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Rival Within
“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.
That’s what this storm is all about.”
~Haruki Murakami~
Officer Thomas Webber made a vow of marriage to his wife, a vow to his God to resist temptation, and a vow to uphold the law. But when Tom is forced to shelter a dark-haired stranger from the tornado raging over the county, long suppressed desires are brought to the surface and he is powerless to resist.
Ben Parker has hidden his true nature his whole life. The laws in 1952 are very clear, and to expose himself would mean rotting in jail, shunned or worse, a possible death sentence. Unable to find a job, he turned to crime. Seven years later, he’s still angry and tired of hiding who he really is from the world. After meeting Thomas, Ben can envision himself settling down for the first time. The only problem is, he’s already forced Thomas to break the law and become his alibi. And then there’s the little obstacle of Tom’s wife, family, and commitment to the town of Ramer.
That’s what this storm is all about.”
~Haruki Murakami~
Officer Thomas Webber made a vow of marriage to his wife, a vow to his God to resist temptation, and a vow to uphold the law. But when Tom is forced to shelter a dark-haired stranger from the tornado raging over the county, long suppressed desires are brought to the surface and he is powerless to resist.
Ben Parker has hidden his true nature his whole life. The laws in 1952 are very clear, and to expose himself would mean rotting in jail, shunned or worse, a possible death sentence. Unable to find a job, he turned to crime. Seven years later, he’s still angry and tired of hiding who he really is from the world. After meeting Thomas, Ben can envision himself settling down for the first time. The only problem is, he’s already forced Thomas to break the law and become his alibi. And then there’s the little obstacle of Tom’s wife, family, and commitment to the town of Ramer.
178 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2014
8 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
S.J.D. Peterson
52 books1,018 followersIt's been an amazing journey since DSP first contracted Lorcan's Desire in January 2011. I've published 2 free reads with the M/M Romance group, my back list is growing, met some great people and have made some amazing friends.
I'm still in shock that I'm listed among the many talented authors at Dreamspinner Press! The little voice in the back of my head is screaming, "You are so out of your league."
Shhhhh I won't tell them if you don't :)
You can call me Jo, everyone does :)
I'm still in shock that I'm listed among the many talented authors at Dreamspinner Press! The little voice in the back of my head is screaming, "You are so out of your league."
Shhhhh I won't tell them if you don't :)
You can call me Jo, everyone does :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 16, 2015
To sum it up, I liked it a lot.
The characters are called Tom and Ben. Which is funny because in the movie Being Julia the woman spells T-O-M and B-E-N (which are the same person) several times. Nothing to do with the book but still.
Mmmm, let's begin with the setting. 50s.
A small town away from everything. I feel a weird attraction for this kind of story. Rustic environment always manages that. The chance of something important happening with few ingredients. Few characters. Few parallel conflicts. Few affectations. Focusing on the MC and letting all the "weigh" of the plot loaded on their shoulders. I like a line moving in a certain direction but I don't notice how much I miss a "plotless" story till I read one. I think those are the hardest to write and also one of my favorites.
It's not that Rival Within doesn't have a script. It does have one. It's just that very few times I feel like the total importance of the book is mostly due to the importance of the characters. I like to describe it as a theatre play, the actors are the ones who keep the story moving, not the atmosphere around them.
It all began with a storm.
Tom is a cop in Ramer. Tom has a wife and a son. Tom is in denial. There is a storm, the family flees and he meets a beautiful suspicious-looking stranger. No need to explain what happens next. Did I mention Tom is in denial? Well, that's the issue. In one moment he abruptly changes his mind and begins to come to terms with himself and God. But the rest of the people don't change that easily.
A little note to the author: please, why every time Ben or Tom licks a nipple the other one "receives the same treatment" with those same words? Please, be a little more innovator in the nipple licking matter or just in the sex department.
When I finished the book I was with the feeling there were lots of missing things. Loose ends. The story is quite simple and there is a sense of old-school style in it. I also felt there were facts that could have been taken more advantage of. Making a better use of the oranges to get more juice. It was a pity, I wanted to know more about Ben and about the family problems and about how Tom accepts his reality in a deeper way. Let's say the resolution of the conflicts are not chewed to mush but are left like whole pieces of food you can find easily in your plate. I don't usually like that and if you don't care about it I think you'll love this.
The characters are called Tom and Ben. Which is funny because in the movie Being Julia the woman spells T-O-M and B-E-N (which are the same person) several times. Nothing to do with the book but still.
Mmmm, let's begin with the setting. 50s.
A small town away from everything. I feel a weird attraction for this kind of story. Rustic environment always manages that. The chance of something important happening with few ingredients. Few characters. Few parallel conflicts. Few affectations. Focusing on the MC and letting all the "weigh" of the plot loaded on their shoulders. I like a line moving in a certain direction but I don't notice how much I miss a "plotless" story till I read one. I think those are the hardest to write and also one of my favorites.
It's not that Rival Within doesn't have a script. It does have one. It's just that very few times I feel like the total importance of the book is mostly due to the importance of the characters. I like to describe it as a theatre play, the actors are the ones who keep the story moving, not the atmosphere around them.
It all began with a storm.
Tom is a cop in Ramer. Tom has a wife and a son. Tom is in denial. There is a storm, the family flees and he meets a beautiful suspicious-looking stranger. No need to explain what happens next. Did I mention Tom is in denial? Well, that's the issue. In one moment he abruptly changes his mind and begins to come to terms with himself and God. But the rest of the people don't change that easily.
A little note to the author: please, why every time Ben or Tom licks a nipple the other one "receives the same treatment" with those same words? Please, be a little more innovator in the nipple licking matter or just in the sex department.
When I finished the book I was with the feeling there were lots of missing things. Loose ends. The story is quite simple and there is a sense of old-school style in it. I also felt there were facts that could have been taken more advantage of. Making a better use of the oranges to get more juice. It was a pity, I wanted to know more about Ben and about the family problems and about how Tom accepts his reality in a deeper way. Let's say the resolution of the conflicts are not chewed to mush but are left like whole pieces of food you can find easily in your plate. I don't usually like that and if you don't care about it I think you'll love this.
September 12, 2016
BR with Alona and Mark!
3.5 stars.
This started off pretty rough for me. I loved the concept, but the writing seemed a bit clunky and the internal conflict (being gay and religious) was either overdone or just pissing me off, I'm still not sure which.
Around 20%, the book really hits its stride. I really liked both MCs and enjoyed it a lot.
3.5 stars.
This started off pretty rough for me. I loved the concept, but the writing seemed a bit clunky and the internal conflict (being gay and religious) was either overdone or just pissing me off, I'm still not sure which.
Around 20%, the book really hits its stride. I really liked both MCs and enjoyed it a lot.
January 25, 2015
BR with Nick and Mark.
I truly enjoyed this book.
I loved both MC's a lot.
Like always, when reading historical m/m romance, you need to face the hard times of being gay in such horrible times. These books, almost always, comes with at least one MC that is full of self-hatred, shame and denial, which is hard to read about, but I can't fault them for it, not at all, I can only hurt for them.
I was just yesterday watching the film about Alan Turing, which is set in about the same year (1952), post WW2, and today, I can only think about how lucky we all are, to be living in our time. No, it's far from perfect, but look at the progress we made!
In this book we have Tom, who is the head of a police department in the small town of Ramer. He is married and have a small kid.
One night, while a tornado is on it's way, he picks up a driver that looks suspicious to him, and lock him in the small police office's holding cell.
He is immediately attracted to the dangerous looking Ben, and when the storm hits Ramer, and they both need to hide in the small underground shelter, the two can not find it in them to fight the attraction.
When the storm passes, and Tom sends Ben on his way, Ben is determent to be with Tom, yet Tom, full of remorse and shame, wants Ben gone, and to never be return.
Tom does not get his wish, and when Ben is being hold in a neighboring town, for a bank robbery that was committed while he was in the shelter with Tom, Tom needs to give him an alibi.
I loved the pace of the book and the writing.
I truly enjoyed this book.
I loved both MC's a lot.
Like always, when reading historical m/m romance, you need to face the hard times of being gay in such horrible times. These books, almost always, comes with at least one MC that is full of self-hatred, shame and denial, which is hard to read about, but I can't fault them for it, not at all, I can only hurt for them.
I was just yesterday watching the film about Alan Turing, which is set in about the same year (1952), post WW2, and today, I can only think about how lucky we all are, to be living in our time. No, it's far from perfect, but look at the progress we made!
In this book we have Tom, who is the head of a police department in the small town of Ramer. He is married and have a small kid.
One night, while a tornado is on it's way, he picks up a driver that looks suspicious to him, and lock him in the small police office's holding cell.
He is immediately attracted to the dangerous looking Ben, and when the storm hits Ramer, and they both need to hide in the small underground shelter, the two can not find it in them to fight the attraction.
When the storm passes, and Tom sends Ben on his way, Ben is determent to be with Tom, yet Tom, full of remorse and shame, wants Ben gone, and to never be return.
Tom does not get his wish, and when Ben is being hold in a neighboring town, for a bank robbery that was committed while he was in the shelter with Tom, Tom needs to give him an alibi.
I loved the pace of the book and the writing.
June 17, 2018
Despite the nicely-portrayed characters and some intense parts, this novel left me rather cold.
On the page, the concept is great - 1950s America, bigotry, guilt, post-war trauma - but somehow the different parts never really clicked for me.
I've found some narrative turns a bit forced and the emotions often moving only on the surface of the page.
At times, the novel picked up its pace and I was very intrigued by the unfolding of the story. It was particularly interesting to follow the characters' disclosure of their hidden feelings and from this point of view, Tom, Ben and Marna all had some good narrative moments.
Other aspects, however, left me wondering about motivations and narrative cohesion.
I love novels set in the 1950s. I think, for instance, of Keira Andrews' Semper Fi as a very good example of a book that really captures the emotional and psychological strains of war veterans, their struggle to embrace their identity, etc.
Rival Within was an uneven experience but I was still left curious to try other books by this author to see how it goes.
On the page, the concept is great - 1950s America, bigotry, guilt, post-war trauma - but somehow the different parts never really clicked for me.
I've found some narrative turns a bit forced and the emotions often moving only on the surface of the page.
At times, the novel picked up its pace and I was very intrigued by the unfolding of the story. It was particularly interesting to follow the characters' disclosure of their hidden feelings and from this point of view, Tom, Ben and Marna all had some good narrative moments.
Other aspects, however, left me wondering about motivations and narrative cohesion.
I love novels set in the 1950s. I think, for instance, of Keira Andrews' Semper Fi as a very good example of a book that really captures the emotional and psychological strains of war veterans, their struggle to embrace their identity, etc.
Rival Within was an uneven experience but I was still left curious to try other books by this author to see how it goes.
January 5, 2015
3.5 rounded down.
A bit disappointed :(
Review now available @ Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
A bit disappointed :(
Review now available @ Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
January 5, 2015
4.5 star review by Vicki
Wow. This book brought out some serious emotions in me, both good and bad. I love it when a book does that!
Tom Webber is a cop in a very small town in Tennessee, in 1952. He is a homosexual, but has kept it hidden since he was a teenager. There is no choice for him, he’s been taught by church and family that it is not acceptable, so he ignores that within himself. He’s married, and has a child. He loves his son and tolerates his wife, he’s made a good life for all of them. It is what it is, he’s as happy as he can be. During a storm event he picks up Ben Parker, a possible criminal, and takes him back to the very small police office and locks him up. He knows something is up with Ben, but not what, and doesn’t have a way to call anyone to ask, in the middle of a storm. Ben is a handful, flirting and pushing Tom, and they end up fucking in the storm cellar while a tornado rages overhead. It was seriously hot, but fucked up.
Ben spent some time in the war, coming home lost and confused. He’s been aware of his sexual preferences but it’s not a time where he can be out, so he just deals with it. He’s not been able to find work, he looks like a criminal with a scar, so he decides he may as well be one. But he’s really not. He gets himself in a bad spot, and runs in to Tom one night in a storm. He wants the cop in a bad way, and is determined to get him. Not just the night of the storm, but again later.
So they meet, have nasty sex in the basement, and it all goes bad from there. Ben won’t leave Tom alone, and winds up using him as an alibi for a crime he didn’t actually commit, but Tom exagerates the time they were together to cover for him with the horrible excuse for a Sheriff the next county over. Cronkite, the Sheriff bastard, has it in for Ben thinking he’s caught himself a bank robber, and is really pissed off when Tom covers for him. He’s now after both men. Ben keeps coming back, trying to convince Tom he is wrong to live his careful life, that he should come away with him leaving his wife and child. This is the part that pissed me off no end. I agree that Tom should not have to live his life as he has, squashing his true feelings deep inside, but it is the life that he has chosen to live. He has responsibilities to his wife, his son, his community, whether right or wrong. Who the fuck is Ben to come tell him his wrong? And force Tom out? But that’s pretty much what happens. Of course it all goes wrong, Cronkite tries to blackmail Tom, and it is a mess. The only bright part is Marna’s reaction to the whole thing. I had some serious respect for her. But Tom is forced to run, to Ben, but still. It’s a mess. I was so mad at Ben!
It does work out, this is a romance afterall, but I was still very uncomfortable with the whole thing. There is also no resolution with Tom’s wife and son. I wasn’t happy about that, I’d like to know what happened with them. But damn, was this a well done book. I love it when a book gets me emotionally involved, both with happy emotions and pissed off emotions. And I was pissed off at Ben in a big way! For most of the book. It’s not that I didn’t like him, I did very much, but I just think what he did was wrong! Oh! I’m still wound up!
Jo gives us a great story, dark and messed up, with some awesome characters. I loved Tom, I hated Ben most of the time, I HATED Cronkite the bastard, and I felt sorry for Tom’s wife. I loved the story, it felt very plausable to me. I didn’t like what happened always, but I like how it was written and presented to us. I believed it even if I didn’t like it. If that makes any sense…. The connection between Tom and Ben is strong, and the couple of sex scenes between them are very well done. They are powerful men, and neither is gentle. Their sex is somewhere between sex and a fight, even toward the end when they are committed. I did like the ending for them, it worked very well, except for the lack of resolution with Marna and Tommy.
This is a very good book. I’ve read most of Jo’s books, I think this may be the best I’ve read from her in some time. I have liked all of hers, don’t get me wrong, but this one is particularly good!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Wow. This book brought out some serious emotions in me, both good and bad. I love it when a book does that!
Tom Webber is a cop in a very small town in Tennessee, in 1952. He is a homosexual, but has kept it hidden since he was a teenager. There is no choice for him, he’s been taught by church and family that it is not acceptable, so he ignores that within himself. He’s married, and has a child. He loves his son and tolerates his wife, he’s made a good life for all of them. It is what it is, he’s as happy as he can be. During a storm event he picks up Ben Parker, a possible criminal, and takes him back to the very small police office and locks him up. He knows something is up with Ben, but not what, and doesn’t have a way to call anyone to ask, in the middle of a storm. Ben is a handful, flirting and pushing Tom, and they end up fucking in the storm cellar while a tornado rages overhead. It was seriously hot, but fucked up.
Ben spent some time in the war, coming home lost and confused. He’s been aware of his sexual preferences but it’s not a time where he can be out, so he just deals with it. He’s not been able to find work, he looks like a criminal with a scar, so he decides he may as well be one. But he’s really not. He gets himself in a bad spot, and runs in to Tom one night in a storm. He wants the cop in a bad way, and is determined to get him. Not just the night of the storm, but again later.
So they meet, have nasty sex in the basement, and it all goes bad from there. Ben won’t leave Tom alone, and winds up using him as an alibi for a crime he didn’t actually commit, but Tom exagerates the time they were together to cover for him with the horrible excuse for a Sheriff the next county over. Cronkite, the Sheriff bastard, has it in for Ben thinking he’s caught himself a bank robber, and is really pissed off when Tom covers for him. He’s now after both men. Ben keeps coming back, trying to convince Tom he is wrong to live his careful life, that he should come away with him leaving his wife and child. This is the part that pissed me off no end. I agree that Tom should not have to live his life as he has, squashing his true feelings deep inside, but it is the life that he has chosen to live. He has responsibilities to his wife, his son, his community, whether right or wrong. Who the fuck is Ben to come tell him his wrong? And force Tom out? But that’s pretty much what happens. Of course it all goes wrong, Cronkite tries to blackmail Tom, and it is a mess. The only bright part is Marna’s reaction to the whole thing. I had some serious respect for her. But Tom is forced to run, to Ben, but still. It’s a mess. I was so mad at Ben!
It does work out, this is a romance afterall, but I was still very uncomfortable with the whole thing. There is also no resolution with Tom’s wife and son. I wasn’t happy about that, I’d like to know what happened with them. But damn, was this a well done book. I love it when a book gets me emotionally involved, both with happy emotions and pissed off emotions. And I was pissed off at Ben in a big way! For most of the book. It’s not that I didn’t like him, I did very much, but I just think what he did was wrong! Oh! I’m still wound up!
Jo gives us a great story, dark and messed up, with some awesome characters. I loved Tom, I hated Ben most of the time, I HATED Cronkite the bastard, and I felt sorry for Tom’s wife. I loved the story, it felt very plausable to me. I didn’t like what happened always, but I like how it was written and presented to us. I believed it even if I didn’t like it. If that makes any sense…. The connection between Tom and Ben is strong, and the couple of sex scenes between them are very well done. They are powerful men, and neither is gentle. Their sex is somewhere between sex and a fight, even toward the end when they are committed. I did like the ending for them, it worked very well, except for the lack of resolution with Marna and Tommy.
This is a very good book. I’ve read most of Jo’s books, I think this may be the best I’ve read from her in some time. I have liked all of hers, don’t get me wrong, but this one is particularly good!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
February 25, 2015
Rival Within takes place in 1952 - a time when being gay was not only not socially acceptable, but it was a crime and considered a mental illness. While we've come a long way from those days, we've got a ways to go yet.
Thomas Webber is an officer of the law. He's a family man and an upstanding member of his community. He's been hiding his homosexuality his whole life, believing the church when they insist it is a sin against God, and he tries hard to give his wife and child a good life, even though he knows he can never love his wife like she deserves to be loved. Tom is such a conflicted and repressed man. He cannot even imagine a reality where he'll ever truly be happy, and that broke my heart through much of the book.
When Ben Parker gets stranded in Tom's town during a bad storm, Tom takes him into custody, not knowing who Ben is. Ben claims to have lost his wallet and is just passing through town and got caught by the storm. There is something dangerous about Ben, but Tom is intrigued, none the less. In spite of the dangers, Ben flirts incessantly with Tom, until Tom gives in while the storm raged on outside.
That one night was a turning point for Tom, most definitely, but also for Ben. Ben has never met a man that he even wanted to spend more time with beyond getting off. Tom, though, with his strength and vulnerability, prompts Ben to think about the possibilities of more.
I was surprised by a few things in the story. Tom's wife, for instance, turned out to be someone I admired. She does not play the victim when she finds out her husband is gay. She cares a great deal for Tom and wants him to find happiness. I was also surprised a bit by the level of vitriol Tom recieved from people he knew his whole life after nothing more than an unsubstantiated piece of slander by someone the town didn't know. Then I remember - 1952, small town, small minds.
Ben and Tom do get their HEA (and a beautiful one, really), and they really had to fight for it. They earned it.
Thomas Webber is an officer of the law. He's a family man and an upstanding member of his community. He's been hiding his homosexuality his whole life, believing the church when they insist it is a sin against God, and he tries hard to give his wife and child a good life, even though he knows he can never love his wife like she deserves to be loved. Tom is such a conflicted and repressed man. He cannot even imagine a reality where he'll ever truly be happy, and that broke my heart through much of the book.
When Ben Parker gets stranded in Tom's town during a bad storm, Tom takes him into custody, not knowing who Ben is. Ben claims to have lost his wallet and is just passing through town and got caught by the storm. There is something dangerous about Ben, but Tom is intrigued, none the less. In spite of the dangers, Ben flirts incessantly with Tom, until Tom gives in while the storm raged on outside.
That one night was a turning point for Tom, most definitely, but also for Ben. Ben has never met a man that he even wanted to spend more time with beyond getting off. Tom, though, with his strength and vulnerability, prompts Ben to think about the possibilities of more.
I was surprised by a few things in the story. Tom's wife, for instance, turned out to be someone I admired. She does not play the victim when she finds out her husband is gay. She cares a great deal for Tom and wants him to find happiness. I was also surprised a bit by the level of vitriol Tom recieved from people he knew his whole life after nothing more than an unsubstantiated piece of slander by someone the town didn't know. Then I remember - 1952, small town, small minds.
Ben and Tom do get their HEA (and a beautiful one, really), and they really had to fight for it. They earned it.
January 16, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Rival Within really grabbed my attention from the very start, and I found this story really engaging. I loved the set up with the steady, dependable Tom and the feisty and wild Ben. Tom is just this all around good guy. He has grown up in Ramer and dedicated his life to serving the town and its people. Tom tries so very hard to be a good man and has done all he can to bury those urges he is sure make him a sinner ready for hell. He feels such guilt for his interest in men and for the fact that he can’t be the husband Marna deserves. It is heartbreaking to see how much self hatred has been buried down deep from all those years of hiding. Then he meets Ben and immediately Ben pushes all his buttons, making him crazy and frustrated, but also stirring up his need in a way he can’t ignore. Ben has had kind of a shady past, but there is a goodness in him as well. It is clear there is more than the smart ass Tom first encounters. I loved these guys together, and especially love how Ben pushes Tom past his own self loathing to finally accept that he can be a good person and also still have feelings for men. It is a difficult time period to be gay and most people will never accept Tom. But I liked seeing his journey here as he comes to terms with his feelings and is brave enough to stand up for himself.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Rival Within really grabbed my attention from the very start, and I found this story really engaging. I loved the set up with the steady, dependable Tom and the feisty and wild Ben. Tom is just this all around good guy. He has grown up in Ramer and dedicated his life to serving the town and its people. Tom tries so very hard to be a good man and has done all he can to bury those urges he is sure make him a sinner ready for hell. He feels such guilt for his interest in men and for the fact that he can’t be the husband Marna deserves. It is heartbreaking to see how much self hatred has been buried down deep from all those years of hiding. Then he meets Ben and immediately Ben pushes all his buttons, making him crazy and frustrated, but also stirring up his need in a way he can’t ignore. Ben has had kind of a shady past, but there is a goodness in him as well. It is clear there is more than the smart ass Tom first encounters. I loved these guys together, and especially love how Ben pushes Tom past his own self loathing to finally accept that he can be a good person and also still have feelings for men. It is a difficult time period to be gay and most people will never accept Tom. But I liked seeing his journey here as he comes to terms with his feelings and is brave enough to stand up for himself.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
December 23, 2017
Nemico di se stesso è uno storico ambientato nel 1952 in America, in un paesino rurale del Tennessee.
Thomas Webber, il nostro protagonista, è un uomo irreprensibile, amato e benvoluto da tutti. Egli cerca di non far mancare niente alla sua famiglia, adora suo figlio più di se stesso e protegge la sua cittadina come agente, mettendo sempre i bisogni degli altri avanti ai suoi. Eppure, fin dall’adolescenza ha cercato in tutti i modi di sopprimere istinti disdicevoli verso altri uomini, pensieri peccaminosi e desideri che lo porteranno all’inferno, diventando così nemico di se stesso.
Incuneando la sua vita in una serie di doveri – verso la famiglia, la comunità, Dio – si consuma in un’affannata ricerca di espiazione. Ci è riuscito sposandosi; anche se non ha mai amato davvero sua moglie, cerca di darle una vita dignitosa e si tormenta nel tentativo di rendersi meritevole, fino a che, all’improvviso, la sua strada non incrocia quella di Ben Parker.
Mentre un tifone è alle porte della città, Tom trova un automobilista che gli ispira istantaneamente un senso di pericolosità, ma non solo: i modi strafottenti e civettuoli di Ben spingono anche dei tasti che Tom sperava non si sarebbe mai più accesi. Costretto a dargli riparo mentre il tornado distrugge la città, Tom non sa che in quel momento la sua vita cambierà per sempre, innescando una serie di reazioni a catena che lo porteranno verso la rovina o verso la felicità.
La storia che la Peterson ci offre è uno spaccato verosimile di quel periodo storico, dove l’omosessualità non era solo condannata e osteggiata, ma si poteva finire rinchiusi in prigione, in manicomio o persino uccisi anche solo per un sospetto.
Thomas è un brav’uomo che ha cercato di fare ‘la cosa giusta’, a discapito della propria felicità, e non mancheranno scelte difficili e dolorose per lui.
Ben, lo straniero pericoloso, non è certo un’anima candida, ma non è neppure una persona malvagia e ha patito molto, quindi meriterebbe un po’ di felicità.
Accanto ai protagonisti, abbiamo una serie di personaggi secondari che rappresentano un quadro realistico dei paesini del sud, con tutta la mentalità pettegola, ma anche con il senso di solidarietà da buon vicinato. Sapranno stupirci in positivo e in negativo con le loro scelte e le loro riflessioni. In particolare, ho apprezzato il personaggio di Marna, la moglie di Tom, per la sua caratterizzazione.
Invece ho odiato lo sceriffo Cronkite, prepotente e dispotico, ma vi lascio il ‘piacere’ di conoscerlo da voi.
La trama ha un buon ritmo, i punti salienti sono tutti verosimili, così come certe scelte agrodolci.
La storia ci regala diverse scene sensuali e parecchio hot: alcune sono rudi e sbrigative, altre più dolci e tenere, ma tutte piacevolmente descrittive.
Se cercate una buona storia, ve la consiglio.
Thomas Webber, il nostro protagonista, è un uomo irreprensibile, amato e benvoluto da tutti. Egli cerca di non far mancare niente alla sua famiglia, adora suo figlio più di se stesso e protegge la sua cittadina come agente, mettendo sempre i bisogni degli altri avanti ai suoi. Eppure, fin dall’adolescenza ha cercato in tutti i modi di sopprimere istinti disdicevoli verso altri uomini, pensieri peccaminosi e desideri che lo porteranno all’inferno, diventando così nemico di se stesso.
Incuneando la sua vita in una serie di doveri – verso la famiglia, la comunità, Dio – si consuma in un’affannata ricerca di espiazione. Ci è riuscito sposandosi; anche se non ha mai amato davvero sua moglie, cerca di darle una vita dignitosa e si tormenta nel tentativo di rendersi meritevole, fino a che, all’improvviso, la sua strada non incrocia quella di Ben Parker.
Mentre un tifone è alle porte della città, Tom trova un automobilista che gli ispira istantaneamente un senso di pericolosità, ma non solo: i modi strafottenti e civettuoli di Ben spingono anche dei tasti che Tom sperava non si sarebbe mai più accesi. Costretto a dargli riparo mentre il tornado distrugge la città, Tom non sa che in quel momento la sua vita cambierà per sempre, innescando una serie di reazioni a catena che lo porteranno verso la rovina o verso la felicità.
La storia che la Peterson ci offre è uno spaccato verosimile di quel periodo storico, dove l’omosessualità non era solo condannata e osteggiata, ma si poteva finire rinchiusi in prigione, in manicomio o persino uccisi anche solo per un sospetto.
Thomas è un brav’uomo che ha cercato di fare ‘la cosa giusta’, a discapito della propria felicità, e non mancheranno scelte difficili e dolorose per lui.
Ben, lo straniero pericoloso, non è certo un’anima candida, ma non è neppure una persona malvagia e ha patito molto, quindi meriterebbe un po’ di felicità.
Accanto ai protagonisti, abbiamo una serie di personaggi secondari che rappresentano un quadro realistico dei paesini del sud, con tutta la mentalità pettegola, ma anche con il senso di solidarietà da buon vicinato. Sapranno stupirci in positivo e in negativo con le loro scelte e le loro riflessioni. In particolare, ho apprezzato il personaggio di Marna, la moglie di Tom, per la sua caratterizzazione.
Invece ho odiato lo sceriffo Cronkite, prepotente e dispotico, ma vi lascio il ‘piacere’ di conoscerlo da voi.
La trama ha un buon ritmo, i punti salienti sono tutti verosimili, così come certe scelte agrodolci.
La storia ci regala diverse scene sensuali e parecchio hot: alcune sono rudi e sbrigative, altre più dolci e tenere, ma tutte piacevolmente descrittive.
Se cercate una buona storia, ve la consiglio.
January 9, 2018
(Amneris Di Cesare)
Tom e Ben si incontrano in una circostanza molto particolare: un uragano sta per abbattersi sulla piccola cittadina di Ramer, Tennessee, in un lontano pomeriggio del 1952. Tom è un tutore della legge nella piccola comunità, Ben uno straniero dal comportamento sospetto e pericoloso. Il loro incontro è più devastante di quanto non siano gli effettivi danni causati dal tornado, perché farà risorgere demoni sepolti a fatica nell’animo di Tom. E in un’epoca in cui l’amore tra due persone dello stesso sesso era proibita e addirittura condannata con la pena capitale, la devastazione in Tom si presume sia immensa.
Invece il romanzo inizia in modo quasi scanzonato: tra i due c’è uno scambio quasi sarcastico, si uniscono prendendosi in giro a vicenda, quasi ridendo nonostante sopra impazzi la tempesta. Alcune situazioni descritte nella prima scena lasciano un po’ da pensare (Ben che scende nella cantina rifugio solo coperto da un asciugamano, una bottiglia di olio che compare come per magia non si sa da dove) e per buona parte della narrazione la focalizzazione è sui dubbi di Tom: sulle promesse nuziali da rispettare fatte alla moglie, il senso di colpa per averla tradita, il peccato religioso per aver commesso adulterio e un atto abominevole.
Improvvisamente, e dopo un incontro dai toni molto caldi, Tom risolve tutte le sue problematiche di coscienza e accetta tout-court la sua natura. E manda all’aria quanto costruito con fatica e determinazione negli anni: moglie, figlio, tutto lasciato alle spalle. La fine è scontata, siamo in un Male to Male, il lieto fine è d’obbligo anche nel 1952, ma la soluzione con cui si raggiunge tale finale felice desta anche lì qualche perplessità.
Nemico di se stesso non mi ha fatto immergere nella cittadina del Tennessee del 1952, l’ambientazione è pressoché nulla, non ho visto – se non in modo molto raccontato – la perplessità, il disgusto, il rifiuto della gente di Ramer nei confronti della diversità, non ho percepito l’epoca in cui si svolgeva tutta la storia. Solo scene molto forti di sesso e violenza verbale. Di S.J.D. Peterson ho letto tutta la serie Whispering Pines Ranch in lingua originale e l’ho apprezzata parecchio, soprattutto perché molto ben dettagliata nelle ambientazioni e nell’analisi psicologica che in questo romanzo mancano, secondo me, quasi del tutto.
Tom e Ben si incontrano in una circostanza molto particolare: un uragano sta per abbattersi sulla piccola cittadina di Ramer, Tennessee, in un lontano pomeriggio del 1952. Tom è un tutore della legge nella piccola comunità, Ben uno straniero dal comportamento sospetto e pericoloso. Il loro incontro è più devastante di quanto non siano gli effettivi danni causati dal tornado, perché farà risorgere demoni sepolti a fatica nell’animo di Tom. E in un’epoca in cui l’amore tra due persone dello stesso sesso era proibita e addirittura condannata con la pena capitale, la devastazione in Tom si presume sia immensa.
Invece il romanzo inizia in modo quasi scanzonato: tra i due c’è uno scambio quasi sarcastico, si uniscono prendendosi in giro a vicenda, quasi ridendo nonostante sopra impazzi la tempesta. Alcune situazioni descritte nella prima scena lasciano un po’ da pensare (Ben che scende nella cantina rifugio solo coperto da un asciugamano, una bottiglia di olio che compare come per magia non si sa da dove) e per buona parte della narrazione la focalizzazione è sui dubbi di Tom: sulle promesse nuziali da rispettare fatte alla moglie, il senso di colpa per averla tradita, il peccato religioso per aver commesso adulterio e un atto abominevole.
Improvvisamente, e dopo un incontro dai toni molto caldi, Tom risolve tutte le sue problematiche di coscienza e accetta tout-court la sua natura. E manda all’aria quanto costruito con fatica e determinazione negli anni: moglie, figlio, tutto lasciato alle spalle. La fine è scontata, siamo in un Male to Male, il lieto fine è d’obbligo anche nel 1952, ma la soluzione con cui si raggiunge tale finale felice desta anche lì qualche perplessità.
Nemico di se stesso non mi ha fatto immergere nella cittadina del Tennessee del 1952, l’ambientazione è pressoché nulla, non ho visto – se non in modo molto raccontato – la perplessità, il disgusto, il rifiuto della gente di Ramer nei confronti della diversità, non ho percepito l’epoca in cui si svolgeva tutta la storia. Solo scene molto forti di sesso e violenza verbale. Di S.J.D. Peterson ho letto tutta la serie Whispering Pines Ranch in lingua originale e l’ho apprezzata parecchio, soprattutto perché molto ben dettagliata nelle ambientazioni e nell’analisi psicologica che in questo romanzo mancano, secondo me, quasi del tutto.
March 27, 2018
http://babettebrown.it/recensione-nem...
Tom e Ben si incontrano in una circostanza molto particolare: un uragano sta per abbattersi sulla piccola cittadina di Ramer, Tennessee, in un lontano pomeriggio del 1952. Tom è un tutore della legge nella piccola comunità, Ben uno straniero dal comportamento sospetto e pericoloso. Il loro incontro è più devastante di quanto non siano gli effettivi danni causati dal tornado, perché farà risorgere demoni sepolti a fatica nell’animo di Tom. E in un’epoca in cui l’amore tra due persone dello stesso sesso era proibita e addirittura condannata con la pena capitale, la devastazione in Tom si presume sia immensa.
Invece il romanzo inizia in modo quasi scanzonato: tra i due c’è uno scambio quasi sarcastico, si uniscono prendendosi in giro a vicenda, quasi ridendo nonostante sopra impazzi la tempesta. Alcune situazioni descritte nella prima scena lasciano un po’ da pensare (Ben che scende nella cantina rifugio solo coperto da un asciugamano, una bottiglia di olio che compare come per magia non si sa da dove) e per buona parte della narrazione la focalizzazione è sui dubbi di Tom: sulle promesse nuziali da rispettare fatte alla moglie, il senso di colpa per averla tradita, il peccato religioso per aver commesso adulterio e un atto abominevole.
Improvvisamente, e dopo un incontro dai toni molto caldi, Tom risolve tutte le sue problematiche di coscienza e accetta tout-court la sua natura. E manda all’aria quanto costruito con fatica e determinazione negli anni: moglie, figlio, tutto lasciato alle spalle. La fine è scontata, siamo in un Male to Male, il lieto fine è d’obbligo anche nel 1952, ma la soluzione con cui si raggiunge tale finale felice desta anche lì qualche perplessità.
Nemico di se stesso non mi ha fatto immergere nella cittadina del Tennessee del 1952, l’ambientazione è pressoché nulla, non ho visto – se non in modo molto raccontato – la perplessità, il disgusto, il rifiuto della gente di Ramer nei confronti della diversità, non ho percepito l’epoca in cui si svolgeva tutta la storia. Solo scene molto forti di sesso e violenza verbale. Di S.J.D. Peterson ho letto tutta la serie Whispering Pines Ranch in lingua originale e l’ho apprezzata parecchio, soprattutto perché molto ben dettagliata nelle ambientazioni e nell’analisi psicologica che in questo romanzo mancano, secondo me, quasi del tutto. Valutazione, 3 stelline.
Tom e Ben si incontrano in una circostanza molto particolare: un uragano sta per abbattersi sulla piccola cittadina di Ramer, Tennessee, in un lontano pomeriggio del 1952. Tom è un tutore della legge nella piccola comunità, Ben uno straniero dal comportamento sospetto e pericoloso. Il loro incontro è più devastante di quanto non siano gli effettivi danni causati dal tornado, perché farà risorgere demoni sepolti a fatica nell’animo di Tom. E in un’epoca in cui l’amore tra due persone dello stesso sesso era proibita e addirittura condannata con la pena capitale, la devastazione in Tom si presume sia immensa.
Invece il romanzo inizia in modo quasi scanzonato: tra i due c’è uno scambio quasi sarcastico, si uniscono prendendosi in giro a vicenda, quasi ridendo nonostante sopra impazzi la tempesta. Alcune situazioni descritte nella prima scena lasciano un po’ da pensare (Ben che scende nella cantina rifugio solo coperto da un asciugamano, una bottiglia di olio che compare come per magia non si sa da dove) e per buona parte della narrazione la focalizzazione è sui dubbi di Tom: sulle promesse nuziali da rispettare fatte alla moglie, il senso di colpa per averla tradita, il peccato religioso per aver commesso adulterio e un atto abominevole.
Improvvisamente, e dopo un incontro dai toni molto caldi, Tom risolve tutte le sue problematiche di coscienza e accetta tout-court la sua natura. E manda all’aria quanto costruito con fatica e determinazione negli anni: moglie, figlio, tutto lasciato alle spalle. La fine è scontata, siamo in un Male to Male, il lieto fine è d’obbligo anche nel 1952, ma la soluzione con cui si raggiunge tale finale felice desta anche lì qualche perplessità.
Nemico di se stesso non mi ha fatto immergere nella cittadina del Tennessee del 1952, l’ambientazione è pressoché nulla, non ho visto – se non in modo molto raccontato – la perplessità, il disgusto, il rifiuto della gente di Ramer nei confronti della diversità, non ho percepito l’epoca in cui si svolgeva tutta la storia. Solo scene molto forti di sesso e violenza verbale. Di S.J.D. Peterson ho letto tutta la serie Whispering Pines Ranch in lingua originale e l’ho apprezzata parecchio, soprattutto perché molto ben dettagliata nelle ambientazioni e nell’analisi psicologica che in questo romanzo mancano, secondo me, quasi del tutto. Valutazione, 3 stelline.
January 31, 2015
“I can’t change who I am, and if society can’t accept me, then fuck society. You’re the only man I want. Only man I need. I love you..."
They had come together by fate, their lives entwined by a powerful storm, and in their brief time together had found a slice of happiness in the middle of destruction.
Eye-catching cover, promising blurb, tempting start, interesting tensions in the middle, but way too cliche excecution !
Not bad, but not quite good either...
I keep wondering how the problems gonna solved, but it ended just like that.
Totally not like what I expected...
Not all problems can be solved by hot-steamy-sex , ya know....
Sometimes we need to know how they solved the problems, at least we deserve to know...
January 3, 2015
Well done romance with an edge of darkness that worked in context of who the two leads were. I do wish the ending was a little different, not in the romance which was stellar, but in other resolution (sorry for vagueness, don't want to be spoilery!) But given the historical setting of this novel even the ending fit.
January 19, 2015
I don't know if I'd classify this as a historical romance...it took place in the 50's that's kinda all I got from the "historical" end...well written and the sex scenes were absolutely hot and intense...so happy Tom was able to come to terms with who he is...I only wish the ending was a bit different because I want to know if Tom ever
January 21, 2015
The men within these pages,the way this story flawlessly unfolds are all brutally perfect.Not many female authors are able to capture the raw masculinity of men,their spirit,their voices when writing male erotica but I do believe this author is one of the talented few that has somehow managed to do so especially in regards to this novel.I simply did not want to end.
January 23, 2015
WOW! I really liked this book. She did a great job portraying gay men in the 50's. The story line was believable and drew me in immediately. The ending could have told a little further time-wise into their lives but it is an awesome book!
February 5, 2015
I liked it. A lot. The first chapter was pretty intense, and the rest of the books was just as good as a beginning.
4 well earned stars.
4 well earned stars.
November 24, 2017
Recensione a cura di Cleo per Feel The Book
Toglietevi gli occhiali rosa dell’amore, perché a Ramer, Tennessee, nel 1952 non li indossa nessuno, men che meno l’agente Thomas Webber. Consapevole che l’unica gioia della sua vita è il figlio Tommy, di cinque anni, ogni volta che guarda la moglie è divorato dai sensi di colpa, perché sa che non potrà mai renderla felice.
C’è una tempesta in arrivo e per Tom assume il volto pericoloso di Ben Parker, sfregiato da una lunga cicatrice e bollato dalla società senza apparente possibilità di redenzione. Due persone completamente agli antipodi che si incontrano per caso, durante un tornado, e dopo non saranno mai più le stesse.
La sofferenza interiore di Tom, nascosta dai suoi strenui tentativi di soddisfare ciò che ci si aspetta da lui come marito, padre e uomo di legge, è toccante; il suo animo è simile alle strade del suo paesino dopo il passaggio del tornado, con macerie di sogni infranti e rovina ovunque. Non crede di meritare amore, tutto quello che gli hanno insegnato lo rende consapevole di nutrire desideri impuri, sbagliati e riprovevoli, eppure nel momento in cui si imbatte in Ben non sa resistere.
Ben rappresenta l’ultima goccia, il colpo definitivo che incrina la facciata costruita nel corso di una vita e porta allo scoperto una verità ormai impossibile da negare.
All’opposto rispetto a Tom, Ben ha smesso da tempo di negare la propria vera natura, ma la vita non è stata buona con lui e l’ha reso un criminale, seppure non una cattiva persona. Ironico e disincantato, Ben è un personaggio affascinante, che sa quel che vuole ma nel medesimo tempo nasconde un grande bisogno di essere semplicemente amato, per una volta nella sua esistenza.
Amarsi in un mondo ostile, nel quale anche solo uno sguardo sbagliato può giustificare un linciaggio, non è facile e da lettori dobbiamo identificarci nei protagonisti e comprendere le loro scelte, perché si muovono in una realtà molto diversa dalla nostra. L’autrice è abile a non perdere mai di vista tale realtà, piegando quelle che potrebbero essere definite le regole canoniche di una storia d’amore alle esigenze del periodo, senza tuttavia sminuire i sentimenti dei suoi protagonisti o il loro diritto alla felicità.
Alcune pagine della vicenda sono amare, soprattutto per Tom, che tra i due è quello con più cose da perdere; alla fine dovrà capire una semplice verità, ovvero che decidere di meritare la felicità è una scelta coraggiosa, che in un mondo come il suo comporta dei sacrifici. Il futuro, però, potrebbe riservargli altre sorprese perché, se la tempesta gli ha insegnato qualcosa, è ad avere speranza: non si può mai sapere quando potrebbero avvenire dei mutamenti improvvisi nel corso dell’esistenza e, soprattutto, non sempre si limitano a portare distruzione.
Editing recensione a cura di The Goddess per Feel The Book
Toglietevi gli occhiali rosa dell’amore, perché a Ramer, Tennessee, nel 1952 non li indossa nessuno, men che meno l’agente Thomas Webber. Consapevole che l’unica gioia della sua vita è il figlio Tommy, di cinque anni, ogni volta che guarda la moglie è divorato dai sensi di colpa, perché sa che non potrà mai renderla felice.
C’è una tempesta in arrivo e per Tom assume il volto pericoloso di Ben Parker, sfregiato da una lunga cicatrice e bollato dalla società senza apparente possibilità di redenzione. Due persone completamente agli antipodi che si incontrano per caso, durante un tornado, e dopo non saranno mai più le stesse.
La sofferenza interiore di Tom, nascosta dai suoi strenui tentativi di soddisfare ciò che ci si aspetta da lui come marito, padre e uomo di legge, è toccante; il suo animo è simile alle strade del suo paesino dopo il passaggio del tornado, con macerie di sogni infranti e rovina ovunque. Non crede di meritare amore, tutto quello che gli hanno insegnato lo rende consapevole di nutrire desideri impuri, sbagliati e riprovevoli, eppure nel momento in cui si imbatte in Ben non sa resistere.
Ben rappresenta l’ultima goccia, il colpo definitivo che incrina la facciata costruita nel corso di una vita e porta allo scoperto una verità ormai impossibile da negare.
All’opposto rispetto a Tom, Ben ha smesso da tempo di negare la propria vera natura, ma la vita non è stata buona con lui e l’ha reso un criminale, seppure non una cattiva persona. Ironico e disincantato, Ben è un personaggio affascinante, che sa quel che vuole ma nel medesimo tempo nasconde un grande bisogno di essere semplicemente amato, per una volta nella sua esistenza.
Amarsi in un mondo ostile, nel quale anche solo uno sguardo sbagliato può giustificare un linciaggio, non è facile e da lettori dobbiamo identificarci nei protagonisti e comprendere le loro scelte, perché si muovono in una realtà molto diversa dalla nostra. L’autrice è abile a non perdere mai di vista tale realtà, piegando quelle che potrebbero essere definite le regole canoniche di una storia d’amore alle esigenze del periodo, senza tuttavia sminuire i sentimenti dei suoi protagonisti o il loro diritto alla felicità.
Alcune pagine della vicenda sono amare, soprattutto per Tom, che tra i due è quello con più cose da perdere; alla fine dovrà capire una semplice verità, ovvero che decidere di meritare la felicità è una scelta coraggiosa, che in un mondo come il suo comporta dei sacrifici. Il futuro, però, potrebbe riservargli altre sorprese perché, se la tempesta gli ha insegnato qualcosa, è ad avere speranza: non si può mai sapere quando potrebbero avvenire dei mutamenti improvvisi nel corso dell’esistenza e, soprattutto, non sempre si limitano a portare distruzione.
Editing recensione a cura di The Goddess per Feel The Book
April 1, 2018
“Puoi avere tutto l’uomo che vuoi.”
“Sei l’unico uomo che voglio. L’unico di cui ho bisogno.”
“Nemico di se stesso” è un romanzo che dà al lettore diversi spunti di riflessione, il primo, costituito dal titolo stesso, è di carattere introspettivo: l’agente Thomas Webber, a causa degli insegnamenti religiosi che gli sono stati impartiti fin da ragazzo, del senso del dovere e della sua natura altruista che lo porta a mettere gli altri sempre davanti alle sue necessità, finisce con il diventare un ostacolo, un vero e proprio nemico per i propri desideri repressi. Il secondo spunto riguarda l’epoca in cui è ambientato il romanzo, gli anni ‘50, quando essere omosessuali era sia contro la legge sia considerato immorale: le persone erano costrette a fingere o comunque a nascondersi per non essere condannate dalla chiesa ed emarginate dalla società. L’autrice ci porta indietro nel tempo, dritti a quegli anni, ritraendo alla perfezione la popolazione di Ramer, una cittadina della provincia americana. Il lettore è reso partecipe dei tormenti di Tom, attanagliato dal senso di colpa e diviso tra ciò che è giusto per i valori comuni e ciò che lo sarebbe per lui come singolo.
Poi ci si mette di mezzo il destino, che appare a Tom sotto le spoglie di Ben Parker, un uomo con un passato tutto da riscrivere, che ha però il merito di fargli aprire gli occhi, di aiutarlo a capire che non c’è nulla di sbagliato nell’amare una persona dello stesso sesso e che non può continuare a colpevolizzarsi.
Bellissima e ben caratterizzata la figura di Marna, la moglie di Tom, che si rivela essere una donna coraggiosa e comprensiva, oltre a rivelare una mentalità molto aperta per l’epoca. Un ritratto perfetto dell’ipocrisia di quel tipo di società è invece costituito dallo sceriffo Cronkite.
Mi ha colpito come, pur rimanendo fortissima l’attrazione tra i due, le scene erotiche mutino piano piano, attraverso l’arco narrativo del romanzo e diventino un chiaro indizio del mutamento dei sentimenti tra Tom e Ben. E’ una storia profonda che fa riflettere sul diritto e sulla libertà di amare ed è scritta con uno stile semplice e avvincente che invoglia a continuare la lettura per conoscere la sorte dei protagonisti.
Coffegirl - per RFS
“Sei l’unico uomo che voglio. L’unico di cui ho bisogno.”
“Nemico di se stesso” è un romanzo che dà al lettore diversi spunti di riflessione, il primo, costituito dal titolo stesso, è di carattere introspettivo: l’agente Thomas Webber, a causa degli insegnamenti religiosi che gli sono stati impartiti fin da ragazzo, del senso del dovere e della sua natura altruista che lo porta a mettere gli altri sempre davanti alle sue necessità, finisce con il diventare un ostacolo, un vero e proprio nemico per i propri desideri repressi. Il secondo spunto riguarda l’epoca in cui è ambientato il romanzo, gli anni ‘50, quando essere omosessuali era sia contro la legge sia considerato immorale: le persone erano costrette a fingere o comunque a nascondersi per non essere condannate dalla chiesa ed emarginate dalla società. L’autrice ci porta indietro nel tempo, dritti a quegli anni, ritraendo alla perfezione la popolazione di Ramer, una cittadina della provincia americana. Il lettore è reso partecipe dei tormenti di Tom, attanagliato dal senso di colpa e diviso tra ciò che è giusto per i valori comuni e ciò che lo sarebbe per lui come singolo.
Poi ci si mette di mezzo il destino, che appare a Tom sotto le spoglie di Ben Parker, un uomo con un passato tutto da riscrivere, che ha però il merito di fargli aprire gli occhi, di aiutarlo a capire che non c’è nulla di sbagliato nell’amare una persona dello stesso sesso e che non può continuare a colpevolizzarsi.
Bellissima e ben caratterizzata la figura di Marna, la moglie di Tom, che si rivela essere una donna coraggiosa e comprensiva, oltre a rivelare una mentalità molto aperta per l’epoca. Un ritratto perfetto dell’ipocrisia di quel tipo di società è invece costituito dallo sceriffo Cronkite.
Mi ha colpito come, pur rimanendo fortissima l’attrazione tra i due, le scene erotiche mutino piano piano, attraverso l’arco narrativo del romanzo e diventino un chiaro indizio del mutamento dei sentimenti tra Tom e Ben. E’ una storia profonda che fa riflettere sul diritto e sulla libertà di amare ed è scritta con uno stile semplice e avvincente che invoglia a continuare la lettura per conoscere la sorte dei protagonisti.
Coffegirl - per RFS
August 8, 2022
RECENSIONE A CURA DI LADY MARMELADE
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April 10, 2019
4.5 Stars ~ "As a young boy, Tom had been prone to impure thoughts. His teenage years had been agony, but he’d learned to deal with his… predilections. He’d pushed down the nefarious desires, locked them behind a thick wall of ironclad will. Not since his youth had he acted upon such things. So why was he considering it now? Why with this… this…. Why him?"
1952. Tennessee. An unforgiving time and place in the United States for racial inequality, gender inequality, and most assuredly, for any sexual orientation that deviated from the "norm". This is the world Tom lives in. A world where he constantly tamps down his unhealthy urges, and lives only for the love of his son, duty to his wife, and responsibility to his small town. A bleak and dismal existence, to be sure. When a tornado comes bearing down, a brief but intense moment of passion in the basement of the jail, with Ben, changes Tom's world forever.
"Ben wanted Tom like he’d never wanted anyone—why? Perhaps it was loneliness that was the driving force, or maybe he’d simply met Tom at a point in his life when he was tired of life on the edge and was ready to settle down. Could it be possible the crazy dream of warmth and safety had affected him more than he’d realized?"
Two strong men. Tom, riddled with guilt, constantly feeling the weight of his sin against his wife, his family, his community, and his God, but tempted beyond belief, to have what he craves. Ben, tired of being judged his entire life, more than aware that his desires could get him killed, and yet unable to deny what he wants and needs. It was fascinating to watch the internal struggles, not to mention the physical battles between Tom and Ben, as they each tried to get what they wanted. And, yet, I think seeing them develop strong, real feelings for each other, regardless of their internal demons, is what made me truly care for both of them.
'The Rival Within' could've been a very simple, straightforward story. However, as I've come to anticipate from SJD Peterson, this was a much more involved and complex tale. Almost nothing about it was what I expected. I knew there would have to be a conflict, a threat to reveal Tom's secret, and I wasn't surprised to find it in the disgusting Sheriff Cronkite. But the author did an excellent job of keeping me riveted to the page. I was pleased, and surprised, that the love story between Tom and Ben didn't take a "usual" turn, so I was kept suspended waiting to see what would happen next. Interestingly enough, Tom's wife, is a character I could admire and respect, while also feeling a great deal of sympathy and empathy for her.
"Ben took another shuddering breath and brushed his lips against Tom’s. “—I love you and I want you and me to spend the rest of our lives right here on this little patch of land. Just us. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Nothing I wouldn’t give to make you happy.”
Thank you, Jo. You made me feel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
1952. Tennessee. An unforgiving time and place in the United States for racial inequality, gender inequality, and most assuredly, for any sexual orientation that deviated from the "norm". This is the world Tom lives in. A world where he constantly tamps down his unhealthy urges, and lives only for the love of his son, duty to his wife, and responsibility to his small town. A bleak and dismal existence, to be sure. When a tornado comes bearing down, a brief but intense moment of passion in the basement of the jail, with Ben, changes Tom's world forever.
"Ben wanted Tom like he’d never wanted anyone—why? Perhaps it was loneliness that was the driving force, or maybe he’d simply met Tom at a point in his life when he was tired of life on the edge and was ready to settle down. Could it be possible the crazy dream of warmth and safety had affected him more than he’d realized?"
Two strong men. Tom, riddled with guilt, constantly feeling the weight of his sin against his wife, his family, his community, and his God, but tempted beyond belief, to have what he craves. Ben, tired of being judged his entire life, more than aware that his desires could get him killed, and yet unable to deny what he wants and needs. It was fascinating to watch the internal struggles, not to mention the physical battles between Tom and Ben, as they each tried to get what they wanted. And, yet, I think seeing them develop strong, real feelings for each other, regardless of their internal demons, is what made me truly care for both of them.
'The Rival Within' could've been a very simple, straightforward story. However, as I've come to anticipate from SJD Peterson, this was a much more involved and complex tale. Almost nothing about it was what I expected. I knew there would have to be a conflict, a threat to reveal Tom's secret, and I wasn't surprised to find it in the disgusting Sheriff Cronkite. But the author did an excellent job of keeping me riveted to the page. I was pleased, and surprised, that the love story between Tom and Ben didn't take a "usual" turn, so I was kept suspended waiting to see what would happen next. Interestingly enough, Tom's wife, is a character I could admire and respect, while also feeling a great deal of sympathy and empathy for her.
"Ben took another shuddering breath and brushed his lips against Tom’s. “—I love you and I want you and me to spend the rest of our lives right here on this little patch of land. Just us. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Nothing I wouldn’t give to make you happy.”
Thank you, Jo. You made me feel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
January 22, 2015
This book gave me mixed feelings both while still reading, and now after I've finished it. I bought it because I love historically set romance and (in my opinion) there's so few historical m/m romance novels. Even better this is set in the early fifties a time period that is even more rare in any romance, whether straight or m/m.
My opinion of Tom's story - because even though the novel has both main characters' Tom's and Ben's point of views, this is pretty much Tom's story - began somewhere around a solid three stars, then towards the middle of the book (when a lot of other books are reaching the dreaded dragging middle) it turned into a very strong four stars and I kept pushing forward s the suspense of the plot increased and I badly wanted to find out how things would work out for Tom, then it swung back to a weaker three towards the end once the suspense was resolved.
In my opinion the books strongest part is the blackmail Tom is subject to, this is where to story truly becomes engaging and I loved to see how both Tom himself acted and reacted to the events that took place as well as to see how his fellow co-workers and wife and to a lesser extent his son reacted to the same. It is gruesome to witness a life falling apart and I had wished for even more focus on these events rather than the love affair between Tom and Ben. Each time the story focus shifted to the two of them I found myself getting slightly annoyed with the lack of pace and loss of external conflict.
Toward the end I had hoped for more insight to Marna's part in the story. When the book ends I am still wondering about her life choices. She is a good woman, and a good mother. But why did she marry Tom in the first place? Had she no other choices? We see glimpses of her past, and it's hinted at but I wanted more. This is of course Tom's story, but I still would have liked to find out about Marna's and little Tom's fate and future. In fact at times Tom's actions annoyed me. Yes, he is troubled by putting his son through the fate of having a "faggot" father, but he gets past that quite quickly and seemingly easy and settles with the passion and mature love of Ben instead. Being a parent myself I find it difficult to see an adult giving up on their child. This is of course my personal issues and have little to do with whether the next reader will like the novel and it's character or not.
In the end I have settled on three pretty solid stars. I like the time period (although I wonder whether men in the fifties in Tom's position actually used swearwords in the same amounts that Tom does) - and I wish there were more m/m novels set in this time - I loved the suspense and I found the romance between Tom and Ben, a little so-so.
My opinion of Tom's story - because even though the novel has both main characters' Tom's and Ben's point of views, this is pretty much Tom's story - began somewhere around a solid three stars, then towards the middle of the book (when a lot of other books are reaching the dreaded dragging middle) it turned into a very strong four stars and I kept pushing forward s the suspense of the plot increased and I badly wanted to find out how things would work out for Tom, then it swung back to a weaker three towards the end once the suspense was resolved.
In my opinion the books strongest part is the blackmail Tom is subject to, this is where to story truly becomes engaging and I loved to see how both Tom himself acted and reacted to the events that took place as well as to see how his fellow co-workers and wife and to a lesser extent his son reacted to the same. It is gruesome to witness a life falling apart and I had wished for even more focus on these events rather than the love affair between Tom and Ben. Each time the story focus shifted to the two of them I found myself getting slightly annoyed with the lack of pace and loss of external conflict.
Toward the end I had hoped for more insight to Marna's part in the story. When the book ends I am still wondering about her life choices. She is a good woman, and a good mother. But why did she marry Tom in the first place? Had she no other choices? We see glimpses of her past, and it's hinted at but I wanted more. This is of course Tom's story, but I still would have liked to find out about Marna's and little Tom's fate and future. In fact at times Tom's actions annoyed me. Yes, he is troubled by putting his son through the fate of having a "faggot" father, but he gets past that quite quickly and seemingly easy and settles with the passion and mature love of Ben instead. Being a parent myself I find it difficult to see an adult giving up on their child. This is of course my personal issues and have little to do with whether the next reader will like the novel and it's character or not.
In the end I have settled on three pretty solid stars. I like the time period (although I wonder whether men in the fifties in Tom's position actually used swearwords in the same amounts that Tom does) - and I wish there were more m/m novels set in this time - I loved the suspense and I found the romance between Tom and Ben, a little so-so.
January 1, 2018
For me, this book started sketchily, then quickly plummeted downhill fast. And I'm really annoyed about it, because I have read some amazing books by this author. Sadly, this isn't one of them.
It was supposed to be set in the 50's, but I only intermittently got a feel for the decade, with characters swinging between decade appropriate dialogue and language and a more modern tone. I'm not such a history purist that I would want the dialogue to be time consistent necessarily, but switching between the two was jarring, and it bugged me. And that made me notice other anachronisms and inconsistencies.
As an example, at one point, Tom's son didn't want to feed the dogs. This was the only mention of them having dogs in the whole damn book. What happened to the dogs? was running through my mind a lot, especially at points where they would have been helpful. Obviously they fell down a plot hole. Chickens were mentioned once, too; maybe it was a typo and Tommy didn't want to feed the chickens? at least then they would have been mentioned twice.
It got to the point where I found myself stopping reading to google stuff that didn't seem quite historically accurate; did people have showers in their houses in 1952? would certain people actually be able to afford a camera? I can't help but feel I researched this book more than the author did.
My biggest issue, though, was that I just didn't feel the relationship between Ben and Tom. I can forgive a lot for a good, compelling love story and I just didn't feel it. The sex was hot, granted, but I just couldn't get behind the romance. It didn't help that
I could go on, about the flimsy blackmail plot, especially it's final wtf just happened resolution, or the antagonist who was a one dimensional pantomime villain at best but I don't want to go of in full on rant mode.
As to what I liked about it; the character of the wife, Marna, was interesting. She could have done with more page time and I wish her character had received some resolution.
The prose itself was well written; I liked the concept, I just wasn't sold on the execution.
The sex scenes were hot; the chemistry was there, especially in the beginning but it didn't evolve into the emotions I would have liked.
1.5 disappointing stars, rounded up
It was supposed to be set in the 50's, but I only intermittently got a feel for the decade, with characters swinging between decade appropriate dialogue and language and a more modern tone. I'm not such a history purist that I would want the dialogue to be time consistent necessarily, but switching between the two was jarring, and it bugged me. And that made me notice other anachronisms and inconsistencies.
As an example, at one point, Tom's son didn't want to feed the dogs. This was the only mention of them having dogs in the whole damn book. What happened to the dogs? was running through my mind a lot, especially at points where they would have been helpful. Obviously they fell down a plot hole. Chickens were mentioned once, too; maybe it was a typo and Tommy didn't want to feed the chickens? at least then they would have been mentioned twice.
It got to the point where I found myself stopping reading to google stuff that didn't seem quite historically accurate; did people have showers in their houses in 1952? would certain people actually be able to afford a camera? I can't help but feel I researched this book more than the author did.
My biggest issue, though, was that I just didn't feel the relationship between Ben and Tom. I can forgive a lot for a good, compelling love story and I just didn't feel it. The sex was hot, granted, but I just couldn't get behind the romance. It didn't help that
I could go on, about the flimsy blackmail plot, especially it's final wtf just happened resolution, or the antagonist who was a one dimensional pantomime villain at best but I don't want to go of in full on rant mode.
As to what I liked about it; the character of the wife, Marna, was interesting. She could have done with more page time and I wish her character had received some resolution.
The prose itself was well written; I liked the concept, I just wasn't sold on the execution.
The sex scenes were hot; the chemistry was there, especially in the beginning but it didn't evolve into the emotions I would have liked.
1.5 disappointing stars, rounded up
January 21, 2015
*** 4 stars ***
"“God is supposed to be all about love, and any proclaimed man of God who preaches hate is nothing more than a hypocrite.”"
"I can’t change who I am, and if society can’t accept me, then fuck society"
Reading this book, I had to come out from my comfort zone. People know I hate cheating in books, but I read this one anyway. Why, this is my reasons.
Homosexual, in the year of 1952.
How hard that would be, that you're gay, and living in 1952? Well, it's kinda hell.
Tom knew that he was a homosexual since he's 12 years old, but yet, he had to face the reality that homosexuality is abominable and sin.
So he married Marna (a nice girl she was), they have a son, little Tommy. And live a content family life.
Until the hurricane came to his city and he's trapped with Ben. A war veteran, and a former Bank robber.
They did a wild, dirty sex under the storm and the lust didn't end after the storm. No, it continues.
And Ben wanted Tom. BAD. And Ben didn't take 'no' as an answer.
I was uncomfortable in the beginning because of Tom's betrayal to his wife, but as stubborn as Ben, I continued to read this story and I'm glad I didn't stop.
This is a bitter story of a gay's life in that year, not easy for both Ben and Tom.
Came out from the closet, and you will be humiliated.
I respect Marna for her 'understanding' about her husband sexual orientation, and I need 'closure' about her. I want her to be happy with little Tommy someday. She's one of the very rare female in M/M romance that I like. I know she can't live happily with Tom. Content, yes, but happy, no.
Tom is gay, and I'm glad she let him go and willing to fight for Tom.
But I sill need that closure.
Frank, as much as he didn't agree with Tom's choice of life, he's one of the best friend Tom can have. And I'm kinda fond of him. *weep*
This story was intense, written very well, and despite some material that I dislike, this is a one story I don't want to miss. Well done!
September 6, 2015
This was going to be a 4 star read to me until the part where it just ended. No cliffhanger, but LOTS and LOTS of unanswered questions. I honestly felt like half the book was missing. What happens to Marna and Tommy? Does Tom just get over the fact he has a kid and will never see him again? Does Cronkite just give up trying to find Ben and Tom? Pretty sure Cronkite was going to find and kill them for what Ben did.
I liked the book don't get me wrong. The whole I love you do much it hurts always makes me happy. There's just way too much left unsaid. Wish we'd been apart of Tom's self discovery near the middle where he makes the decision not to care what could happen and decides to let Ben in.
Another thing...don't use a name like Ben Parker. It's too famous. It's like using Clark Kent, or Santa Claus. You just know the name for a different characters and the emotions you have attached to them will unfortunately start to translate over.
Anyway, good book for anyone who like an easy read. Lots of self reflection and a little violence and forced confidence.
I liked the book don't get me wrong. The whole I love you do much it hurts always makes me happy. There's just way too much left unsaid. Wish we'd been apart of Tom's self discovery near the middle where he makes the decision not to care what could happen and decides to let Ben in.
Another thing...don't use a name like Ben Parker. It's too famous. It's like using Clark Kent, or Santa Claus. You just know the name for a different characters and the emotions you have attached to them will unfortunately start to translate over.
Anyway, good book for anyone who like an easy read. Lots of self reflection and a little violence and forced confidence.
November 12, 2015
Enjoyed this book, but this story was a reminder that there was a time when alternative lifestyles and relationships were not just socially unacceptable, but actually illegal. A foul-weather induced meeting between two men leads them down a path neither one saw coming. A small town sheriff with a wife and child and a loner with a checkered past come together for one passionate night that sets into motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives. The author shows us that even in the face of disapproval, derision and blatant hatred, love can grow and survive to become something poignant and beautiful. So glad there was an HEA; parts of this book were difficult to read, and made me so mad I cried.
April 7, 2016
This book straight broke my heart. Not because of the ending, but because of the environment in which the characters live and what they face. This heartbreaking yet hopeful story was so well told, and Tom and Ben just absolutely make you hurt.
Ben is a suspicious character who crosses Tom's path on a violently stormy night. He's a blackheart, but it doesn't stop Tom from responding to his intense attraction, one he's fought his entire life and hates himself for feeling. But, the attraction and connection between Tom and Ben inspires change in both men. But, those changes come at a huge cost.
Side note: I truly love books that accurately and unapologetically depict the truth of the world as it was in years past for LGBT folks. It hurts. And it should.
Ben is a suspicious character who crosses Tom's path on a violently stormy night. He's a blackheart, but it doesn't stop Tom from responding to his intense attraction, one he's fought his entire life and hates himself for feeling. But, the attraction and connection between Tom and Ben inspires change in both men. But, those changes come at a huge cost.
Side note: I truly love books that accurately and unapologetically depict the truth of the world as it was in years past for LGBT folks. It hurts. And it should.
September 4, 2015
This was beautiful and riveting! By the time I was at the end of chapter 22 I was in tears. I really wanted to castrate That Conkrite he's a pediphile and sociopath. He was more of a disgusting piece of shit than Tom or Ben could ever be. The way Ben told him about himself was pure joy in reading. I was really rooting for Tom to be able to keep Marna as a friend and raise their son with Ben on the farm. I hate he couldn't be a father because of the towns misconceptions and hatred of homosexuality. Well all he can do is be happy because times may change, but some people don't.
July 30, 2016
I loved the time setting for this book. I like it when there is a huge struggle with society and what is deemed as right and wrong. I read a lot of WWII book for that reason and wonder if placed in that position, what would I do. I don't think a person really knows until they are faced with it. I like the two main characters, Tom and Ben but who are really liked was Marna. Hind sight is 20/20 and it made me wish Tom and her had talked sooner. She really thought there would be a silver lining that just didn't happen. Good story with strong characters.
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