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Gay Tales for the New Millennium #4
If I Seem Quiet...
Aaron Bradbury, 28, has a successful career as a pharmacist and a nice apartment in sunny Tempe, Arizona. Yet, his life seems empty. He has few friends and has had no luck with dating.
A chance meeting with a trombonist named Rob sets a series of events in motion that will change Aaron’s life. Rob invites Aaron to attend the Desert Pride Symphonic Band concert the following Sunday. Aaron, who quit playing his trombone in college, decides to go. As he enjoys the concert, he realizes he misses playing his trombone and the camaraderie and friendship that come with playing in a band.
After the concert, Rob encourages Aaron to start playing again and join the band. There’s only one Desert Pride is an LGBTQ and Allies band. Rob assures Aaron that straight people are welcome. After some initial hesitation, he agrees to give it a try.
Aaron’s apprehension fades quickly. He enjoys playing his trombone again, makes new friends, and finally confronts the truth he has been avoiding for years. As the saying goes, he’s been looking for love in all the wrong places.
One of Aaron’s bandmates invites him to join his gay running club. On his first run, Aaron is smitten by a tall, handsome, dark-blond young man named Ryan. Although Ryan seems to check every box, he has a mysterious past he’s reluctant to discuss.
Aaron’s story is filled with humor, drama, discovery, trust issues, and questionable life choices as he discovers gay life, deals with homophobic parents, and learns the ins and outs of same-sex relationships – from horniness to heartbreak to happiness.If I Seem Quiet... continues the engaging stories in Maybe Next Year; Instant Adult; and Open Books, Closed Sets. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the previous books in the series.Content This book contains adult language and references to same-sex sexual activities, pornography, and religious bigotry. It does not contain graphic sex scenes. If it were a movie, it would be rated R. This book may not be suitable for readers under 18.
A chance meeting with a trombonist named Rob sets a series of events in motion that will change Aaron’s life. Rob invites Aaron to attend the Desert Pride Symphonic Band concert the following Sunday. Aaron, who quit playing his trombone in college, decides to go. As he enjoys the concert, he realizes he misses playing his trombone and the camaraderie and friendship that come with playing in a band.
After the concert, Rob encourages Aaron to start playing again and join the band. There’s only one Desert Pride is an LGBTQ and Allies band. Rob assures Aaron that straight people are welcome. After some initial hesitation, he agrees to give it a try.
Aaron’s apprehension fades quickly. He enjoys playing his trombone again, makes new friends, and finally confronts the truth he has been avoiding for years. As the saying goes, he’s been looking for love in all the wrong places.
One of Aaron’s bandmates invites him to join his gay running club. On his first run, Aaron is smitten by a tall, handsome, dark-blond young man named Ryan. Although Ryan seems to check every box, he has a mysterious past he’s reluctant to discuss.
Aaron’s story is filled with humor, drama, discovery, trust issues, and questionable life choices as he discovers gay life, deals with homophobic parents, and learns the ins and outs of same-sex relationships – from horniness to heartbreak to happiness.If I Seem Quiet... continues the engaging stories in Maybe Next Year; Instant Adult; and Open Books, Closed Sets. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the previous books in the series.Content This book contains adult language and references to same-sex sexual activities, pornography, and religious bigotry. It does not contain graphic sex scenes. If it were a movie, it would be rated R. This book may not be suitable for readers under 18.
363 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2023
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Dave Hughes
10 books3 followersDave Hughes has written six gay-themed novels,
Maybe Next Year
;
Instant Adult
;
Open Books, Closed Sets
; If I Seem Quiet...; Karma Train from Kansas; and Maybe Now. These books form a series called "Gay Tales for the New Millennium." His short story,
Cruise Virgins
, is available free to subscribers of his newsletter.
In addition to fiction, Dave has written three retirement lifestyle planning books, Design Your Dream Retirement , Smooth Sailing Into Retirement, and The Quest for Retirement Utopia. Dave created the website RetireFabulously.com , which enables readers to envision, plan for, and enjoy the best retirement possible. In addition to writing hundreds of articles for RetireFabulously.com, Dave's writing has appeared on US News & World Report, lgbtSr.com, Medium, Yahoo! Finance, CNN/Money, Next Avenue, Tiny Buddha, and others.
Aside from his writing, Dave is also a jazz musician. He plays trombone, steel pan, and electric bass in various bands in the Phoenix area, where he lives with his husband Jeff.
In addition to fiction, Dave has written three retirement lifestyle planning books, Design Your Dream Retirement , Smooth Sailing Into Retirement, and The Quest for Retirement Utopia. Dave created the website RetireFabulously.com , which enables readers to envision, plan for, and enjoy the best retirement possible. In addition to writing hundreds of articles for RetireFabulously.com, Dave's writing has appeared on US News & World Report, lgbtSr.com, Medium, Yahoo! Finance, CNN/Money, Next Avenue, Tiny Buddha, and others.
Aside from his writing, Dave is also a jazz musician. He plays trombone, steel pan, and electric bass in various bands in the Phoenix area, where he lives with his husband Jeff.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 17, 2023
Dave Hughes writes a LGBTQ tale with If I Seem Quiet
In If I Seem Quiet, the reader is introduced to Aaron, a man who's life isn't as fulfilling as he had hoped it would be. Even though he's got a successful career, something is missing. When Aaron meets Rob, a trombonist, things start to change, making Aaron want to pick up his own trombone again. This starts his life on a new journey, and it also comes with self-discovery. He is asked to join the Desert Pride Symphonic Band, but there is a catch, the band is an LGBTQ and Allies band. Aaron, denying it, thinking he's straight is told he can be part of it. He eventually realizes what was missing, and his own denial. He realizes he is gay. This realization puts him on a journey, and also he realizes that his parents aren't supportive, and are very homophobic. It's a great story to follow up the stories that came before this one, especially when Aaron meets Ryan. A reader can get lost in the story. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This is one story you don't want to put down. I recommend reading the ones that came before this one, though they are standalone stories, but you get the feel and back story of everyone and how Ryan is put in front of Aaron at just the right time, or is it a chance meeting? Aaron's story is not light, but there is humor and the journey of discovery, which makes you understand what he is going through, what others may go through. Maybe Aaron can finally realize who he is, and who he loves. If I Seem Quiet is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
In If I Seem Quiet, the reader is introduced to Aaron, a man who's life isn't as fulfilling as he had hoped it would be. Even though he's got a successful career, something is missing. When Aaron meets Rob, a trombonist, things start to change, making Aaron want to pick up his own trombone again. This starts his life on a new journey, and it also comes with self-discovery. He is asked to join the Desert Pride Symphonic Band, but there is a catch, the band is an LGBTQ and Allies band. Aaron, denying it, thinking he's straight is told he can be part of it. He eventually realizes what was missing, and his own denial. He realizes he is gay. This realization puts him on a journey, and also he realizes that his parents aren't supportive, and are very homophobic. It's a great story to follow up the stories that came before this one, especially when Aaron meets Ryan. A reader can get lost in the story. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This is one story you don't want to put down. I recommend reading the ones that came before this one, though they are standalone stories, but you get the feel and back story of everyone and how Ryan is put in front of Aaron at just the right time, or is it a chance meeting? Aaron's story is not light, but there is humor and the journey of discovery, which makes you understand what he is going through, what others may go through. Maybe Aaron can finally realize who he is, and who he loves. If I Seem Quiet is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
July 16, 2024
As a change of pace to the Gay Tales for the New Millennium series, the story starts with a new character, Aaron, a young pharmacist who's new life in Tempe, Arizona has been rather constrained. This changes as Aaron is invited to attend an upcoming performance of Desert Pride, the local band for LGBT and allies. Aaron is impressed by their performance and having enjoyed playing trombone in the past, he was tempted to join the band. "Being straight" though, he has reservations, but tries it out and finds a friendly and supportive group who change his life.
The writing has loosened a lot which is great to read, and the characters and plot continue to delight. The story contains a broad range of gay characters, relationships and experiences, the good and the bad of each, and keeps it real all the way. As always, I enjoyed this instalment and look forward to continuing the series!
The writing has loosened a lot which is great to read, and the characters and plot continue to delight. The story contains a broad range of gay characters, relationships and experiences, the good and the bad of each, and keeps it real all the way. As always, I enjoyed this instalment and look forward to continuing the series!
November 20, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed, "If I Seem Quiet..." It was a fun read that really held my attention. Seeing the development of Aaron was believable and intriguing. It was nice to see how the different characters each had their own personalities and intricacies. I found the story to be heartwarming and emotionally driven, while still finding ways to mix in humor without ever being over the top, which I appreciated. The book really ties in well with Dave's other works in this series while giving a lot of background about Aaron. I would highly recommend this to anyone that wants a good read to relax and take in. I can't wait for more of the story!!
November 18, 2023
The author’s fourth book in a series, If I Seem Quiet follows the awkward, sometimes painful, but ultimately rewarding journey of Aaron Bradbury.
Through a bit of serendipity, Aaron reconnects with one of his first loves – music. And from there, Aaron experiences self-discovery, self-acceptance and…a new love he’s never before experienced!
The reader may see a bit of themselves, or perhaps others they have met along the way, in this heartwarming story of living (and loving) authentically.
If I Seem Quiet will put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Through a bit of serendipity, Aaron reconnects with one of his first loves – music. And from there, Aaron experiences self-discovery, self-acceptance and…a new love he’s never before experienced!
The reader may see a bit of themselves, or perhaps others they have met along the way, in this heartwarming story of living (and loving) authentically.
If I Seem Quiet will put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews