What do you think?
Rate this book
The Byte of Betrayal
Caleb McDonnell lives his life online. A thirty-year-old fast food worker, he spends his time talking in an Internet world where his job and living conditions can't dictate his friendships. He's found acceptance, friendship, and even romance. But when an online friend is revealed as a fake, Caleb loses all sense of trust. To stave off the emotional collapse of his betrayal, Caleb leaves his online life behind and retreats into the monotony of his job.
Nicodemus Rokos feels like his heart has been torn out. He knew Caleb would be hurt, but he'd hoped not to be shut out of his boyfriend's life. He can only hope Caleb still feels something when he shows up in person to reclaim what he's lost.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Daily Dose package "Mended".
Nicodemus Rokos feels like his heart has been torn out. He knew Caleb would be hurt, but he'd hoped not to be shut out of his boyfriend's life. He can only hope Caleb still feels something when he shows up in person to reclaim what he's lost.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Daily Dose package "Mended".
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2014
38 people want to read
About the author
Ashavan Doyon
27 books21 followersAshavan Doyon spends his days working with students as part of the student affairs staff at a liberal arts college. During lunch, evenings, and when he can escape the grasp of his husband on weekends, he writes, pounding out words day after day in hopes that his ancient typewriter-trained fingers won't break the glass on his tablet computer. Ashavan is an avid science fiction and fantasy fan and prefers to write while listening to music that fits the mood of his current story. He has no children, having opted instead for the companionship of two beautiful and thoroughly spoiled pugs. A Texan by birth, he currently lives in New England, and frequently complains of the weather.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 30, 2014
Typing feels like a great act of will today so here's my lazy state of exhaustion review.
Great set-up that all, or a great many of us, can relate to.
Main character whose name I've already forgotten - what? - yes! - Cal! I sympathize with Cal, however...STOP CRYING, DUDE. I would think that with his history a betrayal of trust would be gutting but not all consuming.
However, Cal is a ginger. So that's all kinds of awesome. With curly hair. Which is even awesomer.
Other main character -- Why the fuck is his name Nicodemus? I would like an explanation. He's a likeable guy, as is Cal, but we're given no real example as to why they're so crazy about each other.
Also, Nic's BFF? It's been 7 years, honey, get out of the house, volunteer at the Humane Society, join a book club...just do SOMETHING. Stop obsessing over your gay friend. Ok, now I feel mean. How's this - you seem like a good mother, I can tell you want to be a better friend, but it's time to move on. There, that's nice(r).
Overall, there's potential here but I didn't enjoy the follow through.
Hey look!
August 10, 2016
1.5 stars
This is another story from the Dreamspinner Mended 2014 Daily Dose Anthology and sadly it didn't work for me at all. Random bits of information were thrown in but not developed, so I felt like I was missing chunks of the plot.
Caleb (called Cal, although that makes no sense as a nickname for Caleb, considering it has a different vowel sound at the beginning) used to be a rent boy (mentioned in one sentence) and now works in fast food. He is 30 but acts 17.
He lives his life purely online where he meets Kevin, his BFF, and Nic, his "boyfriend." Cal's world comes crashing down when
Nic lives with his best girl friend who has a daughter. The best friend got knocked up by a cyber stalker (yeah, just go with that), and so Nic supports her and the kid. Everything about this setup felt wrong and off.
The relationship between Cal and Nic happens via chat. We're not really privy to the online chats either; we're only told about them. The MCs are together in person for a day. There is no steam on page at all, and the chemistry was nonexistent. Caleb has to figure out if he can trust Nic. There was some weird cyberstalking going on in this book. Random online friends were tracking down phone numbers and addresses. I'm not saying that can't happen. But the way it happened here just made me snort with derision, because no, it doesn't happen like THAT.
Everything about the story was lackluster, and the writing style was unappealing: abrupt, static, chaotic almost.
This is another story from the Dreamspinner Mended 2014 Daily Dose Anthology and sadly it didn't work for me at all. Random bits of information were thrown in but not developed, so I felt like I was missing chunks of the plot.
Caleb (called Cal, although that makes no sense as a nickname for Caleb, considering it has a different vowel sound at the beginning) used to be a rent boy (mentioned in one sentence) and now works in fast food. He is 30 but acts 17.
He lives his life purely online where he meets Kevin, his BFF, and Nic, his "boyfriend." Cal's world comes crashing down when
Nic lives with his best girl friend who has a daughter. The best friend got knocked up by a cyber stalker (yeah, just go with that), and so Nic supports her and the kid. Everything about this setup felt wrong and off.
The relationship between Cal and Nic happens via chat. We're not really privy to the online chats either; we're only told about them. The MCs are together in person for a day. There is no steam on page at all, and the chemistry was nonexistent. Caleb has to figure out if he can trust Nic. There was some weird cyberstalking going on in this book. Random online friends were tracking down phone numbers and addresses. I'm not saying that can't happen. But the way it happened here just made me snort with derision, because no, it doesn't happen like THAT.
Everything about the story was lackluster, and the writing style was unappealing: abrupt, static, chaotic almost.
June 5, 2014
Fantastic story!
how real this felt to me .
I have seen things like this happen on social media and this story really did an amazing job
on telling that story. It really grabbed me.
The emotions are heavy but felt very real and to me it felt like something i could relate too.
The writing is flawless as I came to expect from this author
Love this addition to the Mended collection.
ps I love the cover! very well picked!
how real this felt to me .
I have seen things like this happen on social media and this story really did an amazing job
on telling that story. It really grabbed me.
The emotions are heavy but felt very real and to me it felt like something i could relate too.
The writing is flawless as I came to expect from this author
Love this addition to the Mended collection.
ps I love the cover! very well picked!
June 6, 2014
When I first read the blurb for this I was a little wary as it hit a little too close to home for me and my friends but Ashavan Doyon did a great job in portraying the pain we all felt when we were betrayed like Caleb was in the book.
Nic has become a favorite hero of mine for his determination and patience in dealing with Caleb's feelings. I also loved how he not only took care of his friend, but forgave her the bad thoughts she has because he understood where she was coming from.
The emotions were real and I loved it when Nic and finally got to where they needed to be. Great job Ash...you got it so right.
Nic has become a favorite hero of mine for his determination and patience in dealing with Caleb's feelings. I also loved how he not only took care of his friend, but forgave her the bad thoughts she has because he understood where she was coming from.
The emotions were real and I loved it when Nic and finally got to where they needed to be. Great job Ash...you got it so right.
June 28, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
This novella is a part of Dreamspinner’s Mended Daily Dose, and I can tell you it fits the hurt/comfort theme to a T. Caleb’s emotional hurt is so raw and visceral. My heart just hurt for him, and I wanted to wrap him up in a great big hug. He’s had a really hard life, and he’s finally feeling somewhat stable when the world as he knows it is brought to ruins. Doyon did an excellent job relating his pain, and it was very believable.
Read Kris' review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
This novella is a part of Dreamspinner’s Mended Daily Dose, and I can tell you it fits the hurt/comfort theme to a T. Caleb’s emotional hurt is so raw and visceral. My heart just hurt for him, and I wanted to wrap him up in a great big hug. He’s had a really hard life, and he’s finally feeling somewhat stable when the world as he knows it is brought to ruins. Doyon did an excellent job relating his pain, and it was very believable.
Read Kris' review in its entirety here.
June 8, 2014
I wanted to like this, I really did, but things were just…off…so I just didn't fully enjoy it. I think the premise was great, but something about the execution and writing just didn't work for me as a reader.
June 19, 2014
Don't expect wild bedroom antics in this book but instead deep emotions. I really enjoyed the comfort romance here and so appreciate a unique romance that features flawed and everyday leads.
September 2, 2017
Insata love store... and short. If you can check it out from the library then do so but don't buy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.
3.5 stars
Caleb may be just getting by in life but he’s pretty happy with what he has. He’s got a job, his own little studio apartment and some good friends online. But when he finds out that his online best friend is fake, his world starts to crumble. With his ability to trust shattered, Caleb has no idea where to go from there. Help comes in an unexpected real life visit from Nic, one of his online friends, but while Caleb yearns for Nic, he doesn’t know if he can really believe who Nic is. Can Nic convince Caleb that not everyone he’s met online is out to deceive him?
This is the type of story that I can really relate to. I’m sure I’m not the only one who met 90% of their ‘good’ friends through an online setting so when I read the blurb for this one, I was intrigued about it. We all know the dangers of online friendships and I’m sure we’ve all experienced a ‘fake’ friend at least once. This story is about that. About embracing a friend online, pouring out your soul to them and then being shown that the person you just spent years talking to is just a false persona.
It’s very sad because Caleb gets burned by that fake person and it’s hard for him to coup with the knowledge that he gave so much of himself to someone that wasn’t even real. As such, you see Caleb at his worst moment. Extremely hurt and pissed. Then there’s Nic, who I loved to pieces, because his concern for Caleb and the fact that he’s miserable without Caleb’s online companionship pushes him to fly to Caleb and help Caleb accept what’s happened. There’s not much depth to each character because a lot of it is focused on the situation and Caleb’s now lack of trust but I still liked them together. Nic is the ‘gentleman’ and really just wants to give Caleb a shoulder to cry on.
I had a few little niggles about this one, though. Mainly, I felt like we didn’t really know the characters and because of that, it was hard for me to connect with them. Besides that, Nic’s relationship with Natalie really bugged me. I couldn’t help but feel like she was taking advantage of him. I get her situation and I feel for her but it’s been seven years, I think it’s about time to move on and live your own life. More than that, I found the ending really abrupt and out of place. For me, something like that wouldn’t be decided in a few minutes.
In the end, I enjoyed the story but I still had a few issues with it. I liked the characters and I liked the fact that Nic felt so much for Cal that he was willing to fly across the country to him. The characters don’t have much depth to them so it’s hard to really connect with them but I think all of us understand the concept behind this story and can relate in some way to Cal and what he goes through.
3.5 stars
Caleb may be just getting by in life but he’s pretty happy with what he has. He’s got a job, his own little studio apartment and some good friends online. But when he finds out that his online best friend is fake, his world starts to crumble. With his ability to trust shattered, Caleb has no idea where to go from there. Help comes in an unexpected real life visit from Nic, one of his online friends, but while Caleb yearns for Nic, he doesn’t know if he can really believe who Nic is. Can Nic convince Caleb that not everyone he’s met online is out to deceive him?
This is the type of story that I can really relate to. I’m sure I’m not the only one who met 90% of their ‘good’ friends through an online setting so when I read the blurb for this one, I was intrigued about it. We all know the dangers of online friendships and I’m sure we’ve all experienced a ‘fake’ friend at least once. This story is about that. About embracing a friend online, pouring out your soul to them and then being shown that the person you just spent years talking to is just a false persona.
It’s very sad because Caleb gets burned by that fake person and it’s hard for him to coup with the knowledge that he gave so much of himself to someone that wasn’t even real. As such, you see Caleb at his worst moment. Extremely hurt and pissed. Then there’s Nic, who I loved to pieces, because his concern for Caleb and the fact that he’s miserable without Caleb’s online companionship pushes him to fly to Caleb and help Caleb accept what’s happened. There’s not much depth to each character because a lot of it is focused on the situation and Caleb’s now lack of trust but I still liked them together. Nic is the ‘gentleman’ and really just wants to give Caleb a shoulder to cry on.
I had a few little niggles about this one, though. Mainly, I felt like we didn’t really know the characters and because of that, it was hard for me to connect with them. Besides that, Nic’s relationship with Natalie really bugged me. I couldn’t help but feel like she was taking advantage of him. I get her situation and I feel for her but it’s been seven years, I think it’s about time to move on and live your own life. More than that, I found the ending really abrupt and out of place. For me, something like that wouldn’t be decided in a few minutes.
In the end, I enjoyed the story but I still had a few issues with it. I liked the characters and I liked the fact that Nic felt so much for Cal that he was willing to fly across the country to him. The characters don’t have much depth to them so it’s hard to really connect with them but I think all of us understand the concept behind this story and can relate in some way to Cal and what he goes through.
September 11, 2016
Deception is always despicable, but if you are like Caleb, of 'Byte of Betrayal' by Ashavan Doyon, who has to rebuild his life with no one's help, it's devastating. His real life might suck, but Caleb feels like he has two friends online whom he can trust and, considering his background of abuse and rejection, it's a really big deal. The last thing he needs is for one of his friendships, his confidant, to end up being a complete fabrication; especially when his other friend, Nic, is the one to uncover the ruse. Although it's a typical reaction to want to kill the messenger, it's no wonder Caleb feels betrayed and loses the self-confidence he works so hard to nurture.
Nic feels awful when Caleb cuts him entirely out of his life and wants to rush to his side and try to repair this alienation, It's not as if he can just hop in his car and be there in a few minutes; he lives a thousand miles away. Nic is very worried about Caleb; even though he knows he had to tell him the truth, he feels sad that he's the one who burst his bubble of security. Nic loves Caleb and couldn't let him continue to be tricked, pouring his heart out to someone who didn't even exist. Nic anguishes over what to do about Caleb whom he loves and who he feels returns his feelings. He longs to tell him, but doesn't know how to close the gap. Finally his best friend and housemate, sick of seeing him pinning away, convinces him to go see Caleb in person, even buying him a ticket. What Nic finds breaks his heart. Caleb is a total mess, barely existing. Now it's a matter of how to get Caleb back on his feet and convince him that Nic loves him and wants him in his life.
Even though this is a story full of angst, it's also a story of hope. This was a bittersweet story for me. Caleb was so fragile that he broke when betrayed, but when Nic rode in on his white horse, Caleb felt hope because Nic helped him believe he was worth loving. Truth hurts sometimes, but the devastation that dishonesty causes is a far greater pain. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a story with a rougher edge, one that stirs deep emotions, yet still has a good outcome. Thanks, Ashavan, for reminding us that honesty is the best policy.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 16, 2014
Original Blog Post: http://www.multitaskingmommas.com/201...
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
The Byte of Betrayal is a very, very timely and common plot. It is a plot that is very real and can hurt a lot of people in the process. In the worse case scenario, it not only ruins lives and reputations, it could also be deadly. For Caleb McDonnell, he never thought he would be in that place where betrayal from someone he thought of as a best friend. As is most common these days, the sense of invincibility victimizes a whole lot of people when chatting from behind the keyboards, and Caleb fell victim to it. Feeling betrayed and stupid, he locks down into himself.
Nicodemus Rosos was another great online friend. In fact, even without meeting each other eyeball to eyeball, Nic fell for his online friend Caleb and unknown to Nic, Caleb falls for him too. The betrayal that rocks their world not only places their online relationship in jeopardy, but their personal lives as well. What Nic is about to do may not be the best or even logical thing, but he must do it. He must reach out to Caleb.
This is a plot that many may think is impossible but frankly, I have attended both weddings and funerals because of this online friendship thingy. How about those teens victimized by so-called online BFFs only to be lured into a life that is both illegal and deadly? Reading this, it was quite easy to be in the shoes of one Caleb McDonnell. It was quite easy to see myself in his place as I, too, have been victimized by so-called online friends who not only show their bright, traitorous colors in the end, but also effectively ruin a reputation.
Ashavan Doyon, in so little words, successfully showed how online relationships could go wrong, or right. For this short and light MM romance, it is apparent that the two men will try to make a go of their lives, this time offline. This is not HEA, this is definitely not even an HFN. It is an ending that is very real and logical.
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
The Byte of Betrayal is a very, very timely and common plot. It is a plot that is very real and can hurt a lot of people in the process. In the worse case scenario, it not only ruins lives and reputations, it could also be deadly. For Caleb McDonnell, he never thought he would be in that place where betrayal from someone he thought of as a best friend. As is most common these days, the sense of invincibility victimizes a whole lot of people when chatting from behind the keyboards, and Caleb fell victim to it. Feeling betrayed and stupid, he locks down into himself.
Nicodemus Rosos was another great online friend. In fact, even without meeting each other eyeball to eyeball, Nic fell for his online friend Caleb and unknown to Nic, Caleb falls for him too. The betrayal that rocks their world not only places their online relationship in jeopardy, but their personal lives as well. What Nic is about to do may not be the best or even logical thing, but he must do it. He must reach out to Caleb.
This is a plot that many may think is impossible but frankly, I have attended both weddings and funerals because of this online friendship thingy. How about those teens victimized by so-called online BFFs only to be lured into a life that is both illegal and deadly? Reading this, it was quite easy to be in the shoes of one Caleb McDonnell. It was quite easy to see myself in his place as I, too, have been victimized by so-called online friends who not only show their bright, traitorous colors in the end, but also effectively ruin a reputation.
Ashavan Doyon, in so little words, successfully showed how online relationships could go wrong, or right. For this short and light MM romance, it is apparent that the two men will try to make a go of their lives, this time offline. This is not HEA, this is definitely not even an HFN. It is an ending that is very real and logical.
September 30, 2014
Review copy posted on Books on Silver Wings blog: http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
3.5 Stars rounded to 3
Caleb has a crush on Nic but he doesn't have the courage to tell him so he tells his online best friend, Kevin. He also can't afford a trip to visit Nic since he's so poor, he's eating Ramen noodles and stale bread. He's living his life online and having online friends. A thousand miles away, Nic wants to be Caleb's boyfriend and discovers Kevin is a fake. Nic tells Caleb the truth but he can't accept it.
Caleb is getting depressive and reliant on his online relationships to feel a connection. When he discovers his best friend (online) is a fake person, he spirals into depression. He's background is really sad. He used to live on the streets so he's proud to have a home even though its a crappy one. Not many people understand how reliant he is on online relationships/friendships. He thinks real people on the street are impersonal and trusts his online best friend, Kevin. It turns out that Kevin is really Tami, who's a boring and mousy character that wants people to talk to her and gets addicted to using a fake persona. My heart goes out to him and hope he trusts people again with Nic's help.
Nic is the nice guy and the perfect hero for Caleb. However, his home situation is weird. He's financially supporting his friend and her child. His friend becomes reliant on him and tries to break up his relationship so Nic will never leave her. They are not husband and wife but they give off a very domestic feel. It would be difficult to add Caleb into the mix.
The online chat format may take a little to get used to. The ending of Nic coming to rescue Caleb and his recovery is rushed. Overall though, the story ends with a HEA and at a very hopeful note. Fans of the hurt/comfort trope would enjoy this story.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 Stars rounded to 3
Caleb has a crush on Nic but he doesn't have the courage to tell him so he tells his online best friend, Kevin. He also can't afford a trip to visit Nic since he's so poor, he's eating Ramen noodles and stale bread. He's living his life online and having online friends. A thousand miles away, Nic wants to be Caleb's boyfriend and discovers Kevin is a fake. Nic tells Caleb the truth but he can't accept it.
Caleb is getting depressive and reliant on his online relationships to feel a connection. When he discovers his best friend (online) is a fake person, he spirals into depression. He's background is really sad. He used to live on the streets so he's proud to have a home even though its a crappy one. Not many people understand how reliant he is on online relationships/friendships. He thinks real people on the street are impersonal and trusts his online best friend, Kevin. It turns out that Kevin is really Tami, who's a boring and mousy character that wants people to talk to her and gets addicted to using a fake persona. My heart goes out to him and hope he trusts people again with Nic's help.
Nic is the nice guy and the perfect hero for Caleb. However, his home situation is weird. He's financially supporting his friend and her child. His friend becomes reliant on him and tries to break up his relationship so Nic will never leave her. They are not husband and wife but they give off a very domestic feel. It would be difficult to add Caleb into the mix.
The online chat format may take a little to get used to. The ending of Nic coming to rescue Caleb and his recovery is rushed. Overall though, the story ends with a HEA and at a very hopeful note. Fans of the hurt/comfort trope would enjoy this story.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
June 21, 2014
An interesting, if somewhat one-sided, look at the effects of online relationships and the lack of knowing whether anything we see online is "real", this story takes one character and his dependence on his online friends and examines what can go wrong. In that sense it is a very timely story and one which should give a lot of people pause to think about what role online versus real-life relationships take in their lives.
Caleb is an ex-rent boy who managed to pull himself out of the despair and poverty of a life he never wanted. But when his parents kicked him out when they found out he was gay, he had no choice. What worries me about him is that he isn't very mature at all, but looking at what he went through and how he still struggles to keep a roof over his head, maybe I am being too hard on him. having withdrawn from "real life", he has several online friendships, but when one of them turns out to be a fake, Caleb's whole world collapses and he withdraws completely.
Luckily, there is Nic, who is also an online friend in the same group. He knows what it's like to be betrayed by an online scam artist(his best friend went through the same sort of situation and got pregnant), and he really likes Caleb. He is extremely understanding,not to mention determined, and turns out to be Caleb's knight in shining armor. I liked that he was still respectful of Caleb, letting him make the decision to give a real relationship a go.
If you like stories that read like a fairy tale but are very much set in today's world, if you enjoy reading about men in desperate situations who come close to giving up before they find someone to hep them fix their lives, and if you're looking for an angsty read with lots of sweet moments toward the end, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
Caleb is an ex-rent boy who managed to pull himself out of the despair and poverty of a life he never wanted. But when his parents kicked him out when they found out he was gay, he had no choice. What worries me about him is that he isn't very mature at all, but looking at what he went through and how he still struggles to keep a roof over his head, maybe I am being too hard on him. having withdrawn from "real life", he has several online friendships, but when one of them turns out to be a fake, Caleb's whole world collapses and he withdraws completely.
Luckily, there is Nic, who is also an online friend in the same group. He knows what it's like to be betrayed by an online scam artist(his best friend went through the same sort of situation and got pregnant), and he really likes Caleb. He is extremely understanding,not to mention determined, and turns out to be Caleb's knight in shining armor. I liked that he was still respectful of Caleb, letting him make the decision to give a real relationship a go.
If you like stories that read like a fairy tale but are very much set in today's world, if you enjoy reading about men in desperate situations who come close to giving up before they find someone to hep them fix their lives, and if you're looking for an angsty read with lots of sweet moments toward the end, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
August 9, 2016
Let’s be upfront first: Caleb McDonnell definitely comes across as an immature person. He’s 30 years old but seems younger. That being said, Caleb has done a great job turning his life around and it hasn’t been easy. What he has now, besides not enough money, is his online community of friends. He’s found himself a best friend that he confides everything to in Kevin and even a boyfriend maybe in Nic.
When Nic’s very needy (and selfish) best friend finds out something that is going to hurt Caleb, Nic has no choice but to share it, even as it makes Caleb’s world crash down and the fall out includes Nic.
I did find problems with the story – Natalie, for example. She has been betrayed by someone online, big time, but she doesn’t come across as doing it so help Nic but to keep Nic. I didn’t like that and so she was not a sympathetic character.
But for anyone who’s been caught by lies online, this story was a good one. When you’ve made amazing connections to people online and you believe you know who they are; even more, you trust they are who they say, the betrayal hits hard. That is the part of the story I loved.
When Nic’s very needy (and selfish) best friend finds out something that is going to hurt Caleb, Nic has no choice but to share it, even as it makes Caleb’s world crash down and the fall out includes Nic.
I did find problems with the story – Natalie, for example. She has been betrayed by someone online, big time, but she doesn’t come across as doing it so help Nic but to keep Nic. I didn’t like that and so she was not a sympathetic character.
But for anyone who’s been caught by lies online, this story was a good one. When you’ve made amazing connections to people online and you believe you know who they are; even more, you trust they are who they say, the betrayal hits hard. That is the part of the story I loved.
November 20, 2015
The Byte of Betrayal
This was interesting. Made me think of my first contact with the internet, way back when.
The people I met; friends, lovers and yeah, fakes, liars...
But the intensity of the feelings here in this story, wow, that escapes me, I can't connect with the pain, the sense of absolute loss, the desperation... it's too much.
I don't want to but I can't help to feel it's all overly dramatic to the point of annoyingly whiny even. Reads wrong for me, unreal.
Unable to trust one moment, in love and almost total adoration the next. I'm all for HEA but no, I can't.
The hurt of the past, now that felt real. And I'll hold to that and the knowledge that the future will be better ^^
This was interesting. Made me think of my first contact with the internet, way back when.
The people I met; friends, lovers and yeah, fakes, liars...
But the intensity of the feelings here in this story, wow, that escapes me, I can't connect with the pain, the sense of absolute loss, the desperation... it's too much.
I don't want to but I can't help to feel it's all overly dramatic to the point of annoyingly whiny even. Reads wrong for me, unreal.
Unable to trust one moment, in love and almost total adoration the next. I'm all for HEA but no, I can't.
The hurt of the past, now that felt real. And I'll hold to that and the knowledge that the future will be better ^^
September 30, 2014
Not sure what I expected from the blurb but it's not what I got. It's a short story so you can't expect too much. The MC Caleb has had a hard life and his social life is entirely his internet chat friends. There are 2 who are most inmportant to him - Kevin and Nic. When one reveals the other is a fake Caleb doesn't take it well. For him his world has crumbled. We then watch as the real friend helps him put himself back together. The story goes along nicely with both Caleb and his real friend being unsure until Caleb makes an unbelievable leap to get the HEA.
Overall, not a bad story of the consequences of internet deception.
Overall, not a bad story of the consequences of internet deception.
March 14, 2015
So I am not entirely sure what I want to say about this little novella. I really liked Caleb. He obviously had issues in his past that damaged his ability to trust. These past events are only alluded to throughout the story, but you get enough of an idea to appreciate Caleb’s motivations. When he finds out his friend is a fake, your heart breaks for him. As he struggles with his feelings for Nic, you long for him to trust.
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
February 21, 2016
This was a lot of anxiety in a read. Social media horribly going wrong, mainly because the victims were already too vulnerable in the first place and put their trust into another human being only to be betrayed. Very sweet how one guy puts everything out on the table to regain and rebuild that broken trust, unfortunately it is too short to give the story real development. A person with trust issues wouldn't open the door to a stranger after just having found out, that another person who he had trusted especially, created a false identity. Loved the happy ending.
October 19, 2014
Here is a man who has overcome so much and even though his life isn't perfect he his proud of what he's accomplished but then things seem to be shattered.
This story is an interesting look at how online friendships can have an impact in the real world and takes a look at what can go wrong and what can go right. It also explores how real does someone have to be to gain your trust and what happens when the trust is shattered.
This story is an interesting look at how online friendships can have an impact in the real world and takes a look at what can go wrong and what can go right. It also explores how real does someone have to be to gain your trust and what happens when the trust is shattered.
February 8, 2016
caleb had an bad life growing up on the streets at the age of 16 did things to survive. Now he spends his days and nights online he meet his best friend kelly and also Nic the person he has fallen for. But then he finds out the net can be a cruel and untruthful place when people can be fake. But Then nic comes to caleb to set things straight that not all people fake. it was emotional and how one is willing to trust.
Did not finish
October 11, 2014Poor reviews.
July 3, 2014
2.5 stars, it wasn't bad at all, the plot idea was great, just too short, not enough on page developement
June 20, 2014
Full review on Booklikes: http://myfictionnook.booklikes.com/po...
July 28, 2014
This books makes no sense on many levels. Too many to list.
June 14, 2014
Could have used more development after they meet, but it was promising. I'll check out other titles by this author.
September 18, 2016
I had to finish, so the writing was rather compelling, but overall it was too sad and bleak and dreary.
Not even the positive ending helped.
Not even the positive ending helped.
June 8, 2014
Loved the blurb, but this didn't work for me at all. Disappointing. :(
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews