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Talker #3
Talker's Graduation
1 hr 43 mins
When you get past the basics of survival, what next? Brian Cooper recovered from the attack that almost killed him, and Tate Walker faced down his own demons. Now all that’s left is... each other. Growing up together and growing into their love is everything but easy.
Talker’s eternal optimism and Brian’s quiet faith just might be able to conquer the obstacles, big and small, in their way—as well as overcome the complications of having all their dreams come true
When you get past the basics of survival, what next? Brian Cooper recovered from the attack that almost killed him, and Tate Walker faced down his own demons. Now all that’s left is... each other. Growing up together and growing into their love is everything but easy.
Talker’s eternal optimism and Brian’s quiet faith just might be able to conquer the obstacles, big and small, in their way—as well as overcome the complications of having all their dreams come true
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 11, 2011
10 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
203 books3,487 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 18, 2022
an incredibly sweet and satisfying ending to this series. the second book was a little disappointing for me, but this one more than made up for it. i especially loved how the italicized passages here were flash-forwards rather than flashbacks like in the first two books; it was so nice to get these little glimpses into Tate and Brian’s life together and know things would get better for them after Tate’s and Brian’s assault.
the ending was a little bittersweet (nothing to do with the MCs’ relationship tho, dw!), but the last passage with Tate on the ocean was gorgeous and hopeful. 4 stars.
the ending was a little bittersweet (nothing to do with the MCs’ relationship tho, dw!), but the last passage with Tate on the ocean was gorgeous and hopeful. 4 stars.
October 13, 2011
3.5 stars
While it's nice to have a happy ending for Brian and Tate, unfortunately, this third book seems to function only as snippets for us to know what happens next. The time frame here moves in fast-forward style, with references like "nearly four months after the attack" or "for all they’d been there for nearly two years". We get Brian just trying to improve his hand mobility by learning to sculp, then suddenly he's already becoming a sculp artist and ready to have an exhibition.
It moves like that, only snippets. Other information is thrown here and there, sometimes without strong background, which makes us, as readers, must conclude what happens in between.
I still love the two of them, of course -- and I think the "graduation" here is beyond the sense of Tate graduating from school, but from what happens in the past, that he finally realizes how Brian loves him, and he is ready to "be" in the world
... still, the writing style makes it a bit choppy and for me, personally, it makes lesser impact than the previous two books.
While it's nice to have a happy ending for Brian and Tate, unfortunately, this third book seems to function only as snippets for us to know what happens next. The time frame here moves in fast-forward style, with references like "nearly four months after the attack" or "for all they’d been there for nearly two years". We get Brian just trying to improve his hand mobility by learning to sculp, then suddenly he's already becoming a sculp artist and ready to have an exhibition.
It moves like that, only snippets. Other information is thrown here and there, sometimes without strong background, which makes us, as readers, must conclude what happens in between.
I still love the two of them, of course -- and I think the "graduation" here is beyond the sense of Tate graduating from school, but from what happens in the past, that he finally realizes how Brian loves him, and he is ready to "be" in the world
... still, the writing style makes it a bit choppy and for me, personally, it makes lesser impact than the previous two books.
May 10, 2015
4.5 Stars
Damn, that was beautiful. Just beautiful.
Brian, during his recovery and physical therapy, discovers sculpting (thanks to Talker), and finds a wonderful, fulfilling direction for his life. He and Talker are doing really well, too. Talker also finds some fulfillment outside his relationship with Brian, and it's kind of beautiful.
Talker's Graduation was the perfect wrap up for Brian and Talker's story.
And I want that beach house. The views!
Damn, that was beautiful. Just beautiful.
Brian, during his recovery and physical therapy, discovers sculpting (thanks to Talker), and finds a wonderful, fulfilling direction for his life. He and Talker are doing really well, too. Talker also finds some fulfillment outside his relationship with Brian, and it's kind of beautiful.
Talker's Graduation was the perfect wrap up for Brian and Talker's story.
And I want that beach house. The views!
March 9, 2012
A lovely update into Brian and Tate's journey of life. It was sweet to see them finally have a happy moment in their lives. The Shelley storyline was heartbreakingly real, and I would love to see it extended. Maybe a fourth book with Tate and Brian older and ready to take on a child or two?
April 10, 2013
Finally Talker and Brian are ready to move forward to finally stop the day to day struggles of survival, to enjoy life a little.
Brian is still recovering from the brutal attack and Talker brings him some clay to work with and on, and an artist is born.
I was very glad for Brian to get a little attention and his spot in the sun so to speak, a well deserved reward for being such a wonderful man.
For some reason the switching from past to present and back again was a little harder for me this time, maybe because such a long period of time is covered in a relatively short book.
But this was a realistic HEA in the sense that yes they have each other, they have both found something they are not only good at but passionate about, besides each other, a home they love and people they love.
Not everything ended on a high note, but that's ok, I know they are gonna make it and be happy.
Brian is still recovering from the brutal attack and Talker brings him some clay to work with and on, and an artist is born.
I was very glad for Brian to get a little attention and his spot in the sun so to speak, a well deserved reward for being such a wonderful man.
For some reason the switching from past to present and back again was a little harder for me this time, maybe because such a long period of time is covered in a relatively short book.
But this was a realistic HEA in the sense that yes they have each other, they have both found something they are not only good at but passionate about, besides each other, a home they love and people they love.
Not everything ended on a high note, but that's ok, I know they are gonna make it and be happy.
October 13, 2011
After a bit of time thinking about it and - I have to confess - reading some of the other reviews, I have to say: Sorry but the writing style of this book didn't do it for me. Might be, because English is my second language; might be, because I like a story progressing linear, but this whole book seemed like looking through a kaleidoscope, nothing really fits together, but overall you get the picture. Em - nope, sorry to say I couldn't get the whole picuture as I had the feeling, there were always some parts missing . As during the whole book it was rather difficult to put a time frame on it, it took away most of my reading pleasure. Yes, it was their HEA, but for me it was not amazing, therefore 3.5*
December 6, 2014
Amy Lane does it again! I think I'll have to devote a Kindle just to Amy and her stories, all of them seem to be Keepers!! The trilogy of Brian and Tate (Talker) was delightful.
We had it all in these books - angst (well, there's a surprise!), loss, pain, uncertainty, sadness, laughs, sensual sex, impatient sex, rats as pets, nasty people, really good people (thanks Jed!), but most of all we had lots and lots of love and two guys richly deserving of it! I was so happy for them in the final book, well done Brian - you and Tate deserved all the luck in the world. Many thanks yet again Amy, three winners in my opinion!
April 25, 2016
This was a great conclusion to this emotional series. In this one things are finally going right for Tate and Brian. This is their happily ever after. But that doesn't mean that this book isn't still emotional. Tate and Brian's love for each other is so complete, that sometimes it is overwhelming. They are an extraordinary couple, and sometimes what they have is so beautiful that it makes me cry.
Book 1 was entirely from Brian's POV, while book 2 and 3 are both entirely from Tate's. But this book still has the timeline problems that the first two did. There was an improvement in book 2, but in this one it got confusing once again. There were some italicized scenes that were flashforwards to Tate and Brain's HEA. But in the present scenes, it still seemed to be inconsistent. Sometimes Tate said that it had been 6 months since Brian left the hospital, and then not long after, while I was under the impression that only days or weeks had past, he said that it had been a year and a half. So, if these 3 novellas had been combined into a single novel, which still would have been under 300 pages, and the timeline issues had been cleared up, I would have given this 5-stars. All the issues I have with this series are in the editing and formatting. The story, characters, and romance are amazing and heartfelt.
I would say that my favourite book in the series was Talker's Redemption, then Talker, then Talker's Graduation.
Book 1 was entirely from Brian's POV, while book 2 and 3 are both entirely from Tate's. But this book still has the timeline problems that the first two did. There was an improvement in book 2, but in this one it got confusing once again. There were some italicized scenes that were flashforwards to Tate and Brain's HEA. But in the present scenes, it still seemed to be inconsistent. Sometimes Tate said that it had been 6 months since Brian left the hospital, and then not long after, while I was under the impression that only days or weeks had past, he said that it had been a year and a half. So, if these 3 novellas had been combined into a single novel, which still would have been under 300 pages, and the timeline issues had been cleared up, I would have given this 5-stars. All the issues I have with this series are in the editing and formatting. The story, characters, and romance are amazing and heartfelt.
I would say that my favourite book in the series was Talker's Redemption, then Talker, then Talker's Graduation.
November 18, 2011
It’s no secret that I adore Talker & Brian and the entire Talker series. It’s definitely one of my favorites for a lot of reasons. The third book in the series, Talker’s Graduation, puts a nice solid happy ending on the couple but due to the choppy writing, uneven pace, and flashbacks that hurt more than help this particular offering isn’t as good as the previous ones. Fans of the series will definitely want to read it and I recommend it, but it’s definitely not as emotionally intense as the previous books and thus offers a much more muted impact.
It’s now a few years after the last book and Talker and Brian have moved into a cottage by the sea. They’re happier than they’ve ever been before but getting there wasn’t easy. Talker remembers their difficult recovery from Brian’s attack and getting to a place where Talker is finally, 100% confident and comfortable with Brian’s love and devotion.
As with the previous two books, much of the information and story is told and shown in flashbacks or in this case, flash forwards. Here the author uses italics for flash forward scenes, happening a few years in the future and regular type for the past scenes where the last book left off. While I never really minded this back and forth in previous books in the series, I found it very distracting for this particular one. I think it’s because the order is reversed and the past/present scenes are meant to fill in the gaps for how the couple get to their happy future.
Yet the gaps never really felt filled in. The time line would leap from a few years in the past to a few years in the present and I never felt the full connection between the two. Instead they feel like two totally different things that never quite made sense together. Part of this is the major changes that the characters go through. Brian goes from a college student to struggling with rehab for his injuries while graduating at the same time. He ends up sculpting clay, initially as part of his rehab and later as a career. This is a nice change and shows Brian moving from a somewhat directionless college existence to a solid career as an artist, but it happens way too fast and without some much needed context.
Likewise Talker goes from a scared, jumbled mess in college to dropping out and volunteering with foster kids. Again, this isn’t a move I’m against but I didn’t feel there was enough background and information in between the past characters and their future selves. It feels too disjointed and choppy. There are some really easy outs to help the situation as well that I found very disappointing. The gallery owner Mark should have been a source of tension but instead becomes a fairy godfather for no real reason or understanding. All of a sudden Talker and Brian have it easy and comfortable after years of struggle and hardship.
I guess therein lies my biggest problem with this novella. One of the reasons Brian and Talker feel so authentic and wonderful are that they struggle with a lot while maintaining this incredibly deep and meaningful love between them. That love makes them strong and allows them to get through their problems, but they have some considerable issues and conflicts. This is a couple that couldn’t afford heat or food at the same time and even then food was often scarce. It’s not that I want them to struggle but when all of their troubles are taken away and they’re suddenly gifted with direction in life and a nice, comfortable existence, this feels too easy and almost like cheating. It’s the equivalent of getting a sudden inheritance that makes them rich and all their problems disappear.
Their ending and new life is obviously a good direction and nice payoff for all the hardships the couple has gone through. It’s a happy ending that suits the two men very well too. I just wish the story had offered more context showing this happening and less quick, abrupt changes. Ultimately I just didn’t believe that the changes and good fortune happened that quickly for the two and kind of out of the blue. It takes the intensity and meaning from the previous books with such an easy out. Or that’s how I see it.
I still love this couple to no end and would recommend this book to fans of the series. Maybe there will be another one but TG provides a very solid happy ending for Talker and Brian. It’s not the exact path I would have expected to see, nor the way I thought they’d get there but perhaps other readers won’t mind. As always the writing and characterization are superior.
It’s now a few years after the last book and Talker and Brian have moved into a cottage by the sea. They’re happier than they’ve ever been before but getting there wasn’t easy. Talker remembers their difficult recovery from Brian’s attack and getting to a place where Talker is finally, 100% confident and comfortable with Brian’s love and devotion.
As with the previous two books, much of the information and story is told and shown in flashbacks or in this case, flash forwards. Here the author uses italics for flash forward scenes, happening a few years in the future and regular type for the past scenes where the last book left off. While I never really minded this back and forth in previous books in the series, I found it very distracting for this particular one. I think it’s because the order is reversed and the past/present scenes are meant to fill in the gaps for how the couple get to their happy future.
Yet the gaps never really felt filled in. The time line would leap from a few years in the past to a few years in the present and I never felt the full connection between the two. Instead they feel like two totally different things that never quite made sense together. Part of this is the major changes that the characters go through. Brian goes from a college student to struggling with rehab for his injuries while graduating at the same time. He ends up sculpting clay, initially as part of his rehab and later as a career. This is a nice change and shows Brian moving from a somewhat directionless college existence to a solid career as an artist, but it happens way too fast and without some much needed context.
Likewise Talker goes from a scared, jumbled mess in college to dropping out and volunteering with foster kids. Again, this isn’t a move I’m against but I didn’t feel there was enough background and information in between the past characters and their future selves. It feels too disjointed and choppy. There are some really easy outs to help the situation as well that I found very disappointing. The gallery owner Mark should have been a source of tension but instead becomes a fairy godfather for no real reason or understanding. All of a sudden Talker and Brian have it easy and comfortable after years of struggle and hardship.
I guess therein lies my biggest problem with this novella. One of the reasons Brian and Talker feel so authentic and wonderful are that they struggle with a lot while maintaining this incredibly deep and meaningful love between them. That love makes them strong and allows them to get through their problems, but they have some considerable issues and conflicts. This is a couple that couldn’t afford heat or food at the same time and even then food was often scarce. It’s not that I want them to struggle but when all of their troubles are taken away and they’re suddenly gifted with direction in life and a nice, comfortable existence, this feels too easy and almost like cheating. It’s the equivalent of getting a sudden inheritance that makes them rich and all their problems disappear.
Their ending and new life is obviously a good direction and nice payoff for all the hardships the couple has gone through. It’s a happy ending that suits the two men very well too. I just wish the story had offered more context showing this happening and less quick, abrupt changes. Ultimately I just didn’t believe that the changes and good fortune happened that quickly for the two and kind of out of the blue. It takes the intensity and meaning from the previous books with such an easy out. Or that’s how I see it.
I still love this couple to no end and would recommend this book to fans of the series. Maybe there will be another one but TG provides a very solid happy ending for Talker and Brian. It’s not the exact path I would have expected to see, nor the way I thought they’d get there but perhaps other readers won’t mind. As always the writing and characterization are superior.
October 14, 2011
This is the third story in the Talker saga, and each one gets better and better.
Talker is a hyper young man, physically scarred from a horrible accident when he was 5 that left him burned and disfigured, emotionally scarred from a brutal attack, but finally settled with the young man who sees past his scars to the brave man inside.
Brian is a country mouse, quiet, strong, in love with the boy he has loved since he sat beside him on the bus to their first track meet in college. Brian is also recovering from a horrible beating he took to avenge the attack on the love of his life.
Talker's Graduation is the story of how love redeems, strengthens and inspires. How Talker finally, finally knows bone deep Brian is his. How Brian finally, finally expresses that huge heart he has. And how happily ever after is not a cliche.
There were moments in this short (too short for me, but all of Amy's books are that way) coda that brought me to tears. The sculpture of Talker - read this story for that alone and you will be blessed.
I hope this is not the end for Talker and Brian - I love these characters, and would love to see them keep growing.
Thanks, Amy Lane. This one is a blessing.
Talker is a hyper young man, physically scarred from a horrible accident when he was 5 that left him burned and disfigured, emotionally scarred from a brutal attack, but finally settled with the young man who sees past his scars to the brave man inside.
Brian is a country mouse, quiet, strong, in love with the boy he has loved since he sat beside him on the bus to their first track meet in college. Brian is also recovering from a horrible beating he took to avenge the attack on the love of his life.
Talker's Graduation is the story of how love redeems, strengthens and inspires. How Talker finally, finally knows bone deep Brian is his. How Brian finally, finally expresses that huge heart he has. And how happily ever after is not a cliche.
There were moments in this short (too short for me, but all of Amy's books are that way) coda that brought me to tears. The sculpture of Talker - read this story for that alone and you will be blessed.
I hope this is not the end for Talker and Brian - I love these characters, and would love to see them keep growing.
Thanks, Amy Lane. This one is a blessing.
December 8, 2024
I was entertained. Enough happened. As book 1, this book had long stretches of narrative, where I want showing. I finished 3 novella's about one couple, and still can not describe the character of either of them.
October 14, 2011
This Novella is the third in the series of two young men, Tate Walker and Brian Cooper. To just bring you up to date, Brian and Tate met on a High School Track Team Bus. This meeting changed their lives.
Tate Walker severely burned as a baby, has scars both outside and in. His flamboyant dress, tattoos and Mohawk hairstyle were a cover up so people would not look beneath; only Brian did. Their friendship grew, as Brian watched Tate walked out the door on a ‘date ‘where he was raped and brutalized, before Brian could ‘come out’ and tell Tate he loved him. The heartbreaking scene when Tate returned home broken and bleeding telling Brian ‘he had hoped Brian was gay, but now he is so happy he is not because he is the only one he has ever felt safe with.’ Unbeknownst to Tate, Brian had found the rapist Trevor and beat him bloody.
In Talkers Redemption, Trevor in retaliation comes with two men, pipes and chains, attacking Brian in a parking lot, while Tate is sent for help. Brian lies for months in the hospital battered and broken while the ‘family’ they are surrounded with look on; Old Doc Sutherland their friend and psychologist, and Brian’s Aunt offers support to the young men. Talker has to make decisions about overcoming your wildest fears and darkest nightmares.
So you are all caught up, and now readers we are up to And They Could Live Happily Ever After. I was so excited having to get to see another glimpse of Talker and Brian. We find that it is a few years later, and they are
still battling the remains of Brian’s physical hurt from that deadly beating. They both now have scars on their bodies, and Brian has started working with clay. Talker bought him this to help his fingers to work better. College is almost over for Brian. Talker isn’t even sure he knows what Brian’s degree will be. But Brian has gotten a job in an art store and it blossoms into something Brian loves. Brian’s eyes are finally bright with accomplishment. He is creating things with his hands and he loves it. Brian is given a wonderful opportunity, and would walk away from it all for Talker. Brian is the one, the one who has sacrificed all for Talker. We read tbeautiful poignant story and your wish is to take all the pain away for both of them. These boys who you have watched are growing into men. They have had to make some tough decisions along the way and deserve the Big Payout. Only Amy Lane can tell the story of love, home and family. We are shown the sculpture that Brian has made that is Talker and we cry as Tate Walker sees how Brian Cooper sees him and we wish with all our hearts we could have someone bless us with that kind of love.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Review Chai and Senior Reviewer for the Paranormal Romance Gild
Tate Walker severely burned as a baby, has scars both outside and in. His flamboyant dress, tattoos and Mohawk hairstyle were a cover up so people would not look beneath; only Brian did. Their friendship grew, as Brian watched Tate walked out the door on a ‘date ‘where he was raped and brutalized, before Brian could ‘come out’ and tell Tate he loved him. The heartbreaking scene when Tate returned home broken and bleeding telling Brian ‘he had hoped Brian was gay, but now he is so happy he is not because he is the only one he has ever felt safe with.’ Unbeknownst to Tate, Brian had found the rapist Trevor and beat him bloody.
In Talkers Redemption, Trevor in retaliation comes with two men, pipes and chains, attacking Brian in a parking lot, while Tate is sent for help. Brian lies for months in the hospital battered and broken while the ‘family’ they are surrounded with look on; Old Doc Sutherland their friend and psychologist, and Brian’s Aunt offers support to the young men. Talker has to make decisions about overcoming your wildest fears and darkest nightmares.
So you are all caught up, and now readers we are up to And They Could Live Happily Ever After. I was so excited having to get to see another glimpse of Talker and Brian. We find that it is a few years later, and they are
still battling the remains of Brian’s physical hurt from that deadly beating. They both now have scars on their bodies, and Brian has started working with clay. Talker bought him this to help his fingers to work better. College is almost over for Brian. Talker isn’t even sure he knows what Brian’s degree will be. But Brian has gotten a job in an art store and it blossoms into something Brian loves. Brian’s eyes are finally bright with accomplishment. He is creating things with his hands and he loves it. Brian is given a wonderful opportunity, and would walk away from it all for Talker. Brian is the one, the one who has sacrificed all for Talker. We read tbeautiful poignant story and your wish is to take all the pain away for both of them. These boys who you have watched are growing into men. They have had to make some tough decisions along the way and deserve the Big Payout. Only Amy Lane can tell the story of love, home and family. We are shown the sculpture that Brian has made that is Talker and we cry as Tate Walker sees how Brian Cooper sees him and we wish with all our hearts we could have someone bless us with that kind of love.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Review Chai and Senior Reviewer for the Paranormal Romance Gild
September 18, 2017
Yay!! This was such a lovely finale.
I am so happy and proud of them.
I read all 3 stories back to back and I think this is best in this case.
They both have worked so hard and deserve to be...happy.
I'm grateful I finally conquered this series.
Good stuff.
I am so happy and proud of them.
I read all 3 stories back to back and I think this is best in this case.
They both have worked so hard and deserve to be...happy.
I'm grateful I finally conquered this series.
Good stuff.
May 13, 2014
Je ne suis pas fan du tout d’Amy Lane à qui je reproche son fort penchant pour le mélodramatique extrême et les souffrances qu’elle fait endurer exagérément à ces personnages avant qu’ils trouvent leur Happy End. Mais, à toute règle il y a une exception et Talker est mon exception, cette série pourtant très différente de celle que je lis habituellement m’a toujours touché. La relation entre Talker l’écorché vif et Brian le parfait est une des plus belles que j’ai pu rencontrer dans la romance MM. Etrangement, tous les défauts que je reproche à Amy Lane ne transparaissent pas dans cette série ou alors je ne les vois pas, car ils s’effacent devant le récit poétique, les émotions que dégagent ce duo.
Ce dernier tome est la conclusion parfaite à une relation hors-norme, alternance entre le passé et le présent, toujours par la voix de Talker nous découvrons tout ce qui s’est passé durant les trois années qui ont suivi la terrible attaque qu’a subie Brian et ce qui en a découlé. La vie à deux est loin d’être facile et encore moins pour Talker qui arrive à contrôler ses angoisses mais qui ne réussit toujours pas à comprendre l’amour que lui porte son homme. C’est encore une fois Brian à travers la passion qu’il s’est découverte durant sa rééducation qui va lui faire comprendre, c’est un passage émouvant, rempli de tendresse qui ne peut que toucher même la plus aguerrie des lectrices.Ce dernier épisode malgré qu’il soit court conclut en beauté l’histoire.
Ce dernier tome est la conclusion parfaite à une relation hors-norme, alternance entre le passé et le présent, toujours par la voix de Talker nous découvrons tout ce qui s’est passé durant les trois années qui ont suivi la terrible attaque qu’a subie Brian et ce qui en a découlé. La vie à deux est loin d’être facile et encore moins pour Talker qui arrive à contrôler ses angoisses mais qui ne réussit toujours pas à comprendre l’amour que lui porte son homme. C’est encore une fois Brian à travers la passion qu’il s’est découverte durant sa rééducation qui va lui faire comprendre, c’est un passage émouvant, rempli de tendresse qui ne peut que toucher même la plus aguerrie des lectrices.Ce dernier épisode malgré qu’il soit court conclut en beauté l’histoire.
January 2, 2016
We finally get our happy ending. Thank you Amy Lane!
Tate loves Brian unconditionally and totally. Wonderfully patient and kind Brian finally gets through to Tate that he is madly, head-over-heels, completely in love with him. I'm telling you - this series has had it all: angst, pain, redemption, love, hope…and a wonderful ending.
Recommended.
Copy generously provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
December 9, 2014
3 stars for the entire series
It was such a great feeling as I listened to book three come together as I loved book one but not book two. I've found this a real shame as to get three small novella's and although I understood why book two was like a crazed non linear story. It was like the middle child ran off to Woodstock and dropped the brown acid to get noticed.
I'm a huge Amy fan and I found the character of both Tate "Talker" Walker and Brian Cooper both unique and very strong young men dealing with their respective lives really well written. They were both a lot stronger than they realised but really did need the illusion at times pull that strength out of each other, most of the time it was within themselves.
The Narrator was EXCELLENT, David Kaplan gave the story a very charming and charismatic feel, and it flowed along beautifully. I hope he's been reading more books for the LGBT community, we need more guys like him in our tiny genre and for a change he stopped me from putting book two down and I let his voice carry me through it. The kindle app for MAC is shocking and sometimes the iPhone app doesn't read the headings go new chapters. Which creates mass confusion at times.
It was such a great feeling as I listened to book three come together as I loved book one but not book two. I've found this a real shame as to get three small novella's and although I understood why book two was like a crazed non linear story. It was like the middle child ran off to Woodstock and dropped the brown acid to get noticed.
I'm a huge Amy fan and I found the character of both Tate "Talker" Walker and Brian Cooper both unique and very strong young men dealing with their respective lives really well written. They were both a lot stronger than they realised but really did need the illusion at times pull that strength out of each other, most of the time it was within themselves.
The Narrator was EXCELLENT, David Kaplan gave the story a very charming and charismatic feel, and it flowed along beautifully. I hope he's been reading more books for the LGBT community, we need more guys like him in our tiny genre and for a change he stopped me from putting book two down and I let his voice carry me through it. The kindle app for MAC is shocking and sometimes the iPhone app doesn't read the headings go new chapters. Which creates mass confusion at times.
March 17, 2013
~ ~ ~
4.5 Stars
What a lovely, fulfilling and warming finish for a really great series. To say I've fallen in love with Talker and Brian is putting it too mildly. Their journey was at times hard to read, but this final installation wraps it up and makes it all a beautiful tale.
I'm so glad I decided to read these with my friend and fellow blogger Giulia from http://devastatingreads.blogspot.com/ It's been great to be able to discuss the heavy developments as well as our favorite sexy bits :) Thanks Giulia.
If you've read the first two books in the series you will definitely want to wrap it up with this one. It sets the world right again.
~ ~ ~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
4.5 Stars
What a lovely, fulfilling and warming finish for a really great series. To say I've fallen in love with Talker and Brian is putting it too mildly. Their journey was at times hard to read, but this final installation wraps it up and makes it all a beautiful tale.
I'm so glad I decided to read these with my friend and fellow blogger Giulia from http://devastatingreads.blogspot.com/ It's been great to be able to discuss the heavy developments as well as our favorite sexy bits :) Thanks Giulia.
If you've read the first two books in the series you will definitely want to wrap it up with this one. It sets the world right again.
~ ~ ~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
October 12, 2011
This is it, this is the one. This is when Tate finally understands that the love of his life isn't slumming. He gets that Brian, (beautiful, kind, dear, sweet, strong, solid Brian), is madly in love with him. And anyone would be, Talker's a keeper himself. But like Brian tells his boss who's in lust with him, he didn't actually live until Talker looked at him. The sculpture Brian creates for the man he loves, in honor of the man he loves, illustrates Talker perfectly. And of course Tate is the one who discovered that Brian has an artist living inside of him in the first place. It would have to be Tate because Tate’s the only one Brian ever shows his true heart to. This is the ending I wanted, both lyrical and profound. This entire series has been amazing; I hope it comes out in paperback so I have all three at my fingertips to cry over and smile at any time I want.
December 3, 2013
This segment is a little different than the others in that has flashbacks, but they do not distract like flashbacks often do for me. The guys meet new struggles when Brian has a boss hitting on him. I love how Tate finds ways to help Brian with his problems, the clay was fabulous and tied so many things together and Talker volunteering with the foster kids was perfect. This is one of my favorite series. Brian and Talker are both such wonderful characters. I connected with them right off the bat and would be very happy to see more of them in the future. I don't think it hurt that the covers are totally spot on.
December 17, 2014
What a great ending to the series! (Although I will mention that more of them would never be a bad thing!!!) I loved seeing where these guys ended up and how they grew. I loved Brian's use of pottery and subsequent career path and I thought that what Tate ended up doing was so perfect for him. Very touching and moving story and these guys are just fabulous. Thank you Amy Lane for great characters and stories!
October 1, 2013
These are two of my favorite characters! This story takes place after the tragic events of Talker's Redemption and follows Brian and Tate after Brian's recovery and into their adult lives after college. LOVED the way Brian grows and changes and "finds his voice" in this one. Loved that Talker was able to "see" himself the way Brian sees him. Seriously, I could read about these two forever.
June 5, 2015
This was a sweet and well paced ending for the boys. I love where both Tate and Brian are at in their lives; both apart and as a couple. They have grown and are in a great place.
I couldn't be happier.
I couldn't be happier.
May 22, 2013
Loved it! Perfect end to this crazy story for these 2 beautifully broken boys. I want to hug them both!
October 1, 2020
This is the final book in this heart felt trilogy. I loved that Tate finally realized his worth. The boys had to learn how much they were willing to give up for the other. They had to learn that sometimes sacrifices are not needed as much as mutual conversations and compromise. They finally got their HEA.
November 11, 2011
Three Crow Press Review by Isabel de Valera (4.5 Stars)
The last of the three novellas that comprise the Talker series was up for review, but I can’t review just Talker’s Graduation without referencing the first two stories, because essentially, this is one book, broken into three sections. Normally, that would irk me, because if a story is as continuous as this one is, it should be in one book, not a series of novellas. But this case is an exception. Each of the stories has its own tone, its own identity, and I really don’t think they would have worked as a single volume. Each should be read and savored separately.
And I do mean savored. Amy Lane is brilliant at constructing characters that you actually care about, characters that are real and flawed and lovable. Every one of them has a distinct voice, and we get two in Tate Walker, nicknamed “Talker” because he never shuts up, and Brian, his quiet, shy foil. All three stories are told with multiple flashbacks between present day and the past.
We ride along with Brian as he meets Talker in the first book; his quiet, shy, home-schooled self taken aback by the tattooed, Mohawked stranger who sits beside him on a bus headed for a track meet. Tate Walker is the “weird kid”—the one that doesn’t walk to a beat of a different drum, but is the different drummer. He’s twitchy, nervous, and talks constantly to drown out the noise in his head, when he’s not humming or singing snatches of music. He’s also horribly scarred, both inside and out. The tattoos hide the outward scars; the talking hides the inward. From everyone but Brian. “Talker” is from Brian’s POV, and the pivotal traumatic event in this book is something that happens to Tate, and it’s Lane’s genius that makes the trauma even more horrific experienced at one remove, so to speak. It’s not Tate’s emotions that drive the story, but Brian’s—shy Brian, who can’t express his feelings for his roommate until it’s too late, and who then has to deal with the crushing guilt his inability has triggered. He does it in a way that is completely in character, both in his response to Tate’s trauma and in his own coming out.
“Talker’s Redemption,” on the other hand, is told from Tate’s point of view, and the pivotal part of that story is a trauma to Brian that is a direct result of Brian’s dealing with Tate’s attacker. An important secondary character is introduced in the persona of the boys’ therapist, and their sessions are interwoven with the linear narrative of the story, maintaining a stability that could easily go off track with Talker’s point of view. Talker’s head is a freaky place to be; his attention span is nonexistent, his train of thought easily derailed (in the third book, Lane gives him a metaphor that’s lovely—his thoughts are like fish in a school, easily scattered, and he has to concentrate to get them all back in the fishbowl). Tate needs to learn to accept what happened to him, accept what happened to Brian, and move on, and it isn’t easy.
The final book in the series, “Talker’s Graduation,” deals with both of the boys’ rehabilitation—Brian’s physical, Talker’s emotional—and their growth as adults and as partners. There isn’t any great trauma in this story, but small ones, which can sometimes be more destructive to relationships. Tate is again the point of view in this one, and it’s probably necessary, because he is by far the more dramatic of the two characters, and the small things that drive the narrative here are things that affect him far more deeply than they would Brian, or that Brian would be able to effectively communicate.
I enjoyed all three of these stories immensely. The only small, niggling thing that bothers me is that the constant, back and forth switching—particularly in the last book—sometimes gets confusing. The flashbacks are mostly in italics, which definitely set the flashback apart from the linear text, but are sometimes hard to read for extended periods. And within the flashbacks, it’s sometimes a little difficult to tell exactly where in the past the flashback is occurring. This is a risk that one takes when switching between time as much as is done here. But on the whole, the stories are compelling, beautifully angsty, and the characters will stick with you for a long time.
Highly recommended.
The last of the three novellas that comprise the Talker series was up for review, but I can’t review just Talker’s Graduation without referencing the first two stories, because essentially, this is one book, broken into three sections. Normally, that would irk me, because if a story is as continuous as this one is, it should be in one book, not a series of novellas. But this case is an exception. Each of the stories has its own tone, its own identity, and I really don’t think they would have worked as a single volume. Each should be read and savored separately.
And I do mean savored. Amy Lane is brilliant at constructing characters that you actually care about, characters that are real and flawed and lovable. Every one of them has a distinct voice, and we get two in Tate Walker, nicknamed “Talker” because he never shuts up, and Brian, his quiet, shy foil. All three stories are told with multiple flashbacks between present day and the past.
We ride along with Brian as he meets Talker in the first book; his quiet, shy, home-schooled self taken aback by the tattooed, Mohawked stranger who sits beside him on a bus headed for a track meet. Tate Walker is the “weird kid”—the one that doesn’t walk to a beat of a different drum, but is the different drummer. He’s twitchy, nervous, and talks constantly to drown out the noise in his head, when he’s not humming or singing snatches of music. He’s also horribly scarred, both inside and out. The tattoos hide the outward scars; the talking hides the inward. From everyone but Brian. “Talker” is from Brian’s POV, and the pivotal traumatic event in this book is something that happens to Tate, and it’s Lane’s genius that makes the trauma even more horrific experienced at one remove, so to speak. It’s not Tate’s emotions that drive the story, but Brian’s—shy Brian, who can’t express his feelings for his roommate until it’s too late, and who then has to deal with the crushing guilt his inability has triggered. He does it in a way that is completely in character, both in his response to Tate’s trauma and in his own coming out.
“Talker’s Redemption,” on the other hand, is told from Tate’s point of view, and the pivotal part of that story is a trauma to Brian that is a direct result of Brian’s dealing with Tate’s attacker. An important secondary character is introduced in the persona of the boys’ therapist, and their sessions are interwoven with the linear narrative of the story, maintaining a stability that could easily go off track with Talker’s point of view. Talker’s head is a freaky place to be; his attention span is nonexistent, his train of thought easily derailed (in the third book, Lane gives him a metaphor that’s lovely—his thoughts are like fish in a school, easily scattered, and he has to concentrate to get them all back in the fishbowl). Tate needs to learn to accept what happened to him, accept what happened to Brian, and move on, and it isn’t easy.
The final book in the series, “Talker’s Graduation,” deals with both of the boys’ rehabilitation—Brian’s physical, Talker’s emotional—and their growth as adults and as partners. There isn’t any great trauma in this story, but small ones, which can sometimes be more destructive to relationships. Tate is again the point of view in this one, and it’s probably necessary, because he is by far the more dramatic of the two characters, and the small things that drive the narrative here are things that affect him far more deeply than they would Brian, or that Brian would be able to effectively communicate.
I enjoyed all three of these stories immensely. The only small, niggling thing that bothers me is that the constant, back and forth switching—particularly in the last book—sometimes gets confusing. The flashbacks are mostly in italics, which definitely set the flashback apart from the linear text, but are sometimes hard to read for extended periods. And within the flashbacks, it’s sometimes a little difficult to tell exactly where in the past the flashback is occurring. This is a risk that one takes when switching between time as much as is done here. But on the whole, the stories are compelling, beautifully angsty, and the characters will stick with you for a long time.
Highly recommended.
November 26, 2011
This review was originally posted on my blog Joyfully Jay.
Talker's Graduation picks up about three years after the end of the second book, Talker's Redemption. Like the first two, it is told alternating between present day and past events, giving us an opportunity to catch up on the boys and their lives.
They are now living in Petaluma, CA, in a little house by the water. Talker loves living at the beach, the ocean and the quiet finally bringing some peace inside his head. Brian has become an artist and a gallery owner and Talker is a bartender at a local bar. It is heartwarming to see the guys so happy. It is clear that they have found their place and their bond to each other is as strong as ever.
It took a while for them to get there, however. Brian's recovery was long and difficult and it took a lot of time for him to regain use of his arm in a functional way. Talker still struggled with some guilt, feeling that his emotional state is what led Brian into the fight that got the whole ball rolling. But their commitment to each other never wavered, and slowly the guys were able to rebuild their lives.
One of the things I loved about this series, and this book in particular, is the absolute adoration between the two men. In most books the main characters are clearly in love, but the way Brian and Talker just worship one another is amazing.
My one problem with the book was the time shifting. All three books use flash backs liberally but in this book I occasionally found myself lost in time. Perhaps because the things happening in the present and past were not as distinct here as with the other books, but there were a few times I found myself a bit disoriented.
Talker's Graduation is a perfect end to the series. If you are a fan of the first two you definitely will want to read this one. It really feels more like an extended epilogue than a stand alone story. You could probably follow along without reading the other books, but you would miss the major action that happens to Brian and Talker that shapes their relationship. This book is not really plot driven in that same way, but more of a chance to see that our guys made it out ok at the end. And as a reader, that made me very happy.
Talker's Graduation picks up about three years after the end of the second book, Talker's Redemption. Like the first two, it is told alternating between present day and past events, giving us an opportunity to catch up on the boys and their lives.
They are now living in Petaluma, CA, in a little house by the water. Talker loves living at the beach, the ocean and the quiet finally bringing some peace inside his head. Brian has become an artist and a gallery owner and Talker is a bartender at a local bar. It is heartwarming to see the guys so happy. It is clear that they have found their place and their bond to each other is as strong as ever.
It took a while for them to get there, however. Brian's recovery was long and difficult and it took a lot of time for him to regain use of his arm in a functional way. Talker still struggled with some guilt, feeling that his emotional state is what led Brian into the fight that got the whole ball rolling. But their commitment to each other never wavered, and slowly the guys were able to rebuild their lives.
One of the things I loved about this series, and this book in particular, is the absolute adoration between the two men. In most books the main characters are clearly in love, but the way Brian and Talker just worship one another is amazing.
My one problem with the book was the time shifting. All three books use flash backs liberally but in this book I occasionally found myself lost in time. Perhaps because the things happening in the present and past were not as distinct here as with the other books, but there were a few times I found myself a bit disoriented.
Talker's Graduation is a perfect end to the series. If you are a fan of the first two you definitely will want to read this one. It really feels more like an extended epilogue than a stand alone story. You could probably follow along without reading the other books, but you would miss the major action that happens to Brian and Talker that shapes their relationship. This book is not really plot driven in that same way, but more of a chance to see that our guys made it out ok at the end. And as a reader, that made me very happy.
January 24, 2013
I'm reviewing all three books in this "Talker" series as one, as all three novels make one complete story, rather like Jane Austen's classics were originally published in three volumes.
Incidently "Talker's Graduation is actually Book 3, NOT Book 1 as detailed in the Kindle store.
So....as my title suggests, Amy Lane is the Queen of Angst. Emotional and sensitive writing she tells a powerful story of self discovery and self worth. Her characterisations are truely brilliant, Brian is such an Angel and Talker just is...Talker.
The only downside to this set of three was the rather hurried ending to "Talker's Graduation". Suddenly there was physical therapy with clay which immediately led to...which immediately led further to....all too quick, needed more detail, needed more padding and hence my 4 star review and not the usual 5 star that I award to Amy Lane. I read two and a half novels in one sitting, because I seriously couldn't put them down and just had to know how Brian and Tate's story progressed. I defy anyone not to cry at Tate (Talker) and Brian's story. Beautiful, just beautiful.
Incidently "Talker's Graduation is actually Book 3, NOT Book 1 as detailed in the Kindle store.
So....as my title suggests, Amy Lane is the Queen of Angst. Emotional and sensitive writing she tells a powerful story of self discovery and self worth. Her characterisations are truely brilliant, Brian is such an Angel and Talker just is...Talker.
The only downside to this set of three was the rather hurried ending to "Talker's Graduation". Suddenly there was physical therapy with clay which immediately led to...which immediately led further to....all too quick, needed more detail, needed more padding and hence my 4 star review and not the usual 5 star that I award to Amy Lane. I read two and a half novels in one sitting, because I seriously couldn't put them down and just had to know how Brian and Tate's story progressed. I defy anyone not to cry at Tate (Talker) and Brian's story. Beautiful, just beautiful.
December 3, 2013
So this was a nice ending to the trilogy, the only thing is that it felt like they should have been combined into one book. As a stand alone, this one was probably the weakest because as I said, it was more about closure. But I'm glad things worked out the way they did, and even a little jealous of that freakin' cottage!
I thought it was interesting how in this one instead of flashbacks, there were actually flashforwards. Although I'm not entirely sure it was necessary, except to stick with the same format as the other books. I will say that I was hoping as a nice full-circle wrap-up, that this book would be from both Talker and Brian's perspectives, since the first was from Brian and the second was from Talker, and I felt like I needed to reconnect with Brian a little.
I thought it was interesting how in this one instead of flashbacks, there were actually flashforwards. Although I'm not entirely sure it was necessary, except to stick with the same format as the other books. I will say that I was hoping as a nice full-circle wrap-up, that this book would be from both Talker and Brian's perspectives, since the first was from Brian and the second was from Talker, and I felt like I needed to reconnect with Brian a little.
October 17, 2011
Goodbye, Tate and Brian, it was so good being with you!
I liked the ending, it made me see how happy they were together, even if things were not really perfect, not every little thing was achieved. Tate has finally acknowledged that there can be something good in his life, that he can let someone love him. He has the proof that Brian can see him whole, he can reach his beautiful soul. There was a brief moment when this made me really cry.
I think the way the book is written wasn't as smooth as I'm used to expecting from Amy Lane, but I am shamelessly not objective and hopelessly biased when it comes to these two guys. SUE ME!
I am sad it's probably over...
I liked the ending, it made me see how happy they were together, even if things were not really perfect, not every little thing was achieved. Tate has finally acknowledged that there can be something good in his life, that he can let someone love him. He has the proof that Brian can see him whole, he can reach his beautiful soul. There was a brief moment when this made me really cry.
I think the way the book is written wasn't as smooth as I'm used to expecting from Amy Lane, but I am shamelessly not objective and hopelessly biased when it comes to these two guys. SUE ME!
I am sad it's probably over...
August 12, 2014
Review of the series...
I have read this series multiple times now & I am still in love with the books. Talker is a beautiful story about a flawed, broken, scarred (yet beautiful) man overcoming pain & adversity to find love. Talker is one of the fragile souls that need to be sheltered from the harsh realities of life. His eternal optimism makes him vulnerable to exploitation & abuse. Brian (aka Prince Charming) becomes Talker's buffer & the three books are the turbulent, beautiful story of how they meet, fall in love & become right with the world. There is nothing light & fluffy about these books but the story, although difficult to read, is wonderful & uplifting.
I have read this series multiple times now & I am still in love with the books. Talker is a beautiful story about a flawed, broken, scarred (yet beautiful) man overcoming pain & adversity to find love. Talker is one of the fragile souls that need to be sheltered from the harsh realities of life. His eternal optimism makes him vulnerable to exploitation & abuse. Brian (aka Prince Charming) becomes Talker's buffer & the three books are the turbulent, beautiful story of how they meet, fall in love & become right with the world. There is nothing light & fluffy about these books but the story, although difficult to read, is wonderful & uplifting.
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