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A Summer of Guiltless Sex
Two very different men, from two walks of life find common ground for an exciting and unique adventure. It'd not been a great beginning of the summer season for either Bill, a young bridal store clerk, or Ted, a college student working as a lifeguard at the apartment complex’s pool. They'd both been dumped in their respective relationships and were still looking for “the one.” Their chance meeting at this low ebb in their lives and an off-the-cuff remark about what they both needed as a temporary solution to their physical needs, lead to a unique and adventuresome pact between the two. They agree to be what's lacking in each other’s lives. They begin a journey of self-discovery. One that will only last the length of the summer and will forever change their lives and ideas about love and friendship. One season of guiltless sex.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2016
39 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Dan Skinner
20 books428 followersDan Skinner is a new author who hates writing bios. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been a book cover artist for seven years.
Visit Dan's deviantart profile for more works of art.
Visit Dan's deviantart profile for more works of art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 7, 2016
5 Stars....Loved it!!
Whenever I start a book by this Author I know I'm in for something special.His characters have such depth and his writing is stunning.
The story is told from Bill's POV who is 22 at the time.In past relationships he's always tried to please his partners never really being true to himself.
Ted is 18 and has just broken up with his girlfriend who tried to change him into someone he didn't want to be.
I loved both these men but Ted definitely stole my heart.What a beautiful,engaging character he is.
Don't be fooled by the book cover and title,this isn't all about sex.This is a story of 2 young men who find each other one summer at the end of which they finally know what they want from life.
Highly recommended........
"When you first touched me,I knew yours were the hands of a giver in a world of people who only take,we were both at the same crossroads.It was only natural for us to take the same path for a while.Aren't you glad we did?"
Whenever I start a book by this Author I know I'm in for something special.His characters have such depth and his writing is stunning.
The story is told from Bill's POV who is 22 at the time.In past relationships he's always tried to please his partners never really being true to himself.
Ted is 18 and has just broken up with his girlfriend who tried to change him into someone he didn't want to be.
I loved both these men but Ted definitely stole my heart.What a beautiful,engaging character he is.
Don't be fooled by the book cover and title,this isn't all about sex.This is a story of 2 young men who find each other one summer at the end of which they finally know what they want from life.
Highly recommended........
March 21, 2017
While I enjoyed this story quite a bit, there were parts of the story that definitely did not feel like an 18 y.o. lifeguard/straight boy, Ted, was actually speaking them.
(Sorry, squirrel, but there was no way in hell I was *not* using this pic.) ;- )
Also, those 'wise beyond his years' parts came across as fairly preachy. Yes, they were pointing out a valuable life lesson, but when delivered by a balls-out, no fear, college boy, they really came across as odd to me. Sort of "and now a word from our sponsors," if you will.
The sexy bits were definitely steamy and hot, though. I loved how Ted never freaked out about being with another guy. How it was all about the connection that he and 22 y.o. Bill shared. The raw honestly in their non-relationship.
Some of the story was also a bit flowery, but I easily overlooked it. Okay, I rolled my eyes, just a little bit. You happy now? :- P
But it was still a solid 3.5 star read and I'd recommend it, if you're a Dan Skinner fan.
April 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
4.5 stars
Don’t let the title and the cheesecake graphics of the cover fool you! This is not just some raunchy, college guys getting it on story. Once again, Dan Skinner manages to pack a lot into this story which, while it does contain the promised guiltless sex, is really is about 22 year old Bill rediscovering himself with the guidance of the wise beyond his years, 18 year old pool lifeguard Ted. As the men embark on the titular summer of guiltless sex, they forge a bond that turns Bill’s life around and sets him back on track. I’m not sure if this story, specifically with the way it ends, falls within the definition of a “romance novel” (then again, since I don’t really need my romance to fall into a specific formula I may not be all that qualified to decide). I would classify it more as a coming of age story with some romantic elements. There is definitely a happy ending, but maybe not in the way the reader will expect.
Told as a flashback by a reminiscing Bill, we are taken back a few years to when Bill meets Ted. Bill is just out of yet another short-lived affair. Bill is starting to realize that he has some low self-esteem, always changing himself to be what he thinks the other person wants him to be, therefore not being honest with either himself or that other person.
Ted is young in years, willing to get out there and try new things but he is also an old soul in some respects. He’s a bit of a philosopher and sees things in himself and tries to make changes to improve himself, always ready to try something new. He and Bill forge a connection over pizza and beer and talking. Ted has only had one girlfriend and has a pretty good idea of why things didn’t go well. All of this talking also hits a nerve in Bill as some truths about how he approaches men are revealed.
As they discuss the problems of starting a relationship with someone, getting to know that person and how sex clouds their judgment, blurring the lines of love and sexual desire, Ted comes up with a brilliant idea. A summer of guiltless sex. Having sex just for the fun of it, getting it out of their system so they stop making decisions based on that urge. Sex with a finite period and rules to make sure it stays just sex. That conversation starts the agreement. The fact that Ted has never been with a man isn’t a big barrier. He likes Bill and is willing to try it. Ted feels that there is too much in the world to explore to limit himself by a label. So begins their summer and their agreement. One season of fun then back to real life.
As it turns out, the summer becomes so much more than a sexual outlet. Bill and Ted become a great support system for each other. They encourage each other’s passions; for Ted it’s his acting and for Bill it’s the clothing designs that he packed away after school. Ted pushes Bill to take life by the horns and do things he would never have before (the biggest fear Ted seems to have is the fear of regret, of not having tried something and always wondering “what if”) while Bill teaches Ted the joys of sex with a man. The two men work so well together, whether they are just talking or whether they are having a hot encounter (in public or private) there is a chemistry and a bond that is undeniable. Eventually the summer has to end and, per the rules, so must the relationship. A summer of guiltless, no-strings sex is the vehicle for Bill to rediscover what he’s been giving up to please others, what using sex out of desperation to hang onto a worthless relationship has done to him. The question is, will the experiment work? Can Bill learn to be honest and not to lose himself to a relationship?
I always enjoy Dan Skinner’s writing and this story is no exception. You can feel that he puts a bit of himself into each story he writes. This isn’t the emotional rollercoaster of Memorizing You or the angst and fear filled look at love like The Bible Boys. The emotional discovery is still here, but it is done in a more lighthearted, fun filled and sexy way. I still shed a few tears, but more often than not I had a smile on my face as I was reading. We are told everything from Bill’s point of view, but Ted’s personality, charm and straightforward look at life still jumps off the page at you.
As I’ve experienced in a few other Dan Skinner books, the ending left me wanting more and with a few questions. It is a fully realized ending that does wrap up the storyline and I got everything I was promised, but I liked these two characters so much I wanted to know more.
If you’re one of the many readers who are afraid to read Dan Skinner for the gut-wrenching angst and pain, this is the book for you. It’s the lightest book I’ve read from him, but it still has plenty of substance. It’s an uplifting story with a happy ending for everyone involved.
4.5 stars
Don’t let the title and the cheesecake graphics of the cover fool you! This is not just some raunchy, college guys getting it on story. Once again, Dan Skinner manages to pack a lot into this story which, while it does contain the promised guiltless sex, is really is about 22 year old Bill rediscovering himself with the guidance of the wise beyond his years, 18 year old pool lifeguard Ted. As the men embark on the titular summer of guiltless sex, they forge a bond that turns Bill’s life around and sets him back on track. I’m not sure if this story, specifically with the way it ends, falls within the definition of a “romance novel” (then again, since I don’t really need my romance to fall into a specific formula I may not be all that qualified to decide). I would classify it more as a coming of age story with some romantic elements. There is definitely a happy ending, but maybe not in the way the reader will expect.
Told as a flashback by a reminiscing Bill, we are taken back a few years to when Bill meets Ted. Bill is just out of yet another short-lived affair. Bill is starting to realize that he has some low self-esteem, always changing himself to be what he thinks the other person wants him to be, therefore not being honest with either himself or that other person.
Ted is young in years, willing to get out there and try new things but he is also an old soul in some respects. He’s a bit of a philosopher and sees things in himself and tries to make changes to improve himself, always ready to try something new. He and Bill forge a connection over pizza and beer and talking. Ted has only had one girlfriend and has a pretty good idea of why things didn’t go well. All of this talking also hits a nerve in Bill as some truths about how he approaches men are revealed.
As they discuss the problems of starting a relationship with someone, getting to know that person and how sex clouds their judgment, blurring the lines of love and sexual desire, Ted comes up with a brilliant idea. A summer of guiltless sex. Having sex just for the fun of it, getting it out of their system so they stop making decisions based on that urge. Sex with a finite period and rules to make sure it stays just sex. That conversation starts the agreement. The fact that Ted has never been with a man isn’t a big barrier. He likes Bill and is willing to try it. Ted feels that there is too much in the world to explore to limit himself by a label. So begins their summer and their agreement. One season of fun then back to real life.
As it turns out, the summer becomes so much more than a sexual outlet. Bill and Ted become a great support system for each other. They encourage each other’s passions; for Ted it’s his acting and for Bill it’s the clothing designs that he packed away after school. Ted pushes Bill to take life by the horns and do things he would never have before (the biggest fear Ted seems to have is the fear of regret, of not having tried something and always wondering “what if”) while Bill teaches Ted the joys of sex with a man. The two men work so well together, whether they are just talking or whether they are having a hot encounter (in public or private) there is a chemistry and a bond that is undeniable. Eventually the summer has to end and, per the rules, so must the relationship. A summer of guiltless, no-strings sex is the vehicle for Bill to rediscover what he’s been giving up to please others, what using sex out of desperation to hang onto a worthless relationship has done to him. The question is, will the experiment work? Can Bill learn to be honest and not to lose himself to a relationship?
I always enjoy Dan Skinner’s writing and this story is no exception. You can feel that he puts a bit of himself into each story he writes. This isn’t the emotional rollercoaster of Memorizing You or the angst and fear filled look at love like The Bible Boys. The emotional discovery is still here, but it is done in a more lighthearted, fun filled and sexy way. I still shed a few tears, but more often than not I had a smile on my face as I was reading. We are told everything from Bill’s point of view, but Ted’s personality, charm and straightforward look at life still jumps off the page at you.
As I’ve experienced in a few other Dan Skinner books, the ending left me wanting more and with a few questions. It is a fully realized ending that does wrap up the storyline and I got everything I was promised, but I liked these two characters so much I wanted to know more.
If you’re one of the many readers who are afraid to read Dan Skinner for the gut-wrenching angst and pain, this is the book for you. It’s the lightest book I’ve read from him, but it still has plenty of substance. It’s an uplifting story with a happy ending for everyone involved.
August 8, 2016
5 Stars
Wow, I'm completely blown away by the way this book made me feel. I absolutely loved it!! This was nothing like what I was expecting, the cover and title give the impression this is going to be a light sexy fun read, I was expecting little more. While it was fun and sexy, in all actuality it was also an incredibly deep story about what love and relationships should really be, what is important in life and how real passion drives our lives, if we allow it to. I will be honest, I was hoping for a different ending, I finished this book with tears in my eyes, but I also had a smile on my face. Dan Skinner, you are a truly gifted writer, I look forward to reading more of your work.
Wow, I'm completely blown away by the way this book made me feel. I absolutely loved it!! This was nothing like what I was expecting, the cover and title give the impression this is going to be a light sexy fun read, I was expecting little more. While it was fun and sexy, in all actuality it was also an incredibly deep story about what love and relationships should really be, what is important in life and how real passion drives our lives, if we allow it to. I will be honest, I was hoping for a different ending, I finished this book with tears in my eyes, but I also had a smile on my face. Dan Skinner, you are a truly gifted writer, I look forward to reading more of your work.
March 18, 2017
Oh, my heart. I'll come back to this when I've put it back together.
Hokay. Let me first say that this man is an awesome writer. This is the forth book of his that I've read, and I fall in love with the character each time. There's no sloppy editing that distracts me from the lovely story. There are no cartoonish super villains to serve as a plot devise. The connection between the two characters is enough to carry the story. Both are finding themselves, and they push each others' boundaries I ways they didn't think would be possible. The light within them practically jumps off the page.
Without giving too much away, the bittersweet ending wrecked me in the best possible way. It left me with with a similar feeling of the movie Weekend (after which k was a sniveling mess- watch it!) If art can evoke a genuine emotion from me, whether it's joy, fear, or heartache, I consider it a huge success. This author has a true gift for allowing the reader to empathize with the characters. It's truly a beautiful thing. I was blown away to find that he is first a photographer and a writer second. I'm curious to see how that came about. Is the "pictures speak a thousand words" cliche true, or is this guy just that multitalented? Still. Wow.
Hokay. Let me first say that this man is an awesome writer. This is the forth book of his that I've read, and I fall in love with the character each time. There's no sloppy editing that distracts me from the lovely story. There are no cartoonish super villains to serve as a plot devise. The connection between the two characters is enough to carry the story. Both are finding themselves, and they push each others' boundaries I ways they didn't think would be possible. The light within them practically jumps off the page.
Without giving too much away, the bittersweet ending wrecked me in the best possible way. It left me with with a similar feeling of the movie Weekend (after which k was a sniveling mess- watch it!) If art can evoke a genuine emotion from me, whether it's joy, fear, or heartache, I consider it a huge success. This author has a true gift for allowing the reader to empathize with the characters. It's truly a beautiful thing. I was blown away to find that he is first a photographer and a writer second. I'm curious to see how that came about. Is the "pictures speak a thousand words" cliche true, or is this guy just that multitalented? Still. Wow.
April 6, 2016
Woww this one really moved me.
At first sight it looks like a light book but it so is not!
It goes deep, it moved me so. The story laps about the summer months but the thoughts and lines goes way further. It's flawless and flow is so pleasing.
There are so much beautiful lines to mention and to highlight.
Ted and a Bill. We see it from Bills pov.
The bad love/relationship experience made him withdraw from men for awhile.
When Tedd, the resident lifeguard and pool boy, steps into his zone his summer turns around completely. They both just stepped out of a not so good relationship.
Tedd comes with an very clear offer- yep the title of the book-
That is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. But their relationship is so much more then what the title presume. And just thát makes this book a delightful one.
So many lines i want to share. There is one solution: read it yourself
I really really loved it. Highly recommended
At first sight it looks like a light book but it so is not!
It goes deep, it moved me so. The story laps about the summer months but the thoughts and lines goes way further. It's flawless and flow is so pleasing.
There are so much beautiful lines to mention and to highlight.
Ted and a Bill. We see it from Bills pov.
The bad love/relationship experience made him withdraw from men for awhile.
When Tedd, the resident lifeguard and pool boy, steps into his zone his summer turns around completely. They both just stepped out of a not so good relationship.
Tedd comes with an very clear offer- yep the title of the book-
That is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. But their relationship is so much more then what the title presume. And just thát makes this book a delightful one.
So many lines i want to share. There is one solution: read it yourself
I really really loved it. Highly recommended
March 11, 2017
One thing I like about the Dan Skinner books I've read thus far is the blend of romance, outright eroticism, and surprising depth of thought. Even a story like this, which could so easily have been 100% sexy fluff (not that fluff doesn't have its place), conveys so much more than the title suggests at first glance.
If you're at all interested in checking it out, don't read detailed reviews; just go for it. All I'll say here is that it's not a typical M/M romance, it's inspirational, and while the sex is unapologetically explicit and so, so hot, the context makes it very special.
If you're at all interested in checking it out, don't read detailed reviews; just go for it. All I'll say here is that it's not a typical M/M romance, it's inspirational, and while the sex is unapologetically explicit and so, so hot, the context makes it very special.
April 23, 2018
Working on my review :) .
October 3, 2016
No ha funcionado para mí. Es como una mezcla de su libro de Dick con un manual de autoayuda...
#Nope
#Nope
April 2, 2016
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
5 stars from me, and yet another winner from the head/pen/laptop of Mr Skinner. He really is a born storyteller. OK, so he’s a photographer by profession, but he has a way with words that makes each story he writes/tells so easy to visualise in your head, you almost feel as though you know the characters personally and are friends with them.
Here we have two complete opposites, and yes, their names are Bill and Ted, hehe. Ted is the lifeguard at the apartments where Bill lives, but only for the summer. His parents want him to be an Olympic swimmer, but Ted dreams of being an actor whereas Bill works in a wedding gown shop and is afraid to pursue his forgotten dream of designing wedding gowns for spoilt, rich bitches and couture clothing for gay men who have the cash to splash, as well as ballet costumes for productions on stage. Both have been written off as losers by their previous lovers, but Ted, who is the younger of the two at 18, is happy to have escaped being shackled to his girlfriend Tory and obviously Bill notices his buff figure parading around the pool every day during the hot Mid-West summers. They start to get to know one another, and come up with a plan…they’ll be each other’s ‘friend with bennies’ for the summer until Ted goes off to college and leave it at that, the end.
They help each other to grow and mature as people, and become great friends over the summer, Ted teasing Bill out of his timid shell and doing all sorts of daring things he wouldn't normally have done such as sky-diving and picking up where he’d left off with his dreams for being a fashion designer. I have to say that Bill definitely got the better half of their bargain, and became a much more confident and self-assured person. Ted, on the other hand, gained a confidante who was happy to teach him all about gay sex and was there for him, to celebrate his success at getting an acting job and share in his joy.
The only niggle I had (other than the cover) was that Ted was waay too mature and profound in everything he said and did for an 18 year old, and yes, I know Ted is based on a real person named ‘Dirk’, who is a wonderful young man, and a great ‘student’ of Dan’s (if you follow Dan on Facebook, you’ll know all about Dirk), but he was almost Yoda-like in his opinions and the advice he gave, and I know of no other 18 year old like that. Bill was 22, and he was no slouch either, so I can only assume they breed them tough and knowledgeable in the Mid-West. ;)
A few quotes….
‘Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t.’
‘Do you think there’ll ever come a time that people can just be people and we can love each other, or whomever we want without putting labels on everything?? It kinda seems like we’re trying to package something on the outside that is far more complex on the inside.’
His voice was very low, and I could tell, even as good an actor as he was, he was fighting his own emotions. ‘The rules are you walk out the door and don’t look back.’
More than anything, and stranger in nature, was that he’d proven to me that sex was not a divining rod for love, but it could lead you to learn more about yourself. I’d used it in the past in desperation and been imprisoned by it, and spent a summer learning, with his help, how it could free me.
5 stars from me, and yet another winner from the head/pen/laptop of Mr Skinner. He really is a born storyteller. OK, so he’s a photographer by profession, but he has a way with words that makes each story he writes/tells so easy to visualise in your head, you almost feel as though you know the characters personally and are friends with them.
Here we have two complete opposites, and yes, their names are Bill and Ted, hehe. Ted is the lifeguard at the apartments where Bill lives, but only for the summer. His parents want him to be an Olympic swimmer, but Ted dreams of being an actor whereas Bill works in a wedding gown shop and is afraid to pursue his forgotten dream of designing wedding gowns for spoilt, rich bitches and couture clothing for gay men who have the cash to splash, as well as ballet costumes for productions on stage. Both have been written off as losers by their previous lovers, but Ted, who is the younger of the two at 18, is happy to have escaped being shackled to his girlfriend Tory and obviously Bill notices his buff figure parading around the pool every day during the hot Mid-West summers. They start to get to know one another, and come up with a plan…they’ll be each other’s ‘friend with bennies’ for the summer until Ted goes off to college and leave it at that, the end.
They help each other to grow and mature as people, and become great friends over the summer, Ted teasing Bill out of his timid shell and doing all sorts of daring things he wouldn't normally have done such as sky-diving and picking up where he’d left off with his dreams for being a fashion designer. I have to say that Bill definitely got the better half of their bargain, and became a much more confident and self-assured person. Ted, on the other hand, gained a confidante who was happy to teach him all about gay sex and was there for him, to celebrate his success at getting an acting job and share in his joy.
The only niggle I had (other than the cover) was that Ted was waay too mature and profound in everything he said and did for an 18 year old, and yes, I know Ted is based on a real person named ‘Dirk’, who is a wonderful young man, and a great ‘student’ of Dan’s (if you follow Dan on Facebook, you’ll know all about Dirk), but he was almost Yoda-like in his opinions and the advice he gave, and I know of no other 18 year old like that. Bill was 22, and he was no slouch either, so I can only assume they breed them tough and knowledgeable in the Mid-West. ;)
A few quotes….
‘Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t.’
‘Do you think there’ll ever come a time that people can just be people and we can love each other, or whomever we want without putting labels on everything?? It kinda seems like we’re trying to package something on the outside that is far more complex on the inside.’
His voice was very low, and I could tell, even as good an actor as he was, he was fighting his own emotions. ‘The rules are you walk out the door and don’t look back.’
More than anything, and stranger in nature, was that he’d proven to me that sex was not a divining rod for love, but it could lead you to learn more about yourself. I’d used it in the past in desperation and been imprisoned by it, and spent a summer learning, with his help, how it could free me.
September 14, 2016
When I first saw the title of this book I wasn't immediately drawn to it because I didn't want to read just about sex but I definitely got more than what I bargained for with this book. I was happy that it wasn't a very long read. At first I thought Bill would be a Debbie Downer but I'm so glad Ted came into his life!
I just loved Ted's philosophy towards life. This character will stay with me for a while. I loved his approach to sexuality. More men should do what Ted did, damn, more women should too! LOL
The way the sex was described transported me directly into the middle of the scene; I was the third participant. I actually felt like I now know what it's like to have a penis and rub one out. I really got into the mind of these guys.
I saw the rating one of my friend's gave this so I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did but it blew me away. It's so deep but it's also lighthearted. Dan Skinner has skills!!
I just loved Ted's philosophy towards life. This character will stay with me for a while. I loved his approach to sexuality. More men should do what Ted did, damn, more women should too! LOL
The way the sex was described transported me directly into the middle of the scene; I was the third participant. I actually felt like I now know what it's like to have a penis and rub one out. I really got into the mind of these guys.
I saw the rating one of my friend's gave this so I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did but it blew me away. It's so deep but it's also lighthearted. Dan Skinner has skills!!
February 22, 2021
Learning curve or teaching moment?
I am amazed by how much of life's secrets and insight into people and how they act is squeezed into this simple story of a few weeks of life for two young guys trying to find their way.
It is far more than a sex filled time, although it is woven through the story. It takes the opportunity to talk openly with no secrets, to learn from each other, and to share the blessings of sex without the guilt or fear that destroys the joy of sex.
There is a lot to learn, but the premise of just walking away at the end of summer is the hardest part of the plan. After experiencing the best of each other, to be able to just stop or turn it off is difficult to comprehend. The profound effects on each other's lives makes the silence of separation unfathomable. But that is the idea. Bill and Ted's adventure just stops. No sequel. No new seasons. Just memories of the perfect partners having a perfect season of learning about life and each other for memories.
I am amazed by how much of life's secrets and insight into people and how they act is squeezed into this simple story of a few weeks of life for two young guys trying to find their way.
It is far more than a sex filled time, although it is woven through the story. It takes the opportunity to talk openly with no secrets, to learn from each other, and to share the blessings of sex without the guilt or fear that destroys the joy of sex.
There is a lot to learn, but the premise of just walking away at the end of summer is the hardest part of the plan. After experiencing the best of each other, to be able to just stop or turn it off is difficult to comprehend. The profound effects on each other's lives makes the silence of separation unfathomable. But that is the idea. Bill and Ted's adventure just stops. No sequel. No new seasons. Just memories of the perfect partners having a perfect season of learning about life and each other for memories.
December 3, 2017
C'est l'histoire de la rencontre de deux hommes, qui décident, le temps d'un été, de partager une amitié plus ou moins améliorée. Mais, c'est bien, bien plus que ça !
J'étais curieuse de que ce récit allait donner car il ne faut pas oublier que c'est Dan Skinner aux commandes, donc je ne m'arrêtais pas au résumé, ni à la couverture, loin de là.
Alors, oui, Ted et Bill d'un commun accord, se laissent le temps d'un été pour se connaître, se découvrir, explorer leurs corps... à travers de très profondes réflexions sur la vie en général, sur les gens, sur comment chacun perçoit l'autre, sur l'hypocrisie... Comment quelqu'un peut changer pour plaire à l'autre, pour finir par ne plus se reconnaître.
J'ai adoré ces discussions, qui font réfléchir, m'ont fait réfléchir, elles étaient délicieuses... Comme quoi, une bonne rencontre, au bon moment, aussi éphémère qu'elle peut l'être, peut changer une, voire deux vies. Elles sont authentiques, sans arrière-pensées. Leur complicité est immédiate. Ils se livrent, se donnent l'un à l'autre et se font confiance dès le départ.
Et puis, les scènes intimes sont d'une telle sensualité...
Le tout est écrit toujours aussi magnifiquement... mais je pense que ce n'est plus la peine de le mentionner.
Je me suis attachée à ces deux personnages ! J'avais tellement envie de plus, même si je me doutais de la fin... Elle est parfaite. Je râle souvent car les écrits de Monsieur Skinner sont (trop) courts. Je dirais qu'ici, le format est juste parfait. J'ai terminé ce récit avec un peu la boule au ventre, la gorge serrée mais avec un énorme sourire sur mon visage !
Une superbe lecture ! Et cette fois, je peux dire que je suis heureuse d'avoir ce livre posé sur mes étagères ! J'attends impatiemment la sortie des autres en format papier... <3
J'étais curieuse de que ce récit allait donner car il ne faut pas oublier que c'est Dan Skinner aux commandes, donc je ne m'arrêtais pas au résumé, ni à la couverture, loin de là.
Alors, oui, Ted et Bill d'un commun accord, se laissent le temps d'un été pour se connaître, se découvrir, explorer leurs corps... à travers de très profondes réflexions sur la vie en général, sur les gens, sur comment chacun perçoit l'autre, sur l'hypocrisie... Comment quelqu'un peut changer pour plaire à l'autre, pour finir par ne plus se reconnaître.
J'ai adoré ces discussions, qui font réfléchir, m'ont fait réfléchir, elles étaient délicieuses... Comme quoi, une bonne rencontre, au bon moment, aussi éphémère qu'elle peut l'être, peut changer une, voire deux vies. Elles sont authentiques, sans arrière-pensées. Leur complicité est immédiate. Ils se livrent, se donnent l'un à l'autre et se font confiance dès le départ.
Et puis, les scènes intimes sont d'une telle sensualité...
Le tout est écrit toujours aussi magnifiquement... mais je pense que ce n'est plus la peine de le mentionner.
Je me suis attachée à ces deux personnages ! J'avais tellement envie de plus, même si je me doutais de la fin... Elle est parfaite. Je râle souvent car les écrits de Monsieur Skinner sont (trop) courts. Je dirais qu'ici, le format est juste parfait. J'ai terminé ce récit avec un peu la boule au ventre, la gorge serrée mais avec un énorme sourire sur mon visage !
Une superbe lecture ! Et cette fois, je peux dire que je suis heureuse d'avoir ce livre posé sur mes étagères ! J'attends impatiemment la sortie des autres en format papier... <3
May 18, 2016
A Summer of Guiltless Sex
Dan Skinner
Smashwords, 2015
Cover by Carlos Gonzalez
5 stars
Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure, indeed. I resisted giving this five stars, but did in the end, because it was poignant and touching and very well written. Dan Skinner does something in this book that I shouldn’t have liked (the straight jock fantasy) but ended up being very moved by it because of what he did with his characters. Skinner has created something gentle and profound that speaks to the life of many gay men—not just young men of today, but of my own post-Stonewall generation.
Bill works in a bridal shop. He has just ended yet another in a long string of short, frustrating relationships. He is feeling sad and lost. Then he meets Ted, the muscled, blond swimmer who guards the pool at his apartment complex during the summer. From my calculations, Bill is 26 and Ted is 22,. This only matters in that I needed to keep reminding myself how young these guys are, and that makes a difference in the way the story resonates with me.
“A Summer of Guiltless Sex” is a love story; but it’s not a romance. I desperately wanted it to be a romance—gay boy shows straight jock that he’s really not so straight. But, ugh, that would have been so expected. Turns out that perhaps Ted isn’t so straight. As I noted above, he’s only 22. But the point is that Ted is not afraid. Of anything. He’s a champion swimmer in college, but he wants to be an actor. He’s not afraid to hang out with a gay guy. He’s not afraid to become a real, intimate friend, because Bill listens to him. He’s also a guy who refuses to give up his dreams to make someone else happy.
Turns out, Bill has given up a lot more than he thought to make other people happy. And that’s where Ted’s remarkable, open, embracing outlook on the world becomes a transformative influence in Bill’s life. The surprise is that Bill becomes transformative for Ted, too. The friendship is mutual, a fully shared experience in which both young men are equal partners. Through each other they begin to understand what a relationship could be, and what they can do to keep their dreams alive.
Right to the end Ted remains a bit of a puzzle, but that’s only because this book is Bill’s story. The covenant these two guys make with each other over a single summer shapes both the narrative and the outcome. It is heartfelt and, remarkably, inspiring. I really wish I had someone with whom to talk about this book.
Dan Skinner
Smashwords, 2015
Cover by Carlos Gonzalez
5 stars
Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure, indeed. I resisted giving this five stars, but did in the end, because it was poignant and touching and very well written. Dan Skinner does something in this book that I shouldn’t have liked (the straight jock fantasy) but ended up being very moved by it because of what he did with his characters. Skinner has created something gentle and profound that speaks to the life of many gay men—not just young men of today, but of my own post-Stonewall generation.
Bill works in a bridal shop. He has just ended yet another in a long string of short, frustrating relationships. He is feeling sad and lost. Then he meets Ted, the muscled, blond swimmer who guards the pool at his apartment complex during the summer. From my calculations, Bill is 26 and Ted is 22,. This only matters in that I needed to keep reminding myself how young these guys are, and that makes a difference in the way the story resonates with me.
“A Summer of Guiltless Sex” is a love story; but it’s not a romance. I desperately wanted it to be a romance—gay boy shows straight jock that he’s really not so straight. But, ugh, that would have been so expected. Turns out that perhaps Ted isn’t so straight. As I noted above, he’s only 22. But the point is that Ted is not afraid. Of anything. He’s a champion swimmer in college, but he wants to be an actor. He’s not afraid to hang out with a gay guy. He’s not afraid to become a real, intimate friend, because Bill listens to him. He’s also a guy who refuses to give up his dreams to make someone else happy.
Turns out, Bill has given up a lot more than he thought to make other people happy. And that’s where Ted’s remarkable, open, embracing outlook on the world becomes a transformative influence in Bill’s life. The surprise is that Bill becomes transformative for Ted, too. The friendship is mutual, a fully shared experience in which both young men are equal partners. Through each other they begin to understand what a relationship could be, and what they can do to keep their dreams alive.
Right to the end Ted remains a bit of a puzzle, but that’s only because this book is Bill’s story. The covenant these two guys make with each other over a single summer shapes both the narrative and the outcome. It is heartfelt and, remarkably, inspiring. I really wish I had someone with whom to talk about this book.
April 1, 2016
This is not a friends to lovers story. It’s not even a love story. It’s about friendship and discovery. It’s a story about grabbing life by the horns. We often hear the saying, life is for the living. Well, that’s true and this story really brings that message home. Two men, Bill & Ted (yes you read that right) they meet and they like each other. Ted wants to be an actor, he wants that dream more than anything else in the world. Bill wants to design clothes. Both want to live their dream and it’s only when they enter each other’s lives do they embrace that. Like I said it’s a friendship through the entire story to the very end. This one summer, one season, they decide to have an adventure. And they really do.
I cried with Bill. I felt the losses in his life and I want to say I wasn’t sure I was thrilled with how it played out with Bill & Ted. But then I got it. I allowed myself to sit back and let it sink in. The reason and the purpose behind what these two men did. They both will grow through this book and if you allow it, you will grow with them and maybe you’ll appreciate life a little more and want an adventure too.
I cried with Bill. I felt the losses in his life and I want to say I wasn’t sure I was thrilled with how it played out with Bill & Ted. But then I got it. I allowed myself to sit back and let it sink in. The reason and the purpose behind what these two men did. They both will grow through this book and if you allow it, you will grow with them and maybe you’ll appreciate life a little more and want an adventure too.
April 2, 2016
Well. Not at all what I was expecting. While i'm laid up in bed with this nasty cold I thought I'd grab up something that I could read in on sitting and not have to 'feel'. Hmmm. While the promise of a season (Summer) guiltless sex is given and definitely enjoyable we also get to see the dreams/hearts/mind of these two young men. Fun yet hits some feels.
We all have people in our lives who will challenge or tell us "That's not realistic" or "You would be so much better if you did this instead" or anything really to have you doubting your true self and YOUR dreams. While it doesn't hurt to take their opinions into consideration...it's YOUR life not theirs. Easier said than done sometimes. I'm sure this isn't exactly what Dan wanted us to get out of this story but where i'm at in my life now...it's what I've taken from it.
We all have people in our lives who will challenge or tell us "That's not realistic" or "You would be so much better if you did this instead" or anything really to have you doubting your true self and YOUR dreams. While it doesn't hurt to take their opinions into consideration...it's YOUR life not theirs. Easier said than done sometimes. I'm sure this isn't exactly what Dan wanted us to get out of this story but where i'm at in my life now...it's what I've taken from it.
April 5, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This book is a journey for both Bill and Ted, and we can get it out of the way that early on in the book an “excellent adventure” joke is made. And that’s what the guys, well mostly Ted, thinks that they are embarking on. Bill really has no idea what he has gotten himself into.
Their story is told in a flashback as Bill recounts the summer he spent with Ted. Bill was in a rough place as yet another relationship had ended. Bill couldn’t understand what he was doing wrong as he was constantly trying to be what he thought each of his partners wanted. Ted thought he was in love with his girlfriend, but as she tries to change him to what she wants him to be, he felt increasingly closed in. The guys strike up a deal of sorts: a summer fling with no strings and no expectations and only fun. Ted proposes a couple of rules, the main one being that when school starts again, their relationship is completely over.
This book is not a romance. It’s one summer, the summer that changes your life. It’s the story of going after your dreams even if you have little or no support or after you are told no and it’s the story of growing up and standing on your own. It also captures the feeling that even the most important people that come into our lives may only be there for a season. Dan Skinner has a way of bringing the emotion in by degrees and threading it through the edges until the end where it encompasses the entire story. A Summer of Guiltless Sex is a well written book that will make you smile for everything that it is.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This book is a journey for both Bill and Ted, and we can get it out of the way that early on in the book an “excellent adventure” joke is made. And that’s what the guys, well mostly Ted, thinks that they are embarking on. Bill really has no idea what he has gotten himself into.
Their story is told in a flashback as Bill recounts the summer he spent with Ted. Bill was in a rough place as yet another relationship had ended. Bill couldn’t understand what he was doing wrong as he was constantly trying to be what he thought each of his partners wanted. Ted thought he was in love with his girlfriend, but as she tries to change him to what she wants him to be, he felt increasingly closed in. The guys strike up a deal of sorts: a summer fling with no strings and no expectations and only fun. Ted proposes a couple of rules, the main one being that when school starts again, their relationship is completely over.
This book is not a romance. It’s one summer, the summer that changes your life. It’s the story of going after your dreams even if you have little or no support or after you are told no and it’s the story of growing up and standing on your own. It also captures the feeling that even the most important people that come into our lives may only be there for a season. Dan Skinner has a way of bringing the emotion in by degrees and threading it through the edges until the end where it encompasses the entire story. A Summer of Guiltless Sex is a well written book that will make you smile for everything that it is.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
April 1, 2016
Do you like it when a book surprises you? I love few things better. And to say that A Summer of Guiltless Sex surprised me in the best possible way, would be an understatement.
At first glance this felt and read like a lighthearted romp. Two lads with broken hearts, unfulfilled dreams, and time on their hands decide to join forces and create a memorable summer together. Throw in some sexual experimentation, and what you would end up with is a charming, uncomplicated read.
Except that A Summer of Guiltless Sex is so much more. Underneath the lighthearted banter and sexy times are two men growing up, finding out who they really are and finding the courage to live the life they were always meant to live. I highlighted so many quotes in this book, it is impossible to share them all here. At the same time, having to pick and choose is almost breaking my heart.
Ted especially is a font of wisdom when it comes to life and how we live it. I mean, don’t we all, to some extend at least, compromise our dreams away?
I have this feeling that we try to force things to happen so we can fit like a certain piece of the puzzle rather than look for where we really fit. We try to bend the corners and twist the edges to accommodate the space we think we should fit into…When we don’t belong there anyway. Who says life is supposed to be lived in a certain way? – Ted
And how true is the following quote. Bill has all but given up on his dreams, except that he still keeps them hidden away in a spare room, unable to completely push them aside. Ted’s explanation of that situation resonated with me.
Dreams don’t ever die. (…) I know. I tried to lock mine away, but the damned things kept going out. They’re like that loud drunk aunt at Christmas you wish would shut up or pass out. They keep on shouting at you. (…) Our dreams help us find ourselves. Our dreams make us whole. – Ted
And this is one of those quotes I want to print in big letters on one of the walls in my house:
Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t. – Ted
The following has been my personal mantra for some time now, and it was nice to find it in a book I loved, spoken by a character I adored.
“Do you think there’ll ever come a time that people can just be people and we can love each other, or whomever we want without putting labels on everything? It kinda seems like we’re trying to package something on the outside that’s far more complex on the inside. – Ted
Regretfully I’m going to stop here. For every quote I shared I deleted at least one, equally good, other one. But really, you should just go and read the book. It is filled with quotable paragraphs and I have no doubt every reader will find at least a few favourites of their own.
This is not a typical romance. Sometimes a happy ending does not mean that the two main characters end up together. Sometimes, what may appear bitter-sweet is in fact perfect.
What I hope you got from my words above and the subsequent quotes is that this is a fabulous, touching, memorable, and captivating coming of age story—both inspired and inspirational. This was my first Dan Skinner book, but clearly it will not be my last. If this book sets the standard, I’ve got a lot of good reading ahead of me.
At first glance this felt and read like a lighthearted romp. Two lads with broken hearts, unfulfilled dreams, and time on their hands decide to join forces and create a memorable summer together. Throw in some sexual experimentation, and what you would end up with is a charming, uncomplicated read.
Except that A Summer of Guiltless Sex is so much more. Underneath the lighthearted banter and sexy times are two men growing up, finding out who they really are and finding the courage to live the life they were always meant to live. I highlighted so many quotes in this book, it is impossible to share them all here. At the same time, having to pick and choose is almost breaking my heart.
Ted especially is a font of wisdom when it comes to life and how we live it. I mean, don’t we all, to some extend at least, compromise our dreams away?
I have this feeling that we try to force things to happen so we can fit like a certain piece of the puzzle rather than look for where we really fit. We try to bend the corners and twist the edges to accommodate the space we think we should fit into…When we don’t belong there anyway. Who says life is supposed to be lived in a certain way? – Ted
And how true is the following quote. Bill has all but given up on his dreams, except that he still keeps them hidden away in a spare room, unable to completely push them aside. Ted’s explanation of that situation resonated with me.
Dreams don’t ever die. (…) I know. I tried to lock mine away, but the damned things kept going out. They’re like that loud drunk aunt at Christmas you wish would shut up or pass out. They keep on shouting at you. (…) Our dreams help us find ourselves. Our dreams make us whole. – Ted
And this is one of those quotes I want to print in big letters on one of the walls in my house:
Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t. – Ted
The following has been my personal mantra for some time now, and it was nice to find it in a book I loved, spoken by a character I adored.
“Do you think there’ll ever come a time that people can just be people and we can love each other, or whomever we want without putting labels on everything? It kinda seems like we’re trying to package something on the outside that’s far more complex on the inside. – Ted
Regretfully I’m going to stop here. For every quote I shared I deleted at least one, equally good, other one. But really, you should just go and read the book. It is filled with quotable paragraphs and I have no doubt every reader will find at least a few favourites of their own.
This is not a typical romance. Sometimes a happy ending does not mean that the two main characters end up together. Sometimes, what may appear bitter-sweet is in fact perfect.
What I hope you got from my words above and the subsequent quotes is that this is a fabulous, touching, memorable, and captivating coming of age story—both inspired and inspirational. This was my first Dan Skinner book, but clearly it will not be my last. If this book sets the standard, I’ve got a lot of good reading ahead of me.
June 5, 2016
Depuis mon coup de foudre pour Memorizing you, je conserve précieusement les livres de Dan Skinner dans ma liseuse pour m’offrir de temps en temps un intense moment de plaisir !
Ma première impression à la vue de la couverture et à la lecture du titre a ressemblé à ça : WTF ???????? Mais évidemment, c'est Dan Skinner ne l'oublions pas, et forcément derrière cette légèreté et cette pointe d’humour se cache une très belle et émouvante nouvelle. Et puis Dan, Dan est un magicien...je ne sais pas comment il s’y prend pour me faire un tel effet, le coupable est sans aucun doute ce véritable talent qu'il possède pour narrer des histoires différentes qui me touchent droit au cœur.
Attention cette nouvelle n’est pas une romance mais une histoire d’amitié entre Ted, 18 ans et qui rêve de devenir acteur, et Bill, 22 ans qui travaille dans une boutique de mariage. Tous deux sont très différents mais leur vie sentimentale assez calamiteuse les rapprochent jusqu’à ce qu’ils décident de partager une amitié « améliorée » le temps d’un été. Il ne s’agit pas simplement de partager du sexe sans culpabilité, mais de tellement plus : se donner l’un à l’autre en toute honnêteté, se faire du bien sans cette peur de jouer un rôle ou de décevoir le partenaire.
C’est à travers les yeux de Bill que nous suivons cette relation étonnante qui se noue entre les deux hommes, relation fondée sur la sincérité. J’ai aimé leur complicité et surtout leurs échanges authentiques, tellement réalistes et qui nous renvoient à nos propres expériences...
Les deux personnages sont réussis mais j’avoue avoir eu une grande faiblesse pour Ted, lui si lumineux, si ouvert, et dont la sagacité et le discernement sont redoutables ! Pour Ted, qui n’a connu qu’une petite amie, pas de frontières infranchissables, pas de tabou et c’est tout naturellement qu’il explore sa sexualité avec un autre homme. Quant à Bill , ses insécurités sont touchantes et le voir s’épanouir et gagner en confiance au contact de Ted est un vrai bonheur.
Dan Skinner a le don de nous surprendre à chaque fois, c’est le cas avec cette jolie et sexy bromance, et si je n’ai pu m’empêcher d’avoir un gros pincement au cœur lors d’un certain passage, ces quelques pages m’ont fait un bien fou au moral ♥♥♥
Ma première impression à la vue de la couverture et à la lecture du titre a ressemblé à ça : WTF ???????? Mais évidemment, c'est Dan Skinner ne l'oublions pas, et forcément derrière cette légèreté et cette pointe d’humour se cache une très belle et émouvante nouvelle. Et puis Dan, Dan est un magicien...je ne sais pas comment il s’y prend pour me faire un tel effet, le coupable est sans aucun doute ce véritable talent qu'il possède pour narrer des histoires différentes qui me touchent droit au cœur.
Attention cette nouvelle n’est pas une romance mais une histoire d’amitié entre Ted, 18 ans et qui rêve de devenir acteur, et Bill, 22 ans qui travaille dans une boutique de mariage. Tous deux sont très différents mais leur vie sentimentale assez calamiteuse les rapprochent jusqu’à ce qu’ils décident de partager une amitié « améliorée » le temps d’un été. Il ne s’agit pas simplement de partager du sexe sans culpabilité, mais de tellement plus : se donner l’un à l’autre en toute honnêteté, se faire du bien sans cette peur de jouer un rôle ou de décevoir le partenaire.
C’est à travers les yeux de Bill que nous suivons cette relation étonnante qui se noue entre les deux hommes, relation fondée sur la sincérité. J’ai aimé leur complicité et surtout leurs échanges authentiques, tellement réalistes et qui nous renvoient à nos propres expériences...
Les deux personnages sont réussis mais j’avoue avoir eu une grande faiblesse pour Ted, lui si lumineux, si ouvert, et dont la sagacité et le discernement sont redoutables ! Pour Ted, qui n’a connu qu’une petite amie, pas de frontières infranchissables, pas de tabou et c’est tout naturellement qu’il explore sa sexualité avec un autre homme. Quant à Bill , ses insécurités sont touchantes et le voir s’épanouir et gagner en confiance au contact de Ted est un vrai bonheur.
Dan Skinner a le don de nous surprendre à chaque fois, c’est le cas avec cette jolie et sexy bromance, et si je n’ai pu m’empêcher d’avoir un gros pincement au cœur lors d’un certain passage, ces quelques pages m’ont fait un bien fou au moral ♥♥♥
April 1, 2016
A Summer of Guiltless Sex from the magical artistry of Dan Skinner is yet another in a long line of thought-provoking, sometimes heart-wrenching explorations of what makes us human. Two young men, each in the throes of breakups, tap into the pithy questions of what it means to follow your dreams, to learn how to be authentic and true to yourself, how to let go and become who you were meant to be - not what others might want.
Ted, the young lifeguard, is a joyous breath of fresh air for the more restrained and fragile Bill. The one is straight, the other gay, yet their friendship blooms on the ashes of what might have been, leading them on an unexpected journey of discovery, learning the meaning of love within a guiltless framework of shared pleasure and shared experiences.
The storytelling is heartfelt and honest, and though the tone is lighter than other works by Dan Skinner, I will admit to shedding a tear of joy at the sheer beauty and elegance of the imparted wisdom and understanding as these young men learn what it means to love and be loved.
This will certainly rank as one of my favoritest books of all time. I will go back and reread it frequently for it brought me happiness and a sense of peace and rightness with my world... no small feat and one to cherish.
Dan Skinner is a gifted storyteller and this will certainly rank as one of his finest achievements. I give it my highest recommendation.
Ted, the young lifeguard, is a joyous breath of fresh air for the more restrained and fragile Bill. The one is straight, the other gay, yet their friendship blooms on the ashes of what might have been, leading them on an unexpected journey of discovery, learning the meaning of love within a guiltless framework of shared pleasure and shared experiences.
The storytelling is heartfelt and honest, and though the tone is lighter than other works by Dan Skinner, I will admit to shedding a tear of joy at the sheer beauty and elegance of the imparted wisdom and understanding as these young men learn what it means to love and be loved.
This will certainly rank as one of my favoritest books of all time. I will go back and reread it frequently for it brought me happiness and a sense of peace and rightness with my world... no small feat and one to cherish.
Dan Skinner is a gifted storyteller and this will certainly rank as one of his finest achievements. I give it my highest recommendation.
April 2, 2016
A Stunning Piece of Work.
Don't let the cover and title fool you into thinking this is a piece of fun erotica. Neither is it a straightforward MM romance. This is a guide on how to live your life, how to be happy, how to achieve your goals, how to treat other people and most importantly, how to treat yourself.
This book is simply brilliant. It was also refreshingly free of errors (I have read so many stories recently that could benefit from a decent proof reader). Just one last thing, though. Never before has a happy ending made me burst out into sad tears. You will have to read it to understand, but don't be put off by that statement. There is definitely a HEA.
Don't let the cover and title fool you into thinking this is a piece of fun erotica. Neither is it a straightforward MM romance. This is a guide on how to live your life, how to be happy, how to achieve your goals, how to treat other people and most importantly, how to treat yourself.
This book is simply brilliant. It was also refreshingly free of errors (I have read so many stories recently that could benefit from a decent proof reader). Just one last thing, though. Never before has a happy ending made me burst out into sad tears. You will have to read it to understand, but don't be put off by that statement. There is definitely a HEA.
April 25, 2016
4.5
For a generally happy book this left me feeling surprisingly melancholy. Dan Skinner is a fabulous writer who always leaves me thinking of the characters about whom I've just read. A true artist.
For a generally happy book this left me feeling surprisingly melancholy. Dan Skinner is a fabulous writer who always leaves me thinking of the characters about whom I've just read. A true artist.
May 26, 2016
For some reason, I forgot how much I love Dan’s writing.
This was so much more than I expected.
I thought I was getting a light-n-sexy romp. That cover? Hot!
But truly, it encompasses just about every self-actualization I ever had about relationships when I was failing at dating in my twenties. Good times.
This is about learning to love yourself, be okay with being alone, not to lose yourself in another person. Never forget yourself.
Most of all, follow your dreams and try new things. Never give up.
Ted, for an 18-year-old, sure had a good grip and had some wise words befitting one much older. Bill, aged 22, sure had his eyes opened by the young sage.
This isn’t a romance, and I’ll go so far as to say it’s not super romantic. Mainly two guys having fun and learning about themselves along the way, then parting ways at the end of summer.
There’s no HEA of Bill and Ted going forth together. Instead, it’s permission to enjoy the hell out of another person then part on great terms with a treasure chest full of great memories.
It ends with hope, a brighter path, and a gorgeous new horizon.
There’s not a damn thing wrong with that.
And that’s happy enough for me.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
This was so much more than I expected.
I thought I was getting a light-n-sexy romp. That cover? Hot!
But truly, it encompasses just about every self-actualization I ever had about relationships when I was failing at dating in my twenties. Good times.
“Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t.”
This is about learning to love yourself, be okay with being alone, not to lose yourself in another person. Never forget yourself.
Most of all, follow your dreams and try new things. Never give up.
Ted, for an 18-year-old, sure had a good grip and had some wise words befitting one much older. Bill, aged 22, sure had his eyes opened by the young sage.
“The road in front of you is merely a road. You gotta walk to see where it’s gonna go…. but we can only count the steps behind us, not the ones still in front.”
This isn’t a romance, and I’ll go so far as to say it’s not super romantic. Mainly two guys having fun and learning about themselves along the way, then parting ways at the end of summer.
There’s no HEA of Bill and Ted going forth together. Instead, it’s permission to enjoy the hell out of another person then part on great terms with a treasure chest full of great memories.
It ends with hope, a brighter path, and a gorgeous new horizon.
There’s not a damn thing wrong with that.
And that’s happy enough for me.
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
May 17, 2016
A Summer of Guiltless Sex is less a romance story and more of a coming of age tale - and yet it is filled with love (love of sex, love of others, love of career and love of self). Ted and Bill recognize kindred spirits in each other and enjoy a summer filled with adventures and hook ups. Their biggest shared experience is learning how to be true to who and what they are (Ted is further along at this from the beginning) and not losing themselves in the quest for sex in a relationship. Bill's transformation was so satisfying and I loved how he realized that his "tough old bird" of a mother had instilled the emotional framework in him as a child. (I hope I do this for my kids).
Dan Skinner is a new author to me and I like how he thinks and sees the world, as he shares it through the voices of his heroes. Great, great story.
Dan Skinner is a new author to me and I like how he thinks and sees the world, as he shares it through the voices of his heroes. Great, great story.
May 19, 2016
“A Summer of Guiltless Sex is such a beautiful sweet and a tiny sad story I think.
Ted and a Bill are the two mail charakters and wee hear the story from Bills POV.
Bill works in a bridal shop and Ted is a life guard. One summer Ted gives Bill a clear offer: A Summer of Guiltless Sex.
They both take it and need it to work out whom they truly are and what they botth want out of life.
This story is sweet and lovely and had me going through;
Aaaawwwweeeeeeeee, Yesssssss, NOOOOOOOOOOO, AAAWWWEEEEEEEEEE, YESSSSSSS, nooooooo, yesssss, NOOOOOOOO and awwweeeeee......
Great story, read it ;)
Ted and a Bill are the two mail charakters and wee hear the story from Bills POV.
Bill works in a bridal shop and Ted is a life guard. One summer Ted gives Bill a clear offer: A Summer of Guiltless Sex.
They both take it and need it to work out whom they truly are and what they botth want out of life.
This story is sweet and lovely and had me going through;
Aaaawwwweeeeeeeee, Yesssssss, NOOOOOOOOOOO, AAAWWWEEEEEEEEEE, YESSSSSSS, nooooooo, yesssss, NOOOOOOOO and awwweeeeee......
Great story, read it ;)
May 24, 2018
Such a beautiful story!
I started not to read this because it was a
little shorter than I normally like. However, I enjoy this author so much that I decided it didn’t matter. I’m so glad I did. This is such a beautiful story beyond anything I could imagine. I highlighted so many things. Some of Ted’s quotes were unbelievable!
Make sure you read this one, you will be so happy you did
I started not to read this because it was a
little shorter than I normally like. However, I enjoy this author so much that I decided it didn’t matter. I’m so glad I did. This is such a beautiful story beyond anything I could imagine. I highlighted so many things. Some of Ted’s quotes were unbelievable!
Make sure you read this one, you will be so happy you did
August 7, 2016
Like this book. The two boys are very sympathetic and charming. The characters and the storyline makes it hard to stop reading for even a short break. I think everyone who is reading it could identify himself at least partially with one of the two boys.
It's a story about life and how to fulfill the dreams of your future.
It's humorous and philosophic...it's just life!
It's a story about life and how to fulfill the dreams of your future.
It's humorous and philosophic...it's just life!
Read
April 16, 2016Good but a bit preachy and filled with a lot of improbable conversations. I can't imagine any 20-24 year old talking like the two characters do in this book.
May 31, 2017
I never have to worry when I pick up a book by Dan Skinner that it'll be straightforward and the blurb will have described it. Because, oh no, that never happens! Somehow, this author manages to make his story so much more than a simple description could ever do, and he takes me on a magical journey. I wasn't sure I was ready for 'A Summer of Guiltless Sex', but I dove in anyway.
"That bit of self-discovery confirmed the fact that I needed to stay out of the dating scene until I could strip away the undesirable aspects of my personality I’d put on over time and with each failure. To find real love there needed to be a real Bill. That was my resolution."
This is, by no means, a romance. This is a discovery of self, a realization of one’s own wants and needs in order to be happy, and then be able to find love that is healthy and strong. Bill and Ted meet at the apartment pool where Ted lifeguards. Bill is gay. Ted is straight. Bill is in a slump, trying to figure out why his relationships never work out, why he gives, and gives, and gives, giving up who he is to please someone else, and being left alone, anyway.
“Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t.”
Ted is a few years younger, still in college, but he has a refreshingly honest way of looking at life and his part in it. They both learn from each other, and far more of it is done outside of sexual situations than in. Bill begins to find the love he had for fashion, his major in college, and is excited about it again, regardless of whether he'll make a career of it. He finds the joy in his drawings and designing that he had somehow lost. With Bill, Ted gets the reaffirmation that his dream of being an actor is valid, and he doesn't have to be just what his parents expect.
As I predicted, this novella was far more than I had thought it would be. It brought out a gamut of emotions from laughter, to melancholy, to sadness, and to joy. I wish, fervently, that I'd been given the gift of a Ted when I was twenty-two. Then again, my life might have been completely different, and I like to think I had that person in my husband, plus a lifetime of love.
"Now I understood what we were to each other with our little agreement to a summer of guiltless sex. We were protecting ourselves not only from others… but also from ourselves.... Intentional or not, there was more to what we were doing than frivolous, meaningless fun. We were using each other to grow up and conquer the things that had held us back."
"That bit of self-discovery confirmed the fact that I needed to stay out of the dating scene until I could strip away the undesirable aspects of my personality I’d put on over time and with each failure. To find real love there needed to be a real Bill. That was my resolution."
This is, by no means, a romance. This is a discovery of self, a realization of one’s own wants and needs in order to be happy, and then be able to find love that is healthy and strong. Bill and Ted meet at the apartment pool where Ted lifeguards. Bill is gay. Ted is straight. Bill is in a slump, trying to figure out why his relationships never work out, why he gives, and gives, and gives, giving up who he is to please someone else, and being left alone, anyway.
“Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent. Adventure is taking a chance because it’s better than the question mark if you don’t.”
Ted is a few years younger, still in college, but he has a refreshingly honest way of looking at life and his part in it. They both learn from each other, and far more of it is done outside of sexual situations than in. Bill begins to find the love he had for fashion, his major in college, and is excited about it again, regardless of whether he'll make a career of it. He finds the joy in his drawings and designing that he had somehow lost. With Bill, Ted gets the reaffirmation that his dream of being an actor is valid, and he doesn't have to be just what his parents expect.
As I predicted, this novella was far more than I had thought it would be. It brought out a gamut of emotions from laughter, to melancholy, to sadness, and to joy. I wish, fervently, that I'd been given the gift of a Ted when I was twenty-two. Then again, my life might have been completely different, and I like to think I had that person in my husband, plus a lifetime of love.
"Now I understood what we were to each other with our little agreement to a summer of guiltless sex. We were protecting ourselves not only from others… but also from ourselves.... Intentional or not, there was more to what we were doing than frivolous, meaningless fun. We were using each other to grow up and conquer the things that had held us back."
June 2, 2017
Exciting
Dan Skinner is becoming one of my fave authors. I loved this book! Ted and Bill have a bromance that is open, loving, sexual, and with absolutely no strings attached. I was expecting and hoping for a different ending. Was I disappointed? Absolutely not! It ended the only way it could have ended which is why I rated it 5 stars.
Dan Skinner is becoming one of my fave authors. I loved this book! Ted and Bill have a bromance that is open, loving, sexual, and with absolutely no strings attached. I was expecting and hoping for a different ending. Was I disappointed? Absolutely not! It ended the only way it could have ended which is why I rated it 5 stars.
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