, even though both agree it's only a summer romance because Anders will go back to Jacksonville for law school, and Kevin will keep running away from his mom and sister so he doesn't burden them with his disease.
Up until Anders leaves, the book was perfect, and I fully intended to give it five stars, when I realized I was only half-way through. From that point on, it takes a bit of a dive into the overly dramatic, with Joel going jealous crazy psycho freak-out when he realizes that Anders meant their break-up and won't take him back. I despised Joel at that point for his actions and words, and I didn't see his purpose in the book anymore, even though I know there are people like that and his characterization was mostly realistic. It was much too dramatic at that point, and what would have been a nice, sweet romance, with Anders looking for Kevin's family and then reuniting with Kevin, instead turned into a whodunit overly dramatic, unthrilling sequence of events that had me part breathless and part scratching my head.
I also had to question what triggered Joel's freak-out, and why nobody else in Anders' family had any kind of inkling that Joel wasn't quite kosher. There were plenty of hints that I could see, since his actions didn't gel with what he'd initially used as an excuse to not accompany Anders on the trail. It's sort of explained, even though I felt bad for Anders that he had to deal with this kind of abuse.
Be that as it may, as I continued reading, I could still see the sweet story underneath, and I appreciated the growth that Anders exhibits, when he stands up for himself and what he wants, but the side plot with nutso Joel was over the top and in my humble opinion unnecessary. Including the dramatic sequence of events at the climax of the story made me feel as if my emotions were being manipulated. I thought that the gruesome scene Anders finds in his apartment was a little unrealistic, and something out of a crime drama on TV. Cue the dun-dun-dun music.
However - and this is why I'm giving this 4.5 stars after all - the book did keep me glued to the pages, and that's due to the great writing style. I needed to find out if Kevin and Anders would get their happy ending, because by that point I was fully invested in the characters.
This was my first book by A.J. Thomas, but it likely won't be the last.
I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
January 5, 2014
I'm finding that I really enjoy A.J. Thomas's writing style. There is a realism to it, and yet it's not dry. The locations are well-described and frame the story effectively. The guys are nicely flawed and yet very appealing. The secondary characters are (mostly) three-dimensional and add a lot to the story.
Really, the only reason I didn't give this five stars was the crazy/jealous/nasty ex-lover trope, which I felt was almost a distraction from the rest of this wonderful story. The author pulls the reader into the situation of Kevin, isolated and hiking long distances as he copes with his health and family history. And of Anders, out from under his boyfriend's and father's shadows at last, with time to figure out what he really wants from life. I loved both the MCs and the realistic situation they found themselves in as they followed the Appalachian trial together. I was immersed in their experience, and all the details both of the hike and of Kevin's situation felt realistic. I also enjoyed Anders' family later, and the shifting perceptions I had of all of them.
I think this author will become an auto-buy, because the writing strikes a definite chord with me.
Really, the only reason I didn't give this five stars was the crazy/jealous/nasty ex-lover trope, which I felt was almost a distraction from the rest of this wonderful story. The author pulls the reader into the situation of Kevin, isolated and hiking long distances as he copes with his health and family history. And of Anders, out from under his boyfriend's and father's shadows at last, with time to figure out what he really wants from life. I loved both the MCs and the realistic situation they found themselves in as they followed the Appalachian trial together. I was immersed in their experience, and all the details both of the hike and of Kevin's situation felt realistic. I also enjoyed Anders' family later, and the shifting perceptions I had of all of them.
I think this author will become an auto-buy, because the writing strikes a definite chord with me.
December 26, 2013
3.5 stars
The first half of this book was worth 4 stars. We meet Anders, a novice hiker dealing with a manipulative, abusive boyfriend, and Kevin (aka, Sourdough), who's hiking to escape and to prove that he can. When Anders' boyfriend ditches their hiking plans and expects Anders to follow suit, Anders decides to hike on his own. He is totally unprepared for the trail, but Kevin, who earned the nickname "Sourdough" with the family-recipe bread he bakes on the trail, takes Anders under his wing and helps him out.
We find out that Anders' boyfriend is looking for him up and down the trail and that Kevin is quite ill with the same autoimmune disease that killed his dad. These issues are handled with sensitivity. We learn a lot about the guys' circumstances, including their respective families, without a laundry of info dumping. The relationship between the two MCs develops naturally; they are friends first. Neither wants a relationship (Anders partly due to the stalker boyfriend situation and Kevin because he's scared of getting attached when he has a chronic illness), but the chemistry between them becomes hard to ignore.
At the halfway mark, the MCs separate. Anders is leaving for law school, still not sure what to do about his future or evil ex. Kevin wants to keep running. This is when the book takes a giant nosedive into Too Much Drama territory. The stalker plot turns grim and violent. Kevin's health takes a turn for the worse. One of the hikers Anders and Kevin were friends with disappears. There's just a LOT here piled on top of an already angsty plot, making the second half feel heavy and clumsy, with some unnecessary scenes involving Anders' slightly overbearing family.
Also, the ending let me down. It's not that the guys don't get closure, because they do. But it felt lukewarm.
The first half of this book was worth 4 stars. We meet Anders, a novice hiker dealing with a manipulative, abusive boyfriend, and Kevin (aka, Sourdough), who's hiking to escape and to prove that he can. When Anders' boyfriend ditches their hiking plans and expects Anders to follow suit, Anders decides to hike on his own. He is totally unprepared for the trail, but Kevin, who earned the nickname "Sourdough" with the family-recipe bread he bakes on the trail, takes Anders under his wing and helps him out.
We find out that Anders' boyfriend is looking for him up and down the trail and that Kevin is quite ill with the same autoimmune disease that killed his dad. These issues are handled with sensitivity. We learn a lot about the guys' circumstances, including their respective families, without a laundry of info dumping. The relationship between the two MCs develops naturally; they are friends first. Neither wants a relationship (Anders partly due to the stalker boyfriend situation and Kevin because he's scared of getting attached when he has a chronic illness), but the chemistry between them becomes hard to ignore.
At the halfway mark, the MCs separate. Anders is leaving for law school, still not sure what to do about his future or evil ex. Kevin wants to keep running. This is when the book takes a giant nosedive into Too Much Drama territory. The stalker plot turns grim and violent. Kevin's health takes a turn for the worse. One of the hikers Anders and Kevin were friends with disappears. There's just a LOT here piled on top of an already angsty plot, making the second half feel heavy and clumsy, with some unnecessary scenes involving Anders' slightly overbearing family.
Also, the ending let me down. It's not that the guys don't get closure, because they do. But it felt lukewarm.
August 26, 2022
This was great and I highly recommend it, 4.5 rounded up. I read it in one day and it's not a short book. I really loved the realism in the first half of the story. 2 MCs are at crossroads in their life and to cope they are hiking together (they meet by chance at the beginning of the Appalachian Trail). Their time hiking was perfect, they get to know each other slowly and support one another. I really enjoyed the second half of the book too, despite the OTT drama with the stalker ex plot. That plot was well done as well (despite being OTT). I really had fun and only wished we had an epilogue, it's not that things feel unfinished, they don't, but it feels like a new beginning for them that we don't really get to see, if that makes sense. I have other small niggles but don't want to spoil anything because going in mostly blind is best IMHO.
December 18, 2013
I’m not really sure what the author was going for in this one, which was a slight letdown considering how much I loved her first book, A Casual Weekend Thing. However, this had a lot of great parts and plenty of build-up for the couple, so it’s not a complete miss.
Anders Blakenship lives in Florida, will soon get a business degree and his father wants him to follow in his footsteps to succeed, whether it’s a path that Anders actually wants or not. Anders decides to take the summer off and plans on hiking the Appalachian Trail with his boyfriend Joel, who cancels at the last minute due to a summer class he wants to take. Anders shows up alone, unprepared, a little scared and a lot excited. He meets Kevin Winters, an experienced hiker figuratively and literally walking away from his family, his past and walking alone towards his inevitable future. Kevin has the same autoimmune disorder that killed his father and he refuses to let his family go through that again with him, so he decides to make them angry at him, hide his illness and wander the forests and trails alone.
OK, right there the author has set up a book with plenty of plot lines and numerous ways these two hikers could develop a relationship and fall in love with plenty of drama and angst. I would have been extremely happy with that simpler book. However, Sex & Sourdough took the train into Jerry Springer-TMZ-ville and even though I was expecting it due to a character’s tendencies, it still disappointed me. It tarnished the book a bit and the plot line felt overplayed in books. It happens and I get that, because hell…people are mad creepy sometimes but Anders and Kevin (Sourdough) had enough going on in their lives and their relationship with each other that I didn’t feel this extra drama was necessary or helped the story.
The autoimmune illness parts were extremely sad, written with restraint and read beautifully. These specific kinds of illnesses aren’t really covered in m/m romance (at least the ones I’ve read) and it made me happy with how Kevin and Anders dealt with it and with depicting how the illness affects so many people surrounding the person sick. Truly well-done.
I believed in Anders and Kevin’s attraction to each, their friendship and the ease with each of them fit with the other. The build-up and attention to detail was nice, but I can already see how some people will feel the urge to skim, because Sex & Sourdough, has a lot of detail. Each step in hiking and camping and showering and…OK, so you get my point. That detail also goes for the relationship between the main characters, as well as their relationships with their families.
I liked this, I did. But I’d happily trim this some and delete that dramatic plot line with one of the characters. Looking forward to this author’s sequel to A Casual Weekend Thing!
Anders Blakenship lives in Florida, will soon get a business degree and his father wants him to follow in his footsteps to succeed, whether it’s a path that Anders actually wants or not. Anders decides to take the summer off and plans on hiking the Appalachian Trail with his boyfriend Joel, who cancels at the last minute due to a summer class he wants to take. Anders shows up alone, unprepared, a little scared and a lot excited. He meets Kevin Winters, an experienced hiker figuratively and literally walking away from his family, his past and walking alone towards his inevitable future. Kevin has the same autoimmune disorder that killed his father and he refuses to let his family go through that again with him, so he decides to make them angry at him, hide his illness and wander the forests and trails alone.
OK, right there the author has set up a book with plenty of plot lines and numerous ways these two hikers could develop a relationship and fall in love with plenty of drama and angst. I would have been extremely happy with that simpler book. However, Sex & Sourdough took the train into Jerry Springer-TMZ-ville and even though I was expecting it due to a character’s tendencies, it still disappointed me. It tarnished the book a bit and the plot line felt overplayed in books. It happens and I get that, because hell…people are mad creepy sometimes but Anders and Kevin (Sourdough) had enough going on in their lives and their relationship with each other that I didn’t feel this extra drama was necessary or helped the story.
The autoimmune illness parts were extremely sad, written with restraint and read beautifully. These specific kinds of illnesses aren’t really covered in m/m romance (at least the ones I’ve read) and it made me happy with how Kevin and Anders dealt with it and with depicting how the illness affects so many people surrounding the person sick. Truly well-done.
I believed in Anders and Kevin’s attraction to each, their friendship and the ease with each of them fit with the other. The build-up and attention to detail was nice, but I can already see how some people will feel the urge to skim, because Sex & Sourdough, has a lot of detail. Each step in hiking and camping and showering and…OK, so you get my point. That detail also goes for the relationship between the main characters, as well as their relationships with their families.
I liked this, I did. But I’d happily trim this some and delete that dramatic plot line with one of the characters. Looking forward to this author’s sequel to A Casual Weekend Thing!
August 15, 2018
3 stars! Let me start by saying that I'm a fan of A.J Thomas; I loved her "Least Likely Partnership" series and other books too. I had been postponing reading this book, because the blurb mentioned the MC as having a chronic incurable disease which degenerates the body and it hit too close to home. However, when I started reading the book, it was a massive surprise to read such an uplifting story. Both the MCs, Anders and Kevin are genuine and likable; despite health issues "Sourdough" doesn't play the martyr and is living everyday doing what he loves and "Butch" comes off as a brave young man willing to stick to his guns. The adventure they embark upon as they hike for months on the Appalachian Trail is described so well and with such color and creativity that it makes one wish to just leave everything and hike along with them. As they come close to their destination, their relationship also gets more intimate and soon they both start to feel more than they are willing to admit. As readers, we know that they are meant to separate soon but we are convinced that they will find each other... AND this is where things become very very weird 😳and kinda blow your mind.. 🤯
Till about 68% of the book, this felt like one of the best books I had read and I was sure of giving it a 5 star rating.. but then the book changed course so drastically with the addition of Anders' family and ex-boyfriend . I thought I had landed on some other book based on how bad it got.. Ugh!! The only saving grace was the ending with a hopeful HFN and closure. So disappointed!.. 😢
Till about 68% of the book, this felt like one of the best books I had read and I was sure of giving it a 5 star rating.. but then the book changed course so drastically with the addition of Anders' family and ex-boyfriend . I thought I had landed on some other book based on how bad it got.. Ugh!! The only saving grace was the ending with a hopeful HFN and closure. So disappointed!.. 😢
September 10, 2017
3.75 stars rounded up
Only my second book of A.J. Thomas, since my friend Irene again told me to read this one. I have similar opinion with quite a number of reviewers who love the first part of this book but doesn't adore the drama on the second part. Clearly when Anders' ex turns it jumps a little too far for me.
But, I loved the hiking part of the story, where Kevin and Anders build their friendship first and lovers a bit later. It sort of feel like a road trip of sort, because it's pretty much about the two of them, out there on the trail, sharing food, stories, and well, body hear *laugh*. Also the part with Kevin's health issue adds complexity to the story and characterization that I appreciated.
By the way, since I read this one AFTER the much newer Pins and Needles, I noticed a couple of similarities in Anders' family dynamic with Nate's from that book. Father that first seems to be not supportive, a brother who doesn't approve of homosexuality, and family members that are lawyers. Just something I feel like I need to note here on my review space *grin*.
Only my second book of A.J. Thomas, since my friend Irene again told me to read this one. I have similar opinion with quite a number of reviewers who love the first part of this book but doesn't adore the drama on the second part. Clearly when Anders' ex turns it jumps a little too far for me.
But, I loved the hiking part of the story, where Kevin and Anders build their friendship first and lovers a bit later. It sort of feel like a road trip of sort, because it's pretty much about the two of them, out there on the trail, sharing food, stories, and well, body hear *laugh*. Also the part with Kevin's health issue adds complexity to the story and characterization that I appreciated.
By the way, since I read this one AFTER the much newer Pins and Needles, I noticed a couple of similarities in Anders' family dynamic with Nate's from that book. Father that first seems to be not supportive, a brother who doesn't approve of homosexuality, and family members that are lawyers. Just something I feel like I need to note here on my review space *grin*.
May 27, 2022
What a wonderful story, I am becoming a big A.J. Thomas fan.
Enough time to get to know the main characters and enough time for them to get to know each other.
Enough drama to keep the story interesting but not the ridiculous kind.
This was fun and sweet and endearing and sometimes sad, I really enjoyed reading the story of Anders who tried to get away from his abusive boyfriend and Kevin, who kept everyone at arms length because of his illness.
I loved those guys and I really loved their story, 4.5 stars and recommended.
Enough time to get to know the main characters and enough time for them to get to know each other.
Enough drama to keep the story interesting but not the ridiculous kind.
This was fun and sweet and endearing and sometimes sad, I really enjoyed reading the story of Anders who tried to get away from his abusive boyfriend and Kevin, who kept everyone at arms length because of his illness.
I loved those guys and I really loved their story, 4.5 stars and recommended.
September 4, 2018
Those of you familiar with Thomas's Least Likely Partnership series will likely go into this one with certain expectations, or at least I did. This didn't meet that expectation. It's not nearly as intense or in depth, and really is more of a contemporary romance than anything else, which is why it kind of threw me out of the book in the last half as Thomas moved the story into a more similar themed direction as the LLP series and it doesn't really fit.
I really liked the first half with the hiking and how the MCs got to know each other. I liked that they became friends first and that they moved into "something more" more gradually than you tend to see in contemporaries. There was no insta-lust or insta-love here, and it felt more real and genuine to me when they finally realized what they meant to each other. Especially considering all they have to get over first. Anders is coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship, and Kevin is grappling with a terminal diagnosis and is convinced he can't allow himself to get close to anyone. The hiking culture was well done, though I would've like more descriptions of the trail and the places they saw and passed through. It didn't need to be Tolkien levels of description, but I wanted more than the sketches we were given to really put me in the various locations.
The second half got a little melodrama llama. We find out that things weren't all as they seemed as far as Anders and his family - - and things escalate with Joel. While such things do happen in real life, this felt manufactured for the sake of drama and ended up feeling over the top. The tiny little mystery Thomas just has to include wasn't all that mysterious and again felt manufactured just for the sake of it. She also never makes it very clear The second half could've used some tighter editing and storytelling, for sure, but I still liked seeing Anders's parents and seeing Anders finally make some decisions and figure some things out.
I really liked the first half with the hiking and how the MCs got to know each other. I liked that they became friends first and that they moved into "something more" more gradually than you tend to see in contemporaries. There was no insta-lust or insta-love here, and it felt more real and genuine to me when they finally realized what they meant to each other. Especially considering all they have to get over first. Anders is coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship, and Kevin is grappling with a terminal diagnosis and is convinced he can't allow himself to get close to anyone. The hiking culture was well done, though I would've like more descriptions of the trail and the places they saw and passed through. It didn't need to be Tolkien levels of description, but I wanted more than the sketches we were given to really put me in the various locations.
The second half got a little melodrama llama. We find out that things weren't all as they seemed as far as Anders and his family - - and things escalate with Joel. While such things do happen in real life, this felt manufactured for the sake of drama and ended up feeling over the top. The tiny little mystery Thomas just has to include wasn't all that mysterious and again felt manufactured just for the sake of it. She also never makes it very clear The second half could've used some tighter editing and storytelling, for sure, but I still liked seeing Anders's parents and seeing Anders finally make some decisions and figure some things out.
December 12, 2013
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
After reading A Casual Weekend Thing by A.J. Thomas, I was eager to read Sex & Sourdough. It's a nice story about hiking, sourdough bread, illness, a stalker ex, demanding family members and two men who meet in the middle of nowhere who must work hard to find their happily-ever-after.
An enjoyable read.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
After reading A Casual Weekend Thing by A.J. Thomas, I was eager to read Sex & Sourdough. It's a nice story about hiking, sourdough bread, illness, a stalker ex, demanding family members and two men who meet in the middle of nowhere who must work hard to find their happily-ever-after.
An enjoyable read.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 25, 2013
This book felt like the never ending story! I read on and read on and somehow didn't move along page-wise. And that was funny, because I really liked it. Not as much as 'Casual Weekend', but it was a slow moving, relaxing story, interesting to follow Anders along from being intimidated at the beginning to gaining more self-assurance on his trail in the company of Kevin. Not only learning how to do this hiking, but also realizing that Kevin was more than just a hiking buddy. Yes, I liked it a lot. Don't know why it took me so long to finish it.
December 28, 2013
Really a great story. Well written, informative in an interesting way, likable main and secondary characters, an unexpected twist about 75% in, and a great ending.
I love it when the title is explained...and no it's not a sex-fest.
Highly recommended.
I love it when the title is explained...and no it's not a sex-fest.
Highly recommended.
February 1, 2014
I like to use my privilege as a reviewer to try out new (to me or first-time) authors. You never know how it will turn out, as it’s kind of like a roll of the dice. This time I was most definitely a winner. A.J. Thomas has rolled “snake eyes” with Sex & Sourdough. This is Thomas’s second book and I will definitely be reading the first, A Casual Weekend Thing as soon as I can.
Anders and his boyfriend of several years plan to hike the Appalachian Trail together over the summer. Anders is being coerced by his family to attend law school in the fall, so this is his last hurrah before having to buckle down and study something in which he has no interest. At the last minute, Anders’s boyfriend cancels because of a prior commitment. Anders makes the decision to go ahead with the hike on his own. Having never hiked before, he has no idea what he is in for.
Kevin is an experienced hiker. He has been practically living on the trails since he found out he has the same disease that killed his father. He left his family and their business behind with no explanation and has been hiking as much as possible for years. He is not interested in a hiking partner. He is not looking for a relationship. Especially one with a man on the rebound from an abusive ex-boyfriend.
Along the way, it becomes apparent that Anders’s ex-boyfriend is stalking him. He catches up with him at one stop and demands that Anders come home with him. This is where Kevin realizes that the relationship is abusive. The close-knit group of hikers bands together to make sure the ex isn’t able to find Anders. He won’t be dissuaded, though and is seen many times over that summer at various places along the trail.
Kevin is convinced that he has a brief future and that it will be consumed by pain and illness caused by his disease. He doesn’t want to get close to anyone because he knows how much it hurts to lose someone you love to illness. The way he lost his father. The only tie to his family he allows himself is the sourdough bread he bakes over a camp fire at every stop along the hiking trail. He keeps the recipe alive and cultivates the “starter” in a jar which he carries with him in his pack. This has earned him the trail nickname “Sourdough”. All the regular hikers have trail names.
Kevin takes Anders under his wing and helps him out along the hike, even though it means cutting his own distance covered in half which will keep him from reaching his goal before winter sets in. As they get to know each other, Kevin and Anders realize that they have a lot in common. They become friends and are quickly aware of their attraction to each other. Kevin is hesitant to act on his attraction due to his illness and Anders thinks Kevin is straight. Once they do become romantically involved, there is no stopping them.
The group of hikers surrounding Kevin and Anders was a cast of supporting characters that were so enjoyable to read. They all had their own trail names and real names. Some were in relationships with one another, some not. They all seemed to meet up every few days at one of the many shelters set up along the Appalachian Trail to allow them to spend a night at a place with a few (and I’m not talking hotel quality here) amenities. This group of people, bound together by their love of hiking had little to no contact with each other during the off season, but they banded together like family to keep Anders safe from his ex. They were fully developed supporting characters that actually provided support on a number of occasions. They were well-written and fully evolved.
When I met Anders and Kevin, my first instinct was to feel sorry for both of them. They were both in a bad place and using hiking to escape their situation and their own thoughts. I quickly realized that they didn’t need me to feel sorry for them. They were stronger than they first appeared. And together, they were exponentially stronger. I loved these characters. They were full-fledged, their personalities and pasts laid out for the reader (in this case, me) to see in all their glory and pain.
The lengths that they both went to for the other were sweet and loving and sacrificial. I wanted them to be together so badly. Despite the odds that they would have to overcome to find their way back to each other, I knew they had the fortitude to do it. I wanted them to have their happiness, regardless of how long Kevin thought it might last. I wanted to see them both at peace and reconciled with their families.
A.J. Thomas has done what most writers dream of when they are early into their published career, she wrote a great book that makes me want more. More from her amazing brain and equally amazing computer. If this story was in there, I can’t wait to see what else she has floating around in her head. Sex & Sourdough drew me in with the title (read the book to find out it’s meaning!) and kept my attention until way too late at night because I just HAD to finish it. Oh, yeah, you may need a tissue or two. This is a must read.
Anders and his boyfriend of several years plan to hike the Appalachian Trail together over the summer. Anders is being coerced by his family to attend law school in the fall, so this is his last hurrah before having to buckle down and study something in which he has no interest. At the last minute, Anders’s boyfriend cancels because of a prior commitment. Anders makes the decision to go ahead with the hike on his own. Having never hiked before, he has no idea what he is in for.
Kevin is an experienced hiker. He has been practically living on the trails since he found out he has the same disease that killed his father. He left his family and their business behind with no explanation and has been hiking as much as possible for years. He is not interested in a hiking partner. He is not looking for a relationship. Especially one with a man on the rebound from an abusive ex-boyfriend.
Along the way, it becomes apparent that Anders’s ex-boyfriend is stalking him. He catches up with him at one stop and demands that Anders come home with him. This is where Kevin realizes that the relationship is abusive. The close-knit group of hikers bands together to make sure the ex isn’t able to find Anders. He won’t be dissuaded, though and is seen many times over that summer at various places along the trail.
Kevin is convinced that he has a brief future and that it will be consumed by pain and illness caused by his disease. He doesn’t want to get close to anyone because he knows how much it hurts to lose someone you love to illness. The way he lost his father. The only tie to his family he allows himself is the sourdough bread he bakes over a camp fire at every stop along the hiking trail. He keeps the recipe alive and cultivates the “starter” in a jar which he carries with him in his pack. This has earned him the trail nickname “Sourdough”. All the regular hikers have trail names.
Kevin takes Anders under his wing and helps him out along the hike, even though it means cutting his own distance covered in half which will keep him from reaching his goal before winter sets in. As they get to know each other, Kevin and Anders realize that they have a lot in common. They become friends and are quickly aware of their attraction to each other. Kevin is hesitant to act on his attraction due to his illness and Anders thinks Kevin is straight. Once they do become romantically involved, there is no stopping them.
