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Seasons of Love #1
Spring Affair
Sloan McKenna is going through a tough time. His beloved mother has recently passed away, leaving him her house and beautiful garden. But should he keep the house? Sell it? To make matters worse, he’s in love with one of his best friends, Asher, a man who can’t (or won’t) love him back.
Sloan’s neighbor, Max Turner, is married to an ambitious woman with far-reaching dreams, including moving the family to France. But Max is happy teaching at the local college and living in their nice, quiet town. Then he discovers his fourteen-year-old son is not only gay, but out and proud as well. That throws him into complete disarray, for more than one reason....
When Max’s wife leaves on a two-month business trip to Paris, circumstances throw the two men together. As they become friends, Sloan finds himself falling in love with Max, who is completely unavailable… just like Asher. As for Max, he is discovering that both his son’s coming out and his new friendship with Sloan are stirring up feelings he thought buried long ago. Spring is a time for rebirth—Is there any way the two men can find happiness and a new beginning?
Sloan’s neighbor, Max Turner, is married to an ambitious woman with far-reaching dreams, including moving the family to France. But Max is happy teaching at the local college and living in their nice, quiet town. Then he discovers his fourteen-year-old son is not only gay, but out and proud as well. That throws him into complete disarray, for more than one reason....
When Max’s wife leaves on a two-month business trip to Paris, circumstances throw the two men together. As they become friends, Sloan finds himself falling in love with Max, who is completely unavailable… just like Asher. As for Max, he is discovering that both his son’s coming out and his new friendship with Sloan are stirring up feelings he thought buried long ago. Spring is a time for rebirth—Is there any way the two men can find happiness and a new beginning?
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2014
5 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
B.G. Thomas
77 books240 followersB.G. Thomas lives in Kansas City with his husband for nearly fifteen years and was legally married in 2014. Ehey have a fabulous little dog, Sarah Jane. He sees his wonderful daughter just often enough to miss her when she isn't there! He has a romantic soul and is extraordinarily lucky to have many friends.
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 5, 2014
I've thought of a number of cute things I could say to start this little review, but I think the author speaks best for himself. I found this in the biography blurb at the end of the book (yes, I actually do read the dedications and biographies):
I came upon this book in a friend's feed. I probably wouldn't have ever looked twice at it otherwise because the cover doesn't appeal to me and honestly, I read a bunch of smut. If there's not sex by the 50% point, it frustrates me. The sex in this one doesn't come to the very end and I couldn't have cared less. Why? See the above quote. I cared about the characters. The physical became secondary.
This book chronicled Max's journey to rediscover something he knew, but had buried beneath responsibility, societal expectations, and family pressure. Max's neighbor, Sloan, represents everything Max forgot he gave up. Sloan is openly gay, surrounded by a close knit group of friends, and lonely as hell due to unrequited loved. Max and Sloan are yin and yang. And their journey is beautifully written and moving as hell. 5 surprising stars.
"In the nineties, he (B.G. Thomas) wrote for gay magazines but stopped because the editors wanted all sex without plot. "The sex is never as important as the characters," he says. "Who cares what they are doing if we don't care about them?'"
I came upon this book in a friend's feed. I probably wouldn't have ever looked twice at it otherwise because the cover doesn't appeal to me and honestly, I read a bunch of smut. If there's not sex by the 50% point, it frustrates me. The sex in this one doesn't come to the very end and I couldn't have cared less. Why? See the above quote. I cared about the characters. The physical became secondary.
This book chronicled Max's journey to rediscover something he knew, but had buried beneath responsibility, societal expectations, and family pressure. Max's neighbor, Sloan, represents everything Max forgot he gave up. Sloan is openly gay, surrounded by a close knit group of friends, and lonely as hell due to unrequited loved. Max and Sloan are yin and yang. And their journey is beautifully written and moving as hell. 5 surprising stars.
December 15, 2015
2015 must be my year!
Here is yet another book that made it on my top 10 list of favorite m/m romances of all times. The last book that excited me this much was Brandon Witt’s Then the Stars Fall.
Spring Affair is about Sloan McKenna, whose mother had recently and tragically passed away and left him a beautiful house with an award winning flower garden that he has no idea how to take care of properly. He is lonely and still lusting after his former one night stand now turned close friend Asher, who is part of their quartet of the Fabulous Four: Four completely different gay friends who take care of each other in their own unique ways:
Sloan: The self-conscious red-head who is a good looking guy but always falls for the wrong men. He’s got traditional values, searching for a man to be his for life and love. He doesn’t cheat or want a lover who cheats (or is married and cheating on his wife), he doesn’t want an open relationship. Heck, he doesn’t even want one-nightstands. The only times this happens is when his friends more or less shove him into it. He is in love with the aspiring actor Asher who relies on Sloan as his friend and confidant, but who cannot love him back the way Sloan wants to love him.
Asher: He’s good-natured, but a slut to the core. Handsome, muscled, a talented and charismatic actor, he can have any guy he wants. And he has them too. Lots of them, but never anyone twice! He doesn’t seem to realize how much it hurts Sloan when he brags about his newest conquests while Sloan secretly wishes him to return to him for good. [Side info: Book 3 in the series will be about him]
Wyatt: He’s the QUEEN of the four. He wears silly t-shirts, drinks cocktails where other people drink coffee or tea and is the only one of the four with a steady partner of 10 years – even though it is an open relationship and Sloan is convinced that Wyatt is not truly happy with his lover.
Scott: He’s the reliable one. Working at a law firm, he is the one to go to when *shit hits the fan* and legal stuff needs to be taken care of. He’s there for Sloan when his mom died, helping him with funeral details and legal decisions. He’s willing to risk his life for his friends and Sloan values him deeply for it. But Scott is also a deeply insecure guy who hates his looks and only does online dates that usually turn bad when he meets the guys in real life. [Side info: Book 2 in the series will be about him].
So the morning after the four friends had one of their Saturday ‘porch nights’ in Sloan’s late mother’s house, Sloan sits on the front porch and watches the joggers run by, one of which turns out to be his straight hunky neighbor, whose name Sloan doesn’t remember: Max Tanner.
Max is many things: A college teacher, a loving father, a fitness freak, a Buddhist, but most of all, he’s a deeply repressed gay man who thought marrying his high school girlfriend 15 years earlier would cure him of having homosexual thoughts. Too bad it didn’t really work that way and left him as a lonely, questioning man who has the shock of his life when his 14 year old son comes out to him and tells him what being gay in 2014 means. It is not what being gay was in the early 1990s when Max’s brother Dennis had come out, forcing Max into the role of the ‘straight son’ in his father’s eyes. The straight son who had to make sure he had a son of his own to carry on the family line. And have a family he did.
His wife Lauren is everything a straight man could want: Beautiful, blond, talented and ambitious. It was easy for Max to hide behind her during their marriage.
When Lauren leaves for two months for a job offer in France, Max is staying behind on his own, facing his son’s coming out and his own struggles realizing his feelings for the handsome neighbor, Sloan.
But Max is not an adulterer. He is convinced that even if he had to be honest and admit his homosexuality to himself, he would never have sex with a guy. He was married after all.
Stupid situation, right? And this is only the beginning :-)
I loved this book so much. The gay men portrayed in here are all men that exist in real life. The queen, the cynic, the slut, the monogamous guy looking for a lasting love and stumbling several times on the way to find it. I totally fell for each and every one of these characters.
I especially loved Max’ struggles. He didn’t completely realize it, but he was actually a deeply homophobic guy, hiding himself behind wrong facts, repeatedly hurting gay people in his life, like his student, Maurice. He didn’t mean to, mind you, but he did.
I totally bow to this author for taking a totally unusual path of finding his identity for Max. It was actually his son, Logan, whose coming out made Max think about his own life. First wondering if maybe his own being gay was the reason his son was gay too, feeling guilty and sorry for his son.
Then after Logan told him that being gay wasn’t a bad thing and that he felt blessed being able to openly love the boy he is seeing in school, Max wonders what his own life would be like if he left his marriage behind and found a guy to love. A guy like Sloan. It would be so easy to love Sloan.
Needless to say, I devoured this book. It took me twelve full hours to get through it (with only few necessary breaks, LOL), but it was worth spending my day off with Sloan and Max. So worth it.
The cultural references and the funny comments in the story really cracked me up, it was insanely well written:
I am forever in love with this book and I will recommend it to all my gay friends. What a gorgeous piece of romance literature!! And as it is written by a male author, finally some characters who appreciate HAIRY men!!!! Nothing sexier than a hairy chest ;-)
5 stars and on my all time favorites list!
Here is yet another book that made it on my top 10 list of favorite m/m romances of all times. The last book that excited me this much was Brandon Witt’s Then the Stars Fall.
Spring Affair is about Sloan McKenna, whose mother had recently and tragically passed away and left him a beautiful house with an award winning flower garden that he has no idea how to take care of properly. He is lonely and still lusting after his former one night stand now turned close friend Asher, who is part of their quartet of the Fabulous Four: Four completely different gay friends who take care of each other in their own unique ways:
Sloan: The self-conscious red-head who is a good looking guy but always falls for the wrong men. He’s got traditional values, searching for a man to be his for life and love. He doesn’t cheat or want a lover who cheats (or is married and cheating on his wife), he doesn’t want an open relationship. Heck, he doesn’t even want one-nightstands. The only times this happens is when his friends more or less shove him into it. He is in love with the aspiring actor Asher who relies on Sloan as his friend and confidant, but who cannot love him back the way Sloan wants to love him.
Asher: He’s good-natured, but a slut to the core. Handsome, muscled, a talented and charismatic actor, he can have any guy he wants. And he has them too. Lots of them, but never anyone twice! He doesn’t seem to realize how much it hurts Sloan when he brags about his newest conquests while Sloan secretly wishes him to return to him for good. [Side info: Book 3 in the series will be about him]
Wyatt: He’s the QUEEN of the four. He wears silly t-shirts, drinks cocktails where other people drink coffee or tea and is the only one of the four with a steady partner of 10 years – even though it is an open relationship and Sloan is convinced that Wyatt is not truly happy with his lover.
Scott: He’s the reliable one. Working at a law firm, he is the one to go to when *shit hits the fan* and legal stuff needs to be taken care of. He’s there for Sloan when his mom died, helping him with funeral details and legal decisions. He’s willing to risk his life for his friends and Sloan values him deeply for it. But Scott is also a deeply insecure guy who hates his looks and only does online dates that usually turn bad when he meets the guys in real life. [Side info: Book 2 in the series will be about him].
So the morning after the four friends had one of their Saturday ‘porch nights’ in Sloan’s late mother’s house, Sloan sits on the front porch and watches the joggers run by, one of which turns out to be his straight hunky neighbor, whose name Sloan doesn’t remember: Max Tanner.
Max is many things: A college teacher, a loving father, a fitness freak, a Buddhist, but most of all, he’s a deeply repressed gay man who thought marrying his high school girlfriend 15 years earlier would cure him of having homosexual thoughts. Too bad it didn’t really work that way and left him as a lonely, questioning man who has the shock of his life when his 14 year old son comes out to him and tells him what being gay in 2014 means. It is not what being gay was in the early 1990s when Max’s brother Dennis had come out, forcing Max into the role of the ‘straight son’ in his father’s eyes. The straight son who had to make sure he had a son of his own to carry on the family line. And have a family he did.
His wife Lauren is everything a straight man could want: Beautiful, blond, talented and ambitious. It was easy for Max to hide behind her during their marriage.
When Lauren leaves for two months for a job offer in France, Max is staying behind on his own, facing his son’s coming out and his own struggles realizing his feelings for the handsome neighbor, Sloan.
But Max is not an adulterer. He is convinced that even if he had to be honest and admit his homosexuality to himself, he would never have sex with a guy. He was married after all.
Stupid situation, right? And this is only the beginning :-)
I loved this book so much. The gay men portrayed in here are all men that exist in real life. The queen, the cynic, the slut, the monogamous guy looking for a lasting love and stumbling several times on the way to find it. I totally fell for each and every one of these characters.
I especially loved Max’ struggles. He didn’t completely realize it, but he was actually a deeply homophobic guy, hiding himself behind wrong facts, repeatedly hurting gay people in his life, like his student, Maurice. He didn’t mean to, mind you, but he did.
“What does Buddhism say about dishonesty?”
“What do you mean by that?” “You know exactly what I’m talking about. We spotted each other the second I walked into your class.” Max went pale. God. Oh God oh God.
I totally bow to this author for taking a totally unusual path of finding his identity for Max. It was actually his son, Logan, whose coming out made Max think about his own life. First wondering if maybe his own being gay was the reason his son was gay too, feeling guilty and sorry for his son.
Then after Logan told him that being gay wasn’t a bad thing and that he felt blessed being able to openly love the boy he is seeing in school, Max wonders what his own life would be like if he left his marriage behind and found a guy to love. A guy like Sloan. It would be so easy to love Sloan.
Needless to say, I devoured this book. It took me twelve full hours to get through it (with only few necessary breaks, LOL), but it was worth spending my day off with Sloan and Max. So worth it.
The cultural references and the funny comments in the story really cracked me up, it was insanely well written:
“Oh, like you never went pee-pee in the sink!”
Wyatt waved his hands flamboyantly. “Why else even have a dick, if you can’t make the world your urinal?”
Asher’s fault. That son of a bitch. Why in the world did I ever let him in my life? How did I ever fall for the asshole? And to misquote Brokeback Mountain, he wished he could quit the man.
There were gay people next door: a whole passel of them, it seemed. New gay people he could talk to besides his motley crew of freaky friends – sluts, pessimists, and New Age crazies all. Not that he didn’t love them, of course- (except for that fuck Asher)
“Because… it’s just this job of mine. I used to like it, and then I came to hate it. Hate it. I mean, a bunch of us have started calling it Horror House instead of Horrell & Howes.”
“And Tom Daly came out recently,” Armel said, “The adorable little Olympic swimmer who was denying it.”
[Max and Logan]
Is this happening? It was like something out of The Twilight Zone. Max could almost hear the theme song in his head.
“You are, aren’t you? Well stop it. And if you did make me gay, then thank you.”
Twilight Zone. Dah, dah, dah-dah. Dah, dah, dah-dah…
[Logan telling him just how gay Max was]
“Like when we watch Hawaii Five-0. Every time Steve McGarrett takes his shirt off you are, like, glued to the screen.”
What he couldn’t be was what he truly wanted. Sloan wanted forever. He didn’t want to be some man’s “mistress”. And he didn’t want to help anyone cheat.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Wyatt crossed his arms over his belly. “I most certainly am not fat!”
“Of course not,”Scott shot back. “I can see your six-pack from here, all six cans of it.”
Chapter Forty-Six
The next week was hell.
[End of Chapter, loved that one ]
[Wyatt watches Max’ wife Lauren through the kitchen window]
He plopped down between Asher and Scott.
“Wow. She is gorgeous.”
“Tell me,” Sloan said.
“And I mean really gorgeous. Like movie-star gorgeous. Like she could be doing ads for toothpaste commercials. She could be walking the runways at –“
“Enough!” cried Sloan. “Jeez!”
I am forever in love with this book and I will recommend it to all my gay friends. What a gorgeous piece of romance literature!! And as it is written by a male author, finally some characters who appreciate HAIRY men!!!! Nothing sexier than a hairy chest ;-)
5 stars and on my all time favorites list!
August 12, 2016
The characters and the plot of this novel are very much like real life in many ways. I loved that about it! Sloan is struggling with his mother’s death and what to do with her house, while trying to deal with his friends and the unrequited love he’s felt for one of them for years. Sloan’s neighbor Max is having trouble with his wife’s ambitions to move to France while all he wants to do is continue to teach at the local college, until all of that sort of pales in the face of the revelation that Max’s son is gay—which brings out all sorts of long-suppressed feelings in Max. Both of these men have a lot of thinking and learning to do, and even though this may sound like a potentially depressing story, it is anything but! B.G. Thomas’s special touch in dealing with these issues, his humor, and the way he lets the story play out make it a fascinating character study and a touching, gentle romance at the same time. Bravo!
Sloan starts out just sort of drifting along. His mother’s death has clearly affected him, and “seeing” her everywhere as he remembers her and slowly says good-bye is hard on him. He also goes along with his friends a lot, even though they’re not always nice to him, nor very considerate, not really standing up for himself or expressing his opinion. All that slowly changes as his friendship with Max builds and Sloan begins to understand himself and what he wants better, as well as what it means to him to be gay. It’s as if he was shrouded in a mental fog in the beginning and slowly wakes up as the story progresses. It was a very powerful way of keeping me hooked, waiting and hoping for the next step in his growth.
Max is a different story. He really struggles with being gay, to the point where he has clearly tried to “forget” by getting married and having a “normal” life. When he finds out his son, Logan, is gay, it not only brings up a lot of fears about Logan’s safety, but also his own memories and feelings. He still loves his wife, even though they are not as emotionally close as they used to be, but he also develops feelings for Sloan. Max is one conflicted guy and none of his meditation techniques really help him with any of the decisions he needs to make. There is one extremely powerful scene when Max talks to Logan about what it means to be gay today, and his son tells him he is “proud to have been chosen”. That gives Max a lot to think about and proves to be a turning point in the way he looks at his own life.
As with all B.G. Thomas books I have read to date, they would not be complete without a set of fantastic secondary characters. Max’s wife is just on the edge of being a villain, but never quite crosses the line, Logan is a fantastic fourteen-year-old, and Sloan’s three closest friends are in turns hilarious and aggravating. The entire mix makes for fantastic reading and had me laughing out loud in some spots as well as crying during other scenes. A true emotional roller coaster in the best way!
If you like stories that start like a gentle brook only to develop into a raging river of emotions that sweep you along, if you enjoy stories about real men with real issues, and if you’re looking for a read that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the characters to finally “get it”, then I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel. I totally adore it!
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Sloan starts out just sort of drifting along. His mother’s death has clearly affected him, and “seeing” her everywhere as he remembers her and slowly says good-bye is hard on him. He also goes along with his friends a lot, even though they’re not always nice to him, nor very considerate, not really standing up for himself or expressing his opinion. All that slowly changes as his friendship with Max builds and Sloan begins to understand himself and what he wants better, as well as what it means to him to be gay. It’s as if he was shrouded in a mental fog in the beginning and slowly wakes up as the story progresses. It was a very powerful way of keeping me hooked, waiting and hoping for the next step in his growth.
Max is a different story. He really struggles with being gay, to the point where he has clearly tried to “forget” by getting married and having a “normal” life. When he finds out his son, Logan, is gay, it not only brings up a lot of fears about Logan’s safety, but also his own memories and feelings. He still loves his wife, even though they are not as emotionally close as they used to be, but he also develops feelings for Sloan. Max is one conflicted guy and none of his meditation techniques really help him with any of the decisions he needs to make. There is one extremely powerful scene when Max talks to Logan about what it means to be gay today, and his son tells him he is “proud to have been chosen”. That gives Max a lot to think about and proves to be a turning point in the way he looks at his own life.
