This was a previously released title in 2011 from Silver Publishing. It has been re-edited and has new cover art.
School’s out and Alex is home, but things aren’t going as smoothly as he hoped.
Jared is hesitant about advancing their relationship and fixated on the fact that Alex’s mother doesn’t know he’s gay. When she discovers the truth, her extreme reaction drives Alex back to school early. Jared is stunned.
Motivated by his need to protect Alex, Jared begins to question the wisdom of their planning a future together. How will their love flourish when every circumstance makes it seem predestined to fail?
There is really nothing new or original about this story. We've experienced the hateful, bigoted parent before. We've read about the hurt boy kicked out of his home because he was gay before. We've been told the story of one man walking away because he didn't feel he was good enough for the other before.
BUT...this is JARED AND ALEX! And really, that's all that matters. Jared and his rock-solid integrity and deep devotion to Alex. Alex and his youthful passion and joy in loving Jared. It is impossible (for me) not to love these two.
I would have rolled my eyes at the story. I would have sighed frustratingly at the writing. I would have made fun of the been-there-done-that subject matters. I would have screamed at the juvenile YA spin of this book.
This was another novella-type novel, and for me, this was much better than it's prequel, as there were lots of tender touches and kisses in it.
Of course, the worst character in the book finally brought her 'I'm going to throw all my things out of the pram' moment to the series, and well, what can you say?? I know there are women like that out there, but stay away from me you stupid and ignorant bitches!!
I have downloaded the rest of the series, and can only wait with baited breath to see how the story progresses. I know that Tom W. has given the last book a 5 star rating, and as his reviews are really rather wonderful, I know that I can expect a good one at the end (even if maybe it's contents aren't that happy).
It was great seeing Jared and Alex again; I am already anxiously awaiting the next one. It is hard to review it with out spoiling part of the story so I will just say I loved it and would recommend it to anyone that loves a great M/M Romance.
I love these characters and how well developed they are, they feel real to me and it is easy to connect with them. I will miss them waiting until July for their next book
The second book as good as the first. In this one we get to see a little more into Jared's life. The hints of things to be explored. We also get a detailed introduction to Alex's mum.
Totally recomend to anyone looking for a romantic couple.
These two certainly know how to kiss lol. Some of my favorite kisses take place in this series. But this needs a tissue warning too.
ETA Still need the tissues, poor Jareds mini breakdown broke my heart again. But this also gave me plenty of smile moments too.
Its official Im in love with this series and all involved except for Alex's mum who I would personally lie to do permanent damage to. Thank god for Frank his lovely dad and of course the ever patient and loving Jared who is still trying to keep his feelings under wraps because hes worrying about their age difference. When the horrible mother throws a major thrombie after finding out about Alex and Jared circumstances arise that puts their relationship under pressure and Alex runs back to school. I know this is just going to get better and better as the story progresses and I am hooked! We also get to meet Stevie, who is Clarks secret love and a friend with issues from Alex and Clarks childhood. Sublime, sweet storytelling!
The sequel to Our December takes place in an important (early) event of Alex and Jared's more than a decade relationship: when Alex's mother finally finds out about him being gay. Just like the first book, it opens with Alex and Jared, fourteen years later (since their first meeting), having tender morning sex. Then there is a story about a chair, that plays some sort of integral part to Alex's mom finding out ...
It's another beautifully written story. Again, I love how this story flips from the future to the past. It's nice to start a story from the Happy Ever After, knowing that whatever happens in the past, it will lead to something good. In this one, we are with Alex as he handles his fall-out with his Mom, a full-support from his best-friend Clark and his father Frank, as well as his journey from a boy to a man, when he decides to make Jared sees that he is in it for the long haul.
Love the idea of Pi Day (yeah, "Pi", as in that number), witty thing to do :). I cannot wait to read next installment of Alex and Jared. Maybe, uhm, fourth of July?
Diane Adams has a definite winner on her hands with this installment in her The Making of a Man series. The story begins and ends much like the last book did with Jared and Alex in the present day. The segue back to their younger days flowed beautifully. I think Ms Adams managed to hit every emotion in this time. The questions that were left open in Our December were closed with a surgeon's precision. The pain inflicted by Alex's mother made me very grateful for the ease with which my parents accepted my being gay. I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you haven't read Our December yet, what's taking you so long? This book will make you smile and even shed a tear. Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
There is nothing not to love about Jared and Alex. They both needed to grow in this book, even if it was hard to read through in parts. Alex's mom needs someone to hit her in the head - bitch is too nice a term for her and Frank needs to give her some sense.
I could honestly read about Alex and Jared for a long time. So Diane, when do we get the story of their first time?
Again, we go from Present to past as Jared, now 21 and Alex, 17, deal with separation and a homophobic mother. Jared is trying to do the right thing for Alex and let him grow up. But their love for each other never wavers. This is such a sweet series. You can just tell these two are meant to be and will make it through each trial that is set before them.
Well, once I started reading, I couldn't put my Kindle down and go to sleep, so I just finished it and man! I loved it! It was a great follow up to her first book...I Continue to love Alex and Jared and how PERFECT they are for each other, and the conflicts that they have to face together. Like the first book, this flips between present and past, and I really like how everything relates to each other from beginning to the end of the story. I don't want to say too much to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but I just absolutely love this series. I can't wait for a third one. Seventeen-year-old Alex has gotta wear down Jared sooner or later for something more than just a kiss and cuddle! :D
Reading A Place to Run is like coming home to visit old and beloved friends. Jared and Alex and such a great couple, and in Diane Adams' writing you feel like they are real people, flesh and blood creations. To say I'm looking forward to more Alex and Jared would be an understatement!
Alex is at the prep school and misses Jared terribly. This book is a continuation of Alex and Jared's burgeoning relationship and the years that Jared waits for Alex to come of age. There are also some trials, such as Alex inadvertently coming out to his mother. While Jared is still careful to retain a respectful distance with Alex, he is only a man, not a saint.
I liked the continuation of the story of Jared and Alex and getting to see more of their relationship. I just wish that it wasn't so short and it would have moved forward more, but enjoyed it as much as the first one. I felt bad to how Alex' mom treated him.
Totally loving this series! So very realistic. The flashbacks give an extra edge but the story of Alex & Jared falling in love is sweet as can be! Can't wait for the next story
Three stars for keeping me reading. I love Alex. This series neatly checks off all known clichés in the MM romance genre. Characters are good (bordering preaching about how to behave in certain situations) or extremely evil. I have a small niggling irritation about the abuse victim, who seems to have been added only for sensations sake. In whick case I believe abuse is to heavy an issue to be used so lightly.
I really enjoyed this follow up to Our December which picks up on Alex and Jared's relationship when Alex comes home from school and has to deal with his mum's reaction to finding out that her son is gay.
I think Diane handled Alex coming out to his mum very sensitively as well as the issues with Alex still being very young and not ready for the physical side of a relationship with Jared.
I get the feeling this series will just get better and better and I can't wait for the next instalment in their story!
Another great addition to Jared and Alex's love story. I liked this one as much as the first one. It showed Jared's vulnerability and his love for Alex. It also shows Alex's stubbornness and his believe in their relationship. All the characters were amazing. I loved the banter in the dialog, the humor and all the conflicted emotions (which I'm a sucker for, I admit). And of course, I wanted to smack Alex's mother every time she spoke! In other words, another great read!
Loved seeing more into these guys' relationship. Alex had a lot to deal with in this one - I'm excited to keep reading how they each grow individually and together.
A Place To Run is the second short story in (The Making of a Man) series. Diane’s skill of writing, command of language and since of emotion for her characters makes for great reading.
Sugary sweet with just enough angst to keep it interesting. It's been awhile since I read the first book in this series, but I dived right back in to this next installment. I appreciated the fact that Alex is getting a little older so this feels a little less juvenile. Jared is still determined to be the good man in the scenario and protect Alex even from himself. Family is definitely an issue in this story. There's a lot of growing up here and it moves Jared and Alex's relationship along in leaps and bounds. I really enjoyed the tie in with their armchair. Such a sweet opening and closing vignettes.
Adams has done it again! The second book in The Making of a Man series, A PLACE TO RUN, was another amazing story of the beautiful love shared between Jared and Alex.
Just like OUR DECEMBER, Adams begins A PLACE TO RUN with a glimpse of Jared and Alex in present day, enjoying each other’s company, playfully teasing each other, and still experiencing the passion, desire, and love that was so evident throughout the first book. Before long, though, Adams takes the boys back about 14 years, picking up a few months later than when the majority of OUR DECEMBER took place.
Now that Alex is 16 and Jared has lifted the “no touching” rule (although he has imposed the “no touching below the waist” rule), things are starting to get a little tougher for these fellows. Their desire for each other continues to burn, and the touching they do allow themselves only fans the flames, making things a bit harder most of the time (ha, pun not intended). ;)
To make matters worse, Alex still has not told his mother that he is gay. Jared encourages him to do so, repeatedly, but before Alex has a chance, his mom finds out from another source. To say that she doesn’t take it well would be the understatement of the century.
Well, to change things up a bit, I thought I would do this review a bit differently and list what I so love about these characters and this book in particular:
♥ Jared’s integrity: it is second to none. Period.
♥ Jared as a “Mom” to Clark: his integrity leads to a “no cussing” rule, which Clark tries to follow, but finds it difficult at times (which is funny in its own right).
♥ Alex’s pout: sends a punch to Jared’s gut every time (and boy, does Alex know how to work it).
♥ Alex’s smile: still lights up Jared’s world.
♥ Clark's continued addiction to the Greasy Dog.
♥ Alex’s Dad: his unconditional love for Alex continues, as does the trust he has for Jared. He is an amazing father.
♥ We learn more about Jared’s past – how he came out, his reaction to it, and how he learned from it.
♥ The way Alex ingrains himself into Jared’s life and soul: he is so optimistic, young, and innocent. He wears his heart on his sleeve and makes no apologies for it.
♥ How passionate Alex and Jared’s kisses are, and the way they hold each other’s faces and comb their fingers through the other’s hair. *sigh*
♥ Jared’s growl: RAWR!
♥ Clarks’ parents: just all around awesome folks.
♥ The comments made when Alex cooks – cracks me up every time.
♥ Meeting Stevie: she was a big part of Alex and Clark’s lives as children, and it’s great to have another character introduced into the story.
♥ Jared’s Mom: she is simply amazing, and I just love the relationship she has with Jared.
♥ Tattoos, pie and pi: enough said. ;)
Of course, there were some things that I didn’t “like” about the book, too, but they just made the story that much better. A book cannot be full of perfection – that’s unrealistic. Every relationship has troubles and difficulties, and Alex and Jared have their share of them. The primary problem is Alex’s bitch of a mom. She is homophobic and completely disapproving of Alex’s relationship with Jared, which in turn causes additional stress in their relationship. Of course, that strain may have caused me to shed a few tears. But as with all good books, it is perseverance and a hard-fought love that makes a relationship that much better. And to feel such intense emotion just tells me how good a writer Adams truly is.
Again, Adams delivers on all things needed to make A PLACE TO RUN a heartfelt and gripping love story. If you loved OUR DECEMBER, you’ll be sure to love this one as well. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the boys…they beckon me some more (and thank Adams for that!).
There are so many good things to say about this book. It is a page-turner, and well-written - both are also true of the first book in this sweet series.
Once again, Ms. Adams shines in characterization. Her characters jump from the pages and come alive. They are a pleasure to read, and the reader misses them when the book ends.
A few technical issues with the author's writing makes her difficult to follow at times. For example, she tends to change character point of view in the middle of the paragraph, leaving reader to wonder which character is having the thought process; a change of paragraph would be in order in these circumstances. Also, in one instance, there is a blatant reference to the first book that will go over the reader's head if the reader has not indulged in Book One of the series; this instance is a shame because without it the book easily stands on its own.
The author falls back on stereotypes. Perhaps it is human nature to try to write a book about one type of bigotry while - every writer being human - exhibiting another type. A passage in the book about bigotry not being confined to the religious, left this reviewer's mouth hanging open. (Again, perhaps every writer does this without meaning to, we all being human. But it takes away from the overall anti-bigotry message to run into a blanket statement about religious people, many of whom are gay-friendly.)
(SPOILERS AHEAD) The most annoying stereotype was the character of the mother. She was so entirely one-dimensional that at one point it was like watching a Disney villain, some wicked witch cartoon ranting the demise of an enemy. It gave humor to a scene that wasn't intended to be humorous (that where the mother confronts Jared). Adding some dimension to her, making her human, would have added poignancy and realism to the conflict between she and her son, and would have given the overall theme more impact.
Again, this is a book well worth reading. It moves fast, is gripping and largely well-written. I am off to get the third in the series.
I reviewed the first 3 books in this series together
These are all novellas, and we all know how I feel about those: a wonderful medium for a quick yet satisfying read. The Making of a Man series is a beautifully sweet, warm and fuzzy love story that spans 14 years. It is about making the right choices even though it hurts and that love is worth waiting and fighting for.
This is the story of Jared and Alex. Jared is only five years older than Alex, but when they first met Alex was only 15. Jared is openly gay and has had some relationships. Alex hasn’t come out, except to his best friend who is supportive, and has never had any gay experiences. The first book, Our December, is about how Alex and Jared met and dealt with their feelings. It is extremely touching and reminded me of how it felt to fall in love for the first time. My stomach got butterflies every time Alex’s did. Now I know what you are thinking, he is 15! Believe me, Jared knows this and refuses to physically act on his feelings. He makes all the right choices and helps Alex learn about his self and life in general.
I know you’re wondering now…why would I want to read a m/m romance with no sex? Adams was clever... read the rest of the review: http://www.rarelydustybooks.com/2011/11/...
The books in this series are completely co-dependent. None of them are a stand-alone title which means that you will probably feel compelled to purchase the entire series. This is one of my pet peeves. At $4.39 per book, the price is quite steep for the word count. I can read 4 books from this series in one day.
I became emotionally invested in the characters Jared & Alex. Despite the fact that the story was a bit twee & some of the supporting characters a tad cliché, I felt compelled to keep reading despite the fact that I knew the characters ultimately got their HEA. Diane Adams managed to write a beautiful romance with a prolonged build up of sexual tension. It was nice to read a story where the characters got to grow up & develop. I can't quite pin-point what it is about this series that made it such compelling reading. Nothing jumps out saying "this makes this story fabulous". Perhaps it's the Twilight-like frustrated sexual tension. Perhaps it's simply the niceness of the characters. Whatever it is, it is a story I will re-read & if another book is written, I will buy it too. I would have rated the series 5 stars if it were re-worked into one book.
Part 2 of the trilogy, Making of a Man. Patience, patience, patience. Alex is off to college while Jared continues to support his extended family. Jared makes a bad decision, which could cost them their future, except for the fact that we already know they are still together 14 years later since the whole story is told in flashback. Still, the details are unknown and the tension is heavy. It isn't all solemn and dark. There is plenty of humor. You will never again look at the owner of an oversized recliner without blushing. The three books must be read in order. I liked A Place to Run even more than Book 1, Our December, and I liked that one a lot!