What do you think?
Rate this book
City by the Bay #1
Chiaroscuro
Jamie Makepeace isn’t sure what to do with his work or his love life. Laid off at his job and at odds with his ultra-conservative boyfriend, Micah, he’s searching for something to fill the empty spots.
When he meets Ben Gallagher, a cake decorator, Jamie knows he’s found a friend. Taking a chance, Jamie turns to art for his new career, and Ben becomes his muse. He creates an entire show based on the man who is always there for him. The problem with Ben is that he’s been hurt by love in the past, and might not be willing to risk his friendship with Jamie for something more.
Can Ben get past his fear and see that all that Jamie has to offer before it’s too late?
When he meets Ben Gallagher, a cake decorator, Jamie knows he’s found a friend. Taking a chance, Jamie turns to art for his new career, and Ben becomes his muse. He creates an entire show based on the man who is always there for him. The problem with Ben is that he’s been hurt by love in the past, and might not be willing to risk his friendship with Jamie for something more.
Can Ben get past his fear and see that all that Jamie has to offer before it’s too late?
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2007
164 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Jones
6 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This is Jenna^^Jones, where ^=space.
Also writes as: Jenna Lynn Brown
This is Jenna^^Jones, where ^=space.
Also writes as: Jenna Lynn Brown
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 12, 2009
I started the book a couple of months ago but stopped after 30 pages. Back then, I thought, who so many character names to remember for the first time and I couldn't got my head wrapped to it quickly. Then, I thought to start again. Boy, once I started, I couldn't stop. This story is very character driven -- it is easy to grasp the names after all -- and they are not two-dimensional characters. Jamie meets Ben in a wedding part where -- as strangers, they kissed inside a closet -- but Jamie has a crush on nineteen year old Micah and Jamie is a romantic, he believes in relationship and monogamy. So he only can accept Ben as friend. Until Micah breaks his heart and Ben is there to help mending his broken heart. Unfortunately, Ben doesn't believe in love and commitment. The story flows smoothly and it is sweet and it is engaging and I fall for the characters (especially Jamie and Ben *sigh*) and few of hours later, I close the book with a deep sigh and smile on my face.
March 2, 2010
Ever read a book that you just WISH were turned into a movie? That's exactly how I felt about this book that kept me up for several nights and made me fall in love with a group of gay boys I'd love to have as friends any day!
What I liked about this book: Wow! What DIDN'T I like about this story... um... nothing? It's a complete year in the life of this group of friends who remind me of Queer as Folk with happy endings and sizzling sexual energy that oozes off the page without overwhelming the plot and and conflict within the journey.
The journey, that's what this book is about. The journey to self-discovery isn't always about your sexual preference, your career choices or your path... it's about finding your place in this world and being open to love in its many factions. Jenna Jones vividly sets the stage for the reader and takes them through the highs and lows of being in a relationship. Sometimes it's bliss... other times it's heart-rending, gut-punching pain but always it's a journey best traversed with friends than alone.
Summary: Gay romance erotica
Jamie Makepeace isn’t sure what to do with his work or his love life. Laid off at his job and at odds with his ultra-conservative boyfriend, Micah, he’s searching for something to fill the empty spots.
When he meets Ben Gallagher, a cake decorator, Jamie knows he’s found a friend. Taking a chance, Jamie turns to art for his new career, and Ben becomes his muse. He creates an entire show based on the man who is always there for him. The problem with Ben is that he’s been hurt by love in the past, and might not be willing to risk his friendship with Jamie for something more.
Can Ben get past his fear and see that all that Jamie has to offer before it’s too late?
What I liked about this book: Wow! What DIDN'T I like about this story... um... nothing? It's a complete year in the life of this group of friends who remind me of Queer as Folk with happy endings and sizzling sexual energy that oozes off the page without overwhelming the plot and and conflict within the journey.
The journey, that's what this book is about. The journey to self-discovery isn't always about your sexual preference, your career choices or your path... it's about finding your place in this world and being open to love in its many factions. Jenna Jones vividly sets the stage for the reader and takes them through the highs and lows of being in a relationship. Sometimes it's bliss... other times it's heart-rending, gut-punching pain but always it's a journey best traversed with friends than alone.
Excerpt: "High school. A few times before Tris and I got married. And then not again until after the annulment--and I've never looked back." Jamie nodded against his chest, fingers entwined
between Ben's. Ben stroked his hair. "How old were you?"
"Fifteen."
"Just a baby," Ben teased.
"Old enough. A little bundle of hormones, that was me at fifteen. Every time somebody I found attractive touched me I thought I'd combust."
"Everybody's like that as a teenager."
"True. Me and my best friend--Rupert, that was his name--"
"Rupert?" He quietly laughed. "English people."
"Rupert. It's a perfectly good name. Anyway, we'd sneak off to snog behind the equipment shed between classes, or go to my flat to fool around because my parents were always gone. He was the first bloke to kiss me," he added, his expression nostalgic. "The first bloke to do a lot of things to me."
"What happened?"
"His mum caught us. We weren't actually fucking but we were in bed together and just in our underpants. She came back early from some school thing for one of his sisters and threw open the door and just started screaming that I was a pervert and to get out of her house and never talk
to her son again, and when I got home she'd called my parents to tell them."
Ben stroked his back, his expression somber.
After a few minutes Jamie said, "I haven't seen him since. I tried to call a few times but he never answered the phone and his family never let me talk to him. So I don't know what's happened to him. I’d like to think he's fabulously happy somewhere that's not Manchester."
"Not easy to be gay there, huh?"
"Nope. Not for kids our age, anyway. I mean, it's pretty urban and all but you have to know how to look after yourself, too. And in my school if there was even a whiff of difference about you people would set on you like hounds on a rabbit. And since I was artsy and small--" He sighed.
"You got set on."
"Yeah. And my father would tell me to fight back and I tried, and that just made it worse. If I'd been into sport instead of drawing, or even just taller... I was so fucking glad to get out of there."
"Nothing fucks you up like childhood." He hugged Jamie closer to him. Jamie made a soft sound. "Thanks." He kissed Ben briefly and lay his head down again.
Ben played with his hair. Ran his fingers down Jamie's jaw and along his chin, along his throat.
He pulled his hand away abruptly and crooked his arm under his head. "Sorry. I keep wanting to- -yeah."
Jamie opened his eyes when Ben moved his hand away, and raised his head again at Ben's words. "Keep wanting to touch me."
"Yeah. And as you keep reminding me, you're in a relationship. In love and all that."
"Yeah," Jamie whispered.
"And I like you."
He smiled and tapped his fingers on Ben's chest a moment. "You've mentioned that."
"And I don't fuck my friends."
It took Jamie a moment to realize what he meant, and then he said, "Oh," as he moved away from Ben's side.
"Hey." Ben sat up too. "Hey--Jamie--this is a good thing, right? We can be friends and the sex thing just gets--you know--put away. We don't have to think about it anymore. You know? We're just friends."
"Is that really what you want?"
Ben looked at him like he was an idiot. "No. But I am trying to respect the fact that you love that guy."
"Micah."
"Yeah, him."
"I do love him--but that hasn't stopped me from wanting you."
"Well," Ben said slowly, "then we ought to set some rules, I think. For example, my rule is I don't fuck my friends."
"So you'd rather sleep with some bloke you don't know than somebody you actually like."
"It's just sex, Jamie. It's not supposed to be meaningful."
"Oh," Jamie said again. "But you were married."
"Unhappily," he reminded him. "You can love somebody and have terrible sex with them. Or no sex at all. Who needs all that emotional garbage? I don't. I don't want it."
"I see."
"I mean, you've done it too, right? Cruising, one night stands, fucking a guy in a back room?"
"Of course I have--just not exclusively and not recently. I like being in a relationship."
Ben smoothed a wrinkle in the bedding and said nothing.
"They're not all like this," Jamie said. "Some of them--well, I'm sure there's people who have good relationships. And this will get better. Once Micah moves out of his parents' place and--well. We'll figure it out."
"Right," said Ben and gave an encouraging nod.
"So you've never been in love," Jamie said after a moment.
"Aside from Tris, no."
"That's too bad," Jamie said. Ben raised his eyebrows in curiosity and Jamie went on, "I mean, it seems to me like you've got a lot to give. You know?"
"Eight and a half inches," Ben said and smiled winningly.
"That's not what I mean and you know it."
"Well, define 'a lot,' then, Jamie. I have good sex, I'm not going to be coy about that. I like sex, I enjoy it, I'm good at it. Love is just--" He shook his head and looked away. "Love is a complication I don't want to bother with."
"Why? You don't think gay men can fall in love?"
Ben took a deep breath. "I am not self-loathing."
"Then what is it?" "Because I don't want--" His hand swept out in an all-encompassing gesture. "This. Waiting for somebody who's not going to show up, wondering where they are, what they're doing, why they're not with you, what's more important to them. I don't believe in putting my happiness in the hands of other people."
Jamie looked at his hands. "I see."
Ben leaned over and picked up his shoes. "I'll go."
"Only if you want to," Jamie said, meeting his eyes, and Ben dropped his shoes and wrapped himself around Jamie again.
"I don't. I don't want to go."
July 2, 2012
I really really liked this book, or let´s say I really really liked Jamie. Sweet, loving, artistic Jamie.
This is a romance, although it is not set up as a typical romance. The main romance is about Jamie and Ben. Ben is a nice guy who is always there for his friends, but has convinced himself that he does not do love. He cannot and will not be Relationship Guy. The story about Jamie and Ben is a typical romance, but their real story doesn´t really start until the second half of the book.
The first half of the book is about the start, middle and end of Jamie and Micah´s relationship. Sure, Micah makes a mistake, but while they are seriously in the relationship they are very much in love and you like both characters. I am a bit torn about this setup. I got invested in the two characters and their relationship, but still I knew that they are not ment to be, so it was a little hard reading so much about their relationship. I do want to point out that I still loved this book and it actually worked, and that is probably why I am a bit fascinated about it and decided to spend so much of my review on pointing it out.
This is a romance, although it is not set up as a typical romance. The main romance is about Jamie and Ben. Ben is a nice guy who is always there for his friends, but has convinced himself that he does not do love. He cannot and will not be Relationship Guy. The story about Jamie and Ben is a typical romance, but their real story doesn´t really start until the second half of the book.
The first half of the book is about the start, middle and end of Jamie and Micah´s relationship. Sure, Micah makes a mistake, but while they are seriously in the relationship they are very much in love and you like both characters. I am a bit torn about this setup. I got invested in the two characters and their relationship, but still I knew that they are not ment to be, so it was a little hard reading so much about their relationship. I do want to point out that I still loved this book and it actually worked, and that is probably why I am a bit fascinated about it and decided to spend so much of my review on pointing it out.
September 8, 2012
Boring.
Characters written too femininely.
Dry...including the lube-less sex.
No tension, no passion, no arc, too many mundane details and conversations.
Not enough character development.
Too much casualness, too little real communication.
Too unreal, too ridiculous.
Too much over-sentimentality.
Too little awkwardness in transitioning between characters.
Not enough editing. Not enough proofreading.
Just blah...
Characters written too femininely.
Dry...including the lube-less sex.
No tension, no passion, no arc, too many mundane details and conversations.
Not enough character development.
Too much casualness, too little real communication.
Too unreal, too ridiculous.
Too much over-sentimentality.
Too little awkwardness in transitioning between characters.
Not enough editing. Not enough proofreading.
Just blah...
June 18, 2017
Jamie Makepeace, un inglés afincado en San Francisco, se acaba de quedar sin trabajo cuando la empresa de videojuegos en la que ocupaba el cargo de jefe de diseño ha despedido a casi toda su plantilla por problemas económicos. Parece una oportunidad para dedicarse por fin a lo que de verdad le apasiona, el arte, pero aunque su vida profesional parece ir encauzándose poco a poco, no puede decirse lo mismo de su vida personal: las cosas no van demasiado bien con su novio, el joven Micah, y luego está Ben, su vecino, quien le atrae muchísimo pero que si tiene algo claro es que no quiere nada serio con nadie.
Jenna Jones (o misslucyjane) es la autora de uno de mis fanfics favoritos, uno que he releído un montón de veces y que siempre me hace llorar. Así que con los buenos ratos que me ha hecho pasar, creí justo apoyarla comprando una de sus historias originales para probar. Después de tenerlo bastante tiempo olvidado en la estantería por fin me animé a cogerlo y leerlo y... La verdad es que no me causó ninguna de las cálidas sensaciones que sí me habían producido hasta ahora sus fics.
Chiaroscuro sigue a cuatro hombres homosexuales de San Francisco: Jamie, el artista; Dune, el escritor, su mejor amigo; Micah, un genio de la informática, su novio; y Ben, un pastelero con mucho talento y su nuevo vecino. Todo parecen supermodelos, por supuesto. En la novela se forma como un triángulo amoroso entre Jamie, Micah y Ben. Jamie está enamorado de Micah (incomprensiblemente), pero se siente muy atraído por Ben. Ben no para de intentar llevarlo a la cama pese a que Jamie le dice una y otra vez que está en una relación, y después insiste que solo quiere que sean follamigos. Y Dune está por ahí siendo la voz de la razón.
El mayor problema que me encontré con este libro es la construcción de las relaciones. Primero está el hecho de que Jamie se acueste con los otros tres personajes, eso ya es un poco turn-off para mí. Luego, su relación con Micah y lo obesionado que está con él me tiró mucho para atrás. Aunque no tienen mucha diferencia de edad, Jamie tiene veinticinco y Micah diecinueve, Micah se comporta como si tuviera catorce, y lo de venir de una familia ultra-religiosa y tener que esconder su sexualidad está ya muy trillado. Tampoco me gustó la actitud de Ben, especialmente al principio, aunque lógicamente esperaba que Jaime se quedara con él. En general no conecté mucho con ninguno de los personajes, porque ninguno es muy interesante ni complejo.
Luego está el hecho de que tampoco hay mucha trama, solo va pasando la vida, discuten las mismas cosas una y otra vez, tienen sexo, y poquita cosa más. Las escenas de sexo tampoco son muy destacables, y es una pena porque en sus fics las escribía muy bien... Aquí acabé un poco hasta el moño del "kissed the top of his head". Aunque supongo que es distinto partir de la base de unos personajes a los que ya conoces y quieres que empezar de cero con desconocidos que si no te entran, hagan lo que hagan no lo vas a encontrar interesante.
Chiaroscuro, al menos, es bastante fluído y los diálogos en su mayor parte están bien.
Este libro es el primero de una trilogía, cada uno centrado en parejas distintas. El segundo es sobre... ¡Dune y Micah! Whaaaaat??? En fin.
Jenna Jones (o misslucyjane) es la autora de uno de mis fanfics favoritos, uno que he releído un montón de veces y que siempre me hace llorar. Así que con los buenos ratos que me ha hecho pasar, creí justo apoyarla comprando una de sus historias originales para probar. Después de tenerlo bastante tiempo olvidado en la estantería por fin me animé a cogerlo y leerlo y... La verdad es que no me causó ninguna de las cálidas sensaciones que sí me habían producido hasta ahora sus fics.
Chiaroscuro sigue a cuatro hombres homosexuales de San Francisco: Jamie, el artista; Dune, el escritor, su mejor amigo; Micah, un genio de la informática, su novio; y Ben, un pastelero con mucho talento y su nuevo vecino. Todo parecen supermodelos, por supuesto. En la novela se forma como un triángulo amoroso entre Jamie, Micah y Ben. Jamie está enamorado de Micah (incomprensiblemente), pero se siente muy atraído por Ben. Ben no para de intentar llevarlo a la cama pese a que Jamie le dice una y otra vez que está en una relación, y después insiste que solo quiere que sean follamigos. Y Dune está por ahí siendo la voz de la razón.
El mayor problema que me encontré con este libro es la construcción de las relaciones. Primero está el hecho de que Jamie se acueste con los otros tres personajes, eso ya es un poco turn-off para mí. Luego, su relación con Micah y lo obesionado que está con él me tiró mucho para atrás. Aunque no tienen mucha diferencia de edad, Jamie tiene veinticinco y Micah diecinueve, Micah se comporta como si tuviera catorce, y lo de venir de una familia ultra-religiosa y tener que esconder su sexualidad está ya muy trillado. Tampoco me gustó la actitud de Ben, especialmente al principio, aunque lógicamente esperaba que Jaime se quedara con él. En general no conecté mucho con ninguno de los personajes, porque ninguno es muy interesante ni complejo.
Luego está el hecho de que tampoco hay mucha trama, solo va pasando la vida, discuten las mismas cosas una y otra vez, tienen sexo, y poquita cosa más. Las escenas de sexo tampoco son muy destacables, y es una pena porque en sus fics las escribía muy bien... Aquí acabé un poco hasta el moño del "kissed the top of his head". Aunque supongo que es distinto partir de la base de unos personajes a los que ya conoces y quieres que empezar de cero con desconocidos que si no te entran, hagan lo que hagan no lo vas a encontrar interesante.
Chiaroscuro, al menos, es bastante fluído y los diálogos en su mayor parte están bien.
Este libro es el primero de una trilogía, cada uno centrado en parejas distintas. El segundo es sobre... ¡Dune y Micah! Whaaaaat??? En fin.
May 23, 2014
(2 fucking stars because of the stupid fucking blurb. This book has one of the shittiest blurbs I've ever read because of a technical issue. More below.)
Final Verdict:
If you've already read the blurb for this one, you might as well just go and read Absolutely Eric. The blurb kills any tension that might exist in the story because its clearly taken from the stupid middle of the stupid story instead of where it's supposed to be taken from, which is the freaking beginning.
while reading
I DUNNO WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT, EXACTLY, BUT I SAW THE WORD "CAKE."
...what the fuck am I reading? ...what the hell is going on? I feel like a tripped and fell into a wormhole leading into a strange AU.
...Oh. Oh, I see.
*sigh* Here we go. See, the thing about blurbs is, you don't tell people where you're taking them. You tell them where you're going to begin, and maybe give them a hint as to what might come from it, but you don't tell them about the middle of the journey and then expect them not to be confused when you backtrack to the way fucking beginning of the whole farce. That's just rude.
Once I figured out what the fuck was going on, I just kind of rode with it. I looked askance at it almost every step, but I rode with it.
But then...
Okay, so Micah was hired right out of high school, right? Cuz he's like not old enough to drink yet. And now he needs to apply to college. Stanford, sure. SF State, sure. But...UCSF? ...the fuck...? Does he realize that (1) they mostly deal with health sciences (and not, you know, coding) and (2) that it's a graduate school? Unless the author meant University of San Francisco, which is a different thing, and NOT a UC. Still, I feel like if he really wants to keep doing coding stuff, he should go to Stanford. I mean, out of all (3) choices listed, Stanford seems like the best/only viable option, cuz my impression (aka all I really know) of SFSU is for its psychology program. Which, again, is NOT coding.
...does he suddenly want to go into pre-med? We were not-told about this? I mean, I don't even think there was explicit fucking (if there was, then I missed it), so it's not like that's taking up pages. JFC what the hell is going on?
OMG WHOOAAA HEY LOOK MICAH'S GOT THE MAKINGS FOR AN ABUSIVE ASSHOLE AND JAMIE IS STARTING TO FALL INTO CODEPENDENCY. Gah that stupid-ass blurb. Like wow, we already know the end-game now; clearly Micah really will become an asshole and Jamie will be devastated and eventually get together with Ben. *sigh* Kills any tension; if not for the stupid blurb, then I'd say that at the point where I am, it could conceivably go either way - with Micah either coming to terms or devolving into total asshole.
*Sigh* author, come on. Do you know how jarring it is when you're talking about UC system schools and the cities thereof and throw Palo Alto into the mix? First reaction is "wtf there's definitely no UCPA" and then "Oh, author is probably referring to Stanford." *sigh* sloppy. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY THE FUCK WOULD HE GO TO UCSF? THAT'S NOT EVEN AN UNDERGRAD SCHOOL. Sure, I suppose getting into grad school without an undergrad degree would be quite the coup, but again, isn't Micah a coder? Why the fuck does he want to go to school specializing in health sciences?
(approx 20%)
The thing about this story is, I've read this story model before. There were different character archetypes, sure, but the same story model, which means a lot of stuff running along the same lines, and really, nothing about this story is standing out to me.
Micah is a sad idiot child and a normal young person, which means he's almost a complete sociopath, and gdi, I still don't quite know what the fucking difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is. But that is a different matter altogether.
(Sidebar: this seems fairly consistent with what my psychopathology prof was saying, so I'm using this for reference)
So, yeah, sociopathic. Not entirely his fault; can't exactly blame him for his age. Still, he's clearly on a warpath of destruction and poor Jamie is being sucked in.
I don't know where I was going with this anymore.
Eh. Like I was saying before, it's not bad; it follows its concept, it explores it, plays it out, but, well, it's kind of rote-feeling. You already know where it's heading, and you already know what sort of "unexpected setbacks" there'll probably be, and you know what the end result will be, if not the specific permutations thereof. A lot of that can be blamed on the blurb. I feel like without the blurb, there could have been a bit more tension in the plot, which would have created interest.
But the thing is, because we already know this great love is, in fact, just a passing infatuation, it makes each declaration of love, whichever party doing the declaration, all that more painful to have to sit through. Like, "GOD, YOU STUPID FUCKING IDIOTS JUST SHUT UP ALREADY. LIKE I'M CRINGING ON YOUR BEHALF, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING SO FOR THE NEXT, LIKE, 50% OF THE BOOK OR SO ASJDKFLAJSDF"
It makes the UST between Ben and Jamie farcical. Like oh, come on, we already know what the fucking endgame is. Yeah, you can't force development to happen, you gotta just wait it through, but gah this is bullshit.
Gah and I know what it is, too. It's that stupid fucking blurb. (Also the fact that I've already read Absolutely Eric, but I feel like even having done that, if the stupid blurb hadn't lead me to believe I was going to read something entirely different [or at least have to sit through something entirely different before finally getting to the blurb part], I would have been more okay with it.)
Gah you know what I can't do this. I don't care enough about these characters to want to sit through pages and pages and pages of agonizing farce for such low projected payoff.
Mission abort: 25%
Seriously, wow. Killed by its blurb. I'm dumbfounded.
Final Verdict:
If you've already read the blurb for this one, you might as well just go and read Absolutely Eric. The blurb kills any tension that might exist in the story because its clearly taken from the stupid middle of the stupid story instead of where it's supposed to be taken from, which is the freaking beginning.
while reading
I DUNNO WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT, EXACTLY, BUT I SAW THE WORD "CAKE."
...what the fuck am I reading? ...what the hell is going on? I feel like a tripped and fell into a wormhole leading into a strange AU.
...Oh. Oh, I see.
*sigh* Here we go. See, the thing about blurbs is, you don't tell people where you're taking them. You tell them where you're going to begin, and maybe give them a hint as to what might come from it, but you don't tell them about the middle of the journey and then expect them not to be confused when you backtrack to the way fucking beginning of the whole farce. That's just rude.
Once I figured out what the fuck was going on, I just kind of rode with it. I looked askance at it almost every step, but I rode with it.
But then...
Okay, so Micah was hired right out of high school, right? Cuz he's like not old enough to drink yet. And now he needs to apply to college. Stanford, sure. SF State, sure. But...UCSF? ...the fuck...? Does he realize that (1) they mostly deal with health sciences (and not, you know, coding) and (2) that it's a graduate school? Unless the author meant University of San Francisco, which is a different thing, and NOT a UC. Still, I feel like if he really wants to keep doing coding stuff, he should go to Stanford. I mean, out of all (3) choices listed, Stanford seems like the best/only viable option, cuz my impression (aka all I really know) of SFSU is for its psychology program. Which, again, is NOT coding.
...does he suddenly want to go into pre-med? We were not-told about this? I mean, I don't even think there was explicit fucking (if there was, then I missed it), so it's not like that's taking up pages. JFC what the hell is going on?
OMG WHOOAAA HEY LOOK MICAH'S GOT THE MAKINGS FOR AN ABUSIVE ASSHOLE AND JAMIE IS STARTING TO FALL INTO CODEPENDENCY. Gah that stupid-ass blurb. Like wow, we already know the end-game now; clearly Micah really will become an asshole and Jamie will be devastated and eventually get together with Ben. *sigh* Kills any tension; if not for the stupid blurb, then I'd say that at the point where I am, it could conceivably go either way - with Micah either coming to terms or devolving into total asshole.
*Sigh* author, come on. Do you know how jarring it is when you're talking about UC system schools and the cities thereof and throw Palo Alto into the mix? First reaction is "wtf there's definitely no UCPA" and then "Oh, author is probably referring to Stanford." *sigh* sloppy. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY THE FUCK WOULD HE GO TO UCSF? THAT'S NOT EVEN AN UNDERGRAD SCHOOL. Sure, I suppose getting into grad school without an undergrad degree would be quite the coup, but again, isn't Micah a coder? Why the fuck does he want to go to school specializing in health sciences?
(approx 20%)
The thing about this story is, I've read this story model before. There were different character archetypes, sure, but the same story model, which means a lot of stuff running along the same lines, and really, nothing about this story is standing out to me.
Micah is a sad idiot child and a normal young person, which means he's almost a complete sociopath, and gdi, I still don't quite know what the fucking difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is. But that is a different matter altogether.
(Sidebar: this seems fairly consistent with what my psychopathology prof was saying, so I'm using this for reference)
So, yeah, sociopathic. Not entirely his fault; can't exactly blame him for his age. Still, he's clearly on a warpath of destruction and poor Jamie is being sucked in.
I don't know where I was going with this anymore.
Eh. Like I was saying before, it's not bad; it follows its concept, it explores it, plays it out, but, well, it's kind of rote-feeling. You already know where it's heading, and you already know what sort of "unexpected setbacks" there'll probably be, and you know what the end result will be, if not the specific permutations thereof. A lot of that can be blamed on the blurb. I feel like without the blurb, there could have been a bit more tension in the plot, which would have created interest.
But the thing is, because we already know this great love is, in fact, just a passing infatuation, it makes each declaration of love, whichever party doing the declaration, all that more painful to have to sit through. Like, "GOD, YOU STUPID FUCKING IDIOTS JUST SHUT UP ALREADY. LIKE I'M CRINGING ON YOUR BEHALF, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING SO FOR THE NEXT, LIKE, 50% OF THE BOOK OR SO ASJDKFLAJSDF"
It makes the UST between Ben and Jamie farcical. Like oh, come on, we already know what the fucking endgame is. Yeah, you can't force development to happen, you gotta just wait it through, but gah this is bullshit.
Gah and I know what it is, too. It's that stupid fucking blurb. (Also the fact that I've already read Absolutely Eric, but I feel like even having done that, if the stupid blurb hadn't lead me to believe I was going to read something entirely different [or at least have to sit through something entirely different before finally getting to the blurb part], I would have been more okay with it.)
Gah you know what I can't do this. I don't care enough about these characters to want to sit through pages and pages and pages of agonizing farce for such low projected payoff.
Mission abort: 25%
Seriously, wow. Killed by its blurb. I'm dumbfounded.
January 22, 2013
This was a difficult book to read, for me. I like a romance where two people meet and fall in love. This was definitely not that. Ben and Jamie do meet at the start of the book, but Jamie is in love with Micah. There are 183 pages of Jamie's and Micah's doomed relationship including plenty of sex scenes. During this time, Dune and Ben undermine the relationship by telling Jamie everything that is wrong with it. To quote one of them, "I say it's time you cut your losses and move on. Losing a boyfriend in this city is like losing a watch in Switzerland:there's a better one on every corner." {Evidently there is a sequel and Dune ends up with Micah...after telling Jamie what was wrong with Micah so often in this book!} Ben tries to get Jamie to cheat on Micah. Jamie never cheats on Micah but he thinks things like: "I'm in love with Micah, he thought. We're in love, we're going to live together--he just couldn't get away today. Except. Except. Ben was here, Ben was available, and Ben wanted him." Yet when the relationship is over, Dune and Ben are suddenly great friends of Micah and the boyfriend he cheated on Jamie with. Dune invites Micah and his boyfriend to parties without telling Jamie, knowing that Jamie will be at the party, too. I couldn't like any of the characters because of these things.
Even when the relationship with Micah is over, we still do not get a story that is about the two main characters' relationship. Instead we get a sex scene between Jamie and a character that isn't in the story much at all.
The ending wasn't very satisfying. Jamie has to practically force Ben to say I love you and there is nothing shown of changes that might have been made if they truly committed to each other. They were in an open relationship and not living together. Readers are not shown how that changed. Jamie pushes Ben into committing to a happily ever after, and we are not really shown that Ben is agreeing to not sleeping with other people; it is just implied. Dune, who has been a major part of the story, is left alone. He, too, had been having sex with Jamie, although this was not shown, and due to loving Ben, Jamie no longer has sex with him, but Ben still feels they are in an open relationship.
Jamie and Ben have an open relationship for the entire story. Ben hurts Jamie by bringing a date to Jamie's big art show opening night. Ben also does not care if Jamie slept with Stuart {and he states this at the end of the book, so I feel that he still doesn't really want a committed relationship}.
I did not find this story to be realistic or romantic.
Even when the relationship with Micah is over, we still do not get a story that is about the two main characters' relationship. Instead we get a sex scene between Jamie and a character that isn't in the story much at all.
The ending wasn't very satisfying. Jamie has to practically force Ben to say I love you and there is nothing shown of changes that might have been made if they truly committed to each other. They were in an open relationship and not living together. Readers are not shown how that changed. Jamie pushes Ben into committing to a happily ever after, and we are not really shown that Ben is agreeing to not sleeping with other people; it is just implied. Dune, who has been a major part of the story, is left alone. He, too, had been having sex with Jamie, although this was not shown, and due to loving Ben, Jamie no longer has sex with him, but Ben still feels they are in an open relationship.
Jamie and Ben have an open relationship for the entire story. Ben hurts Jamie by bringing a date to Jamie's big art show opening night. Ben also does not care if Jamie slept with Stuart {and he states this at the end of the book, so I feel that he still doesn't really want a committed relationship}.
I did not find this story to be realistic or romantic.
Read
April 8, 2009This is a choral book. It's a very long and full of characters book, so take a good handful of patience, get comfort and start reading. And be aware to have plenty of time ahead of you, cause I think you will not want to drop it off until you finish it.
Jamie is a good guy. Englishman in San Francisco and gay. Perfect. He has plenty of choice when he needs to get laid. Dune, for example, the ever present and "naked" friend he can always rely when needs a date. Dune is a "modern" son: he has two fathers, Leo, the biological one, and his partner Adam, and two mothers, Frances, the biological one, and her partner Ocean. And Leo lives in a quite and happy building, with nice neighboorhood like Ben, a cake decorator, who works in the one hundred and fifty years old family's bakery. Jamie and Ben even meet during a wedding and almost make out in the kitchen during the party.
But Jamie has a crush for Micah, a nineteen years old colleague, little engineering genius, who is like a bud starting to blossom, and Jamie wants to be the sun for him. And everyone around him tries to convince him that Micah is too young, that Micah is not out with his family and his friends and he, Jamie, deserves better, he deserves someone like Ben. And the reader knows well and he knows that Micah will fail and then Ben will be there for Jamie and you will have an happily ever after... but what happens if Ben doesn't want to love again? what happens if he, maybe, will be a lot more pain for Jamie than Micah?
Chiaroscuro is a novel who flows like a river: sometime peaceful, sometime with rapids. Jamie is the center of love for all the men around, Dune, Micah e Ben, and he loves them all. He is the sunshine of the story. Ben instead is a bit of shadows and rain. I like the rain: when you lie in bed and listen to the rain outside it could be peaceful, but rain could be also a storm; rain waters the gardens but can also destroy the buds. And so Ben can take care of Jamie but can also choke the fragile love he has inspired.
Chiaroscuro decipts a community and a way of life that maybe only in San Francisco you can find. Every page I turn I will find a new "maybe" couple: Dune-Jamie, Jamie-Micah, Micah-Ryan, Dune-Daniel, Daniel-Jamie, Jamie-Ben, Ben-Ian, Ian-Micah, Jamie-Stuart.... It's like a domino play, what will be the latest piece to be play?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603704132/?...
Jamie is a good guy. Englishman in San Francisco and gay. Perfect. He has plenty of choice when he needs to get laid. Dune, for example, the ever present and "naked" friend he can always rely when needs a date. Dune is a "modern" son: he has two fathers, Leo, the biological one, and his partner Adam, and two mothers, Frances, the biological one, and her partner Ocean. And Leo lives in a quite and happy building, with nice neighboorhood like Ben, a cake decorator, who works in the one hundred and fifty years old family's bakery. Jamie and Ben even meet during a wedding and almost make out in the kitchen during the party.
But Jamie has a crush for Micah, a nineteen years old colleague, little engineering genius, who is like a bud starting to blossom, and Jamie wants to be the sun for him. And everyone around him tries to convince him that Micah is too young, that Micah is not out with his family and his friends and he, Jamie, deserves better, he deserves someone like Ben. And the reader knows well and he knows that Micah will fail and then Ben will be there for Jamie and you will have an happily ever after... but what happens if Ben doesn't want to love again? what happens if he, maybe, will be a lot more pain for Jamie than Micah?
Chiaroscuro is a novel who flows like a river: sometime peaceful, sometime with rapids. Jamie is the center of love for all the men around, Dune, Micah e Ben, and he loves them all. He is the sunshine of the story. Ben instead is a bit of shadows and rain. I like the rain: when you lie in bed and listen to the rain outside it could be peaceful, but rain could be also a storm; rain waters the gardens but can also destroy the buds. And so Ben can take care of Jamie but can also choke the fragile love he has inspired.
Chiaroscuro decipts a community and a way of life that maybe only in San Francisco you can find. Every page I turn I will find a new "maybe" couple: Dune-Jamie, Jamie-Micah, Micah-Ryan, Dune-Daniel, Daniel-Jamie, Jamie-Ben, Ben-Ian, Ian-Micah, Jamie-Stuart.... It's like a domino play, what will be the latest piece to be play?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603704132/?...
June 12, 2021
Ok but not near as good as I thought it would be. The dialog got very repetitive.
October 16, 2012
3.5 Stars, giving it 4 stars though since its much closer to that for me. A non-traditional romance setup but a very good read. At first I wasn't really sure who to like and want for Jamie or who he was going to be with. Then I started thinking of this more like a TV series with each chapter being an episode of sorts, telling an unfolding story and I found that a much better way to like this book. Hearing Jamie so in love with Micah is a lot in a typical romance novel context, but not so much in a TV context if months down the line we see Jamie fall in love with Ben and know he's the right one for him. It also helps with trying to forgive Micah, which appears necessary since he's featured in the next book in this series. All in all, a really great read. Loved Jamie, loved Ben even if he was clueless for a bit, loved Tristan and their friendship, loved Dune for the most part as well. I've enjoyed other books by the author, this was no different, I like her writing style. The approach to this one is definitely different, hearing in detail about a relationship that one of the main characters is in and happy with that is not the final HEA is different, but she was able to make it work I think. I'm looking forward to the next book, I really liked Dune and though I'm not head over heels for Micah, I don't dislike him as much as I did at the halfway point in this book, so I'll look forward to reading about them.
June 4, 2011
Beautiful! A sweet romance that includes carefully well-developed characters and touches several important topics, without ever making them the central idea of the story, but delivering the message anyway. Jaime is such a sweet soul, and you get to know him and understand the whys of his decisions and heartaches. Dune is lovely, I am a little disappointed that the story did not include even an HFN for him. And then there's Ben...oh Ben, with his commitment issues and direct manner, so scared but so perfect for Jaime.
This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more of her work. She is very talented, the writing is tight and coherent, a rarity in this genre. But her main skill is creating characters that are true-to-life and remain with you well after the last word is read.
This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more of her work. She is very talented, the writing is tight and coherent, a rarity in this genre. But her main skill is creating characters that are true-to-life and remain with you well after the last word is read.
April 27, 2012
This is not your typical romance novel, in any genre. One of the main characters begins the story by starting a relationship with a man other than his 'true love'. However, that sets up a slow-burn story of love growing from a friendship. Since so many stories involve whirlwind romances, this is a fresh change.
The characters are all likable and colorful, even the supporting cast.
The love scenes are frequent, but non-graphic. I would have enjoyed the story more if they'd been hotter scenes. That's a personal preference, though, and not a failing in the story. Just be prepared, if you're like me.
Most of all, Jenna is a very good writer. She has a clean, smooth, clear narrative. Her dialog is believable and the character voices are distinct. By far, one of the better writers - from a technical standpoint - writing m/m romance today.
The characters are all likable and colorful, even the supporting cast.
The love scenes are frequent, but non-graphic. I would have enjoyed the story more if they'd been hotter scenes. That's a personal preference, though, and not a failing in the story. Just be prepared, if you're like me.
Most of all, Jenna is a very good writer. She has a clean, smooth, clear narrative. Her dialog is believable and the character voices are distinct. By far, one of the better writers - from a technical standpoint - writing m/m romance today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2016
I really shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did. It contains lots and lots of stubborn men being stubborn and refusing to acknowledge feelings (oh, Ben...), which normally drives me batty. But somehow he managed to be so charming about it... Despite boneheadedness abounding, I really enjoyed the (very) slow-build relationship between Ben and Jamie. Yes, I wanted to smack them both upside the head, but I the emotions behind their stubbornness also came across as genuine and not just a plot-point. This book is probably not for everyone, though. It has a sedate pacing, and because they're so slow to acknowledge that there might be a relationship, there's sex with people other than MC. But it worked for me, somehow.
February 14, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration into the life of two men, one an artist and the other a chef (who is also an artist in his own field!). I had to look up what the title meant - an artistic term about the distribution of light and dark - and thought it fit perfectly with the storyline. I loved the characters not only Jamie and Ben but their mutual friend, Dune. It was both funny and sad (I love angst so that was right up my street), hit all the right notes and had a most satisfying ending.
November 17, 2012
2.75 I liked Jamie a lot, but Ben was harder to figure out. He pushed and pushed to be with Jamie, but didn't want to be a "boyfriend." Huh? Micah was thoroughly annoying. He needed to be spanked and NOT in a good way. Also, I didn't understand why Dune invited Micah to his Halloween party. Makes no sense! One last thing, there were too many impossibly good-looking men: Dune, Ben, Micah, Stuart, etc.
September 27, 2013
This was hard for me, not to read but how to rate. The book felt very long. There where so many threads in it that I sometimes got I little confused. I mean I knew that Jamie and Ben would end up together but there were so much focus on Micah and Duni that they could've ended up in a MMMM relationship. And eveyone was so beautiful, seriously does everyone have to be? I might continue the seris but not at the time.
April 23, 2016
2.75 I liked Jamie a lot, but Ben was harder to figure out. He pushed and pushed to be with Jamie, but didn't want to be a "boyfriend." Huh? Micah was thoroughly annoying. He needed to be spanked and NOT in a good way. Also, I didn't understand why Dune invited Micah to his Halloween party. Makes no sense! One last thing, there were too many impossibly good-looking men: Dune, Ben, Micah, Stuart, etc.
November 28, 2010
4.5 Stars
I finished this book a number of hours ago, went out to dinner with family, and that same ache under my sternum is still there. This book is a real roller-coaster of emotion. Such well written characters...I loved them but didn't always like them. But they made me think and they made me feel and I can't ask much more than that.
I finished this book a number of hours ago, went out to dinner with family, and that same ache under my sternum is still there. This book is a real roller-coaster of emotion. Such well written characters...I loved them but didn't always like them. But they made me think and they made me feel and I can't ask much more than that.
August 3, 2016
I wanted to make this a five. The editing wasn't perfect, but the story was a good one and the characters were well written. The thing that stopped me was the abrupt ending. I mean it's bad enough when I read a book with no epilogue, I love those damn things, but to just have it end like that? It felt like it was left unfinished. I know it's a series, but still...
December 23, 2009
Nice & romantic. Parts of the book were very good, the rest was very...nice. Sweet story, good characters.
June 21, 2011
This was a very good read. If the storyline attracts you I recommend reading it.
November 19, 2011
A fun novel - I really enjoyed the characterizations.
And I'm always a sucker for people in love (& HEAs). :)
And I'm always a sucker for people in love (& HEAs). :)
Want to read
September 25, 2013Torquere's freebie in the morning for 1 hour only at 4-5am PT/5-6am MT/6-7am CT/7-8am ET ow.ly/nXRY4
October 23, 2013
Lots of shenanigans!
March 10, 2014
Fantastic book - bought the rest of the series before I even finished this one. Great writing, story and characters, no sex overload.
June 2, 2012
Could not get into the story, read about 1/3, could not pick it again.
June 13, 2011
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews