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Healing Hearts #3
The Escape: Soren's Saga
Dancing, loud music, drinking and sex…
Who wouldn’t love a job that entailed all these things?
After giving up on school and being cast aside by an unsupportive family, Soren Matheson figured he’d landed every young man’s dream job.
But… there is a catch.
Not everything is as it seems and at the end of the day…
Maybe even dream jobs don’t exist.
Remy Moretti lives in a world of precision and order. When a chance run-in with a sassy, sarcastic blond one evening upsets his structured world, Remy needs to find out who he is.
What he discovers makes his hair stand on end.
The defeat and fear hidden behind the young man’s eyes gives him nightmares.
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this.
Until then, Remy will need to do whatever it takes to keep Soren safe.
TRIGGER: Sex-trafficking, abuse (off-page)
Who wouldn’t love a job that entailed all these things?
After giving up on school and being cast aside by an unsupportive family, Soren Matheson figured he’d landed every young man’s dream job.
But… there is a catch.
Not everything is as it seems and at the end of the day…
Maybe even dream jobs don’t exist.
Remy Moretti lives in a world of precision and order. When a chance run-in with a sassy, sarcastic blond one evening upsets his structured world, Remy needs to find out who he is.
What he discovers makes his hair stand on end.
The defeat and fear hidden behind the young man’s eyes gives him nightmares.
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this.
Until then, Remy will need to do whatever it takes to keep Soren safe.
TRIGGER: Sex-trafficking, abuse (off-page)
271 pages, ebook
First published July 14, 2017
72 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Nicky James
73 books2,239 followersI live in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada and I am a mother to a wonderful teenage boy (didn't think those words could be typed together...surprise) and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband, who thankfully doesn't think I'm crazy.
I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.
I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.
I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.
I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.
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August 8, 2023
Remy had wrapped himself around my mind, body, and soul and I’d never felt so content and happy in my whole life. As I drifted off to sleep, he whispered words I didn’t understand, and kissed my temple. Their meaning was all that mattered. I was loved for maybe the first time in my life, and I let that feeling seep into every crevice and take me into dreamland.
I need to start having more faith in authors. This one started so slow that when I was 30% in, I was worried the characters wouldn’t get anywhere. There wasn’t enough tension between the two to make me curious about where the future relationship would take them. But of course, with a bit of patience and determination to continue reading, the story and the romance started picking up. I then found myself grinning, smiling, and simply enjoying the entire ride of this angsty, sweet read.
It is Nicky James, after all.
If there’s one concept I absolutely love, it’s this one: You have the struggling and hurting MC, finding it difficult to love, thinking they aren’t lovable, worthy of anyone’s time, and don’t know how to get away from the miserable life they have. Then you have the more put-together MC, offering comfort, showing the other they’re interested, wishing to be their rock, and showing them love for (possibly) the first time.
That’s Soren and Remy.
It’s nothing new, but Nicky’s executions are always phenomenal.
We first meet Soren in New Beginnings: Abel’s Journey as Abel’s brother, where he tried his best to be there for him but couldn’t handle it all. He packs his bags and leaves to move with Ash (a side character in this book) while still working the same job. Soren was hurting in every possible way. Bartending, dancing, and prostitution consumed his life for survival. At his lowest point, he became numb to love and sex. He would if he could walk away, but his options were minimal, and having a roof under his head was needed. Remy, on the other hand, was more put-together. His biggest struggles are his OCD and neurotic tendencies, but he was financially stable, working with a magazine as an editor, and able to move on with life without worries. When he first lays eyes on Soren, he’s pretty captivated, but it isn’t until he really sees Soren that he becomes completely absorbed.
I love the hurt/comfort trope so much, and Nicky James always pulls it off. The angst here is perfect, as it never affects the relationship once the two men come close about their feelings. Even with Soren’s hesitation, the angst is mainly drawn towards what he is going through, not the relationship, so there’s no room for drama: no miscommunication, misunderstandings, or unnecessary third-act conflict here. Both men communicate very well after realizing they can be more, and instead of denying and ignoring their feelings, they act on them.
I love when one character is set on someone, they will do anything they can to show them how serious they are, without giving up, even though the other character thinks they’re wasting their time. As the reader, we know where they’re heading, but it’s delightful to see the insecure character slowly closing their walls and leaning on the other. In this case, one thing I loved about Remy is his persistence, but it never bordered on creepy or stalkerish. He was respectful in every way, boundaries and showed Soren he was interested while maintaining the necessary distance. Soren, unfortunately, is unsure how to feel, as he first thinks Remy is a cop and is at the club to investigate, and then thinks Remy just wants him for sexual favors. He never thought it’d be possible for someone like Remy to have his eyes set on Soren that isn’t just about sex.
Remy offered himself to be a rock to Soren from the beginning, and with a little push, trust, and convincing, Soren began to show his feelings more. The progression between the two felt incredibly natural. It was a perfectly slow burn, developing the strangeness of friendship into a loving relationship, but that boundary was still respected. There’s mutual consent, and reading it was so damn beautiful. Believe it or not, reading about characters giving or waiting for consent is uncommon, especially regarding characters from troubled pasts or trauma. Seeing Remy hold himself back and wait until Soren was the one to make the move was refreshing. He waited until the perfect time to make sure Soren knew Remy respected him completely. Remy also kept showing Soren how serious he was about him and how he wasn’t going anywhere. Seeing Soren reject Remy was fun, but Remy didn’t give up and instead continued finding ways to convince him. Also, Remy being Italian made it more romantic. I’m always a sucker for characters from different countries or ethnicities speaking in their native tongue and referring to the other in terms they don’t know. Whenever Remy called Soren “Caro” or “mio tesoro,” I was a puddle of goo. I don’t speak Italian, but I speak Spanish, so I didn’t have so much trouble understanding the little Italian references added here and there, but I still used the translation tool just in case. Luckily, the Italian also wasn’t overused.
“Soren,” he continued, “when I first laid eyes on you, I couldn’t deny my attraction. Your looks are staggering. But, do you know what drew me in more? You radiated personality. It was enough to leave an impression. When I ran into you at the bar, I couldn’t help but want to learn more about you.”
“But I wasn’t even nice to you.”
He chuckled. “I know, but your quick wit, sarcasm, and sass you carry around everywhere you go makes me crazy. You aren’t stupid, I assure you. Then I saw you smile. You served a table of young men that night and I watched the tension my presence brought drip away, and you smiled. Did I go back looking for you, even after you expressed no desire to have dinner with me? Yes, I did. Did I find out where else you worked and seek you out, even though every fiber of my being hates walking into places where cleaning habits are questionable? I did. Did I hope maybe you’d give me a chance once you got to know me better?” He paused, his dark gaze consuming. “I did.”
And you know what else I think is underrated in these damn romances? Making love.
Too often, characters fuck or have quick sex, but making love isn’t as common as I wish it were. Remy was set on showing Soren his sexual attraction but knew he needed to take it slow. I loved seeing Soren not rush him in any way because he knew it was also something Remy wanted. Soren had never been pleasured slowly and only used for the pleasure of others; he didn’t know what it was like to take his time. Seeing his development of being weary and afraid to be completely trusting and loving was beautiful. There was never a time when Remy didn’t remind Soren of how he felt, and his reassurances were so sweet. Soren needed some validation, but it wasn’t in a kinky way; more like he was unsure how someone like Remy could want him. Their lovemaking is sensual, tender, emotional, and full of feelings. There’s no rush to anything, and the sex only adds to their growing fondness. Their relationship had already set off by then, and their arousal was never used to move it but instead build it. The books I’ve read by this author all feature sex as something being used to help the relationship grow and build up, not just move. It isn’t a plot device and something always necessary.
“I desire you like no other. But I don’t want to fuck you, I want to make love to you, and that is very different. It is not one man or another enjoying a meaningless act, it is two people sharing an expression of their feelings for one another. And until you are ready, I will wait.”
Do you hear me swooning?
The age gap between the two (Soren is 22 and Remy is 35) was never an issue since the start. Remy never treats Soren like a child or assumes anything, and Soren never finds a problem with Remy being much older. A difference in their ages like this is one of my favorites. I don’t know what it says about me, but I love seeing the younger character become fully embraced and taken care of by the older character. There is something so damn sweet about it. While Remy wasn’t a character who had “given up” on dating, he wasn’t entirely convinced he was still in that era. The relationship never felt like that of a child and an adult. Soren isn’t completely independent, but he also wants to be taken care of in his way while still having his privacy respected and boundaries maintained. I don’t know; I love age gaps like this. The older character has been through different phases in life and knows what they’re doing, and the younger individual is unsure, feels lost, and has no idea how they’d make it through without others. It’s comforting for me, even without the hurt-comfort elements, because I love seeing two people come together in different parts of their lives. And there is just something so fucking heartwarming about an older character wanting to care for the younger one in any way. It makes it even better when they’re financially well and able to care for the two that way. Remy wasn’t a sugar daddy, but I know that man would give Soren all his money if it meant he was happy. That shit makes me giggle.
Moving on.
“I didn’t expect you to come.”
“Then you underestimate how I feel.”
I always comment on this author’s writing, and this is no different case. The writing is always descriptive enough, balancing, and never feels too much. From what I’ve read, the author never goes on giving unnecessary information, info dumping, or providing too much dialogue that feels awkward or off from the rest of the story.
There are side characters in this story that take over some of the protagonists’ time, but it never takes away from the central relationship. We meet AJ, the main character of book four and one I’m excited to start soon. There’s also Ashton (Ash for short), Soren’s friend, coworker, roommate, and sometimes friend with benefits (never on page). Their relationship shifts a little, but we end the story with the two on good enough terms, at least. There are other characters and dancers, not all-important to remember, including Donny, Soren’s boss. He’s the villain of the story. I was glad we knew how and where he ended up, with a necessary conclusion of the life Soren could say goodbye to. The story’s plot is also never one to take over the main focus—the romance—and instead balances well with it. It was part of the relationship development, as it introduced itself as the reason for Remy and Soren’s meeting. While Soren’s situation is heartbreaking, it is a fundamental piece to see the two characters progress in their friendship.
It’s funny how I thought this would be a disappointment, only for it to become my favorite of the series. This author has yet to disappoint me, and I’m not saying that in hopes of it happening soon, but no matter what happens in the future with the books I decide to read from her catalog, she remains one of my favorites. This was another angsty read, but sweet nonetheless. Romantic, tender, and emotional, The Escape: Soren’s Sage offers many things I always look for in a romance. Because I loved the two previous books, I recommend them, despite them leaving me a blubbering mess. Abel and Kieran make appearances here, and it was nice to see them all together. But if you don’t want to suffer through the first two books’ angst, this can be read as a stand-alone!
“I’ll make you forget yourself, mio tesoro.”
I need to start having more faith in authors. This one started so slow that when I was 30% in, I was worried the characters wouldn’t get anywhere. There wasn’t enough tension between the two to make me curious about where the future relationship would take them. But of course, with a bit of patience and determination to continue reading, the story and the romance started picking up. I then found myself grinning, smiling, and simply enjoying the entire ride of this angsty, sweet read.
It is Nicky James, after all.
If there’s one concept I absolutely love, it’s this one: You have the struggling and hurting MC, finding it difficult to love, thinking they aren’t lovable, worthy of anyone’s time, and don’t know how to get away from the miserable life they have. Then you have the more put-together MC, offering comfort, showing the other they’re interested, wishing to be their rock, and showing them love for (possibly) the first time.
That’s Soren and Remy.
It’s nothing new, but Nicky’s executions are always phenomenal.
We first meet Soren in New Beginnings: Abel’s Journey as Abel’s brother, where he tried his best to be there for him but couldn’t handle it all. He packs his bags and leaves to move with Ash (a side character in this book) while still working the same job. Soren was hurting in every possible way. Bartending, dancing, and prostitution consumed his life for survival. At his lowest point, he became numb to love and sex. He would if he could walk away, but his options were minimal, and having a roof under his head was needed. Remy, on the other hand, was more put-together. His biggest struggles are his OCD and neurotic tendencies, but he was financially stable, working with a magazine as an editor, and able to move on with life without worries. When he first lays eyes on Soren, he’s pretty captivated, but it isn’t until he really sees Soren that he becomes completely absorbed.
I love the hurt/comfort trope so much, and Nicky James always pulls it off. The angst here is perfect, as it never affects the relationship once the two men come close about their feelings. Even with Soren’s hesitation, the angst is mainly drawn towards what he is going through, not the relationship, so there’s no room for drama: no miscommunication, misunderstandings, or unnecessary third-act conflict here. Both men communicate very well after realizing they can be more, and instead of denying and ignoring their feelings, they act on them.
I love when one character is set on someone, they will do anything they can to show them how serious they are, without giving up, even though the other character thinks they’re wasting their time. As the reader, we know where they’re heading, but it’s delightful to see the insecure character slowly closing their walls and leaning on the other. In this case, one thing I loved about Remy is his persistence, but it never bordered on creepy or stalkerish. He was respectful in every way, boundaries and showed Soren he was interested while maintaining the necessary distance. Soren, unfortunately, is unsure how to feel, as he first thinks Remy is a cop and is at the club to investigate, and then thinks Remy just wants him for sexual favors. He never thought it’d be possible for someone like Remy to have his eyes set on Soren that isn’t just about sex.
Remy offered himself to be a rock to Soren from the beginning, and with a little push, trust, and convincing, Soren began to show his feelings more. The progression between the two felt incredibly natural. It was a perfectly slow burn, developing the strangeness of friendship into a loving relationship, but that boundary was still respected. There’s mutual consent, and reading it was so damn beautiful. Believe it or not, reading about characters giving or waiting for consent is uncommon, especially regarding characters from troubled pasts or trauma. Seeing Remy hold himself back and wait until Soren was the one to make the move was refreshing. He waited until the perfect time to make sure Soren knew Remy respected him completely. Remy also kept showing Soren how serious he was about him and how he wasn’t going anywhere. Seeing Soren reject Remy was fun, but Remy didn’t give up and instead continued finding ways to convince him. Also, Remy being Italian made it more romantic. I’m always a sucker for characters from different countries or ethnicities speaking in their native tongue and referring to the other in terms they don’t know. Whenever Remy called Soren “Caro” or “mio tesoro,” I was a puddle of goo. I don’t speak Italian, but I speak Spanish, so I didn’t have so much trouble understanding the little Italian references added here and there, but I still used the translation tool just in case. Luckily, the Italian also wasn’t overused.
“Soren,” he continued, “when I first laid eyes on you, I couldn’t deny my attraction. Your looks are staggering. But, do you know what drew me in more? You radiated personality. It was enough to leave an impression. When I ran into you at the bar, I couldn’t help but want to learn more about you.”
“But I wasn’t even nice to you.”
He chuckled. “I know, but your quick wit, sarcasm, and sass you carry around everywhere you go makes me crazy. You aren’t stupid, I assure you. Then I saw you smile. You served a table of young men that night and I watched the tension my presence brought drip away, and you smiled. Did I go back looking for you, even after you expressed no desire to have dinner with me? Yes, I did. Did I find out where else you worked and seek you out, even though every fiber of my being hates walking into places where cleaning habits are questionable? I did. Did I hope maybe you’d give me a chance once you got to know me better?” He paused, his dark gaze consuming. “I did.”
And you know what else I think is underrated in these damn romances? Making love.
Too often, characters fuck or have quick sex, but making love isn’t as common as I wish it were. Remy was set on showing Soren his sexual attraction but knew he needed to take it slow. I loved seeing Soren not rush him in any way because he knew it was also something Remy wanted. Soren had never been pleasured slowly and only used for the pleasure of others; he didn’t know what it was like to take his time. Seeing his development of being weary and afraid to be completely trusting and loving was beautiful. There was never a time when Remy didn’t remind Soren of how he felt, and his reassurances were so sweet. Soren needed some validation, but it wasn’t in a kinky way; more like he was unsure how someone like Remy could want him. Their lovemaking is sensual, tender, emotional, and full of feelings. There’s no rush to anything, and the sex only adds to their growing fondness. Their relationship had already set off by then, and their arousal was never used to move it but instead build it. The books I’ve read by this author all feature sex as something being used to help the relationship grow and build up, not just move. It isn’t a plot device and something always necessary.
“I desire you like no other. But I don’t want to fuck you, I want to make love to you, and that is very different. It is not one man or another enjoying a meaningless act, it is two people sharing an expression of their feelings for one another. And until you are ready, I will wait.”
Do you hear me swooning?
The age gap between the two (Soren is 22 and Remy is 35) was never an issue since the start. Remy never treats Soren like a child or assumes anything, and Soren never finds a problem with Remy being much older. A difference in their ages like this is one of my favorites. I don’t know what it says about me, but I love seeing the younger character become fully embraced and taken care of by the older character. There is something so damn sweet about it. While Remy wasn’t a character who had “given up” on dating, he wasn’t entirely convinced he was still in that era. The relationship never felt like that of a child and an adult. Soren isn’t completely independent, but he also wants to be taken care of in his way while still having his privacy respected and boundaries maintained. I don’t know; I love age gaps like this. The older character has been through different phases in life and knows what they’re doing, and the younger individual is unsure, feels lost, and has no idea how they’d make it through without others. It’s comforting for me, even without the hurt-comfort elements, because I love seeing two people come together in different parts of their lives. And there is just something so fucking heartwarming about an older character wanting to care for the younger one in any way. It makes it even better when they’re financially well and able to care for the two that way. Remy wasn’t a sugar daddy, but I know that man would give Soren all his money if it meant he was happy. That shit makes me giggle.
Moving on.
“I didn’t expect you to come.”
“Then you underestimate how I feel.”
I always comment on this author’s writing, and this is no different case. The writing is always descriptive enough, balancing, and never feels too much. From what I’ve read, the author never goes on giving unnecessary information, info dumping, or providing too much dialogue that feels awkward or off from the rest of the story.
