What do you think?
Rate this book
To Stand Close
Can love grow and survive for two men on opposite sides of the deepest of chasms—slavery? In this world, one country has cut itself off and is closed and mysterious to everyone else. What’s the secret it’s hiding? Magic? Monsters? No, just the cruel reality of slavery. But inside its borders life goes on as normal, and it competes with the rest of the world at sport just like everyone else, just to prove that it’s the best. Nicky accepts that and is happy in his own small, simple life as a gymnastics coach. He accepts it because he’s never known anything else, but he stays as far away from the brutality of slavery as he can, until he’s given a present he doesn’t want and isn’t allowed to refuse. As for love? Well, he loves his sport. Isn’t that enough?
238 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2015
62 people want to read
About the author
Faith Ashlin
8 books26 followersWhen Faith was clearing out her attic many years ago, she found a book she’d written as a ten-year old. On rereading it she realized that it was the love story of two boys. Over the years her fascination with the image of beautiful young men, coiled together as they fell head over heels in love, became a passion for her.
Since that first innocent book – written in purple sparkly pen – she has written many stories, set in varied worlds but always with two men finding their way to happiness.
Nothing much has changed because now she can be found in a daydream, wandering around the supermarkets of London, or sitting in a meeting at work still dreaming up stories.
Since that first innocent book – written in purple sparkly pen – she has written many stories, set in varied worlds but always with two men finding their way to happiness.
Nothing much has changed because now she can be found in a daydream, wandering around the supermarkets of London, or sitting in a meeting at work still dreaming up stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 23, 2015
The tears were tripping as I finished reading To Stand Close I was filled with emotion and empathy for Michael and Nicky.
Set in a dystopian country where slavery is an option and escape is impossible under the regime of government rule. Michael is an American who got too close to the border, accused of trespass he is captured and sold into slavery.
The story begins when Michael is given as a collective thank you present by the mothers of a small group of gymnasts that Nicky has been training. Nicky is appalled at the idea, but he cannot bring himself to get rid of Michael knowing the consequences for the slave could be truly dire, and rejecting his gift could make his life even more awkward than it already is.
The two men are therefore stuck with each other until they can think of an alternative. Gradually trust and friendship build in the face of adversity. Nicky has talent as a gymnastic coach but the regime does not approve of him or his past, and he lives in penury pretty much cut off from the world (apart from best friend and fellow coach Beth and their team of athletes).
As Nicky's feelings for Michael grow he does his best to conceal them knowing that it would never be acceptable. He does not want to place Michael under duress, and worries whether any kind of relationship other than friendship could flourish wrapped in the dynamic of owner and slave. The title of the book refers to the constant guard both men must keep in public to protect Michael from predators who believe slaves to be fair game.
I loved the slow burn of this story and the growing feeling of impending menace from the world building. I would gladly have continued reading about Michael and Nicky and would welcome a second instalment.
I really enjoy Faith Ashlin's writing style, she creates flawed individuals who are strong and hurting, they work hard for their happy endings. I love the book (even if I hate competitive sport, and the writing completely drew me in). The sex scenes took some time to get to but when they arrived they were blisteringly hot, made even better by the thought, consideration and negotiation both protagonists put into the idea before taking the plunge.
A great story full of empathy, passion, self-sacrifice (and humour even in the bleakest of circumstance). An engaging male male romance, highly recommended. I look forward to reading more.
Set in a dystopian country where slavery is an option and escape is impossible under the regime of government rule. Michael is an American who got too close to the border, accused of trespass he is captured and sold into slavery.
The story begins when Michael is given as a collective thank you present by the mothers of a small group of gymnasts that Nicky has been training. Nicky is appalled at the idea, but he cannot bring himself to get rid of Michael knowing the consequences for the slave could be truly dire, and rejecting his gift could make his life even more awkward than it already is.
The two men are therefore stuck with each other until they can think of an alternative. Gradually trust and friendship build in the face of adversity. Nicky has talent as a gymnastic coach but the regime does not approve of him or his past, and he lives in penury pretty much cut off from the world (apart from best friend and fellow coach Beth and their team of athletes).
As Nicky's feelings for Michael grow he does his best to conceal them knowing that it would never be acceptable. He does not want to place Michael under duress, and worries whether any kind of relationship other than friendship could flourish wrapped in the dynamic of owner and slave. The title of the book refers to the constant guard both men must keep in public to protect Michael from predators who believe slaves to be fair game.
I loved the slow burn of this story and the growing feeling of impending menace from the world building. I would gladly have continued reading about Michael and Nicky and would welcome a second instalment.
I really enjoy Faith Ashlin's writing style, she creates flawed individuals who are strong and hurting, they work hard for their happy endings. I love the book (even if I hate competitive sport, and the writing completely drew me in). The sex scenes took some time to get to but when they arrived they were blisteringly hot, made even better by the thought, consideration and negotiation both protagonists put into the idea before taking the plunge.
A great story full of empathy, passion, self-sacrifice (and humour even in the bleakest of circumstance). An engaging male male romance, highly recommended. I look forward to reading more.
March 28, 2015
I want a sequel, I didn't like where this ended. I want more details of how everything works out.
June 20, 2015
Reviewed for The Novel Approach.
I was completely surprised by this book. The premise sounded intriguing, and I thought I was going to get a little angst, a lot of romance, and…something else. To be honest, at this point I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t a book that would leave me thinking about the characters and the world they live in well after the fact.
To Stand Close is a tough one to read because in this alternate world, a country has cut itself off from the rest of the world because it still practices slavery. When Nicky receives a slave as a gift from the mothers of the girls he coaches for gymnastics, he doesn’t want him because he doesn’t want to think about slavery. He doesn’t agree with it, but he doesn’t really care. He has his own problems to worry about, and slavery is not one of them. But when he sees the fear in the slave’s eyes at the thought of being returned to the preparation center, he agrees to take him.
It’s clear from the outset that Nicky is a good man. He isn’t going to use the slave for anything. Not even cleaning his home. But then, in this country, slaves are good for only one thing: sex. They can be used in any way their owner wants, and that’s it. They can even be passed around to others if the owner wants. And, more terrifyingly, if their owner isn’t around, they’re fair game.
The slave is Michael. He initially is a heartbreaking character. Every time he was on the page my heart ached for him, so unsure of himself and desperate to do anything not to go back to the slave prep center. And it becomes even more awful when you discover where he’s from and how he became a slave in this awful country. Nicky promises to do everything in his power to keep Michael safe because, at first, well, that’s his responsibility.
But it changes.
Throughout the course of the novel Nicky falls in love with Michael, and that’s where the questions start to come in. Nicky is, technically, his master, even if they don’t see themselves as master and slave. So how can Nicky ever be sure Michael really does want to have sex with him? He might say it, but how can he know? Because even though Nicky is a great guy, technically he could just take it if he wanted to. He has Michael’s paperwork.
Most of the time when I read books where there is angst and miscommunication, or lack of listening, I get frustrated, but with this book, it was completely believable and I understood the deeper issues at hand. Nicky is completely right in fearing Michael is doing it to keep him “sweet,” as he says. And while Michael doesn’t seem like that kind of guy, let’s face it, he really is at a disadvantage. If Nicky were to say screw it one day, he could very well end up in a terrible place. And for a slave in this country, he has it made.
I felt for these characters so much. And my heart broke. Often. The ending was good, but I would love more from Michael and Nicky. I want to know what happens to them next. And I want to read more set in this world. I know it might sound terrible, but I want to see how other people react to their slaves and what they do to try to change it.
I was completely surprised by this book. The premise sounded intriguing, and I thought I was going to get a little angst, a lot of romance, and…something else. To be honest, at this point I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t a book that would leave me thinking about the characters and the world they live in well after the fact.
To Stand Close is a tough one to read because in this alternate world, a country has cut itself off from the rest of the world because it still practices slavery. When Nicky receives a slave as a gift from the mothers of the girls he coaches for gymnastics, he doesn’t want him because he doesn’t want to think about slavery. He doesn’t agree with it, but he doesn’t really care. He has his own problems to worry about, and slavery is not one of them. But when he sees the fear in the slave’s eyes at the thought of being returned to the preparation center, he agrees to take him.
It’s clear from the outset that Nicky is a good man. He isn’t going to use the slave for anything. Not even cleaning his home. But then, in this country, slaves are good for only one thing: sex. They can be used in any way their owner wants, and that’s it. They can even be passed around to others if the owner wants. And, more terrifyingly, if their owner isn’t around, they’re fair game.
The slave is Michael. He initially is a heartbreaking character. Every time he was on the page my heart ached for him, so unsure of himself and desperate to do anything not to go back to the slave prep center. And it becomes even more awful when you discover where he’s from and how he became a slave in this awful country. Nicky promises to do everything in his power to keep Michael safe because, at first, well, that’s his responsibility.
But it changes.
Throughout the course of the novel Nicky falls in love with Michael, and that’s where the questions start to come in. Nicky is, technically, his master, even if they don’t see themselves as master and slave. So how can Nicky ever be sure Michael really does want to have sex with him? He might say it, but how can he know? Because even though Nicky is a great guy, technically he could just take it if he wanted to. He has Michael’s paperwork.
Most of the time when I read books where there is angst and miscommunication, or lack of listening, I get frustrated, but with this book, it was completely believable and I understood the deeper issues at hand. Nicky is completely right in fearing Michael is doing it to keep him “sweet,” as he says. And while Michael doesn’t seem like that kind of guy, let’s face it, he really is at a disadvantage. If Nicky were to say screw it one day, he could very well end up in a terrible place. And for a slave in this country, he has it made.
I felt for these characters so much. And my heart broke. Often. The ending was good, but I would love more from Michael and Nicky. I want to know what happens to them next. And I want to read more set in this world. I know it might sound terrible, but I want to see how other people react to their slaves and what they do to try to change it.
April 12, 2018
May be, having lived in Berlin before the wall came down gives an advantage to understand the kind of political construct described in this book. So I did not miss further descriptions, I could imagine it. I liked the quite realistic writing, especially regarding the behaviour of the people around the main couple, the brave, the opportunistic, those who shrug, those who take advantage and the believers in the cause, who are usually the most dangerous.
March 27, 2015
FourStars
This is the strangest book I’ve read in a very long time. The premise is of a closed rogue military state not too far from our own countries, where residents enjoy the same language, television and culture as we do. Well, until we get to the slavery part.
This is so much more than a gay romance. It is a story of friendship and devotion. Tere were elements of Atwood and Orwell here, but the author doesn’t focus on social criticism. Instead, she gives us Nicky, a very talented gymnastics coach who is preparing an elite team of women’s gymnasts for the world championships.
And she gives us Michael. An American backpacker turned sex slave who is gifted to Nicky by his atheletes’ grateful mothers.
So. Bizarre. But really well written. The gymnasts and their training regimes are witten in such painstakingly vivid detail we can almost smell the chalk, sweat and leather. Equally vivid is Nicky’s cramped, claustrophobic one bedroom flat. In contrast, the exact details of the country outside Nicky’s flat and the gymnasium remains blurry and grey.
The relationship that develops between Nicky and Michael is awkward and uncomfortable.
The relatioship that develops between Nicky and Michael is awkward and uncomfortable. The way Nicky tries to be a good slave owner gives us so much scope for social comentary. But the men remain real, not symbols.
The central problem of the story is so much more complex than that in most romance writing. If you own someone, how do you ever know if they really love you? Is it right to give love to or desire love from a posession?
I’ve only given this book four stars because I would have liked to see more world building and the ideas presented could have been developed so much further in a longer story. Perhaps a sequel or a prequel will have to assauge my curiosity.
Even if the premise sounds odd, I would recommend reading this book. It was a very good read.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Sarah
This is the strangest book I’ve read in a very long time. The premise is of a closed rogue military state not too far from our own countries, where residents enjoy the same language, television and culture as we do. Well, until we get to the slavery part.
This is so much more than a gay romance. It is a story of friendship and devotion. Tere were elements of Atwood and Orwell here, but the author doesn’t focus on social criticism. Instead, she gives us Nicky, a very talented gymnastics coach who is preparing an elite team of women’s gymnasts for the world championships.
And she gives us Michael. An American backpacker turned sex slave who is gifted to Nicky by his atheletes’ grateful mothers.
So. Bizarre. But really well written. The gymnasts and their training regimes are witten in such painstakingly vivid detail we can almost smell the chalk, sweat and leather. Equally vivid is Nicky’s cramped, claustrophobic one bedroom flat. In contrast, the exact details of the country outside Nicky’s flat and the gymnasium remains blurry and grey.
The relationship that develops between Nicky and Michael is awkward and uncomfortable.
The relatioship that develops between Nicky and Michael is awkward and uncomfortable. The way Nicky tries to be a good slave owner gives us so much scope for social comentary. But the men remain real, not symbols.
The central problem of the story is so much more complex than that in most romance writing. If you own someone, how do you ever know if they really love you? Is it right to give love to or desire love from a posession?
I’ve only given this book four stars because I would have liked to see more world building and the ideas presented could have been developed so much further in a longer story. Perhaps a sequel or a prequel will have to assauge my curiosity.
Even if the premise sounds odd, I would recommend reading this book. It was a very good read.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Sarah
March 10, 2016
What I really liked about other Faith Ashlin's books is how psychologically authentic they are. 'To Stand Close' though feels kinda artificially construed to me. A series of what ifs: what if there were a country where slavery was legal. What if someone who didn't want a slave got one. What if the slave owner was s really decent guy. The problem is living in an isolated totalitarian state with legalized slavery forms a different mentality that would be expressed in many ways in everyday life. So it was difficult for me to feel something about Nicky because he never felt as a real person to me.
January 1, 2016
Disappointment
The author's previous slave fics were well plotted and had character growth arcs. This has neither. AU with a nonsensical setup. Illogical plot machinations to get from point A to point B. One dimensional ad uninteresting characters.
Honestly, it reads like a different author or like this was written when the author was much less experienced and skilled. Very disappointing.
The author's previous slave fics were well plotted and had character growth arcs. This has neither. AU with a nonsensical setup. Illogical plot machinations to get from point A to point B. One dimensional ad uninteresting characters.
Honestly, it reads like a different author or like this was written when the author was much less experienced and skilled. Very disappointing.
March 3, 2015
4.5 stars. I adored this story, its was complex and riveting story. very thought provoking. I couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews