Blues

Rainbow Connection #2

by Lynn Townsend

Rising sophomore Beau Watkins gave up everything to be with his boyfriend, Vin. Beau is disowned by his father, tormented by his brother, is rapidly running out of money, and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. On top of that, his boyfriend seems to see Beau as little more than a live-in maid. Troubled by word of his missing father and fighting nightmares of his own, Vin Reyes turns to alcohol to drown his pain. What's worse, a handsome transfer student is a little too interested in Beau. Vin throws away everything that's made him happy with both hands, terrified of his own feelings of inadequacy.


When Vin and Beau's happily-ever-after turns into a train wreck of drinking problems, resentment, insecurity, jealousy, and violence, they both try to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. Their mutual friends, Hector and Ann-Marie, try to help the two young men as best they can, but neither want to listen. Beau accepts a morally questionable job offer to pad his finances and Vin starts a downward spiral of self-destructive behavior that sends him right for rock bottom. Can Vin and Beau win through doubt and guilt, jealousy and recklessness, to find their place in the world?

Genres: M M Romance

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2015

About the author

Lynn Townsend is a displaced Yankee, a mother, a writer, a dreamer, and the proud owner of a small black hole residing under her desk that tends to eat kittens, odd socks, staplers, and her car keys.

Reviews

[V.L. Locey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes there are books that I simply have to put down and walk away from while I'm reading them. I need to calm myself, gather my wits, and return later. Not many situations in books have made me angry, sad, upside-down and inside-out. I can think of only a few instances over my many, many years of reading.

In Blues I had to put down my Kindle several times lest I start shouting out loud at the characters. It hurt like all sorts of heck to watch Vin and Beau suffer so. It tore my heart out. Watching a person self-destruct is nothing short of torture. And yet, in the end, when I thought I couldn`t stand another minute of this agony,Ms. Townsend gave me what my poor shredded soul needed. She gave me some happy. I'm not sure if its ever after or not and that`s okay. It`s totally okay because the ride that the author gave me to get to this happy was amazing.

Blues is a wonderfully realistic look at two men who are deeply in love but falling away from each other despite that love.

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is never easy and for two young gay men in college it is even harder. Especially when one is wealthy and carefree and the other has been cut off from his family.
Beau misses his family and is struggling with his sexuality. Vin is still searching for his birth parents and comes upon a cease and desist order. Vin is a senior and after the breakup of a friend Beau can’t help but wonder if they will drift apart when Vin graduates this year.

This is a very realistic type story between two young men. I love the characters in this story. All of them. I can’t say the same for the actual characters. Instead of growing to love them in this book, I found myself not liking either Beau of Vin. I surely didn’t like Chaz. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it’s just the growth and paths they chose.) I liked the first book much better than this one. I felt that near the end things sort of jumped too fast and I had to read back to see if I missed something.
Having said all that, I did like the storyline, the realistic feel of the story and I cat wait to see what is next for Beau and Vin.
If you like stories that don’t go with the flow, realistic characters and storylines, college men, and a little hot man-sex this is for you.
I received a copy of this book from mmgoodbookreviews.com for an honest review

[Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

*this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*


Beau and Vin are back at school. Beau starting his Sophomore year, Vin his Senior. Beau is still dealing with the bashing and being disowned by his family. Vin is still looking for his father.


Beau and Vin are still deeply in love, but sometimes love just isn't enough to hold together a relationship. Their demons threaten to tear them apart.


I would love to say this book was a joy to read but it wasn't. I don't mean this in a bad way. It was just such an anxiety ridden book, so full of angst. I was so frustrated I had to put it down and walk away, to save my iPad from being thrown at the wall. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride emotionally. It made me happy, sad, angry, frustrated, but it also was humorous, and made me laugh out loud. It was painful to watch Vin spiral out of control, and come face to face with his demons. I wasn't sure if I wanted to slap him or hug him. I love Beau, but I think Beau is angry and still so sad. Even at the end of this book, I don't think he has fully dealt with the rejection of his family. I think he is starting to, but still has a long way to go.


The writing in this book flows well, and although I was frustrated, I was never bored. Lynn had me captivated from page one to the very end. I love that unlike most authors, she doesn't give you a ton of inner dialogue. Most of this book is actual scenes between the characters. My only true complaint is that at times something would happen, when the MC's weren't together, and we would see how one character dealt with it, but when the POV switched to the other MC, it would jump ahead to another scene. Things happened and I wanted to know how the other person felt, what they thought.


Even as frustrated as I was I still love Beau and Vin. Lynn still captures the love, chemistry and passion between the two young men, and I can't wait to take the next leg of their journey!

[Adrienne -kocham czytać-]

...and one of the cover models is completely different (and not either of the MC's) why...? Hmm.