The group of hikers surrounding Kevin and Anders was a cast of supporting characters that were so enjoyable to read. They all had their own trail names and real names. Some were in relationships with one another, some not. They all seemed to meet up every few days at one of the many shelters set up along the Appalachian Trail to allow them to spend a night at a place with a few (and I’m not talking hotel quality here) amenities. This group of people, bound together by their love of hiking had little to no contact with each other during the off season, but they banded together like family to keep Anders safe from his ex. They were fully developed supporting characters that actually provided support on a number of occasions. They were well-written and fully evolved.
When I met Anders and Kevin, my first instinct was to feel sorry for both of them. They were both in a bad place and using hiking to escape their situation and their own thoughts. I quickly realized that they didn’t need me to feel sorry for them. They were stronger than they first appeared. And together, they were exponentially stronger. I loved these characters. They were full-fledged, their personalities and pasts laid out for the reader (in this case, me) to see in all their glory and pain.
The lengths that they both went to for the other were sweet and loving and sacrificial. I wanted them to be together so badly. Despite the odds that they would have to overcome to find their way back to each other, I knew they had the fortitude to do it. I wanted them to have their happiness, regardless of how long Kevin thought it might last. I wanted to see them both at peace and reconciled with their families.
A.J. Thomas has done what most writers dream of when they are early into their published career, she wrote a great book that makes me want more. More from her amazing brain and equally amazing computer. If this story was in there, I can’t wait to see what else she has floating around in her head. Sex & Sourdough drew me in with the title (read the book to find out it’s meaning!) and kept my attention until way too late at night because I just HAD to finish it. Oh, yeah, you may need a tissue or two. This is a must read.
February 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Really well-developed characters who have lives and issues outside of the romance plot line. The two mcs meet while hiking the Appalachian trail, which provides a nice backdrop. This is billed as romantic suspense, but reads much more like a romance with great characters. TW for major illness. I feel like the title put me off, making me think it would be a high steam title with a bakery. It’s not at all. Probably more of a 4.5 star and I won’t get into what I didn’t like since it’s spoil-y, but a lovely read.
December 20, 2013
Have you ever had a day where you just want to take a load off and enjoy a good read? You're not looking for something heavy or life changing, and definitely not anything that'll make you feel stressed or sad. Take it from me: next time you have a day like that, you should pick up Sex & Sourdough.
This book ticked all my boxes: hiking and the great outdoors, smart MCs with interesting back stories and great chemistry, bread (yay, carbs!), sexy time, and just enough angst to move the story forward.
Writer A.J. Thomas pulls you in from the start. Anders is an inexperienced and somewhat naive hiker. He's been left high and dry at the start of the Appalachian Trail by his asshole boyfriend, Joel (cue ominous music). While Anders is trying to decide whether or not to go through with his hike, he runs into the sexy--and bearded!--Kevin, an expert trekker and former baker (bonus!) who offers a nudge and some encouraging words to help motivate Anders forward.
And so begins a months-long journey where these two young men get to know each other, step by step, campsite by campsite, with Kevin's homemade sourdough to sustain them along the way.
We learn that Kevin has been dealt a nasty hand in life. He's recovering from a crippling loss and has managed overwhelming responsibly for someone his age. When he finds out he's ill, Kevin walks away from his old life and starts a journey of self-discovery.
For his part, Anders exists in the shadows of his older brothers and their successes, while dealing with the pressures of living up to his parent's expectations about how his life should play out. Together, Kevin and Anders handle obstacles (cue more ominous music)—and their own truths—along the way. Their budding friendship turns to attraction, and the on-page sexy time doesn't disappoint.
But here's where my minor annoyances with Sex & Sourdough arrive. It felt like there were two stories in this book; one with the MCs navigating the trail, another when they came off the trail. I can't say much without giving away plot points, but after the hike ended, the story dragged some and it began to feel long.
Still, it was fun to see the MCs change and grow through their experiences. Honestly, I felt like I was reading about two more mature and experienced characters by the time the book ended. It was refreshing to be part of that change.
I love when book reading is easy, and I think that's what you'll find when you read Sex & Sourdough. This entertaining contemporary story won't change your life. The MCs probably won't stay with you forever, and you won't necessarily want to call your BFF or shout from the rooftops when you're finished, but you'll be happy you read the book, for sure.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This book ticked all my boxes: hiking and the great outdoors, smart MCs with interesting back stories and great chemistry, bread (yay, carbs!), sexy time, and just enough angst to move the story forward.
Writer A.J. Thomas pulls you in from the start. Anders is an inexperienced and somewhat naive hiker. He's been left high and dry at the start of the Appalachian Trail by his asshole boyfriend, Joel (cue ominous music). While Anders is trying to decide whether or not to go through with his hike, he runs into the sexy--and bearded!--Kevin, an expert trekker and former baker (bonus!) who offers a nudge and some encouraging words to help motivate Anders forward.
And so begins a months-long journey where these two young men get to know each other, step by step, campsite by campsite, with Kevin's homemade sourdough to sustain them along the way.
We learn that Kevin has been dealt a nasty hand in life. He's recovering from a crippling loss and has managed overwhelming responsibly for someone his age. When he finds out he's ill, Kevin walks away from his old life and starts a journey of self-discovery.
For his part, Anders exists in the shadows of his older brothers and their successes, while dealing with the pressures of living up to his parent's expectations about how his life should play out. Together, Kevin and Anders handle obstacles (cue more ominous music)—and their own truths—along the way. Their budding friendship turns to attraction, and the on-page sexy time doesn't disappoint.
But here's where my minor annoyances with Sex & Sourdough arrive. It felt like there were two stories in this book; one with the MCs navigating the trail, another when they came off the trail. I can't say much without giving away plot points, but after the hike ended, the story dragged some and it began to feel long.
Still, it was fun to see the MCs change and grow through their experiences. Honestly, I felt like I was reading about two more mature and experienced characters by the time the book ended. It was refreshing to be part of that change.
I love when book reading is easy, and I think that's what you'll find when you read Sex & Sourdough. This entertaining contemporary story won't change your life. The MCs probably won't stay with you forever, and you won't necessarily want to call your BFF or shout from the rooftops when you're finished, but you'll be happy you read the book, for sure.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
August 18, 2016
I enjoyed this book so much that I have spent the last couple of days doing three things:
1) watching videos of people sharing their Appalachian Trail hiking experience on youtube
2) looking for hiking trails near me
3) researching sourdough starter recipes so I can start making some yummy bread!
A book like this is the reason I LOVE reading. I want to read books that transport me somewhere else and inspire me. And while hiking and making sourdough bread are not the two main topics of this book, they are an essential part of it and they are covered so well that I was left curious about them.
But this is a MM romance and while I loved the hiking details and the sourdough bread bits in this book, the romance did not bowl me over quite as much. Don't get me wrong I did like Kevin and Anders. And even though it is true that Kevin's situation may seem disheartening and discouraging to other readers, it did not discourage me. In fact I liked that this book leaves you with a "modified" happily ever after that suits Kevin and Anders' situation.
So without carrying on for too long, the only thing I didn't like about this book was the over the top jealous ex trope. For me this book was OK through about 75% of it. Then after that Anders family crosses a line and then Anders Ex just pushes everything to over the top. But I am willing to ignore the unnecessary bit of melodrama because I obviously LOVED the setting AND I appreciated Kevin's difficult personal situation.
1) watching videos of people sharing their Appalachian Trail hiking experience on youtube
2) looking for hiking trails near me
3) researching sourdough starter recipes so I can start making some yummy bread!
A book like this is the reason I LOVE reading. I want to read books that transport me somewhere else and inspire me. And while hiking and making sourdough bread are not the two main topics of this book, they are an essential part of it and they are covered so well that I was left curious about them.
But this is a MM romance and while I loved the hiking details and the sourdough bread bits in this book, the romance did not bowl me over quite as much. Don't get me wrong I did like Kevin and Anders. And even though it is true that Kevin's situation may seem disheartening and discouraging to other readers, it did not discourage me. In fact I liked that this book leaves you with a "modified" happily ever after that suits Kevin and Anders' situation.
So without carrying on for too long, the only thing I didn't like about this book was the over the top jealous ex trope. For me this book was OK through about 75% of it. Then after that Anders family crosses a line and then Anders Ex just pushes everything to over the top. But I am willing to ignore the unnecessary bit of melodrama because I obviously LOVED the setting AND I appreciated Kevin's difficult personal situation.
March 23, 2014
I really loved the slow progression of Anders and Kevin's relationship. I was beautiful to experience, especially in the settings they traveled through. I just wish they never had to leave the trail.
PS I immediately became intrigued with and started scouring for info on The Appalachian Trail. I can dream, right?
PS I immediately became intrigued with and started scouring for info on The Appalachian Trail. I can dream, right?
February 18, 2021
I liked this enough that I'm really looking forward to reading more from the author. It's got nice detail, nice depth and the writing flows well without ever losing momentum. There are some extremes present with certain situations and characterizations, but they feel specific to the story so I'll be interested to see how I feel after reading something else from her.
I was most worried about the very thing that drew me to this book -- the depiction of the AT through-hike -- because I've spent many weekends hiking short sections of the AT and know several people who've done the full trail. I knew I'd be super sensitive to anything that didn't ring true, so I was extremely relieved with the way it was handled. There are enough details to feel authentic, but it's really not a huge focus in the story since the majority of the book takes place after their hike.
I was most worried about the very thing that drew me to this book -- the depiction of the AT through-hike -- because I've spent many weekends hiking short sections of the AT and know several people who've done the full trail. I knew I'd be super sensitive to anything that didn't ring true, so I was extremely relieved with the way it was handled. There are enough details to feel authentic, but it's really not a huge focus in the story since the majority of the book takes place after their hike.
August 6, 2016
This begins seeming like a sweet romance - two boys, Anders & Kevin, meet while just about to start a long hike through the Appalachian Trail. Then it morphs into the possibility of 'A Love Story'.
Then it twists around some more, and we have crazy stalker dude being all creepy and scary, and I had visions of hostage taking and monologuing and although it didn't quite go there, it sure went down that path a mile or two.
Am I even making sense? I am remembering Kevin's illness, but thinking about Eric Arvin. I am remembering Anders and he reminds me of TJ. Look, I have got myself twisted between fiction and reality.
I really enjoyed the writing here. The story is strong. Kevin and Anders' attraction, subsequent lust and development into love plays out beautifully. I didn't like how the Joel story concluded but that's just me hating violence and unfair deaths. Gosh, I hate Joel! I found the scene at dinner with Anders' parents and brothers a bit too melodramatic, but the cat was hysterical.
So, mostly I loved this, except for the sad, mean bits. Which is pretty much what I am supposed to feel. I guess.
Then it twists around some more, and we have crazy stalker dude being all creepy and scary, and I had visions of hostage taking and monologuing and although it didn't quite go there, it sure went down that path a mile or two.
Am I even making sense? I am remembering Kevin's illness, but thinking about Eric Arvin. I am remembering Anders and he reminds me of TJ. Look, I have got myself twisted between fiction and reality.
I really enjoyed the writing here. The story is strong. Kevin and Anders' attraction, subsequent lust and development into love plays out beautifully. I didn't like how the Joel story concluded but that's just me hating violence and unfair deaths. Gosh, I hate Joel! I found the scene at dinner with Anders' parents and brothers a bit too melodramatic, but the cat was hysterical.
So, mostly I loved this, except for the sad, mean bits. Which is pretty much what I am supposed to feel. I guess.
June 17, 2017
4.5 stars.
OMG I loved this book. I loved the whole hiking the Appalachian Trail. I loved Kevin & Anders together and the way that Anders accepted Kevin, his illness, why he walked away from his family and pushed Kevin to realize that he was missing so much in his life. I loved how they didn't immediately jump into bed that they actually got to know each other. I loved the people that they met on the way. Joel, and he is why this was not a 5 star rating for me. He went from a controlling ass to bat shit crazy. I just didn't buy it, especially what he ended up doing at the end. I also would have liked more of the I normally do not like any type of religious figures in my story because they are normally homophobic, but I loved Reverend Bowman and the following cracked me up, this is a response from something that Cole, Anders brother, said:
Reverend Bowman raised his hand and motioned for Barbara to sit back down. He smiled a little. "To the best of my knowledge, son, there has never been any religious or moral prohibition against men becoming bakers."
I would love if there would be a sequel to this story. I actually would like to see one about Cole.
OMG I loved this book. I loved the whole hiking the Appalachian Trail. I loved Kevin & Anders together and the way that Anders accepted Kevin, his illness, why he walked away from his family and pushed Kevin to realize that he was missing so much in his life. I loved how they didn't immediately jump into bed that they actually got to know each other. I loved the people that they met on the way. Joel, and he is why this was not a 5 star rating for me. He went from a controlling ass to bat shit crazy. I just didn't buy it, especially what he ended up doing at the end. I also would have liked more of the I normally do not like any type of religious figures in my story because they are normally homophobic, but I loved Reverend Bowman and the following cracked me up, this is a response from something that Cole, Anders brother, said:
Reverend Bowman raised his hand and motioned for Barbara to sit back down. He smiled a little. "To the best of my knowledge, son, there has never been any religious or moral prohibition against men becoming bakers."
I would love if there would be a sequel to this story. I actually would like to see one about Cole.
December 15, 2013
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I like this author's writing style (and I really enjoyed A Casual Weekend Thing). The first half of this book was great. I love stories where the main characters are thrown together for the pursuit of a shared goal and get to know each other gradually, so the hiking plot was wonderful.
Where things went off the rails was during the second half. This is mostly just a personal pet peeve, but I hate stalker plots. They're tired and over-used, and if I never read another m/m stalker book again it will be too soon. I don't think the story even needed it. There was plenty of tension with the hiking, illness, and family stuff alone.
Where things went off the rails was during the second half. This is mostly just a personal pet peeve, but I hate stalker plots. They're tired and over-used, and if I never read another m/m stalker book again it will be too soon. I don't think the story even needed it. There was plenty of tension with the hiking, illness, and family stuff alone.
March 26, 2014
B+
This is a beautiful story. There was so much more than the blurb had lead me to expect. Layers that built over time and created a tapestry of love, acceptance, endurance, family in all of its flavors and nuances, strength and the appreciation for the simple beauties in the world.
The Appalachian Trail and the people who hike it were characters all their own. The world of long distance hiking was amazing and beautiful. I want to walk those paths that these men journeyed. See the breathtaking sights and foster the strength they developed on so many levels as they pushed themselves to traverse the Appalachian Trail.
Every hiker gets a trail name, a nickname that is given to them and is a rite of passage and a way of marking their time on the trail. Kevin’s name is Sourdough and while Anders’ changed, in many ways he will always be the Butch that Kevin first christened him.
Anders was such a wounded puppy when he first meets Kevin. There is no doubt that he owes much to the sexy and amazing Sourdough. While he most likely would have survived he probably would have given up and quit out of fear, exhaustion and inexperience. Anders is in awe of the skill and fortitude that Kevin shows. He is drawn to this mysterious man who manages to bake delicious sourdough creations on the trail.
Kevin’s story is heartbreaking and beautiful. So much pain and love in his past. The struggles that he lives with are daunting and he is amazing. I was impressed with how well he dealt with things and even more with what he was willing to do when he found hope and love with Anders. He deserves all of the peace, happiness and sourdough that he will find with Anders.
Kevin takes pity on Anders and teaches him what he needs to know to thrive on the trail. Both men quickly decide that they are better off working together and form a team and a bond. There are many hours of companionship and slowly the secrets they hide come out and are met with acceptance and friendship. They both have good reasons for not getting into a relationship, and while they fight it for as long as they can their genuine appreciation of each other makes resistance futile. Which leads to some wonderful encounters.
Anders’ family was complicated, intense and a little weird. Every time that I was ready to write them off they would do something that redeemed them. I felt bad for Anders and felt that they explained so much of who and how he was. While they were heavy handed, frequently overwhelming and disturbingly manipulative, they love Anders and want the best for him. They just usually go about things the wrong way.
Kevin’s family will break your heart. Their years of pain and grief as they dealt with Kevin’s father’s illness left them shattered. When Kevin finds out that he shares his father’s fate he doesn’t see how he can burden them with watching him slowly die as well. Such a complicated situation. There was so much love there.
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the build and complexity. While there are some intense moments and some serious issues addressed it wasn’t heavy or full of unnecessary angst or drama. There was so much love and happiness mixed in with all of the bad things that were going on in their lives. There was so much hope. I am very glad that I took this journey with these men.
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
This is a beautiful story. There was so much more than the blurb had lead me to expect. Layers that built over time and created a tapestry of love, acceptance, endurance, family in all of its flavors and nuances, strength and the appreciation for the simple beauties in the world.
The Appalachian Trail and the people who hike it were characters all their own. The world of long distance hiking was amazing and beautiful. I want to walk those paths that these men journeyed. See the breathtaking sights and foster the strength they developed on so many levels as they pushed themselves to traverse the Appalachian Trail.
Every hiker gets a trail name, a nickname that is given to them and is a rite of passage and a way of marking their time on the trail. Kevin’s name is Sourdough and while Anders’ changed, in many ways he will always be the Butch that Kevin first christened him.
Anders was such a wounded puppy when he first meets Kevin. There is no doubt that he owes much to the sexy and amazing Sourdough. While he most likely would have survived he probably would have given up and quit out of fear, exhaustion and inexperience. Anders is in awe of the skill and fortitude that Kevin shows. He is drawn to this mysterious man who manages to bake delicious sourdough creations on the trail.
Kevin’s story is heartbreaking and beautiful. So much pain and love in his past. The struggles that he lives with are daunting and he is amazing. I was impressed with how well he dealt with things and even more with what he was willing to do when he found hope and love with Anders. He deserves all of the peace, happiness and sourdough that he will find with Anders.
Kevin takes pity on Anders and teaches him what he needs to know to thrive on the trail. Both men quickly decide that they are better off working together and form a team and a bond. There are many hours of companionship and slowly the secrets they hide come out and are met with acceptance and friendship. They both have good reasons for not getting into a relationship, and while they fight it for as long as they can their genuine appreciation of each other makes resistance futile. Which leads to some wonderful encounters.
Anders’ family was complicated, intense and a little weird. Every time that I was ready to write them off they would do something that redeemed them. I felt bad for Anders and felt that they explained so much of who and how he was. While they were heavy handed, frequently overwhelming and disturbingly manipulative, they love Anders and want the best for him. They just usually go about things the wrong way.
Kevin’s family will break your heart. Their years of pain and grief as they dealt with Kevin’s father’s illness left them shattered. When Kevin finds out that he shares his father’s fate he doesn’t see how he can burden them with watching him slowly die as well. Such a complicated situation. There was so much love there.
***** Sensitivity Warning That May Contain Spoilers:
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the build and complexity. While there are some intense moments and some serious issues addressed it wasn’t heavy or full of unnecessary angst or drama. There was so much love and happiness mixed in with all of the bad things that were going on in their lives. There was so much hope. I am very glad that I took this journey with these men.
Reviewed by Nina
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
February 4, 2014
4.5 Stars. Excellent writing featuring very real and captivating characterizations. I certainly appreciated the length of this story, as it allowed for an unhurried and naturally flowing progression of the relationship between Anders and Kevin - all the while keeping me fully engrossed. The Appalachian Trail setting was remarkable, I can't exclaim about that enough! Reading about the time the guys spent on the trail made me want to do more than the day hikes I've experienced along it, and it is a very integral part of the story.
I was amazed at how I started off fuming about Ander's family, but was then shown that there was more depth and understanding there than I (and Anders) had believed. Kevin's situation was tough, but so was he - his quiet strength was embraced and absorbed by Anders beautifully. I could have done with less drama surrounding Anders ex, it hit me as being overplayed. The guys denying their feelings for each other for so long caused me to mutter a few times, but it was plausible considering their situations, age and prior expectations. Again, I love how every angle of this story was dealt with fully and I was left feeling completely satisfied and warm at heart when I reached the end. Highly recommended.
I was amazed at how I started off fuming about Ander's family, but was then shown that there was more depth and understanding there than I (and Anders) had believed. Kevin's situation was tough, but so was he - his quiet strength was embraced and absorbed by Anders beautifully. I could have done with less drama surrounding Anders ex, it hit me as being overplayed. The guys denying their feelings for each other for so long caused me to mutter a few times, but it was plausible considering their situations, age and prior expectations. Again, I love how every angle of this story was dealt with fully and I was left feeling completely satisfied and warm at heart when I reached the end. Highly recommended.
December 16, 2013
Couldn't put it down once I started.
Anders was originally supposed to hike with his boyfriend who opted out at the last minute and expected Anders to also give up their plans. Anders decides to go it alone and he meets up with another hiker Kevin who is no novice to the Appalachian Trail. Friendship develops into more. The saying is people hike there to get away and to solve problems, or something along those lines. Anders is escaping a controlling ex, and Kevin, who trail nickname is Sourdough because of the bread he makes, is running from his family who he doesn't want to burden with his illness, the same one that killed his father. In true A J Thomas style, there is crime, and mystery to be solved. Through it all, Kevin and Anders develop a relationship but become separated.
This book involves jovial hikers, scary and possessive ex-boyfriend, controlling parents, bickering siblings, grieving mother and sister and a very fat cat!
It works, it really does, into a wonderful story.
I looked forward to this book and wasn't disappointed. ALMOST makes me want to hit the trail. Did I say ALMOST?
Anders was originally supposed to hike with his boyfriend who opted out at the last minute and expected Anders to also give up their plans. Anders decides to go it alone and he meets up with another hiker Kevin who is no novice to the Appalachian Trail. Friendship develops into more. The saying is people hike there to get away and to solve problems, or something along those lines. Anders is escaping a controlling ex, and Kevin, who trail nickname is Sourdough because of the bread he makes, is running from his family who he doesn't want to burden with his illness, the same one that killed his father. In true A J Thomas style, there is crime, and mystery to be solved. Through it all, Kevin and Anders develop a relationship but become separated.
This book involves jovial hikers, scary and possessive ex-boyfriend, controlling parents, bickering siblings, grieving mother and sister and a very fat cat!
It works, it really does, into a wonderful story.
I looked forward to this book and wasn't disappointed. ALMOST makes me want to hit the trail. Did I say ALMOST?
April 7, 2014
One thing that crossed my mind after finished it is I wanna go hike! \^..^/
Yeah, people need to hike once or twice, to escape from their abusive relationship, or from boring life, or from stupid city with hellish traffic -.-
I love this story, I'll give it five stars if it's not a bit too long.
When I read the the title I was thinking this must be another sexfest story. Yes, there's sex scenes, but the relationship between Anders & Kevin built in slow pace. They're moved from buddy-hike to friend-with-benefit to lover after having so many things together on their hike journey and after.
Kevin is sick, a serious sickness but I like how it handled.
Also I learns about sourdough (I have no idea before this...) and I love Anders' & Kevin's family.
Now if only there'll be Cole's story... ^,,^
Yeah, people need to hike once or twice, to escape from their abusive relationship, or from boring life, or from stupid city with hellish traffic -.-
I love this story, I'll give it five stars if it's not a bit too long.
When I read the the title I was thinking this must be another sexfest story. Yes, there's sex scenes, but the relationship between Anders & Kevin built in slow pace. They're moved from buddy-hike to friend-with-benefit to lover after having so many things together on their hike journey and after.
Kevin is sick, a serious sickness but I like how it handled.
Also I learns about sourdough (I have no idea before this...) and I love Anders' & Kevin's family.
Now if only there'll be Cole's story... ^,,^
December 17, 2013
Aw man, I want to go hiking, I want to backpack through forests, I want to learn how to make sourdough bread over a campfire, but most of all I want to hug these boys. Even though the story really does feel complete, I'd love to know what happens to Sourdough, and how Anders and Kevin get on in life. (Anders means 'different' in Dutch btw, which I thought was very cool.) I will definitely reread this one. Great writing, understated but heartfelt storytelling, fantastic characters, mmm yes. More from this author please, Santa, I've been a good girl.
June 2, 2022
Dust off your backpack and find your hiking boots...
I really enjoyed this love story! It's not perfect but the setting along the Appalachian Trail was spectacular and I adored the two main characters and "supporting cast". One must suspend a bit of disbelief toward the end, but nonetheless a wonderful little story. Recommended!
I really enjoyed this love story! It's not perfect but the setting along the Appalachian Trail was spectacular and I adored the two main characters and "supporting cast". One must suspend a bit of disbelief toward the end, but nonetheless a wonderful little story. Recommended!
May 14, 2014
I thought this was a great book... loved her style of writing...loved how the attraction between Anders and Kevin grew over time...not "not insta-love attraction"..i felt like I was there walking along side them as they hiked the trail....this was my first by this author will definitely try another by her in the future...
August 6, 2016
This is the unfair-est rating ever - I hate sourdough - can`t even smell it.
Story was kinda nice though. Mystery a bit over the top, appealing characters, well written - but the sourdough....that`s why it took me so long to finish the book, the pages were glued together. :)
Story was kinda nice though. Mystery a bit over the top, appealing characters, well written - but the sourdough....that`s why it took me so long to finish the book, the pages were glued together. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews