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The Letter
Full Length Bonus Novella "When Worlds Collide" also included!
Sam Nolan is twenty-eight and is only just beginning to build the life for himself that he so desperately wants. Not everyone has had the sort of beginning Sam has. He was found at birth on the steps of a children’s home run by a convent in Chicago and raised by nuns, eventually to be adopted at the age of three. Given a life with a new family down in Florida, he is unable to shake off the natural curiosity that comes with wanting to know exactly where he came from. Resentful and angry, he ducks and dives his way through his existence, often with the help of law enforcement, before being given a lifeline that takes him back to Chicago. It’s an opportunity both for a new start, and to see whether he can ever get answers to questions he has over how he came to be.
When a letter linking him to his past arrives, he is thrown into turmoil, and decides to join a local support group. It’s run by Jay Millar, himself an abandoned baby, but one Sam envies. Jay seems to have his life together in a way Sam craves. Sam soon realizes that it may not be just Jay’s life he’d like, but Jay himself. He is faced with some very tough decisions. Should he reach out to the stranger who gave birth to him? And should he follow his heart down a path he has never dared to tread? It’s time for Sam Nolan to grow up, but he can only do that by closing wounds that have been open since the day he was born.
Please Note: This book contains Adult Language & Steamy Adult Activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approx. 50,000+ words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger".
BONUS NOVELLA - "When Worlds Collide"
Scott Rogers thinks of himself as the average guy - he works his job, he drinks with his friends, and he has the occasional hook-up with other average guys. If you asked him, he’d say that nothing in his life is remarkable. His friends don’t think of him as average - they see him as incredibly kind, understanding, and full of humor. For a lot of people, he’s the first one they’d turn to in a crisis and he’s always ready to lend a helping hand. But Scott is modest, and he doesn’t have high hopes for his love life.
Owen Carlisle is anything but an average guy. A breakout child star at sixteen, he’s lived his entire life in the spotlight. He’s considered to be one of the most intelligent and talented actors of his generation but not a single one of his fans realizes that he’s living a lie. Owen’s reputation and his career depend on his image of being a straight man, the dream man for many women around the world. For Owen, this means he can never have a true relationship and is doomed to pretend to date a string of Hollywood starlets he doesn’t even like. He has no real hope for true happiness.
Neither of them expect the whirlwind romance they are thrown into when they come across each other one fateful night. Can Owen sacrifice his career for Scott? Can Scott love somebody who would have to keep his existence a secret?
When these two star-crossed lovers meet, they will change each other’s lives forever. Whether they change it for the better or for the worse is up to them.
Please Note: This book contains Adult Language & Steamy Adult Activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novella, approx. 40,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger".
Sam Nolan is twenty-eight and is only just beginning to build the life for himself that he so desperately wants. Not everyone has had the sort of beginning Sam has. He was found at birth on the steps of a children’s home run by a convent in Chicago and raised by nuns, eventually to be adopted at the age of three. Given a life with a new family down in Florida, he is unable to shake off the natural curiosity that comes with wanting to know exactly where he came from. Resentful and angry, he ducks and dives his way through his existence, often with the help of law enforcement, before being given a lifeline that takes him back to Chicago. It’s an opportunity both for a new start, and to see whether he can ever get answers to questions he has over how he came to be.
When a letter linking him to his past arrives, he is thrown into turmoil, and decides to join a local support group. It’s run by Jay Millar, himself an abandoned baby, but one Sam envies. Jay seems to have his life together in a way Sam craves. Sam soon realizes that it may not be just Jay’s life he’d like, but Jay himself. He is faced with some very tough decisions. Should he reach out to the stranger who gave birth to him? And should he follow his heart down a path he has never dared to tread? It’s time for Sam Nolan to grow up, but he can only do that by closing wounds that have been open since the day he was born.
Please Note: This book contains Adult Language & Steamy Adult Activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approx. 50,000+ words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger".
BONUS NOVELLA - "When Worlds Collide"
Scott Rogers thinks of himself as the average guy - he works his job, he drinks with his friends, and he has the occasional hook-up with other average guys. If you asked him, he’d say that nothing in his life is remarkable. His friends don’t think of him as average - they see him as incredibly kind, understanding, and full of humor. For a lot of people, he’s the first one they’d turn to in a crisis and he’s always ready to lend a helping hand. But Scott is modest, and he doesn’t have high hopes for his love life.
Owen Carlisle is anything but an average guy. A breakout child star at sixteen, he’s lived his entire life in the spotlight. He’s considered to be one of the most intelligent and talented actors of his generation but not a single one of his fans realizes that he’s living a lie. Owen’s reputation and his career depend on his image of being a straight man, the dream man for many women around the world. For Owen, this means he can never have a true relationship and is doomed to pretend to date a string of Hollywood starlets he doesn’t even like. He has no real hope for true happiness.
Neither of them expect the whirlwind romance they are thrown into when they come across each other one fateful night. Can Owen sacrifice his career for Scott? Can Scott love somebody who would have to keep his existence a secret?
When these two star-crossed lovers meet, they will change each other’s lives forever. Whether they change it for the better or for the worse is up to them.
Please Note: This book contains Adult Language & Steamy Adult Activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novella, approx. 40,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger".
- GenresM M Romance
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2017
24 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Cole
182 books293 followersJerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 23, 2017
The Letter
Jerry Cole’s new book brings to light the many questions some adoptive people might have for their biological parent/parents if they had the chance to meet them one day. I tried to put myself in
Sam’s shoes to feel what it would be like to receive a letter from the mother who had left them on the doorstep of a Convent right at birth. The Convent, his warm, loving home for three years only to be adopted from the place he called home at the young age of three.
Sam with from his warm loving environment to a father who abused alcoholic, argued with his wife and threw glassware during his fits of anger. Sam’s adoptive mother was nice and loving towards him but she could not stand up to her husband, she was too emotionally weak, so Sam’s childhood was not a great one.
Begrudgingly, he left home at the age of sixteen to get away from his father which led him to hanging out with the wrong group of people. People who helped him get into drugs, alcohol and criminal behavior which resulted in prison time. But now he’s on the straight and narrow path of staying clean and keeping his job as a janitor at a local hospital.
When Sam receives the letter from his mom that she wanted to see him, Sam joined a support group for adoptive people where he meets Jay, a kindergarten teacher and founder of the group. I loved Sam and Jay and the warmth that radiated from them and became friends that quickly moved to lovers and boyfriends.
I can’t image the turmoil Sam went through to make the decision to meet his mother. He spent a nice hour or more receiving answers and getting to know his mom that ended sadly when his mother spoke harshly about his relationship with Jay. I was proud of Sam as he gave her a piece of his mind. Disappointed and hurt he left immediately.
Sam fought the thoughts of turning to alcohol but still buys beer and whiskey to drink his pain away and brings it home. Once again I was proud of Sam when Jay showed up concerned after hours of not being able to reach his boyfriend. His heart pounded when he saw Sam had not opened one beer or the whiskey.
It was exciting reading about Sam and how he had grown into a much stronger person. He realized what good would it do to drink but only to set him back and Sam wanted to move forward; forward with Jay.
Jerry leaves us once again with a beautiful HEA ending. I enjoyed reading this thought provoking story and the love that built between the two men. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
Where Worlds Collide - Bonus
Hot actor, Owen Carlisle seeks a place to hide from the paparazzi and pounds on the window desperately for the man in the bar to open the door. Handsome and muscular, Sam the bartender unlocks the door to the refugee and the night ended in an electrifying kiss.
I loved the chemistry between Owen and Sam and the fact they couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. I didn’t like Owens’s manipulating bitch agent, Haley. She’s bossy, demanding almost sociopathic personality. Though Owen cows to her every command, he’s a sweet man, loving and caring, just as Sam is who has the same personality with a deep rooted kindness.
Jerry sets a nice pace developing the loving relationship between the two men. There’s highs and lows in their budding relationship, but was more strenuous for Owen being in the public eye. Sam was a man of confidence and knew what he wanted without any doubts and Owen was who he wanted in his life.
It’s endearing how the two fought for the right to be together even in the face of the embarrassing discovery of their relationship and the betrayal that followed. Jerry does it again with loving engaging story. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
Jerry Cole’s new book brings to light the many questions some adoptive people might have for their biological parent/parents if they had the chance to meet them one day. I tried to put myself in
Sam’s shoes to feel what it would be like to receive a letter from the mother who had left them on the doorstep of a Convent right at birth. The Convent, his warm, loving home for three years only to be adopted from the place he called home at the young age of three.
Sam with from his warm loving environment to a father who abused alcoholic, argued with his wife and threw glassware during his fits of anger. Sam’s adoptive mother was nice and loving towards him but she could not stand up to her husband, she was too emotionally weak, so Sam’s childhood was not a great one.
Begrudgingly, he left home at the age of sixteen to get away from his father which led him to hanging out with the wrong group of people. People who helped him get into drugs, alcohol and criminal behavior which resulted in prison time. But now he’s on the straight and narrow path of staying clean and keeping his job as a janitor at a local hospital.
When Sam receives the letter from his mom that she wanted to see him, Sam joined a support group for adoptive people where he meets Jay, a kindergarten teacher and founder of the group. I loved Sam and Jay and the warmth that radiated from them and became friends that quickly moved to lovers and boyfriends.
I can’t image the turmoil Sam went through to make the decision to meet his mother. He spent a nice hour or more receiving answers and getting to know his mom that ended sadly when his mother spoke harshly about his relationship with Jay. I was proud of Sam as he gave her a piece of his mind. Disappointed and hurt he left immediately.
Sam fought the thoughts of turning to alcohol but still buys beer and whiskey to drink his pain away and brings it home. Once again I was proud of Sam when Jay showed up concerned after hours of not being able to reach his boyfriend. His heart pounded when he saw Sam had not opened one beer or the whiskey.
It was exciting reading about Sam and how he had grown into a much stronger person. He realized what good would it do to drink but only to set him back and Sam wanted to move forward; forward with Jay.
Jerry leaves us once again with a beautiful HEA ending. I enjoyed reading this thought provoking story and the love that built between the two men. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
Where Worlds Collide - Bonus
Hot actor, Owen Carlisle seeks a place to hide from the paparazzi and pounds on the window desperately for the man in the bar to open the door. Handsome and muscular, Sam the bartender unlocks the door to the refugee and the night ended in an electrifying kiss.
I loved the chemistry between Owen and Sam and the fact they couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. I didn’t like Owens’s manipulating bitch agent, Haley. She’s bossy, demanding almost sociopathic personality. Though Owen cows to her every command, he’s a sweet man, loving and caring, just as Sam is who has the same personality with a deep rooted kindness.
Jerry sets a nice pace developing the loving relationship between the two men. There’s highs and lows in their budding relationship, but was more strenuous for Owen being in the public eye. Sam was a man of confidence and knew what he wanted without any doubts and Owen was who he wanted in his life.
It’s endearing how the two fought for the right to be together even in the face of the embarrassing discovery of their relationship and the betrayal that followed. Jerry does it again with loving engaging story. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
June 24, 2017
There are two very different stories included in this book.
The letter is written with painstaking detail. The minutia of Sam's day is outlined and its both peaceful and sad in its simplicity. And then he gets a letter that upsets his carefully constructed equilibrium and sends him off in search of support. I quite liked both of the men he ends up asking for help from. And while there is a romance it is pretty subdued and I found it compelling too. Sam has some tough decisions to make and I felt for him at every step. I thought the whole thing ended nicely with . Overall it was a nice quiet read and I am glad I gave it a chance.
The second book is more typical fare with a poor bartender falling for a celebrity who has to hide his sexuality. At 90% I was loathing the story despite liking both characters. I forgave it a bit at the end but still I did not enjoy it.
The letter is written with painstaking detail. The minutia of Sam's day is outlined and its both peaceful and sad in its simplicity. And then he gets a letter that upsets his carefully constructed equilibrium and sends him off in search of support. I quite liked both of the men he ends up asking for help from. And while there is a romance it is pretty subdued and I found it compelling too. Sam has some tough decisions to make and I felt for him at every step. I thought the whole thing ended nicely with . Overall it was a nice quiet read and I am glad I gave it a chance.
The second book is more typical fare with a poor bartender falling for a celebrity who has to hide his sexuality. At 90% I was loathing the story despite liking both characters. I forgave it a bit at the end but still I did not enjoy it.
May 30, 2017
Two great books
Two amazing books both had strong characters and a great story,but somehow I just couldn't put the second book down , just loved it.
Two amazing books both had strong characters and a great story,but somehow I just couldn't put the second book down , just loved it.
February 24, 2017
Sam is a recovering alcoholic and a janitor who works in a hospital, it’s not the job he wanted but he’s gotten used to it. He’s living comfortably until life throws him a curve ball in the form of his biological mother trying to reach out to him. He’s not sure how to handle that information but with the support of a friend and referral to a help group, goes a long. The therapy group is a place where adults can share their own experience with coping with abandonment. Jay is the group coordinator. He’s quite friendly and ends up being a friend and another supportive individual for Sam to rely on.
Sam was an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know him and Jay. Neither grew up in an ideal family situation. It was interesting learning how they dealt with the lives they were dealt and what routes they took. I don’t imagine being abandoned as a baby or child feels great but it was inspiring how far they both came. It was heartening to see that even though Sam didn’t have a lot of people in his life he still had people to go to for support and guidance. The sexual content seemed more incendiary than I remember in some of this author’s other works. It really added spice to the read. I liked sexuality wasn’t made a big deal of with the exception of Janine. She actually made me feel a bit sad for Sam but I liked that Sam just took it and
didn’t let it drag him down.
The second read in the book was a m/m read and not a straight to gay story/gay for you/bisexual like the first. Scott is closing up shop when stranger comes knocking on his door. Turns out the guy is a celebrity Scott has had a crush on for quite some time. The two get to talking and spend
time together and form a sort of friendship. But Scott being an average Joe and Owen being a popular celebrity and deeply closeted puts a strain on their friendship, moving their relationship to the next level may just destroy them.
Scott seemed like such a great guy and he actually had me feeling quite sad for him. His last relationship was a mess and moving on he finds Owen who is in the closet (and a virgin). The two get close only for Owen to be a total jerk. Scott didn’t deserve to be treated as he was. I just felt Owen shouldn’t have lead him on if he wasn’t planning to lose or give up something. That being said I could understand his stand point but I still felt out of sorts for Scott. There was a small part of me that wanted Scott to just say of do something that said “tada, you missed out and I moved on. I deserve so much better”.
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Sam was an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know him and Jay. Neither grew up in an ideal family situation. It was interesting learning how they dealt with the lives they were dealt and what routes they took. I don’t imagine being abandoned as a baby or child feels great but it was inspiring how far they both came. It was heartening to see that even though Sam didn’t have a lot of people in his life he still had people to go to for support and guidance. The sexual content seemed more incendiary than I remember in some of this author’s other works. It really added spice to the read. I liked sexuality wasn’t made a big deal of with the exception of Janine. She actually made me feel a bit sad for Sam but I liked that Sam just took it and
didn’t let it drag him down.
The second read in the book was a m/m read and not a straight to gay story/gay for you/bisexual like the first. Scott is closing up shop when stranger comes knocking on his door. Turns out the guy is a celebrity Scott has had a crush on for quite some time. The two get to talking and spend
time together and form a sort of friendship. But Scott being an average Joe and Owen being a popular celebrity and deeply closeted puts a strain on their friendship, moving their relationship to the next level may just destroy them.
Scott seemed like such a great guy and he actually had me feeling quite sad for him. His last relationship was a mess and moving on he finds Owen who is in the closet (and a virgin). The two get close only for Owen to be a total jerk. Scott didn’t deserve to be treated as he was. I just felt Owen shouldn’t have lead him on if he wasn’t planning to lose or give up something. That being said I could understand his stand point but I still felt out of sorts for Scott. There was a small part of me that wanted Scott to just say of do something that said “tada, you missed out and I moved on. I deserve so much better”.
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2017
I had drastically different reactions to "The Letter" and it's bonus story "When Worlds Collide".
The Letter = 2.5 stars
I never felt that I could connect with either Sam or Jay. The entire story focused so much on Sam, that Jay was really rather generic. Sam and Jay were attracted to one another when they first met, and then seemed to fall into their HEA without actually learning anything truly meaningful about each other. Yes, both were abandoned as babies and had experiences being adopted but while there was mention of them talking about it, the impression that I got from both characters was that there wasn't any real feeling behind the words - like watching actors failing to emote. I thought that Jay's rather impulsive decision to quit the group didn't make sense for someone who felt so strongly about founding it, and I honestly didn't care enough about either character to be concerned if they got together. Sam's reaction to the letter was ok, but (again) felt flat, and his mother seemed more like a caricature of a person rather than someone real. Overall, I thought that this story was disappointing and I don't understand the choice to make this one the lead story.
When Worlds Collide = 7 stars
Yes; I know that this is only a 5 star system, but I loved this book so much, that (despite "The Letter") I think that the overall rating for this review deserves to be a full 5 stars. It's a bit crazy that I had such a poor feeling of empathy with Sam & Jay, but such a strong one with Scott & Owen.
I felt the pain of betrayal that Scott experienced when remembering his boyfriend who (probably) arranged for Scott to find out that he was cheating just to give his pathetic conscience an excuse to abandon Scott and avoid all contact. It was a completely selfish action anyway, but even more so when you find out that Scott wanted to salvage the relationship despite the cheating. This crushed Scott's self-value and he now fears that he just isn't enough for someone to love.
Owen got so caught up in how things had always been in his acting career that he had blinded himself to how they could or even should be. He was so scared of being type-cast and denied serious acting roles professionally, that he didn't see how he was continually being manipulated to falling into exactly that situation with the social aspect of his job. I loved that he wanted a human connection so desperately that he was blind to Haley's actions, but that he was ultimately willing to stand up to her for Scott.
While I normally have little patience for people thinking that someone has "no choice" but to make the poor choices that they did simply because they don't like the consequences of not making those choices, I thought that it worked really well here. Owen thought that he didn't have the option to come out and be in an open relationship with Scott because of Haley's manipulations and Scott accepted that hopelessness because his last relationship had convinced him that he didn't have an intrinsic value.
I loved that Scott & Owen's relationship developed over months of friendship and that when they finally reached their HEA, it was strong enough to realistically weather the pressures of both Haley and the realities of Owen's job - and the epilogue was a sweet treat to end everything off with.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
The Letter = 2.5 stars
I never felt that I could connect with either Sam or Jay. The entire story focused so much on Sam, that Jay was really rather generic. Sam and Jay were attracted to one another when they first met, and then seemed to fall into their HEA without actually learning anything truly meaningful about each other. Yes, both were abandoned as babies and had experiences being adopted but while there was mention of them talking about it, the impression that I got from both characters was that there wasn't any real feeling behind the words - like watching actors failing to emote. I thought that Jay's rather impulsive decision to quit the group didn't make sense for someone who felt so strongly about founding it, and I honestly didn't care enough about either character to be concerned if they got together. Sam's reaction to the letter was ok, but (again) felt flat, and his mother seemed more like a caricature of a person rather than someone real. Overall, I thought that this story was disappointing and I don't understand the choice to make this one the lead story.
When Worlds Collide = 7 stars
Yes; I know that this is only a 5 star system, but I loved this book so much, that (despite "The Letter") I think that the overall rating for this review deserves to be a full 5 stars. It's a bit crazy that I had such a poor feeling of empathy with Sam & Jay, but such a strong one with Scott & Owen.
I felt the pain of betrayal that Scott experienced when remembering his boyfriend who (probably) arranged for Scott to find out that he was cheating just to give his pathetic conscience an excuse to abandon Scott and avoid all contact. It was a completely selfish action anyway, but even more so when you find out that Scott wanted to salvage the relationship despite the cheating. This crushed Scott's self-value and he now fears that he just isn't enough for someone to love.
Owen got so caught up in how things had always been in his acting career that he had blinded himself to how they could or even should be. He was so scared of being type-cast and denied serious acting roles professionally, that he didn't see how he was continually being manipulated to falling into exactly that situation with the social aspect of his job. I loved that he wanted a human connection so desperately that he was blind to Haley's actions, but that he was ultimately willing to stand up to her for Scott.
While I normally have little patience for people thinking that someone has "no choice" but to make the poor choices that they did simply because they don't like the consequences of not making those choices, I thought that it worked really well here. Owen thought that he didn't have the option to come out and be in an open relationship with Scott because of Haley's manipulations and Scott accepted that hopelessness because his last relationship had convinced him that he didn't have an intrinsic value.
I loved that Scott & Owen's relationship developed over months of friendship and that when they finally reached their HEA, it was strong enough to realistically weather the pressures of both Haley and the realities of Owen's job - and the epilogue was a sweet treat to end everything off with.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
February 27, 2017
A Very Gold Read
The letter was about two guys who were both abandoned as newborns and how they dealt with it. . The second story When Worlds Collide is about a famous actor and a bartender whose paths cross,the the actor is shy and the bartender is gregarious . A Very gold read
The letter was about two guys who were both abandoned as newborns and how they dealt with it. . The second story When Worlds Collide is about a famous actor and a bartender whose paths cross,the the actor is shy and the bartender is gregarious . A Very gold read
February 5, 2017
The book blurb does a much better job of describing this book than I ever could........
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I am not sure how to review this book. It was just an all right read for me. We have Sam, an adopted child, with a background of abuse from his adopted parents, which spun him into alcohol abuse and a stint in jail and Jay who founded the group for adopted people wanting to understand the why me? Why was I abandoned?. I could not get into the story nor could I feel a connection between Sam and Jay. I felt like I was being told the story. I am not adopted so I can not relate to the problem facing Sam. However, I understand Sam's desire to read the letter from his biological mother who abandoned him. His desire to met her seems like a beacon of hope. His abuse and subsequent alcohol abuse might have been avoided if his mom had not abandoned him. I was so tired of reading about his work in the hospital that I skipped those sections. Yes he his on the straight now; pulling his weight and doing the job he is determined to do right and be on the straight and narrow. Sam's receives a letter from his biological mother wanting to him; he decides to attend this meeting about adopted people; thinking the group could answer his question on reading the letter. Jay, the coordinator of this program, meets Sam ; an instant attraction, decides to help him on his mission on whether to meet his biological mother.
I do not want to tell any more of the story, in the event I spoil the story. One of my pet peeves is blaming your childhood for all your problems: such as alcohol addiction, his stint in jail. It is possible it might be a reason but not an excuse. Free will and bad decisions has a lot to do with it. I will step down off my wagon now. That belief might be coloring my opinion of this story.
Jerry is a talented writer. I have read many excellent books by him. I like the way Jerry's writes: his sentence structure, his word usage and of course; his imagination to bring these stories to light. However, this story was not for me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read.
. This story was not for me; however, I would recommend this book to anyone.
_________________________________________
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book for a totally unbiased review.
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I am not sure how to review this book. It was just an all right read for me. We have Sam, an adopted child, with a background of abuse from his adopted parents, which spun him into alcohol abuse and a stint in jail and Jay who founded the group for adopted people wanting to understand the why me? Why was I abandoned?. I could not get into the story nor could I feel a connection between Sam and Jay. I felt like I was being told the story. I am not adopted so I can not relate to the problem facing Sam. However, I understand Sam's desire to read the letter from his biological mother who abandoned him. His desire to met her seems like a beacon of hope. His abuse and subsequent alcohol abuse might have been avoided if his mom had not abandoned him. I was so tired of reading about his work in the hospital that I skipped those sections. Yes he his on the straight now; pulling his weight and doing the job he is determined to do right and be on the straight and narrow. Sam's receives a letter from his biological mother wanting to him; he decides to attend this meeting about adopted people; thinking the group could answer his question on reading the letter. Jay, the coordinator of this program, meets Sam ; an instant attraction, decides to help him on his mission on whether to meet his biological mother.
I do not want to tell any more of the story, in the event I spoil the story. One of my pet peeves is blaming your childhood for all your problems: such as alcohol addiction, his stint in jail. It is possible it might be a reason but not an excuse. Free will and bad decisions has a lot to do with it. I will step down off my wagon now. That belief might be coloring my opinion of this story.
Jerry is a talented writer. I have read many excellent books by him. I like the way Jerry's writes: his sentence structure, his word usage and of course; his imagination to bring these stories to light. However, this story was not for me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read.
. This story was not for me; however, I would recommend this book to anyone.
_________________________________________
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book for a totally unbiased review.
January 22, 2017
*„The Letter" - 4,5 stars!*
This story follows Sam Nolan and Jay Millar. Sam had a hard life - abandoned as a child, adopted at the age of three, to be raised by loving mother and alcoholic father. He has made some mistakes and he’s now working towards better life. After receiving a letter from his biological mother he seeks help in a support group. That’s where he meets Jay - a founder of a group and someone with similar experiences.
I loved this story! I wasn’t able to put it down - I literally just sat on my bed and read this from top to bottom. It was moving and beautiful. Few moments broke my heart and I wanted to just go in there and give Sam a hug.
The story line was very convincing and characters felt real.
Both of heroes were lovely and I loved how Sam just accepted his attraction to Jay.
All in all, another great story by Jerry!
Recommended!
*„When Worlds Collide” - 5 stars!!!*
Scott Rogers doesn’t have high hopes for his love life - he’s been burned in the past and he resigned himself to be single for the rest of his life. Everything changes when a stranger comes into bar he works in.
Owen Carlisle is an actor. He was running away from paparazzi when he found himself in Scott’s bar. He’s mesmerized with a kind and genuine bartender. They spend nice evening together and both of them would like to see each other more, but it could jeopardy Owen’s career…
Oh My God! I think I found my new favorite book by Jerry! (or maybe second favorite - „Fake Boyfriend” is still #1!) I loved everything about it - the plot, the characters, every little twist and turn. The story was well-paced, with a slow romance build up. Both characters were sweet, loving, caring… just perfect!
This book is a pure pleasure!
Highly recommended!
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book & this is an honest & unbiased review.*
This story follows Sam Nolan and Jay Millar. Sam had a hard life - abandoned as a child, adopted at the age of three, to be raised by loving mother and alcoholic father. He has made some mistakes and he’s now working towards better life. After receiving a letter from his biological mother he seeks help in a support group. That’s where he meets Jay - a founder of a group and someone with similar experiences.
I loved this story! I wasn’t able to put it down - I literally just sat on my bed and read this from top to bottom. It was moving and beautiful. Few moments broke my heart and I wanted to just go in there and give Sam a hug.
The story line was very convincing and characters felt real.
Both of heroes were lovely and I loved how Sam just accepted his attraction to Jay.
All in all, another great story by Jerry!
Recommended!
*„When Worlds Collide” - 5 stars!!!*
Scott Rogers doesn’t have high hopes for his love life - he’s been burned in the past and he resigned himself to be single for the rest of his life. Everything changes when a stranger comes into bar he works in.
Owen Carlisle is an actor. He was running away from paparazzi when he found himself in Scott’s bar. He’s mesmerized with a kind and genuine bartender. They spend nice evening together and both of them would like to see each other more, but it could jeopardy Owen’s career…
Oh My God! I think I found my new favorite book by Jerry! (or maybe second favorite - „Fake Boyfriend” is still #1!) I loved everything about it - the plot, the characters, every little twist and turn. The story was well-paced, with a slow romance build up. Both characters were sweet, loving, caring… just perfect!
This book is a pure pleasure!
Highly recommended!
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book & this is an honest & unbiased review.*
February 17, 2017
Loved it!!!
I loved BOTH of the stories in this book. In fact the second story was so sweet and the ending could not have been more lovely! This is definitely a book to get! Read both stories! It was just... perfect! A+++ Author, story and characters!!!!!
I loved BOTH of the stories in this book. In fact the second story was so sweet and the ending could not have been more lovely! This is definitely a book to get! Read both stories! It was just... perfect! A+++ Author, story and characters!!!!!
January 23, 2017
This was a wonderful story by Jerry about Sam and Jay in "The Letter." Sam is an orphan. A newborn left on the steps of an orphanage ran by nuns, he was lovingly raised by them until he was adopted by his parents and moved from Chicago to Florida. There he lived his loving mother and an alcoholic, verbally abusive, violent father. His life was full of anger and angst. He took up drugs, alcohol and crime to appease the anger that curled around his heart and soul. Finally winding up in jail for three years and working through his drugs and alcoholic addictions, his advisor found him a job back in Chicago where he had a stable life. One day he gets a call from the convent that was no longer an orphanage but a convent ran school. His real mother had left a letter for him. He is stunned and confused and takes a number he was given for a support group and meets Jay, a loving and caring man who was an orphan too and left much like Jay. Thus starts the next phase in Sam's life. Enter love,tons of angst, anger, confusion, homophobia, rejection, fighting to stay dry, love, lust and finally finding himself and learning to let go. A story worth reading.
The bonus book that Jerry gave us to read is just as good as the first. "When Worlds Collide" Scott is a bartender and gay. The bar is small and hidden away, but he likes his job and is poor because of it. One night Owen, a famous actor shows up and they become caught up in an affair that leads them to tons of angst, fear of exposure, homophobia, treachery, lies, trickery, hot gay sex, struggling with ones sexuality, lust and love. An excellent bonus story. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.
The bonus book that Jerry gave us to read is just as good as the first. "When Worlds Collide" Scott is a bartender and gay. The bar is small and hidden away, but he likes his job and is poor because of it. One night Owen, a famous actor shows up and they become caught up in an affair that leads them to tons of angst, fear of exposure, homophobia, treachery, lies, trickery, hot gay sex, struggling with ones sexuality, lust and love. An excellent bonus story. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.
February 26, 2017
A surprisingly deeply emotional read that involves the reader from page one. I highly recommend this book
January 26, 2017
There are two stories in this edition.
The first story is The Letter which is so heartbreakingly emotive. I dare you to read it without tears. It tells of Sam who was abanded at less than a day old on the steps of a convent and is subsequently adopted by a couple. He didn't have a particularly happy childhood and had to overcome major life issues to become the man he is. Out of the blue he is contacted as the convent have received a letter to Sam from his birth mother. What follows is his journey to finding out not just who he is and why but also new friends and happiness.
The second story - When Worlds Collide - is also deserving of its own edition.
Scott Rogers works in a bar and was working late trying to block up a leaking broken window when a man tries to come in. Scott allows him in just before a storm of paparazzi come charging along the street. He finds himself face to face with Owen Carlisle a renowned and extremely gorgeous straight? actor.
There follows the story of the mix up of jackets and the subsequent meeting to exchange but with Jerry's own spin in the mix you won't be able to perceive the ending without actually reading it.
Two amazing short stories which go together very well and enhance each other but it is hard to know which should have been the lead as they are both so good. You know you are in for a treat with Jerry's work.
I received a complimentary ARC and this is my voluntary review.
The first story is The Letter which is so heartbreakingly emotive. I dare you to read it without tears. It tells of Sam who was abanded at less than a day old on the steps of a convent and is subsequently adopted by a couple. He didn't have a particularly happy childhood and had to overcome major life issues to become the man he is. Out of the blue he is contacted as the convent have received a letter to Sam from his birth mother. What follows is his journey to finding out not just who he is and why but also new friends and happiness.
The second story - When Worlds Collide - is also deserving of its own edition.
Scott Rogers works in a bar and was working late trying to block up a leaking broken window when a man tries to come in. Scott allows him in just before a storm of paparazzi come charging along the street. He finds himself face to face with Owen Carlisle a renowned and extremely gorgeous straight? actor.
There follows the story of the mix up of jackets and the subsequent meeting to exchange but with Jerry's own spin in the mix you won't be able to perceive the ending without actually reading it.
Two amazing short stories which go together very well and enhance each other but it is hard to know which should have been the lead as they are both so good. You know you are in for a treat with Jerry's work.
I received a complimentary ARC and this is my voluntary review.
January 24, 2017
This story is unusual. It begins with an abandoned child who made many poor choices as a teenager and young adult. What were the circumstances around his birth mother leaving him on the steps of an orphanage? As part of his efforts to turn his life around, he gets a full-time job and notifies the orphanage that he is willing to receive communications from his birth mother should she contact it. He also joins a support group for adults who were adopted. He is attracted to the founder of the support group. He's always thought of himself as being straight; could he possibly be bi? A letter from his birth mother is sent to the orphanage. Does he have the courage to read it? Will it end in his fantasy HEA with his birth mother? You'll have to read the book to find out!
I received a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review of it.
I received a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review of it.
January 30, 2017
THE LETTER
Sam was left on the on the steps of a children's home, now that he is 28 he is informed that his mother is trying to reach out to him. This causing sam to join a bridging the gap group where he meets Jay. they were both giving up by their parents but it seems like Jay got the better end of the stick. This moment brings them closer than they thought they would be.
"When Worlds Collide"
Owen always knew he didn't have feelings for women but because of his job he had to hide that side of him. one night while getting away from the paps he stumbles into a bar where he meets Scott. For the first time, he is willing to be who he is and lives the life he wants. Scott doesn't think he is the right person for Owen because he has nothing to offer, but the more time he spends with Owen the more he wants to be with him. Owen knows he is risking his career but he will not let anyone stop him from being happy.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Sam was left on the on the steps of a children's home, now that he is 28 he is informed that his mother is trying to reach out to him. This causing sam to join a bridging the gap group where he meets Jay. they were both giving up by their parents but it seems like Jay got the better end of the stick. This moment brings them closer than they thought they would be.
"When Worlds Collide"
Owen always knew he didn't have feelings for women but because of his job he had to hide that side of him. one night while getting away from the paps he stumbles into a bar where he meets Scott. For the first time, he is willing to be who he is and lives the life he wants. Scott doesn't think he is the right person for Owen because he has nothing to offer, but the more time he spends with Owen the more he wants to be with him. Owen knows he is risking his career but he will not let anyone stop him from being happy.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
February 1, 2017
2.5 stars
Story: 4
M/C Sam: 5
M/C Jay: 4
Sweet: 6
Heat: 3
Angst: 0
Setting: 7
World Building/Details: 5
Secondary Characters: 4.5
Humor/Snark/Banter: 2
HEA: yes
Epilogue: No
Distracted by the editing: 0
Do Your Research Please: 0
AYFKM: 0
Loved: I liked the idea of this story, but the execution fell flat for me.
Hated: There was almost too much detail at certain parts and not enough at others. Really no build up, before sex was involved and I don't quite buy a guy that had never even been attracted to another guy before being as ok with everything as he was. I also would have liked more detail about Jay, the story felt slightly one sided with the focus mostly on Sam.
Overall: It was ok, but I'll probably forget it in a week.
Story: 4
M/C Sam: 5
M/C Jay: 4
Sweet: 6
Heat: 3
Angst: 0
Setting: 7
World Building/Details: 5
Secondary Characters: 4.5
Humor/Snark/Banter: 2
HEA: yes
Epilogue: No
Distracted by the editing: 0
Do Your Research Please: 0
AYFKM: 0
Loved: I liked the idea of this story, but the execution fell flat for me.
Hated: There was almost too much detail at certain parts and not enough at others. Really no build up, before sex was involved and I don't quite buy a guy that had never even been attracted to another guy before being as ok with everything as he was. I also would have liked more detail about Jay, the story felt slightly one sided with the focus mostly on Sam.
Overall: It was ok, but I'll probably forget it in a week.
February 7, 2017
A sweet love story
Both stories contained in this book are really sweet M/M love stories. Both have characters that have to overcome their own issues to find and fight for love. They are both sweet love stories.
Both stories contained in this book are really sweet M/M love stories. Both have characters that have to overcome their own issues to find and fight for love. They are both sweet love stories.
January 23, 2017
The Letter was a decent story. I liked the character of Sam. Sam is a 28 year old janitor at a hospital who battled alcoholism and won. One day he gets a call about a letter from his mother who abandoned him when he was a baby. He then meets Jay a man who runs an adoption support group. He likes him but he is also attracted to him.
I wont go into more detail but this is a story about first times. The discovery about new things about themselves. I liked the two characters. I think that they were very real. I could see the story happening in real life. All in all it was very nice.
I received this voluntarily as an ARC and have given my honest review.
I wont go into more detail but this is a story about first times. The discovery about new things about themselves. I liked the two characters. I think that they were very real. I could see the story happening in real life. All in all it was very nice.
I received this voluntarily as an ARC and have given my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2017
2 1/2 stars for The Letter but 4 Stars When Worlds Collide
To many useless words and dragged out dialogue. I found hearing every detail of Sam's day dreadfully boring. Also Sam's relationship with Jay was to easy and forced upon us. There was no real chemistry. Again the better of the stories was hidden as a background bonus story, never to see it's own glory. Owen and Scott have great chemistry and my heart broke for each other them when they are force apart." When Worlds Collide" is the true star here and should not be missed..
"I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review."
To many useless words and dragged out dialogue. I found hearing every detail of Sam's day dreadfully boring. Also Sam's relationship with Jay was to easy and forced upon us. There was no real chemistry. Again the better of the stories was hidden as a background bonus story, never to see it's own glory. Owen and Scott have great chemistry and my heart broke for each other them when they are force apart." When Worlds Collide" is the true star here and should not be missed..
"I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review."
July 22, 2017
The first story is very nearly perfect. It's a little heavy with the mundane details at times, but it does set the tone a bit so it's not a complete waste.
The second story is absolutely perfect. It all felt believable, which is rarely the case when involving celebrities and everyday folks falling in love. It was a gentle but steamy love story.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
The second story is absolutely perfect. It all felt believable, which is rarely the case when involving celebrities and everyday folks falling in love. It was a gentle but steamy love story.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
January 25, 2017
Sam is a very realistic character with struggles that he has had to overcome. He meets Jay at just the right time in his life. I like how the focus of the story was equally balanced between Sam's fight to come to terms with his abandonment and the feels he develops for Jay. I highly recommend this book.
January 31, 2017
Another Wonderful Book, Jerry Cole
You know when I see the authors name and it says Jerry Cole, I know I'm going to be well entertained. I will laugh, snicker, have a hot flash, and cry. He always delivers a realistic and poignant story, with great detail!
I did receive this as an ARC, but knowing that its a Jerry Cole book, I would buy it, or Kindle Unlimited it lol..
You know when I see the authors name and it says Jerry Cole, I know I'm going to be well entertained. I will laugh, snicker, have a hot flash, and cry. He always delivers a realistic and poignant story, with great detail!
I did receive this as an ARC, but knowing that its a Jerry Cole book, I would buy it, or Kindle Unlimited it lol..
January 26, 2017
love wins
Another winner from JC. It never ceases to amaze me how so many of his tales reduce me to tears of joy. I love the feeling that I get when two men ,one straight, finally find love and overcome their obstacles.
Another winner from JC. It never ceases to amaze me how so many of his tales reduce me to tears of joy. I love the feeling that I get when two men ,one straight, finally find love and overcome their obstacles.
January 25, 2017
Awesome book! I liked it! You should read it too! :)
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
January 31, 2017
Truth
How do two opposites come together? Here is a tale that answers that question. This was a great story that kept you looking and hoping for a happy ending.
How do two opposites come together? Here is a tale that answers that question. This was a great story that kept you looking and hoping for a happy ending.
March 31, 2017
Have you ever received a letter that brings your past back full force with not a brake in sight? Have you ever longed for the impossible? Do you have any idea how abandonment dictates your outlook on life? Have you ever had a person that you can confide in and know that no outside forces will intercept the message? Read and get every questioned addressed along with a thought inspiring quest to make sure your own life is progressing as expected. This read will be a great addition to your collection. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & I am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
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