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From Out in the Cold
Neil Dalton’s foundation is already cracking. Grief, guilt, and PTSD have ruled his life since a terrible crime tore his world apart last year, and he’s dreading a holiday visit with the family he simultaneously needs and resents. Then someone from his past shows up and rattles that shaky foundation right out from under him. First a war nearly destroyed Jeremy Kelley, then his family threw him out when he needed them the most. Now he’s barely holding on emotionally. He spends his last dollar to get to Chicago and prays his former best friend won’t leave him out in the cold. Neil and Jeremy spend the holidays with Neil’s family in their hometown of Omaha. They struggle to deal with families, flashbacks… and feelings that haven’t even begun to fade since their last failed attempt at more than friends. As they try to repair their fractured psyches and rebuild damaged bridges, they rely on each other more than ever, but they can’t deny the mutual attraction that’s existed since before they were both emotionally battered and scarred. If they couldn’t make it work back then, how in the world can they pull it off now? This book was previously published and has been lightly revised.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2012
201 people are currently reading
1261 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
227 books2,712 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
August 1, 2015
I, ah...I, um...liked it?
I think I might have.
*ponders*
I didn't hate it. That's a step in the right direction, I guess?
I thought it was going to be some angsty, epic, PTSD, sexual tension between damaged men. And it was just a drawn out (should have been) novella.
Neil is suffering from not being able to come out to his family and share a traumatic event that has been driving him crazy...literally. And I get his sense of guilt but he took it to an extreme at times. And he helps an estranged best friend off the street in December, recently retired soldier Jeremy. Jeremy's family disowned him upon arrival home due to being gay. :(
That part was done well. And the PTSD attacks. Jeremy being so open about his issues, so quickly...I didn't buy. And he and Neil's...whatever you call it. They barely talked to each other about their actual feelings for one another. It went from bullshit filler talk straight to "I love you".
I felt like Charlie Brown and Neil & Jeremy were Charlie Brown's teacher:
Wah, wah, wah, wah. For reals.
I was not a fan of Neil and Jeremy's dialogue (or their relationship). I enjoyed the alternating 1st POV, you don't know how many times I've wished a couple of books did that. However, it's not enough of a saving grace for me. I did like Jeremy mostly. Neil, I'm beginning to become apathetic to. I'm not going to even pinpoint why this book was closer to meh for me.
And the epilogue?
WTF was that? Where's my shovel to muck through that BS?
Really?
Everything ends so cookie cutter?
Really?
I like the spotlight brought to the people who serve in the military and the aftermath that can effect so many lives. It was the best part. The friendship theme wasn't bad, even the boinking part wasn't bad.
But that last 15%...
November 4, 2018
3,5 ❄️❄️❄️
It's my first Christmas novel this year 😁
I had this freebie for a while on my Kindle and thought about trying it since it's getting colder and colder outside.
The blurb sums it up perfectly. I've enjoyed it even if it was sadder than I expected. I was super sorry for how Jeremy's parents talked to him. And on Christmas Day! This story felt pretty realistic, the PTSD and the flashbacks, the pain, the stress. I just wanted Neil and Jeremy to get together sooner. All that beating around the bush got me bored at times. But I'm giving it 3,5 stars because the last chapters and the epilogue were great! Sweet HEA ❤️
It's my first Christmas novel this year 😁
I had this freebie for a while on my Kindle and thought about trying it since it's getting colder and colder outside.
The blurb sums it up perfectly. I've enjoyed it even if it was sadder than I expected. I was super sorry for how Jeremy's parents talked to him. And on Christmas Day! This story felt pretty realistic, the PTSD and the flashbacks, the pain, the stress. I just wanted Neil and Jeremy to get together sooner. All that beating around the bush got me bored at times. But I'm giving it 3,5 stars because the last chapters and the epilogue were great! Sweet HEA ❤️
February 10, 2023
It’s been a long time since I’ve read one of Witt’s books. I had to take a break. I still have several of her books that I’ve picked up and haven’t gotten to yet. And I’ll keep those on ice. Because I think I’ve moved on.
I don’t enjoy her style as much as I used to.
Jeremy and Neil were (are?) best friends until they tangled in the sheets one night. They haven’t spoken or seen each other since. Until Neil comes home to find Jeremy on his doorstep. They tentatively merge their lives again. And I’m glad they battled their demons and found a slice of happiness.
I think it could have been half the pages and it would have held more impact.
Overall, it was just…okay.
I don’t enjoy her style as much as I used to.
Jeremy and Neil were (are?) best friends until they tangled in the sheets one night. They haven’t spoken or seen each other since. Until Neil comes home to find Jeremy on his doorstep. They tentatively merge their lives again. And I’m glad they battled their demons and found a slice of happiness.
I think it could have been half the pages and it would have held more impact.
Overall, it was just…okay.
December 17, 2016
Another beautiful Christmas novel about two troubled guys dealing with PTSD (one because of a terrible tragedy in his past, the other because of his military time in Afghanistan/Iraq).
Neil and Jeremy have been best friends all their life. They grew up together, went to school together and even shared they stumbling attempts at sex together. The sex part they even tried twice. But both times, they felt an awkwardness between them that eventually cost them their friendship.
5 years later, both guys run into each other again. Only by then, life has fucked them up pretty thoroughly. Neil is suffering from a terrible trauma that shattered his world to a point, where his therapist is the only person between leading a somewhat functioning life and a complete breakdown. Between his nightmares and flashbacks, Neil dreads nothing more than spending Christmas with his homophobic parents who expect him to keep 'the gay' to himself. So he shuts up and keeps an important and painful part of his life from his parents.
When he suddenly finds a huddled figure on his doorstep and realizes it's his former best friend asking him for help, he knows it's more than he can handle on top of everything else that's going on in his life. But when Neil learns that Jeremy is just as broken as himself, he invites him along to spend Christmas with his family.
2 hurting gay guys and a set of homophobic parents is enough to turn this Christmas into a true celebration (if you can see my sarcasm here).
Neil and Jeremy really touched me. I found the setting a bit heavy at first. Two guys suffering from severe PTSD, having nightmares and flashbacks that were triggered by the smallest things. How could they ever make it together, right?
But I absolutely loved how each guy provided a strong shoulder to the other, helping him through his very own hell, with the other guy being the safe anchor keeping him in the here and now when the flashbacks took over their minds.
There were some beautiful and powerful scenes in here, like their visit to the bridges in Madison County. That moment drove me to tears.
I totally enjoyed this novel!
5 stars and to my list of favorites!
Neil and Jeremy have been best friends all their life. They grew up together, went to school together and even shared they stumbling attempts at sex together. The sex part they even tried twice. But both times, they felt an awkwardness between them that eventually cost them their friendship.
5 years later, both guys run into each other again. Only by then, life has fucked them up pretty thoroughly. Neil is suffering from a terrible trauma that shattered his world to a point, where his therapist is the only person between leading a somewhat functioning life and a complete breakdown. Between his nightmares and flashbacks, Neil dreads nothing more than spending Christmas with his homophobic parents who expect him to keep 'the gay' to himself. So he shuts up and keeps an important and painful part of his life from his parents.
When he suddenly finds a huddled figure on his doorstep and realizes it's his former best friend asking him for help, he knows it's more than he can handle on top of everything else that's going on in his life. But when Neil learns that Jeremy is just as broken as himself, he invites him along to spend Christmas with his family.
2 hurting gay guys and a set of homophobic parents is enough to turn this Christmas into a true celebration (if you can see my sarcasm here).
Neil and Jeremy really touched me. I found the setting a bit heavy at first. Two guys suffering from severe PTSD, having nightmares and flashbacks that were triggered by the smallest things. How could they ever make it together, right?
But I absolutely loved how each guy provided a strong shoulder to the other, helping him through his very own hell, with the other guy being the safe anchor keeping him in the here and now when the flashbacks took over their minds.
There were some beautiful and powerful scenes in here, like their visit to the bridges in Madison County. That moment drove me to tears.
N. D. & J. K.
No date. No cutesy little heart or anything like that. Just our initials. And maybe it was ridiculously sentimental, but as we walked back toward the car, I couldn’t help being happy there was one place in the world where the two of us would always be, one way or another, together.
I totally enjoyed this novel!
5 stars and to my list of favorites!
January 30, 2024
Possible Triggers: War related PTSD/ death of a partner
There was so much personal turmoil in this story. Everything from the loss of a husband...war related PTSD...homophobic unreasonable parents...so much so until a good story idea from a wonderful favorite author became almost overwhelming. L A Witts books are not usually like this. I was happy that the two guys didn't torment one another very long before soon came to a satisfying understanding and conclusion...but the trip to get there was something else. I hated Jeremy's homophobic parents. I just don't get how people that have loved and raised a child can do these things. If you like L.A. Witt's books...and I certainly do ...you will stay the course with this one...otherwise, probably not.
There was so much personal turmoil in this story. Everything from the loss of a husband...war related PTSD...homophobic unreasonable parents...so much so until a good story idea from a wonderful favorite author became almost overwhelming. L A Witts books are not usually like this. I was happy that the two guys didn't torment one another very long before soon came to a satisfying understanding and conclusion...but the trip to get there was something else. I hated Jeremy's homophobic parents. I just don't get how people that have loved and raised a child can do these things. If you like L.A. Witt's books...and I certainly do ...you will stay the course with this one...otherwise, probably not.
October 2, 2023
October 2023
Still a tearjerker but nonetheless a beautiful story! 😍
Good narration by Charlie David. 🎧
November 2017
I've read this book for the Bingo challenge category tear-jerker and yes, it definitely fits this category.
On a cold evening in December, Neil finds his former best friend Jeremy unexpectedly on the steps to his apartment building. Five years ago they drunkenly spent the night together and the awkwardness between them on the next morning caused a break in their friendship.
Jeremy, chilled to the bone, hopes that Neil will help him. He just left the army after eight years deployment, then his family threw him out and now he travelled with his last dollar to Chicago to find Neil.
Neil is at the moment not in a good place in life himself, grieving his boyfriend and trying to work through a trauma. But when he learns that Jeremy is broke and also suffers from sever PTSD, there's no question that he'll take him in.
They both have to deal with nightmares and flashbacks, and life is definitely not getting easier when they spend the holidays together at Neil's not very gay-friendly parents.
A very sad, emotional book, but there's also a lot of hope, love and forgiveness.
4.5 stars
Still a tearjerker but nonetheless a beautiful story! 😍
Good narration by Charlie David. 🎧
November 2017
I've read this book for the Bingo challenge category tear-jerker and yes, it definitely fits this category.
On a cold evening in December, Neil finds his former best friend Jeremy unexpectedly on the steps to his apartment building. Five years ago they drunkenly spent the night together and the awkwardness between them on the next morning caused a break in their friendship.
Jeremy, chilled to the bone, hopes that Neil will help him. He just left the army after eight years deployment, then his family threw him out and now he travelled with his last dollar to Chicago to find Neil.
Neil is at the moment not in a good place in life himself, grieving his boyfriend and trying to work through a trauma. But when he learns that Jeremy is broke and also suffers from sever PTSD, there's no question that he'll take him in.
They both have to deal with nightmares and flashbacks, and life is definitely not getting easier when they spend the holidays together at Neil's not very gay-friendly parents.
A very sad, emotional book, but there's also a lot of hope, love and forgiveness.
4.5 stars
March 29, 2016
This is a story about two former best friends, who almost became lovers but backed away from the intensity. As the book opens, they are both at a low point in life, and finally meeting up after years apart. Both have PTSD due to violence in their pasts, and this gives them a connection and an intrinsic understanding of each other that helped me believe in the fast way they came together. This book is about the healing, not the trauma, so it has painful, achy moments, but not deep angst. Some of the most emotional involved Neil's family.
One thing I liked about this book was that Neil's former partner Bruce was not eclipsed by Jeremy - he didn't suddenly become second best. Nor was he completely idealized. Neil's gradual ability to move on, especially after having someone to confide in, seemed real. I really admired Jeremy, and his understanding of other people's traumas, both Neil's and J's ex-boyfriend Matt's. Often when we hurt, we become more impatient of others, but Jeremy was compassionate. Jeremy's parents and sister were awful, and yet we hear about that attitude all the time in real life. You wonder how can a mother, a father, a sister, think like that? And yet they do. I liked the progression of attitudes in Neil's family, with gradual changes and a real reason for the change.
The two guys' POVs/voices felt a bit similar, but the fact that they had common background and common experiences made that plausible. The story moved along smoothly, and there were moments that captured genuine emotions. I expect I will reread this one someday.
One thing I liked about this book was that Neil's former partner Bruce was not eclipsed by Jeremy - he didn't suddenly become second best. Nor was he completely idealized. Neil's gradual ability to move on, especially after having someone to confide in, seemed real. I really admired Jeremy, and his understanding of other people's traumas, both Neil's and J's ex-boyfriend Matt's. Often when we hurt, we become more impatient of others, but Jeremy was compassionate. Jeremy's parents and sister were awful, and yet we hear about that attitude all the time in real life. You wonder how can a mother, a father, a sister, think like that? And yet they do. I liked the progression of attitudes in Neil's family, with gradual changes and a real reason for the change.
The two guys' POVs/voices felt a bit similar, but the fact that they had common background and common experiences made that plausible. The story moved along smoothly, and there were moments that captured genuine emotions. I expect I will reread this one someday.
Want to read
June 30, 2015Another L.A. Witt Kindle freebie! 6/30/15!
December 6, 2018
Huh... I thought this book would be a total winner for me but sadly it wasn't.
I didn't hate it. BUT I didn't love it either.
Okay, there were parts that I hated. Like really hated. Jeremy's family was the absolute worst! Like they all deserve a special place in hell worst. I was raging mad when Jeremy talked to them.
And there were parts I didn't get. Like Neil and Jeremy's relationship. They have been childhood friends and once both guys realized they were gay, they hooked up (not a spoiler, it's in the blurb). And it went wrong for whatever reason. I never understood why and it was never really explained. Now they are in each other's lives again and after much "I want him", "I can't have him", "I don't want to ruin our friendship", "But I want him so much" from both guys, they live their HEA. Okay, this is simplified but that's how it felt. I just didn't get it. They obviously had a connection in their childhood but after not seeing or talking to each other for several years, there wasn't much left of it. At least I didn't feel it. There's lust and attraction but for me, there wasn't much beyond that. They were just beginning to build this connection/friendship again. They were tentative and didn't talk much but all of a sudden they profess their love and live happily ever after.
Seriously, both guy's thoughts were all over the place. And I get it. I really do. After what they have both been through, it's no wonder that they can't think straight. But that's also why the "I love you" came out of nowhere for me. They were still dealing or just beginning to deal with what had happened to them and amidst all this stuff going on, it felt like they both wanted/needed this relationship to not fall apart, to have a lifeline, to have something to hold on to. And for me, it felt like they were remembering the feelings they once had for each other and were trying to project them into the here and now. 'Reminiscing' is the word that comes to mind.
I'm not saying that there wouldn't have been a chance of them being able to build this connection again but here it was way too fast and therefore not believable.
The PTSD and grief were handled well IMO and I liked that the author pointed out with how much crap people have to deal with when they leave the military and war behind.
The narration of the audiobook was good but the alternating POVs sounded too similar so it was sometimes difficult to know who of them was speaking.
Read as part of my EuroPrideCon reading challenge: to read new-to-me-authors before the convention (https://europridecon.jimdo.com/).
I didn't hate it. BUT I didn't love it either.
Okay, there were parts that I hated. Like really hated. Jeremy's family was the absolute worst! Like they all deserve a special place in hell worst. I was raging mad when Jeremy talked to them.
And there were parts I didn't get. Like Neil and Jeremy's relationship. They have been childhood friends and once both guys realized they were gay, they hooked up (not a spoiler, it's in the blurb). And it went wrong for whatever reason. I never understood why and it was never really explained. Now they are in each other's lives again and after much "I want him", "I can't have him", "I don't want to ruin our friendship", "But I want him so much" from both guys, they live their HEA. Okay, this is simplified but that's how it felt. I just didn't get it. They obviously had a connection in their childhood but after not seeing or talking to each other for several years, there wasn't much left of it. At least I didn't feel it. There's lust and attraction but for me, there wasn't much beyond that. They were just beginning to build this connection/friendship again. They were tentative and didn't talk much but all of a sudden they profess their love and live happily ever after.
Seriously, both guy's thoughts were all over the place. And I get it. I really do. After what they have both been through, it's no wonder that they can't think straight. But that's also why the "I love you" came out of nowhere for me. They were still dealing or just beginning to deal with what had happened to them and amidst all this stuff going on, it felt like they both wanted/needed this relationship to not fall apart, to have a lifeline, to have something to hold on to. And for me, it felt like they were remembering the feelings they once had for each other and were trying to project them into the here and now. 'Reminiscing' is the word that comes to mind.
I'm not saying that there wouldn't have been a chance of them being able to build this connection again but here it was way too fast and therefore not believable.
The PTSD and grief were handled well IMO and I liked that the author pointed out with how much crap people have to deal with when they leave the military and war behind.
The narration of the audiobook was good but the alternating POVs sounded too similar so it was sometimes difficult to know who of them was speaking.
Read as part of my EuroPrideCon reading challenge: to read new-to-me-authors before the convention (https://europridecon.jimdo.com/).
March 30, 2013
I think your enjoyment of this story really depends on how you much 'romance' you want and how well you deal with two MCs with serious mental health issues, this is more of a love story and less of a romance, at least to me.
I found it a heavy read with serious and dark issues, but it wasn't depressing for me, and I only teared up at one point in the story, and that's the mother in me wanting to take Jeremy's parents and shake some sense into them and give Jeremy a big hug and the family he deserves.
The story is told from alternating POVs which worked well for me.
Jeremy is a war veteran out of a job, out of a family, down on his luck, suffering from PTSD ( those initials never seem strong enough for the trauma it is describing) he shows up on Neil's doorstep needing help.
Neil and Jeremy have been life long friends but the last time they saw each other 5 years ago ended in getting drunk and having sex. They haven't seen or talked to each other since.
Neil is going through his own grief and trauma, but he is in therapy which is more than Jeremy has.
I am always very grateful when an author doesn't make the deceased partner 'less' now that new love has been found, it's ok to love again, and the 'new' doesn't have to be 'better' than the lost love, just different. LA Witt did a wonderful job making that clear in this story.
Neil's parents are better than Jeremy's even if it takes them far longer to get to that point than it should, but they love their son, and it shows.
The first 50% of this book is sex-free and full of sadness, then comes the turning point, there is still a lot of sadness but there are some fun times between the guys and lighter moments when they can breath easier and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The ending is very sweet and I was happy for them, after all they had been though to come out on the other side in such a nice way.
I found it a heavy read with serious and dark issues, but it wasn't depressing for me, and I only teared up at one point in the story, and that's the mother in me wanting to take Jeremy's parents and shake some sense into them and give Jeremy a big hug and the family he deserves.
The story is told from alternating POVs which worked well for me.
Jeremy is a war veteran out of a job, out of a family, down on his luck, suffering from PTSD ( those initials never seem strong enough for the trauma it is describing) he shows up on Neil's doorstep needing help.
Neil and Jeremy have been life long friends but the last time they saw each other 5 years ago ended in getting drunk and having sex. They haven't seen or talked to each other since.
Neil is going through his own grief and trauma, but he is in therapy which is more than Jeremy has.
I am always very grateful when an author doesn't make the deceased partner 'less' now that new love has been found, it's ok to love again, and the 'new' doesn't have to be 'better' than the lost love, just different. LA Witt did a wonderful job making that clear in this story.
Neil's parents are better than Jeremy's even if it takes them far longer to get to that point than it should, but they love their son, and it shows.
The first 50% of this book is sex-free and full of sadness, then comes the turning point, there is still a lot of sadness but there are some fun times between the guys and lighter moments when they can breath easier and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The ending is very sweet and I was happy for them, after all they had been though to come out on the other side in such a nice way.
December 13, 2012
Fantastic story about two friends who both have to deal with PTSD and although the author didn't gloss any of the difficulties of dealing with it over, it was a very enjoyable read. The last chapter made me all teary-eyed.
December 21, 2016
Okay so I liked this but I didn't love it. This story had all the makings for a beautiful m/m romance but it just didn't take off until 80% - it was slow and hard to read but it had a thread of hope and I hung to that as I read. I think I just got lost in some parts.... and that is unusual for me
Want to read
June 30, 2015Free today on Amazon 6/30/15
http://www.amazon.com/From-Out-Cold-L...
http://www.amazon.com/From-Out-Cold-L...
February 12, 2017
I had a very bad start with L.A. Witt's books. One of the first m/m I read was the utterly ridiculous "Unhinge the Universe" and after that I stayed away from L.A. Witt for almost two years. But this book... It had not one but TWO traumatized characters! And second chances! And Christmas on top. I had to try it.
Well... I didn't hate it. I'm quoting another review here but that's about as much enthusiasm as I can express about this book. All right, there is more to say for it. It was not boring. At least the first half of it wasn't. I actually liked the first half. Then everything kinda fell apart.
It was probably... that there was too much of everything? I mean having Neil struggling with his grief and his loneliness - and then his childhood friend reappearing in his life... it probably would've already made a book. But here we also have this childhood friend (Jeremy) having PTSD. And Jeremy's family being infernal homophobes. And Neil's family being homophobic bigots. And some drama of Neil and Jeremy having tried to start a relatioship twice and failing both times. And now they try for the third time and are not sure if they want it, and what, and how... too much. It was like my emotions were pulled in too many directions - and at some moment I just stopped caring.
Okay, not completely. I hated Jeremy's family all right - and really, Jeremy's conversation with them... man, it's obvious they wouldn't spit on you if you were on fire, why are you begging for their support? Support can only be given willingly, you can't get it by whining or demanding it.
And Neil's family was just a little better. Oh yeah, they kinda realized they were wrong? So now everything is dandy? All right, I'm an unforgiving bitch... no wait, I'm not, I just don't think that saying "I'm sorry" heals all the wounds. It doesn't. Especially not the wounds that were inflicted by the people closest to you.
Well, and the part of the story that felt like a biggest problem for me was Neil and Jeremy's relationship. For one thing, I never really understood what went wrong two first times when they slept with each other. So I couldn't figure out why this time was going to be different. Another thing is... we kinda get something about Neil and Jeremy being friends as kids and getting into a lot of pranks together. But then they don't interact AT ALL for five years. And even after they meet again, they don't interact much either. There is no sense of connection between them - and every time I felt there should be, there was sex instead. Well, sometimes sex IS the connection, when a sex scene is written in such a way - but not here. I'm sorry, here sex was skippable - and I always felt disappointed with it. Like they start talking about giving them together another try, and here I'm waiting for them to talk about what can go wrong, or why it should be different from previous times, or something - something to understand them. But nope - it's just sex, and then they both say "I love you". For me those "I love you" were coming out of nowhere.
Did you love Neil when you didn't contact him for five years, Jeremy? Did you love Jeremy when you were with Bruce, Neil? That also rubbed me in the wrong way, to be honest - Neil thinking it's all right to let go of Bruce and get together with Jeremy because he always loved Jeremy, even before Bruce... So what - was Bruce second best for him? And what would have happened if Jeremy reappeared in his life while Bruce were still alive? Sorry for asking but no matter how nice Bruce's parents are and no matter how many times the author repeats that Bruce would have wanted it... it kinda felt like Neil kept grieving just because there was no right guy around. And as soon as Mr. Jeremy Right is here, it takes Neil, like, a week to wrap up his mourning.
Oh well, and then there is the epilogue (or was it the last chapter? a year later, anyway). And that was horrible in it's own way. Should be labeled as "health hazard" with how saccarine sweet it was. Almost read like a parody but was serious, unfortunately.
Well... I didn't hate it. I'm quoting another review here but that's about as much enthusiasm as I can express about this book. All right, there is more to say for it. It was not boring. At least the first half of it wasn't. I actually liked the first half. Then everything kinda fell apart.
It was probably... that there was too much of everything? I mean having Neil struggling with his grief and his loneliness - and then his childhood friend reappearing in his life... it probably would've already made a book. But here we also have this childhood friend (Jeremy) having PTSD. And Jeremy's family being infernal homophobes. And Neil's family being homophobic bigots. And some drama of Neil and Jeremy having tried to start a relatioship twice and failing both times. And now they try for the third time and are not sure if they want it, and what, and how... too much. It was like my emotions were pulled in too many directions - and at some moment I just stopped caring.
Okay, not completely. I hated Jeremy's family all right - and really, Jeremy's conversation with them... man, it's obvious they wouldn't spit on you if you were on fire, why are you begging for their support? Support can only be given willingly, you can't get it by whining or demanding it.
And Neil's family was just a little better. Oh yeah, they kinda realized they were wrong? So now everything is dandy? All right, I'm an unforgiving bitch... no wait, I'm not, I just don't think that saying "I'm sorry" heals all the wounds. It doesn't. Especially not the wounds that were inflicted by the people closest to you.
Well, and the part of the story that felt like a biggest problem for me was Neil and Jeremy's relationship. For one thing, I never really understood what went wrong two first times when they slept with each other. So I couldn't figure out why this time was going to be different. Another thing is... we kinda get something about Neil and Jeremy being friends as kids and getting into a lot of pranks together. But then they don't interact AT ALL for five years. And even after they meet again, they don't interact much either. There is no sense of connection between them - and every time I felt there should be, there was sex instead. Well, sometimes sex IS the connection, when a sex scene is written in such a way - but not here. I'm sorry, here sex was skippable - and I always felt disappointed with it. Like they start talking about giving them together another try, and here I'm waiting for them to talk about what can go wrong, or why it should be different from previous times, or something - something to understand them. But nope - it's just sex, and then they both say "I love you". For me those "I love you" were coming out of nowhere.
Did you love Neil when you didn't contact him for five years, Jeremy? Did you love Jeremy when you were with Bruce, Neil? That also rubbed me in the wrong way, to be honest - Neil thinking it's all right to let go of Bruce and get together with Jeremy because he always loved Jeremy, even before Bruce... So what - was Bruce second best for him? And what would have happened if Jeremy reappeared in his life while Bruce were still alive? Sorry for asking but no matter how nice Bruce's parents are and no matter how many times the author repeats that Bruce would have wanted it... it kinda felt like Neil kept grieving just because there was no right guy around. And as soon as Mr. Jeremy Right is here, it takes Neil, like, a week to wrap up his mourning.
Oh well, and then there is the epilogue (or was it the last chapter? a year later, anyway). And that was horrible in it's own way. Should be labeled as "health hazard" with how saccarine sweet it was. Almost read like a parody but was serious, unfortunately.
July 16, 2017
This story was ok. Kind of slow and not a lot of action, but it was a good read. It deals with tough subjects like PTSD, partner death (murder) and contemplating suicide. This isn't a light read so be ready for heavy stuff. The survivors guilt Neil suffers over the death of his boyfriend Bruce is further traumatized due to the fact that Neil's parents don't want any talk about Neil's gay life, so he kept his grief private. So, so sad.
And Jeremy's parents reject him outright when they learn he is gay and he so desperately needs his family right now dealing with PTSD.
These two men have been friends for years and it was nice to see them turn to each other. I liked the characters, but again the story was on the slow side. Written well and I think if I had read this at a different time my rating would be different (higher).
The ending is nice and there was no big dramatic "thing" to create drama for drama sake. Love that! It end maturely and happily.
And Jeremy's parents reject him outright when they learn he is gay and he so desperately needs his family right now dealing with PTSD.
These two men have been friends for years and it was nice to see them turn to each other. I liked the characters, but again the story was on the slow side. Written well and I think if I had read this at a different time my rating would be different (higher).
The ending is nice and there was no big dramatic "thing" to create drama for drama sake. Love that! It end maturely and happily.
September 9, 2013
This is one of those sad books that you so want to turn around and become happy. The blurb does not describe this book well enough. There are a few flashbacks but not a whole lot. The story itself is in the present but has a lot of the past twisted in. Sometimes in flashbacks other times just from a character talking about it.
The reason this book is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because as much as I loved the story. I could not get past Bruce being brought up so much. One thing that annoyed me was Neil was afraid of replacing him or overwriting him in his life. And then the realization is that what he had with Bruce was to get over Jeremy. So it kind of made me think does that mean he was not truly in love with Bruce? After hearing so much about how he loved him, is all that being overwritten?
Normally when there is a dead partner it annoys me. For the very reason I hate the "we would have been together if he was still alive". That really just irks me because I want to read about the current romance and not about the old one, that should have still been. I understand that some people do lose the people they love, but relationships should not be dragged down by a dead person.
I loved Jeremy, he was the character I had a better connection with and I was so glad he was here. He was a great guy and I wanted to bitch slap his parents, several times. I loved how he was so supportive of Neil, when some guys would have walked away. And he helped keep Bruce's memory alive, I admired him for that. It's something I imagine was difficult for him, but he still managed to do that.
This book is difficult for me. Jeremy is the reason I am giving this book four stars, and the only reason I liked the book. He was a wonderful character and made me love this story. I loved the reunited first loves theme. Even if it did involve one of my pet peeves.
The reason this book is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because as much as I loved the story. I could not get past Bruce being brought up so much. One thing that annoyed me was Neil was afraid of replacing him or overwriting him in his life. And then the realization is that what he had with Bruce was to get over Jeremy. So it kind of made me think does that mean he was not truly in love with Bruce? After hearing so much about how he loved him, is all that being overwritten?
Normally when there is a dead partner it annoys me. For the very reason I hate the "we would have been together if he was still alive". That really just irks me because I want to read about the current romance and not about the old one, that should have still been. I understand that some people do lose the people they love, but relationships should not be dragged down by a dead person.
I loved Jeremy, he was the character I had a better connection with and I was so glad he was here. He was a great guy and I wanted to bitch slap his parents, several times. I loved how he was so supportive of Neil, when some guys would have walked away. And he helped keep Bruce's memory alive, I admired him for that. It's something I imagine was difficult for him, but he still managed to do that.
This book is difficult for me. Jeremy is the reason I am giving this book four stars, and the only reason I liked the book. He was a wonderful character and made me love this story. I loved the reunited first loves theme. Even if it did involve one of my pet peeves.
January 18, 2018
~ 4,5* ~
Oh, my...tears...
This is beautiful, both Jeremy and Neil are not perfect, far from perfect even.
I don't think this a usual Holiday fluffy story I read during Holiday. But it works for me.
I had a hard time near the end of the book, when Neil and Jeremy at Neil's parent's house on Christmas.
You need some tissues on that part.
But it's worth it.
Two fucked up in the head, best friends since they're little boys, and losing each other, continued with their lives, and life happened.
Nothing is perfect, but that what's make this story awesome.
After a hurtful separation, fate suddenly got them together again, but it's not easy for both of them, knowing they're still have to cope with their own grief.
But they managed it and finally found what they're waiting for all this time.
I loved this story. It's just beautiful.
Read it.
Recommended.
Oh, my...tears...
This is beautiful, both Jeremy and Neil are not perfect, far from perfect even.
I don't think this a usual Holiday fluffy story I read during Holiday. But it works for me.
I had a hard time near the end of the book, when Neil and Jeremy at Neil's parent's house on Christmas.
You need some tissues on that part.
But it's worth it.
Two fucked up in the head, best friends since they're little boys, and losing each other, continued with their lives, and life happened.
Nothing is perfect, but that what's make this story awesome.
After a hurtful separation, fate suddenly got them together again, but it's not easy for both of them, knowing they're still have to cope with their own grief.
But they managed it and finally found what they're waiting for all this time.
I loved this story. It's just beautiful.
Read it.
Recommended.
Read
September 21, 2016Dnf at 60%
Sorry, everything and everyone pisses me off in this book. And the parents are constantly there. Some other time I would have probably try harder but I'm not in the right state of mind to keep pushing now.
So...no rating:(
Sorry, everything and everyone pisses me off in this book. And the parents are constantly there. Some other time I would have probably try harder but I'm not in the right state of mind to keep pushing now.
So...no rating:(
March 20, 2021
It was OK. Kind of depressing. And I never felt like Jeremy was THE ONE for Neil. Seemed like if Bruce hadn't died so violently, Bruce and Neil would have stayed together.
So... meh.
So... meh.
December 20, 2015
4.5 Stars
From Out in the Cold is a story of two men with PTSD and how they learn to cope together.
Neil and Jeremy were best friends when they were growing up. After figuring out that they both were gay and attracted to one another, they did a bit of experimentation. Then, many years later, while Jeremy was on leave from the Army, they got drunk one night and did more than experiment. That night left things very awkward for our guys and they didn't see or speak to one another for 5 years. In that 5 years a lot has happened to the both of them.
For the past year, Neil has been trying to cope with and recover from a very traumatic event that has left him emotionally scarred and coping with PTSD. He is undergoing therapy, but he needs more. He needs his family, but they don't want him to 'bring the gay into their house' so he feels (rightly) that he doesn't have a support network and coping on his own is touch and go. It's nearing Christmas, again, and his pending annual trip home has him so stressed out he has taken up smoking. Again.
Jeremy is an Army veteran. He spent the last 8 years serving his country and did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The things he saw and had to do to survive there has left him with his own demons and also suffering from PTSD. And, to make matters worse, his family found out he was gay and disowned him. Of course, to hear them tell it, they did it out of "love", which just made me want to shake them. Repeatedly. After being told he is not welcome at home after finishing up his stint in the Army, Jeremy buys a bus ticket to Chicago hoping that Neil won't turn him away.
This book is more of a love story than it is a romance. It's beautiful and emotional and over the course of it we see Neil and Jeremy try - unsuccessfully - to deny what they feel for one another and we see Neil's family move from denial toward acceptance. There were several times during the story that I teared up a bit. But the ending is a happy one.
From Out in the Cold is a story of two men with PTSD and how they learn to cope together.
Neil and Jeremy were best friends when they were growing up. After figuring out that they both were gay and attracted to one another, they did a bit of experimentation. Then, many years later, while Jeremy was on leave from the Army, they got drunk one night and did more than experiment. That night left things very awkward for our guys and they didn't see or speak to one another for 5 years. In that 5 years a lot has happened to the both of them.
For the past year, Neil has been trying to cope with and recover from a very traumatic event that has left him emotionally scarred and coping with PTSD. He is undergoing therapy, but he needs more. He needs his family, but they don't want him to 'bring the gay into their house' so he feels (rightly) that he doesn't have a support network and coping on his own is touch and go. It's nearing Christmas, again, and his pending annual trip home has him so stressed out he has taken up smoking. Again.
Jeremy is an Army veteran. He spent the last 8 years serving his country and did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The things he saw and had to do to survive there has left him with his own demons and also suffering from PTSD. And, to make matters worse, his family found out he was gay and disowned him. Of course, to hear them tell it, they did it out of "love", which just made me want to shake them. Repeatedly. After being told he is not welcome at home after finishing up his stint in the Army, Jeremy buys a bus ticket to Chicago hoping that Neil won't turn him away.
This book is more of a love story than it is a romance. It's beautiful and emotional and over the course of it we see Neil and Jeremy try - unsuccessfully - to deny what they feel for one another and we see Neil's family move from denial toward acceptance. There were several times during the story that I teared up a bit. But the ending is a happy one.
December 16, 2012
3.5 Stars
This was not your typical romance, but it was a love story. Both guys are seriously hurting emotionally and suffering from PTSD, Jeremy, from three tours in the Middle East, and Neil, from watching his lover being attacked and killed. They both are dealing with parents that are less than accepting of their being gay. Jeremy’s family completely disowns him and Neil’s family doesn’t allow the “gay” into their home. So needless to say, there is a lot of angst in this one.
Neil suffers horribly and alone from being unable to tell his family about his boyfriend being killed, because they won’t listen to anything gay related. Each Christmas is so dreadful for Neil and he doesn’t see any relief in sight, until Jeremy comes back in to his life. Jeremy is his best friend since childhood, but after they’ve tried twice before to have a physical relationship, with disastrous results, they agree that friends are all they can be.
Fortunately, Neil’s parents learn to accept him and Jeremy and apologize for not being there for Neil when he was grieving. Sadly, Jeremy’s parents are the pits and never redeemed themselves.
This book is mostly about two men, two friends, who are both suffering and trying to make their way through life after dealing with tragedy. They have each other to lean on and eventually understand that life doesn’t come with guarantees, but they choose to try again to be together…and now that they are both older and wiser, they finally succeed.
This was not your typical romance, but it was a love story. Both guys are seriously hurting emotionally and suffering from PTSD, Jeremy, from three tours in the Middle East, and Neil, from watching his lover being attacked and killed. They both are dealing with parents that are less than accepting of their being gay. Jeremy’s family completely disowns him and Neil’s family doesn’t allow the “gay” into their home. So needless to say, there is a lot of angst in this one.
Neil suffers horribly and alone from being unable to tell his family about his boyfriend being killed, because they won’t listen to anything gay related. Each Christmas is so dreadful for Neil and he doesn’t see any relief in sight, until Jeremy comes back in to his life. Jeremy is his best friend since childhood, but after they’ve tried twice before to have a physical relationship, with disastrous results, they agree that friends are all they can be.
Fortunately, Neil’s parents learn to accept him and Jeremy and apologize for not being there for Neil when he was grieving. Sadly, Jeremy’s parents are the pits and never redeemed themselves.
This book is mostly about two men, two friends, who are both suffering and trying to make their way through life after dealing with tragedy. They have each other to lean on and eventually understand that life doesn’t come with guarantees, but they choose to try again to be together…and now that they are both older and wiser, they finally succeed.
December 8, 2012
First of all, I thought this was going to be a very depressing and angsty read because of all the issues the MCs have but it didn’t turn out that way. this was an ok read for me. I didn’t love it nor hated it. It’s written from both MCs point of view (alternating POVs per chapter). Neil and Jeremy tried to be together twice before but didn’t make it due to lack of communication. The first part of the book was frustrating because they still we not communicating. Eventually, they opened up to each other. I thought the PTSD would be a major part of the book but it was in the background, of course both still had nightmares and triggers about their ordeals but reading it didn’t move me. I was happy to see the lack of flashbacks, memories instead were recounted. The emotional part of the book for me was their relationships with their parents. . I was sad and angry to see how his parents were quick to abandon him. The phone call between Jeremy and his parents was very sad. On the other hand, I was happy to see the change and gradual acceptance by Neil’s parents especially after how they realized how their previous stance was hurting their son. Overall this was an nice read, it didn’t move me as much as I expected but it did have its moments.
July 7, 2016
A beautiful heartfelt story, wonderfully told. Neil and Jeremy are childhood friends and past lovers, and after a 5-year period of time with no contact, Jeremy turns up on Neil's doorstep one cold December night. Jeremy did three tours in the Middle East, and left the military after 8 years, suffering from PTSD and has nowhere to go after his family disowned him for being gay. Neil suffered an unimaginable tragedy and is struggling, while having a family who loves him, but doesn't want to hear anything about his life as a gay man. We got both Neil and Jeremy's POV, and Witt does such a wonderful job of showing their friendship, their love, their fears and how they struggle to come out of their tragedies stronger, and together.
December 15, 2012
I knew that From Out in the Cold wouldn’t be an easy read, but it was more than that: It was frustrating, depressing, emotional and full of angst. Jeremy and Neil both have experienced cruel things they don’t want to speak about and when they finally do… *sighs*
Definitely not a funny or light book. To be honest, it was a little too depressing most of the time. Sure, with the last chapters I got my happy ending, but I wouldn’t want to read it again.
I’m not saying it was a bad book – I really enjoyed some parts! - just not the perfect book for me. :)
Definitely not a funny or light book. To be honest, it was a little too depressing most of the time. Sure, with the last chapters I got my happy ending, but I wouldn’t want to read it again.
I’m not saying it was a bad book – I really enjoyed some parts! - just not the perfect book for me. :)
September 20, 2015
Wow. This book was on a freebie promotion and I'm so glad I read it. friends to lovers is my trope and this worked completely for me.
April 28, 2019
I didn't particularly like the characters or their relationship with one another. It's not doing it for me, so I'm going to move on.
Want to read
December 7, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/7/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Neil Dalton’s foundation is already cracking. Grief, guilt, and PTSD have ruled his life since a terrible crime tore his world apart last year, and he’s dreading a holiday visit with the family he simultaneously needs and resents. Then someone from his past shows up and rattles that shaky foundation right out from under him.
First a war nearly destroyed Jeremy Kelley, then his family threw him out when he needed them the most. Now he’s barely holding on emotionally. He spends his last dollar to get to Chicago and prays his former best friend won’t leave him out in the cold.
Neil and Jeremy spend the holidays with Neil’s family in their hometown of Omaha. They struggle to deal with families, flashbacks… and feelings that haven’t even begun to fade since their last failed attempt at more than friends. As they try to repair their fractured psyches and rebuild damaged bridges, they rely on each other more than ever, but they can’t deny the mutual attraction that’s existed since before they were both emotionally battered and scarred. If they couldn’t make it work back then, how in the world can they pull it off now?
Blurb:
Neil Dalton’s foundation is already cracking. Grief, guilt, and PTSD have ruled his life since a terrible crime tore his world apart last year, and he’s dreading a holiday visit with the family he simultaneously needs and resents. Then someone from his past shows up and rattles that shaky foundation right out from under him.
First a war nearly destroyed Jeremy Kelley, then his family threw him out when he needed them the most. Now he’s barely holding on emotionally. He spends his last dollar to get to Chicago and prays his former best friend won’t leave him out in the cold.
Neil and Jeremy spend the holidays with Neil’s family in their hometown of Omaha. They struggle to deal with families, flashbacks… and feelings that haven’t even begun to fade since their last failed attempt at more than friends. As they try to repair their fractured psyches and rebuild damaged bridges, they rely on each other more than ever, but they can’t deny the mutual attraction that’s existed since before they were both emotionally battered and scarred. If they couldn’t make it work back then, how in the world can they pull it off now?
December 10, 2022
2+
Zaczęło się super, ale potem, cóż - zmaściło się 😜
Zaczęło się super, ale potem, cóż - zmaściło się 😜
September 7, 2013
A great story and deeply satisfying but a bit sad too.
Neil and Jeremy are boyhood friends. They grew up together and then grew apart. Jeremy went off to the army and Neil settled into his career. They both had a kind of sexual flirtation with each other in the past but it only made their friendship awkward and this was part of the reason they drifted apart.
Years later Neil comes home to find Jeremy waiting for him on the doorstep. Both men are suffering from trauma and both men are kind of excluded from their family. Jeremy's parents booted him out when someone told them he was gay, despite the fact that he had just returned from war. Neil's family know he is gay but they don't acknowledge it or discuss it and so they don't know that he has been through some horrific trauma.
The story tells how the men become family for each other,dealing with their own individual trauma and their attraction for each other, as well as dealing with their fears and the difficulties with their families.
This story was so engrossing but also deeply upsetting because as a parent of an adult son I could never turn my back on him. I can't imagine having him return from war and then boot him out because he was gay. I felt Jeremy's family was awful and truly callous, whilst Neil's was kind of negligent. I know this happens to LGBT people all over the world but for me it undermines what family and love are truly about. In that sense the book is a reflection of this and is a story about creating a safe space and creating real family for oneself.
It is a really good story with the emotions and angst pouring off the page. The two men were really battling with their circumstances and I loved the way they supported each other, struggling against their attraction for each other but valuing their friendship. The angst wasn't too overwhelming but it was painful and I felt so sad about some of the things both men struggled with.
I couldn't have read this book without the assurance of a peaceful resolution at the end and the fact that both men found love in each other really comforted me. I also found the ending to be hopeful and that made all the difficult parts bearable.
The story really made me think about the reality of family life and the fact that it isn't some kind of nirvana where everything is great. Family life can be a source of great pain and suffering, and love can be found outside the traditional family units especially in friends or other social communities.
This book also made me value the deep love I have for my own family and the love they have for me even though we get on each other's nerves. Family love where is works is not to be taken for granted, and the love of friends is also to be deeply treasured.
This is a great story and really gripping with excellent writing. LA Witt is an amazing author. She has a way of portraying emotions and circumstances that draw you in and keep you turning the pages. Her stories are never boring. She takes you to both the heights and the depths of human emotions and circumstances. Her writing is always a pleasure.
Now that I have finished this I feel as if I have been on a roller coaster of emotions but it was an excellent ride!
Neil and Jeremy are boyhood friends. They grew up together and then grew apart. Jeremy went off to the army and Neil settled into his career. They both had a kind of sexual flirtation with each other in the past but it only made their friendship awkward and this was part of the reason they drifted apart.
Years later Neil comes home to find Jeremy waiting for him on the doorstep. Both men are suffering from trauma and both men are kind of excluded from their family. Jeremy's parents booted him out when someone told them he was gay, despite the fact that he had just returned from war. Neil's family know he is gay but they don't acknowledge it or discuss it and so they don't know that he has been through some horrific trauma.
The story tells how the men become family for each other,dealing with their own individual trauma and their attraction for each other, as well as dealing with their fears and the difficulties with their families.
This story was so engrossing but also deeply upsetting because as a parent of an adult son I could never turn my back on him. I can't imagine having him return from war and then boot him out because he was gay. I felt Jeremy's family was awful and truly callous, whilst Neil's was kind of negligent. I know this happens to LGBT people all over the world but for me it undermines what family and love are truly about. In that sense the book is a reflection of this and is a story about creating a safe space and creating real family for oneself.
It is a really good story with the emotions and angst pouring off the page. The two men were really battling with their circumstances and I loved the way they supported each other, struggling against their attraction for each other but valuing their friendship. The angst wasn't too overwhelming but it was painful and I felt so sad about some of the things both men struggled with.
I couldn't have read this book without the assurance of a peaceful resolution at the end and the fact that both men found love in each other really comforted me. I also found the ending to be hopeful and that made all the difficult parts bearable.
The story really made me think about the reality of family life and the fact that it isn't some kind of nirvana where everything is great. Family life can be a source of great pain and suffering, and love can be found outside the traditional family units especially in friends or other social communities.
This book also made me value the deep love I have for my own family and the love they have for me even though we get on each other's nerves. Family love where is works is not to be taken for granted, and the love of friends is also to be deeply treasured.
This is a great story and really gripping with excellent writing. LA Witt is an amazing author. She has a way of portraying emotions and circumstances that draw you in and keep you turning the pages. Her stories are never boring. She takes you to both the heights and the depths of human emotions and circumstances. Her writing is always a pleasure.
Now that I have finished this I feel as if I have been on a roller coaster of emotions but it was an excellent ride!
July 15, 2016
https://trelibrisoprailcielo.com/2016...
Io amo la Witt, devo dirvelo. Adoro le sue storie, amo come scrive e questo romanzo è davvero degno di questa scrittrice. I due protagonisti, Neil e Jeremy, mi hanno fatta soffrire, con i loro problemi e con il loro passato, due uomini uniti da anni di amicizia e da esperienze che li hanno segnati profondamente.
Neil Dalton si trova ad affrontare la vita dopo che un triste e terribile episodio gli è costato davvero caro. È passato un anno da quel momento, ma lui porta ancora su di sé il peso di tanta sofferenza e dolore. Una svolta alla sua routine di sigarette e incubi, avviene quando alla sua porta si presenta il suo vecchio amico Jeremy Kelley, con cui i rapporti si erano interrotti cinque anni prima.
Jeremy, di ritorno dalla sua esperienza nell’esercito che lo ha segnato profondamente, si ritrova senza più un posto dove andare e tenta il tutto per tutto con il suo vecchio amico e amante. Neil, nonostante non se la cavi benissimo, non esita nel dare una mano a Jeremy e lo accoglie in casa sua senza pensarci due volte. La vita per i due uomini non è facile, tanti ostacoli ci sono tra loro e la serenità: due famiglie che non li comprendono, incubi ed esperienze traumatiche, vecchi sentimenti che riaffiorano in superficie, tante sofferenze per questi due protagonisti che hanno perso troppo nella loro giovane vita e che faticano a tirare avanti. Faranno di tutto per sopravvivere, aiutandosi a vicenda e sostenendosi, ma l’amore è in agguato. Sarà abbastanza per risanare ferite così profonde?
Quante emozioni in questo libro, quante lacrime che ho versato e quanta ansia ho provato in certi momenti. La Witt, attraverso i due protagonisti, ci racconta una storia piena di dolore e di speranza, di sofferenze e di amore. I disturbi post traumatici dei protagonisti sono raccontati nel dettaglio e, grazie al punto di vista alternato, li possiamo comprendere fino in fondo, scoprendo quanto dolore provano e quanta fatica devono fare per uscirne. È solo grazie alla loro amicizia che i due riescono ad andare avanti, si conoscono così bene che sanno come aiutarsi a vicenda, nonostante sentimenti sempre più forti che cercano di mettersi in mezzo. In certi momenti si trovano da soli contro un mondo bigotto e ottuso e solo l’affetto reciproco riuscirà a sostenerli. La storia d’amore cresce piano piano perché, anche se non sono nuovi a certi sentimenti e all’attrazione reciproca, il loro cuore è ancora troppo pieno di dolore.
Tra lacrime e sorrisi, questa storia mi ha tenuta incollata dall’inizio alla fine, grazie anche allo stile e alla scrittura coinvolgente di questa scrittrice che, ancora una volta, mi ha colpita dritta dritta al cuore. Amo i suoi libri e questo è, a mio parere, uno dei suoi romanzi più belli, uno di quelli che mi ha emozionato di più. Se anche voi amate L.A. Witt non perdetevi questo romanzo, perché è una vera chicca. Lo consiglio davvero a tutti e, se siete dei piagnoni come me, vi scenderanno anche delle lacrime, perché Neil e Jeremy vi faranno soffrire e vi faranno innamorare. Se siete in cerca di una storia di riscatto e rinascita, di amicizia e di amore, questo è il libro per voi. Non perdetevelo!
Io amo la Witt, devo dirvelo. Adoro le sue storie, amo come scrive e questo romanzo è davvero degno di questa scrittrice. I due protagonisti, Neil e Jeremy, mi hanno fatta soffrire, con i loro problemi e con il loro passato, due uomini uniti da anni di amicizia e da esperienze che li hanno segnati profondamente.
Neil Dalton si trova ad affrontare la vita dopo che un triste e terribile episodio gli è costato davvero caro. È passato un anno da quel momento, ma lui porta ancora su di sé il peso di tanta sofferenza e dolore. Una svolta alla sua routine di sigarette e incubi, avviene quando alla sua porta si presenta il suo vecchio amico Jeremy Kelley, con cui i rapporti si erano interrotti cinque anni prima.
Jeremy, di ritorno dalla sua esperienza nell’esercito che lo ha segnato profondamente, si ritrova senza più un posto dove andare e tenta il tutto per tutto con il suo vecchio amico e amante. Neil, nonostante non se la cavi benissimo, non esita nel dare una mano a Jeremy e lo accoglie in casa sua senza pensarci due volte. La vita per i due uomini non è facile, tanti ostacoli ci sono tra loro e la serenità: due famiglie che non li comprendono, incubi ed esperienze traumatiche, vecchi sentimenti che riaffiorano in superficie, tante sofferenze per questi due protagonisti che hanno perso troppo nella loro giovane vita e che faticano a tirare avanti. Faranno di tutto per sopravvivere, aiutandosi a vicenda e sostenendosi, ma l’amore è in agguato. Sarà abbastanza per risanare ferite così profonde?
Quante emozioni in questo libro, quante lacrime che ho versato e quanta ansia ho provato in certi momenti. La Witt, attraverso i due protagonisti, ci racconta una storia piena di dolore e di speranza, di sofferenze e di amore. I disturbi post traumatici dei protagonisti sono raccontati nel dettaglio e, grazie al punto di vista alternato, li possiamo comprendere fino in fondo, scoprendo quanto dolore provano e quanta fatica devono fare per uscirne. È solo grazie alla loro amicizia che i due riescono ad andare avanti, si conoscono così bene che sanno come aiutarsi a vicenda, nonostante sentimenti sempre più forti che cercano di mettersi in mezzo. In certi momenti si trovano da soli contro un mondo bigotto e ottuso e solo l’affetto reciproco riuscirà a sostenerli. La storia d’amore cresce piano piano perché, anche se non sono nuovi a certi sentimenti e all’attrazione reciproca, il loro cuore è ancora troppo pieno di dolore.
Tra lacrime e sorrisi, questa storia mi ha tenuta incollata dall’inizio alla fine, grazie anche allo stile e alla scrittura coinvolgente di questa scrittrice che, ancora una volta, mi ha colpita dritta dritta al cuore. Amo i suoi libri e questo è, a mio parere, uno dei suoi romanzi più belli, uno di quelli che mi ha emozionato di più. Se anche voi amate L.A. Witt non perdetevi questo romanzo, perché è una vera chicca. Lo consiglio davvero a tutti e, se siete dei piagnoni come me, vi scenderanno anche delle lacrime, perché Neil e Jeremy vi faranno soffrire e vi faranno innamorare. Se siete in cerca di una storia di riscatto e rinascita, di amicizia e di amore, questo è il libro per voi. Non perdetevelo!
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