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West End #1
Dance
8 hrs 29 mins
Two musicals, one theatre.
Two men, one epic love story.
Dancer Fenix Bergman has a dream – to perform on Broadway. But claiming a place on the biggest theatre stage in the world is not easy. When he gets offered a lead role in a new musical based in London’s West End, Fenix quickly accepts, recognising the huge potential of the show.
Actor Jared Hartley is exactly where he wants to be in life. Starring in a popular West End musical, Jared’s career is at its peak. He doesn’t have time for love, and never even considered something was missing from his life.
Until he meets Fenix.
When Fenix and Jared’s paths cross, the world shimmers to a stop. Neither of them is capable of fighting the intense feelings they quickly develop for each other.
But when Fenix’s star becomes too bright for London, will the dream he’s chased all his life ruin the dream he’s holding in his hands?
Two musicals, one theatre.
Two men, one epic love story.
Dancer Fenix Bergman has a dream – to perform on Broadway. But claiming a place on the biggest theatre stage in the world is not easy. When he gets offered a lead role in a new musical based in London’s West End, Fenix quickly accepts, recognising the huge potential of the show.
Actor Jared Hartley is exactly where he wants to be in life. Starring in a popular West End musical, Jared’s career is at its peak. He doesn’t have time for love, and never even considered something was missing from his life.
Until he meets Fenix.
When Fenix and Jared’s paths cross, the world shimmers to a stop. Neither of them is capable of fighting the intense feelings they quickly develop for each other.
But when Fenix’s star becomes too bright for London, will the dream he’s chased all his life ruin the dream he’s holding in his hands?
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 22, 2014
40 people are currently reading
1034 people want to read
About the author
Teodora Kostova
27 books453 followersTeodora Kostova writes romance where every heartbeat matters. She’s an award-winning, bestselling author, a linguist fluent in four languages, and a Creative Writing graduate with a weakness for broken characters who kiss slow and love loudly. When she’s not writing, she’s probably watching anime, trying to score tickets for a musical, or analysing a friend’s natal chart over strong coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
November 16, 2014
2.5 Hearts-- Hot cover, right? Paired with a promising (albeit long) blurb. The cover is my favorite thing about this book. I can stare at it all day.
This is MF author Teodora Kostova's debut MM Romance story based on an insta-love moment between theater performers, Fenix and Jared. They have a lot of sex in short period. They go through volatile ups and downs and whirlwind love throughout the novel from the moment they are together and they are together for all but 15% of the book, so that is saying a lot. set in the West End in London, the two are given a story fitting to how they were written.
I will be totally honest, this type of writing style does not work for me.
This is all telling, no showing with characters that relate to pop culture fairly well and leaves no legwork for the brain. It 's a very popular style of writing. I'm not knocking it, sometimes you just want a book to escape from reality where nothing needs to make sense as long as you get a beginning, a middle and HEA, who cares about the details? Who cares if the characters read like a early 2000's soap opera? Who cares if there are adult men acting like teenagers? This works better if you don't want substance in your fiction (and substance equates to depth and dimension - not the oodles of sex or MANtrums (Fenix needs a nap with all his hissy fitting)
And you know what the kiss of death in a story is for me? When the main characters are considered perfect. You open the door to prove how imperfect the characters really are, no matter much it's stuffed down a reader's throat (and there is tons of repetition so it's said A LOT) Jared was "beautiful" and "perfect". Fenix was "beautiful" and "striking" and "perfect". Everyone wanted in their pants, paparazzi were all over them, all their childish antics were excused because their love is a love I guess this mere mortal can't understand.
This is Fenix:
Striking ice blue eyes, everyone wants him and he is as deep as a Ken doll. Ladies and gents, are you interested?
This is Jared:
His hair is darker and his eyes are navy blue but the scowl is spot on because he's super jealous and possessive of Fenix. You can't stare at Fenix too long or he'll mess you up. And then have massive amounts of hawt sex to make up for his lack of characteristics. And lack of depth, he's just as hollow as Fenix.
Aren't they dreamy?
The main characters start off basically the same person. They know what each other are thinking from the moment they meet. Both had tragedies seven years ago, they are only children, they perform for the theater. They can tell what the other characters' are feeling and thinking too with mere glances. Hell in the beginning, their best friends had the same reactions and emotional range, they were basically the same person too. No real distinction with those two until later in the story but it was faint.
I have a simple way of seeing if a story has substance because there's too much sex to cover the main characters not having enough charisma to carry on this too long novel (the last 22% was unnecessary) take out the sex...do the main characters have a leg to stand on? No? Then you have a weak story. These two fell intoinstalove insta-dick. They had nothing going for them but sex/lust in the beginning. And another popular writing technique along with the major telling is having the characters narrate the story through unnatural dialogue. It didn't happen all the time but it was a major chunk. It's a pet peeve of mine. But this is Kostova's "West End", so it works over there. *shrugs*
I noticed my status updates developed a pattern, a formula if you will, so I'll share.
There were 3 sex scenes in the first 10%, 5 in the first 20% and their erections kept going for 48 hours; no rest periods necessary. Then, we have the co-dependent fluff, possessive, I love you - let's make rash life decisions for the next 30%. Then at 50% the imminent break up where they had miscommunication tantrums.
The sweet spot was the next 15% where the protagonists were separated, I got to see a hint of character but it got slammed by more telling, everybody is hating on them because Fenix chose to be promiscuous in his off period and Jared turned into an emotionless Ken doll, suffering for two years. They stopped being in each other's pocket and basically the same character and finally there were two separate main characters.
Then 65% happened, which was the reunion! The two are super attracted to one another because they are perfect, striking, ice blue eyes and Scandinavian cheekbones (the author liked to point this out a bit) so what do Jared and Fenix fall back on? That's right, sex.
The sex was hot but repetitive with a variation of "fuck me hard", pre-lubricated condoms, anal stretching and lube use, like a gay sex equation. I started to yawn in the latter sex parts (me? can you believe it?) and was happy for the fade to black bits.
Hmm...am I forgetting something? Oh yes, the last 22% or what I like to call it, everything but the kitchen sink was added to make a wow factor. That last fifth was so unnecessary, there is a sex tape, death, fist fight, screaming, MANtrums on octane and then a police investigation that gets partially solved by a childish bitchout on the phone. The story was over earlier than 78% but for reunion and drama sake's it should have ended there. It's thrown in for entertainment value but I'm in that outlier reader population that didn't find it amusing. I don't need repeat scene rehashing to be beaten over the head while reading, I get the point.
To me, the story was weak, the cover was the best part. I did not like either main character but it's not their faults, it's how they were written.This is a popular book, the author has a het following that I'm sure will breach over to this series. For a first time MM novel, it's not the worst I've read, the style is not to my taste, sadly. Maybe if I read this ten years ago, I'd have rated this higher. Thankfully, it did not read like disguised MF romance...mostly (there were a few shaky parts but I won't bring them up), props to that.
So in closing:
I doubt I'll be reading book #2 that is being released in the upcoming weeks but you never know maybe I'll need a book where I can turn off my brain. My rating varies, I might come back and stick with the lower end, but it's in the 2-2.5 Hearts range.
This is MF author Teodora Kostova's debut MM Romance story based on an insta-love moment between theater performers, Fenix and Jared. They have a lot of sex in short period. They go through volatile ups and downs and whirlwind love throughout the novel from the moment they are together and they are together for all but 15% of the book, so that is saying a lot. set in the West End in London, the two are given a story fitting to how they were written.
I will be totally honest, this type of writing style does not work for me.
This is all telling, no showing with characters that relate to pop culture fairly well and leaves no legwork for the brain. It 's a very popular style of writing. I'm not knocking it, sometimes you just want a book to escape from reality where nothing needs to make sense as long as you get a beginning, a middle and HEA, who cares about the details? Who cares if the characters read like a early 2000's soap opera? Who cares if there are adult men acting like teenagers? This works better if you don't want substance in your fiction (and substance equates to depth and dimension - not the oodles of sex or MANtrums (Fenix needs a nap with all his hissy fitting)
And you know what the kiss of death in a story is for me? When the main characters are considered perfect. You open the door to prove how imperfect the characters really are, no matter much it's stuffed down a reader's throat (and there is tons of repetition so it's said A LOT) Jared was "beautiful" and "perfect". Fenix was "beautiful" and "striking" and "perfect". Everyone wanted in their pants, paparazzi were all over them, all their childish antics were excused because their love is a love I guess this mere mortal can't understand.
This is Fenix:
Striking ice blue eyes, everyone wants him and he is as deep as a Ken doll. Ladies and gents, are you interested?
This is Jared:
His hair is darker and his eyes are navy blue but the scowl is spot on because he's super jealous and possessive of Fenix. You can't stare at Fenix too long or he'll mess you up. And then have massive amounts of hawt sex to make up for his lack of characteristics. And lack of depth, he's just as hollow as Fenix.
Aren't they dreamy?
The main characters start off basically the same person. They know what each other are thinking from the moment they meet. Both had tragedies seven years ago, they are only children, they perform for the theater. They can tell what the other characters' are feeling and thinking too with mere glances. Hell in the beginning, their best friends had the same reactions and emotional range, they were basically the same person too. No real distinction with those two until later in the story but it was faint.
I have a simple way of seeing if a story has substance because there's too much sex to cover the main characters not having enough charisma to carry on this too long novel (the last 22% was unnecessary) take out the sex...do the main characters have a leg to stand on? No? Then you have a weak story. These two fell into
I noticed my status updates developed a pattern, a formula if you will, so I'll share.
There were 3 sex scenes in the first 10%, 5 in the first 20% and their erections kept going for 48 hours; no rest periods necessary. Then, we have the co-dependent fluff, possessive, I love you - let's make rash life decisions for the next 30%. Then at 50% the imminent break up where they had miscommunication tantrums.
The sweet spot was the next 15% where the protagonists were separated, I got to see a hint of character but it got slammed by more telling, everybody is hating on them because Fenix chose to be promiscuous in his off period and Jared turned into an emotionless Ken doll, suffering for two years. They stopped being in each other's pocket and basically the same character and finally there were two separate main characters.
Then 65% happened, which was the reunion! The two are super attracted to one another because they are perfect, striking, ice blue eyes and Scandinavian cheekbones (the author liked to point this out a bit) so what do Jared and Fenix fall back on? That's right, sex.
The sex was hot but repetitive with a variation of "fuck me hard", pre-lubricated condoms, anal stretching and lube use, like a gay sex equation. I started to yawn in the latter sex parts (me? can you believe it?) and was happy for the fade to black bits.
Hmm...am I forgetting something? Oh yes, the last 22% or what I like to call it, everything but the kitchen sink was added to make a wow factor. That last fifth was so unnecessary, there is a sex tape, death, fist fight, screaming, MANtrums on octane and then a police investigation that gets partially solved by a childish bitchout on the phone. The story was over earlier than 78% but for reunion and drama sake's it should have ended there. It's thrown in for entertainment value but I'm in that outlier reader population that didn't find it amusing. I don't need repeat scene rehashing to be beaten over the head while reading, I get the point.
To me, the story was weak, the cover was the best part. I did not like either main character but it's not their faults, it's how they were written.This is a popular book, the author has a het following that I'm sure will breach over to this series. For a first time MM novel, it's not the worst I've read, the style is not to my taste, sadly. Maybe if I read this ten years ago, I'd have rated this higher. Thankfully, it did not read like disguised MF romance...mostly (there were a few shaky parts but I won't bring them up), props to that.
So in closing:
I doubt I'll be reading book #2 that is being released in the upcoming weeks but you never know maybe I'll need a book where I can turn off my brain. My rating varies, I might come back and stick with the lower end, but it's in the 2-2.5 Hearts range.
Read
May 15, 2018No rating 😥
Calling it:
Time of book death at 21% 😔😔
Who is a quiter?
This is Insta , the kind i couldn't get into. I tried but it is Me! not the Book!.
I have nothing against Insta-anything, Lord knows Lucy Lennox has fed me Insta-everything in her books and i ate that shit up plus i did an encore. Here there was something missing, i guess i did not feel the spark between the MC's the moment they met.
I couldn't get into the Audio-book. The narrator's voice sounded the same for all characters. Thank the book gods one can return the audio.
I did not buy:
Day 1: Meet, have hot sex
Day 2: Take loan to renovate house because you have found the one. Move in together
Day 3: you are the one, and it for me i will look no further... I love you.
As Christelle would say the BAM factor!
The book has an average rating of 3.95 so maybe it is Me! and not the book.
The cover is hot!😋🔥
Calling it:
Time of book death at 21% 😔😔
Who is a quiter?
This is Insta , the kind i couldn't get into. I tried but it is Me! not the Book!.
I have nothing against Insta-anything, Lord knows Lucy Lennox has fed me Insta-everything in her books and i ate that shit up plus i did an encore. Here there was something missing, i guess i did not feel the spark between the MC's the moment they met.
I couldn't get into the Audio-book. The narrator's voice sounded the same for all characters. Thank the book gods one can return the audio.
I did not buy:
Day 1: Meet, have hot sex
Day 2: Take loan to renovate house because you have found the one. Move in together
Day 3: you are the one, and it for me i will look no further... I love you.
As Christelle would say the BAM factor!
The book has an average rating of 3.95 so maybe it is Me! and not the book.
The cover is hot!😋🔥
July 28, 2014
The cover and the dance theme instant attracted me to this book, and WOW... I´m so glad I read it!!
Was just what I was hoping for, such a beautiful love story with some great twists, some pain and some heartbreak but in the right measures.
The sex scenes between Fenix and Jared are incredibly sexy and off the charts, but also so beautiful and loving, the chemistry … oh my gosh!!
I loved the way they are honest with each other, they don´t hide their feelings, they are truly perfect, for me it has a sense of fairy-tale, and who doesn´t love a HEA!?
It isn´t 5 stars because there are some issues that doesn´t add up for me! But maybe is just me, read it and judge for yourself!
My boys!
Highly recommended!
PS: Teodora I have a small request … I want Adam to get his own book, please write about him!! <3
March 30, 2014
3.5 Stars!
Not too shabby! This is a new author for me....and I noticed there were quite a few typos!
But the story was pretty good and the steam factor was high!
Fenix and Jared are both dancers in musicals in London. Jared's home is in London. He's happy on West End performing. He hasn't met anyone relationship worthy.
Fenix's dream is to make it to Broadway. So when his play gets moved to West End he jumps at the chance, knowing he's one step closer to his ultimate goal. And then he meets Jared...
I've got to say, this was INSTA-INSTA love. Like super duper fast falling in love. But the story does span over several years so I think that helped...
Jared and Fenix share an intense connection. They live together, they work together, they spend all of their free time together, both are nominated for awards for their respective plays. Things couldn't be better for Jared and Fenix.
And then Fenix gets a call that will change everything. Now Fenix is forced to choose....his dreams of Broadway or a life with Jared in London?
Fenix soon learns that dreams aren't always worth living without the one you love by your side. But will it be too late?
I really liked Fenix and Jared's characters. They had great sexual chemistry and literally lit up the pages. I could have done without the "scandal" at the end...but overall, this was an enjoyable MM read.
Not too shabby! This is a new author for me....and I noticed there were quite a few typos!
But the story was pretty good and the steam factor was high!
Fenix and Jared are both dancers in musicals in London. Jared's home is in London. He's happy on West End performing. He hasn't met anyone relationship worthy.
Fenix's dream is to make it to Broadway. So when his play gets moved to West End he jumps at the chance, knowing he's one step closer to his ultimate goal. And then he meets Jared...
I've got to say, this was INSTA-INSTA love. Like super duper fast falling in love. But the story does span over several years so I think that helped...
Jared and Fenix share an intense connection. They live together, they work together, they spend all of their free time together, both are nominated for awards for their respective plays. Things couldn't be better for Jared and Fenix.
And then Fenix gets a call that will change everything. Now Fenix is forced to choose....his dreams of Broadway or a life with Jared in London?
Fenix soon learns that dreams aren't always worth living without the one you love by your side. But will it be too late?
I really liked Fenix and Jared's characters. They had great sexual chemistry and literally lit up the pages. I could have done without the "scandal" at the end...but overall, this was an enjoyable MM read.
April 9, 2018
This is my second book by this author and it thoroughly proves that "Ten Mile Bottom" the first book I read was no fluke. From what the author states this was her very first M/M romance book, it is hard to believe because OMG she writes m/m romance like she had been doing it forever. The writing in this book is intense, emotional in the very best way and sucks you in so deep that you sometimes forget to breathe. The characters she created so very multi-layered, deep, flawed and so real that you feel like they are someone who is part of your personal circle of friends. This story is not always light and happiness... after all it is about life. I think I'll end this review with a quote from the book that sums up everything perfectly.
"You once told me that dance is like life -- there are good moments and bad moments; moments when you sprain your ankle, but you have to go on, even when it hurts like hell; moments when the applause goes on for such a long time you feel like a god; moments when you nail the move you've been practising for a week and you feel invincible; moments when you're scared as hell to even cue up the music. But just like life, dance goes on whether you like it or not. It flows in your veins."
"You once told me that dance is like life -- there are good moments and bad moments; moments when you sprain your ankle, but you have to go on, even when it hurts like hell; moments when the applause goes on for such a long time you feel like a god; moments when you nail the move you've been practising for a week and you feel invincible; moments when you're scared as hell to even cue up the music. But just like life, dance goes on whether you like it or not. It flows in your veins."
August 8, 2016
Ronda de bailarines, toma 1
1,5 Estoy generosa y redondeo al alza porque la autora lo deja claro en la dedicatoria, esto es para los que creen en el amor a primera vista, bueno para el amor y todo lo demás porque ya estamos otra vez con el insta-todoloquesemenea
No me han gustado ellos, ni sus escarceos, ni sus diálogos, todo es absolutamente un tanto desproporcionado, como siempre digo, para mí, que no es que este libro sea malo, sólo que no es para mi.
Y por cierto, baile, baile, pues no... >:(
1,5 Estoy generosa y redondeo al alza porque la autora lo deja claro en la dedicatoria, esto es para los que creen en el amor a primera vista, bueno para el amor y todo lo demás porque ya estamos otra vez con el insta-todoloquesemenea
No me han gustado ellos, ni sus escarceos, ni sus diálogos, todo es absolutamente un tanto desproporcionado, como siempre digo, para mí, que no es que este libro sea malo, sólo que no es para mi.
Y por cierto, baile, baile, pues no... >:(
dnf
May 22, 2019DNF @ 6%
Well, that is some of the most awkward and clunky writing that I've come across in awhile. I'm already skimming. Onto the next book!
Well, that is some of the most awkward and clunky writing that I've come across in awhile. I'm already skimming. Onto the next book!
May 24, 2016
I really enjoyed the first half of this one but the second half killed it for me. This is my personal opinion, but I can't stand when an author takes time to establish a love story between two characters then when they are separated you have to read multiple detailed sex scenes with them hooking up with other people before they get back together again. I just feel like it takes so much away from their story. Bummed because I was really enjoying this and the theater dork in me wanted to love this.
January 6, 2015
I am so disappointed. Whatever happened to 'show, don't tell?'
April 11, 2014
I'm one of the few that didn't like this book, sadly. For me, it was another case of a fantastic cover and an interesting blurb with a story that didn't live up to them.
The beautiful cover is the first thing that caught my attention and from the blurb the book sounded like something I would like. Also, the reviews were very positive, so I decided to buy it. Unfortunately, I didn't like it at all and mostly that's because of two main problems: everything was rushed and there was too much telling and not enough showing.
About the rushing, it affected everything, not just the romance, which was a bad case of insta-love. Jared and Fenix both work in successful musicals and they meet when Fenix's show begins playing at the same theatre of Jared's and the two have to share the same dressing room: it's instant attraction. The two start spending time together, after two days they are in love, after three weeks they move in together. In the note at the end of the book, the author says she writes about love at first sight because she believes in it since it happened to her. Now, I don't question it, but to me it never makes for a good romance book, especially when written like it was in this book. I felt like there was no real basis to the supposed love between Jared and Fenix, because they basically didn't know anything about each other when they proclamed to be in love and started living together. Even at the end of the book, the characters were mostly misteries to me, I didn't know enough about them to care or to believe in their story.
The romance wasn't the only thing that was rushed. The obstacle on the characters' way was rushed too as was the resolution.
As for the second issue, too much telling and not enough showing, it was my biggest problem: we are told Jared and Fenix love each other, but it's never shown in a way that makes it feel real; we are told what happens when the two spend a time apart, but we aren't shown it; we are told about the resolution, but it's too quick and lacks depth; another obstacle is added in the end, totally unnecessarily in my opinion, but again it's told but we don't get to actually see how it affects the characters.
As a consequence, I couldn't enjoy the book. The characters were dull and sometimes acted like teenagers, the insta-love made me roll my eyes, the drama was most of the times over the top.
The beautiful cover is the first thing that caught my attention and from the blurb the book sounded like something I would like. Also, the reviews were very positive, so I decided to buy it. Unfortunately, I didn't like it at all and mostly that's because of two main problems: everything was rushed and there was too much telling and not enough showing.
About the rushing, it affected everything, not just the romance, which was a bad case of insta-love. Jared and Fenix both work in successful musicals and they meet when Fenix's show begins playing at the same theatre of Jared's and the two have to share the same dressing room: it's instant attraction. The two start spending time together, after two days they are in love, after three weeks they move in together. In the note at the end of the book, the author says she writes about love at first sight because she believes in it since it happened to her. Now, I don't question it, but to me it never makes for a good romance book, especially when written like it was in this book. I felt like there was no real basis to the supposed love between Jared and Fenix, because they basically didn't know anything about each other when they proclamed to be in love and started living together. Even at the end of the book, the characters were mostly misteries to me, I didn't know enough about them to care or to believe in their story.
The romance wasn't the only thing that was rushed. The obstacle on the characters' way was rushed too as was the resolution.
As for the second issue, too much telling and not enough showing, it was my biggest problem: we are told Jared and Fenix love each other, but it's never shown in a way that makes it feel real; we are told what happens when the two spend a time apart, but we aren't shown it; we are told about the resolution, but it's too quick and lacks depth; another obstacle is added in the end, totally unnecessarily in my opinion, but again it's told but we don't get to actually see how it affects the characters.
As a consequence, I couldn't enjoy the book. The characters were dull and sometimes acted like teenagers, the insta-love made me roll my eyes, the drama was most of the times over the top.
July 21, 2014
Fenix and Jared are both stage actor/singer/dancers. The triple threat. Jared is performing in a show at Queen Victoria Theater in West London which he co-wrote with his best friend Adam. Fenix gets the lead role in another musical about a rock bad which will be sharing the theater with Jared's show. He and Jared will also share a dressing room.
Fenix's goal has always been to star in a Broadway show. His mother did it but was injured in a suspicious accident many years ago which cut her career short and left her in a wheelchair. Fenix sees the show in West London as a stepping-stone to his ultimate goal. He plans to make Poison a success and make himself indispensible so that when the show is offered a spot on Broadway he will go along with it. He makes it clear to everyone, including Jared that this is his plan.
Fenix doesn't count on the immediate and undeniable need to be with Jared. Not just sexually. But every minute of every day. They fall very quickly into a serious relationship, both seeming to forget that this is only a stopover on Fenix's ride to the top. The first months of their relationship happen very quickly but take up a large portion of the book. There is so much sex, it is almost too much. Instead of developing a relationship through spending time together doing things for fun, talking, learning each other's likes and dislikes, Fenix and Jared have sex. Sometimes they talk, too. Mostly just the sex though. The first half of the book is made up of approximately the first eight months of their relationship.
When it looks like Fenix's dreams are coming true, their idyllic world seems to fall apart around them. It's unclear if either of them will survive without the other. They both take different paths to deal with their loneliness and sorrow, but they are both terribly bereft and sad. They have no contact for two years. This doesn't really make sense to me. If they loved each other, I would have expected them to most likely to have at least spoken or e-mailed to keep up with each other's careers if nothing else.
It is now about two-thirds of the way through the book. The pacing felt off to me. The first half covered eight months, then a small portion contained events of over two years, which were skimmed over by the author and given very little detail.
The initial insta-love caused a little eye rolling. As did the ease with which they parted ways when Broadway came calling. They were so miserable without each other that it seemed implausible to me that one of them wouldn't have reached out to the other. Then, when Fenix had reached his goal, he realized it wasn't enough. The ease with which he undid the previous two years was again, implausible. By this time, I wanted Jared and Fenix back together so badly I would have believed almost anything to see it happen!
I loved the characters and really wanted them to have everything they wanted. The supporting cast was engaging, too. Ms. Kostova described the dancing and scenes from both plays very well; I could practically smell the sweat. For the most part, I enjoyed the book.
I really did enjoy this book. I admittedly skimmed over a large portion of the sex, just because there was so, so much of it. I loved the last third of the book, even if, again, things happened too fast to feel real. By that point in time, it was what I expected from Jared and Fenix. The end and epilogue were deeply satisfying, but left Jared's best friend Adam hanging there, ripe for his sequel... I look forward to it.
Fenix's goal has always been to star in a Broadway show. His mother did it but was injured in a suspicious accident many years ago which cut her career short and left her in a wheelchair. Fenix sees the show in West London as a stepping-stone to his ultimate goal. He plans to make Poison a success and make himself indispensible so that when the show is offered a spot on Broadway he will go along with it. He makes it clear to everyone, including Jared that this is his plan.
Fenix doesn't count on the immediate and undeniable need to be with Jared. Not just sexually. But every minute of every day. They fall very quickly into a serious relationship, both seeming to forget that this is only a stopover on Fenix's ride to the top. The first months of their relationship happen very quickly but take up a large portion of the book. There is so much sex, it is almost too much. Instead of developing a relationship through spending time together doing things for fun, talking, learning each other's likes and dislikes, Fenix and Jared have sex. Sometimes they talk, too. Mostly just the sex though. The first half of the book is made up of approximately the first eight months of their relationship.
When it looks like Fenix's dreams are coming true, their idyllic world seems to fall apart around them. It's unclear if either of them will survive without the other. They both take different paths to deal with their loneliness and sorrow, but they are both terribly bereft and sad. They have no contact for two years. This doesn't really make sense to me. If they loved each other, I would have expected them to most likely to have at least spoken or e-mailed to keep up with each other's careers if nothing else.
It is now about two-thirds of the way through the book. The pacing felt off to me. The first half covered eight months, then a small portion contained events of over two years, which were skimmed over by the author and given very little detail.
The initial insta-love caused a little eye rolling. As did the ease with which they parted ways when Broadway came calling. They were so miserable without each other that it seemed implausible to me that one of them wouldn't have reached out to the other. Then, when Fenix had reached his goal, he realized it wasn't enough. The ease with which he undid the previous two years was again, implausible. By this time, I wanted Jared and Fenix back together so badly I would have believed almost anything to see it happen!
I loved the characters and really wanted them to have everything they wanted. The supporting cast was engaging, too. Ms. Kostova described the dancing and scenes from both plays very well; I could practically smell the sweat. For the most part, I enjoyed the book.
I really did enjoy this book. I admittedly skimmed over a large portion of the sex, just because there was so, so much of it. I loved the last third of the book, even if, again, things happened too fast to feel real. By that point in time, it was what I expected from Jared and Fenix. The end and epilogue were deeply satisfying, but left Jared's best friend Adam hanging there, ripe for his sequel... I look forward to it.
April 19, 2014
I really enjoyed this story, so much so that I read it in a single sitting. What a lovely way to start my weekend - curled up in bed with a good book. I only meant to read a chapter or two while I had my coffee but.....
Set against the backdrop of the theatre, Dance brings together Fenix, a rising star who dreams of Broadway, and Jared, who is living his dream on the stage in London.
This is a story of a grand romance, the type of love that, when it hits, it hits hard and fast. It's love at first sight and within days of meeting, Fenix and Jared are in love and inseparable.
I loved the openness and honesty, the lack of trying to hide feelings, instead grabbing the opportunity for love with both hands and not wasting a minute of being happy - such a great motto for life! And when Jared and Fen are together, it is magic.
There is a lot of sex in the story. These are men with strong feelings who aren't shy of being emotional but this doesn't mean it is all gentle loving. Jared and Fen are passionate and their coupling is frequent - at times making love but at others it's oh, so very hard and dirty!
It's not all roses for Jared and Fenix and the book has its period of heartache as they make stupid decisions. Their world moves from perfect happiness to one filled with darkness and sorrow. I like how the author managed the choices made by these men and how the same idea of grabbing what life gives you with both hands brings them back together.
The story finishes with a lovely happy ending.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for my honest review.
Set against the backdrop of the theatre, Dance brings together Fenix, a rising star who dreams of Broadway, and Jared, who is living his dream on the stage in London.
This is a story of a grand romance, the type of love that, when it hits, it hits hard and fast. It's love at first sight and within days of meeting, Fenix and Jared are in love and inseparable.
"Come home with me," he said quietly. Fenix hesitated. "Please. I..." he pulled back to look in his eyes. "I want to make love to you in a bed. Not that this wasn't great, but fast and hard in a club's toilet is not my idea of romance."
"I wasn't aware we were looking for romance," Fenix replied, his voice teasing.
"Well, now that you are aware, will you come home with me?"
I loved the openness and honesty, the lack of trying to hide feelings, instead grabbing the opportunity for love with both hands and not wasting a minute of being happy - such a great motto for life! And when Jared and Fen are together, it is magic.
There is a lot of sex in the story. These are men with strong feelings who aren't shy of being emotional but this doesn't mean it is all gentle loving. Jared and Fen are passionate and their coupling is frequent - at times making love but at others it's oh, so very hard and dirty!
It's not all roses for Jared and Fenix and the book has its period of heartache as they make stupid decisions. Their world moves from perfect happiness to one filled with darkness and sorrow. I like how the author managed the choices made by these men and how the same idea of grabbing what life gives you with both hands brings them back together.
The story finishes with a lovely happy ending.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for my honest review.
October 25, 2019
Potential spoilers ahead, proceed with caution (and at your own risk)::
WTF??!!!!?!! What just happened??!!!?? [Fenix] You say he is IT for you (too) and you go off and do THAT?!!!? Wow!! You would think you'd try harder ... you would think you'd hang in there and try to make it work ... you would think YOU WOULDN'T FUCKING RUN OFF AND FUCK SOMEONE ELSE!!!
Given how much these two feel for one another right off the bat, I just cannot forgive Fenix for what he has done. I can't. It's not like they were "over" ... they love each other. I mean ... Fenix, in love with Jared and miserable they aren't together (because they threw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty), goes and FUCKS SOMEONE ELSE (???!!!!????). Also, Jared, sad about this ridiculous state of affairs goes and bangs his ex-boyfriend, Adam?!!? Cheating. CHEATING galore!!!
I do not like this ... I mean, where is the meaning ... where is the HEART behind all the beautiful sentiment you've shared with one another?!!? To go and have someone else shove his dick in your ass because you're miserable and missing Jared [or one another for that matter] is NOT the way to go >:-o!!! I see this as cheating on SO many levels and you know what? I do NOT want to read about how the two MCs, who supposedly feel this "incredible and amazing connection", all of a sudden turn around and start fucking other people, because they want to be together but aren't willing to fight for one another. WTH?!!? Things are difficult so you give up?!!? Great message [insert sarcasm here]!! I'm done!! I'm glad I tried this but I am equally, or perhaps even more glad, that I KUed this!! Peace out!!
Note: Nothing annoys me more than thinking a book is off to a great start, lulling me into this false sense of book-security, then BAM ... bullshit city!! No. Just no!!
WTF??!!!!?!! What just happened??!!!?? [Fenix] You say he is IT for you (too) and you go off and do THAT?!!!? Wow!! You would think you'd try harder ... you would think you'd hang in there and try to make it work ... you would think YOU WOULDN'T FUCKING RUN OFF AND FUCK SOMEONE ELSE!!!
Given how much these two feel for one another right off the bat, I just cannot forgive Fenix for what he has done. I can't. It's not like they were "over" ... they love each other. I mean ... Fenix, in love with Jared and miserable they aren't together (because they threw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty), goes and FUCKS SOMEONE ELSE (???!!!!????). Also, Jared, sad about this ridiculous state of affairs goes and bangs his ex-boyfriend, Adam?!!? Cheating. CHEATING galore!!!
I do not like this ... I mean, where is the meaning ... where is the HEART behind all the beautiful sentiment you've shared with one another?!!? To go and have someone else shove his dick in your ass because you're miserable and missing Jared [or one another for that matter] is NOT the way to go >:-o!!! I see this as cheating on SO many levels and you know what? I do NOT want to read about how the two MCs, who supposedly feel this "incredible and amazing connection", all of a sudden turn around and start fucking other people, because they want to be together but aren't willing to fight for one another. WTH?!!? Things are difficult so you give up?!!? Great message [insert sarcasm here]!! I'm done!! I'm glad I tried this but I am equally, or perhaps even more glad, that I KUed this!! Peace out!!
Note: Nothing annoys me more than thinking a book is off to a great start, lulling me into this false sense of book-security, then BAM ... bullshit city!! No. Just no!!
March 3, 2017
***** Gosh, I simply absorbed this book...wow ! The cover alone is stunning !! ***** I didn't want it to end, and I loved every line. If the deep characters and smokin' hot sex weren't enough to keep your attention, the well written story would. Thought-filled emotions, intense, amazing character development, and a steady flowing plot will engage you. These terrific men are in established careers, intelligent and thriving. Teodora Kostkova writes a beautiful story of M/M love at first sight, and the immensely riveting flow their lives take from the sensational beginning to the heartwarming conclusion. Their love knew no bounds. We get stupendous, erotic, enthralling sex scenes that make your knees weak. Loved it !!! The reader also gets dual POV, which made it that much richer. Was this book perfect, no, but the characters were sensational, and I loved it !!
Highly recommend ! E N J O Y !!!
===============================================
Highly recommend ! E N J O Y !!!
===============================================
March 27, 2014
Book gifted from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover :- 5 stars
Sex/steaminess :- 4 stars
Story line :- 5 stars
Characters :-4 stars
Overall rating :- 4.5 stars
Personal rating :- 5 stars
Book Pairing:- M/M
Did it give me a book hangover :- Yes
Is this a review book or personal read :- Review Read
Why I chose this book?
The author let me proof read and Beta read this book.
What I liked about this book.
* Hot and steamy
* It's not all romance there is angst thrown in.
* The author has created a great world that sucks you in.
What I didn't like about this book.
* Adam lol but the author already Knows that.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes
Would I recommend this book?
Yes to M/M Lovers. This is also a good book to help start someone on the M/M genre.
Cover :- 5 stars
Sex/steaminess :- 4 stars
Story line :- 5 stars
Characters :-4 stars
Overall rating :- 4.5 stars
Personal rating :- 5 stars
Book Pairing:- M/M
Did it give me a book hangover :- Yes
Is this a review book or personal read :- Review Read
Why I chose this book?
The author let me proof read and Beta read this book.
What I liked about this book.
* Hot and steamy
* It's not all romance there is angst thrown in.
* The author has created a great world that sucks you in.
What I didn't like about this book.
* Adam lol but the author already Knows that.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes
Would I recommend this book?
Yes to M/M Lovers. This is also a good book to help start someone on the M/M genre.
December 3, 2020
Review to come.
April 24, 2014
The setting around dance and the theater created a vibrant background for the story. I wanted to see the musical, it felt that real. The two MCs made a hot couple. There were sparks flying off the page when they met. Although this was a story of instant love and lust, it continued for years. Their love deepen. Then heartbreak. The depths of sorrow and despair of the MCs felt as real as their love had.
One minor point that bothered me. The guys kept saying they each liked their love hard and dirty, yet the sex scenes, while hot and heavy were not hard and dirty. Either way can work in a story but why keep saying one and doing the other? Minor point as I said.
The cover was excellent. Beautiful and sensual.
This is a new author for me. I see that Adam's story will be published soon. I will read that one also.
One minor point that bothered me. The guys kept saying they each liked their love hard and dirty, yet the sex scenes, while hot and heavy were not hard and dirty. Either way can work in a story but why keep saying one and doing the other? Minor point as I said.
The cover was excellent. Beautiful and sensual.
This is a new author for me. I see that Adam's story will be published soon. I will read that one also.
May 24, 2016
*1.5 stars*
it is a miracle I finished this book. and I am so disappointed I have no words, i wanted to read this story for years now and when i finally could it turnd out to be ridiculously close to soap opera, sappy, nauseating and simply STUPID.
I disliked both MCs. They are childish and weird. they don't act like adults for sure. the whole plot is based on the love at first sight but sure as hell it seems more like i-can't -take-my-dick-out of-you at first fuck.
it is terrible. naive.
it is a miracle I finished this book. and I am so disappointed I have no words, i wanted to read this story for years now and when i finally could it turnd out to be ridiculously close to soap opera, sappy, nauseating and simply STUPID.
I disliked both MCs. They are childish and weird. they don't act like adults for sure. the whole plot is based on the love at first sight but sure as hell it seems more like i-can't -take-my-dick-out of-you at first fuck.
it is terrible. naive.
March 28, 2014
Well, this is a first for me.
I love and adore Teodora Kostova's writing and literally can't wait for the next thing she is going to publish.
So, when I found out it was M/M, I was a little scared. Not because of her talent..but becuase this will be my first time reading it.
Now, as you start Dance, you immediately meet Fenix. I absolutely love the name and he is such a sensational character. He draws you in to his life; feeling his passions and desires. He is full of life and ambition...you instantly feel the pull to root for everything he does.
But, then, in walks Jared and we get to hear all about him from Fenix. And you just know that it is going to get HOT!!!
And let me tell you..it gets SCORCHING HOT!!!
Thankfully Dance is told in dualing POVs, so we get to be inside both Fenix and Jared's heads.
So, as these two meet we get to experience everything. You literally are able to feel the attraction oozing off the pages.
I mean...HOT DAYUM!!!
It is a romance that is ignited quickly and explodes in to so much more.
You are riding high with them...enjoying all their sizzling interludes...*fans self*
And the...BAM...not everything can stay perfect...Ultimately life comes crashing in and Fenix and Jared make some hard decisions...
I was so angry at the choices made. I understood, yet I just did not agree...
My heart broke and all I can remember is the ache in my chest, patiently waiting...hoping....for life to change for these two...
Did I get my HEA??
Well, I am not going to tell ya..
You will need to read this book to discover the amazing, beautiful love story found in these pages. *wink, wink*
I love and adore Teodora Kostova's writing and literally can't wait for the next thing she is going to publish.
So, when I found out it was M/M, I was a little scared. Not because of her talent..but becuase this will be my first time reading it.
Now, as you start Dance, you immediately meet Fenix. I absolutely love the name and he is such a sensational character. He draws you in to his life; feeling his passions and desires. He is full of life and ambition...you instantly feel the pull to root for everything he does.
But, then, in walks Jared and we get to hear all about him from Fenix. And you just know that it is going to get HOT!!!
And let me tell you..it gets SCORCHING HOT!!!
Thankfully Dance is told in dualing POVs, so we get to be inside both Fenix and Jared's heads.
So, as these two meet we get to experience everything. You literally are able to feel the attraction oozing off the pages.
I mean...HOT DAYUM!!!
It is a romance that is ignited quickly and explodes in to so much more.
You are riding high with them...enjoying all their sizzling interludes...*fans self*
And the...BAM...not everything can stay perfect...Ultimately life comes crashing in and Fenix and Jared make some hard decisions...
I was so angry at the choices made. I understood, yet I just did not agree...
My heart broke and all I can remember is the ache in my chest, patiently waiting...hoping....for life to change for these two...
Did I get my HEA??
Well, I am not going to tell ya..
You will need to read this book to discover the amazing, beautiful love story found in these pages. *wink, wink*
November 21, 2015
2nd read Nov. 2015:
I'm going to bump this one up to 5 stars after having listened to the audio. Not that the audio version was spectacular, but I really just love Jared and Fenix too much.
Original review from July 2014:
Jared and Fenix both have starring roles in a London West End theatre. When they meet, it’s love at first sight. Or at the very minimum lust at first sight. It gets very hot very quickly. And there are plenty steamy scenes throughout the book. Which I personally consider a good thing.
The ‘drama’ of the book centers on the topic of love vs. career and the MCs obviously don’t make the right choice every time. Still this was a fairly light read. At no point was I truly worried about not getting a HEA.
At this point I have to give a slight hint of a warning; if you have a problem with ‘sweet’, this might be too much for you in the end. I love sweet stories and happy endings and even I was beginning to wonder if maybe the author was laying it on a bit to thick. But – naah - not really. I loved it.
I have one complaint: The name! Fenix? Seriously? My brain was in auto-correct mode through the entire book. That was kind of annoying and totally unnecessary.
I'm going to bump this one up to 5 stars after having listened to the audio. Not that the audio version was spectacular, but I really just love Jared and Fenix too much.
Original review from July 2014:
Jared and Fenix both have starring roles in a London West End theatre. When they meet, it’s love at first sight. Or at the very minimum lust at first sight. It gets very hot very quickly. And there are plenty steamy scenes throughout the book. Which I personally consider a good thing.
The ‘drama’ of the book centers on the topic of love vs. career and the MCs obviously don’t make the right choice every time. Still this was a fairly light read. At no point was I truly worried about not getting a HEA.
At this point I have to give a slight hint of a warning; if you have a problem with ‘sweet’, this might be too much for you in the end. I love sweet stories and happy endings and even I was beginning to wonder if maybe the author was laying it on a bit to thick. But – naah - not really. I loved it.
I have one complaint: The name! Fenix? Seriously? My brain was in auto-correct mode through the entire book. That was kind of annoying and totally unnecessary.
April 23, 2014
This may just be my favourite mm read so far, I loved it, wanted to devour it in one sitting but life wouldn't let me, so had it on my mind while waiting to get back to it. I love getting pulled into a book so much it takes over your thoughts.
The characters Jared and Fenix were so real to me, being actors and dancers they were passionate people but together they just sizzled.
Sex scenes were hot, but it wasn't all sex, the was tenderness and feelings and let's face it real life in this book.
The writing and story flowed effortlessly, talking story what a roller coaster of emotions you get put through, I was willing the writing to alter quickly as I wanted things sorted, but you have to wait it out. The wait is worth it though, I'm left now with a warm happy feeling.
If you like mm or even if you haven't dipped into it I'd recommend this book.
Fenix <3 Jared
Five vampy and racey stars from me.
*I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review.*
The characters Jared and Fenix were so real to me, being actors and dancers they were passionate people but together they just sizzled.
Sex scenes were hot, but it wasn't all sex, the was tenderness and feelings and let's face it real life in this book.
The writing and story flowed effortlessly, talking story what a roller coaster of emotions you get put through, I was willing the writing to alter quickly as I wanted things sorted, but you have to wait it out. The wait is worth it though, I'm left now with a warm happy feeling.
If you like mm or even if you haven't dipped into it I'd recommend this book.
Fenix <3 Jared
Five vampy and racey stars from me.
*I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review.*
July 18, 2014
This was an enjoyable enough read and although both characters are definitely male the story read a little like an MF love story.
There was a lot of sex in the first half of the story, and honestly I would have liked more about the MC's instead.
There was a lot of sex in the first half of the story, and honestly I would have liked more about the MC's instead.
April 27, 2017
I wasn't able to connect with this book; I didn't like it. Too much insta-everything. Too over the top drama. Just wasn't for me. DNF
May 4, 2016
Once upon a time, in a land far far away…
Fenix Bergman was sure that the musical Poison was just the beginning of his rise to fame. And when it got a contract with the Queen Victoria he knew that his trip across the Atlantic was worth the separation from the Broadway stage. Little does he know that the Queen Vic has more than just stage and fame waiting for him, because sharing a dressing room with the famous Jared Hartley sparks something deep and instant in both men. Some might think love at first sight is a fool’s dream, but Jared and Fenix know it is real; because from the moment they meet it is love and nothing else. Love and everything else.
But Fenix still dreams of Broadway, and Jared still feels the loss of his family. And both have interfering and temperamental friends pulling them in separate directions. If the pair expect to have a Happily Ever After they might just need a little of that stage magic they’re so famous for.
I’ve had a bit of a bad run of luck when it has come to books with stage-actors, lately. Or maybe it has been the pool of unknown authors that I’ve been trying to explore. Either way, I was pretty much going into this book with my fingers crossed and hoping that I didn’t get stuck with yet another dud.
And for the most part…I think I lucked out here.
I absolutely loved the first half of this story. It was lighthearted. It was fun. It was cute. It was sexy. It was just what I was hoping for, really. And even though I am pretty skeptical when it comes to books with insta-love, I didn’t mind it at all. At least in the beginning.
For the first half it was great…and then it just kinda spiraled out of control for a bit.
See my whole issue with insta-love is the way it is presented in some books: the full-on, all the time, instant and perfect happiness, love, and understanding at every moment of every day. That is not how love works. I can buy that you see someone and you just know that they are the one. I have no problem with that. I like that. But then to take that knowing and make it into some romance cliché of perfectness…that is just too much for me. Jared and Fenix are just too damn perfect. They have the perfect life, with the perfect partner, they work at the perfect job-–and do that job perfectly. I fully expect that when they walk into a room people find themselves fainting because their perfectness must radiate off them like perfect waves of bright white light.
Which made it very odd that in the course of an hour all of it came crashing down. Were they not the perfect couple? Did they not know that their perfect love could conquer all? If they were so damn perfect why did they not bother to even talk about what to do about Fenix’s offer, instead of throwing ultimatums at each other’s heads, then stomping around like 13 year olds? Could it be that all their perfectness does not in fact make a perfect relationship?
I just had a hard time buying their relationship at this point. Fine, they are in love…but the way they are presented and the way they act are two different pictures. Which would have been fine-–it shows the flaws and the differences between what we want to believe vs. what is real. But then to turn around and throw them back together, with nary a consequence or dent in those oh-so-perfect feelings…that was too much for me.
It didn’t feel real. It felt like I was reading a fairytale. It was a perfect love, lived in a perfect life. Even their breakup was perfectly miserable-–followed by a perfect reconciliation and walk into the perfect sunset. Just too much damn perfect.
And it was not a hard read. It had really good characters, and a really good story. I loved the acting portions of the book, and would love to actually see these productions. It was fun, and flirty, and there are some definite benefits to being that fit and that bendy…but by the end it was just too over the top. Even the sad bit seemed perfectly predictable. And that made what could have been a great book nothing but perfectly average.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Fenix Bergman was sure that the musical Poison was just the beginning of his rise to fame. And when it got a contract with the Queen Victoria he knew that his trip across the Atlantic was worth the separation from the Broadway stage. Little does he know that the Queen Vic has more than just stage and fame waiting for him, because sharing a dressing room with the famous Jared Hartley sparks something deep and instant in both men. Some might think love at first sight is a fool’s dream, but Jared and Fenix know it is real; because from the moment they meet it is love and nothing else. Love and everything else.
But Fenix still dreams of Broadway, and Jared still feels the loss of his family. And both have interfering and temperamental friends pulling them in separate directions. If the pair expect to have a Happily Ever After they might just need a little of that stage magic they’re so famous for.
I’ve had a bit of a bad run of luck when it has come to books with stage-actors, lately. Or maybe it has been the pool of unknown authors that I’ve been trying to explore. Either way, I was pretty much going into this book with my fingers crossed and hoping that I didn’t get stuck with yet another dud.
And for the most part…I think I lucked out here.
I absolutely loved the first half of this story. It was lighthearted. It was fun. It was cute. It was sexy. It was just what I was hoping for, really. And even though I am pretty skeptical when it comes to books with insta-love, I didn’t mind it at all. At least in the beginning.
For the first half it was great…and then it just kinda spiraled out of control for a bit.
See my whole issue with insta-love is the way it is presented in some books: the full-on, all the time, instant and perfect happiness, love, and understanding at every moment of every day. That is not how love works. I can buy that you see someone and you just know that they are the one. I have no problem with that. I like that. But then to take that knowing and make it into some romance cliché of perfectness…that is just too much for me. Jared and Fenix are just too damn perfect. They have the perfect life, with the perfect partner, they work at the perfect job-–and do that job perfectly. I fully expect that when they walk into a room people find themselves fainting because their perfectness must radiate off them like perfect waves of bright white light.
Which made it very odd that in the course of an hour all of it came crashing down. Were they not the perfect couple? Did they not know that their perfect love could conquer all? If they were so damn perfect why did they not bother to even talk about what to do about Fenix’s offer, instead of throwing ultimatums at each other’s heads, then stomping around like 13 year olds? Could it be that all their perfectness does not in fact make a perfect relationship?
I just had a hard time buying their relationship at this point. Fine, they are in love…but the way they are presented and the way they act are two different pictures. Which would have been fine-–it shows the flaws and the differences between what we want to believe vs. what is real. But then to turn around and throw them back together, with nary a consequence or dent in those oh-so-perfect feelings…that was too much for me.
It didn’t feel real. It felt like I was reading a fairytale. It was a perfect love, lived in a perfect life. Even their breakup was perfectly miserable-–followed by a perfect reconciliation and walk into the perfect sunset. Just too much damn perfect.
And it was not a hard read. It had really good characters, and a really good story. I loved the acting portions of the book, and would love to actually see these productions. It was fun, and flirty, and there are some definite benefits to being that fit and that bendy…but by the end it was just too over the top. Even the sad bit seemed perfectly predictable. And that made what could have been a great book nothing but perfectly average.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
June 30, 2016
https://trelibrisoprailcielo.com/2016...
Leggendo gli estratti e la trama di questo libro, mi ero già mezza innamorata. E leggendolo… Beh! Colpo di fulmine. Ho adorato la storia di questi due ragazzi uniti dall’amore per i musical fin dalle prime righe.
Tutto inizia quando Fenix Bergman, un ragazzo che sogna di sbarcare a Broadway, accetta di esibirsi come protagonista per il musical Poison, nello stesso teatro dove lavora Jared Hartley. I due devono dividere il camerino nel teatro di Londra e da subito l’attrazione divampa tra loro. Dal sesso all’amore, il passo è breve e si ritrovano in una relazione che, fin da subito, li soddisfa pienamente perché sembra essere la coronazione di un sogno che non sapevano nemmeno di avere nel cassetto. Ma Fenix ne ha sempre avuto un altro di sogno, un’aspirazione che ha fin da quando era un bambino: esibirsi a Broadway dove arrivano i grandi del teatro mondiale. E, grazie al suo grande talento, il suo musical ottiene un contratto proprio per andarsi a esibire sul palcoscenico Newyorkese. Questo, però, ostacola la storia d’amore tra i due ragazzi e potrebbe rovinare tutto tra Fenix e Jared. Riuscirà la relazione tra i due uomini a sopravvivere a questa grandiosa proposta di lavoro per Fenix? Oppure quest’ultimo rinuncerà a questa opportunità per amore di Jared?
Io amo i musical e leggere questo libro, ambientato in un teatro, è stata una piacevole sorpresa, un’atmosfera diversa e particolare che mi ha coinvolta dalla prima all’ultima pagina. Siamo abituati a vedere gli attori dal di fuori, sul palcoscenico, e non ci soffermiamo a pensare a quali costi e sacrifici debbano andare incontro queste persone.
Questo libro ci porta dritti nel backstage, e ci fa conoscere questo mondo che ci sembra divertente e leggero, ma che nasconde tanto lavoro e tanta fatica.
È il primo libro che leggo di quest’autrice e non vedo l’ora di poterne leggere altri. Ben scritto, scene di sesso appassionanti e sexy, coinvolgente e scorrevole e con una storia d’amore meravigliosa! Sì, perché Fenix e Jared mi sono entrati nel cuore e me ne sono innamorata. Mi hanno fatto piangere, e non poco, così teneri, così innamorati, così testardi e impulsivi. Questo libro mi ha regalato tante emozioni e, per questo, sono certa che sarà uno di quelli che rileggerò spesso.
E comunque… Io, il musical di Fenix, lo vorrei proprio vedere! La scena finale dello spettacolo deve essere qualcosa di meraviglioso. Ok questo non c’entrava niente, scusate!
Leggendo gli estratti e la trama di questo libro, mi ero già mezza innamorata. E leggendolo… Beh! Colpo di fulmine. Ho adorato la storia di questi due ragazzi uniti dall’amore per i musical fin dalle prime righe.
Tutto inizia quando Fenix Bergman, un ragazzo che sogna di sbarcare a Broadway, accetta di esibirsi come protagonista per il musical Poison, nello stesso teatro dove lavora Jared Hartley. I due devono dividere il camerino nel teatro di Londra e da subito l’attrazione divampa tra loro. Dal sesso all’amore, il passo è breve e si ritrovano in una relazione che, fin da subito, li soddisfa pienamente perché sembra essere la coronazione di un sogno che non sapevano nemmeno di avere nel cassetto. Ma Fenix ne ha sempre avuto un altro di sogno, un’aspirazione che ha fin da quando era un bambino: esibirsi a Broadway dove arrivano i grandi del teatro mondiale. E, grazie al suo grande talento, il suo musical ottiene un contratto proprio per andarsi a esibire sul palcoscenico Newyorkese. Questo, però, ostacola la storia d’amore tra i due ragazzi e potrebbe rovinare tutto tra Fenix e Jared. Riuscirà la relazione tra i due uomini a sopravvivere a questa grandiosa proposta di lavoro per Fenix? Oppure quest’ultimo rinuncerà a questa opportunità per amore di Jared?
Io amo i musical e leggere questo libro, ambientato in un teatro, è stata una piacevole sorpresa, un’atmosfera diversa e particolare che mi ha coinvolta dalla prima all’ultima pagina. Siamo abituati a vedere gli attori dal di fuori, sul palcoscenico, e non ci soffermiamo a pensare a quali costi e sacrifici debbano andare incontro queste persone.
Questo libro ci porta dritti nel backstage, e ci fa conoscere questo mondo che ci sembra divertente e leggero, ma che nasconde tanto lavoro e tanta fatica.
È il primo libro che leggo di quest’autrice e non vedo l’ora di poterne leggere altri. Ben scritto, scene di sesso appassionanti e sexy, coinvolgente e scorrevole e con una storia d’amore meravigliosa! Sì, perché Fenix e Jared mi sono entrati nel cuore e me ne sono innamorata. Mi hanno fatto piangere, e non poco, così teneri, così innamorati, così testardi e impulsivi. Questo libro mi ha regalato tante emozioni e, per questo, sono certa che sarà uno di quelli che rileggerò spesso.
E comunque… Io, il musical di Fenix, lo vorrei proprio vedere! La scena finale dello spettacolo deve essere qualcosa di meraviglioso. Ok questo non c’entrava niente, scusate!
April 28, 2016
I picked this up because i was looking for a "performer" book for a reading challenge. Fenix is a singer/dancer/actor and Jared is an actor/writer/producer ((having co-written the play he performs in)) Not realizing it was "insta-love" i jumped in blind. I sort of inwardly groaned at it as it was happening.... bear with me here, I know this sounds negative, but it gets better...
I went on for the sake of finishing it for my challenge, and the fact that the audio narrator was English :D I gotta say, I am so glad I stuck with it. This was NOT your average insta-love. The kind thats all "we'll fly away and live happily ever after". Oh no... they meet, they fall in love, they move in together, they do their performances, they break up....
Angst
Angst
Angst
The grass is always greener on the other side. How do you know how you'll feel if you don't try? I can't even be mad at Fen for chasing his dream, or for Jared not giving his up. They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Fenix learned that the hardest way possible. Being stuck in a contract and across an ocean for years took a toll on him. He realizes that Broadway really wasn't his dream after all. As soon as he was able, he returns. Fenix is prepared to wait forever for Jared, but just as they knew when they first met that they were it for each other, it doesn't take long for them to reconcile. What I loved about this though was that, even though they fell in love right away, their stories didn't end there. We get 8 years of them together. Growing closer, getting stronger, and performing better than ever. Overcoming obstacles that may knock some people down. Their relationship was strong and beautiful and I don't think I could see this book being written any other way after having finished it. And that ending? Oh that ending is delightful!! Their ultimate dream gets granted. I think this was beautifully written and narrated at that. I can't wait for Adam's story ((he's Jared's BFF and co-writer))
I went on for the sake of finishing it for my challenge, and the fact that the audio narrator was English :D I gotta say, I am so glad I stuck with it. This was NOT your average insta-love. The kind thats all "we'll fly away and live happily ever after". Oh no... they meet, they fall in love, they move in together, they do their performances, they break up....
Angst
Angst
Angst
The grass is always greener on the other side. How do you know how you'll feel if you don't try? I can't even be mad at Fen for chasing his dream, or for Jared not giving his up. They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Fenix learned that the hardest way possible. Being stuck in a contract and across an ocean for years took a toll on him. He realizes that Broadway really wasn't his dream after all. As soon as he was able, he returns. Fenix is prepared to wait forever for Jared, but just as they knew when they first met that they were it for each other, it doesn't take long for them to reconcile. What I loved about this though was that, even though they fell in love right away, their stories didn't end there. We get 8 years of them together. Growing closer, getting stronger, and performing better than ever. Overcoming obstacles that may knock some people down. Their relationship was strong and beautiful and I don't think I could see this book being written any other way after having finished it. And that ending? Oh that ending is delightful!! Their ultimate dream gets granted. I think this was beautifully written and narrated at that. I can't wait for Adam's story ((he's Jared's BFF and co-writer))
July 21, 2014
This is a very nice story told from the POV of both MCs, Fenix and Jared. Both young men are starring in West End (London) plays held in the same theater. Jared's is a kid's show running four days a week, and Fenix's show is adult and based on the rise of a well-known rock band. The role is ideal for Fenix whose mother is a famous ballet dancer, and perfect for Fenix's goal of being recognized in London so that he'll fast track to Broadway, his lifetime dream.
It's love at first sight for these guys and they move in together immediately and have over a year of happy bliss together, both win coveted Sir Lawrence Olivier Awards for their work. When Fenix gets the offer to move to Broadway with his play, he doesn't hesitate, but breaks Jared's heart in the process.
I liked the characters, and the plays the men were in seemed perfect for their personalities. The secondary characters were well fleshed out as well. But I found the whole story to be too simplistic and overly sweet with the love at first sight, and then later, forgiveness and welcome home for the guys. And there was a lot of sex, so much so that I found myself skimming the scenes.
Of course, they get their HEA, picket fence and all and overall, I'd recommend it to those who love a story that falls into place without a lot of grief and angst. It's there, but in small measure. And if you need to feed your sweet tooth, this is the one for you.
It's love at first sight for these guys and they move in together immediately and have over a year of happy bliss together, both win coveted Sir Lawrence Olivier Awards for their work. When Fenix gets the offer to move to Broadway with his play, he doesn't hesitate, but breaks Jared's heart in the process.
I liked the characters, and the plays the men were in seemed perfect for their personalities. The secondary characters were well fleshed out as well. But I found the whole story to be too simplistic and overly sweet with the love at first sight, and then later, forgiveness and welcome home for the guys. And there was a lot of sex, so much so that I found myself skimming the scenes.
Of course, they get their HEA, picket fence and all and overall, I'd recommend it to those who love a story that falls into place without a lot of grief and angst. It's there, but in small measure. And if you need to feed your sweet tooth, this is the one for you.
January 16, 2015
OK. This book hit several of my "OMG I HATE THAT TROPE" tropes. 1. Instalove. I will almost never get behind this. My enjoyment from reading almost always stems from the relationship building. SOMETIMES, that happens in instalove stories but most often instalove stories rely on sexual chemistry to demonstrate the relationship and this story was no different than most. 2. This leads from the first trope...relationships where all emotional connection is based on sexual chemistry. 3. Extremely codependent/jealous/toxic actions being proof of how much two people love each other. 4. Melodrama to the Max - Every little thing was blown to a thousand times the needed proportion AND THEN the things that might need a little extra attention and plot time (coming back after two years, mother's death, decision to leave theater) were brushed over with a wave of the hand in a scant few pages.
The writing itself was not bad so if the above are tropes you enjoy, you might enjoy this story. However, the plot decisions made at almost every step seemed punch every button I have so I was not able to enjoy this story at all. There also appeared to be a LOT of typos and some not just the wrong letter but totally wrong word choice (E.G. Using the word "faithful" instead of "fateful" They have a completely different meaning).
The writing itself was not bad so if the above are tropes you enjoy, you might enjoy this story. However, the plot decisions made at almost every step seemed punch every button I have so I was not able to enjoy this story at all. There also appeared to be a LOT of typos and some not just the wrong letter but totally wrong word choice (E.G. Using the word "faithful" instead of "fateful" They have a completely different meaning).
November 25, 2015
From Valleys To Mountaintops, This Story Is Full Of Emotions.
Fenix and Jared completely grab your world and sling shot you into theirs. This story takes you on a journey from both of them. Teodora writes an amazing story with such detail that you are living with them and feel their happiness, sexiness, love, hurt, sadness and everything from the valleys to the mountaintops. These two men are amazing by themselves but when brought together, oh holy hotness!!! Let’s just say with Fenix as a dancer, he is quite bendy, and that turns on Jared more than anything. The strongest part of the story shows that if you truly love someone, you will not get in their way even though it may break your heart. We live through that heartbreak and you will feel that despair, but when you think it cannot get worse……does it? This story is a must read if you want to feel all the emotions a person can feel.
I absolutely loved Fenix and Jared. I felt honored that I could be a part of their connection and relationship. These men are men you want in your life as friends. They are giving, understanding, and loving to everyone and to each other. I completely recommend this story if you want to have that one in a million read.
Fenix and Jared completely grab your world and sling shot you into theirs. This story takes you on a journey from both of them. Teodora writes an amazing story with such detail that you are living with them and feel their happiness, sexiness, love, hurt, sadness and everything from the valleys to the mountaintops. These two men are amazing by themselves but when brought together, oh holy hotness!!! Let’s just say with Fenix as a dancer, he is quite bendy, and that turns on Jared more than anything. The strongest part of the story shows that if you truly love someone, you will not get in their way even though it may break your heart. We live through that heartbreak and you will feel that despair, but when you think it cannot get worse……does it? This story is a must read if you want to feel all the emotions a person can feel.
I absolutely loved Fenix and Jared. I felt honored that I could be a part of their connection and relationship. These men are men you want in your life as friends. They are giving, understanding, and loving to everyone and to each other. I completely recommend this story if you want to have that one in a million read.
March 27, 2016
Major insta-love. Sex. Multiple jumps in time. Lots of telling, not showing. Inevitable breakup. Long separation. On-page sex with other partners. Insta-reunion. Sex. HEA.
That about sums up this book. Fenix and Jared's relationship was superficial, and it never adequately deepened. The reunion should have been a slow-build with the MCs taking the time to get to know each other, finding out who each had become. But the book merrily skips along without stopping to reflect on the impact of the time apart. Mostly, I felt sorry for Adam.
I think I was supposed to feel that it was so romantic how Fenix and Jared didn't want to waste time with hurt feelings and talking things out to get to the same conclusion. That time would not have been wasted. It would have made me feel that love that these MCs too easily embraced.
That about sums up this book. Fenix and Jared's relationship was superficial, and it never adequately deepened. The reunion should have been a slow-build with the MCs taking the time to get to know each other, finding out who each had become. But the book merrily skips along without stopping to reflect on the impact of the time apart. Mostly, I felt sorry for Adam.
I think I was supposed to feel that it was so romantic how Fenix and Jared didn't want to waste time with hurt feelings and talking things out to get to the same conclusion. That time would not have been wasted. It would have made me feel that love that these MCs too easily embraced.
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