As with all B.G. Thomas books I have read to date, they would not be complete without a set of fantastic secondary characters. Max’s wife is just on the edge of being a villain, but never quite crosses the line, Logan is a fantastic fourteen-year-old, and Sloan’s three closest friends are in turns hilarious and aggravating. The entire mix makes for fantastic reading and had me laughing out loud in some spots as well as crying during other scenes. A true emotional roller coaster in the best way!
If you like stories that start like a gentle brook only to develop into a raging river of emotions that sweep you along, if you enjoy stories about real men with real issues, and if you’re looking for a read that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the characters to finally “get it”, then I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel. I totally adore it!
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 6, 2015
I enjoyed this book a lot!
The story is lovely and so are the characters.
It's, just like the blurb tells you, the story about two neighbors: Sloan, who just lost his beloved mother, he is a sweet good-hearted 30 year old single man, desperately in love with his "perfect" slutty friend Asher.
Sloan is dying to meet his "the one" and have his happily-ever-after.
Max, Sloan's married neighbor, offer Sloan to join him for a run one day, and from then on the two becomes friends.
Slowly the two realize that their feelings are deeper than friendship...
I loved that the two where strong enough to not cheat (though they defiantly did in their heads, but who can control THAT?)
The only down sides for me where- first, it was at times slow and a bit repetitive, and I also wasn't crazy that the two only got to really be together at the very end of the book :(
The story is lovely and so are the characters.
It's, just like the blurb tells you, the story about two neighbors: Sloan, who just lost his beloved mother, he is a sweet good-hearted 30 year old single man, desperately in love with his "perfect" slutty friend Asher.
Sloan is dying to meet his "the one" and have his happily-ever-after.
Max, Sloan's married neighbor, offer Sloan to join him for a run one day, and from then on the two becomes friends.
Slowly the two realize that their feelings are deeper than friendship...
I loved that the two where strong enough to not cheat (though they defiantly did in their heads, but who can control THAT?)
The only down sides for me where- first, it was at times slow and a bit repetitive, and I also wasn't crazy that the two only got to really be together at the very end of the book :(
April 23, 2014
Absolutely fabulous! I adored the characters, including Lauren, who was painted as somewhat of a villain but then not. She was a wee bit pretentious, what with the constant French in her sentences, but she redeemed herself toward the end.
I believed Max's struggles, having suppressed his true desires for so long, believed Sloan feeling so utterly lost, and loved the supporting cast in Asher, Wyatt and Scott (who will all get their own book, how cool is that?).
Fabulous! Y'all go pre-order this. Comes out 4/25/14.
I believed Max's struggles, having suppressed his true desires for so long, believed Sloan feeling so utterly lost, and loved the supporting cast in Asher, Wyatt and Scott (who will all get their own book, how cool is that?).
Fabulous! Y'all go pre-order this. Comes out 4/25/14.
April 20, 2017
**Warning: this book may cause you to stay up to completely ridiculous hours of the night because after finishing the book, you just had to go and watch Shelter. (i.e. I may have written this review while watching it in the background, because who needs sleep when you have pretty boys doused with sexual tension?)**
Sloan doesn’t know what to do with his life. His mother has died, leaving him a house-–but does he sell and try to make a new life for himself somewhere else, or does he stay? He pretty much hates his job-–soul-sucking customer service isn’t exactly the career anyone plans on–-but he has friends there, and really, what else would he do? And then there’s his love life, which is a bit of a shambles even without his hot (married) neighbor thrown into the mix-–what with his hopeless in-love-ness with his friend Asher. Sloan knows he needs to let go (of Asher) and stay away (from Max), but his heart is bit of a helpless bastard.
And Max–-well he isn’t in any better shape than Sloan. He is married to a woman he doesn’t really fit with, his son is apparently gay, and now it seems like he can no longer run away from the fact that he finds men a whole lot more enticing than he has ever found his wife. With his wife off to Paris for two months, Max might–-might-–get a chance to sort it all out. If he doesn’t have a breakdown about his kid, if he doesn’t find the closet door too heavy to open, and if he doesn’t fall hopelessly, completely, and untimely in love with his neighbor.
Two months can change a lot in a life, especially when you are not looking.
I am a little unsure what I think about this book. There are some parts I liked (the story) and some parts that didn’t work for me (the storytelling). I enjoyed reading it (most the time) but sometimes had to force my way thru a chapter in order to get past some of the parts that I just didn’t like. I am just unsure whether someone else reading it would have the same hang-ups as me. We all have our own likes/dislikes when it comes to the books we read, and this one just fell on the wrong side for me, a few more times than I wanted.
I liked Sloan. He goes into this book saying he will not get mixed up with a married man, that he will not help him cheat, and while he may fall foolishly in love with Max, he sticks to his principles. Maybe by the skin of his teeth, but he sticks to them all the same.
I liked Max. He is one hell of a mess, and he has some real internalized homophobia going on that is really fucking with his head–-especially when his son comes out–-but he struggles with it and tries to find answers. Max doesn’t just let himself cling to his (father’s) beliefs, simply because they are easier. And he doesn’t sleep with Sloan–-even though he really really really wants to.
I liked the secondary characters. They are not perfect (not even close) but they are fully realized people in their own right. They are not just puppets to move the story in one direction (even if they are sometimes used as such) but have their own shit to deal with. I like when you get unique characters, and this book had several. And they were interesting enough that I really hope that they get their own books, because I’d love to see their stories unfold.
I did not like the way this story was told. And this, I admit, is probably not going to apply to everyone. Some of you might have no problem with it. But this book stayed in the characters head way too much. There is a lot of “tellin” in this book. We spend so much time in these guys’ heads that sometimes I had no clue what was going on around them, or where they were, or what they were doing. And sometimes you didn’t just get one headcase a chapter, you got them both, and then it just lost me altogether. I am a strictly one pov per section, type of guy (some exclusions may apply), and when you have guys trading off povs ever sentence, it is just too much for me to handle. I don’t know what the story was to have gained by doing this, so I am not sure it was worth it.
I did not like the whole ghost-mother thing. If you are seeing dead people, and the book is not paranormal in some way, you got issues. You are either riding some fine drugs or you need to check yourself into a mental hospital for some one-on-one times with the good doc. I have a fantastic imagination-–one I probably spend too much time indulging-–but even I don’t go around talking to dead people. If these sections had happened in his mind, as some type of memory, I wouldn’t have had a problem. Hell I probably wouldn’t have had a problem if Sloan had been hearing his mother’s voice in his head. But he was actually seeing her, like she was actually there, and I just find that really odd when that happens in books that are not in any way tied to the paranormal.
I am unsure about Logan. Kudos to the kid, and all, for being so well adjusted–-I don’t think I could have handled all that stuff without a minor (major) freakout. But sometimes it felt like he was a little too zen about everything. I get that he loves being gay (as well he should) but he just seemed a little over the top, sometimes. And I don’t know if any kid would be as blasé about his dad turning out to be gay, falling in love with his neighbor, and then ditching his mother. It isn’t like his mother is a horrible person. I just had a hard time believing that Logan was so chill about it all.
I am unsure about the whole Buddhism/vegan thing. Far be it for me to dictate what people believe. I gave that up when I ditched my own religion. If it makes you happy and doesn’t require everyone else to be miserable while you do so, go for it. And I love reading stories about things I don’t know/normally think about. It is fun to have my worldview bent in new ways, and it makes the story all the more unique. I just felt that it wasn’t integrated into the story as well as it could have. Part of this is the way the story was told, but sometimes it felt like the story was trying to lecture us, and that is something I never really enjoy in my romance novels. And yes, I do have a (irrational) thing against vegans. I just don’t think food should come with a lecture. If it is good, that is great, and if it is better for you than other stuff, than even greater–-I just find it annoying when characters (people) decide to lecture other characters (us) about how if you don’t live this way you are in some way the reason that all things are bad in the world. (And yes I do know I am kinda painting with a wide brush. Not everyone does this.)
For the most part I enjoyed this book. The story was interesting, it had a few topics that I’ve never had in books before, and all the characters (even the ones that spoke French) were great. It is just that the way it was told made the story drag (or get confusing) in some parts. I’ll admit, though, that I am most likely going to pick up the book later in this series (when they are written). I just think they will probably not be going on my must-buy list. Still, I did like it–-just not quite as much as I could have.
This was a review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Sloan doesn’t know what to do with his life. His mother has died, leaving him a house-–but does he sell and try to make a new life for himself somewhere else, or does he stay? He pretty much hates his job-–soul-sucking customer service isn’t exactly the career anyone plans on–-but he has friends there, and really, what else would he do? And then there’s his love life, which is a bit of a shambles even without his hot (married) neighbor thrown into the mix-–what with his hopeless in-love-ness with his friend Asher. Sloan knows he needs to let go (of Asher) and stay away (from Max), but his heart is bit of a helpless bastard.
And Max–-well he isn’t in any better shape than Sloan. He is married to a woman he doesn’t really fit with, his son is apparently gay, and now it seems like he can no longer run away from the fact that he finds men a whole lot more enticing than he has ever found his wife. With his wife off to Paris for two months, Max might–-might-–get a chance to sort it all out. If he doesn’t have a breakdown about his kid, if he doesn’t find the closet door too heavy to open, and if he doesn’t fall hopelessly, completely, and untimely in love with his neighbor.
Two months can change a lot in a life, especially when you are not looking.
I am a little unsure what I think about this book. There are some parts I liked (the story) and some parts that didn’t work for me (the storytelling). I enjoyed reading it (most the time) but sometimes had to force my way thru a chapter in order to get past some of the parts that I just didn’t like. I am just unsure whether someone else reading it would have the same hang-ups as me. We all have our own likes/dislikes when it comes to the books we read, and this one just fell on the wrong side for me, a few more times than I wanted.
I liked Sloan. He goes into this book saying he will not get mixed up with a married man, that he will not help him cheat, and while he may fall foolishly in love with Max, he sticks to his principles. Maybe by the skin of his teeth, but he sticks to them all the same.
I liked Max. He is one hell of a mess, and he has some real internalized homophobia going on that is really fucking with his head–-especially when his son comes out–-but he struggles with it and tries to find answers. Max doesn’t just let himself cling to his (father’s) beliefs, simply because they are easier. And he doesn’t sleep with Sloan–-even though he really really really wants to.
I liked the secondary characters. They are not perfect (not even close) but they are fully realized people in their own right. They are not just puppets to move the story in one direction (even if they are sometimes used as such) but have their own shit to deal with. I like when you get unique characters, and this book had several. And they were interesting enough that I really hope that they get their own books, because I’d love to see their stories unfold.
I did not like the way this story was told. And this, I admit, is probably not going to apply to everyone. Some of you might have no problem with it. But this book stayed in the characters head way too much. There is a lot of “tellin” in this book. We spend so much time in these guys’ heads that sometimes I had no clue what was going on around them, or where they were, or what they were doing. And sometimes you didn’t just get one headcase a chapter, you got them both, and then it just lost me altogether. I am a strictly one pov per section, type of guy (some exclusions may apply), and when you have guys trading off povs ever sentence, it is just too much for me to handle. I don’t know what the story was to have gained by doing this, so I am not sure it was worth it.
I did not like the whole ghost-mother thing. If you are seeing dead people, and the book is not paranormal in some way, you got issues. You are either riding some fine drugs or you need to check yourself into a mental hospital for some one-on-one times with the good doc. I have a fantastic imagination-–one I probably spend too much time indulging-–but even I don’t go around talking to dead people. If these sections had happened in his mind, as some type of memory, I wouldn’t have had a problem. Hell I probably wouldn’t have had a problem if Sloan had been hearing his mother’s voice in his head. But he was actually seeing her, like she was actually there, and I just find that really odd when that happens in books that are not in any way tied to the paranormal.
I am unsure about Logan. Kudos to the kid, and all, for being so well adjusted–-I don’t think I could have handled all that stuff without a minor (major) freakout. But sometimes it felt like he was a little too zen about everything. I get that he loves being gay (as well he should) but he just seemed a little over the top, sometimes. And I don’t know if any kid would be as blasé about his dad turning out to be gay, falling in love with his neighbor, and then ditching his mother. It isn’t like his mother is a horrible person. I just had a hard time believing that Logan was so chill about it all.
I am unsure about the whole Buddhism/vegan thing. Far be it for me to dictate what people believe. I gave that up when I ditched my own religion. If it makes you happy and doesn’t require everyone else to be miserable while you do so, go for it. And I love reading stories about things I don’t know/normally think about. It is fun to have my worldview bent in new ways, and it makes the story all the more unique. I just felt that it wasn’t integrated into the story as well as it could have. Part of this is the way the story was told, but sometimes it felt like the story was trying to lecture us, and that is something I never really enjoy in my romance novels. And yes, I do have a (irrational) thing against vegans. I just don’t think food should come with a lecture. If it is good, that is great, and if it is better for you than other stuff, than even greater–-I just find it annoying when characters (people) decide to lecture other characters (us) about how if you don’t live this way you are in some way the reason that all things are bad in the world. (And yes I do know I am kinda painting with a wide brush. Not everyone does this.)
For the most part I enjoyed this book. The story was interesting, it had a few topics that I’ve never had in books before, and all the characters (even the ones that spoke French) were great. It is just that the way it was told made the story drag (or get confusing) in some parts. I’ll admit, though, that I am most likely going to pick up the book later in this series (when they are written). I just think they will probably not be going on my must-buy list. Still, I did like it–-just not quite as much as I could have.
This was a review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
May 2, 2014
4.5 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
One of the fun things, for me, about reading B.G. Thomas’ books is that he tends to have characters and places appear from one book in another even though they are not actually a series. I love this. Now we have this first in a series, Spring Affair, from the new Season’s of Love series and this book focuses on Sloan McKenna, who we met briefly in the book Hound Dog & Bean.
Sloan’s mother has recently passed away. They were very close and her passing has been difficult for Sloan. He lives alone in the house now and sees his mother everywhere, from the floral sofa to the lovely blooms just now appearing in her gardens. Luckily, Sloan has his three best friends who, along with himself, make up the Fabulous Four. They get together regularly and while this has been wonderful for Sloan during his grieving, at the same time even they can feel overwhelming. There is Asher, the gorgeous aspiring actor that, unfortunately, Sloan made the mistake of falling in love with after a brief fling years before. Somehow, they have remained friends even with Sloan still carrying a torch for Asher knowing all the time that Asher will never commit to a relationship with anyone (but secretly hoping). Then there is Scott. He is one that comes across as the pessimist in the group, unhappy with himself and life in general. He tends to put other people down and tries to buy his way into happiness with designer clothes, glasses and a fancy car. Lastly, we have Wyatt. Good-hearted, always ready to lend a hand, tell a corny joke and is usually wearing something outlandish.
When they all meet at Sloan’s one evening, the friends spy Sloan’s neighbor, Max. Max approaches Sloan the next day, asking him if he would like to go running with him. Sloan is surprised but flattered until Max’s wife, Lauren, reminds him they need to hurry to get to the airport. Of course, he would be straight and married. Not someone to get interested in, just friends. Maybe running together would be okay.
It is after Lauren leaves for France for her job that Max accidently discovers something that leads him to believe his fourteen-year-old son is gay. He has so many mixed feelings about this. He has all the concerns of a parent worrying about how their child will be treated by others, but more than that, Max is forced to deal with his own past and the conflicting emotions this brings with it.
Of all the books I have read by this author, this one seems to be the one most introspective for the characters. It is a complex look into what being gay means to each man in the story. What they think it means in our current society and how it was for them during their childhood and teen years. At times, it was difficult to watch Max struggle with his feelings, dealing with guilt from his childhood and doubts and indecision. He knows he has not been honest with himself or those he loves about who he is and taking that leap is frightening.
His relationship with his brother Dennis and Dennis’ husband, Armel, provide a nice balance as a happily married couple, with both men comfortable with who they are. The story explores different types of relationships, both open and monogamous. I admit that it felt like there was a fine line on what would be considered cheating, outside of actually having sex with someone other than your partner. I thought this dilemma was handled realistically, and left the reader to decide how they felt about the decisions the characters made.
Max’s character is very spiritual and relies heavily on his Buddhist beliefs for strength, searching for answers, and finding peace through meditation. Max’ son, Logan, seems mature for his age but not unrealistically so. Although it may seem like a heavy story, it really isn’t. It is filled with humor, light moments, witty banter and friendships. I enjoyed the moments that Sloan draws on his memories of his mother when he needs guidance. Max’s wife is not very endearing but neither is she painted as a villain, although she has her moments there, too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are engaging and the storytelling pulled me into their lives. I was pleased with the conclusion and I am happily looking forward to the next book in the series.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
One of the fun things, for me, about reading B.G. Thomas’ books is that he tends to have characters and places appear from one book in another even though they are not actually a series. I love this. Now we have this first in a series, Spring Affair, from the new Season’s of Love series and this book focuses on Sloan McKenna, who we met briefly in the book Hound Dog & Bean.
Sloan’s mother has recently passed away. They were very close and her passing has been difficult for Sloan. He lives alone in the house now and sees his mother everywhere, from the floral sofa to the lovely blooms just now appearing in her gardens. Luckily, Sloan has his three best friends who, along with himself, make up the Fabulous Four. They get together regularly and while this has been wonderful for Sloan during his grieving, at the same time even they can feel overwhelming. There is Asher, the gorgeous aspiring actor that, unfortunately, Sloan made the mistake of falling in love with after a brief fling years before. Somehow, they have remained friends even with Sloan still carrying a torch for Asher knowing all the time that Asher will never commit to a relationship with anyone (but secretly hoping). Then there is Scott. He is one that comes across as the pessimist in the group, unhappy with himself and life in general. He tends to put other people down and tries to buy his way into happiness with designer clothes, glasses and a fancy car. Lastly, we have Wyatt. Good-hearted, always ready to lend a hand, tell a corny joke and is usually wearing something outlandish.
When they all meet at Sloan’s one evening, the friends spy Sloan’s neighbor, Max. Max approaches Sloan the next day, asking him if he would like to go running with him. Sloan is surprised but flattered until Max’s wife, Lauren, reminds him they need to hurry to get to the airport. Of course, he would be straight and married. Not someone to get interested in, just friends. Maybe running together would be okay.
It is after Lauren leaves for France for her job that Max accidently discovers something that leads him to believe his fourteen-year-old son is gay. He has so many mixed feelings about this. He has all the concerns of a parent worrying about how their child will be treated by others, but more than that, Max is forced to deal with his own past and the conflicting emotions this brings with it.
Of all the books I have read by this author, this one seems to be the one most introspective for the characters. It is a complex look into what being gay means to each man in the story. What they think it means in our current society and how it was for them during their childhood and teen years. At times, it was difficult to watch Max struggle with his feelings, dealing with guilt from his childhood and doubts and indecision. He knows he has not been honest with himself or those he loves about who he is and taking that leap is frightening.
His relationship with his brother Dennis and Dennis’ husband, Armel, provide a nice balance as a happily married couple, with both men comfortable with who they are. The story explores different types of relationships, both open and monogamous. I admit that it felt like there was a fine line on what would be considered cheating, outside of actually having sex with someone other than your partner. I thought this dilemma was handled realistically, and left the reader to decide how they felt about the decisions the characters made.
Max’s character is very spiritual and relies heavily on his Buddhist beliefs for strength, searching for answers, and finding peace through meditation. Max’ son, Logan, seems mature for his age but not unrealistically so. Although it may seem like a heavy story, it really isn’t. It is filled with humor, light moments, witty banter and friendships. I enjoyed the moments that Sloan draws on his memories of his mother when he needs guidance. Max’s wife is not very endearing but neither is she painted as a villain, although she has her moments there, too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are engaging and the storytelling pulled me into their lives. I was pleased with the conclusion and I am happily looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 11, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Spring Affair is all about the journey. Sometimes the journey we are on is steady, rarely strenuous, and unchanging, the landscape remaining the same. But all too often, our journey can take us places where the pathway is rocky and uncertain and it takes everything within us to weather the constantly changing and sometimes hostile terrain. Sloan has lost his mother and is now in her former house surrounded by memories that leave him sad and feeling lonely. While his friends are clearly on his side, he has struggled for a great while with a crush on one of them, Asher. Unfortunately, Asher is a one-time guy and while he and Sloan are close, he does not nor will he ever think of entertaining the idea of exploring a relationship with him. So, in many ways, Sloan is adrift and hurting and just slowly moving through a life full of questions with no clear answers.
Read Sammy's review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Spring Affair is all about the journey. Sometimes the journey we are on is steady, rarely strenuous, and unchanging, the landscape remaining the same. But all too often, our journey can take us places where the pathway is rocky and uncertain and it takes everything within us to weather the constantly changing and sometimes hostile terrain. Sloan has lost his mother and is now in her former house surrounded by memories that leave him sad and feeling lonely. While his friends are clearly on his side, he has struggled for a great while with a crush on one of them, Asher. Unfortunately, Asher is a one-time guy and while he and Sloan are close, he does not nor will he ever think of entertaining the idea of exploring a relationship with him. So, in many ways, Sloan is adrift and hurting and just slowly moving through a life full of questions with no clear answers.
Read Sammy's review in its entirety here.
July 18, 2016
3,5
No ha estado mal, no redondeo a 4 por el estilo un poco cargante en ciertos momentos, me perdía en los diálogos interiores de uno y otro, la voz interior que tiene otra voz interior que tiene otra voz interior y así al infinito, costaba seguir a veces la línea de pensamiento.
Aún así, me ha gustado cómo el autor reflexiona sobre la aceptación de la homosexualidad a través de los distintos personajes y creo que continuaré con la serie.
No ha estado mal, no redondeo a 4 por el estilo un poco cargante en ciertos momentos, me perdía en los diálogos interiores de uno y otro, la voz interior que tiene otra voz interior que tiene otra voz interior y así al infinito, costaba seguir a veces la línea de pensamiento.
Aún así, me ha gustado cómo el autor reflexiona sobre la aceptación de la homosexualidad a través de los distintos personajes y creo que continuaré con la serie.
November 27, 2020
2.25 stars
DISCLAIMER: I am not religious. I do not believe in God or any other kind of "higher power" or whatever, so part of my bias against this book/series might stem from the fact, that it relies heavily on the characters' struggles to reconcile their religious beliefs with their sexuality.
However, I do think I make some valid points in my review (and progress updates) that have nothing to do with that und everything to do with writing, editing, and proofreading a story and characters that work.
It could have been a decent read, but I simply could not get over my dislike for Max, . And Sloan wasn't the most likable character either. Just sort of "meh." If there is one thing I don't like authors to do, it's telling me that this character they created is so smart and any other number of enviable traits, but then don't show me anything to support that claim (or when they think they do, it's just a moment of "that might work in a book, but in real life, you most certainly would not have gotten that promotion"). Because those characters are usually among the dumbest, most clueless, gullible and weak-willed characters ever.
The entire time I wasn't really rooting for Max and Sloan, so what's even the point of reading the story if you couldn't care less if they got together or not? Plot-wise there really wasn't anything else going on...
Both Lauren and Logan felt kind of fake (not to mention annoying), and while Sloan kept saying that he loved his friends and what not, to me it felt like all they ever did was bicker and hurt each other (because they kept rehashing the same conversations over and over und over again... even into the second book 🙄).
DISCLAIMER: I am not religious. I do not believe in God or any other kind of "higher power" or whatever, so part of my bias against this book/series might stem from the fact, that it relies heavily on the characters' struggles to reconcile their religious beliefs with their sexuality.
However, I do think I make some valid points in my review (and progress updates) that have nothing to do with that und everything to do with writing, editing, and proofreading a story and characters that work.
It could have been a decent read, but I simply could not get over my dislike for Max, . And Sloan wasn't the most likable character either. Just sort of "meh." If there is one thing I don't like authors to do, it's telling me that this character they created is so smart and any other number of enviable traits, but then don't show me anything to support that claim (or when they think they do, it's just a moment of "that might work in a book, but in real life, you most certainly would not have gotten that promotion"). Because those characters are usually among the dumbest, most clueless, gullible and weak-willed characters ever.
The entire time I wasn't really rooting for Max and Sloan, so what's even the point of reading the story if you couldn't care less if they got together or not? Plot-wise there really wasn't anything else going on...
Both Lauren and Logan felt kind of fake (not to mention annoying), and while Sloan kept saying that he loved his friends and what not, to me it felt like all they ever did was bicker and hurt each other (because they kept rehashing the same conversations over and over und over again... even into the second book 🙄).
August 8, 2015
“Spring Affair” by B.G. Thomas was an excellent read!
It’s the story of Sloan, a man who just lost his mother to cancer and has temporarily moved in to her old house, trying to decide if he should keep it or sell it. He is part of a group of friends who support and comfort him in his time of grieving. Next door is Max, a married teacher with a teenage son who had befriended and assisted Sloan’s mother during her final years.
A unique thing about this story is that Sloan and Max aren’t complete strangers who meet and fall in love. They start out as friendly neighbors who know each other only casually. But their relationship develops when Max’s wife takes a two-month trip to Paris. The two get to know each other and start to share in common interests and activities.
They two main characters develop deeply and discover parts of themselves that they had denied. Sloan had fallen in love with a man (one of his friends in the group) who couldn’t love him back and continues to have hope that it will change. Max discovers that his son is gay which causes Max to take a hard look at his own sexuality. For years, Max had figured himself for being bisexual, but starts to doubt that.
The story and characters are so well written that they feel real. Both men struggle to maintain a friendship while, at the same time, not letting it progress beyond that. Despite their feelings becoming stronger, they both realize that Max is a married man. Sloan doesn’t want to help Max cheat and Max doesn’t want to become a cheater, though he understands that he had been living a lie throughout his marriage.
Lauren, Max’s wife, comes off as somewhat pretentious and phony with her constant use of French and having a very refined taste in wine, clothing and lifestyle. She plays the villain in a way, but surprised me at the end when she reveals that she knows more than she’s let on.
There’s a lot of heartache and painful moments of self-discovery. But, as the title suggests springtime, the story brings new beginnings for these characters. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to reading the whole series. Next, “Summer Lover”…
It’s the story of Sloan, a man who just lost his mother to cancer and has temporarily moved in to her old house, trying to decide if he should keep it or sell it. He is part of a group of friends who support and comfort him in his time of grieving. Next door is Max, a married teacher with a teenage son who had befriended and assisted Sloan’s mother during her final years.
A unique thing about this story is that Sloan and Max aren’t complete strangers who meet and fall in love. They start out as friendly neighbors who know each other only casually. But their relationship develops when Max’s wife takes a two-month trip to Paris. The two get to know each other and start to share in common interests and activities.
They two main characters develop deeply and discover parts of themselves that they had denied. Sloan had fallen in love with a man (one of his friends in the group) who couldn’t love him back and continues to have hope that it will change. Max discovers that his son is gay which causes Max to take a hard look at his own sexuality. For years, Max had figured himself for being bisexual, but starts to doubt that.
The story and characters are so well written that they feel real. Both men struggle to maintain a friendship while, at the same time, not letting it progress beyond that. Despite their feelings becoming stronger, they both realize that Max is a married man. Sloan doesn’t want to help Max cheat and Max doesn’t want to become a cheater, though he understands that he had been living a lie throughout his marriage.
Lauren, Max’s wife, comes off as somewhat pretentious and phony with her constant use of French and having a very refined taste in wine, clothing and lifestyle. She plays the villain in a way, but surprised me at the end when she reveals that she knows more than she’s let on.
There’s a lot of heartache and painful moments of self-discovery. But, as the title suggests springtime, the story brings new beginnings for these characters. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to reading the whole series. Next, “Summer Lover”…
October 17, 2016
What a great beginning for a series about a group of friends and (I guess what's coming is) their individual journeys to love. B.G. Thomas's writing is spot-on. His characters are real. I enjoyed this book immensely. I won't go into the plot since so many other reviewers have done that far better than I ever could, but I will say I had a great time reading this. Very romantic. Except for Max's wife. Jesus, what a bitch. Anyway, I can't wait to move on to the second in the series. Well done, Ben. You're a terrific writer. Oh, and I love the cover art by Paul Richmond too. It conveys exactly the right mood.
August 31, 2015
I think the highest compliment I can give Spring Affair is that it lived up to its cover, so, as you can see, that is saying something. Thomas’s writing was easy and conversational and the characters were charming and endearing. Every time I sat down to read this novel, it was such a relaxing, beautiful experience. I’m looking forward to the next three novels of this series. Simply lovely!
November 11, 2016
1.5 stars. I thought the story would never end. It just waffled on and on. :( Hated Max. Naive would be too strong a word for this guy. It's like he's lived in a vacuum for his entire life. And, as none of Sloan's friends stuck a chord with me and they'll be the stars of the rest of the series, I think I'll give them all a miss.
December 7, 2015
I thought this book was ok, but just days later, I'm struggling to remember anything about it :/
September 6, 2014
INCREDIBLE BOOK!!!!!! LOVE everything from B.G
March 14, 2019
The first story in a series about four friend finding love. This is a great book with a bit of angst, self-discovery, character growth and a happy ending. There are other reviews who discussed this book much better than I do, just read the book, and others by BG Thomas, because he is an excellent writer and he writes books with heart.
September 15, 2025
This book really drew me in. Then I kept enjoying it because I love romance books that feature cheating or near-cheating. This author does a really good job with characters. Both main characters were flawed but felt like real people, trying to make the best choices they could in their situations.
November 24, 2016
Spring Affair
By B.G. Thomas
Dreamspinner Press, 2014
Cover by Paul Richmond
ISBN: 9781627988728
Five stars
I’ve come at B.G. Thomas backwards, and have grown to truly appreciate his realistic, personal style. Other comments on other books led me to his earlier “seasons” series, and to this volume in particular.
“Spring Affair” follows the lives of four friends Wyatt, Sloan, Scott, Asher. Each, in his own way, is an archetype of a young-ish (ie. 30 something), Midwestern gay man. Calling themselves the “Fabulous Four,” they become a sort of backup group to the lead singer of this story: Sloan McKenna. Sloan is still mooning over Asher, with whom he had a one-night-stand years earlier. Sloan is a romantic, Asher is a love-em-and-leave-em kind of guy. Scott is a cynical frustrated romantic, disliking his own body and endlessly searching for love online. Wyatt is in an open relationship, but one that seems (to Sloan at least) meager in its rewards.
But this substantial novel is Sloan’s story. He is grieving doubly. On top of his unresolved love for Asher, Sloan’s much loved mother has recently died, and he is back in the house where he grew up, having cared for her du ring her final illness. His circle of friends offer comfort, but not always the kind he wants. Working in a call center owned by the mythical Peter Wagner (who appears, benevolently Zeus-like, in many of Thomas’s novels), Sloan is thirty and still somewhat adrift.
The monkey wrench that upsets the marginal functionality of Sloan’s life is Max Turner, his mother’s longtime neighbor to whom Sloan has never paid much attention. Living in his mother’s house again, Sloan suddenly becomes aware of the man who spent years helping his mother with her garden – the small but opulent garden that serves as a charming metaphor for life’s potential. Max is tall, muscular, bearded – and also married to Lauren, a gorgeous blond, with whom he has a teenaged son named Logan.
The kicker is that this book is also Max’s story. Content to be teaching at the small local college, comfortable in his stylish bungalow, Max is living out his father’s wishes - having married his high school sweetheart and having provided him with a grandson. His wife, on the other hand, is ambitious and completely enamored with everything French. She heads off for a two-month business trip to Paris, leaving her husband and son alone in Missouri. Max becomes increasingly conscious of the slender, pale redhead (lord, what is it with redheads – a particular thing of mine?) next door, and of his own repressed feelings. When Max discovers that his fourteen-year-old son might be gay, the carefully constructed wall around his world begins to fall apart.
What is nominally a novel that explores the unhappiness of two young men facing up to lives that are not fully satisfying becomes a microcosmic overview of the lives of gay men of a particular generation. I was particularly moved (and surprised) by the resonance that these characters had for me, even though all of them could be my sons. For all the huge changes of the past 40 years (since I came out), gay men (even privileged, white gay men) still struggle to find happiness in a world where other people tell them what they’re supposed to want and feel.
Two moments in this book that I particularly loved were Max’s son Logan, and his coming out story; and Max’s wife, Lauren and her back story. Logan’s interaction with his father brought tears to my eyes. I was prepared to dislike Lauren for all sorts of reasons, as she is inevitably cast as the villainess in the piece. But her story, which only comes to the fore at the end of the book, becomes a catalyst and a revelation that made me rethink my own attitudes. Life is messy, and love just makes it messier.
By B.G. Thomas
Dreamspinner Press, 2014
Cover by Paul Richmond
ISBN: 9781627988728
Five stars
I’ve come at B.G. Thomas backwards, and have grown to truly appreciate his realistic, personal style. Other comments on other books led me to his earlier “seasons” series, and to this volume in particular.
“Spring Affair” follows the lives of four friends Wyatt, Sloan, Scott, Asher. Each, in his own way, is an archetype of a young-ish (ie. 30 something), Midwestern gay man. Calling themselves the “Fabulous Four,” they become a sort of backup group to the lead singer of this story: Sloan McKenna. Sloan is still mooning over Asher, with whom he had a one-night-stand years earlier. Sloan is a romantic, Asher is a love-em-and-leave-em kind of guy. Scott is a cynical frustrated romantic, disliking his own body and endlessly searching for love online. Wyatt is in an open relationship, but one that seems (to Sloan at least) meager in its rewards.
But this substantial novel is Sloan’s story. He is grieving doubly. On top of his unresolved love for Asher, Sloan’s much loved mother has recently died, and he is back in the house where he grew up, having cared for her du ring her final illness. His circle of friends offer comfort, but not always the kind he wants. Working in a call center owned by the mythical Peter Wagner (who appears, benevolently Zeus-like, in many of Thomas’s novels), Sloan is thirty and still somewhat adrift.
The monkey wrench that upsets the marginal functionality of Sloan’s life is Max Turner, his mother’s longtime neighbor to whom Sloan has never paid much attention. Living in his mother’s house again, Sloan suddenly becomes aware of the man who spent years helping his mother with her garden – the small but opulent garden that serves as a charming metaphor for life’s potential. Max is tall, muscular, bearded – and also married to Lauren, a gorgeous blond, with whom he has a teenaged son named Logan.
The kicker is that this book is also Max’s story. Content to be teaching at the small local college, comfortable in his stylish bungalow, Max is living out his father’s wishes - having married his high school sweetheart and having provided him with a grandson. His wife, on the other hand, is ambitious and completely enamored with everything French. She heads off for a two-month business trip to Paris, leaving her husband and son alone in Missouri. Max becomes increasingly conscious of the slender, pale redhead (lord, what is it with redheads – a particular thing of mine?) next door, and of his own repressed feelings. When Max discovers that his fourteen-year-old son might be gay, the carefully constructed wall around his world begins to fall apart.
What is nominally a novel that explores the unhappiness of two young men facing up to lives that are not fully satisfying becomes a microcosmic overview of the lives of gay men of a particular generation. I was particularly moved (and surprised) by the resonance that these characters had for me, even though all of them could be my sons. For all the huge changes of the past 40 years (since I came out), gay men (even privileged, white gay men) still struggle to find happiness in a world where other people tell them what they’re supposed to want and feel.
Two moments in this book that I particularly loved were Max’s son Logan, and his coming out story; and Max’s wife, Lauren and her back story. Logan’s interaction with his father brought tears to my eyes. I was prepared to dislike Lauren for all sorts of reasons, as she is inevitably cast as the villainess in the piece. But her story, which only comes to the fore at the end of the book, becomes a catalyst and a revelation that made me rethink my own attitudes. Life is messy, and love just makes it messier.
July 8, 2017
Dengan cover seperti ini, orang mungkin mengira ini erotica. Padahal ini sebenarnya lebih mirip 'chicklit' versi gay. Karena kalau erotica itu adegan seksnya sangat detil sekali sampe berhalaman-halaman, bahkan dlm 1 buku adegan itu minimal ada 2 kali. Tapi novel ini termasuk kategori yg adegan seksnya cuma ada di ending, singkat dan tdk bertele-tele. Misalnya author cuma bilang mereka lagi ML. Tdk ada detil2 yummy dan ultra panjang utk membantumu membayangkannya. Silakan pembaca bayangkan sendiri saja dengan bebas, haha.
Di buku ini plot cerita dan karakternya yg dikupas habis2an, bahkan banyak detil2 yg sebenarnya menurutku tak begitu penting seperti penjelasan detil tentang menu masakan di restoran favorit MC sampe ntah berapa halaman yg harusnya dipangkas saja karena tanpa detil itupun pembaca udah yakin bgt kok MC tuh vegan bgt dan makanan vegan itu enak juga (tapi dengan memasukkan detil super komplit itu malah membuatku merasa penulis mencoba meyakinkan pembaca utk nyobain makanan vegan dan semoga bisa jadi vegetarian nantinya berkat bukunya), termasuk bahasa Perancis yg selalu terselip saat Lauren lagi bicara itu harusnya dihilangkan saja, tanpa bahasa Perancis itupun kita semua tau kok Lauren itu tergila-gila dan terobsesi dengan Paris dan Eiffel Tower *meh*. Pemakaian bahasa Perancis itu benar2 mengganggu keasyikan membaca karena aku harus berhenti sebentar utk copas artinya di google translate. Bayangkan jika ini jaman dulu ketika google translate blm ada, dan aku baca versi paperback misalnya, sudah begitu mana mungkin punya kamus bahasa Perancis, dijamin bakal melongo saja dah tiap kali bahasa Perancisnya muncul. Pada akhirnya pun di bab-bab terakhir ketika Lauren kembali casciscus Perancis, aku sudah pasrah saja ga ngerti cewek ini lagi nyerocos apa karena malas copas ke google translate lagi, saking banyaknya, baik cuma satu kata, ataupun satu kalimat. Penulis ini sepertinya yakin sekali kalo bahasa Perancis itu bahasa internasional kedua setelah bahasa Inggris. Apa benar begitu? Apa cuma aku yg ga tau? Setauku sih ya, bahasa Internasional kedua yg banyak dipakai penduduk dunia itu bahasa Mandarin krn jumlah populasi Cina terbanyak di dunia, termasuk para imigran Cina yg menyebar ke seluruh dunia.
You know, kadang2 aku merasa kayanya dari kalangan cewek itu cuma aku yg tak tergila2 sama Paris, Dubai, Inggris, dan New York deh, biarpun aku demen hal-hal yg romantis dan berbau fashion. Bingung juga kenapa, haha. Orang berlomba2 ingin mengunjungi Paris, Dubai, US, UK, Korsel, China, Kanada, Italy, Jerman. Aku malah lebih pengen mengunjungi Jepang (terutama Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Yokohama, Osaka) dan Mesir dan piramidanya. :P
Anyway, ini juga novel pertama yg kubaca di mana MC-nya itu beragama Buddha. Agak lain dari yg lain saja secara biasanya kan agamanya Kristen gitu. Baca review orang, ada juga yg sebal krn ajaran Buddhisme lumayan detil dibahas, dan itu mengganggu si bule tsb. Karena aku beragama Buddha, jadi ya bukan masalah buatku sih, haha. Kan bosan juga kalo cuma ayat2 Kristen yg dibahas terus, di dunia ini kan ga cuma Kristen saja agamanya... Ini tuh kasusnya sama seperti saat aku baca novel fiksi yg lokasinya di Asia, rasanya penyegaran gitu loh, kan bosan tuh lokasinya US atau UK melulu. Ga harus Asia sih, Afrika juga oke, Antartika, Arab, Rusia, dll.
Di buku ini plot cerita dan karakternya yg dikupas habis2an, bahkan banyak detil2 yg sebenarnya menurutku tak begitu penting seperti penjelasan detil tentang menu masakan di restoran favorit MC sampe ntah berapa halaman yg harusnya dipangkas saja karena tanpa detil itupun pembaca udah yakin bgt kok MC tuh vegan bgt dan makanan vegan itu enak juga (tapi dengan memasukkan detil super komplit itu malah membuatku merasa penulis mencoba meyakinkan pembaca utk nyobain makanan vegan dan semoga bisa jadi vegetarian nantinya berkat bukunya), termasuk bahasa Perancis yg selalu terselip saat Lauren lagi bicara itu harusnya dihilangkan saja, tanpa bahasa Perancis itupun kita semua tau kok Lauren itu tergila-gila dan terobsesi dengan Paris dan Eiffel Tower *meh*. Pemakaian bahasa Perancis itu benar2 mengganggu keasyikan membaca karena aku harus berhenti sebentar utk copas artinya di google translate. Bayangkan jika ini jaman dulu ketika google translate blm ada, dan aku baca versi paperback misalnya, sudah begitu mana mungkin punya kamus bahasa Perancis, dijamin bakal melongo saja dah tiap kali bahasa Perancisnya muncul. Pada akhirnya pun di bab-bab terakhir ketika Lauren kembali casciscus Perancis, aku sudah pasrah saja ga ngerti cewek ini lagi nyerocos apa karena malas copas ke google translate lagi, saking banyaknya, baik cuma satu kata, ataupun satu kalimat. Penulis ini sepertinya yakin sekali kalo bahasa Perancis itu bahasa internasional kedua setelah bahasa Inggris. Apa benar begitu? Apa cuma aku yg ga tau? Setauku sih ya, bahasa Internasional kedua yg banyak dipakai penduduk dunia itu bahasa Mandarin krn jumlah populasi Cina terbanyak di dunia, termasuk para imigran Cina yg menyebar ke seluruh dunia.
You know, kadang2 aku merasa kayanya dari kalangan cewek itu cuma aku yg tak tergila2 sama Paris, Dubai, Inggris, dan New York deh, biarpun aku demen hal-hal yg romantis dan berbau fashion. Bingung juga kenapa, haha. Orang berlomba2 ingin mengunjungi Paris, Dubai, US, UK, Korsel, China, Kanada, Italy, Jerman. Aku malah lebih pengen mengunjungi Jepang (terutama Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Yokohama, Osaka) dan Mesir dan piramidanya. :P
Anyway, ini juga novel pertama yg kubaca di mana MC-nya itu beragama Buddha. Agak lain dari yg lain saja secara biasanya kan agamanya Kristen gitu. Baca review orang, ada juga yg sebal krn ajaran Buddhisme lumayan detil dibahas, dan itu mengganggu si bule tsb. Karena aku beragama Buddha, jadi ya bukan masalah buatku sih, haha. Kan bosan juga kalo cuma ayat2 Kristen yg dibahas terus, di dunia ini kan ga cuma Kristen saja agamanya... Ini tuh kasusnya sama seperti saat aku baca novel fiksi yg lokasinya di Asia, rasanya penyegaran gitu loh, kan bosan tuh lokasinya US atau UK melulu. Ga harus Asia sih, Afrika juga oke, Antartika, Arab, Rusia, dll.
April 9, 2016
It’s the beginning of spring. The flowers blooming all over the yard bring back so many memories to Sloan, not all good. He is sad and lonely after losing his mother a month ago to cancer. He does have three very unusual yet close friends that have been there for him, each in his own way.
The fabulous four, as their friend Wyatt, dubbed the group, meets every first Saturday of the month for Porch day, they have this as a can’t miss. They also meet up on other days, but those can be optional.
Each of these guys are unique, intriguing characters. Wyatt is a short and slightly chubby bear of a man and very flamboyant. He is also Pagan or a witch and works at a new age store. He adds a lot of humor and fun to the group and story. Scott is ordinary and very much a romantic, searching hard for the one true love and doesn’t believe in any God. He seems to be the go-to guy of the group. Asher is very confident, cocky and a real slut. Sometimes I wondered why they guys kept him in the group at all but it all falls together at the end--- and they do it for Sloan.
Sloan, you can’t help but love. He is going through hell with the loss of his mother and a bitch of a supervisor. He has lost the love of his job with the changes the supervisor insists upon. And he still holds his love for Asher wishing the day would come that Asher would love him back.
Sloan meets his sexy new neighbor and is attracted to him. The trouble is that he is married and straight. Max has a secret and though he has denied himself all these years and been always a loving husband, meeting Sloan and finding out he is gay brings his denial to the forefront.
Spring Affair is a beautifully written, poignant story of loss, love, friendship, finding yourself, coming out and life in general. It is written with such a witty, fun style you can’t stop once you start. I laughed. I cried. I cheered on Sloan, wanted to slap Asher and hug Max. I loved the end and wanted more of these men. (Yes I am reading the next book right now)
This story struck home with me with all of Sloan’s feelings about the loss of his mother; I too lost my mom, even though it was some time ago, the timing of reading this story was perfect for me. I loved how the author wrote the story in both Sloan and Max’s views, and we also get internal thoughts from each guy.
I highly recommend this to everyone. If you’ve been considering a M/M book but your still a little unsure if it’s your thing! It’s not about sex( though there is a little, it’s not real explicit and of course, the men to talk about cocks a lot), its life, love, happiness, and friendship!
If you love romance, friendship, are dealing with the loss of a loved one, are pining for a love you know you will never have, harboring a secret, just want to escape to a fun world and have a good laugh and a cry, I highly recommend this!
\I received a free copy of this book through MMgoodbookreviews for an honest review http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
The fabulous four, as their friend Wyatt, dubbed the group, meets every first Saturday of the month for Porch day, they have this as a can’t miss. They also meet up on other days, but those can be optional.
Each of these guys are unique, intriguing characters. Wyatt is a short and slightly chubby bear of a man and very flamboyant. He is also Pagan or a witch and works at a new age store. He adds a lot of humor and fun to the group and story. Scott is ordinary and very much a romantic, searching hard for the one true love and doesn’t believe in any God. He seems to be the go-to guy of the group. Asher is very confident, cocky and a real slut. Sometimes I wondered why they guys kept him in the group at all but it all falls together at the end--- and they do it for Sloan.
Sloan, you can’t help but love. He is going through hell with the loss of his mother and a bitch of a supervisor. He has lost the love of his job with the changes the supervisor insists upon. And he still holds his love for Asher wishing the day would come that Asher would love him back.
Sloan meets his sexy new neighbor and is attracted to him. The trouble is that he is married and straight. Max has a secret and though he has denied himself all these years and been always a loving husband, meeting Sloan and finding out he is gay brings his denial to the forefront.
Spring Affair is a beautifully written, poignant story of loss, love, friendship, finding yourself, coming out and life in general. It is written with such a witty, fun style you can’t stop once you start. I laughed. I cried. I cheered on Sloan, wanted to slap Asher and hug Max. I loved the end and wanted more of these men. (Yes I am reading the next book right now)
This story struck home with me with all of Sloan’s feelings about the loss of his mother; I too lost my mom, even though it was some time ago, the timing of reading this story was perfect for me. I loved how the author wrote the story in both Sloan and Max’s views, and we also get internal thoughts from each guy.
I highly recommend this to everyone. If you’ve been considering a M/M book but your still a little unsure if it’s your thing! It’s not about sex( though there is a little, it’s not real explicit and of course, the men to talk about cocks a lot), its life, love, happiness, and friendship!
If you love romance, friendship, are dealing with the loss of a loved one, are pining for a love you know you will never have, harboring a secret, just want to escape to a fun world and have a good laugh and a cry, I highly recommend this!
\I received a free copy of this book through MMgoodbookreviews for an honest review http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
July 8, 2014
Max has been married for fifteen years. Suddenly, when his wife heads off to Paris for an extended business trip, he begins to realize that his life has been a mistake. Not all of it, because he has a son. Logan is a wonderful son. But Max has missed the signs that Logan might be gay. And just might be gay himself.
Next door lives Sloan McKenna, who is still grieving the loss of his mother. His relationships have problems, that is because he refuses to move on from his last lover. His four friends make up his support group, but although they try, Sloan can't or won't accept their help. He tends his mother's prize flowers and goes to work. And secretly covets his neighbor, Max
There's lot going on. For one thing we're back in Terra's Gate. And there are plenty of old friends to be met and remembered.. There's. Bean, from the coffee shop. There is Baily, Cranston, and Watch, the law firm. There's Coop. And of course, Peter Wagner himself puts in an appearance.
But with the mention of Kit, my heart shook. It's funny, but of all B. G.'s wonderful characters, Kit has stayed with me. I've often thought of him and what became of him, his art, and his Grumble Monkey.
This story is rich with meaning, inner struggles and some comedic relief. It is rich and full of the kinds of characters and story that make B. G. what he is. Reading this made me realize how much his characters have come to mean to me, and in the bigger picture, how much we are all connected.
Next door lives Sloan McKenna, who is still grieving the loss of his mother. His relationships have problems, that is because he refuses to move on from his last lover. His four friends make up his support group, but although they try, Sloan can't or won't accept their help. He tends his mother's prize flowers and goes to work. And secretly covets his neighbor, Max
There's lot going on. For one thing we're back in Terra's Gate. And there are plenty of old friends to be met and remembered.. There's. Bean, from the coffee shop. There is Baily, Cranston, and Watch, the law firm. There's Coop. And of course, Peter Wagner himself puts in an appearance.
But with the mention of Kit, my heart shook. It's funny, but of all B. G.'s wonderful characters, Kit has stayed with me. I've often thought of him and what became of him, his art, and his Grumble Monkey.
This story is rich with meaning, inner struggles and some comedic relief. It is rich and full of the kinds of characters and story that make B. G. what he is. Reading this made me realize how much his characters have come to mean to me, and in the bigger picture, how much we are all connected.
May 25, 2014
Hearts on Fire Review
****4 1/2 starts****
Original Review Published here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=26559
Sloan McKenna is coping with the loss of his mother after she battled a long illness. He now has to figure out what to do with all of her stuff now she is gone. Sloan is attracted to his neighbor but with the man being married, Sloan figured he was straight. Sloan also thinks he is in love with his best friend Asher. Asher has no feelings for Sloan that way. The more time Sloan spends with Max the more his feelings grows for him.
Max Turner is married to ambitious woman who wants to move to France. He realizes his son is gay and that gets him thinking of himself and the choices he has made in his life. I loved watching Max finally admit to himself and his family who he really is. I also loved his family’s reaction to the news.
The chemistry between Max and Sloan is blistering. I loved that they waited until the relationship Max had with his wife was over before they started a sexual one between them. The sex scenes were scorching.
Spring Affair is the first book in the Seasons of Love series by B. G. Thomas. I found this book well written. The main and secondary characters were interesting and realistic. I loved that Max stuck to his morals and waited until he was divorced. Overall, this was a great book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
****4 1/2 starts****
Original Review Published here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=26559
Sloan McKenna is coping with the loss of his mother after she battled a long illness. He now has to figure out what to do with all of her stuff now she is gone. Sloan is attracted to his neighbor but with the man being married, Sloan figured he was straight. Sloan also thinks he is in love with his best friend Asher. Asher has no feelings for Sloan that way. The more time Sloan spends with Max the more his feelings grows for him.
Max Turner is married to ambitious woman who wants to move to France. He realizes his son is gay and that gets him thinking of himself and the choices he has made in his life. I loved watching Max finally admit to himself and his family who he really is. I also loved his family’s reaction to the news.
The chemistry between Max and Sloan is blistering. I loved that they waited until the relationship Max had with his wife was over before they started a sexual one between them. The sex scenes were scorching.
Spring Affair is the first book in the Seasons of Love series by B. G. Thomas. I found this book well written. The main and secondary characters were interesting and realistic. I loved that Max stuck to his morals and waited until he was divorced. Overall, this was a great book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
September 19, 2014
I loved this book. Poor Sloan is not in a great place. His mom died recently and he's carrying a torch for his friend and one time hook-up Asher. Sloan knows Asher doesn't love him back but he just cant help himself. He hasn't found love primarily because he has been focused on his unattainable friend. When he finally finds a new man that interests him Sloan thinks he is just as unattainable. Max is married and straight (sort-of). Both Max and Sloan face a lot of fear and self-loathing before they together. They are immediately attracted to each other but know that they shouldn't be. Loving a straight man is the last thing Sloan needs. Poor Max has fought his homosexuality most of his life. His attraction to Sloan definitely throws him for a loop. It was wonderful to see each character grow and learn to accept himself as their attraction and friendship grew into love. The supporting characters were also great. I loved the Fabulous Four and can't wait to read more about the other three friends.
May 2, 2014
4.5/5.0
One of the fun things, for me, about reading B.G. Thomas’ books is that he tends to have characters and places appear from one book in another even though they are not actually a series. I love this. Now we have this first in a series, Spring Affair, from the new Season’s of Love series and this book focuses on Sloan McKenna, who we met briefly in the book Hound Dog & Bean.
Of all the books I have read by this author, this one seems to be the one most introspective for the characters. It is a complex look into what being gay means to each man in the story.
To read the full review, please click the link below:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
One of the fun things, for me, about reading B.G. Thomas’ books is that he tends to have characters and places appear from one book in another even though they are not actually a series. I love this. Now we have this first in a series, Spring Affair, from the new Season’s of Love series and this book focuses on Sloan McKenna, who we met briefly in the book Hound Dog & Bean.
Of all the books I have read by this author, this one seems to be the one most introspective for the characters. It is a complex look into what being gay means to each man in the story.
To read the full review, please click the link below:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
May 26, 2014
"I am absolutely in love with this book. The reader is thrown into the lives of the two main characters, Sloan and Max. I loved being inside both of their heads, knowing what they were thinking throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading the journey these two men take together. Their deepening friendship as the story progresses is beautiful and endearing. The self discoveries are at times earth shattering, but necessary."
May 15, 2014
A sweet story about coming out, different kinds of grief, misguided decisions, and best of all, second chances. B.G. Thomas tackles these with a lot of heart, which is something i've come to love, count on, and look forward to in his stories.
The story is told in a style that brought to mind Woody Allen, an almost stream of consciousness style which makes one experience everything - the characters' thoughts, trials and tribulations, as if in real time. But most of all, it's a very touching story, full of love and kindness and hope that shine through the difficult times. I enjoyed it very much.
The story is told in a style that brought to mind Woody Allen, an almost stream of consciousness style which makes one experience everything - the characters' thoughts, trials and tribulations, as if in real time. But most of all, it's a very touching story, full of love and kindness and hope that shine through the difficult times. I enjoyed it very much.
August 19, 2015
Borderline 3/4 stars on this one. At times I had to wonder if Max who is suppose to be a teacher and older could really be as clueless as he was on so many different levels. I also had to wonder at Sloane's restraint. Yet to balance out the almost unrealistic character of Max there was a sweetness to this book considering the subject matter. It was also very refreshing to see a different take on the affair side of things with it being more about feelings than sex between the two. Max and Sloane make such a charming couple I'm eager to see where their story goes from here.
February 21, 2016
I really loved this one! Max's coming out, first to himself, and then to his son and the rest of his friends and family was so well written. I loved it.
Sloan was a cutie, too, but I also have a weakness for redheads!
Just as good during a re-read and even more nuanced. I don't think Max and Lauren were good together at all, even if Max were straight.
Sloan was a cutie, too, but I also have a weakness for redheads!
Just as good during a re-read and even more nuanced. I don't think Max and Lauren were good together at all, even if Max were straight.
May 15, 2015
I've had this book for ages, I've even picked it up a few times and read a page or two but it never grabbed me. Then it was recommended to me so I tried again and it grabbed me. Max and Sloan; I was hoping for them the whole book.
I look forward to the rest of the series and I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll also get Logan's story.
I look forward to the rest of the series and I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll also get Logan's story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews