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Second Chances
Neil is 23, lonely, and broke. So broke, he’s just agreed to tutor his worst student ever: Maddy Warbeck, the most spoiled teenager in the state of Michigan. Before Neil knows it, he’s locked in a battle of wits with his malicious young pupil-- and trying his hardest not to get distracted by her gorgeous older brother.
Neil assumes Dane Warbeck’s just another shallow rich kid. But when Dane helps him turn the tables on Maddy, Neil decides there’s more to Dane than meets the eye. And as the summer nights get hotter and hotter, their uneasy friendship secretly develops into passionate love.
Except secrets have a way of coming out. When Dane’s ultra-conservative father cuts him off, Neil’s desperate to keep his new boyfriend by his side--even if it means inviting him into a life of poverty. But with money coming between them every day, can Neil and Dane possibly make it as a couple?
Neil assumes Dane Warbeck’s just another shallow rich kid. But when Dane helps him turn the tables on Maddy, Neil decides there’s more to Dane than meets the eye. And as the summer nights get hotter and hotter, their uneasy friendship secretly develops into passionate love.
Except secrets have a way of coming out. When Dane’s ultra-conservative father cuts him off, Neil’s desperate to keep his new boyfriend by his side--even if it means inviting him into a life of poverty. But with money coming between them every day, can Neil and Dane possibly make it as a couple?
232 pages, Unknown Binding
First published August 13, 2014
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Nate Tanner
51 books21 followersNate Tanner was born in Iowa in 1980. His Zodiac sign is Gemini. He realized he was gay on the day he turned 18.
After living a freewheeling lifestyle in his 20s, Nate decided to share his experiences with the world by becoming an erotic fiction author. He writes in spare moments at his day job, while by night he can be found prowling the Midwest for cute boys.
After living a freewheeling lifestyle in his 20s, Nate decided to share his experiences with the world by becoming an erotic fiction author. He writes in spare moments at his day job, while by night he can be found prowling the Midwest for cute boys.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 20, 2014
Wow ummmm...
Part one of this three part book gave me high hopes for liking this story. But unlike a lot of books...this went nowhere near where I thought it would have gone.
The characters were unique personalities. You couldn't help but hope it would all work out. Though this isn't what I would call a feel good romance...it was a romance, just more of a realistic one than most of the people like me enjoy.
If your looking for a good book filled with realistic angst that keeps you wondering where things are going then this is a good book. If you want that feel good. "ahhh" romantic buzz as you drift off to sleep, maybe not so much.
overall it was good...not great,not fantastic, but definitely a good read. then again I like my "ahhh" factor.
Part one of this three part book gave me high hopes for liking this story. But unlike a lot of books...this went nowhere near where I thought it would have gone.
The characters were unique personalities. You couldn't help but hope it would all work out. Though this isn't what I would call a feel good romance...it was a romance, just more of a realistic one than most of the people like me enjoy.
If your looking for a good book filled with realistic angst that keeps you wondering where things are going then this is a good book. If you want that feel good. "ahhh" romantic buzz as you drift off to sleep, maybe not so much.
overall it was good...not great,not fantastic, but definitely a good read. then again I like my "ahhh" factor.
September 15, 2015
1.5/2 stars ....
December 11, 2024
I didn't care much for Neil at the beginning and it got worse as the story developed. I was hoping he'd redeem himself but TBH, I didn't 'feel' it. Even at the end, I think he was an asshole. Dane is not too far behind IMO. The lack of communication throughout all 3 short stories is beyond comprehension. If they were teens, I'd understand, but no, these are two grown-ass adults.
To me, this is a 2.5*.
To me, this is a 2.5*.
January 21, 2017
A maddening read! Though it was a well written one. In the end I found the character deserved each other. They were completely and uttered flawed, but thankfully they didn't inflict their flaws on anyone else. I couldn't even feel sorry for Kyle, he was an idiot all on his own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2023
3.75 stars
I enjoyed it, but Neil really is kind of an asshole.
I enjoyed it, but Neil really is kind of an asshole.
February 28, 2017
Neil is in a tough spot. He's nearly broke and all on his own. Which is why he accepts a job tutoring Maddy Warbeck, the daughter of a wealthy family and who is perhaps the most spoiled person Nate has ever met. But he's determined to see things through no matter how many tricks Maddy tries to play on him or how much she tries to reject his help. And then there's Maddy's older brother, Dane. Though Neil is put off by Dane at first, after receiving Dane's help with securing Maddy's cooperation, Neil begins to see that he's nothing like his sister. And as they spend more time together, they find they share a mutual attraction that quickly burns bright.
But Dane's father wants only what he perceives as a perfect family. And Dane being with Neil does not fit into that picture. So when he cuts Dane off, Neil is there for him. But being there for Dane means bringing him into a whole new life--one that is almost the exact opposite of the luxury in which he grew up. And while Neil knows Dane is not a shallow guy, he finds that their circumstances put a strain on their fledgling relationship and he's hard pressed to try and fix things. Can they find a way to make things work? Or are their worlds just so totally different that they will never be able to find the common ground necessary to carry on a relationship?
This is an easy and entertaining read. The back-and-forth between Maddy and Neil in the beginning is a combination of frustrating (she is kind of a brat) and entertaining (Neil can definitely hold his own). And although I wondered how the relationship would be framed after reading the blurb, I can say that I was pleased to see it start and grow somewhat organically, never feeling forced. There are a few points in the book where I thought things moved a bit quickly, but overall I finished feeling like this was an interesting story and well worth the time to give it a read.
But Dane's father wants only what he perceives as a perfect family. And Dane being with Neil does not fit into that picture. So when he cuts Dane off, Neil is there for him. But being there for Dane means bringing him into a whole new life--one that is almost the exact opposite of the luxury in which he grew up. And while Neil knows Dane is not a shallow guy, he finds that their circumstances put a strain on their fledgling relationship and he's hard pressed to try and fix things. Can they find a way to make things work? Or are their worlds just so totally different that they will never be able to find the common ground necessary to carry on a relationship?
This is an easy and entertaining read. The back-and-forth between Maddy and Neil in the beginning is a combination of frustrating (she is kind of a brat) and entertaining (Neil can definitely hold his own). And although I wondered how the relationship would be framed after reading the blurb, I can say that I was pleased to see it start and grow somewhat organically, never feeling forced. There are a few points in the book where I thought things moved a bit quickly, but overall I finished feeling like this was an interesting story and well worth the time to give it a read.
December 27, 2014
I'm a big fan of Nate Tanner's because I like the guys he writes about. I find as a writer, he often knocks it out of the park. Even when his stuff fails, it fails in interesting ways. I'm looking forward to the next one.
This is a three-part book. The first is classic romance. It could work as a separate novella. It's sweet. The characters are easy to fall in love with. The sex is pretty hot. Good stuff.
The second part is extremely daring. He abandons the classic genre of romance, which views "meeting" as the fundamental problem. Instead, he looks at the problems of "being together." I loved this, because we need writing like this. We need fiction that helps us be together, instead of just giving us faith that we will find someone. Nate's pretty cerebral, so he's a little too focused on problems, here. In the preface, he says this is a more personal story. This makes me wonder if he were writing to try to figure out one of his own relationships. In such cases, it helps to write it twice--once for your self to solve the problem, once for the reader, to contextualize them. I feel a second writing would have helped here. It's too focused on thinking about problems, not focused enough on relating the mixture of good and bad in the relationship. I don't feel the writing makes me feel as if I were "with" the characters, sharing time with them. I definitely felt that way in part one.
Still, what he is doing here isn't done enough and needs to be done more. I feel gay men really need fiction that deals with the reality of relationships. I feel more fiction needs to focus in this direction.
The third part didn't work as well for me. Honestly, this part reminds me of the Kevin Smith movie, Chasing Amy. The ending seemed somewhat forced and artificial.
On the whole, I liked the book. I always love being with Nate's characters. I always love that he tries new things. If you want a potboiler romance, this isn't it. But it pushes a lot of boundaries, and I appreciate that. I can't wait for his next one.
This is a three-part book. The first is classic romance. It could work as a separate novella. It's sweet. The characters are easy to fall in love with. The sex is pretty hot. Good stuff.
The second part is extremely daring. He abandons the classic genre of romance, which views "meeting" as the fundamental problem. Instead, he looks at the problems of "being together." I loved this, because we need writing like this. We need fiction that helps us be together, instead of just giving us faith that we will find someone. Nate's pretty cerebral, so he's a little too focused on problems, here. In the preface, he says this is a more personal story. This makes me wonder if he were writing to try to figure out one of his own relationships. In such cases, it helps to write it twice--once for your self to solve the problem, once for the reader, to contextualize them. I feel a second writing would have helped here. It's too focused on thinking about problems, not focused enough on relating the mixture of good and bad in the relationship. I don't feel the writing makes me feel as if I were "with" the characters, sharing time with them. I definitely felt that way in part one.
Still, what he is doing here isn't done enough and needs to be done more. I feel gay men really need fiction that deals with the reality of relationships. I feel more fiction needs to focus in this direction.
The third part didn't work as well for me. Honestly, this part reminds me of the Kevin Smith movie, Chasing Amy. The ending seemed somewhat forced and artificial.
On the whole, I liked the book. I always love being with Nate's characters. I always love that he tries new things. If you want a potboiler romance, this isn't it. But it pushes a lot of boundaries, and I appreciate that. I can't wait for his next one.
August 18, 2015
A book hits its target when is able to charm so much its reader that bounds him to stay awake up till the end and then, makes him feel at loss of the characters' adventures. I spent all my night, yesterday, reading up until 2AM, and then, until 4AM couldn't fall asleep because Neil and Dane still kept talking into my mind. The plot is good but its how the characters are described that is fantastic. I laughed, I cried and I mourned when Dane left Neil so much I could not stand reading and at the same time could not stop reading as well. This is how a book must be written. I suggest this book, and really really would like to have the chance to translate it.
August 24, 2014
Enjoyable read. Spoiled rich kids in dysfunctional family - poor kid in dysfunctional family -- with both guys experiencing the first few years of independence after college, struggling to be on their own. Sometimes mature - sometimes not. Having to decide what was important n life relationships. I'll check out Rangers and Unexpected Family.
August 31, 2014
Second chances
Second chances is a good read a lot of drama going on in this book an love is so hard
Second chances is a good read a lot of drama going on in this book an love is so hard
October 18, 2014
Reader for life
I am a Nate Tanner reader enthusiast. This story has charm and endearment all bundled in one. Must read; especially if you're a bit of a geek ;-)
I am a Nate Tanner reader enthusiast. This story has charm and endearment all bundled in one. Must read; especially if you're a bit of a geek ;-)
December 14, 2014
Second Chances great book
I. Really enjoyed this story , running for Amazon now for more of this Author.
This story will keep you up late several nights
I. Really enjoyed this story , running for Amazon now for more of this Author.
This story will keep you up late several nights
March 6, 2015
Depressing, harsh story. Very dark.
I added 1 star because of the afterword....
I added 1 star because of the afterword....
September 14, 2015
Not a bad story, pretty good MM action. Interesting twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
October 9, 2015
I had a bit of a WtF moment at the end but it sorted all itself out pretty well. Cute MCs, a third guy who had never a chance and a love that grows with every day it exists.
June 25, 2015
did not finish. it could not hold my interest.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews