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Heroes at Heart #3
Code Yellow
Sequel to Yellow Streak
Heroes at Book Three
Two years have passed since that long, dark, night of despair and near death when English-lit geek Yancy Bell met dancing jock Curt Donovan. Now a couple living in New York, they appear happy and well suited to one another.
But appearances can be deceptive.
Yancy feels Curt is growing distant, and they barely see each other. At Juilliard, Curt has bonded with a new friend, Greg. Yancy fears his relationship with Curt is coming to a head. Meanwhile,Curt harbors a secret that could spell the end of Yancy’s love for him.
Yet neither man dares to confront his fears—or the other.
Will their fate be a code yellow or a golden opportunity?
Heroes at Book Three
Two years have passed since that long, dark, night of despair and near death when English-lit geek Yancy Bell met dancing jock Curt Donovan. Now a couple living in New York, they appear happy and well suited to one another.
But appearances can be deceptive.
Yancy feels Curt is growing distant, and they barely see each other. At Juilliard, Curt has bonded with a new friend, Greg. Yancy fears his relationship with Curt is coming to a head. Meanwhile,Curt harbors a secret that could spell the end of Yancy’s love for him.
Yet neither man dares to confront his fears—or the other.
Will their fate be a code yellow or a golden opportunity?
75 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2016
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Susan Laine
88 books220 followersSusan is an award-winning author of LGBTQ erotic romance. She writes for Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications, Siren BookStrand, Evernight Publishing, and Less Than Three Press. Susan is a Finn writing in English. She likes action flicks, pop music, saunas, and the seasons in Finland. Join Susan's newsletter HERE.
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2016
Book – Code Yellow (Heroes at Heart #3)
Author – Susan Laine
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 79
Cover – Nice and simple, but makes me think of a funeral
POV – 1st person, past tense, 1 character POV
Would I read it again – Maybe.
Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, College
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
This one returned to the essence of book 1, for me. It went back to the time when Yancy was the only thing between Curt and his dark thoughts. When each other was the only thing keeping them together and sane.
There were a lot more heart-warming, sad, and funny moments in this story than in the previous book. For me, that's what saved it. It dragged on just a little in the middle and at the end, when everything seemed resolved and there wasn't much else that needed to be told. Unlike the other stories, this one also took up the full set of pages, apart from the first 10% of advertising.
If possible, this story could have been a little shorter, but overall it worked.
The characters were just as sweet and interesting, depressed and lonely as the first book. While Reggie and Dylan added some much needed comic relief, every now and then. Their bromance equally the sweet moments of Yancy and Curt's romance until it was hard to tell which pair were the couple.
Again, I'm not sure there's scope for more, but I'm told there will be another story. Only time will tell whether it's needed or not.
~
Though this is an unformatted ARC, I was miffed to see that there was 10% of “promotional material” for As Good as Gold at the beginning. I can only assume this is an excerpt from the next book? Either way, it's unwanted. Unless it's a Prologue, there shouldn't be anything in front of Chapter 1 except maybe copyright info, a blurb or a contents page. If it definitely is about the next book in the series, I can't understand why it's at the front, before I've even read book 3.
~
Favourite Quote
“My jaw trembled, and my vision blurred with tears as I made my way to the one place where I could close the door, cry, and shatter to pieces in private.
“Wait.””
Author – Susan Laine
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 79
Cover – Nice and simple, but makes me think of a funeral
POV – 1st person, past tense, 1 character POV
Would I read it again – Maybe.
Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, College
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
This one returned to the essence of book 1, for me. It went back to the time when Yancy was the only thing between Curt and his dark thoughts. When each other was the only thing keeping them together and sane.
There were a lot more heart-warming, sad, and funny moments in this story than in the previous book. For me, that's what saved it. It dragged on just a little in the middle and at the end, when everything seemed resolved and there wasn't much else that needed to be told. Unlike the other stories, this one also took up the full set of pages, apart from the first 10% of advertising.
If possible, this story could have been a little shorter, but overall it worked.
The characters were just as sweet and interesting, depressed and lonely as the first book. While Reggie and Dylan added some much needed comic relief, every now and then. Their bromance equally the sweet moments of Yancy and Curt's romance until it was hard to tell which pair were the couple.
Again, I'm not sure there's scope for more, but I'm told there will be another story. Only time will tell whether it's needed or not.
~
Though this is an unformatted ARC, I was miffed to see that there was 10% of “promotional material” for As Good as Gold at the beginning. I can only assume this is an excerpt from the next book? Either way, it's unwanted. Unless it's a Prologue, there shouldn't be anything in front of Chapter 1 except maybe copyright info, a blurb or a contents page. If it definitely is about the next book in the series, I can't understand why it's at the front, before I've even read book 3.
~
Favourite Quote
“My jaw trembled, and my vision blurred with tears as I made my way to the one place where I could close the door, cry, and shatter to pieces in private.
“Wait.””
July 1, 2016
So this is the third installment – you’re only reading this is you know about Yancy and Curt and how they met, etcetera. Now, Curt’s in Julliard and Yancy’s finishing school and the two are not taking time out for their relationship. Instead, Yancy frets that Curt is lying about all his practice and is instead cheating with a classmate, Greg.
Instead of talking about it, Yancy stalks Greg and calls Curt’s family.
**
So… on the one hand our heroes are back to being happy by the end of the story and we get some really sweet smexy times. On the other hand – most of the book is spent with Yancy pulling his hair out while the reader wants to punch him in the face for not just SAYING SOMETHING!
When he does finally confront Curt, the two have a long discussion that shows Curt’s dark, depressive mind at work again. While I was glad the bladder thing seems to have taken a back seat – at last! – and our couple is working out some more “adult” issues – I really felt that the dialog and the set-up and the “in-laws” and even the classmate were just too “perfect”. None of it rang authentically at all.
The way the young lovers talk to each other is stilted and not at all what people their age would say. Yancy – unfortunately – comes across as extremely needy and co-dependent while Curt comes across as juvenile and insecure.
I had really, really liked these guys in book one, felt not as great by book two and now in book three (with a similar situation facing them based on the excerpt for book four) I think I might be done with this series.
I loved the idea and the unique flavors these characters brought to the table, but the execution in these last two books just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
2.5 of 5 stars
Instead of talking about it, Yancy stalks Greg and calls Curt’s family.
**
So… on the one hand our heroes are back to being happy by the end of the story and we get some really sweet smexy times. On the other hand – most of the book is spent with Yancy pulling his hair out while the reader wants to punch him in the face for not just SAYING SOMETHING!
When he does finally confront Curt, the two have a long discussion that shows Curt’s dark, depressive mind at work again. While I was glad the bladder thing seems to have taken a back seat – at last! – and our couple is working out some more “adult” issues – I really felt that the dialog and the set-up and the “in-laws” and even the classmate were just too “perfect”. None of it rang authentically at all.
The way the young lovers talk to each other is stilted and not at all what people their age would say. Yancy – unfortunately – comes across as extremely needy and co-dependent while Curt comes across as juvenile and insecure.
I had really, really liked these guys in book one, felt not as great by book two and now in book three (with a similar situation facing them based on the excerpt for book four) I think I might be done with this series.
I loved the idea and the unique flavors these characters brought to the table, but the execution in these last two books just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
2.5 of 5 stars
July 29, 2016
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
The third in the series, and I think you would need to read the previous two to get the full story. I will assume you have in my review.
These two men met under the most difficult of circumstances, and through all their story it sits like a shadow. That element is definitely really well done, as I don't believe it would ever quite go away. It therefore makes Yancy's behaviour completely understandable, and the outcome even better than might have been expected. On that score I think the book does really well. I do however have a struggle sometimes with the language which can get very flowery. Whilst Yancy may be a Lit major, he would not necessarily in times of stress use so many synonyms, when actually repeating of a word would be more powerful. It is a small thing, but at times distracted me from the story. I find some things to be slightly inconsistent too, which again are minor, but can just change the flow as I consider whether that fits with the previous chapter. The one thing that has really vanished is Yancy's toilet problem ... even in some very stressful moments he seems to be fine.
I shall start book 4 with interest, as the main issue there would seem to be his, not Curt's for a change.
The third in the series, and I think you would need to read the previous two to get the full story. I will assume you have in my review.
These two men met under the most difficult of circumstances, and through all their story it sits like a shadow. That element is definitely really well done, as I don't believe it would ever quite go away. It therefore makes Yancy's behaviour completely understandable, and the outcome even better than might have been expected. On that score I think the book does really well. I do however have a struggle sometimes with the language which can get very flowery. Whilst Yancy may be a Lit major, he would not necessarily in times of stress use so many synonyms, when actually repeating of a word would be more powerful. It is a small thing, but at times distracted me from the story. I find some things to be slightly inconsistent too, which again are minor, but can just change the flow as I consider whether that fits with the previous chapter. The one thing that has really vanished is Yancy's toilet problem ... even in some very stressful moments he seems to be fine.
I shall start book 4 with interest, as the main issue there would seem to be his, not Curt's for a change.
July 24, 2016
This was a beautiful and bittersweet story of love and trust. The characters are so nice, it's so easy to fall in love with them.
Yancy and Curt have two years together and, in the eyes of everyone else, everything is perfect. But mistrust begin to hurt Yancy when Curt starts to spend too much time apart from him, especially when he notice that Greg, Curt's new friend, appeared to have everything in common with him. Communications haven't proven to be the most important feature in either of them. Will their relationship be as strong as they thought or will this situation prove that they have been living an illusion?
This is the third book in a series, but it begins by making a nice summary of important events in the previous books, so it would work perfectly as a standalone. It had very intriguing moments and a nice steady pace.
It was such a nice book to read. It was so melancholic, I really enjoy the author's ability to transmit the character's emotions. It was so easy to feel the hurt and the love. That was the part I liked the most of the book. It was devastating to see such a sweet relationship grow distant, and it seemed so realistic.
The main characters were great. Yancy was so nice and since the book is told from his point of view, it was easy to feel what he was feeling. Curt seemed a little different from the previous book, at least for some moments, but I perceived this as a personal growth in a very nicely made character development. The secondary character were also very nice. There is no character in this book I didn't like.
Curt and Yancy's relationship is amazing, it is portray in a very realistic way, with the normal ups and downs, with a lot of struggles and with very intense feelings.
Overall it was a beautiful book. I would recommend it to any reader who likes emotional books.
Yancy and Curt have two years together and, in the eyes of everyone else, everything is perfect. But mistrust begin to hurt Yancy when Curt starts to spend too much time apart from him, especially when he notice that Greg, Curt's new friend, appeared to have everything in common with him. Communications haven't proven to be the most important feature in either of them. Will their relationship be as strong as they thought or will this situation prove that they have been living an illusion?
This is the third book in a series, but it begins by making a nice summary of important events in the previous books, so it would work perfectly as a standalone. It had very intriguing moments and a nice steady pace.
It was such a nice book to read. It was so melancholic, I really enjoy the author's ability to transmit the character's emotions. It was so easy to feel the hurt and the love. That was the part I liked the most of the book. It was devastating to see such a sweet relationship grow distant, and it seemed so realistic.
The main characters were great. Yancy was so nice and since the book is told from his point of view, it was easy to feel what he was feeling. Curt seemed a little different from the previous book, at least for some moments, but I perceived this as a personal growth in a very nicely made character development. The secondary character were also very nice. There is no character in this book I didn't like.
Curt and Yancy's relationship is amazing, it is portray in a very realistic way, with the normal ups and downs, with a lot of struggles and with very intense feelings.
Overall it was a beautiful book. I would recommend it to any reader who likes emotional books.
May 2, 2016
Susan Laine surprises me with each book in this series. One I believe that Yancy and Curt have their issues behind them, Susan Laine once again makes the next book (which would be this book) into a realistic event once again. And I have to say that I really love that about this series. Honestly I believe that most authors would hit on the hard subjects but then they would bring it to a close and move onto to the next event but Susan Laine, I believe, realizes that things such as a dark side to someone and dark thoughts such as suicide and depression is not something that one just gets over and then lives happily ever after. I believe that with this series that Susan has made it into a realistic story to show readers that things such as suicide attempts and depression is not something one gets over in a day or two but it is something that they and their friends and family lives with for a lifetime. Or at least that is my theory on Susan Laine and this series.
Once again Yancy is my hero for standing by Curt and being string for Curt when Curt was not strong enough to do it for himself. His love for Curt flies off of these pages in all three series of the book and I admire that Yancy does not give up on Curt even if he is taking a chance a at having his heart shattered by Curt.
The more books in this series that I read I have come to love Curts character also. Even though he has those really bad lows occasionally he is my hero because he has decided to take control of his life and is seeing someone who can help him deal with his issues professionally. Not everyone is strong enough to do that because some believe it makes them weak, but in my opinion that makes them so much stronger. I truly love this series and I hope that there will be a book four in it.
Was given this book for free from inked rainbow reads for an honest review
Once again Yancy is my hero for standing by Curt and being string for Curt when Curt was not strong enough to do it for himself. His love for Curt flies off of these pages in all three series of the book and I admire that Yancy does not give up on Curt even if he is taking a chance a at having his heart shattered by Curt.
The more books in this series that I read I have come to love Curts character also. Even though he has those really bad lows occasionally he is my hero because he has decided to take control of his life and is seeing someone who can help him deal with his issues professionally. Not everyone is strong enough to do that because some believe it makes them weak, but in my opinion that makes them so much stronger. I truly love this series and I hope that there will be a book four in it.
Was given this book for free from inked rainbow reads for an honest review
June 8, 2016
This was a satisfying conclusion to the Heroes at Heart series. I enjoyed the first book but the second book was lacking in my opinion. I’m happy to say that the final part of Yancy and Curt’s was sweet and realistic.
It’s been two years since they first met and their relationship has had it’s ups and downs. Yancy has allowed his fears to get the better of him and believes Curt is cheating on him. He’s not wrong to be suspicious. The signs are all there; unexplained late nights out, distant attitude and a very good looking friend.
Hoping to prove or disprove his theory, Yancy talks to Curt’s family and friends. When that doesn’t help he sets out to find out the truth.
I don’t want to spoil the story so I’ll just say that Yancy’s investigation was both humorous and sad at different times.
It would’ve been easy for the author to come up with a silly excuse to explain Curt’s attitude, but the one she uses that is rooted in the reality of the story. It all makes perfect sense in the end.
A wonderfully sweet ending for two true-to-life young men.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
It’s been two years since they first met and their relationship has had it’s ups and downs. Yancy has allowed his fears to get the better of him and believes Curt is cheating on him. He’s not wrong to be suspicious. The signs are all there; unexplained late nights out, distant attitude and a very good looking friend.
Hoping to prove or disprove his theory, Yancy talks to Curt’s family and friends. When that doesn’t help he sets out to find out the truth.
I don’t want to spoil the story so I’ll just say that Yancy’s investigation was both humorous and sad at different times.
It would’ve been easy for the author to come up with a silly excuse to explain Curt’s attitude, but the one she uses that is rooted in the reality of the story. It all makes perfect sense in the end.
A wonderfully sweet ending for two true-to-life young men.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
May 20, 2016
3.25 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews