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Heat Wave: Tuscaloosa
Ethan is a grad student stuck in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the summer. Though he’s thrilled about his teaching assistant position at the university, he’s not at all excited about the record-breaking heat wave plaguing the area.
In the midst of an oppressively hot summer night, Ethan meets fellow grad student Marcus. While their initial encounters are scorching, can two busy students have more than a heated seasonal fling? Or could it be the beginning of something that will last beyond the stormy southern nights?
In the midst of an oppressively hot summer night, Ethan meets fellow grad student Marcus. While their initial encounters are scorching, can two busy students have more than a heated seasonal fling? Or could it be the beginning of something that will last beyond the stormy southern nights?
51 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2015
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Adams
45 books223 followersJeff Adams has written stories since he was in middle school and became a published author in 2009. He writes both gay romance and LGBTQ young adult fiction…and there’s usually a hockey player at the center of the story.
Jeff lives in northern California with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Will. They are creative collaborators, writing and podcasting together. For nine years they were the co-hosts of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.
Jeff is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). He's an advocate for accessible web content and helps creative entrepreneurs understand how they can make sure their content is accessible by everyone.
Jeff lives in northern California with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Will. They are creative collaborators, writing and podcasting together. For nine years they were the co-hosts of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.
Jeff is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). He's an advocate for accessible web content and helps creative entrepreneurs understand how they can make sure their content is accessible by everyone.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 10, 2015
Two grad students and one impossibly hot summer, let me tell you, the temperature wasn't the only thing that was heating up in this novel! This book was a pleasant, and oft times steamy, read. Taking place over one summer, we see the development of the relationship between Ethan and Marcus. From mutual balcony masturbation (public sex kink - tick), to some damn hot sex scenes, the story was full of serious sexy times... but more than that, it showed how Ethan and Marcus developed a relationship beyond the physical.
Though there were a couple of minor editing errors, I enjoyed this story. It was a pleasant summer read. I liked the odd references to pop culture:
"I wished really hard for a either a polar vortex to miraculously blow in, or for Elsa to get pissed off and unleash the cold."
I also felt for these guys; I HATE being too hot and the word humid makes me want to cry. The author did an excellent job of writing how uncomfortably hot the summer was, and the subsequent effect it had on the guys relationship. In fact, without the heat, the relationship might never have happened.The MC's were fun, they were great to read about; they laughed together and made me laugh at several points. When they needed to be there for each other they were.
To be honest, I'm finding it hard to know exactly how to review this book. Not because it was badly written, or boring, but because it really was a middling book. The kind that is perfect when you're a bit tired and just want to fall into bed with an easy, enjoyable read. So often middling, easy, nice, etc, etc seem like insults, but I'm here to say that is not the case. Sometimes all these things are exactly what it needed in a read. It wasn't overly sweet and schmultzy, nor too angsty, it was just a nice blend of pleasant with just enough steam.
A recommended read for those times when something easy, fun and just a touch steamy is what you're looking for.
Review previously at BMBR.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Though there were a couple of minor editing errors, I enjoyed this story. It was a pleasant summer read. I liked the odd references to pop culture:
"I wished really hard for a either a polar vortex to miraculously blow in, or for Elsa to get pissed off and unleash the cold."
I also felt for these guys; I HATE being too hot and the word humid makes me want to cry. The author did an excellent job of writing how uncomfortably hot the summer was, and the subsequent effect it had on the guys relationship. In fact, without the heat, the relationship might never have happened.The MC's were fun, they were great to read about; they laughed together and made me laugh at several points. When they needed to be there for each other they were.
To be honest, I'm finding it hard to know exactly how to review this book. Not because it was badly written, or boring, but because it really was a middling book. The kind that is perfect when you're a bit tired and just want to fall into bed with an easy, enjoyable read. So often middling, easy, nice, etc, etc seem like insults, but I'm here to say that is not the case. Sometimes all these things are exactly what it needed in a read. It wasn't overly sweet and schmultzy, nor too angsty, it was just a nice blend of pleasant with just enough steam.
A recommended read for those times when something easy, fun and just a touch steamy is what you're looking for.
Review previously at BMBR.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 30, 2017A short story about a sultry heat wave one Tuscaloosa summer. Add in a balcony scene or two, a peanut butter pie, two horses named Alice and Trixie, and a steamy low-angst love story that is just right. An enjoyable read!
May 4, 2016
Tuscaloosa, Alabama seems to have made a weather-swap with hell. Temperatures have been in the 100s for over a week and the whole area is just one big pile of sweaty, tired, and combustible people. Ethan luckily can hang out in the campus library most of the day, working on his grad studies, but even he has to go home. Home to a sweltering flat. An empty, sweltering flat.
But temperatures are not the only thing that are rising in Alabama. Especially when he catches a guy from the neighboring apartment building trying to relax with a nice outdoor wank. Then question is, if they ever meet, will the heat coming off the two melt the city to the ground?
This was a very good story. I usually pickup Jeff Adams when I want some ice (hockey players), but turns out he can do hot as well as cold. I’m pretty much never going to the south, if the temperatures I read about in books are in any way correct, but this short trip (in the comfort of my own air-conditioned house) was great.
Loved the way that these two guys ‘meet’. Not exactly something you would tell the grandchildren years later, but I will admit to a bit of a exhibitionist kink of sorts. Plus, all that heat, all that sweat? Yummy.
Very good story, and I totally recommend you pick it up when you need a little extra spice in you reading diet.
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.
But temperatures are not the only thing that are rising in Alabama. Especially when he catches a guy from the neighboring apartment building trying to relax with a nice outdoor wank. Then question is, if they ever meet, will the heat coming off the two melt the city to the ground?
This was a very good story. I usually pickup Jeff Adams when I want some ice (hockey players), but turns out he can do hot as well as cold. I’m pretty much never going to the south, if the temperatures I read about in books are in any way correct, but this short trip (in the comfort of my own air-conditioned house) was great.
Loved the way that these two guys ‘meet’. Not exactly something you would tell the grandchildren years later, but I will admit to a bit of a exhibitionist kink of sorts. Plus, all that heat, all that sweat? Yummy.
Very good story, and I totally recommend you pick it up when you need a little extra spice in you reading diet.
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.
March 21, 2021
I am a fan of Jeff Adam's work, so I was glad I got to read this book. This was part of an 18 story "Heat Wave" project by JMS Books. Ethan and Marcus are neighbors and grad students. This is a short story, so it is a bit rushed, and the guys seem to fall in love very quickly. Fortunately, both guys seem to be at the same spot in life, and settling down is what they both want. I liked seeing Ethan help Marcus with his responsibilities at home. This had a good HFN with the belief that it could be an HEA.
September 24, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This was a really lovely short novella that has very little angst and just the right amount of heat to spice up this sweet love story. I really enjoyed this one and it hit all the right notes for a quick, feel good read.
Ethan is the narrator, and he tells the story so well. I loved getting to know him. He’s really the perfect one to take us on his journey. There’s nothing extreme here, just the story of a guy in grad school and how he’s dealing with life and what happens when he finds the one he wants to pursue. I thought it was really well done, and just a well crafted tale. I was immersed in his life for the short time it took to tell this story, and I felt his emotions right along with him.
We didn’t get to know Marcus as well, considering we were only in Ethan’s head. I would have liked to see a bit more from him, just to get a better grasp on his character, but what we do see really does work. The chemistry between these guys is electric, and I liked the easy way they fit together. There’s hardly any conflict, but that works in this story. It’s just about two guys falling in love, and I enjoyed watching them do it.
So basically, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet, easy read that hits all the right notes about two guys falling in love, then you’re definitely going to want to pick this one up.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This was a really lovely short novella that has very little angst and just the right amount of heat to spice up this sweet love story. I really enjoyed this one and it hit all the right notes for a quick, feel good read.
Ethan is the narrator, and he tells the story so well. I loved getting to know him. He’s really the perfect one to take us on his journey. There’s nothing extreme here, just the story of a guy in grad school and how he’s dealing with life and what happens when he finds the one he wants to pursue. I thought it was really well done, and just a well crafted tale. I was immersed in his life for the short time it took to tell this story, and I felt his emotions right along with him.
We didn’t get to know Marcus as well, considering we were only in Ethan’s head. I would have liked to see a bit more from him, just to get a better grasp on his character, but what we do see really does work. The chemistry between these guys is electric, and I liked the easy way they fit together. There’s hardly any conflict, but that works in this story. It’s just about two guys falling in love, and I enjoyed watching them do it.
So basically, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet, easy read that hits all the right notes about two guys falling in love, then you’re definitely going to want to pick this one up.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
September 1, 2015
Reviewed by Nikki K. for QUEERcentric Books
Heat Wave: Tuscaloosa by Jeff Adams is a simple and sweet story about two men finding love in an unconventional way. It’s part of the Heat Wave series by publisher JMS Books, where each story is written by a different author and based in a different city.
Ethan is a grad student stuck in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the summer. Though he’s thrilled about his teaching assistant position at the university, he’s not at all excited about the record-breaking heat wave plaguing the area.
In the midst of an oppressively hot summer night, Ethan meets fellow grad student Marcus. While their initial encounters are scorching, can two busy students have more than a heated seasonal fling? Or could this be the beginning of something that will last beyond the stormy southern nights?
My very favorite thing about this story was how lighthearted and fun it was from start to finish. There are quirky pop culture references and laughter during sexytimes. Not to mention, some of the interactions between Ethan and Marcus are cavity-inducing levels of sweet...
Read Nikki's full review at QUEERcentric Books
Heat Wave: Tuscaloosa by Jeff Adams is a simple and sweet story about two men finding love in an unconventional way. It’s part of the Heat Wave series by publisher JMS Books, where each story is written by a different author and based in a different city.
Ethan is a grad student stuck in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the summer. Though he’s thrilled about his teaching assistant position at the university, he’s not at all excited about the record-breaking heat wave plaguing the area.
In the midst of an oppressively hot summer night, Ethan meets fellow grad student Marcus. While their initial encounters are scorching, can two busy students have more than a heated seasonal fling? Or could this be the beginning of something that will last beyond the stormy southern nights?
My very favorite thing about this story was how lighthearted and fun it was from start to finish. There are quirky pop culture references and laughter during sexytimes. Not to mention, some of the interactions between Ethan and Marcus are cavity-inducing levels of sweet...
Read Nikki's full review at QUEERcentric Books
January 10, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
I think I have said it before, but I am rarely, if ever, disappointed by a Jeff Adams story. Heatwave: Tuscaloosa is no exception. HW: Tuscaloosa is part of an 18 story, multi-author collection from JMS Books that celebrates summer with, of course, extra heat. Each story is set in a different city across the US.
For Complete review see Prism Book Alliance: http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
January 14, 2018
I read this entire book with a smile on my face. It was cute, feelgood, and hot. OMG was it hot...with a capital H. The first balcony scene was hotter than the setting of the book itself!! *fans self*
The author did a great job describing the weather conditions. Even though I've never been to Alabama, I live somewhere hot and humid, and I could feel the air thicken around me as I read it. The characters were great: I loved how they communicated with each other and their instant attraction was totally believable. I particularly liked their goofiness. Felt authentic for a couple guys their age.
This was the first book I read by Jeff Adams, but it definitely won't be my last! Warmly recommended.
The author did a great job describing the weather conditions. Even though I've never been to Alabama, I live somewhere hot and humid, and I could feel the air thicken around me as I read it. The characters were great: I loved how they communicated with each other and their instant attraction was totally believable. I particularly liked their goofiness. Felt authentic for a couple guys their age.
This was the first book I read by Jeff Adams, but it definitely won't be my last! Warmly recommended.
November 9, 2020
A sweet little nugget to clean my palate after all the angst over the last week, heck the last four years!!
February 21, 2017
3.9 Stars
Short, sweet & sexy. Well, except for the the lack of lube for pool-sex (pond-sex, whatever).
Short, sweet & sexy. Well, except for the the lack of lube for pool-sex (pond-sex, whatever).
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews