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Surf Bay #1
Lost & Found
When 18-year-old Charlie’s unreliable mother tells him they are moving across the country to live with her mysterious Aunt Evelyn in the sunny town of Surf Bay, he isn’t surprised. After spending most of his life moving around the country with his mother and younger sister, picking up his life and starting somewhere new is second nature to him.
19-year-old Oliver is one of those guys that everybody loves. Most people would describe him as good-looking, cheeky and confident, but when Charlie meets him working as his Great-Aunt’s gardener, there’s only word that springs to his mind….arrogant.
Charlie quickly finds a job at the local surf club, but his initial joy quickly vanishes when he learns that Oliver also works there. From the first moment Oliver lays eyes on him, he knows that he wants Charlie, and when he discovers that he’s a virgin, he sees it as a new and exciting challenge which he accepts, even if Charlie tells him he isn’t interested in guys.
Oliver wants Charlie’s virginity, but he doesn’t count on finding something else along the way… Charlie feels pressure to look after his family, so he tries to ignore Oliver’s relentless advances, but he starts to feel something new…something he’s never felt before…something exciting…
Does Charlie have the power to resist Oliver’s charms?
19-year-old Oliver is one of those guys that everybody loves. Most people would describe him as good-looking, cheeky and confident, but when Charlie meets him working as his Great-Aunt’s gardener, there’s only word that springs to his mind….arrogant.
Charlie quickly finds a job at the local surf club, but his initial joy quickly vanishes when he learns that Oliver also works there. From the first moment Oliver lays eyes on him, he knows that he wants Charlie, and when he discovers that he’s a virgin, he sees it as a new and exciting challenge which he accepts, even if Charlie tells him he isn’t interested in guys.
Oliver wants Charlie’s virginity, but he doesn’t count on finding something else along the way… Charlie feels pressure to look after his family, so he tries to ignore Oliver’s relentless advances, but he starts to feel something new…something he’s never felt before…something exciting…
Does Charlie have the power to resist Oliver’s charms?
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2014
17 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Ashley John
24 books801 followersAshley John is a gay author of gay/mm romance novels. Living in the north of England with his fiance and two cats, Ashley John spends his days writing down the voices he hears in his head. His books are primarily romance dramas with sprinklings of erotica and he has a knack for making you feel like you're living right beside the characters he creates. Ashley John is also a keen artist and he puts his artistic side to designing all of his own covers.
Find ashley john at ashleyjohn.co.uk
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Find ashley john at ashleyjohn.co.uk
KEEP UP WITH ASHLEY JOHN ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyjohnart
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/itsashleyjohn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ashleyjohn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 2, 2014
I recieved a review copy of this in exchange for an honest review from the DBML program
This is me the whole entire damn book
I had such a huge issue with this book. I don't know where the author got her information on wooing, but she should return that shit to sender, Promptly!
Oliver was basically your beginning rapist/pervert/creep/ just Eww all the way around. I hated him so much. Charlie, should have found a lawyer, and slapped a sexual harassment suit on his ass from the beginning. I had issues with Oliver at the end of the chapter it would be some italicize bullshit from his thoughts that are bordering on creepy. It would be something on the line like "I'm hungry all right. I'm hungry for your son.", "Just let go, you know you want to."
He gives me the creepy crawlies big time. I literally couldn't focus on the other items in the book( To be honest it was extremely boring).
Charlie wasn't rapist material but this fool gave me whiplash.
The monologue went from Charlie-"Dude, I'm not gay, I have a girlfriend, why am I jealous?" Or It's big when it's soft!
Excuse me, but you encouraged this behavior from the beginning, gosh I wish, I could have bitch slapped him!
Charlie acted like he didn't want Oliver, Oliver making disgusting and pervvy comments, that's the jist of what I got in return.
Moral of the story folks, stay away from rapey Oliver!
This is me the whole entire damn book
I had such a huge issue with this book. I don't know where the author got her information on wooing, but she should return that shit to sender, Promptly!
Oliver was basically your beginning rapist/pervert/creep/ just Eww all the way around. I hated him so much. Charlie, should have found a lawyer, and slapped a sexual harassment suit on his ass from the beginning. I had issues with Oliver at the end of the chapter it would be some italicize bullshit from his thoughts that are bordering on creepy. It would be something on the line like "I'm hungry all right. I'm hungry for your son.", "Just let go, you know you want to."
He gives me the creepy crawlies big time. I literally couldn't focus on the other items in the book( To be honest it was extremely boring).
Charlie wasn't rapist material but this fool gave me whiplash.
The monologue went from Charlie-"Dude, I'm not gay, I have a girlfriend, why am I jealous?" Or It's big when it's soft!
Excuse me, but you encouraged this behavior from the beginning, gosh I wish, I could have bitch slapped him!
Charlie acted like he didn't want Oliver, Oliver making disgusting and pervvy comments, that's the jist of what I got in return.
Moral of the story folks, stay away from rapey Oliver!
September 3, 2014
I received this book from the Don't Buy My Love program on Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about Charlie, an 18 y/o boy who is on the constant move with his flaky mother Sarah and six y/o half sister Poppy. They have settled in Surf Bay, California while Sarah tries to hold down yet another minimal-wage job. A slightly older boy, Oliver, is a rich kid (but doesn't wish to be) fixes his bisexual sights on Charlie. For the fun of it, I suppose.
Oliver likes a challenge, and it doesn't bother him in the slightest that Charlie is straight. Oliver's particularly excited that Charlie's a virgin and makes extremely forward overtures to Charlie. The kind that would get Oliver knocked out if he wasn't a beefcake.
There is a cat-and-mouse chase. There are complications--most notably Sarah's job falling through and a loan shark coming to call. And, there is the fall into love, precipitously, within a week (or so) of meeting.
K. Well, I had some serious problems with this book. The instalove was not well-handled. It was altogether rushed, with a nearly RELENTLESS sexual pursuit of Charlie by Oliver. Made me feel a bit squicky, to be honest.
The book needs a thorough edit. I was peeved by the typos, homophone blunders, and plain-out wrong words, but MOSTLY I was entirely put off by the diction of the book. If these were two blokes from London's north end it would have been totally cool, this book. Well, I wouldn't have been screaming THIS ISN'T HOW TWO KIDS FROM AMERICA SPEAK inside my brain for whatever length of time it took for me to finish reading it, anyhow. (Author, please read more teen books about American kids. There is a totally different vocabulary, set of idioms, that you need to learn to use before you can write believable American characters.)
The end was pretty-well diagramed, I knew it was coming, but that's not usually a criticism for me. I wanted to like this story. I really couldn't because I was frustrated with the characters the whole time. They didn't read like teens. They read like old Englishmen. I can't fathom a teen boy buying expensive wine for a date for another teen boy. Sorry. Even if this was a straight relationship, 99.8% of American teens know nothing about wine. They're excited about alcohol, in any form, but wine is usually the last one they'd choose. Beer. Liquor. Wine, in that order.
Oliver's parents, if you could call them that, were wooden caricatures. Their desire for Oliver to go to Yale was...ludicrous. And Yale is on the opposite side of the country from Surf Bay. A flight would have been planned for their visit, yet, the way this was written was as if this was a day-trip. His drug seeking, lush of a brother, again, unsuccessful at feeling real.
Sarah was pretty well written, but I had no sympathy for her. I half-expected her to be on the run from an abusive ex, but no, just people to whom she owes money. She's a mess, and doesn't deserve great kids.
This book is about Charlie, an 18 y/o boy who is on the constant move with his flaky mother Sarah and six y/o half sister Poppy. They have settled in Surf Bay, California while Sarah tries to hold down yet another minimal-wage job. A slightly older boy, Oliver, is a rich kid (but doesn't wish to be) fixes his bisexual sights on Charlie. For the fun of it, I suppose.
Oliver likes a challenge, and it doesn't bother him in the slightest that Charlie is straight. Oliver's particularly excited that Charlie's a virgin and makes extremely forward overtures to Charlie. The kind that would get Oliver knocked out if he wasn't a beefcake.
There is a cat-and-mouse chase. There are complications--most notably Sarah's job falling through and a loan shark coming to call. And, there is the fall into love, precipitously, within a week (or so) of meeting.
K. Well, I had some serious problems with this book. The instalove was not well-handled. It was altogether rushed, with a nearly RELENTLESS sexual pursuit of Charlie by Oliver. Made me feel a bit squicky, to be honest.
The book needs a thorough edit. I was peeved by the typos, homophone blunders, and plain-out wrong words, but MOSTLY I was entirely put off by the diction of the book. If these were two blokes from London's north end it would have been totally cool, this book. Well, I wouldn't have been screaming THIS ISN'T HOW TWO KIDS FROM AMERICA SPEAK inside my brain for whatever length of time it took for me to finish reading it, anyhow. (Author, please read more teen books about American kids. There is a totally different vocabulary, set of idioms, that you need to learn to use before you can write believable American characters.)
The end was pretty-well diagramed, I knew it was coming, but that's not usually a criticism for me. I wanted to like this story. I really couldn't because I was frustrated with the characters the whole time. They didn't read like teens. They read like old Englishmen. I can't fathom a teen boy buying expensive wine for a date for another teen boy. Sorry. Even if this was a straight relationship, 99.8% of American teens know nothing about wine. They're excited about alcohol, in any form, but wine is usually the last one they'd choose. Beer. Liquor. Wine, in that order.
Oliver's parents, if you could call them that, were wooden caricatures. Their desire for Oliver to go to Yale was...ludicrous. And Yale is on the opposite side of the country from Surf Bay. A flight would have been planned for their visit, yet, the way this was written was as if this was a day-trip. His drug seeking, lush of a brother, again, unsuccessful at feeling real.
Sarah was pretty well written, but I had no sympathy for her. I half-expected her to be on the run from an abusive ex, but no, just people to whom she owes money. She's a mess, and doesn't deserve great kids.
September 21, 2014
This one was a hard one for me. There are some points that i absolutly hate and some that I quite liked. And others that just...that I just couldn't decide one way or the other.
Oliver...what can I say about Oliver? Well, for the first 40% of the book, given the chance, I would gleefully have pushed him into a live volcano (if, you know, that didn't necessitate me getting within 100 miles of volcano...which, no, just no). He was annoying, and creepy, and sexually harrasses Charlie in so many ways. He reminds me of the kind of guy you have to warn your coworkers not to be caught alone in the lunch room with. And what is creepy in that guy is creepy in Oliver. I don't care if he's hot, not a sweaty and balding middle-aged dude, that is just wrong. He's the type of character that made me want to stop reading m/f.
And then that fucking beach scene.
For a moment I kinda liked him. I felt bad for it, for liking him there on the beach, but then he went back to being a douche...and I thought that was it. But that fucking beach scene stuck with me and I began to see parts of him that I didn't totally hate. That I kinda liked...for all that I wanted to slap him.
So that left me all kinds of conflicted.
Charlie was more of a constant 'meh.' Didn't dislike him, but his constant waffling and tendency to run away was too annoying for me to really like him. And his inability to take Oliver's help, at the end (especially when that help came at such a huge fucking price for Oliver) pissed me off. And while running away from Oliver, in the beginning, was probably a great fucking idea...later it just seemed like cowardice.
There was also one thing that really bugged me...which really has nothing to do with the plot or the characters. And it is this:
You know what is missing from that sentence? A motherfucking comma.
Now, I know that is a rather extreme reaction to what is, in fact, just a grammar mistake. But the thing is, I once had to sit thru a two hour lecture (rant) from my writing prof, who threatened everything short of death and dismemberment if we fucked this up one more time. If you are addressing someone in dialogue, you put a comma in front (or behind, depending on where in the sentence it is). You just do. Because there is a difference between "Come on Tony" and "Come on, Tony."
And the fact that this kept happening over and over, throughout the story, was fucking distracting. Because after you have your writing prof threaten to fail the next person who fucks this up, you have a tendency to notice it, when it comes up. And it came up. A lot.
So...on the whole, I am extremely conflicted. If we were going by the first half of this book, it would probably be somewhere near 2 stars. If we were to go by the next third, after that, it would probably be 4 stars. And if we were going by whatever is left after that (I have no clue what numerical value that would be, because math is hard), it would probably be 3 stars.
I just had issues with the end, and the beginning, but I kind liked it anyways...when I wasn't actively hating it. So...3.5 stars. I guess.
I was provided a copy of this book as part of the M/M Romance Group's DBML program on GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
Oliver...what can I say about Oliver? Well, for the first 40% of the book, given the chance, I would gleefully have pushed him into a live volcano (if, you know, that didn't necessitate me getting within 100 miles of volcano...which, no, just no). He was annoying, and creepy, and sexually harrasses Charlie in so many ways. He reminds me of the kind of guy you have to warn your coworkers not to be caught alone in the lunch room with. And what is creepy in that guy is creepy in Oliver. I don't care if he's hot, not a sweaty and balding middle-aged dude, that is just wrong. He's the type of character that made me want to stop reading m/f.
And then that fucking beach scene.
For a moment I kinda liked him. I felt bad for it, for liking him there on the beach, but then he went back to being a douche...and I thought that was it. But that fucking beach scene stuck with me and I began to see parts of him that I didn't totally hate. That I kinda liked...for all that I wanted to slap him.
So that left me all kinds of conflicted.
Charlie was more of a constant 'meh.' Didn't dislike him, but his constant waffling and tendency to run away was too annoying for me to really like him. And his inability to take Oliver's help, at the end (especially when that help came at such a huge fucking price for Oliver) pissed me off. And while running away from Oliver, in the beginning, was probably a great fucking idea...later it just seemed like cowardice.
There was also one thing that really bugged me...which really has nothing to do with the plot or the characters. And it is this:
“Are you staying for some lunch Oliver?”
You know what is missing from that sentence? A motherfucking comma.
Like this, bitches.
Now, I know that is a rather extreme reaction to what is, in fact, just a grammar mistake. But the thing is, I once had to sit thru a two hour lecture (rant) from my writing prof, who threatened everything short of death and dismemberment if we fucked this up one more time. If you are addressing someone in dialogue, you put a comma in front (or behind, depending on where in the sentence it is). You just do. Because there is a difference between "Come on Tony" and "Come on, Tony."
And the fact that this kept happening over and over, throughout the story, was fucking distracting. Because after you have your writing prof threaten to fail the next person who fucks this up, you have a tendency to notice it, when it comes up. And it came up. A lot.
So...on the whole, I am extremely conflicted. If we were going by the first half of this book, it would probably be somewhere near 2 stars. If we were to go by the next third, after that, it would probably be 4 stars. And if we were going by whatever is left after that (I have no clue what numerical value that would be, because math is hard), it would probably be 3 stars.
I just had issues with the end, and the beginning, but I kind liked it anyways...when I wasn't actively hating it. So...3.5 stars. I guess.
I was provided a copy of this book as part of the M/M Romance Group's DBML program on GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2018
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute story. It was dramatic and a little over the top but overall I enjoyed this story. Charlie is young and a virgin, so when very outgoing and experienced Oliver puts the moves on him, Charlie doesn't know what to do. Oliver defines himself as "sexual" and not to any particular persuasion. Basically he was equal opportunity, and he loves a challenge, and Charlie's virginity is a challenge Oliver can't resist conquering.
Charlie's confusion and anger and fear were authentic I felt. He never had these thoughts or feelings before and naturally would lash out towards Oliver. But over time Charlie wasn't able to fight his feelings and he couldn't stop thinking about Oliver. The relationship is rushed in that Charlie asks Oliver for patience, but Oliver does put the pressure on for Charlie to define their relationship. They have only known each other for a few weeks and they have deep emotions with "I love you" being said early. I can chalk that up to them being young. What I did have issue with is Oliver doing so much to get Charlie to stay in town when things go back for Charlie's mom. Maybe I am selfish, but I can't see myself using all my money to buy a business just so my boyfriend (of maybe 2 weeks) and his mom (and sister) won't leave town.
But beyond that and a few other things that are too complicated to explain, this was a nice story about two young boys falling in love. Oliver may have been an ass in the beginning but he got better. 😉 one last thing, the version I read had several editing errors that did make the story hard to read and I was pulled out too often. Hopefully those were fixed in the final edits.
This was a cute story. It was dramatic and a little over the top but overall I enjoyed this story. Charlie is young and a virgin, so when very outgoing and experienced Oliver puts the moves on him, Charlie doesn't know what to do. Oliver defines himself as "sexual" and not to any particular persuasion. Basically he was equal opportunity, and he loves a challenge, and Charlie's virginity is a challenge Oliver can't resist conquering.
Charlie's confusion and anger and fear were authentic I felt. He never had these thoughts or feelings before and naturally would lash out towards Oliver. But over time Charlie wasn't able to fight his feelings and he couldn't stop thinking about Oliver. The relationship is rushed in that Charlie asks Oliver for patience, but Oliver does put the pressure on for Charlie to define their relationship. They have only known each other for a few weeks and they have deep emotions with "I love you" being said early. I can chalk that up to them being young. What I did have issue with is Oliver doing so much to get Charlie to stay in town when things go back for Charlie's mom. Maybe I am selfish, but I can't see myself using all my money to buy a business just so my boyfriend (of maybe 2 weeks) and his mom (and sister) won't leave town.
But beyond that and a few other things that are too complicated to explain, this was a nice story about two young boys falling in love. Oliver may have been an ass in the beginning but he got better. 😉 one last thing, the version I read had several editing errors that did make the story hard to read and I was pulled out too often. Hopefully those were fixed in the final edits.
September 2, 2014
First thing I'd like to do is thank the author for providing me with this free copy in exchange for an honest review.Thank you so much!I really appreciate it!
3.5 stars for Lost and found!
PROS:
I feel the author has managed to play out the emotions of the main characters beautifully.The annoyance Charlie felt when he learned they had to move yet again, the first impressions of Charlie and Oliver about each other.It was as if I was the one feeling them!
I usually don't like the stories which have changing POV's but somehow it worked with this one.I also feel that the author has done an even better job at small details.It may seem insignificant but it contributes greatly in forming a picture of the situation in your head.Like in a movie you don't really realize how important the background details are unless you imagine just the characters acting with no background.The details in a story is like making the background of the movie, playing in your head, clearer and sharper.So yeah, that definitely deserves a good pat in the back.
I also liked how gradual the character development was.I disliked Oliver at first.His cocky attitude totally got on my nerves and I absolutely did not realise when I started liking him!
AND the cover.I LOVED the cover.It was because of the cover I wanted to read this book in the first place.I'm so glad I did!!
I was searching for a story filled with love and romance and I definitely got it in this one! :D
CONS:
Although the feelings of the main characters were expressed rather beautifully, I feel as if the supporting and peripheral characters were just stage props.Yes, they were introduced and yes, they had important roles in the story but their characters were a little bland, you know.The author could have done a better job in that area.
I also feel that there could have been more chemistry between the MCs.It was quite clear that they loved each other but more tender interaction between them would have been nice.Instead of thinking mushy thoughts :P, it would have been better if they expressed it by action or simply by saying them out loud.
This was not personally a problem for me as I'm more of a romance than sex kind of a girl but I felt that the sex scenes were brief and could have been a teeny more detailed. :)So those of you looking for hot raunchy sex,this is not the place to be.
All in all Lost and Found was quite a lovely book, perfect for a light read.Not too much angst or drama but just enough to keep you hooked.Definitely recommended by me.
3.5 stars for Lost and found!
PROS:
I feel the author has managed to play out the emotions of the main characters beautifully.The annoyance Charlie felt when he learned they had to move yet again, the first impressions of Charlie and Oliver about each other.It was as if I was the one feeling them!
I usually don't like the stories which have changing POV's but somehow it worked with this one.I also feel that the author has done an even better job at small details.It may seem insignificant but it contributes greatly in forming a picture of the situation in your head.Like in a movie you don't really realize how important the background details are unless you imagine just the characters acting with no background.The details in a story is like making the background of the movie, playing in your head, clearer and sharper.So yeah, that definitely deserves a good pat in the back.
I also liked how gradual the character development was.I disliked Oliver at first.His cocky attitude totally got on my nerves and I absolutely did not realise when I started liking him!
AND the cover.I LOVED the cover.It was because of the cover I wanted to read this book in the first place.I'm so glad I did!!
I was searching for a story filled with love and romance and I definitely got it in this one! :D
CONS:
Although the feelings of the main characters were expressed rather beautifully, I feel as if the supporting and peripheral characters were just stage props.Yes, they were introduced and yes, they had important roles in the story but their characters were a little bland, you know.The author could have done a better job in that area.
I also feel that there could have been more chemistry between the MCs.It was quite clear that they loved each other but more tender interaction between them would have been nice.Instead of thinking mushy thoughts :P, it would have been better if they expressed it by action or simply by saying them out loud.
This was not personally a problem for me as I'm more of a romance than sex kind of a girl but I felt that the sex scenes were brief and could have been a teeny more detailed. :)So those of you looking for hot raunchy sex,this is not the place to be.
All in all Lost and Found was quite a lovely book, perfect for a light read.Not too much angst or drama but just enough to keep you hooked.Definitely recommended by me.
October 20, 2014
3.75
Review previously at BMBR.
I have to say that I was slightly nervous about reading this book, I'd previously read The Secret by the same author and it didn't really work for me. Despite my, less than glowing, review last time, the author asked if I would be interested as he had taken on board what I had said and hoped his writing was improving - for this attitude alone I agreed. And boy am I glad I did.
I can see such huge improvements in this story, I was hooked by the characters immediately - even though I didn't particularly like Oliver for a start. He was predatory and pushed the Charlie's boundaries in a way I found uncomfortable, but that was all part of his character. He wasn't the nicest of people to start with and I liked how his character changed and grew throughout the story.
Charlie I really liked as a character, he could easily have come across as a bit of a drip, yet he didn't. He had his beliefs and reasons and he stuck to them - he was strong when he needed to be. The secondary characters were wide and varied, maybe at times a little clichéd, but nothing awful. I'm really keen to read Porter's story, which is next in the series. He strikes me as someone with an interesting background.
At times the characters acted in what I would call an irrational manner, it was a bit insta love - then I remembered back to being eighteen and put myself in their shoes. It is easy to feel so much more then, to overlook rationale and be lead by hormones. So really, what felt at times rushed, was actually just in character. Kudos.
It wasn't perfect - some spelling and grammar errors, nothing that pulled me from the story. Maybe I'm contradicting myself a bit here, but I would have been happier if it was set over a slightly longer time period - possibly that's just because I'm old! Occasionally the story felt a little convenient. These are all easy to fix and things that come with practise. I know this author has a big fan base and I can't believe the difference between this and the last book of his I read. There is definitely talent there, it is, like anything, just in need of honing a little. I really look forward to reading more from Ashley John and I would advise others to keep their eyes out for his future works.
Review previously at BMBR.
I have to say that I was slightly nervous about reading this book, I'd previously read The Secret by the same author and it didn't really work for me. Despite my, less than glowing, review last time, the author asked if I would be interested as he had taken on board what I had said and hoped his writing was improving - for this attitude alone I agreed. And boy am I glad I did.
I can see such huge improvements in this story, I was hooked by the characters immediately - even though I didn't particularly like Oliver for a start. He was predatory and pushed the Charlie's boundaries in a way I found uncomfortable, but that was all part of his character. He wasn't the nicest of people to start with and I liked how his character changed and grew throughout the story.
Charlie I really liked as a character, he could easily have come across as a bit of a drip, yet he didn't. He had his beliefs and reasons and he stuck to them - he was strong when he needed to be. The secondary characters were wide and varied, maybe at times a little clichéd, but nothing awful. I'm really keen to read Porter's story, which is next in the series. He strikes me as someone with an interesting background.
At times the characters acted in what I would call an irrational manner, it was a bit insta love - then I remembered back to being eighteen and put myself in their shoes. It is easy to feel so much more then, to overlook rationale and be lead by hormones. So really, what felt at times rushed, was actually just in character. Kudos.
It wasn't perfect - some spelling and grammar errors, nothing that pulled me from the story. Maybe I'm contradicting myself a bit here, but I would have been happier if it was set over a slightly longer time period - possibly that's just because I'm old! Occasionally the story felt a little convenient. These are all easy to fix and things that come with practise. I know this author has a big fan base and I can't believe the difference between this and the last book of his I read. There is definitely talent there, it is, like anything, just in need of honing a little. I really look forward to reading more from Ashley John and I would advise others to keep their eyes out for his future works.
September 2, 2014
I liked this book, but it frustrated me as well. Charlie moves into yet another new town with his mom and sister. He meets the arrogant hunky Oliver in his first day in town. Oliver always goes after what he wants, and what he wants is Charlie. Charlie is straight and has no use for Oliver, if only he could tell his body that, everything might be okay.
The book flowed well, and the MC's had good chemistry. I liked the alternating POV's and it wasn't difficult to remember who's head we were in, even though the POV's aren't labeled. I did feel things moved way too fast. Although it's not clear the amount of time the book takes place over, it seemed like a really short time span for the characters to be as serious about each other, as they were. I felt that Oliver was too pushy. He made me uncomfortable at times. I felt in the end it took too much begging and groveling on one of the guys parts.
There were a few issues left unresolved, but I see there will be another book for one of the supporting characters, so maybe we will get to see more of Oliver and Charlie in book 2 as well, and get to see where their life goes.
All in all this was a good read.
The book flowed well, and the MC's had good chemistry. I liked the alternating POV's and it wasn't difficult to remember who's head we were in, even though the POV's aren't labeled. I did feel things moved way too fast. Although it's not clear the amount of time the book takes place over, it seemed like a really short time span for the characters to be as serious about each other, as they were. I felt that Oliver was too pushy. He made me uncomfortable at times. I felt in the end it took too much begging and groveling on one of the guys parts.
There were a few issues left unresolved, but I see there will be another book for one of the supporting characters, so maybe we will get to see more of Oliver and Charlie in book 2 as well, and get to see where their life goes.
All in all this was a good read.
August 19, 2015
My previous read by this author was a wonderful experience. Not so this one. I liked the setting. I liked how Charlie showed responsibility & tried to help provide for his Mother and little sister. His mother ran with no notice whenever she ran up more bills than she could pay. The kids were being taught to run not stay when thinks got difficult. Not a happy family.
Oliver was a jerk. He was not someone who cared about others, but his family had not taught him love. He changed because of his growing feelings for Charlie.
My disappointment was not with the story, but with the editing or the lack of editing. Let us take the word "led", and I am not talking about a LED TV set. This word was used repeatedly throughout the book. He glanced back to Oliver who was now led back with his eyes closed and we were led next to each other. In this and many other instances the action being discussed was a human being placing his body horizontal to another object such as the ground. The verb is to lie. Please check out the conjugation. Also some of the words used by these two American young adults were wrong. The phrases were British not American.
I will read more by this author and read the 2nd in this series. Ashley John as talent just no beta readers or editor.
Oliver was a jerk. He was not someone who cared about others, but his family had not taught him love. He changed because of his growing feelings for Charlie.
My disappointment was not with the story, but with the editing or the lack of editing. Let us take the word "led", and I am not talking about a LED TV set. This word was used repeatedly throughout the book. He glanced back to Oliver who was now led back with his eyes closed and we were led next to each other. In this and many other instances the action being discussed was a human being placing his body horizontal to another object such as the ground. The verb is to lie. Please check out the conjugation. Also some of the words used by these two American young adults were wrong. The phrases were British not American.
I will read more by this author and read the 2nd in this series. Ashley John as talent just no beta readers or editor.
February 23, 2015
So, I'm trying not be harsh here. The story was almost there but the dialogue was so juvenile. I really had a lot of issues with this book but I did like the people involved. I don't know... this one is hard for me. I probably skimmed the last 25% because I just wanted to know what happened. Really, not my favorite book.
September 10, 2014
COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Ashley John is a wonderful author that everyone should be watching out for! Although Harvey will forever have a special place in my heart. Oliver & Charlie have completely won me over! CAN NOT WAIT to find out more about Porter!!!
July 27, 2020
I quite enjoyed this book. The story was absolutely character driven through Surf Bay did seem quaint. Oliver was a normal guy full of hormones and out for another conquest. Charlie was a bit slippery and wishy washy at first. The Charlie that admired Oliver's body that first day was definitely gay. I wish that the secondary characters were fleshed out more as they were fairly one dimensional. Very good story in what I hope is a great series.
September 7, 2014
This book was given free in exchange for an honest review.
I would give this 2.5 stars.
This was one of those books that didn't quite live up to its potential. The author came up with a great story idea, but it never developed properly. We have Charlie who has spent his life being moved around the country by his irresponsible mother and Oliver, the sexually experienced golden California boy. Charlie is very focused on keeping his family in one place by being the responsible one. He moves to Surf Bay, California with his mother and little sister to live with his mother's aunt. He meets Oliver, who seems like a good guy since he is helping Charlie's great-aunt with her garden but Oliver is very sexually open and will sleep with anyone that he finds attractive and he wants Charlie. Charlie has always had girlfriends, but has never had sex with anyone. He hates Oliver because of his overt, constant flirting despite Charlie's insistence that he isn't gay. As we follow these guys, Oliver continues to harass Charlie (yes, it becomes harassment) for sex. Charlie finally says they can only be friends.
The first thing I noticed about Lost & Found, is that it needs more editing. There are multiple misspellings, missing words, wrong words (palette instead of palate), etc. As I continued to read, I had to stop and recheck the setting. The characters used expressions that American teens just don't use. Our author is British and needs to either write about a British sea town, or learn more about American teens.
Also, the characters personalities seemed contradictory in places. Straight laced Charlie seems to give into peer pressure too quickly and Oliver goes from predatory gonna-have-you to I-love-you-can't-live-without-you much too quickly.
Now, after all the bad I just said, I do think this author has great potential. His descriptions were excellent and despite some of the weaker character development, I did like them. I felt for Charlie and his confusion over Oliver. He didn't understand why he liked looking at him so much or why he got jealous when Oliver made a date with a girl. Then we have Oliver, who despite his rich boy upbringing, will still go help an old lady in her garden on his days off work. He also has a job even though he could be living off his parents money, but he wants to make it on his own. I could clearly feel Charlie's frustration with his mother and his love for his little sister. I even liked Aunt Evelyn and the town of Surf Bay was very charming. If you can overlook the editing problems, I think you will enjoy reading this book. I hope that author Ashley John will continue to hone his craft, because at only 20 years old, he is putting out some good work. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I would give this 2.5 stars.
This was one of those books that didn't quite live up to its potential. The author came up with a great story idea, but it never developed properly. We have Charlie who has spent his life being moved around the country by his irresponsible mother and Oliver, the sexually experienced golden California boy. Charlie is very focused on keeping his family in one place by being the responsible one. He moves to Surf Bay, California with his mother and little sister to live with his mother's aunt. He meets Oliver, who seems like a good guy since he is helping Charlie's great-aunt with her garden but Oliver is very sexually open and will sleep with anyone that he finds attractive and he wants Charlie. Charlie has always had girlfriends, but has never had sex with anyone. He hates Oliver because of his overt, constant flirting despite Charlie's insistence that he isn't gay. As we follow these guys, Oliver continues to harass Charlie (yes, it becomes harassment) for sex. Charlie finally says they can only be friends.
The first thing I noticed about Lost & Found, is that it needs more editing. There are multiple misspellings, missing words, wrong words (palette instead of palate), etc. As I continued to read, I had to stop and recheck the setting. The characters used expressions that American teens just don't use. Our author is British and needs to either write about a British sea town, or learn more about American teens.
Also, the characters personalities seemed contradictory in places. Straight laced Charlie seems to give into peer pressure too quickly and Oliver goes from predatory gonna-have-you to I-love-you-can't-live-without-you much too quickly.
Now, after all the bad I just said, I do think this author has great potential. His descriptions were excellent and despite some of the weaker character development, I did like them. I felt for Charlie and his confusion over Oliver. He didn't understand why he liked looking at him so much or why he got jealous when Oliver made a date with a girl. Then we have Oliver, who despite his rich boy upbringing, will still go help an old lady in her garden on his days off work. He also has a job even though he could be living off his parents money, but he wants to make it on his own. I could clearly feel Charlie's frustration with his mother and his love for his little sister. I even liked Aunt Evelyn and the town of Surf Bay was very charming. If you can overlook the editing problems, I think you will enjoy reading this book. I hope that author Ashley John will continue to hone his craft, because at only 20 years old, he is putting out some good work. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
September 5, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story starts with Charlie in a cab with his mother Sarah and his little cute sister Poppy. They’re moving for the thousand time: new city, new house, new jobs, new life.
But, Charlie can’t stop thinking about this… for how long?
Moving to Surf Bay, California, to Charlie’s mother aunt Evelyn, it’s something that does not make Charlie happy. His mother is not someone you can count on. She’s known to her son to be someone that can really mess everything up pretty easily and Charlie hasn’t had yet the chance to have a stable home for a very long time.
Then, Charlie meets a very pushy and bisexual Oliver. At first, Charlie doesn’t like him and neither do I. In the first part of the book, Oliver's attitude got on my nerves more than ones: his sexual innuendos and the “your body will be mine”thing really irritated me.
Another thing that I didn’t like was how fast Charlie started to fall for Oliver.
BUT, I'm glad that after a few weeks, Oliver starts to change (in a good way) and Charlie comes to see Oliver in another light. He really changes his attitude towards Charlie and, day after day, Oliver starts to show to Charlie his true inner self: caring, sensitive.
I really hoped for their HEA since Oliver starts to show to Charlie that he was more than a sex machine and, I liked that after some very painful situations where I thought they had lost everything that mattered (like their love, for starter), they found their way to each other. Sometimes, you need to sacrifice something if you want to be happy.
3.5 starts.
This story starts with Charlie in a cab with his mother Sarah and his little cute sister Poppy. They’re moving for the thousand time: new city, new house, new jobs, new life.
But, Charlie can’t stop thinking about this… for how long?
Moving to Surf Bay, California, to Charlie’s mother aunt Evelyn, it’s something that does not make Charlie happy. His mother is not someone you can count on. She’s known to her son to be someone that can really mess everything up pretty easily and Charlie hasn’t had yet the chance to have a stable home for a very long time.
Then, Charlie meets a very pushy and bisexual Oliver. At first, Charlie doesn’t like him and neither do I. In the first part of the book, Oliver's attitude got on my nerves more than ones: his sexual innuendos and the “your body will be mine”thing really irritated me.
Another thing that I didn’t like was how fast Charlie started to fall for Oliver.
BUT, I'm glad that after a few weeks, Oliver starts to change (in a good way) and Charlie comes to see Oliver in another light. He really changes his attitude towards Charlie and, day after day, Oliver starts to show to Charlie his true inner self: caring, sensitive.
I really hoped for their HEA since Oliver starts to show to Charlie that he was more than a sex machine and, I liked that after some very painful situations where I thought they had lost everything that mattered (like their love, for starter), they found their way to each other. Sometimes, you need to sacrifice something if you want to be happy.
3.5 starts.
November 14, 2014
'Lost & Found' is a very sweet story which ultimately has a happy ending. Charlie, his mom, and sister have moved around the country every time his mom runs into bad times, whether it be losing a job, creditors after her, and even a loan shark. His mom's answer to all of this is to all of a sudden to uproot her family, run, and hide to another area. On their last move they go from Alaska to Surf Bay, California, to his mom's aunt, who provides a roof over their heads until they get on their feet. His mom and Charlie find jobs and everything seems to be going fine except for one thing. Oliver, a man who swings both ways, and is rich, has his eyes on Charlie. Charlie is straight and continually fights off Oliver's advances. Oliver at first appears arrogant and aggressive who Charlie doesn't especially like, until Oliver realizes he is going at it the wrong way in order to get Charlie. They become friends at first, then things progress further which Charlie is scared to death of. He doesn't know what all of this means....who he really is. After spending quality time together, the moment happens....Hot Sex together, and Oliver's confessing his love for Charlie. When they get back to town, the diner in which Charlie's mom works at is on fire, but she's ok and out of a job. Charlie finds out she has loaned money from a loan shark. The man comes to collect wanting his money, but he wants Charlie too. Oliver goes into action to help out....The drama of the story gets intense, emotional, and you really find yourself wanting Charlie and Oliver to make it through everything, but Charlie has a decision to make and he had to choose his family over Oliver...Charlie knows they have to get out of town because there was no jobs. This has a real dramatic climax to it that keeps you turning the pages. If you love a good MM Love story, you will like this.
September 3, 2014
This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to the author.
This was an okay teen love story. It dragged a bit at 200 pages. There was tension near the end that I did not particularly enjoy reading, but I suppose life is not always pleasant. The ending was a bit predictable.
It was unusual to have British language in a story set in California with American characters. The writing was sloppy with misplaced hyphens, apostrophes, capitalizations, and commas; misspelled, missing, and incorrect words; and at least one split infinitive. One usage I am sure is not correct even for Britain is the repeated use of 'led' for 'laid.'
This story takes place in a beach town with two young men just out of high school. They have different backgrounds and different family situations. One is straight and inexperienced and the other is a player who goes after either sex. They are both coping with new feelings, as well as having to deal with their families.
There is illegal drug use and a shocking amount of casual illegal underage drinking that does not concern the adults at all and has no negative consequences. There's even some drunk driving that's mentioned in passing, again with no negative consequences.
Many of the secondary characters are likable, as are the main characters. As is usual in these tales, love comes very quickly. The point of view bounces between the two protagonists so quickly and so often it made me dizzy.
Adults might like this story if they are looking for a light read, but I hesitate to recommend it to teens because of the drinking.
This was an okay teen love story. It dragged a bit at 200 pages. There was tension near the end that I did not particularly enjoy reading, but I suppose life is not always pleasant. The ending was a bit predictable.
It was unusual to have British language in a story set in California with American characters. The writing was sloppy with misplaced hyphens, apostrophes, capitalizations, and commas; misspelled, missing, and incorrect words; and at least one split infinitive. One usage I am sure is not correct even for Britain is the repeated use of 'led' for 'laid.'
This story takes place in a beach town with two young men just out of high school. They have different backgrounds and different family situations. One is straight and inexperienced and the other is a player who goes after either sex. They are both coping with new feelings, as well as having to deal with their families.
There is illegal drug use and a shocking amount of casual illegal underage drinking that does not concern the adults at all and has no negative consequences. There's even some drunk driving that's mentioned in passing, again with no negative consequences.
Many of the secondary characters are likable, as are the main characters. As is usual in these tales, love comes very quickly. The point of view bounces between the two protagonists so quickly and so often it made me dizzy.
Adults might like this story if they are looking for a light read, but I hesitate to recommend it to teens because of the drinking.
September 12, 2014
2.4 stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Quite a few grammatical errors. Melissa is spelled Melisa a couple of times. Name were Wrongly used, spelling errors, etc. were present.
I was intrigued by Charlie and Oliver's behavior. Oliver was coming on quite a bit strong for my taste and his creeper/peverted nature was throwing me off but I was hoping the author would go in-depth for why he was the way he was (didn't really deliver on that part but I still found his behavior interesting). Charlie albeit straight didn't outright tell him to leave him alone. I was one part amused and one part annoyed by the cat and mouse game they were playing.
It was all very predictable for the most part. Oliver really wanted Charlie and he was adamant about getting him. Playing out a game of seduction to wear him down then things get really serious for him when he finds himself getting emotionally involved. I'm not sure how he does this seeing as they don't really know each other all that well (or at least readers don't get to see it...). They literally get very minimum info about each other when trying to get to know each other. Truthfully I thought Oliver was coming off as one of those guys who sleep with a one night stand but end up being extremely clingy.
I'm not sure how I felt when Oliver helped pay off Sarah's debt for Charlie. I was verging on an 'oh that's so sweet' and 'omg he had to do what?? seriously?'
I'm not sure I would want to read Porter's story but I wouldn't mind revisiting Charlie and Oliver just to see how much they will mature.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Quite a few grammatical errors. Melissa is spelled Melisa a couple of times. Name were Wrongly used, spelling errors, etc. were present.
I was intrigued by Charlie and Oliver's behavior. Oliver was coming on quite a bit strong for my taste and his creeper/peverted nature was throwing me off but I was hoping the author would go in-depth for why he was the way he was (didn't really deliver on that part but I still found his behavior interesting). Charlie albeit straight didn't outright tell him to leave him alone. I was one part amused and one part annoyed by the cat and mouse game they were playing.
It was all very predictable for the most part. Oliver really wanted Charlie and he was adamant about getting him. Playing out a game of seduction to wear him down then things get really serious for him when he finds himself getting emotionally involved. I'm not sure how he does this seeing as they don't really know each other all that well (or at least readers don't get to see it...). They literally get very minimum info about each other when trying to get to know each other. Truthfully I thought Oliver was coming off as one of those guys who sleep with a one night stand but end up being extremely clingy.
I'm not sure how I felt when Oliver helped pay off Sarah's debt for Charlie. I was verging on an 'oh that's so sweet' and 'omg he had to do what?? seriously?'
I'm not sure I would want to read Porter's story but I wouldn't mind revisiting Charlie and Oliver just to see how much they will mature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 13, 2014A Joyfully Jay review.
DNF
I only made it to the 25% point, so I can’t and will not attempt to give you any information from that point on.
I have several issues with what I read of this book and most of all them center on Oliver. There’s so much wrong with his character so I want share it all with you up front, then I’ll break it down for you with some examples so you can see where I’m coming from. From the get-go Oliver is all over Charlie and it seems no matter how many times Charlie says no (and actually means it, because as far as I’m concerned Charlie is straight), Oliver keeps pushing and pushing, mentally and physically, to the point of assault. After that there are smaller things that I just couldn’t get past. Oliver’s creep factor, á la stalker/predator-in-training inner monologue and pervy virgin-stealing thoughts. He also thinks that straight men can be turned gay—especially if he wants them.
I can’t tell you how many times Charlie actually told Oliver no in the first quarter of the book, at which Oliver forced himself upon Charlie in some fashion bordering on assault, if not actual assault. In my opinion, it was disgusting and not even remotely sexy.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
DNF
I only made it to the 25% point, so I can’t and will not attempt to give you any information from that point on.
I have several issues with what I read of this book and most of all them center on Oliver. There’s so much wrong with his character so I want share it all with you up front, then I’ll break it down for you with some examples so you can see where I’m coming from. From the get-go Oliver is all over Charlie and it seems no matter how many times Charlie says no (and actually means it, because as far as I’m concerned Charlie is straight), Oliver keeps pushing and pushing, mentally and physically, to the point of assault. After that there are smaller things that I just couldn’t get past. Oliver’s creep factor, á la stalker/predator-in-training inner monologue and pervy virgin-stealing thoughts. He also thinks that straight men can be turned gay—especially if he wants them.
I can’t tell you how many times Charlie actually told Oliver no in the first quarter of the book, at which Oliver forced himself upon Charlie in some fashion bordering on assault, if not actual assault. In my opinion, it was disgusting and not even remotely sexy.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
September 2, 2014
I enjoyed this book.
I hated Oliver to start with, he was an arragant so and so who always got what he went after. He kind of grew on me though as Charlie gave him a bit of a run for his money.
It all seemed to be slightly rushed though with no clear timeline of the time frame that it all happened over.
I felt for Charlie with all the moves and uncertainty of his life with the situation with his mother.
The connection between the 2 main characters was there but wasnt shown that well either in words or actions. There were moments like the waterfall and the bedroom scene with the candles but I thought they were too short.
The supporting characters helped set the scenes but I felt they could have had more background and story in the book.
I'm glad that Porter is getting his own book and we find out more of his story with the policeman.
I hated Oliver to start with, he was an arragant so and so who always got what he went after. He kind of grew on me though as Charlie gave him a bit of a run for his money.
It all seemed to be slightly rushed though with no clear timeline of the time frame that it all happened over.
I felt for Charlie with all the moves and uncertainty of his life with the situation with his mother.
The connection between the 2 main characters was there but wasnt shown that well either in words or actions. There were moments like the waterfall and the bedroom scene with the candles but I thought they were too short.
The supporting characters helped set the scenes but I felt they could have had more background and story in the book.
I'm glad that Porter is getting his own book and we find out more of his story with the policeman.
March 31, 2015
Have just finished this book and I honestly couldn't put it down.the character Charlie gripped me from the start, his innocence was sweet but as soon as he interacted with Oliver you could tell he had a deeply buried passionate side.
Oliver early could have been like any other spoiled rich kid but despite his flashy outward demeanour you could sense someone who simply wanted to be seen and loved for him.
The comedy comes from Porter and I would love to read about him and his partner. Their relationship sounds entertaining
The development of Charlie's and Oliver's relationship was handled sensitively and felt real.
A brilliant read and I can't wait for the sequel
Oliver early could have been like any other spoiled rich kid but despite his flashy outward demeanour you could sense someone who simply wanted to be seen and loved for him.
The comedy comes from Porter and I would love to read about him and his partner. Their relationship sounds entertaining
The development of Charlie's and Oliver's relationship was handled sensitively and felt real.
A brilliant read and I can't wait for the sequel
February 18, 2015
This is the first in Ashley John's "Surf Bay" series. I started it once before and I am embarrassed to say, I put it down and wasn't going to finish it. I was not crazy about Oliver, at all !! (arrogant little shit!) But I picked it up again and I am so glad I did !! What a great story ! The development of the characters was told very well (there was a reason why Oliver is an arrogant little shit) I thought the story flowed well and it definitely got me hooked ! I am off to the next book !!
October 21, 2014
I loved Charlie. His embarassed awkwardness is so cute.
I found Oliver a bit creepy at the beginning. It was difficult to like him and he was very overbearing.
It's a bit clunky in places and the ending is all a bit rushed but overall its a good, sweet read.
I found Oliver a bit creepy at the beginning. It was difficult to like him and he was very overbearing.
It's a bit clunky in places and the ending is all a bit rushed but overall its a good, sweet read.
March 1, 2015
This was the first book I read from Ashley John, and I loved it. I read a lot of mixed reviews, saying they didn't like how the characters acted, but they are 18 year olds! How did you expect them to act? Great start to the Surf Bay series.
December 19, 2014
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Charlie is a quiet guy who has just graduated from high school and moved to small California coastal town. He is used to moving frequently thanks to his mother's inability to keep a job or manage finances. Oliver is a handsome local surfer and very much a player, as soon as he sees Charlie he wants Charlie as another notch on his bedpost. Charlie is straight and not interested, but Oliver won’t take “No” for an answer.
I enjoyed that is was told from alternating points of view. This was definitely a love story and not just a bunch of sex strung together with no plot. There were three sex scenes that were steamy and fairly brief. It always strikes me as a little odd when British authors write stories set in the states. Why would an American boy be thinking of distances in terms of kilometers? Why does his mom always take the train when they move? It’s expensive and slow. And it was just funny to hear tighty whiteys described as white y-fronts. There were some editing errors, but overall it didn’t suffer from too many glaringly obvious spelling and grammar errors that seem to plague independently published books.
Oliver was my favorite character. The first scene we get from Oliver’s POV is Charlie looking out his bedroom window and watching a shirtless Oliver work in the garden. Oliver’s thought is “Who was the cutie admiring all this?” And right away, I liked Oliver. Sure he was a cocky asshole, but he was funny, I enjoyed reading his internal dialogue. From the beginning Oliver comes on very strong and full of sexual innuendo but he is not without redeeming qualities. Oliver has a job at the surf shop because he wants to support himself rather than live off his trust fund and he works in Charlie’s aunt Evelyn’s garden because she is sweet & lonely. I enjoyed watching Oliver evolve and fall in love over the course of the story. As Charlie puts it, “Oliver, the sex-pest was slowly starting to melt away and he was being replaced with Oliver, the human.”
Having an irresponsible mom made Charlie grow up quickly and in some ways he is very mature for an 18 year old. He doesn’t mind sharing a room with his 6 year old sister, he understands the importance of work and money and wants to help with the bills, he is polite and he accepts not being able to have a lot of material possessions. However, when it comes to relationships and sexuality he is not so advanced for his age. I must say, I appreciated that Charlie didn’t lose his virginity in high school, I feel like high school sex has become the norm and it doesn’t have to be. I thought Ashley John did a good job of conveying Charlie’s struggle over going from having a girlfriend to being attracted to Charlie. As Charlie tells Oliver, “It’s like you activated something I never knew I had, and now I don’t know what to do with it.” He goes through so many emotions: denial, embarrassment, fear, anger, unease, confusion, wanting to hide, acceptance and happiness. The author handled them all very well.
I liked that their relationship caused both characters to evolve in different ways.
“I thought you were an arrogant asshole at first, you acted like a proper douche, but you changed, and I saw something in you that I liked. I saw a soft side and I realized I didn’t care about your gender. I just cared about you.”
Now for what I didn’t like. I wanted a little more sweetness during their falling in love phase. There weren’t any words or gestures that really made me think, “Aw” and that’s one of my favorite parts, the falling in love. Both boys were thinking it, but I think it could have been shown better. (Although I did think Oliver’s gesture to pay off the debt was very sweet.) I wasn’t sure why Charlie decided to have sex, it seemed kind of sudden, just out of the blue. I know Oliver was supposed to be an ass, but some of his actions really bothered me, like driving drunk and pressuring Charlie to smoke pot. I would have liked more character development for Evelyn. She took care of Sarah when she was younger, took in Sarah’s family many years later and was a friend to Oliver. We were told she was nice, but I would have liked to have known more about her.
This is the first book I read by Ashley John. Overall, I enjoyed it and I would read more by him.
Charlie is a quiet guy who has just graduated from high school and moved to small California coastal town. He is used to moving frequently thanks to his mother's inability to keep a job or manage finances. Oliver is a handsome local surfer and very much a player, as soon as he sees Charlie he wants Charlie as another notch on his bedpost. Charlie is straight and not interested, but Oliver won’t take “No” for an answer.
I enjoyed that is was told from alternating points of view. This was definitely a love story and not just a bunch of sex strung together with no plot. There were three sex scenes that were steamy and fairly brief. It always strikes me as a little odd when British authors write stories set in the states. Why would an American boy be thinking of distances in terms of kilometers? Why does his mom always take the train when they move? It’s expensive and slow. And it was just funny to hear tighty whiteys described as white y-fronts. There were some editing errors, but overall it didn’t suffer from too many glaringly obvious spelling and grammar errors that seem to plague independently published books.
Oliver was my favorite character. The first scene we get from Oliver’s POV is Charlie looking out his bedroom window and watching a shirtless Oliver work in the garden. Oliver’s thought is “Who was the cutie admiring all this?” And right away, I liked Oliver. Sure he was a cocky asshole, but he was funny, I enjoyed reading his internal dialogue. From the beginning Oliver comes on very strong and full of sexual innuendo but he is not without redeeming qualities. Oliver has a job at the surf shop because he wants to support himself rather than live off his trust fund and he works in Charlie’s aunt Evelyn’s garden because she is sweet & lonely. I enjoyed watching Oliver evolve and fall in love over the course of the story. As Charlie puts it, “Oliver, the sex-pest was slowly starting to melt away and he was being replaced with Oliver, the human.”
Having an irresponsible mom made Charlie grow up quickly and in some ways he is very mature for an 18 year old. He doesn’t mind sharing a room with his 6 year old sister, he understands the importance of work and money and wants to help with the bills, he is polite and he accepts not being able to have a lot of material possessions. However, when it comes to relationships and sexuality he is not so advanced for his age. I must say, I appreciated that Charlie didn’t lose his virginity in high school, I feel like high school sex has become the norm and it doesn’t have to be. I thought Ashley John did a good job of conveying Charlie’s struggle over going from having a girlfriend to being attracted to Charlie. As Charlie tells Oliver, “It’s like you activated something I never knew I had, and now I don’t know what to do with it.” He goes through so many emotions: denial, embarrassment, fear, anger, unease, confusion, wanting to hide, acceptance and happiness. The author handled them all very well.
I liked that their relationship caused both characters to evolve in different ways.
“I thought you were an arrogant asshole at first, you acted like a proper douche, but you changed, and I saw something in you that I liked. I saw a soft side and I realized I didn’t care about your gender. I just cared about you.”
Now for what I didn’t like. I wanted a little more sweetness during their falling in love phase. There weren’t any words or gestures that really made me think, “Aw” and that’s one of my favorite parts, the falling in love. Both boys were thinking it, but I think it could have been shown better. (Although I did think Oliver’s gesture to pay off the debt was very sweet.) I wasn’t sure why Charlie decided to have sex, it seemed kind of sudden, just out of the blue. I know Oliver was supposed to be an ass, but some of his actions really bothered me, like driving drunk and pressuring Charlie to smoke pot. I would have liked more character development for Evelyn. She took care of Sarah when she was younger, took in Sarah’s family many years later and was a friend to Oliver. We were told she was nice, but I would have liked to have known more about her.
This is the first book I read by Ashley John. Overall, I enjoyed it and I would read more by him.
November 24, 2014
3 star review by Dan
I really enjoyed the premise and plot of this story. Charlie and his mother and sister are always on the run to somewhere new, where his mother is finally going to find “the” job, and where they will be able to settle down long term.
When they arrive in Surf Bay, California, from their last location in Alaska, Charlie is mourning the loss of his girlfriend in Alaska. He doesn’t know it yet, but she is done, having no interest in a long term relationship.
The first day at his Great Aunt Evelyn’s house in Surf Bay, Charlie sees a muscular young man, about his own age, working without his shirt in Aunt Evelyn’s back garden. Charlie notices the guy’s abs, and the guy, Oliver, notices Charlie noticing his abs.
Thus begins Oliver’s conquest of Charlie. The only problem, while Oliver doesn’t mind what gender he sleeps with, Charlie professes to be straight. Things proceed very quickly, in what doesn’t appear to be a great deal of time. I was left feeling that maybe things moved a little fast. Some things also didn’t have enough detail. I, for one, would have really like details of Oliver and Finley’s hook-up. I think the author missed an opportunity there to incorporate some rough sex with a big, bad, bald, tattooed guy. Those details would have really driven home what a sacrifice Oliver was willing to take.
The characters, including supporting characters were well written and believable in this book. I was easily able to develop a picture in my head of each of them. Unfortunately the same wasn’t always true on technical aspects, where the book could have been much better. Having previously lived in the UK for 3 years, it was very apparent to me where Mr. John was from. The book was written with several British English terms that don’t transfer well to American English. A little more research into distances in the United States would also have helped. There were some jarring errors in scale, like the half day’s drive from Colorado to the California coast. Also the characters kept mentioning trains. Unlike the UK, sadly in the US train travel is virtually non-existent outside of major metropolitan areas.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and liked Mr. John’s writing style. I was able to look past the issues mentioned in the previous paragraph because I was familiar with the terms, so it made it easier for me personally to read. I look forward to reading the sequel, because I really grew to like the characters and hope they return, at least as supporting cast in the new book. I would have rated the book higher except for the language issues and technical aspects.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I really enjoyed the premise and plot of this story. Charlie and his mother and sister are always on the run to somewhere new, where his mother is finally going to find “the” job, and where they will be able to settle down long term.
When they arrive in Surf Bay, California, from their last location in Alaska, Charlie is mourning the loss of his girlfriend in Alaska. He doesn’t know it yet, but she is done, having no interest in a long term relationship.
The first day at his Great Aunt Evelyn’s house in Surf Bay, Charlie sees a muscular young man, about his own age, working without his shirt in Aunt Evelyn’s back garden. Charlie notices the guy’s abs, and the guy, Oliver, notices Charlie noticing his abs.
Thus begins Oliver’s conquest of Charlie. The only problem, while Oliver doesn’t mind what gender he sleeps with, Charlie professes to be straight. Things proceed very quickly, in what doesn’t appear to be a great deal of time. I was left feeling that maybe things moved a little fast. Some things also didn’t have enough detail. I, for one, would have really like details of Oliver and Finley’s hook-up. I think the author missed an opportunity there to incorporate some rough sex with a big, bad, bald, tattooed guy. Those details would have really driven home what a sacrifice Oliver was willing to take.
The characters, including supporting characters were well written and believable in this book. I was easily able to develop a picture in my head of each of them. Unfortunately the same wasn’t always true on technical aspects, where the book could have been much better. Having previously lived in the UK for 3 years, it was very apparent to me where Mr. John was from. The book was written with several British English terms that don’t transfer well to American English. A little more research into distances in the United States would also have helped. There were some jarring errors in scale, like the half day’s drive from Colorado to the California coast. Also the characters kept mentioning trains. Unlike the UK, sadly in the US train travel is virtually non-existent outside of major metropolitan areas.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and liked Mr. John’s writing style. I was able to look past the issues mentioned in the previous paragraph because I was familiar with the terms, so it made it easier for me personally to read. I look forward to reading the sequel, because I really grew to like the characters and hope they return, at least as supporting cast in the new book. I would have rated the book higher except for the language issues and technical aspects.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
September 3, 2014
I have received this book in exchange for and honest review, many thanks to the author for being brave and believing enough in his work to do this. I feel I must temper this review with a bravo to a young man who, at just 20, already has three books available. Well done.
Charlie, the new boy in town is overwhelmed with his responsibilities to his mother and little sister. He appears to be the only responsible adult in their little family. He is enamoured by the gardener/playboy about town, Oliver, who is 18 and too rich, too arrogant and too narcissistic to recognise the difficulties facing Charlie. Oliver sets out with predatory zeal to snag himself the virgin Charlie.
The author has woven, for Charlie, a sweet tale of awakening sexuality; he has combined this with an equal and no less important, for Oliver, awakening of the longings of being a better man for the one you love. As each young man deals with the inevitable difficulties of family and work they come together to find passion and love in the least expected place, each other.
The story moves with solid pace although at times, too quick or lacking in detail to read true. The characters of Charlie and Oliver are well drawn and their family and employer were excellent secondary characters. However, Finlay is extraneous to the storyline and while offering additional complications for the couple, is unnecessary to the already fine pace of the novel. My advice to the author is to introduce Finlay and then save him for the next story, he would make a fine focus if you endeavoured to add to the story as part of a series.
I recognise that this is a NA novel and instances of drug and alcohol abuse are age appropriate, for Charlie a responsible and caring young man to succumb so easily peer pressure seemed “out of character”.
I feel that this story is a very good light read: good characters, great premise, beautiful cover. All things I look for in choosing my next buy. However, I would have liked to have seen better editing for continuity and word use. The extra complication (Finlay) to the storyline detracted from the original premise of the story. And this brings the rating down.
I will definitely follow this author via social media (@ItsAshleyJohn and Facebook) pages because I do believe he has a story to tell. Also I believe with time and guidance this man will write fantastic romance stories.
Charlie, the new boy in town is overwhelmed with his responsibilities to his mother and little sister. He appears to be the only responsible adult in their little family. He is enamoured by the gardener/playboy about town, Oliver, who is 18 and too rich, too arrogant and too narcissistic to recognise the difficulties facing Charlie. Oliver sets out with predatory zeal to snag himself the virgin Charlie.
The author has woven, for Charlie, a sweet tale of awakening sexuality; he has combined this with an equal and no less important, for Oliver, awakening of the longings of being a better man for the one you love. As each young man deals with the inevitable difficulties of family and work they come together to find passion and love in the least expected place, each other.
The story moves with solid pace although at times, too quick or lacking in detail to read true. The characters of Charlie and Oliver are well drawn and their family and employer were excellent secondary characters. However, Finlay is extraneous to the storyline and while offering additional complications for the couple, is unnecessary to the already fine pace of the novel. My advice to the author is to introduce Finlay and then save him for the next story, he would make a fine focus if you endeavoured to add to the story as part of a series.
I recognise that this is a NA novel and instances of drug and alcohol abuse are age appropriate, for Charlie a responsible and caring young man to succumb so easily peer pressure seemed “out of character”.
I feel that this story is a very good light read: good characters, great premise, beautiful cover. All things I look for in choosing my next buy. However, I would have liked to have seen better editing for continuity and word use. The extra complication (Finlay) to the storyline detracted from the original premise of the story. And this brings the rating down.
I will definitely follow this author via social media (@ItsAshleyJohn and Facebook) pages because I do believe he has a story to tell. Also I believe with time and guidance this man will write fantastic romance stories.
February 4, 2015
Things I like: puppies, teddy bears, candy-floss and Lost and Found! So what do these fours things have in common? They are all fluffy and give me some kind of comfort! Yet at the heart of Ashley John’s first book in the Surf Bay series there is so much more.
This is the story of Charlie, who is forced to constantly move from state to state by his mum. He is 18 and though he is fiercely protective of his little family, he is still unsure of his identity.
Oliver is one of the first people Charlie meets in Surf Bay and he is the newcomer’s antithesis! Oliver is bold, arrogant, obnoxious AND charming and Charlie becomes his new challenge.
Ashley John’s approach to sexuality in the book is interesting. Charlie is adamant he is heterosexual, but the first time he sees Oliver we are given the impression that his arousal goes beyond physical jealousy,
“Poppy said something, but he didn’t hear because he was too busy watching a shirtless man, in a pair of faded denim jeans battle his way through one of the bushes, to fall out into the garden. He looked about Charlie’s age, but his body was abnormally toned and tanned.”
On the other hand, Oliver is completely open about his sexuality and the fact that he wants Charlie. This honesty is one of the things I admire most about Oliver’s personality,
“ ‘ It’s human nature,’ Oliver said, ‘we all want to fuck each other. Society invented sexuality. It’s an instinct. It’s a desire.’ “
Oliver is probably the one character who has been put under the most scrutiny by previous readers of Lost and Found, yet I find his development the most intriguing. I think the Oliver we meet at the beginning of the story raises the question of whether we actually HAVE to like a character for him/her to be necessary to the plot. However, as Oliver admits his true feelings for Charlie and begins his transition, I questioned whether there was a struggle taking place between Ashley John, as the creator and Oliver as the character. Oliver fights for his happiness, against the way he has initially been imagined – and wins!
I was completely sucked in by Ashley John’s writing and before I realised the time, I had reached the conclusion of the story. Lost and Found is a romance that comes with a strong message; it is not about the labels of ‘straight’ or ‘gay’. It is not who you love, but how you love which is important!
This is the story of Charlie, who is forced to constantly move from state to state by his mum. He is 18 and though he is fiercely protective of his little family, he is still unsure of his identity.
Oliver is one of the first people Charlie meets in Surf Bay and he is the newcomer’s antithesis! Oliver is bold, arrogant, obnoxious AND charming and Charlie becomes his new challenge.
Ashley John’s approach to sexuality in the book is interesting. Charlie is adamant he is heterosexual, but the first time he sees Oliver we are given the impression that his arousal goes beyond physical jealousy,
“Poppy said something, but he didn’t hear because he was too busy watching a shirtless man, in a pair of faded denim jeans battle his way through one of the bushes, to fall out into the garden. He looked about Charlie’s age, but his body was abnormally toned and tanned.”
On the other hand, Oliver is completely open about his sexuality and the fact that he wants Charlie. This honesty is one of the things I admire most about Oliver’s personality,
“ ‘ It’s human nature,’ Oliver said, ‘we all want to fuck each other. Society invented sexuality. It’s an instinct. It’s a desire.’ “
Oliver is probably the one character who has been put under the most scrutiny by previous readers of Lost and Found, yet I find his development the most intriguing. I think the Oliver we meet at the beginning of the story raises the question of whether we actually HAVE to like a character for him/her to be necessary to the plot. However, as Oliver admits his true feelings for Charlie and begins his transition, I questioned whether there was a struggle taking place between Ashley John, as the creator and Oliver as the character. Oliver fights for his happiness, against the way he has initially been imagined – and wins!
I was completely sucked in by Ashley John’s writing and before I realised the time, I had reached the conclusion of the story. Lost and Found is a romance that comes with a strong message; it is not about the labels of ‘straight’ or ‘gay’. It is not who you love, but how you love which is important!
November 29, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
-
I think I'll keep this short for risk of ranting on forever. I really couldn't like Oliver. I really couldn't even bring myself to. First impression, he fluctuated between being a vulgar asshole to being downright creepy. I've always been a little wary of the whole bisexual thing and Oliver was a perfect reminder of why. He just oozed questionable motive. Frankly, I couldn't see how Charlie even ended up liking him… other than he finally lost his will to fight back and just gave up. The whole dynamic was kind of wrong.
This could have been an amusing story IF there had been some interjection of humour. Like, if Oliver was just joking and messing around with the new kid in town. There's a fine line between picking on someone you like and terrorizing them. That Charlie was supposedly straight kind of screwed with my mind too. Either way though, Oliver had no idea where that line was. Thankfully, he does start to actually care about Charlie and thus change for the better. However, the whole courting interlude was lacking in authenticity and believability.
I feel like I tuned out emotionally at some point… I wish I could've liked/related/cared about at least one of them… that alone would've made things more bearable. The best way I can think of to sum up the book was that it was awkward. Some parts were okay, others, not so much. It wasn't terrible, but I dreaded it. I'll also admit that the only character I kind of liked was Poppy. At least she was entertaining.
As for the technical aspect of the book, the grammar. Minor typos and such, I can somewhat forgive. Awkward/screwy sentence structure and bad flow, no. Normally, I'd say it killed the immersive aspect, but I don't think I ever managed to get into the story…
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I think I'll keep this short for risk of ranting on forever. I really couldn't like Oliver. I really couldn't even bring myself to. First impression, he fluctuated between being a vulgar asshole to being downright creepy. I've always been a little wary of the whole bisexual thing and Oliver was a perfect reminder of why. He just oozed questionable motive. Frankly, I couldn't see how Charlie even ended up liking him… other than he finally lost his will to fight back and just gave up. The whole dynamic was kind of wrong.
This could have been an amusing story IF there had been some interjection of humour. Like, if Oliver was just joking and messing around with the new kid in town. There's a fine line between picking on someone you like and terrorizing them. That Charlie was supposedly straight kind of screwed with my mind too. Either way though, Oliver had no idea where that line was. Thankfully, he does start to actually care about Charlie and thus change for the better. However, the whole courting interlude was lacking in authenticity and believability.
I feel like I tuned out emotionally at some point… I wish I could've liked/related/cared about at least one of them… that alone would've made things more bearable. The best way I can think of to sum up the book was that it was awkward. Some parts were okay, others, not so much. It wasn't terrible, but I dreaded it. I'll also admit that the only character I kind of liked was Poppy. At least she was entertaining.
As for the technical aspect of the book, the grammar. Minor typos and such, I can somewhat forgive. Awkward/screwy sentence structure and bad flow, no. Normally, I'd say it killed the immersive aspect, but I don't think I ever managed to get into the story…
September 12, 2014
I received a free copy of this book via the Goodreads Don't buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 cheeky stars
This is a very difficult review for me to write. I desperately want to give this book 4 stars. I love, love, love the story! Oliver is precious. Charlie is adorable. Even the secondary characters are well developed and believable. This story needed an American beta reader or to be set somewhere Brit-speak is normal.
If you don’t mind the unusual word choices, you might be able to enjoy the book. The strange words threw me out of the story occasionally. Here’s just a few of the words that messed with my mind: kilometers, whilst, y-fronts, costume, “led” for “recline”, half ten, taking the piss, jumper, what’s a vest top?, cheeky.
The story has a definite cinderfella theme. Charlie and his family move a lot. His mom is very good at getting into trouble and bailing, dragging her kids with her. Charlie has at least graduated from high school by the time they arrive in Surf Bay when his mom, yet again, moves them in with someone he’s never heard of. Do trains actually travel between Alaska and California as described in this book? I don’t know enough about trains in the US. They aren’t really a common mode of transport here. Greyhound, yes; Amtrack, not so much. Anyway, Charlie and family move in with Aunt Evelyn in tiny Surf Bay and meet Oliver on their first day. Oliver is built and beautiful. The boys get off to a rough start, but Oliver just keeps on coming. He will not give up. He finally weasels his way into Charlie’s heart, much to Charlie’s surprise. Their romance takes work and some things come a little too easy (Oliver is rich after all). The ending is much too easy, and expected. It’s still a good story, though, and I do want to read the next one in the series. Porter’s story will be very entertaining, I am sure.
3.5 cheeky stars
This is a very difficult review for me to write. I desperately want to give this book 4 stars. I love, love, love the story! Oliver is precious. Charlie is adorable. Even the secondary characters are well developed and believable. This story needed an American beta reader or to be set somewhere Brit-speak is normal.
If you don’t mind the unusual word choices, you might be able to enjoy the book. The strange words threw me out of the story occasionally. Here’s just a few of the words that messed with my mind: kilometers, whilst, y-fronts, costume, “led” for “recline”, half ten, taking the piss, jumper, what’s a vest top?, cheeky.
The story has a definite cinderfella theme. Charlie and his family move a lot. His mom is very good at getting into trouble and bailing, dragging her kids with her. Charlie has at least graduated from high school by the time they arrive in Surf Bay when his mom, yet again, moves them in with someone he’s never heard of. Do trains actually travel between Alaska and California as described in this book? I don’t know enough about trains in the US. They aren’t really a common mode of transport here. Greyhound, yes; Amtrack, not so much. Anyway, Charlie and family move in with Aunt Evelyn in tiny Surf Bay and meet Oliver on their first day. Oliver is built and beautiful. The boys get off to a rough start, but Oliver just keeps on coming. He will not give up. He finally weasels his way into Charlie’s heart, much to Charlie’s surprise. Their romance takes work and some things come a little too easy (Oliver is rich after all). The ending is much too easy, and expected. It’s still a good story, though, and I do want to read the next one in the series. Porter’s story will be very entertaining, I am sure.
May 27, 2015
Loved this book
This is a story of young love between a local rich, recent high school graduate, Oliver and the new kid who moves into the town of Surf Bay. Charlie, along with his mother and little sister move into their aunts home to start a new life for the umpteenth time. Charlie's mom, Sarah, can not seem to stay in one place for any extended period of time. Charlie sees Oliver on his aunt's property as Oliver tends to her gardens for her. He's built and hot ~ and he knows it. Charlie on the other hand, is self conscience and awkward - everything Oliver isn't. Charlie goes looking for a job at the local surf shop under the advisement of Oliver only to learn that he works there as well. As the two spend more time together they both learn a lot about each other and themselves as well. Oliver wants a family that actually cares about him ~ Charlie wants a home and a stable life. I will say, Charlie's mom aggravated the hell out of me. She had absolutely no common sense and her priorities were completely outta whack. I fell madly in love with both of these guys. They brought out the best in each other. I needed these two to have their HEA. Now, the best part, this talented and very young author, Ashley John, is someone who deserves to have a long and successful career. I am in awe of the depth and detail of his writing. Each chapter flowed perfectly from one to the next. I didn't want to put this book down from the minute I started reading!!!! I just love Ashley John and I'm so looking forward to starting book 2 in his Surf Bay series ~ ~ ~ The only advice I'd give Ashley is to be careful with American slang. There were quite a bit of terms used throughout the book where non American phrases popped up. I'm not using that to take away from the fact I still loved the story itself and it deserves the rating I posted. I can also see that trolls have lurked into his reviews. There was no rape and it was malicious to accuse so.
This is a story of young love between a local rich, recent high school graduate, Oliver and the new kid who moves into the town of Surf Bay. Charlie, along with his mother and little sister move into their aunts home to start a new life for the umpteenth time. Charlie's mom, Sarah, can not seem to stay in one place for any extended period of time. Charlie sees Oliver on his aunt's property as Oliver tends to her gardens for her. He's built and hot ~ and he knows it. Charlie on the other hand, is self conscience and awkward - everything Oliver isn't. Charlie goes looking for a job at the local surf shop under the advisement of Oliver only to learn that he works there as well. As the two spend more time together they both learn a lot about each other and themselves as well. Oliver wants a family that actually cares about him ~ Charlie wants a home and a stable life. I will say, Charlie's mom aggravated the hell out of me. She had absolutely no common sense and her priorities were completely outta whack. I fell madly in love with both of these guys. They brought out the best in each other. I needed these two to have their HEA. Now, the best part, this talented and very young author, Ashley John, is someone who deserves to have a long and successful career. I am in awe of the depth and detail of his writing. Each chapter flowed perfectly from one to the next. I didn't want to put this book down from the minute I started reading!!!! I just love Ashley John and I'm so looking forward to starting book 2 in his Surf Bay series ~ ~ ~ The only advice I'd give Ashley is to be careful with American slang. There were quite a bit of terms used throughout the book where non American phrases popped up. I'm not using that to take away from the fact I still loved the story itself and it deserves the rating I posted. I can also see that trolls have lurked into his reviews. There was no rape and it was malicious to accuse so.
October 1, 2014
3.5 stars so rounding up to 4.
first let me state that there needs to be more editing - the wrong names were used a couple times, there were typos and grammatical errors that were a bit annoying.
overall, i really liked this story and will definitely read book 2 (esp. since i really liked porter).
a young man 'discovering' his sexuality is always a slippery slope in the books i read and writing a realistic story around that, i imagine, is difficult. at first i thought it was handled nicely in this book but it seemed charlie did flip the switch a little quickly when he finally decided he wanted oliver. additionally, for someone who had to grow up quickly to deal with all his family issues, charlie seemed very immature and wishy washy at times. other times he showed moments of greatness.
while oliver was a bit pushy up front, i really liked him. he was no different to me than some of the other dominant alphas i read about that relentlessly pursue the objects of their desire. i felt bad that his home life was so miserable and he really was just acting the way he did because he was lonely and wanted attention. once he let his guard down, he was a genuinely good guy.
there were a couple of issues left unresolved which i'm not sure will be covered in book 2 - like why his mother behaved the way she did. that just seemed a bit shaky in the story.
first let me state that there needs to be more editing - the wrong names were used a couple times, there were typos and grammatical errors that were a bit annoying.
overall, i really liked this story and will definitely read book 2 (esp. since i really liked porter).
a young man 'discovering' his sexuality is always a slippery slope in the books i read and writing a realistic story around that, i imagine, is difficult. at first i thought it was handled nicely in this book but it seemed charlie did flip the switch a little quickly when he finally decided he wanted oliver. additionally, for someone who had to grow up quickly to deal with all his family issues, charlie seemed very immature and wishy washy at times. other times he showed moments of greatness.
while oliver was a bit pushy up front, i really liked him. he was no different to me than some of the other dominant alphas i read about that relentlessly pursue the objects of their desire. i felt bad that his home life was so miserable and he really was just acting the way he did because he was lonely and wanted attention. once he let his guard down, he was a genuinely good guy.
there were a couple of issues left unresolved which i'm not sure will be covered in book 2 - like why his mother behaved the way she did. that just seemed a bit shaky in the story.
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