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The Perils of Intimacy
Jimmy and Mark make an adorable couple. Jimmy’s kindness and clean-cut cuteness radiate out of him like light. Mark, although a bit older, complements Jimmy with his humor and his openness to love.
But between them, a dark secret lurks, one with the power to destroy.
See, when Mark believes he’s meeting Jimmy for the first time in the diner where he works, he’s wrong.
Mark has no recollection of their original encounter because the wholesome Jimmy of today couldn’t be more different than he was two years ago. Back then, Jimmy sported multiple piercings, long bleached dreadlocks, and facial hair. He was painfully skinny—and a meth addict. The drug transformed him into a different person—a lying, conniving thief who robbed Mark blind during their one-night stand.
Mark doesn’t associate the memory of a hookup gone horribly wrong with this fresh-faced, smiling twentysomething… but Jimmy knows. As they begin a dance of love and attraction, will Jimmy be brave enough to reveal the truth? And if he does, will Mark be able to forgive him? Can he see Jimmy for the man he is now and not the addict he was? The answers will depend on whether true love holds enough light to shine through the darkness of past mistakes.
But between them, a dark secret lurks, one with the power to destroy.
See, when Mark believes he’s meeting Jimmy for the first time in the diner where he works, he’s wrong.
Mark has no recollection of their original encounter because the wholesome Jimmy of today couldn’t be more different than he was two years ago. Back then, Jimmy sported multiple piercings, long bleached dreadlocks, and facial hair. He was painfully skinny—and a meth addict. The drug transformed him into a different person—a lying, conniving thief who robbed Mark blind during their one-night stand.
Mark doesn’t associate the memory of a hookup gone horribly wrong with this fresh-faced, smiling twentysomething… but Jimmy knows. As they begin a dance of love and attraction, will Jimmy be brave enough to reveal the truth? And if he does, will Mark be able to forgive him? Can he see Jimmy for the man he is now and not the addict he was? The answers will depend on whether true love holds enough light to shine through the darkness of past mistakes.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2017
12 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,048 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 3, 2020
"I'm Jimmy, and I'm an addict."
Two years ago, Jimmy and Mark met for a night of sex. Jimmy was high on crystal meth and hoped to steal whatever he could find in Mark's home to feed his addiction, and Mark was feeding a different addiction, one he doesn't admit to himself until toward the end of this book.
That night changed both of them - it set Jimmy onto his path to beat his relationship with "Tina", and it destroyed Mark's trust in people.
They've both been alone since.
Now two years later, Jimmy works in a small restaurant, and Mark works a job he's good at but doesn't like. Both have a close friend, someone they can go to for advice or just to listen. In Jimmy's case, it's his roommate Kevin. For Mark, it's his co-worker Don.
And Jimmy also has Miriam, his sponsor for N.A. She's but a phone call away, whenever he needs her. There's a point in the book where... actually, no. I'm not going to tell. Read this for yourself.
Seriously, read this book. It's written in the first person present tense, switching between Jimmy's and Mark's POV, over the course of about a week, as the two men meet (again), and embark on a real relationship, with real intimacy. Which requires Jimmy to come clean to Mark about who he is and who he was two years prior. And you hope that he does before Mark figures it out himself. You hope, and you watch, and you sit there, all tense, because you know, you just know, that would be too easy, and OMG, Jimmy, tell him, TELL HIM, and then...
The writing is brilliant, and this may be the best book I've read by this author. It's not meaningless fluff. It's not just a romance - it's so much more. It touches on difficult subjects, and it makes very clear the point that once an addict, always an addict - recovery is an ongoing process, and you're never fully cured. It takes a hard look at the difference between intimacy and sex, and that neither is dependent on the other. Forgiveness is hard - merely saying the words doesn't make it so in your heart, and Mark has to struggle to get to the point where he can look at Jimmy and truly forgive him. And Jimmy has to forgive himself too.
Love will find you when you're ready - but first and foremost, you have to love yourself. And at the beginning of this book, and when they first met, neither Mark nor Jimmy were ready for this truth.
I'd like to quote Miriam here, because she really drives home the point:
There are quite a few poignant moments in this book (and one that shocked me), and the author takes an unflinching and very realistic look at what addictions will do to good people, and how many of them never get the chance to pull themselves out of the morass. But addictions come in various forms, and Mark has to learn that lesson too.
I LOVED this book. It made me think, it made me feel, and there were quite a few times when my heart was in my throat and my eyes filled with tears. It's a thing of beauty, this book, and I would highly recommend it.
** I received a free copy of this book from Signal Boost Promotions as part of the release tour. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Two years ago, Jimmy and Mark met for a night of sex. Jimmy was high on crystal meth and hoped to steal whatever he could find in Mark's home to feed his addiction, and Mark was feeding a different addiction, one he doesn't admit to himself until toward the end of this book.
That night changed both of them - it set Jimmy onto his path to beat his relationship with "Tina", and it destroyed Mark's trust in people.
They've both been alone since.
Now two years later, Jimmy works in a small restaurant, and Mark works a job he's good at but doesn't like. Both have a close friend, someone they can go to for advice or just to listen. In Jimmy's case, it's his roommate Kevin. For Mark, it's his co-worker Don.
And Jimmy also has Miriam, his sponsor for N.A. She's but a phone call away, whenever he needs her. There's a point in the book where... actually, no. I'm not going to tell. Read this for yourself.
Seriously, read this book. It's written in the first person present tense, switching between Jimmy's and Mark's POV, over the course of about a week, as the two men meet (again), and embark on a real relationship, with real intimacy. Which requires Jimmy to come clean to Mark about who he is and who he was two years prior. And you hope that he does before Mark figures it out himself. You hope, and you watch, and you sit there, all tense, because you know, you just know, that would be too easy, and OMG, Jimmy, tell him, TELL HIM, and then...
The writing is brilliant, and this may be the best book I've read by this author. It's not meaningless fluff. It's not just a romance - it's so much more. It touches on difficult subjects, and it makes very clear the point that once an addict, always an addict - recovery is an ongoing process, and you're never fully cured. It takes a hard look at the difference between intimacy and sex, and that neither is dependent on the other. Forgiveness is hard - merely saying the words doesn't make it so in your heart, and Mark has to struggle to get to the point where he can look at Jimmy and truly forgive him. And Jimmy has to forgive himself too.
Love will find you when you're ready - but first and foremost, you have to love yourself. And at the beginning of this book, and when they first met, neither Mark nor Jimmy were ready for this truth.
I'd like to quote Miriam here, because she really drives home the point:
Love yourself, Jimmy. With all your heart. That’s the only way you’ll ever find real happiness. We all make mistakes. [...] mistakes are the soil we grow from. Every mistake, every bad thing we did shouldn’t be a regret, because everything we do is simply one more step on our journey. Without the mistakes, we’d never grow.
There are quite a few poignant moments in this book (and one that shocked me), and the author takes an unflinching and very realistic look at what addictions will do to good people, and how many of them never get the chance to pull themselves out of the morass. But addictions come in various forms, and Mark has to learn that lesson too.
I LOVED this book. It made me think, it made me feel, and there were quite a few times when my heart was in my throat and my eyes filled with tears. It's a thing of beauty, this book, and I would highly recommend it.
** I received a free copy of this book from Signal Boost Promotions as part of the release tour. A positive review was not promised in return. **
dnf
October 27, 2022dnf @27%
May 21, 2017
This is rather difficult for me to review. I enjoyed many things but on the other hand, I also struggled with some aspects. I loved the writing because…this is Reed and I adore slipping into his angsty love-filled playland. I enjoyed the second chance romance because I believe in forgiveness and moving forward. The recovering addict thread was…critical and painful. This feature holds great significance in Jimmy’s story and by default, Mark’s story. And that was hard for me. It’s personal but as much as I try, I can’t stop personal influences from affecting my reading enjoyment.
Meth is…a debilitating drug. The poisonous venom burns from the user to every connection they have. It not only destroys the life of the addict but invades the lives of everyone they know. Which in this case, is when Mark and Jimmy first meet. Jimmy is hanging by a thread. He has tunnel vision and the only thing he cares about is his next high. Taking advantage of Mark’s trust grants him exactly what he desired, goods to hock for cash for drugs. Chasing that elusive endless high. He tricked countless tricks yet for some reason the sweet kind-hearted stranger from his past wasn’t easy to forget. When he runs into him in another lifetime he longs for a chance to start anew. But it’s hard to wipe the slate clean when it’s hidden in a mysterious shroud of memories…and deceit.
What's to like: Both Mark and Jimmy have a solid sense of authenticity that rings clearly within this story. Mark is lonely and convinced himself that love isn’t in the cards for him. He’s tried and failed to find the perfect match. Jimmy is beating his demons and determined to pave bright new roads for his future. He wants to stay clean. He wants to find someone to love and someone to love him. He wants to be…happy. He can attest to the saying, “once you hit rock bottom the only way to go is up”. He leans on his mentor and his roommate when temptations attempt to seduce him. From the main to the supporting cast, all the characters bring a great deal to the table. Fantastic characters are certainly one of Rick’s strongest suits.
What's to love: The emotional surge is staggering. If there’s one thing you should know about this tale, it’s the fierce intensity of unrestrained feelings that will accompany their perils. I ached for them. I cheered for them. I was…terrified and afraid to turn the page along with them. I loved the passion that vibrates from this book. There was one particular surprise that left me speechless. I did not see it coming and was dumbfounded when it hit me from left field. Nice one Rick!
Beware of: An up close and personal perspective of the daily battles of an addict. If you are familiar with Reed’s work, you know he doesn’t pussyfoot around when it comes to harsh truths. It’s real and at times, ugly but I can guarantee you’ll be hooked and want to know how it all plays out.
This book is for: Second chance suckers. And this is a double feature for it’s not only another go at a relationship but a second chance at life. Although I personally don’t have loved ones that battle drug addictions, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation it can bring. If you have an intimate experience with the toxicity of meth, this might cross the comfort line.
*4 stars*
Book UNfunk
Meth is…a debilitating drug. The poisonous venom burns from the user to every connection they have. It not only destroys the life of the addict but invades the lives of everyone they know. Which in this case, is when Mark and Jimmy first meet. Jimmy is hanging by a thread. He has tunnel vision and the only thing he cares about is his next high. Taking advantage of Mark’s trust grants him exactly what he desired, goods to hock for cash for drugs. Chasing that elusive endless high. He tricked countless tricks yet for some reason the sweet kind-hearted stranger from his past wasn’t easy to forget. When he runs into him in another lifetime he longs for a chance to start anew. But it’s hard to wipe the slate clean when it’s hidden in a mysterious shroud of memories…and deceit.
What's to like: Both Mark and Jimmy have a solid sense of authenticity that rings clearly within this story. Mark is lonely and convinced himself that love isn’t in the cards for him. He’s tried and failed to find the perfect match. Jimmy is beating his demons and determined to pave bright new roads for his future. He wants to stay clean. He wants to find someone to love and someone to love him. He wants to be…happy. He can attest to the saying, “once you hit rock bottom the only way to go is up”. He leans on his mentor and his roommate when temptations attempt to seduce him. From the main to the supporting cast, all the characters bring a great deal to the table. Fantastic characters are certainly one of Rick’s strongest suits.
What's to love: The emotional surge is staggering. If there’s one thing you should know about this tale, it’s the fierce intensity of unrestrained feelings that will accompany their perils. I ached for them. I cheered for them. I was…terrified and afraid to turn the page along with them. I loved the passion that vibrates from this book. There was one particular surprise that left me speechless. I did not see it coming and was dumbfounded when it hit me from left field. Nice one Rick!
Beware of: An up close and personal perspective of the daily battles of an addict. If you are familiar with Reed’s work, you know he doesn’t pussyfoot around when it comes to harsh truths. It’s real and at times, ugly but I can guarantee you’ll be hooked and want to know how it all plays out.
This book is for: Second chance suckers. And this is a double feature for it’s not only another go at a relationship but a second chance at life. Although I personally don’t have loved ones that battle drug addictions, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation it can bring. If you have an intimate experience with the toxicity of meth, this might cross the comfort line.
*4 stars*
Book UNfunk
January 23, 2020
Second Edition of book originally published by Dreamspinner Press in 2017.
In reading The Perils of Intimacy I am reminded of the phrase "Dying is easy, comedy is hard." Sex is easy but intimacy, true intimacy, is hard. It's easy to say "I forgive you" but true forgiveness of someone and acceptance of "the flawed, broken, and beautiful things they are" can be difficult.
Mark and Jimmy meet two years ago when each man is at a critical point in their life - Jimmy in the throes of a powerful addiction to meth and Mark lost, lonely and unknowingly suffering an addiction of his own. When Jimmy steals from Mark, he steals more than trinkets: “You took my trust. Not just in you, but in people. You stole my judgment, which I was naïve enough to think was pretty good. Now I doubt myself so much that it’s hard for me to let anyone else in.”
While their one-night stand didn't instantly change Jimmy, it sets in motion his going into a recovery program, where he meets Miriam, his sponsor:
I received an ARC from NineStar Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
In reading The Perils of Intimacy I am reminded of the phrase "Dying is easy, comedy is hard." Sex is easy but intimacy, true intimacy, is hard. It's easy to say "I forgive you" but true forgiveness of someone and acceptance of "the flawed, broken, and beautiful things they are" can be difficult.
Mark and Jimmy meet two years ago when each man is at a critical point in their life - Jimmy in the throes of a powerful addiction to meth and Mark lost, lonely and unknowingly suffering an addiction of his own. When Jimmy steals from Mark, he steals more than trinkets: “You took my trust. Not just in you, but in people. You stole my judgment, which I was naïve enough to think was pretty good. Now I doubt myself so much that it’s hard for me to let anyone else in.”
While their one-night stand didn't instantly change Jimmy, it sets in motion his going into a recovery program, where he meets Miriam, his sponsor:
"Love yourself, Jimmy. With all your heart. That’s the only way you’ll ever find real happiness. We all make mistakes. But I always remember what my sponsor told me—mistakes are the soil we grow from. Every mistake, every bad thing we did shouldn’t be a regret, because everything we do is simply one more step on our journey. Without the mistakes, we’d never grow.”What follows isn't a sweet HEA - and I think if you read this book solely as a romance you'll miss out on something very extraordinary - but rather a difficult process of transformation and acceptance, and real forgiveness. I loved "The Perils of Intimacy" and yeah, I sobbed at points in this story for Jimmy and for Miriam, and for anyone going through a struggle with addiction of any kind. I highly recommend this book.
... no one knows better than I do that the key to unlock our chains is not in someone else’s hands, but in our own. Always.
I received an ARC from NineStar Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
June 17, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I can appreciate this one for what it was - an interesting take on a second chance story. I felt for both characters. Really makes you think. Forgiving and forgetting are two really different things.
But it's not my typical preferred read. And it wasn't really what I was expecting. Not that that's a bad thing necessarily. I sort of picked it up on a whim.
It was mostly inner monologue. And little to no dialogue. No steam to be found. But I guess ultimately it wasn't about that....
I can appreciate this one for what it was - an interesting take on a second chance story. I felt for both characters. Really makes you think. Forgiving and forgetting are two really different things.
But it's not my typical preferred read. And it wasn't really what I was expecting. Not that that's a bad thing necessarily. I sort of picked it up on a whim.
It was mostly inner monologue. And little to no dialogue. No steam to be found. But I guess ultimately it wasn't about that....
August 23, 2022
Rick R. Reed always finds such unique and interesting ways to explore the human experience, and so it is with The Perils of Intimacy. Romance, a thrilling mystery, and two intense emotional journeys flow together in this beautifully written tale.
The characters in the story are dealing with issues such as aging, addiction, and loneliness. Past regrets and missed opportunities keep these two men moving forward, and it’s easy to relate to them as each ponders which step to take next.
The audio version of The Perils of Intimacy is beautifully produced. David Allen Vargo delivers a gorgeous performance. I loved the various sound effects, and the range of voices Mr. Vargo comes up with is impressive. What a fantastic audiobook!
an audiobook copy of Perils of Intimacy was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
The characters in the story are dealing with issues such as aging, addiction, and loneliness. Past regrets and missed opportunities keep these two men moving forward, and it’s easy to relate to them as each ponders which step to take next.
The audio version of The Perils of Intimacy is beautifully produced. David Allen Vargo delivers a gorgeous performance. I loved the various sound effects, and the range of voices Mr. Vargo comes up with is impressive. What a fantastic audiobook!
an audiobook copy of Perils of Intimacy was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
March 19, 2020
They met before, Marc doesn’t realize it, yet. But when he does, Jimmy knows he will walk away. It was at a time Jimmy was in another state of mind. Physically and emotionally.
No wonder Marc doesn’t recognize Jimmy.
Marc, almost forty, alone, lonely, and is kind of a pessimist. When he meets the much younger Jimmy, he’s smitten. Jimmy gives him his number and they have a date. And they connect right away.
Jimmy has a story to tell, a devastating one. One you wish no one had.
“Then why wouldn’t you forgive yourself”
Living with the lie isn’t settling right for Jimmy, he feels so attracted to Marc, if he only knew and remembered.
And dang when the moment arrived my heart hurt so much. Jimmy’s shattered.
Separately they go through heavy stuff, the ones you must face before you can move on.
This story was something special and different. A story with the beauty and pain of reality.
Two men standing in life with, now and then, wobbling legs.
To see Jimmy rise was really something. I loved the display of all the honest feelings, and all at the moments where they should be, it made it all quite reliable,
What I valued was it didn’t feel romanticized, maybe slightly, it did well for this story, it made it even more real.
Two beautiful flawed souls crossing paths. I loved both men. How they worked on themselves, the reflections, knowing the strengths and the weaknesses
Addictions are horrible monsters, no one is only an addict even where the main addiction is the one for them at the moment.
I have respect for every single person trying to get clean, it’s hard, every day.
A well balanced, thoroughly developed story. It grabbed me and I enjoyed it very much.
Uplifting and heart-shattering at times, c'est la vie.
I was gratified with the course of this story, thank goodness it all worked out at the end.
No wonder Marc doesn’t recognize Jimmy.
Marc, almost forty, alone, lonely, and is kind of a pessimist. When he meets the much younger Jimmy, he’s smitten. Jimmy gives him his number and they have a date. And they connect right away.
Jimmy has a story to tell, a devastating one. One you wish no one had.
“Then why wouldn’t you forgive yourself”
Living with the lie isn’t settling right for Jimmy, he feels so attracted to Marc, if he only knew and remembered.
And dang when the moment arrived my heart hurt so much. Jimmy’s shattered.
Separately they go through heavy stuff, the ones you must face before you can move on.
This story was something special and different. A story with the beauty and pain of reality.
Two men standing in life with, now and then, wobbling legs.
To see Jimmy rise was really something. I loved the display of all the honest feelings, and all at the moments where they should be, it made it all quite reliable,
What I valued was it didn’t feel romanticized, maybe slightly, it did well for this story, it made it even more real.
Two beautiful flawed souls crossing paths. I loved both men. How they worked on themselves, the reflections, knowing the strengths and the weaknesses
Addictions are horrible monsters, no one is only an addict even where the main addiction is the one for them at the moment.
I have respect for every single person trying to get clean, it’s hard, every day.
A well balanced, thoroughly developed story. It grabbed me and I enjoyed it very much.
Uplifting and heart-shattering at times, c'est la vie.
I was gratified with the course of this story, thank goodness it all worked out at the end.
Read
September 4, 2017 5 Hearts
I am going to preface this review with a disclaimer that there will be a bit of rambling and the rambling may be of a personal nature. Books that have characters with addiction hit a special place for me and that place is close to home. You’d think with as much addiction in my life that I have dealt with I would steer clear of books with the content but maybe it’s my own sort of addiction that keeps me coming back? I am not sure but the dedication of this book had me tearing up with its sincerity.
This book starts off with a bang but it’s not the sort you associate with fireworks, more the sort of bang that hits hard but you never hear because of the silencer attached to the weapon. The silencer with this book is that of truth or the keeping of secrets.
You see, we begin this journey as Jimmy Kilpatrick is waiting on a handsome man at the diner he works at for breakfast. This guy is older than Jimmy’s 23 years but he wears his age well and after a brief debate on the availability of cinnamon rolls, Jimmy knows the guy has a sense of humor to go with his good looks and charm. What Jimmy also knows is that this guy is named Marc and he and Marc had a one night stand gone wrong two years ago.
Told in the first person present tense, we get Jimmy’s telling of who he was two years ago, a young man strung out on meth doing anything and anyone he can to get his next fix. He’d met Marc on a dating site and though he was there for sex and to take whatever he could get his hands on, there was something about Marc that got passed the meth induced fog of Jimmy’s brain and made him want more. When Jimmy has the chance for the more, he takes it by writing his number on Marc’s receipt in hopes he can get a second chance with the man.
Marc has his own issues though his lie within self-doubt and self-loathing as he approaches the not so old age of 40 and the woes of not being in a loving romantic relationship. He’s had his run of being promiscuous but the hookups always left him wanting, left him without his miracle of finding a man who would love him in return. His reaction to Jimmy at breakfast is instinctual and primal though he has doubts on why someone as young as Jimmy would want to see him. With a pep talk from his friend Don, Marc decides to give Jimmy a call and see where this possibly could lead.
You would think with a romance that could be based on a lie, this book would be a turnoff but it’s quite the opposite. This isn’t a romance where you look for the sex because sex doesn’t equal romance, this is a book about intimacy and the price we pay for being vulnerable because we want it and the price we pay for giving it away. Intimacy is romantic and is much more difficult to achieve than an orgasm and really it’s the intimacy that can make the sex hotter and the relationship better. It’s a push and pull that is frightening to both men as they deal with their internal struggles to find the level of intimacy they feel with one another and the trust to grab onto it.
I adored this book even with all the angst that comes with it. I am a self-proclaimed angst whore and I love the feeling of not knowing what will happen though I want to skip ahead to make sure everyone comes out okay. Jimmy knows he is lying to Marc as they go on a date and share personal details about their past, childhood and where they are now. He knows it’s wrong, he’s done the work the past 2 years through the Narcotics Anonymous program and made amends to those he’s harmed but he hasn’t done that with Marc because he’s never had the chance. He has that chance now. Jimmy keeps in touch with his sponsor Miriam who has a very special place in Jimmy’s heart as well as his roommate Kevin who is also in recovery. Though Jimmy knows this is wrong to keep his secret from Marc, he can’t let the opportunity of a second chance with the man he could possibly be in love with slip through his grasp when Marc is close enough to be wrapped in Jimmy’s arms.
I love that we got both POV’s in this story because it’s needed. We need to know how Jimmy feels and how he laments his wrong and we need to know where Marc was two years ago, why he let Jimmy who wasn’t his normal hook up into his house and how the betrayal made him feel. We need the internal dialogue from both men in this romance so that we feel the romance along with the amazing chemistry between them.
I am going to personally thank the author for his portrayal of addiction as it’s tough to write and keep it honest, but Reed does it here with brutally beauty that borders and encompasses a gorgeous intimacy. I want to thank the author for giving Jimmy the life he did including his addiction and thank him for showing what addiction truly is. I want to thank him for showing that it’s not wrong to love an addict and that while they have an addiction, their actions have nothing to do with the person they love and only to do with them. Addiction is so not black and white and I really got that Marc took what Jimmy did to him personally because it feels that way. As a person with a non-addictive mindset, it's hard to see that an addict doesn't think the way we do with rationale and forethought, they just do what they need to do without consequence. It doesn't make sense, I can say that from experience and it's maddening but the more I learn about addiction the more I realize it really is a mental health issue and it's heartbreaking how many people it holds in its ugly hands.
How can you love someone if you can’t love yourself? That’s the question for both men in this book who meet at dark times but want only the love the other can offer even if they don’t know how to get it and keep it. This book is told through a matter of days and myriad of emotions that held my heart in a vice wondering when the truth would be revealed. The depth of character in this romance is breathtaking and the growth was a pure pleasure to read. I am blown away by how the author weaved a stunning tale of a second chance romance with a level of forgiveness and acceptance of a lovers truth. This book was amazing and I’ll stop my ramble now.
Perils of Intimacy… read it.
I am going to preface this review with a disclaimer that there will be a bit of rambling and the rambling may be of a personal nature. Books that have characters with addiction hit a special place for me and that place is close to home. You’d think with as much addiction in my life that I have dealt with I would steer clear of books with the content but maybe it’s my own sort of addiction that keeps me coming back? I am not sure but the dedication of this book had me tearing up with its sincerity.
When is a meet-cute not a meet-cute? When you’ve met before.
This book starts off with a bang but it’s not the sort you associate with fireworks, more the sort of bang that hits hard but you never hear because of the silencer attached to the weapon. The silencer with this book is that of truth or the keeping of secrets.
You see, we begin this journey as Jimmy Kilpatrick is waiting on a handsome man at the diner he works at for breakfast. This guy is older than Jimmy’s 23 years but he wears his age well and after a brief debate on the availability of cinnamon rolls, Jimmy knows the guy has a sense of humor to go with his good looks and charm. What Jimmy also knows is that this guy is named Marc and he and Marc had a one night stand gone wrong two years ago.
Told in the first person present tense, we get Jimmy’s telling of who he was two years ago, a young man strung out on meth doing anything and anyone he can to get his next fix. He’d met Marc on a dating site and though he was there for sex and to take whatever he could get his hands on, there was something about Marc that got passed the meth induced fog of Jimmy’s brain and made him want more. When Jimmy has the chance for the more, he takes it by writing his number on Marc’s receipt in hopes he can get a second chance with the man.
Marc has his own issues though his lie within self-doubt and self-loathing as he approaches the not so old age of 40 and the woes of not being in a loving romantic relationship. He’s had his run of being promiscuous but the hookups always left him wanting, left him without his miracle of finding a man who would love him in return. His reaction to Jimmy at breakfast is instinctual and primal though he has doubts on why someone as young as Jimmy would want to see him. With a pep talk from his friend Don, Marc decides to give Jimmy a call and see where this possibly could lead.
You know how you see someone who you think looks like a person you know, and you think it could be them? But there’s something instinctive in you that tells you it’s not. The reverse is true too; when you see someone you know, you see the whole package, and you know, with pretty much certainty, that they are who you think they are.
You would think with a romance that could be based on a lie, this book would be a turnoff but it’s quite the opposite. This isn’t a romance where you look for the sex because sex doesn’t equal romance, this is a book about intimacy and the price we pay for being vulnerable because we want it and the price we pay for giving it away. Intimacy is romantic and is much more difficult to achieve than an orgasm and really it’s the intimacy that can make the sex hotter and the relationship better. It’s a push and pull that is frightening to both men as they deal with their internal struggles to find the level of intimacy they feel with one another and the trust to grab onto it.
I adored this book even with all the angst that comes with it. I am a self-proclaimed angst whore and I love the feeling of not knowing what will happen though I want to skip ahead to make sure everyone comes out okay. Jimmy knows he is lying to Marc as they go on a date and share personal details about their past, childhood and where they are now. He knows it’s wrong, he’s done the work the past 2 years through the Narcotics Anonymous program and made amends to those he’s harmed but he hasn’t done that with Marc because he’s never had the chance. He has that chance now. Jimmy keeps in touch with his sponsor Miriam who has a very special place in Jimmy’s heart as well as his roommate Kevin who is also in recovery. Though Jimmy knows this is wrong to keep his secret from Marc, he can’t let the opportunity of a second chance with the man he could possibly be in love with slip through his grasp when Marc is close enough to be wrapped in Jimmy’s arms.
I love that we got both POV’s in this story because it’s needed. We need to know how Jimmy feels and how he laments his wrong and we need to know where Marc was two years ago, why he let Jimmy who wasn’t his normal hook up into his house and how the betrayal made him feel. We need the internal dialogue from both men in this romance so that we feel the romance along with the amazing chemistry between them.
I am going to personally thank the author for his portrayal of addiction as it’s tough to write and keep it honest, but Reed does it here with brutally beauty that borders and encompasses a gorgeous intimacy. I want to thank the author for giving Jimmy the life he did including his addiction and thank him for showing what addiction truly is. I want to thank him for showing that it’s not wrong to love an addict and that while they have an addiction, their actions have nothing to do with the person they love and only to do with them. Addiction is so not black and white and I really got that Marc took what Jimmy did to him personally because it feels that way. As a person with a non-addictive mindset, it's hard to see that an addict doesn't think the way we do with rationale and forethought, they just do what they need to do without consequence. It doesn't make sense, I can say that from experience and it's maddening but the more I learn about addiction the more I realize it really is a mental health issue and it's heartbreaking how many people it holds in its ugly hands.
But today is a new day. Today is a new me. That’s the beauty I’ve found in recovery— that every day is a new beginning. We can slip. We can fall. We can even relapse. But each new twenty-four-hour period is a gift filled with hope and promise. A clean slate, right?
How can you love someone if you can’t love yourself? That’s the question for both men in this book who meet at dark times but want only the love the other can offer even if they don’t know how to get it and keep it. This book is told through a matter of days and myriad of emotions that held my heart in a vice wondering when the truth would be revealed. The depth of character in this romance is breathtaking and the growth was a pure pleasure to read. I am blown away by how the author weaved a stunning tale of a second chance romance with a level of forgiveness and acceptance of a lovers truth. This book was amazing and I’ll stop my ramble now.
Perils of Intimacy… read it.
December 19, 2017
My #1 book of 2017.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Jimmy, twenty-three, is a recovering addict. He's been in recovery for two years and is working hard to be the man he could've been before meth came into his world.
Marc, almost forty, works a boring office job and pretty much lives by routine. That wasn't always the case. It wasn't that long ago when he was hooking up with strangers he met online every chance he got.
Jimmy and Marc have met, though Jimmy isn't quite the same person he was. Two years ago he was a full addict and only cared about his next fix. He met Marc through an online hookup site knowing he'd have sex with the guy and rob him blind after. Now in recovery, he's nothing at all like the man who once called himself JD. He's fighting his addiction every day of his life and will continue to. Seeing Marc again has him wishing for things he knows he probably shouldn't wish for. Now looking like the typical boy next door, Jimmy isn't recognized when he's Marc's server in a diner. Jimmy definitely recognizes him. That doesn't stop him from making a move, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he might be given a second chance.
I was on the fence during the first half of this book. I kinda felt that things were moving too fast. In the second half, I understood why they were. The entire second half had me teary. You know how it is with secrets - they're almost always found out.
I really enjoyed this. Rick R. Reed has been my #1 go to author for a few years now. He definitely didn't disappoint with The Perils of Intimacy. Keep tissues handy if you go to read this. You'll need them.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Jimmy, twenty-three, is a recovering addict. He's been in recovery for two years and is working hard to be the man he could've been before meth came into his world.
Marc, almost forty, works a boring office job and pretty much lives by routine. That wasn't always the case. It wasn't that long ago when he was hooking up with strangers he met online every chance he got.
Jimmy and Marc have met, though Jimmy isn't quite the same person he was. Two years ago he was a full addict and only cared about his next fix. He met Marc through an online hookup site knowing he'd have sex with the guy and rob him blind after. Now in recovery, he's nothing at all like the man who once called himself JD. He's fighting his addiction every day of his life and will continue to. Seeing Marc again has him wishing for things he knows he probably shouldn't wish for. Now looking like the typical boy next door, Jimmy isn't recognized when he's Marc's server in a diner. Jimmy definitely recognizes him. That doesn't stop him from making a move, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he might be given a second chance.
I was on the fence during the first half of this book. I kinda felt that things were moving too fast. In the second half, I understood why they were. The entire second half had me teary. You know how it is with secrets - they're almost always found out.
I really enjoyed this. Rick R. Reed has been my #1 go to author for a few years now. He definitely didn't disappoint with The Perils of Intimacy. Keep tissues handy if you go to read this. You'll need them.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 2, 2019
The emotions in this story were so real and raw and powerful. Two broken souls both fighting to be better, hurting others in the process. How much forgiveness can be expected when you've caused so much hurt? This story is about second chances and mending what's broken to be deserving of them.
Jimmy is a recovering addict. It's been two years and he's got it together. But when Marc walks into his cafe and asks for a cinnamon roll, Jimmy has to figure out if he's worthy a second chance.
Marc has a sense of deja vu when it comes to Jimmy but can't place why. Could he be one of his many hookups? The feeling of rightness he gets from Jimmy overpowers his judgement and after 48 hours, he's left back in a place where he felt he'd been at his worst.
I loved Miriam, Jimmy's sponsor. I loved Kevin, Jimmy's roommate. In fact, each and every side character had something remarkable to add to their story, something that shifted the axis of their worlds. This was very well written and thought through with extraordinary depth.
Honestly, this book just gutted me, but the emotional whirlwind was well worth the ending. This is THE book about redemption and forgiveness. It was full of hope and heartbreak and pain, but brought so much light and happiness. Oh, and personally, a nod to the Golden Girls will make me smile every time. As well as this beautiful cover.
Recommended to everyone. Amazing work of art.
Jimmy is a recovering addict. It's been two years and he's got it together. But when Marc walks into his cafe and asks for a cinnamon roll, Jimmy has to figure out if he's worthy a second chance.
Marc has a sense of deja vu when it comes to Jimmy but can't place why. Could he be one of his many hookups? The feeling of rightness he gets from Jimmy overpowers his judgement and after 48 hours, he's left back in a place where he felt he'd been at his worst.
I loved Miriam, Jimmy's sponsor. I loved Kevin, Jimmy's roommate. In fact, each and every side character had something remarkable to add to their story, something that shifted the axis of their worlds. This was very well written and thought through with extraordinary depth.
Honestly, this book just gutted me, but the emotional whirlwind was well worth the ending. This is THE book about redemption and forgiveness. It was full of hope and heartbreak and pain, but brought so much light and happiness. Oh, and personally, a nod to the Golden Girls will make me smile every time. As well as this beautiful cover.
Recommended to everyone. Amazing work of art.
April 8, 2020
Reed’s second novel that I have read in the past two weeks has the same construct as the previous one I read. As this strictly works as a two character device, this works very well and each character gives their points of view which is well balanced.
The characters are interesting and come from two different spectrums of their world. We have the more conservative person who led a promiscuous life but has settled into a more self isolated due to previous experiences. The other character is someone heavily involved in the chem sex, promiscuous thief who has turned his life around as he too self isolates from people to ensure he stays on the road of sobriety. This is the story of Mark, the former and Jimmy the later.
The characters are very well developed and as we are seeing the story fold out from their points of view, we are privy to their insecurities and inner thoughts. The supporting characters are well developed and at times, come off more interesting than the main characters. Jimmy and Mark are two damaged souls who are unsure of their place in the world. As these are two very flawed characters, their point of views can sometimes be a bit jarring as they come across as self obsessed but this is not the case but more of the storytelling format.
The plot is interesting and it flows at a good pace. The juxtaposition of points of view keeps the story moving. The story hinges on the likability of the characters and the empathy you have for these characters. There are some plot points that seem sort of force but doesn’t take away from the overall flow and enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this is quite a tightly woven cautionary tale that is told with emotion, likability and empathy based on the characters. Given an interesting look at a subculture found within a community gives it an interesting perspective. Supporting characters help hold up the main characters for a novel that takes a look of two people going through their own changes within their lives whilst holding on to someone for support. Enjoyable. 3.5 stars
The characters are interesting and come from two different spectrums of their world. We have the more conservative person who led a promiscuous life but has settled into a more self isolated due to previous experiences. The other character is someone heavily involved in the chem sex, promiscuous thief who has turned his life around as he too self isolates from people to ensure he stays on the road of sobriety. This is the story of Mark, the former and Jimmy the later.
The characters are very well developed and as we are seeing the story fold out from their points of view, we are privy to their insecurities and inner thoughts. The supporting characters are well developed and at times, come off more interesting than the main characters. Jimmy and Mark are two damaged souls who are unsure of their place in the world. As these are two very flawed characters, their point of views can sometimes be a bit jarring as they come across as self obsessed but this is not the case but more of the storytelling format.
The plot is interesting and it flows at a good pace. The juxtaposition of points of view keeps the story moving. The story hinges on the likability of the characters and the empathy you have for these characters. There are some plot points that seem sort of force but doesn’t take away from the overall flow and enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this is quite a tightly woven cautionary tale that is told with emotion, likability and empathy based on the characters. Given an interesting look at a subculture found within a community gives it an interesting perspective. Supporting characters help hold up the main characters for a novel that takes a look of two people going through their own changes within their lives whilst holding on to someone for support. Enjoyable. 3.5 stars
May 30, 2019
Full review to follow.
May 12, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
It is no secret that I am a Rick R. Reed fan and have enjoyed many of his past works. However, nothing could have prepared me for the way in which this novel would crawl under my skin and capture my heart and imagination so utterly. Reed has struck literary gold with these two characters and the story he weaves about their lives then and now is incredibly forceful and emotionally rich. I doubt I have ever loved an anti-hero such as Jimmy quite so much. Broken and definitely soiled, Jimmy has done some truly awful things in his past in his pursuit of his next high. Besides nearly killing himself on his drug of choice, he has a string of petty crimes and meaningless, risky sexual encounters that left him filled with self-loathing and despair. Two sponsors will step into his life and help him cling to a clean life while also forcing him to begin to understand that he must love himself first before he will ever be able to love another person.
Jimmy is a writer’s triumph when it comes to creating a character that moves the reader so fully. To say the young man tugs at your heartstrings and pulls you into his story completely is an understatement. The way in which the author makes Jimmy so achingly vulnerable prompts every protective emotion a reader has and you are instantly rooting for him to finally succeed in finding someone to love and be loved by in return. It’s not so much that you overlook what a monster the drugs had turned Jimmy into, but rather you see how desperately hard he is trying to be a different man—one that has earned forgiveness despite what he has done.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
It is no secret that I am a Rick R. Reed fan and have enjoyed many of his past works. However, nothing could have prepared me for the way in which this novel would crawl under my skin and capture my heart and imagination so utterly. Reed has struck literary gold with these two characters and the story he weaves about their lives then and now is incredibly forceful and emotionally rich. I doubt I have ever loved an anti-hero such as Jimmy quite so much. Broken and definitely soiled, Jimmy has done some truly awful things in his past in his pursuit of his next high. Besides nearly killing himself on his drug of choice, he has a string of petty crimes and meaningless, risky sexual encounters that left him filled with self-loathing and despair. Two sponsors will step into his life and help him cling to a clean life while also forcing him to begin to understand that he must love himself first before he will ever be able to love another person.
Jimmy is a writer’s triumph when it comes to creating a character that moves the reader so fully. To say the young man tugs at your heartstrings and pulls you into his story completely is an understatement. The way in which the author makes Jimmy so achingly vulnerable prompts every protective emotion a reader has and you are instantly rooting for him to finally succeed in finding someone to love and be loved by in return. It’s not so much that you overlook what a monster the drugs had turned Jimmy into, but rather you see how desperately hard he is trying to be a different man—one that has earned forgiveness despite what he has done.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
June 28, 2017
3.5 stars
Rick R. Reed's latest story is difficult to rate. The biggest irony of all lays within the title. We get an in-depth view of each characters' insecurities, shame and fears but that's as intimate as the story gets. We don't really know these guys outside of their inner monolog. Both of these guys live a pretty lonely existence. Mark's only friend is an older coworker. Mark reveals he used to be very promiscuous, hooking up with random guys and sometimes taking unnecessary risks. That's the extent of his social interaction with the outside world. Jimmy comes across as a bit more sociable. His job as a waiter forces him to interact with people but Jimmy doesn't have a big social circle either. His social circle consists of his coworker and his roommate. That's it. I shudder to think how empty and lonely Jimmy and Mark's lives would have remained had they not met each other. \
Despite their very insular existence, I like both these two. I admire Jimmy for taking the steps to change the direction of his life. He was determined to beat his addiction and to help others with their struggle as well. I felt Mark's pain once he realized who Jimmy was and what Jimmy did to him. I was impressed with how he chose to handle the situation. Reed had me crying the last 20% of this story. Mark experienced something I didn't expect and the way these two men were there for each other in the aftermath of that experience made reading about their journey to an HEA a satisfying one.
Review to come.
May 21, 2017
4.5 phenomenal stars! What an amazing read! Absolutely recommend it, great price on Google Play Books too!
July 7, 2017
In his latest release, The Perils Of Intimacy, Rick R. Reed draws us into the wrenching story of a young man who dares to dream that his life can truly be different the second time around. Two years clean, Jimmy has clawed his way back from a drug-addicted life that had led him to do despicable things and nearly killed him. Now working in a diner, he defies the odds each day by staying clean and slowly rebuilding his life piece by piece. When he catches sight of the beautiful fox at one of his tables, he feels immediately drawn to the man and takes a risk by slipping him his number. When he realizes why the man seems so familiar Jimmy is devastated but some small part of himself refuses to abandon the hope that somehow fate will be kind and for once let him have the man who has haunted his past for so long.
Marc has lived a life driven by the need to be accepted and wanted. Now approaching middle age, he is finding it hard to accept that he can no longer be satisfied by a quick one night stand that has always hidden the deeper need for the relationship he has craved. His past is not something Marc likes to look at too closely for it is riddled with risky behavior and dangerous hook-ups that has left him empty and alone. One particular past encounter with a nameless stranger left a violent mark on his memory and has become a painful reminder of how close to the edge he danced in his desperation to be noticed. When Mar meets the boy in the diner, there is something so familiar about him, something that tugs at him in a way that lures him into taking a chance once more to discover if a stranger can become something more. Little does either man know that they are intimately connected and that their last time together was a turning point in both their lives.
It is no secret that I am a Rick R. Reed fan and have enjoyed many of his past works. However, nothing could have prepared me for the way in which this novel would crawl under my skin and capture my heart and imagination so utterly. Mr. Reed has struck literary gold with these two characters and the story he weaves about their lives then and now is incredibly forceful and emotionally rich. I doubt I have ever loved an anti-hero such as Jimmy quite so much. Broken and definitely soiled, Jimmy has done some truly awful things in his past in his pursuit of his next high. Besides nearly killing himself on his drug of choice, he has a string of petty crimes and meaningless, risky sexual encounters that left him filled with self-loathing and despair. Two sponsors will step into his life and help him cling to a clean life while also forcing him to begin to understand that he must love himself first before he will ever be able to love another person.
Jimmy is a writer’s triumph when it comes to creating a character that moves the reader so fully. To say the young man tugs at your heartstrings and pulls you into his story completely is an understatement. The way in which the author makes Jimmy so achingly vulnerable prompts every protective emotion a reader has and you are instantly rooting for him to finally succeed in finding someone to love and be loved by in return. It’s not so much that you overlook what a monster the drugs had turned Jimmy into but rather you see how desperately hard he is trying to be a different man—one that has earned forgiveness despite what he has done.
Then there is Marc who has dealt with his own demons—one nearly as addictive as Jimmy’s dance with drugs. For Marc, this novel is about discovering himself and finally seeing the real man in the mirror—one that is not nearly as innocent a victim as he had believed himself to be all those years. His story is vastly different from Jimmy’s and yet I fear will be achingly familiar to many. His past is littered with meaningless sexual encounters that were not only laced with a bit of dangerous behavior but also repeatedly acted out night after night in pursuit of an elusive relationship that masked an underlying need to be desired and wanted. The coupling of these two men was genius and created a story that left lasting impressions and fierce desires to see them both happy, safe and in love.
Marc has lived a life driven by the need to be accepted and wanted. Now approaching middle age, he is finding it hard to accept that he can no longer be satisfied by a quick one night stand that has always hidden the deeper need for the relationship he has craved. His past is not something Marc likes to look at too closely for it is riddled with risky behavior and dangerous hook-ups that has left him empty and alone. One particular past encounter with a nameless stranger left a violent mark on his memory and has become a painful reminder of how close to the edge he danced in his desperation to be noticed. When Mar meets the boy in the diner, there is something so familiar about him, something that tugs at him in a way that lures him into taking a chance once more to discover if a stranger can become something more. Little does either man know that they are intimately connected and that their last time together was a turning point in both their lives.
It is no secret that I am a Rick R. Reed fan and have enjoyed many of his past works. However, nothing could have prepared me for the way in which this novel would crawl under my skin and capture my heart and imagination so utterly. Mr. Reed has struck literary gold with these two characters and the story he weaves about their lives then and now is incredibly forceful and emotionally rich. I doubt I have ever loved an anti-hero such as Jimmy quite so much. Broken and definitely soiled, Jimmy has done some truly awful things in his past in his pursuit of his next high. Besides nearly killing himself on his drug of choice, he has a string of petty crimes and meaningless, risky sexual encounters that left him filled with self-loathing and despair. Two sponsors will step into his life and help him cling to a clean life while also forcing him to begin to understand that he must love himself first before he will ever be able to love another person.
Jimmy is a writer’s triumph when it comes to creating a character that moves the reader so fully. To say the young man tugs at your heartstrings and pulls you into his story completely is an understatement. The way in which the author makes Jimmy so achingly vulnerable prompts every protective emotion a reader has and you are instantly rooting for him to finally succeed in finding someone to love and be loved by in return. It’s not so much that you overlook what a monster the drugs had turned Jimmy into but rather you see how desperately hard he is trying to be a different man—one that has earned forgiveness despite what he has done.
Then there is Marc who has dealt with his own demons—one nearly as addictive as Jimmy’s dance with drugs. For Marc, this novel is about discovering himself and finally seeing the real man in the mirror—one that is not nearly as innocent a victim as he had believed himself to be all those years. His story is vastly different from Jimmy’s and yet I fear will be achingly familiar to many. His past is littered with meaningless sexual encounters that were not only laced with a bit of dangerous behavior but also repeatedly acted out night after night in pursuit of an elusive relationship that masked an underlying need to be desired and wanted. The coupling of these two men was genius and created a story that left lasting impressions and fierce desires to see them both happy, safe and in love.
April 14, 2017
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4 Angsty Stars
The Perils of Intimacy is a difficult book to review, because to give certain plot points away will spoil the journey. The author doesn't outright explain Jimmy's first encounter with Marc until nearly halfway into the book, so out of respect for the author and my fellow readers, I'm going to try my best to avoid it.
Jimmy is a recovering addict, trying to get his life in order- he works at a local diner and lives with another man who's in recovery, both for the support and the companionship. Marc shows up to eat breakfast, and Jimmy recognizes him from two years prior. The heat and intensity is instantaneous between the two- a nice bit of banter and humor. Jimmy is thankful, yet struggling, over the fact that Marc doesn't recognize Jimmy.
The journey is more about Jimmy's struggle with addiction. I give a solid 5 stars on the portrayal, and mad props to the author for not dumbing down, or lessening the dark and gritty of the reality of addiction. Through the arc of the book, there are ups and downs with Jimmy's journey, yet there is always an underlying sense of hope.
The romance, which is why I can't hand out a 5-star review, it felt like a passenger to Jimmy's addiction- a byproduct. I'm pleased it didn't overshadow such an important message, though. But I do have to rate how the romance was executed.
Jimmy obviously has issues with his recent past, and the few pages where he shared his childhood with Marc was the only true intimacy in the novel. I felt more intimacy between Jimmy and Miriam, Jimmy and the new kid, Jimmy and his roommate, than I did between Jimmy and Marc. It was as if, after their two destined meetings, the connection was instantaneous and it was love-at-first-sight, and no more work was done to solidify them as a couple. Yes, there was angst when the truth finally came out, which I loved, but the resolution was just 'Okay, we're past that- we're together now.' I apologize for going on a tangent. I just felt the romance suffered due to the focus on Jimmy's addiction, and the wonderful character building and connection Jimmy had with everyone BUT Marc.
I enjoyed both Marc & Jimmy, but found their inner monologue difficult to wade through- it became repetitious and bogged the story down a bit. When in inner-monologue-mode their voices seemed to meld into more of the author's voice. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, as I do enjoy RRR's writing style and voice. But other than whatever the character was angsting over, it sounded too similar to stay in character with the narrator. There was an abundance of inner monologue by both narrators.
Overall, I enjoyed The Perils of Intimacy. As I said, I found the author's take on addiction done with compassion, research, highly realistic, and pulled no punches. Being that the title is focusing on Intimacy, I felt the romance, the connection and intimacy between the two narrators should have been stronger.
I do believe MM Romance fans will adore Jimmy and Marc. For obvious reasons, those who find addiction a trigger while reading will want to avoid this book. I look forward to whatever Rick R. Reed publishes next.
4 Angsty Stars
The Perils of Intimacy is a difficult book to review, because to give certain plot points away will spoil the journey. The author doesn't outright explain Jimmy's first encounter with Marc until nearly halfway into the book, so out of respect for the author and my fellow readers, I'm going to try my best to avoid it.
Jimmy is a recovering addict, trying to get his life in order- he works at a local diner and lives with another man who's in recovery, both for the support and the companionship. Marc shows up to eat breakfast, and Jimmy recognizes him from two years prior. The heat and intensity is instantaneous between the two- a nice bit of banter and humor. Jimmy is thankful, yet struggling, over the fact that Marc doesn't recognize Jimmy.
The journey is more about Jimmy's struggle with addiction. I give a solid 5 stars on the portrayal, and mad props to the author for not dumbing down, or lessening the dark and gritty of the reality of addiction. Through the arc of the book, there are ups and downs with Jimmy's journey, yet there is always an underlying sense of hope.
The romance, which is why I can't hand out a 5-star review, it felt like a passenger to Jimmy's addiction- a byproduct. I'm pleased it didn't overshadow such an important message, though. But I do have to rate how the romance was executed.
Jimmy obviously has issues with his recent past, and the few pages where he shared his childhood with Marc was the only true intimacy in the novel. I felt more intimacy between Jimmy and Miriam, Jimmy and the new kid, Jimmy and his roommate, than I did between Jimmy and Marc. It was as if, after their two destined meetings, the connection was instantaneous and it was love-at-first-sight, and no more work was done to solidify them as a couple. Yes, there was angst when the truth finally came out, which I loved, but the resolution was just 'Okay, we're past that- we're together now.' I apologize for going on a tangent. I just felt the romance suffered due to the focus on Jimmy's addiction, and the wonderful character building and connection Jimmy had with everyone BUT Marc.
I enjoyed both Marc & Jimmy, but found their inner monologue difficult to wade through- it became repetitious and bogged the story down a bit. When in inner-monologue-mode their voices seemed to meld into more of the author's voice. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, as I do enjoy RRR's writing style and voice. But other than whatever the character was angsting over, it sounded too similar to stay in character with the narrator. There was an abundance of inner monologue by both narrators.
Overall, I enjoyed The Perils of Intimacy. As I said, I found the author's take on addiction done with compassion, research, highly realistic, and pulled no punches. Being that the title is focusing on Intimacy, I felt the romance, the connection and intimacy between the two narrators should have been stronger.
I do believe MM Romance fans will adore Jimmy and Marc. For obvious reasons, those who find addiction a trigger while reading will want to avoid this book. I look forward to whatever Rick R. Reed publishes next.
May 2, 2017
In the current, this story takes place over a short period of time—just 7 days—however, there’s that first encounter from two years ago that left an indelible impression on both characters. Through their thoughts, we see that not all their memories of that night are in sync, but one thing remains true: they never forgot each other.
Jimmy is two years into his recovery and looks completely different. He’s working as a waiter when Mark comes in for breakfast. They flirt and it doesn’t take long to realize the cute older man is actually someone he wronged. He knows the right thing to do, but he’s drawn and can’t stop himself from giving Mark his number. Mark, a painfully shy introvert who lost any of his trust and self-esteem after their first encounter, doesn’t recognize Jimmy at all and is flattered by the attention. It takes him most of the day to get up the nerve to call, starting them on the road to uncovering more than just their shared past.
Told in first person alternate POVs, we see both men make discoveries about themselves and each other. Some often-enlightening and hard-to-face truths that leave them both floundering. With Jimmy vigilant about his recovery and the triggers that could push him to back slide, he actually has better coping methods than Mark who is only just realizing his own culpability in what happened that night and what always happens to him. His bad choices aren’t an accident and he’s not just an innocent bystander in his own unfulfilled life.
The correlation between Jimmy’s addiction and Mark’s never ending quest for affection in all the wrong places was a little bit of a stretch, for me, but it worked here. My only complaint was that Mark didn’t find real forgiveness that he could articulate until after he was robbed. Finding that in himself would have been a great growth arc for his character and without it, some of the things he said after made me wonder if he would ever let it go (i.e. “don’t steal the teakettle”).
There is a small, but powerful support cast here with Jimmy’s friends Miriam and Kevin, and Mark’s friend Don. I was completely blindsided by the Miriam twist, but it was her epilogue that gave me confidence in the HFN w/HEA potential of Jimmy and Mark’s relationship.
4.5 Stars from me
I was given a copy of The Perils of Intimacy from the publisher in return for an honest review
Jimmy is two years into his recovery and looks completely different. He’s working as a waiter when Mark comes in for breakfast. They flirt and it doesn’t take long to realize the cute older man is actually someone he wronged. He knows the right thing to do, but he’s drawn and can’t stop himself from giving Mark his number. Mark, a painfully shy introvert who lost any of his trust and self-esteem after their first encounter, doesn’t recognize Jimmy at all and is flattered by the attention. It takes him most of the day to get up the nerve to call, starting them on the road to uncovering more than just their shared past.
Told in first person alternate POVs, we see both men make discoveries about themselves and each other. Some often-enlightening and hard-to-face truths that leave them both floundering. With Jimmy vigilant about his recovery and the triggers that could push him to back slide, he actually has better coping methods than Mark who is only just realizing his own culpability in what happened that night and what always happens to him. His bad choices aren’t an accident and he’s not just an innocent bystander in his own unfulfilled life.
The correlation between Jimmy’s addiction and Mark’s never ending quest for affection in all the wrong places was a little bit of a stretch, for me, but it worked here. My only complaint was that Mark didn’t find real forgiveness that he could articulate until after he was robbed. Finding that in himself would have been a great growth arc for his character and without it, some of the things he said after made me wonder if he would ever let it go (i.e. “don’t steal the teakettle”).
There is a small, but powerful support cast here with Jimmy’s friends Miriam and Kevin, and Mark’s friend Don. I was completely blindsided by the Miriam twist, but it was her epilogue that gave me confidence in the HFN w/HEA potential of Jimmy and Mark’s relationship.
4.5 Stars from me
I was given a copy of The Perils of Intimacy from the publisher in return for an honest review
April 23, 2017
4.5 Stars
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I have to admit that I will pick up any book that Rick R. Reed writes. I am a huge fan of his. Some of his stories are more romance focused than others and this is one where there is most definitely something more important than the budding relationship between the two men.
Jimmy is dealing with a Crystal Meth addiction. He's been clean for two years, but that doesn't mean that temptation is there always trying to pull him back into its grips. We watch as Jimmy deals with a bunch of ups and downs and learn about a woman who has helped him through a lot as well as his roommate. There is a few surprises there so I don't want to say much, but I give applause for Mr. Reed capturing the true struggles of an addict and showing just how much it can take over a person's life even when they have gotten clean.
Jimmy and Marc have met in the past, however, it seems that Marc doesn't realize it. Jimmy doesn't want Marc to remember their first time together. He feels a special connection to Marc that he doesn't want tarnished by their past. Too bad Marc does finally put it together and we finally get to learn what was so bad about their first connection.
While I really enjoyed the story, I certainly felt like the relationship was a side story instead of the headliner so I marked it down a bit for that. I personally feel like it is a great story that shows everything an addiction can do and how past choices never really go away and neither does the desire to use, not entirely.
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I have to admit that I will pick up any book that Rick R. Reed writes. I am a huge fan of his. Some of his stories are more romance focused than others and this is one where there is most definitely something more important than the budding relationship between the two men.
Jimmy is dealing with a Crystal Meth addiction. He's been clean for two years, but that doesn't mean that temptation is there always trying to pull him back into its grips. We watch as Jimmy deals with a bunch of ups and downs and learn about a woman who has helped him through a lot as well as his roommate. There is a few surprises there so I don't want to say much, but I give applause for Mr. Reed capturing the true struggles of an addict and showing just how much it can take over a person's life even when they have gotten clean.
Jimmy and Marc have met in the past, however, it seems that Marc doesn't realize it. Jimmy doesn't want Marc to remember their first time together. He feels a special connection to Marc that he doesn't want tarnished by their past. Too bad Marc does finally put it together and we finally get to learn what was so bad about their first connection.
While I really enjoyed the story, I certainly felt like the relationship was a side story instead of the headliner so I marked it down a bit for that. I personally feel like it is a great story that shows everything an addiction can do and how past choices never really go away and neither does the desire to use, not entirely.
July 9, 2017
4.5!
Definitely a different story. New. Addicting kinda, and oh look, the irony! (That is an irony, right?) anyway.
I haven't read a book like this ever. Not that I remember anyway. And I loved it. I stayed up until 2:30 AM reading! I haven't done that in a long while! This book was totally worth it.
Thank you, Rick R. Reed for this wonderful story.
Definitely a different story. New. Addicting kinda, and oh look, the irony! (That is an irony, right?) anyway.
I haven't read a book like this ever. Not that I remember anyway. And I loved it. I stayed up until 2:30 AM reading! I haven't done that in a long while! This book was totally worth it.
Thank you, Rick R. Reed for this wonderful story.
May 14, 2017
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
A powerfully moving story, this is told in first person POV—something I don’t usually like, but I found it to be perfect for conveying the character’s thoughts and emotions in this story.
When Jimmy spots Mark in the restaurant where he waits tables, he’s immediately attracted to the older man—a silver fox with bright eyes staring right back at him. Flirting comes easy to the twenty-three-year-old Jimmy, even though he doesn’t expect the cute guy to flirt back. But there’s something about the man that’s familiar and Jimmy can’t deny his attraction.
Marc is equally attracted to Jimmy. Though older, he’s a single gay man who’s rather shy and to be shown such interest by a cute young guy is flattering. Encouraged by his coworker, Marc decides to ask Jimmy out and the two find they could easily spend an enjoyable evening without sex. But Jimmy has a secret and when he realizes that Marc was one of the tricks he robbed a few years ago while heavily using and dealing meth, he tries to decide whether or not to go forward or to back off and not disrupt the status quo.
Sometimes decisions are out of our hands, and fate steps in to bring them closer. And then that same nasty fate steps in to drive them apart. A highly emotional story, the author does an excellent job getting inside the psyche of an addict, exploring the very good person who lives inside the very out-of-control, drug-induced behavior person who manifests a totally different personality.
This story really hit me in the gut. I know addiction. I’ve lived with it. I’ve worked with recovering addicts and alcoholics, and I’m intimately familiar with not only the 12-step recovery programs, but also with the guilt and remorse that comes when one is finally free of the substance and is able to look at the behaviors they’ve been taking as “the norm.” Showing the MC as being involved in a 12-step program is a very positive action, and one not all authors include when they portray those in recovery. For many, it’s the only chance they have to lose that sense of loneliness that leads to self-pity and despair. So I’m stopping a moment to send kudos and heartfelt thanks to you, Rick Reed.
This is such a realistic portrayal of addiction that being inside Jimmy’s head when he was at the bathhouse was very emotional for me. That segment of the story truly portrayed the “stinkin’ thinkin’” so many in early recovery fall into. Justified behaviors war with self-caretaking and it’s a difficult choice for many. I do want to add this warning to readers, however: Those in recovery from drug addiction should be sure to have strong recovery under their belt and their support system standing by as the author takes us to the depths of despair with a very realistic portrayal of drug paraphanelia, the effects of the drug on the system as the high commences, and the struggle to use, even after establishing time in recovery. On the one hand, the descriptions were powerful, spot-on, and outstanding, and on the other, it was very scary and could trigger some readers newly in recovery or struggling with addiction. Please don’t get me wrong—I appreciate every word the author wrote, and I’m impressed by how accurately he portrays the struggle. I just needed to offer a warning to those who might not be able to read that section.
I also appreciated Marc’s own self-exploration and his realization that the excessive sex he sought in the past may have been beyond the norm. The time the men took to explore their issues, and the thoughtful way each was addressed honestly and thoroughly was exemplary. And, of course, my heart greatly appreciated their journey to forgiveness and their strong possibility of a HEA. And the bit of spiritual guidance through paranormal activity, which I won’t reveal in detail as it’s a spoiler, was the perfect touch.
I highly recommend this one to those who love a gritty, emotional MM romance. And if you like the works of Stephen King, you will likely appreciate that extra little touch this author, who I happen to know admires Mr. King, offers at the end of this story. Just sayin’.
A powerfully moving story, this is told in first person POV—something I don’t usually like, but I found it to be perfect for conveying the character’s thoughts and emotions in this story.
When Jimmy spots Mark in the restaurant where he waits tables, he’s immediately attracted to the older man—a silver fox with bright eyes staring right back at him. Flirting comes easy to the twenty-three-year-old Jimmy, even though he doesn’t expect the cute guy to flirt back. But there’s something about the man that’s familiar and Jimmy can’t deny his attraction.
Marc is equally attracted to Jimmy. Though older, he’s a single gay man who’s rather shy and to be shown such interest by a cute young guy is flattering. Encouraged by his coworker, Marc decides to ask Jimmy out and the two find they could easily spend an enjoyable evening without sex. But Jimmy has a secret and when he realizes that Marc was one of the tricks he robbed a few years ago while heavily using and dealing meth, he tries to decide whether or not to go forward or to back off and not disrupt the status quo.
Sometimes decisions are out of our hands, and fate steps in to bring them closer. And then that same nasty fate steps in to drive them apart. A highly emotional story, the author does an excellent job getting inside the psyche of an addict, exploring the very good person who lives inside the very out-of-control, drug-induced behavior person who manifests a totally different personality.
This story really hit me in the gut. I know addiction. I’ve lived with it. I’ve worked with recovering addicts and alcoholics, and I’m intimately familiar with not only the 12-step recovery programs, but also with the guilt and remorse that comes when one is finally free of the substance and is able to look at the behaviors they’ve been taking as “the norm.” Showing the MC as being involved in a 12-step program is a very positive action, and one not all authors include when they portray those in recovery. For many, it’s the only chance they have to lose that sense of loneliness that leads to self-pity and despair. So I’m stopping a moment to send kudos and heartfelt thanks to you, Rick Reed.
This is such a realistic portrayal of addiction that being inside Jimmy’s head when he was at the bathhouse was very emotional for me. That segment of the story truly portrayed the “stinkin’ thinkin’” so many in early recovery fall into. Justified behaviors war with self-caretaking and it’s a difficult choice for many. I do want to add this warning to readers, however: Those in recovery from drug addiction should be sure to have strong recovery under their belt and their support system standing by as the author takes us to the depths of despair with a very realistic portrayal of drug paraphanelia, the effects of the drug on the system as the high commences, and the struggle to use, even after establishing time in recovery. On the one hand, the descriptions were powerful, spot-on, and outstanding, and on the other, it was very scary and could trigger some readers newly in recovery or struggling with addiction. Please don’t get me wrong—I appreciate every word the author wrote, and I’m impressed by how accurately he portrays the struggle. I just needed to offer a warning to those who might not be able to read that section.
I also appreciated Marc’s own self-exploration and his realization that the excessive sex he sought in the past may have been beyond the norm. The time the men took to explore their issues, and the thoughtful way each was addressed honestly and thoroughly was exemplary. And, of course, my heart greatly appreciated their journey to forgiveness and their strong possibility of a HEA. And the bit of spiritual guidance through paranormal activity, which I won’t reveal in detail as it’s a spoiler, was the perfect touch.
I highly recommend this one to those who love a gritty, emotional MM romance. And if you like the works of Stephen King, you will likely appreciate that extra little touch this author, who I happen to know admires Mr. King, offers at the end of this story. Just sayin’.
August 28, 2022
This review is for the audiobook edition, (which GR hasn't added yet).
I'm giving this 4 stars - 3 stars for liking it, 1 more star for the quality of the writing that I have to acknowledge goes beyond my own personal liking.
This book is in alternating first person present tense, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'm not remotely particular about tenses - some of my favorite books are present, some past, some first person, some third, some alternating, some not. It's all about the characters and how they're written. And these characters were written well. Sometimes characters are too similar in their inner monologues - and a LOT of this book is inner monologue - but these two had very different personalities, very different concerns, but enough in common to make their being a couple make perfect sense. I liked each character too, though I didn't always agree with their decisions, even if I understood where they were coming from, based on their own backgrounds. The things they did and said weren't always smart or right, but true to the people that they were and who they were working to be. In addition, if the author ever considered to make a series, there are side characters with real potential, who I also felt invested in, even if they were admittedly only peripherally involved. I think I would read that series too, if it were ever something that came about.
The story was a bit slow for me for just under the first 50% of the book - there was a LOT of inner monologuing, but it definitely provided a lot of character development, even if the story itself took place over a pretty short period of time. But at around that 50% mark, the story's pace increased, became more tense, more suspenseful, and I binged whenever I could from that point onward. I think if the pace had been a bit faster, or if the story had taken place over a longer period of time for that amount of relationship and personality growth, I would give this a solid 4 stars for entertainment value alone, my own enjoyment of the story, beyond appreciating the quality of the writing.
This narrator was a new one for me - and he used a lot of sound effects, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I understood where he was coming from. It didn't feel necessary to me, per se, but I would listen to another book narrated by him.
I'm giving this 4 stars - 3 stars for liking it, 1 more star for the quality of the writing that I have to acknowledge goes beyond my own personal liking.
This book is in alternating first person present tense, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'm not remotely particular about tenses - some of my favorite books are present, some past, some first person, some third, some alternating, some not. It's all about the characters and how they're written. And these characters were written well. Sometimes characters are too similar in their inner monologues - and a LOT of this book is inner monologue - but these two had very different personalities, very different concerns, but enough in common to make their being a couple make perfect sense. I liked each character too, though I didn't always agree with their decisions, even if I understood where they were coming from, based on their own backgrounds. The things they did and said weren't always smart or right, but true to the people that they were and who they were working to be. In addition, if the author ever considered to make a series, there are side characters with real potential, who I also felt invested in, even if they were admittedly only peripherally involved. I think I would read that series too, if it were ever something that came about.
The story was a bit slow for me for just under the first 50% of the book - there was a LOT of inner monologuing, but it definitely provided a lot of character development, even if the story itself took place over a pretty short period of time. But at around that 50% mark, the story's pace increased, became more tense, more suspenseful, and I binged whenever I could from that point onward. I think if the pace had been a bit faster, or if the story had taken place over a longer period of time for that amount of relationship and personality growth, I would give this a solid 4 stars for entertainment value alone, my own enjoyment of the story, beyond appreciating the quality of the writing.
This narrator was a new one for me - and he used a lot of sound effects, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I understood where he was coming from. It didn't feel necessary to me, per se, but I would listen to another book narrated by him.
May 2, 2017
I finished Rick R. Reed’s The Perils of Intimacy late last week, and I’m still thinking about it days later. I imagine Jimmy and Marc are going to leave a lasting impression on most readers; it’s that kind of book. This isn’t an easy-breezy romance, but it’s also not a total angst fest. There are light moments—moments where you’ll chuckle at some funny reference or cute bit of dialogue—but, there are also lots of gut checks, and things that will make you stop and think.
Marc is quickly approaching his fortieth birthday, and seems to live a pretty quiet life. Though it’s clear that he used to enjoy going out for a good time, and had no trouble getting guys, his clubbing days are definitely behind him. He now spends his days in the cubicle jungle, and most nights heads home alone. So, it’s quite an unexpected surprise one morning when the cute, and obviously much younger, waiter at the diner flirts with Marc and leaves him his number.
I loved, loved the meet-cute between Jimmy and Marc (and the way that we’re told about how it happened through Jimmy’s first person narration makes it even cuter). But, right away there’s a possible roadblock.
When is a meet-cute not a meet-cute?
When you’ve met before.
Dun dun dunnnnn…
Jimmy recognizes Marc from a one-night stand two years ago, when he was in the throes of his meth addiction and stole a number of possessions and some cash from Marc’s home. Panic sets in momentarily, but then Jimmy realizes that Marc doesn’t recognize him. And, why would he? Jimmy looks nothing like the tweaker Marc met on Adam4Adam and invited to his house for sex that night. He’s now two years into his recovery and looks like the picture of health and vitality. So, Jimmy takes a breath, tells himself that he deserves a shot at happiness, and gives Marc his phone number.
They meet the next evening, and one date quickly turns into two. I loved the immediate connection they both felt, and how easy things were between them. The initial date and then the second one the next night are so romantic and meaningful to them both. Though, in truth, part of poor Jimmy is just waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time. Which, of course, it does.
We learn a lot about both Marc and Jimmy as they try to come to terms with what happened that night, and what it means for their future, if they even have one. I found Marc’s hindsight recollection to be so interesting compared to when he first realized who Jimmy was. Initially, he felt betrayed and violated all over again, and understandably so. Jimmy didn’t only steal material things that night, he also robbed Marc of his ability to trust or be intimate with anyone again for months. In hindsight, though, Marc took a good look at what led up to him inviting Jimmy/JD over, and his own actions that evening. And, he had to be honest with the idea that maybe Jimmy wasn’t the only one with demons.
Reed covers some tough topics in this book, and the writing is outstanding. I loved all the messages of hope and empowerment that he included regarding recovery. Everyone’s journey is so personal and unique, and that really came across in the story. I have to say something quickly about Jimmy’s sponsors. He has a sponsor named Miriam, who was his first sponsor, and whom Jimmy credits with really being his savior, and then there is Kevin, who is also Jimmy’s roommate. They’re both great, but there is something particularly special about Miriam. You’ll have to read the book to find out what it is!
This was such a thought-provoking and engaging read. There were brief moments when I wanted something different out of it—More romance, perhaps? Heavier reads are so hard, you know?—but that just wasn’t this book. And, I loved it for what it was—an insightful look at addiction, the power of secrets, and the beauty of understanding and forgiveness. I loved Marc and Jimmy together. The beginning of the blurb describes them so perfectly… “Jimmy and Marc make an adorable couple. Jimmy’s kindness and clean-cut cuteness radiate out of him like light. Marc, although a bit older, complements Jimmy with his humor and his openness to love.” I was rooting for these guys every step of the way. Another fantastic story from Rick Reed!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
Marc is quickly approaching his fortieth birthday, and seems to live a pretty quiet life. Though it’s clear that he used to enjoy going out for a good time, and had no trouble getting guys, his clubbing days are definitely behind him. He now spends his days in the cubicle jungle, and most nights heads home alone. So, it’s quite an unexpected surprise one morning when the cute, and obviously much younger, waiter at the diner flirts with Marc and leaves him his number.
I loved, loved the meet-cute between Jimmy and Marc (and the way that we’re told about how it happened through Jimmy’s first person narration makes it even cuter). But, right away there’s a possible roadblock.
When is a meet-cute not a meet-cute?
When you’ve met before.
Dun dun dunnnnn…
Jimmy recognizes Marc from a one-night stand two years ago, when he was in the throes of his meth addiction and stole a number of possessions and some cash from Marc’s home. Panic sets in momentarily, but then Jimmy realizes that Marc doesn’t recognize him. And, why would he? Jimmy looks nothing like the tweaker Marc met on Adam4Adam and invited to his house for sex that night. He’s now two years into his recovery and looks like the picture of health and vitality. So, Jimmy takes a breath, tells himself that he deserves a shot at happiness, and gives Marc his phone number.
They meet the next evening, and one date quickly turns into two. I loved the immediate connection they both felt, and how easy things were between them. The initial date and then the second one the next night are so romantic and meaningful to them both. Though, in truth, part of poor Jimmy is just waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time. Which, of course, it does.
We learn a lot about both Marc and Jimmy as they try to come to terms with what happened that night, and what it means for their future, if they even have one. I found Marc’s hindsight recollection to be so interesting compared to when he first realized who Jimmy was. Initially, he felt betrayed and violated all over again, and understandably so. Jimmy didn’t only steal material things that night, he also robbed Marc of his ability to trust or be intimate with anyone again for months. In hindsight, though, Marc took a good look at what led up to him inviting Jimmy/JD over, and his own actions that evening. And, he had to be honest with the idea that maybe Jimmy wasn’t the only one with demons.
Reed covers some tough topics in this book, and the writing is outstanding. I loved all the messages of hope and empowerment that he included regarding recovery. Everyone’s journey is so personal and unique, and that really came across in the story. I have to say something quickly about Jimmy’s sponsors. He has a sponsor named Miriam, who was his first sponsor, and whom Jimmy credits with really being his savior, and then there is Kevin, who is also Jimmy’s roommate. They’re both great, but there is something particularly special about Miriam. You’ll have to read the book to find out what it is!
This was such a thought-provoking and engaging read. There were brief moments when I wanted something different out of it—More romance, perhaps? Heavier reads are so hard, you know?—but that just wasn’t this book. And, I loved it for what it was—an insightful look at addiction, the power of secrets, and the beauty of understanding and forgiveness. I loved Marc and Jimmy together. The beginning of the blurb describes them so perfectly… “Jimmy and Marc make an adorable couple. Jimmy’s kindness and clean-cut cuteness radiate out of him like light. Marc, although a bit older, complements Jimmy with his humor and his openness to love.” I was rooting for these guys every step of the way. Another fantastic story from Rick Reed!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
August 23, 2022
This is a quite jarring book.
It certainly revolves around romance, because the relationship between Mark and Billy is front and centre, but it’s so much more than that! It’s about addiction, how it affects a person and how it keeps its hooks in that person, through the choices it leads you to make and their aftermath.
Billy and Mark’s budding relationship is heavily affected by addiction, and the book has a sombre and foreboding tone in many aspects, you can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop.
I loved David Allen Vargo’s performance. It was my first time listening to this narrator, and I think he did a really great job portraying the range of emotions the characters shift through.
It certainly revolves around romance, because the relationship between Mark and Billy is front and centre, but it’s so much more than that! It’s about addiction, how it affects a person and how it keeps its hooks in that person, through the choices it leads you to make and their aftermath.
Billy and Mark’s budding relationship is heavily affected by addiction, and the book has a sombre and foreboding tone in many aspects, you can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop.
I loved David Allen Vargo’s performance. It was my first time listening to this narrator, and I think he did a really great job portraying the range of emotions the characters shift through.
August 17, 2022
This M/M book was beautifully written. it is a story about redemption, forgiveness, and love. There are no explicit sex scenes. Jimmy and Mark are meant for each other. Mr. Reed explores the meaning of learning to forgive yourself and others of past mistakes in order to open your heart for love. Narrator David Allen Vargo was brillant. He captured the spirit and essence of the characters and their love.
April 24, 2017
4.5 stars
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2017
What an enjoyable read. Well written, realistic characters, and witty dialogue.
Four Stars!
Four Stars!
May 17, 2017
4.75 stars
I really can't express how much I loved this book :)
Highly recommended.
I really can't express how much I loved this book :)
Highly recommended.
May 1, 2017
The Perils of Intimacy is a very deep story. It is about a young man that is a recovering addict and cleaning himself up. He has been clean for two years, works in a restaurant and attends NA meetings.
One morning a man comes into the restaurant that he wants to get to know then he realizes where he has seen him before. It is from his dark past, and he did tings he wishes he hadn't. But you cant take back the past. Will that ruin his future?
The story is written in first person alternating views which is one of my favorite types of viewpoints.The story is very easy to follow and a real page turner. I loved both Marc and Jimmy, and we get both views clearly. There are other interesting characters as well.
The storyline is sad at times and very poignant.
The very last chapter in Miriam's view sent shivers down my spine.
My only issue with this story is at the end it just suddenly stops. I was left with questions about another character and what happens with Marc and Jimmy. But it's a beautiful ending.
If you love deep, dark stories, some angst, and romance you will like this one.
One morning a man comes into the restaurant that he wants to get to know then he realizes where he has seen him before. It is from his dark past, and he did tings he wishes he hadn't. But you cant take back the past. Will that ruin his future?
The story is written in first person alternating views which is one of my favorite types of viewpoints.The story is very easy to follow and a real page turner. I loved both Marc and Jimmy, and we get both views clearly. There are other interesting characters as well.
The storyline is sad at times and very poignant.
The very last chapter in Miriam's view sent shivers down my spine.
My only issue with this story is at the end it just suddenly stops. I was left with questions about another character and what happens with Marc and Jimmy. But it's a beautiful ending.
If you love deep, dark stories, some angst, and romance you will like this one.
February 28, 2020
3.5 - 4
Yeah, you've probably noticed that I've been on a Rick R. Reed binge lately. The main reason is because a lot of his books have been offered for review in the past month or so. One of the things I've learned through all these reads is that some of these books have been hit or miss. Granted, most have been really good, unfortunately The Perils of Intimacy wasn't one of them.
Okay, so the book wasn't that bad. There were parts of it that were pretty good actually, it just never really pulled me in. I think part of the problem was that I didn't really find myself pulling for either character. Jimmy probably should have come clean a lot sooner than he did and Mark should have given Jimmy a little more credit for coming as far as he did. I spent a fair amount of time frustrated with both of them.
To be totally fair, this miss was probably a "me" thing. In other words, The Perils of Intimacy just wasn't a good fit for me. I hate it when that happens. *sigh* Have no fear, I'm still going to pick up the next Rick R. Reed that comes my way.
I received The Perils of Intimacy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Yeah, you've probably noticed that I've been on a Rick R. Reed binge lately. The main reason is because a lot of his books have been offered for review in the past month or so. One of the things I've learned through all these reads is that some of these books have been hit or miss. Granted, most have been really good, unfortunately The Perils of Intimacy wasn't one of them.
Okay, so the book wasn't that bad. There were parts of it that were pretty good actually, it just never really pulled me in. I think part of the problem was that I didn't really find myself pulling for either character. Jimmy probably should have come clean a lot sooner than he did and Mark should have given Jimmy a little more credit for coming as far as he did. I spent a fair amount of time frustrated with both of them.
To be totally fair, this miss was probably a "me" thing. In other words, The Perils of Intimacy just wasn't a good fit for me. I hate it when that happens. *sigh* Have no fear, I'm still going to pick up the next Rick R. Reed that comes my way.
I received The Perils of Intimacy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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