There are side characters in this story that take over some of the protagonists’ time, but it never takes away from the central relationship. We meet AJ, the main character of book four and one I’m excited to start soon. There’s also Ashton (Ash for short), Soren’s friend, coworker, roommate, and sometimes friend with benefits (never on page). Their relationship shifts a little, but we end the story with the two on good enough terms, at least. There are other characters and dancers, not all-important to remember, including Donny, Soren’s boss. He’s the villain of the story. I was glad we knew how and where he ended up, with a necessary conclusion of the life Soren could say goodbye to. The story’s plot is also never one to take over the main focus—the romance—and instead balances well with it. It was part of the relationship development, as it introduced itself as the reason for Remy and Soren’s meeting. While Soren’s situation is heartbreaking, it is a fundamental piece to see the two characters progress in their friendship.
It’s funny how I thought this would be a disappointment, only for it to become my favorite of the series. This author has yet to disappoint me, and I’m not saying that in hopes of it happening soon, but no matter what happens in the future with the books I decide to read from her catalog, she remains one of my favorites. This was another angsty read, but sweet nonetheless. Romantic, tender, and emotional, The Escape: Soren’s Sage offers many things I always look for in a romance. Because I loved the two previous books, I recommend them, despite them leaving me a blubbering mess. Abel and Kieran make appearances here, and it was nice to see them all together. But if you don’t want to suffer through the first two books’ angst, this can be read as a stand-alone!
“I’ll make you forget yourself, mio tesoro.”
September 8, 2018
Re-read September 2018
I forgot how angsty this was. I still liked it, but darn, the first half was pretty bleak.
-------------------------------
This was amazing. Painful at first, but fortunately there was some lovely comfort to balance all this hurt.
Soren has been dancing at club The Escape since he was 16. Dancing, and servicing men in the backrooms. But lately he’s so tired of it. He is 22 years old, but doesn’t enjoy sex at all. He knows something needs to change, but he doesn’t have a way out with the way the club owner keeps all the boys on a tight leash.
But then Soren meets Remy. Remy, who is immediately taken with the sassy blond. But who also struggles quite a bit with his OCD. Once Remy sees Soren, he doesn’t mind going to the dirty club, where the tables aren’t even wiped and where there are germs everywhere, just to see Soren.
Soren makes it clear to Remy that he’s wasting his time because Soren doesn’t date. How can he with his line of work? Then Remy finds out what Soren does when the club owner tells Soren to invite Remy to the backrooms and service him.
Remy feels sick to his stomach to learn that the beautiful young man is forced to prostitute himself. And that’s why he pays Soren, but just to talk. They do this for several weeks, until Soren isn’t quite so sure about his no dating rule..
I loved these guys. Soren was sassy and so strong despite everything he went through. And Remy… Remy was just perfect for Soren. I also loved how Soren dealth with Remy’s OCD. He constantly challenged Remy to let go a little and messed up his apartment on purpose.
I want to give this 5 stars, but the first half felt so dark that I had a bit of trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. But fortunately the second half was a bit lighter and everything worked out great for these guys.
This can be read as a stand-alone.
------------------------------
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I forgot how angsty this was. I still liked it, but darn, the first half was pretty bleak.
-------------------------------
This was amazing. Painful at first, but fortunately there was some lovely comfort to balance all this hurt.
Soren has been dancing at club The Escape since he was 16. Dancing, and servicing men in the backrooms. But lately he’s so tired of it. He is 22 years old, but doesn’t enjoy sex at all. He knows something needs to change, but he doesn’t have a way out with the way the club owner keeps all the boys on a tight leash.
But then Soren meets Remy. Remy, who is immediately taken with the sassy blond. But who also struggles quite a bit with his OCD. Once Remy sees Soren, he doesn’t mind going to the dirty club, where the tables aren’t even wiped and where there are germs everywhere, just to see Soren.
Soren makes it clear to Remy that he’s wasting his time because Soren doesn’t date. How can he with his line of work? Then Remy finds out what Soren does when the club owner tells Soren to invite Remy to the backrooms and service him.
Remy feels sick to his stomach to learn that the beautiful young man is forced to prostitute himself. And that’s why he pays Soren, but just to talk. They do this for several weeks, until Soren isn’t quite so sure about his no dating rule..
I loved these guys. Soren was sassy and so strong despite everything he went through. And Remy… Remy was just perfect for Soren. I also loved how Soren dealth with Remy’s OCD. He constantly challenged Remy to let go a little and messed up his apartment on purpose.
I want to give this 5 stars, but the first half felt so dark that I had a bit of trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. But fortunately the second half was a bit lighter and everything worked out great for these guys.
This can be read as a stand-alone.
------------------------------
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
July 18, 2017
I feel like I can not give this any less than
5 stars
!!! Soren's book was the cherry on the cake in this series.
No Regrets and New Beginnings dealt with so much loss, it was excruciating!! But that's what I love most in reading. I love that stories touch my heart, that it's painful. And losing Landon en seeing Abel struggling with this loss was all that.
In these stories, Soren was a character. Soren, also being kicked out of his home for being gay, comes to live with his brother Abel. In the beginning they get along but Abel goes through some dark times and they kind of lose their connection. Soren is on his own, has to take care of himself.
We know from previous books that Soren danced at a nightclub. Abel hated him working there cause he didn't trust the owner. It seems that dancing is not all Soren is doing..... He's stuck in his life and doesn't know how to escape.
When Remy meets Soren for the first time, he's captivated. And after he understands what trouble Soren is in, he'll do anything to keep him safe.
I loved the differences between them. Soren's sassiness was able to get Remy out of his ODD comfortzone. “We balance each other out, don’t you see?" - Remy
Remy
I'll be revisiting this series often!!
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
No Regrets and New Beginnings dealt with so much loss, it was excruciating!! But that's what I love most in reading. I love that stories touch my heart, that it's painful. And losing Landon en seeing Abel struggling with this loss was all that.
In these stories, Soren was a character. Soren, also being kicked out of his home for being gay, comes to live with his brother Abel. In the beginning they get along but Abel goes through some dark times and they kind of lose their connection. Soren is on his own, has to take care of himself.
We know from previous books that Soren danced at a nightclub. Abel hated him working there cause he didn't trust the owner. It seems that dancing is not all Soren is doing..... He's stuck in his life and doesn't know how to escape.
When Remy meets Soren for the first time, he's captivated. And after he understands what trouble Soren is in, he'll do anything to keep him safe.
I loved the differences between them. Soren's sassiness was able to get Remy out of his ODD comfortzone. “We balance each other out, don’t you see?" - Remy
Remy
“Your heart is racing,” he said. “I can hear it.”
I chuckled and traced my fingers up and down his back.
“Because you drive me crazy.”
“I know.”
He smiled into my chest.
“But you like it.”
“I love it,”
I'll be revisiting this series often!!
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
April 14, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ Rent boy and slow burn? Who knew it would work so well? Remy fell instantly for Soren when he first saw him, but let’s just say the feeling was not mutual. Remy keeps trying and becomes the rock Soren can rely on. I loved both of them so much. I already loved Soren in Abel’s book, and can never resist a dark rent boy tale.
It isn’t crazy angsty, and it made me smile and feel good like a warm hug. Some parts are rough, I’m not going to lie, but I enjoyed every minute of it and just couldn’t stop reading.
It isn’t crazy angsty, and it made me smile and feel good like a warm hug. Some parts are rough, I’m not going to lie, but I enjoyed every minute of it and just couldn’t stop reading.
August 24, 2018
A Soren, protagonista absoluto del libro, le conocemos en el libro anterior, es hermano de Abel y sus vidas están entrelazadas tanto en el libro de Abel, como en este. Sin embargo, se puede leer perfectamente en solitario.
Soren es un alma perdida, leer todo lo que ha vivido y está viviendo es tremendamente doloroso para el lector, toca temas de abusos que para mí concretamente son muy difíciles de leer y pensé mucho si seguir con la lectura. La aparición de Remmy y es lo que hace que poco a poco tanto Soren como el que lee vea un viso de esperanza, y esa esperanza se hace cada vez mayor. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la presencia positiva de Remmy, la lectura sigue siendo complicada y debéis estar con el ánimo para encararla. Soren es enternecedor y valiente, Remmy también lo es, pero su personaje queda mucho más desdibujado que el de su compañero, y la manera en cómo se soluciona el conflicto parece poco creíble comparado con lo que hemos sido testigos anteriormente.
Soren es un alma perdida, leer todo lo que ha vivido y está viviendo es tremendamente doloroso para el lector, toca temas de abusos que para mí concretamente son muy difíciles de leer y pensé mucho si seguir con la lectura. La aparición de Remmy y es lo que hace que poco a poco tanto Soren como el que lee vea un viso de esperanza, y esa esperanza se hace cada vez mayor. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la presencia positiva de Remmy, la lectura sigue siendo complicada y debéis estar con el ánimo para encararla. Soren es enternecedor y valiente, Remmy también lo es, pero su personaje queda mucho más desdibujado que el de su compañero, y la manera en cómo se soluciona el conflicto parece poco creíble comparado con lo que hemos sido testigos anteriormente.
Read
July 21, 2017Sooooo, well, this book, uhm
I forgot the other book I am reading at home yesterday, this was on my kindle and I said why not and started reading on my commute and finished it at home.
I am not going to rate this book: the story was fine, the characters were fine and their romantic journey believable in the context of a romantic plot. I am even curious to read the previous two books - possibly when I am in the right mood. So let's call it a solid romance and a possible 3 stars BUT I am faced with the challenge of having read a book in which my native language was misused and I am going to be that person and make an issue out of it.
MC1 is Italian, 35 years old, moved to US at 14 - visits family regularly in Italy; therefore as a native speaker and a first gen immigrant myself I expect this character and his brother to actually speak Italian properly. But alas we live in the age of Google translate and every time this MC - who otherwise was a good MC - spoke Italian, which was often, I really felt like throwing the kindle to the wall or having a tantrum of equally dramatic proportions. Why use a language other than English as an identifier if it is done poorly and - ultimately - does not help the plot along? This happens so often in romancelandia that I do think it bears repeating how wrong it feels to see languages thrown into a book as a haphazard way to make characters ethnic and "exotic". To be honest I blame google translate and I blame people who think that translation is just a matter of changing words from one language to the other. I am so annoyed at this that I am actually in need of a long explanatory post, which probably will bore people to death but I need to get it out.
Let's see then: it starts from the very beginning with this pearl "Giuseppe! ...Smettere di essere un flirt" as literal translations go of the sentence "Stop being a flirt" that's as literal as they come. Only we Italians don't speak like that, I mean we don't speak in infinite tenses when we are asking people to stop being/doing something. A more accurate version of the sentence which would have made the character's voice more authentic would have been "Giuseppe!...Quando finisci di rimorchiare" or "..se hai finito di provarci" Spoken languages, nuances in the way we use them cannot, naturally, come from google translate or even from a student of said language: to be credible a language other than your own needs to looked at by a native speaker and put into the right context. I, perhaps, should have gave up on the book there and then cause such lack of accuracy did irk me as - to me - it signals the "diversity" box being ticked by making one of the characters an "ethnicity". To the above the answer is "culo" = arse (or ass if you are usian) which we Italians really do not use or better we do at around 7/8yo when we (as children all over the world) become fascinated with sprouting "naughty" words like pee/arse/tits etc. At 35? Not so much, without an article or context not at all. "Culo" I said under my breath. . I am not flirting " With the I am not flirting in Italics am I suppose to understand that culo means I am not flirting? uhm so in this case the right word would have been "Stronzo" if the MC meant to call his brother a arse or "Vaffanculo/fanculo" if the MC meant to tell his brother to fuck off. This exchange happens at 5% and sets the scene for the use of my language throughout.
There's the arbitrary use of double letters all over the shop ("stronzzo" nah, nope, only one z in that word) and even more arbitrary use of infinite tenses and gerunds. And I mean, folks, grammar does not get thrown into the rubbish just because you are using a language other than yours - it makes the story you are trying to tell as unauthentic as possible. I get it - I mean what are the chances that an actual native speaker will read this book in English? Well, the answer is very high as many readers are from Europe and many of us are multilingual - so, tough luck eh?
I have more examples - I feel I need to use them all.
"Devi essere scherzando" again literal translation of "you must be kidding" - would never pass the lips of an Italian or even a beginner student of my native language - the right way would have been "Stai scherzando?"
"Prendi il tuo dannato telefono" literally "Pick up your phone" which very rarely we use the word "dannato" to start with - when the right way would have been "Rispondi al telefono, per dio" (and/or several variations of that).
My favourite (sarcastically speaking) was the use of the endearments of MC1 for MC2: one was "mio tesoro" which, maybe in 1877 could have been heard from an Italian's mouth, but not really. The same way as adjectives are placed in a certain way in English sentences so they are in Italian therefore the correct way is "tesoro mio"; the other endearment was "caro" (dear) which irrespective of whether it was used at the beginning, the middle or the end of a sentence was always capitalized which gave the impression that MC1 was talking to somebody called Caro(lina). That one really, really grated my nerves!
In summary: it is great to see languages other than English in English books; what is unacceptable is using Google translate: I mean it is sloppy and disingenuous and ends up conveying the fact that it is used only to tick the diversity check box.
There are authors who go seek native speakers help and work as hard on a couple of sentences in another language as they do on the millions in their own language. These are real professionals, and it is not a fluke that these people's books sound authentic through and through: their foundations are solid. I helped somebody who used a couple of words and to do so wanted to know did they make sense linguistically speaking, and in the context of the character's backstory and their job and where they were at that moment. And that is commendable!
And you know, the same way as the interwebz has given us google translate it has also given us an almost infinite pool of resources to approach to throw an eye out on a language that isn't your own but that you plan to use in a book. Your Italians, your Spanish, your Germans etc they must sound authentic, even if all that is used is one word, otherwise all you are doing is checking the diversity box and delivering the flattest of stereotypes.
I forgot the other book I am reading at home yesterday, this was on my kindle and I said why not and started reading on my commute and finished it at home.
I am not going to rate this book: the story was fine, the characters were fine and their romantic journey believable in the context of a romantic plot. I am even curious to read the previous two books - possibly when I am in the right mood. So let's call it a solid romance and a possible 3 stars BUT I am faced with the challenge of having read a book in which my native language was misused and I am going to be that person and make an issue out of it.
MC1 is Italian, 35 years old, moved to US at 14 - visits family regularly in Italy; therefore as a native speaker and a first gen immigrant myself I expect this character and his brother to actually speak Italian properly. But alas we live in the age of Google translate and every time this MC - who otherwise was a good MC - spoke Italian, which was often, I really felt like throwing the kindle to the wall or having a tantrum of equally dramatic proportions. Why use a language other than English as an identifier if it is done poorly and - ultimately - does not help the plot along? This happens so often in romancelandia that I do think it bears repeating how wrong it feels to see languages thrown into a book as a haphazard way to make characters ethnic and "exotic". To be honest I blame google translate and I blame people who think that translation is just a matter of changing words from one language to the other. I am so annoyed at this that I am actually in need of a long explanatory post, which probably will bore people to death but I need to get it out.
Let's see then: it starts from the very beginning with this pearl "Giuseppe! ...Smettere di essere un flirt" as literal translations go of the sentence "Stop being a flirt" that's as literal as they come. Only we Italians don't speak like that, I mean we don't speak in infinite tenses when we are asking people to stop being/doing something. A more accurate version of the sentence which would have made the character's voice more authentic would have been "Giuseppe!...Quando finisci di rimorchiare" or "..se hai finito di provarci" Spoken languages, nuances in the way we use them cannot, naturally, come from google translate or even from a student of said language: to be credible a language other than your own needs to looked at by a native speaker and put into the right context. I, perhaps, should have gave up on the book there and then cause such lack of accuracy did irk me as - to me - it signals the "diversity" box being ticked by making one of the characters an "ethnicity". To the above the answer is "culo" = arse (or ass if you are usian) which we Italians really do not use or better we do at around 7/8yo when we (as children all over the world) become fascinated with sprouting "naughty" words like pee/arse/tits etc. At 35? Not so much, without an article or context not at all. "Culo" I said under my breath. . I am not flirting " With the I am not flirting in Italics am I suppose to understand that culo means I am not flirting? uhm so in this case the right word would have been "Stronzo" if the MC meant to call his brother a arse or "Vaffanculo/fanculo" if the MC meant to tell his brother to fuck off. This exchange happens at 5% and sets the scene for the use of my language throughout.
There's the arbitrary use of double letters all over the shop ("stronzzo" nah, nope, only one z in that word) and even more arbitrary use of infinite tenses and gerunds. And I mean, folks, grammar does not get thrown into the rubbish just because you are using a language other than yours - it makes the story you are trying to tell as unauthentic as possible. I get it - I mean what are the chances that an actual native speaker will read this book in English? Well, the answer is very high as many readers are from Europe and many of us are multilingual - so, tough luck eh?
I have more examples - I feel I need to use them all.
"Devi essere scherzando" again literal translation of "you must be kidding" - would never pass the lips of an Italian or even a beginner student of my native language - the right way would have been "Stai scherzando?"
"Prendi il tuo dannato telefono" literally "Pick up your phone" which very rarely we use the word "dannato" to start with - when the right way would have been "Rispondi al telefono, per dio" (and/or several variations of that).
My favourite (sarcastically speaking) was the use of the endearments of MC1 for MC2: one was "mio tesoro" which, maybe in 1877 could have been heard from an Italian's mouth, but not really. The same way as adjectives are placed in a certain way in English sentences so they are in Italian therefore the correct way is "tesoro mio"; the other endearment was "caro" (dear) which irrespective of whether it was used at the beginning, the middle or the end of a sentence was always capitalized which gave the impression that MC1 was talking to somebody called Caro(lina). That one really, really grated my nerves!
In summary: it is great to see languages other than English in English books; what is unacceptable is using Google translate: I mean it is sloppy and disingenuous and ends up conveying the fact that it is used only to tick the diversity check box.
There are authors who go seek native speakers help and work as hard on a couple of sentences in another language as they do on the millions in their own language. These are real professionals, and it is not a fluke that these people's books sound authentic through and through: their foundations are solid. I helped somebody who used a couple of words and to do so wanted to know did they make sense linguistically speaking, and in the context of the character's backstory and their job and where they were at that moment. And that is commendable!
And you know, the same way as the interwebz has given us google translate it has also given us an almost infinite pool of resources to approach to throw an eye out on a language that isn't your own but that you plan to use in a book. Your Italians, your Spanish, your Germans etc they must sound authentic, even if all that is used is one word, otherwise all you are doing is checking the diversity box and delivering the flattest of stereotypes.
December 8, 2018
4,25 actually ❤️
July 7, 2017
4.5 stars
This is my first Nicky James and I'm glad I decided to The Escape: Soren's Sage. From the title, I was expecting this to have an unresolved ending. But it turns out to be a standalone with a sweet HEA to boot.
The underlying theme of this book sounds dark, but the delivery isn't. Soren is a bartender during the weekdays and go go dancer during the weekend. But most importantly he is a rent boy who provide special service at the back room. He had been doing it for years and until recently, Soren started to dread his work, but felt that he was trapped without a way out.
Remy is 35 year old Italian who work as an editor and he let his OCD rule his life. Remy is very meticulous and a clean freak. His quirks is a constant running joke in the story and Soren constantly trying to upheaval his orderly life.
Soren is like the sunshine that attract Remy and after learning about Soren's job, instead of feeling disgusted, Remy only want to save him from the hellhole. Naturally, Soren keep pushing Remy away due to his status and work nature, but Remy persistence wore him out.
There are many instances whereby I feel that Soren isn't as trapped as he want me to believe. I read many stories whereby uneducated young man manage to survive with dead end job without selling their body, but Soren seems too afraid to even try. But as I learn more about his past, I starts to understand how he was practically brainwashed since young by his evil employer.
Anyway, despite the reference to his prostitution work, this story isn't graphic and I don't even feel like there is any cheating going on emotionally or physically. There is a lot of development going on between Soren and Remy's relationship in this story. From Soren's cold attitude towards Remy, to them being friendly and Remy wanting to save him and them exploring their relationship together. It sounds like a long emotional journey to be told in a book, yet the progression feel natural to me.
This is my first Nicky James and I'm glad I decided to The Escape: Soren's Sage. From the title, I was expecting this to have an unresolved ending. But it turns out to be a standalone with a sweet HEA to boot.
The underlying theme of this book sounds dark, but the delivery isn't. Soren is a bartender during the weekdays and go go dancer during the weekend. But most importantly he is a rent boy who provide special service at the back room. He had been doing it for years and until recently, Soren started to dread his work, but felt that he was trapped without a way out.
Remy is 35 year old Italian who work as an editor and he let his OCD rule his life. Remy is very meticulous and a clean freak. His quirks is a constant running joke in the story and Soren constantly trying to upheaval his orderly life.
Soren is like the sunshine that attract Remy and after learning about Soren's job, instead of feeling disgusted, Remy only want to save him from the hellhole. Naturally, Soren keep pushing Remy away due to his status and work nature, but Remy persistence wore him out.
There are many instances whereby I feel that Soren isn't as trapped as he want me to believe. I read many stories whereby uneducated young man manage to survive with dead end job without selling their body, but Soren seems too afraid to even try. But as I learn more about his past, I starts to understand how he was practically brainwashed since young by his evil employer.
Anyway, despite the reference to his prostitution work, this story isn't graphic and I don't even feel like there is any cheating going on emotionally or physically. There is a lot of development going on between Soren and Remy's relationship in this story. From Soren's cold attitude towards Remy, to them being friendly and Remy wanting to save him and them exploring their relationship together. It sounds like a long emotional journey to be told in a book, yet the progression feel natural to me.
December 9, 2017
Awesome written story with a lot of feelings.
Soren finally has a chance to leave his present life.....'serving' people in the back of the bar....And this all because Remy set his eyes on him.
Remy spotless, perfect Remy....at first sight... When you get to know him you will love him...
He is head over heels for Soren but Soren is suspicious... very low self esteem and hates what he is doing with his life, only he can't get out...
Remy only wants the best for Soren, helping him, guiding him and make him feel human again.
Soren is smitten by Remy and his ocd sides... they are perfect together.
Soren's two roles: he will never date and will never kiss....
This story is also about the slow burn of letting go of his rules
Of course there is much more in this story, we will meet Abel and Kieran again yeahhhh.
Flawless, smoothly written story which will warm your heart...
Soren finally has a chance to leave his present life.....'serving' people in the back of the bar....And this all because Remy set his eyes on him.
Remy spotless, perfect Remy....at first sight... When you get to know him you will love him...
He is head over heels for Soren but Soren is suspicious... very low self esteem and hates what he is doing with his life, only he can't get out...
Remy only wants the best for Soren, helping him, guiding him and make him feel human again.
Soren is smitten by Remy and his ocd sides... they are perfect together.
Soren's two roles: he will never date and will never kiss....
This story is also about the slow burn of letting go of his rules
Of course there is much more in this story, we will meet Abel and Kieran again yeahhhh.
Flawless, smoothly written story which will warm your heart...
April 16, 2021
Mio tesoro, my treasure.
This book is definitely a fave and I love it more with every read. ❤️❤️❤️
***
Even better on a reread. I absolutely love this couple.
***
My favorite in this series thus far. Gaaahhhh...the feels. I absolutely love Remy and all his quirks. The interactions and relationship development with our dear Soren is just perfection. Cannot wait to read this one again and again. <3
This book is definitely a fave and I love it more with every read. ❤️❤️❤️
***
Even better on a reread. I absolutely love this couple.
***
My favorite in this series thus far. Gaaahhhh...the feels. I absolutely love Remy and all his quirks. The interactions and relationship development with our dear Soren is just perfection. Cannot wait to read this one again and again. <3
January 23, 2020
Ta historia bez wątpienia zasługuje na min. 5 gwiazdek!
Soren i Remy - to nie miało prawa się udać.
Tancerz erotyczny i redaktor z nerwicą natręctw.
Chyba nie można prosić o większe przeciwieństwo, lecz okazuje się, że idealnie do siebie pasują. Idealnie równoważą swoje życia i idealnie siebie wspierają.
Pierwsza połowa książki była raczej w pesymistycznych barwach rysowana, lecz druga połowa to już było wspaniale. Jak dla mnie ta historia była bardzo wiarygodna i bohaterowie zostali bardzo fajnie wykreowani. Końcówka bardzo mnie usatysfakcjonowała - piękny happy end z przesłaniem, że dobro zawsze zwycięża.
Zdecydowanie Sorenowi brakowało takiego smęcenia jak w częściach o jego bracie Ablu - i dzięki Bogu za to, bo ta książka to była dla mnie czysta przyjemność.
Soren i Remy - to nie miało prawa się udać.
Tancerz erotyczny i redaktor z nerwicą natręctw.
Chyba nie można prosić o większe przeciwieństwo, lecz okazuje się, że idealnie do siebie pasują. Idealnie równoważą swoje życia i idealnie siebie wspierają.
Pierwsza połowa książki była raczej w pesymistycznych barwach rysowana, lecz druga połowa to już było wspaniale. Jak dla mnie ta historia była bardzo wiarygodna i bohaterowie zostali bardzo fajnie wykreowani. Końcówka bardzo mnie usatysfakcjonowała - piękny happy end z przesłaniem, że dobro zawsze zwycięża.
Zdecydowanie Sorenowi brakowało takiego smęcenia jak w częściach o jego bracie Ablu - i dzięki Bogu za to, bo ta książka to była dla mnie czysta przyjemność.
April 5, 2020
6
Bardzo podobała mi się zarówno historia Landona i Abla, jak i Abla i Kierana.
Ale Soren?
Soren strzelił mnie prosto w serducho.
W sposób zupełnie niespodziewany wkręcił mi się pod skórę i tam został na amen.
Dlaczego akurat ta historia?
Nie mam pojęcia.
Czasami tak po prostu jest...
Dla mnie to zdecydowanie książka z najwyższej półki 💙💙💙
Bardzo podobała mi się zarówno historia Landona i Abla, jak i Abla i Kierana.
Ale Soren?
Soren strzelił mnie prosto w serducho.
W sposób zupełnie niespodziewany wkręcił mi się pod skórę i tam został na amen.
Dlaczego akurat ta historia?
Nie mam pojęcia.
Czasami tak po prostu jest...
Dla mnie to zdecydowanie książka z najwyższej półki 💙💙💙
May 23, 2018
4,5 stars.
Loved Soren and Remy. Now looking forward to A.J. and Trystainˋs story.
May 10, 2024
4.5 stars
i could not put this down once i picked it up omg i was so invested 😭 the hurt comfort was hurt comforting and these two deserved their happy ending so bad!! they have such a special place in my heart ahhh
i could not put this down once i picked it up omg i was so invested 😭 the hurt comfort was hurt comforting and these two deserved their happy ending so bad!! they have such a special place in my heart ahhh
January 6, 2019
3.5 Stars
This romance is very dark at the start and then slowly the light comes in.
Soren lives is snarky denial of how hard his life really is. As Remy shows him love.
There is a lot of grit and sadness here as we see more and more of Soren's life. I am not always sure he is going to make it out but he does.
If anyone ever deserved a Happily Ever After, it is Soren.
If you in the mood of an angst read, as usual, Nicky James delivers.
This romance is very dark at the start and then slowly the light comes in.
Soren lives is snarky denial of how hard his life really is. As Remy shows him love.
There is a lot of grit and sadness here as we see more and more of Soren's life. I am not always sure he is going to make it out but he does.
If anyone ever deserved a Happily Ever After, it is Soren.
If you in the mood of an angst read, as usual, Nicky James delivers.
March 30, 2022
I had mixed feelings towards Soren in New Beginnings: Abel's Journey. He was young and had the attitude to prove it, which at times drove me nuts. He wasn't equipped to help Abel and I didn't blame him for his reactions to Abel's downward spiral, but sometimes he went too far with the sass and I wanted to scream at him. I knew he was probably fighting demons of his own, considering how their father treated him after he came out, but I had no idea just how much he was dealing with.
If I were to fall down a rabbit hole with only the realistic parts of this story to buffer my descent, I'm not sure what injuries I'd sustain at the bottom. I'm American, yet I know very little about the ins and outs of our lovely criminal justice system. What I do know is that "justice" is a loose term. I'm glad things worked out the way they did in this book, I'm just not sure that's how it would have actually gone down. It's fiction and I don't need authors to also have doctorates or law degrees, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to saying "hmmmm" a few times.
I appreciated the pace of this story. It moved through weeks and months with ease and gave Soren the amount of time I think he needed to not only put his trust in Remy, but to also trust the way he was starting to feel about him. There was definitely a danger of running up a curb and veering off into hero worship land. Remy was Soren's savior and Soren was someone who'd been trained to feel obligated towards anyone offering him support. At times it was hard not to wonder where Soren's feelings towards Remy stemmed from. Did he find him attractive? Did he like spending time with him? Or did he just feel safe for the first time in his life? By the end of the book I felt good about the answers to those questions, but it took me some time to get there.
Once I loved Remy and Soren together, I really loved them together. Happy Soren was such a fun character. I don't know much about OCD so I don't know if it's beneficial for someone to come in and shake things up the way Soren did with Remy, but it was fun to read. I cringed a few times, thinking Remy was going to lose his shit, but also laughed at Soren's ridiculous antics. He really was a 22 year old toddler.
This is the first series I've read by Nicky James and I'm kind of addicted. She has a knack for creating characters that are hard to forget. Even though this wasn't my favorite book of the series, both Soren and Remy have taken root in my brain alongside Landon (I still miss him), Abel and Kieran. I'm sad that the next book will be taking me out of Flint, Michigan and away from these characters, but I'm looking forward to A.J.'s story. I have a feeling his head is going to be a scary place to be.
If I were to fall down a rabbit hole with only the realistic parts of this story to buffer my descent, I'm not sure what injuries I'd sustain at the bottom. I'm American, yet I know very little about the ins and outs of our lovely criminal justice system. What I do know is that "justice" is a loose term. I'm glad things worked out the way they did in this book, I'm just not sure that's how it would have actually gone down. It's fiction and I don't need authors to also have doctorates or law degrees, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to saying "hmmmm" a few times.
I appreciated the pace of this story. It moved through weeks and months with ease and gave Soren the amount of time I think he needed to not only put his trust in Remy, but to also trust the way he was starting to feel about him. There was definitely a danger of running up a curb and veering off into hero worship land. Remy was Soren's savior and Soren was someone who'd been trained to feel obligated towards anyone offering him support. At times it was hard not to wonder where Soren's feelings towards Remy stemmed from. Did he find him attractive? Did he like spending time with him? Or did he just feel safe for the first time in his life? By the end of the book I felt good about the answers to those questions, but it took me some time to get there.
Once I loved Remy and Soren together, I really loved them together. Happy Soren was such a fun character. I don't know much about OCD so I don't know if it's beneficial for someone to come in and shake things up the way Soren did with Remy, but it was fun to read. I cringed a few times, thinking Remy was going to lose his shit, but also laughed at Soren's ridiculous antics. He really was a 22 year old toddler.
This is the first series I've read by Nicky James and I'm kind of addicted. She has a knack for creating characters that are hard to forget. Even though this wasn't my favorite book of the series, both Soren and Remy have taken root in my brain alongside Landon (I still miss him), Abel and Kieran. I'm sad that the next book will be taking me out of Flint, Michigan and away from these characters, but I'm looking forward to A.J.'s story. I have a feeling his head is going to be a scary place to be.
August 18, 2022
[4.4~4.5] whether it be the keen sense of foreboding or my wariness toward the cast of characters (i was busy sussing out whom to trust and basically waiting for the inevitable ball to drop), the beginning had my nerves skyrocketing. my shoulders were cramping up right up to the climax from the tension 😧
book 2 of this series will forever hold the number one spot in my eyes, but i can't discount the emotions this stirred in my cold and previously empty heart lol. rounding up my rating as the characters rightfully deserve.
book 2 of this series will forever hold the number one spot in my eyes, but i can't discount the emotions this stirred in my cold and previously empty heart lol. rounding up my rating as the characters rightfully deserve.
January 23, 2020
najlepsza część z serii. pierwsza polowa normalnie straszna. to bylo okropne co tam sie działo z Sorenem. druga..oooo to było mega. i musze to napisac, tak jak do Abla mozna miec różne anse i zastrzezenia, to za to co zrobil tutaj...normalnie uwielbiam go. ie bede pisac nic wiecej. Soren zasluzyl na najlepsze, Abe zasluzyl na najlepsze i obydwoje to maja. a reszta świata może się.... o.
10 gwiazdek.
z nerwow nie moge znalezc zdjecia. 10 gwiazdek. za Sorena i Abla.
10 gwiazdek.
z nerwow nie moge znalezc zdjecia. 10 gwiazdek. za Sorena i Abla.
March 23, 2020
historia Sorena, a dokładnie pierwsza połowa, chwytała za serce... później było tylko lepiej, a to dzięki Remy'emu, który wyrwał go z piekła i dał miłość i szansę na lepsze życie :D
July 25, 2017
3.5
I'm a huge fan of the first two books in this series, and was really looking forward to Soren's story. I loved the glimpses of him we got in Abel's book and didn't really know what to expect with his story. Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much as the first two.
The biggest thing that drove me nuts with this book was the over-arching theme of "love fixes all." I'm always wary of books where a love interest swoops in and saves the day and all wrongs are righted and yadda yadda happily ever after. Here, Remy saves Soren. Bottom line. Remy can do no wrong. The man has no flaws. He's perfection. Ok, yes, he suffers from OCD (like, legit OCD, not the OCD you say you have when you spend an extra 10 minutes getting your hair just right), which is a serious illness, yes. And yes, he tells Soren at one point that because of the things his illness causes him to do, he is not perfect. But, on paper, when reading a romance novel, yes, the man is damn near perfect. It was infuriating. Soren is transformed into a damsel in distress and Remy is his white knight saving the day. Gah I know this sounds crass, what with the abuse, both physical and emotional, that Soren experiences and survives. But the whole, Remy enters the picture and solves everything, thing, really turned me off this book. It wasn't what I expected after reading the first two books by this author. I've been very impressed with her character development but here, it just didn't work for me.
Soren and Remy never felt real to me. Not as characters, and not as two people in love. I love age gap romances. Love 'em. Eat 'em up. But here, at times, it squicked me out. Soren was almost emotionally stunted, making him seem younger at times than his 22 years, and younger than the life experiences he's had. And Remy... Idk. At times, some of their interactions just made me feel... icky. Aside from that, I never felt the vivid emotion and love between them that this author made me feel in Landon/Abel and Abel/Kieran's books. The writing was so much more vivid and the emotions more raw. I expected more out of this one and was disappointed that I didn't get it.
HOWEVER, this book does pack a serious punch. It covers some very serious topics and does it pretty well. Aside from the editing errors that I've come to expect (and can usually overlook), the writing is wonderful. Evocative yet simple. I also loved the last couple of chapters, where we get to see Abel and Kieran again and catch up with them. The scenes between Abel and Soren were incredibly touching, and we do get some closure for them family-wise. It was overdue and bittersweet.
Overall, I liked a lot about this story, but the whole "love fixes all" thing just kind of messed it up for me. I'm so glad for Soren that he found love in someone as kind and caring as Remy. I just would've loved to know that, if it came to it, Soren could stand on his own two feet without Remy, and I definitely didn't get that feeling.
I'm a huge fan of the first two books in this series, and was really looking forward to Soren's story. I loved the glimpses of him we got in Abel's book and didn't really know what to expect with his story. Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much as the first two.
The biggest thing that drove me nuts with this book was the over-arching theme of "love fixes all." I'm always wary of books where a love interest swoops in and saves the day and all wrongs are righted and yadda yadda happily ever after. Here, Remy saves Soren. Bottom line. Remy can do no wrong. The man has no flaws. He's perfection. Ok, yes, he suffers from OCD (like, legit OCD, not the OCD you say you have when you spend an extra 10 minutes getting your hair just right), which is a serious illness, yes. And yes, he tells Soren at one point that because of the things his illness causes him to do, he is not perfect. But, on paper, when reading a romance novel, yes, the man is damn near perfect. It was infuriating. Soren is transformed into a damsel in distress and Remy is his white knight saving the day. Gah I know this sounds crass, what with the abuse, both physical and emotional, that Soren experiences and survives. But the whole, Remy enters the picture and solves everything, thing, really turned me off this book. It wasn't what I expected after reading the first two books by this author. I've been very impressed with her character development but here, it just didn't work for me.
Soren and Remy never felt real to me. Not as characters, and not as two people in love. I love age gap romances. Love 'em. Eat 'em up. But here, at times, it squicked me out. Soren was almost emotionally stunted, making him seem younger at times than his 22 years, and younger than the life experiences he's had. And Remy... Idk. At times, some of their interactions just made me feel... icky. Aside from that, I never felt the vivid emotion and love between them that this author made me feel in Landon/Abel and Abel/Kieran's books. The writing was so much more vivid and the emotions more raw. I expected more out of this one and was disappointed that I didn't get it.
HOWEVER, this book does pack a serious punch. It covers some very serious topics and does it pretty well. Aside from the editing errors that I've come to expect (and can usually overlook), the writing is wonderful. Evocative yet simple. I also loved the last couple of chapters, where we get to see Abel and Kieran again and catch up with them. The scenes between Abel and Soren were incredibly touching, and we do get some closure for them family-wise. It was overdue and bittersweet.
Overall, I liked a lot about this story, but the whole "love fixes all" thing just kind of messed it up for me. I'm so glad for Soren that he found love in someone as kind and caring as Remy. I just would've loved to know that, if it came to it, Soren could stand on his own two feet without Remy, and I definitely didn't get that feeling.
August 11, 2017
5 Hearts
Oh Good Lord, how I love these amazingly strong characters that love so hard, so completely, and absolutely unconditionally. Stories like these just make you believe in absolute true love. Nicky James’s characters always touch my heart. Every single one of them are so incredibly strong and unbelievably flawed but so real and so remarkable. I love this author. She is an amazing storyteller as I’ve probably said in all my reviews and her stories will gut punch you at time. They make such an impact, they’re painful sometimes painful but the characters…formidable…unwavering…amazing.
The Escape: Soren’s Saga is no exception to any of what I said above. This book is amazing. I was always curious about Soren. In Abel’s book he really seemed to love his job but there was always something niggling the back of my mind. In this book it’s all laid out in painful detail and it’s worse than what I could have imagined.
Soren is soft, quiet, kind, and lost. After being kicked out of his house at a young age Soren took the only avenue available to him and never imagined what it would lead to. Years, later he’s still obligated to do a job he can’t stand just to survive day to day. He considers himself unlovable so dating is totally out of the question.
Remy Moretti is captivated by Soren from the very first encounter. Not easily deterred Remy seeks him out and shows Soren that he’s different from the men that only want sex from him. Remy is persistent and eventually is able to break through Soren’s walls.
Remy and Soren have a bumpy start to things. Remy, with all his eagerness, and strong spirit battles his own demons daily. But I have to admit Remy may be one of my most favorite characters Nicky’s ever written. He is just the most amazing person. What he does for Soren and how he shows his love was remarkable.
This book was fantastic. Great addition to the series and I really can’t wait for more…there were lots of little bait hints towards the end…we will see. And it was nice to see Abel happy, really happy….loved that.
Absolutely Recommend.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Oh Good Lord, how I love these amazingly strong characters that love so hard, so completely, and absolutely unconditionally. Stories like these just make you believe in absolute true love. Nicky James’s characters always touch my heart. Every single one of them are so incredibly strong and unbelievably flawed but so real and so remarkable. I love this author. She is an amazing storyteller as I’ve probably said in all my reviews and her stories will gut punch you at time. They make such an impact, they’re painful sometimes painful but the characters…formidable…unwavering…amazing.
The Escape: Soren’s Saga is no exception to any of what I said above. This book is amazing. I was always curious about Soren. In Abel’s book he really seemed to love his job but there was always something niggling the back of my mind. In this book it’s all laid out in painful detail and it’s worse than what I could have imagined.
Soren is soft, quiet, kind, and lost. After being kicked out of his house at a young age Soren took the only avenue available to him and never imagined what it would lead to. Years, later he’s still obligated to do a job he can’t stand just to survive day to day. He considers himself unlovable so dating is totally out of the question.
Remy Moretti is captivated by Soren from the very first encounter. Not easily deterred Remy seeks him out and shows Soren that he’s different from the men that only want sex from him. Remy is persistent and eventually is able to break through Soren’s walls.
Remy and Soren have a bumpy start to things. Remy, with all his eagerness, and strong spirit battles his own demons daily. But I have to admit Remy may be one of my most favorite characters Nicky’s ever written. He is just the most amazing person. What he does for Soren and how he shows his love was remarkable.
This book was fantastic. Great addition to the series and I really can’t wait for more…there were lots of little bait hints towards the end…we will see. And it was nice to see Abel happy, really happy….loved that.
Absolutely Recommend.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 6, 2018
Let me get comfy......I found Nicky James through a friend who said I should read No Regrets..I did and I loved it...It broke my heart and then Abel's Journey broke my heart again...and now Soren's Saga has yet again broken my heart.......What the heck have you done to me Nicky.....I have other authors who's books have destroyed me but usually it's just one..but you madam broke me three times in a row.....I loved Soren when we first met him and I knew he was into something deep....I could sense it....He works at The Escape and omg I hated that place...I knew it was bad and what Soren had to do just broke my heart....When he meets Remy thinking he's a cop just sends him deeper....Remy....My sweet Remy...I think he is my most favourite MC of them all..(Soren is only a tiny bit behind).....With his OCD..The way he is just makes him all that more adorable...I loved how he pushed himself through his boundary limits for Soren even before he knew him well....He went and did things he wouldn't normally do and it was beautiful....What he did for Soren at the club made my heart soar.....But.....That one uncontrollable moment broke it all down.....Soren pushed Remy's boundaries beautifully...Pushing him to not do things he would usually do.....
This book will totally break you apart without a doubt...It will put you back together but oh so slowly.....I have to mention Alessio....Remy's brother...He's not in it a lot but he is likeable....apart from not believing his brother....We also get Abel and Kieran...But that comes at a price of meeting Soren and Abel's parents...Enough said..hateful people.....I'm not going to spoil the ending but damn....Oh and one more thing that broke my heart...Out of all the people that Soren worked with I hoped Ash was going to find some one to love...but AJ..Oh my....My heart is going to break for him until we hear his story...That man I think is a shadow of the man he can be....A beautiful heartbreaking series of books that is a must read...and an absolute re-read...well as soon as i've recoverd...Give me a few months first....Well done Ms James....x
This book will totally break you apart without a doubt...It will put you back together but oh so slowly.....I have to mention Alessio....Remy's brother...He's not in it a lot but he is likeable....apart from not believing his brother....We also get Abel and Kieran...But that comes at a price of meeting Soren and Abel's parents...Enough said..hateful people.....I'm not going to spoil the ending but damn....Oh and one more thing that broke my heart...Out of all the people that Soren worked with I hoped Ash was going to find some one to love...but AJ..Oh my....My heart is going to break for him until we hear his story...That man I think is a shadow of the man he can be....A beautiful heartbreaking series of books that is a must read...and an absolute re-read...well as soon as i've recoverd...Give me a few months first....Well done Ms James....x
August 13, 2024
Rémi et Soren avec un Culomètre à 🍑
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Je ne pensais pas qu'il y aurait une suite à la duologie mais, à ce que j'ai vu, il y en a 2 de plus. Ici, vous allez suivre l'histoire de Soren, le petit frère de Abel. TRIGGER WARNINGS, cette histoire fait mention de prostitution et d'abus sexuels.
Dans les tomes précédents, nous avons appris que Soren utilisait son corps pour se faire de l'argent et nous découvrons un peu plus le monde dans lequel il évolue. Jeté de chez lui à 16 ans et éloigné de son frère, il vit en collocation avec son meilleur ami et travaille dans un bar la semaine et danse les weekends. Mais, les weekends, c'est aussi le moment où il doit payer le "loyer" par des moments particuliers avec les VIP choisis par son patron. Sauf qu'il n'en peut plus, il arrive à un point où le sexe le dégoûte et c'est dans cette situation qu'il va revoir Rémi.
L'auteurice ne pouvait pas nous créer des personnages plus éloignés. Soren est déjà épuisé mentalement et physiquement alors qu'il n'a même pas 25 ans alors que Rémi est un homme de 10 ans de plus, enfermé dans ses tocs de propreté. Le contexte va faire que Soren ne va pas laisser Rémi s'approcher pensant qu'il ne veut que l'utiliser alors que celui-ci est touché par la détresse de Soren qu'il veut aider tout en voulant se rapprocher de lui.
Ils vont d'abord s'apprivoiser, s'aider, s'élever avant de commencer une quelconque romance. Au fil des pages, les deux protagonistes vont devenir des piliers l'un pour l'autre, apprenant d'abord à se connaître, leurs forces et leurs faiblesses pour ensuite se donner une chance. Ce n'est pas une histoire de tout repos, ce que vivent les deux hommes est assez difficile, mais c'est encore plus beau à lire.
Je n'ai pas autant chialer que dans les deux premiers mais j'ai eu mal au cœur pour eux de les voir passer par tant d'épreuves !
Bref, une belle histoire qui finit bien !
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Je ne pensais pas qu'il y aurait une suite à la duologie mais, à ce que j'ai vu, il y en a 2 de plus. Ici, vous allez suivre l'histoire de Soren, le petit frère de Abel. TRIGGER WARNINGS, cette histoire fait mention de prostitution et d'abus sexuels.
Dans les tomes précédents, nous avons appris que Soren utilisait son corps pour se faire de l'argent et nous découvrons un peu plus le monde dans lequel il évolue. Jeté de chez lui à 16 ans et éloigné de son frère, il vit en collocation avec son meilleur ami et travaille dans un bar la semaine et danse les weekends. Mais, les weekends, c'est aussi le moment où il doit payer le "loyer" par des moments particuliers avec les VIP choisis par son patron. Sauf qu'il n'en peut plus, il arrive à un point où le sexe le dégoûte et c'est dans cette situation qu'il va revoir Rémi.
L'auteurice ne pouvait pas nous créer des personnages plus éloignés. Soren est déjà épuisé mentalement et physiquement alors qu'il n'a même pas 25 ans alors que Rémi est un homme de 10 ans de plus, enfermé dans ses tocs de propreté. Le contexte va faire que Soren ne va pas laisser Rémi s'approcher pensant qu'il ne veut que l'utiliser alors que celui-ci est touché par la détresse de Soren qu'il veut aider tout en voulant se rapprocher de lui.
Ils vont d'abord s'apprivoiser, s'aider, s'élever avant de commencer une quelconque romance. Au fil des pages, les deux protagonistes vont devenir des piliers l'un pour l'autre, apprenant d'abord à se connaître, leurs forces et leurs faiblesses pour ensuite se donner une chance. Ce n'est pas une histoire de tout repos, ce que vivent les deux hommes est assez difficile, mais c'est encore plus beau à lire.
Je n'ai pas autant chialer que dans les deux premiers mais j'ai eu mal au cœur pour eux de les voir passer par tant d'épreuves !
Bref, une belle histoire qui finit bien !
July 8, 2017
When I met Soren in the previous books, I had the impression that he was a person that had no worries in life, besides dancing and enjoying his days, without second guessing his decisions or major worries in life...
What I found out in this book, is that I couldn't be far from the truth...
Soren is living a lie... He's at the limit of his endurance, and no one is the wiser... He won't let anyone see that what he shows to the world is just a facade. He can't let himself slip into caring for someone, because who would love someone like him?
Remy has everything ordered in his life and the one thing that he doesn't need is a tornado called Soren to turn his life upside down... That is, until he really look into his eyes and see what Soren tries valiantly to hide from the world... All the hurting, hopelessness and misery that no one seems to notice besides Remy.
The story of these amazing, flawed and imperfect guys will keep you glued to this book from the first page to the last one... And in the end, you'll realise that what some people may call imperfections and flaws, the right person will call a chance to grow and a trait that will make them perfect for each other.
Don't miss the chance to fall in love by Soren and Remy on this amazing book.
One more great read from Nicole James.
***I received an advanced reading copy in exchanged of an honest and unbiased review***
What I found out in this book, is that I couldn't be far from the truth...
Soren is living a lie... He's at the limit of his endurance, and no one is the wiser... He won't let anyone see that what he shows to the world is just a facade. He can't let himself slip into caring for someone, because who would love someone like him?
Remy has everything ordered in his life and the one thing that he doesn't need is a tornado called Soren to turn his life upside down... That is, until he really look into his eyes and see what Soren tries valiantly to hide from the world... All the hurting, hopelessness and misery that no one seems to notice besides Remy.
The story of these amazing, flawed and imperfect guys will keep you glued to this book from the first page to the last one... And in the end, you'll realise that what some people may call imperfections and flaws, the right person will call a chance to grow and a trait that will make them perfect for each other.
Don't miss the chance to fall in love by Soren and Remy on this amazing book.
One more great read from Nicole James.
***I received an advanced reading copy in exchanged of an honest and unbiased review***
July 25, 2017
Nice read...
***3.88 stars (rounded-up)***
For those of you that are withholding reading this book due to possible triggers, no need to worry. The bad stuff occurs "behind closed doors" or is something that has already happened in the past and is being brought up for a reason. Again, don't worry because there really isn't any detail.
While reading, my heart went out to Soren given everything he has been through and endured. Given this, I like how the author didn't compound the problems because I think that would've done more harm than not for the overall story. Soren and Remy, although opposites in almost every conceivable way are wonderful together. In the end, everything does work out for these two wonderful men.
If you're wondering, this book can be read as a standalone.
***3.88 stars (rounded-up)***
For those of you that are withholding reading this book due to possible triggers, no need to worry. The bad stuff occurs "behind closed doors" or is something that has already happened in the past and is being brought up for a reason. Again, don't worry because there really isn't any detail.
While reading, my heart went out to Soren given everything he has been through and endured. Given this, I like how the author didn't compound the problems because I think that would've done more harm than not for the overall story. Soren and Remy, although opposites in almost every conceivable way are wonderful together. In the end, everything does work out for these two wonderful men.
If you're wondering, this book can be read as a standalone.
June 6, 2019
3,5 stars. I don't know about this one, it was probably the least enjoyable book I read by Nicky James. I liked the other 2 in this series better. I did feel for Soren, but somehow he never grew on me like Abel did in the first two books. I also had difficulties connecting with Remy and 'feeling' the growing love between him and Soren. I can't honestly tell why not, I mean, I usually love Nicky's writing; she's one of my auto-buy authors. So why this one sort of disappointed me...I really, really don't know.
It stil was a good read, though.
Maybe I've began expecting all of her books to 'wow' me and this one just didn't.
It stil was a good read, though.
Maybe I've began expecting all of her books to 'wow' me and this one just didn't.
July 8, 2017
Soren is beautiful broken young man, who doesn't believe in love, Remy older, who like everything in order. Chaos meets control. One day faith bring them together. Fantastic and beautiful journey. I love this book. I would like to recommend for everyone who loves books with emotions.
I received ARC to put honest review, I wish to give this book more then 5 stars!!
I received ARC to put honest review, I wish to give this book more then 5 stars!!
May 15, 2022
This was both heart rending and sweet. Soren and Remy are both so loveable and their romance was gentle and healing. Soren's journey from despair and shame to love and laughter was beautiful, and I especially loved how playful he and Remy were together. Nicky James writes some of the most tender love stories and this is no exception.
July 28, 2017
I have waited for Soren's book, after finishing Abel's. This book isn't as heavy as the last two books, but it definitely still packs an emotional punch. I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, No Regrets and New Beginnings: Abel's Journey. And after much anticipation, we get Soren's story. I was looking forward to reading about Soren, because, and I know Abel was in a very bad place, Abel was awful to Soren without ever really trying to understand him and what he did for a living. Soren's a bit resigned to Abel calling him a "whore," but it still hurt to read, especially knowing all the details now.
Soren works at The Escape on Friday and Saturday evenings. It's a club that once looked like a dream to underage Soren. It was a quick way to earn money doing the things he already enjoyed - dancing and sex. Soren rooms with another dancer, Ash, but after years at doing the same thing, the same type of men, Soren wants out. Everything about his weekends are starting to look more like a burden than an escape from reality. Until he meets Remy.
Remy life is orderly and he's an introvert. He likes things clean and done just so, and when he meets 23-year-old brash and loud Soren, it opens up something inside of him. Soren loves to push his buttons and take Remy out of his comfort zone, and when Remy ventures into The Escape, he becomes Soren's salvation.
I love Remy and I love Soren. They're so very different in nature, but there's something about them together that complements one another. I think this book is structured slightly differently than what I've come to expect from romance books? The conflict mainly takes place towards the beginning of the book, instead of near the end. By the last 25% or so of the book, we're just rooting for the two to finally catch a break and be happy. While it's not necessary to read the first two books in this series, and Soren's book works as a standalone, I think the last part of this book makes more sense with Soren's family dynamic with his parents and two older siblings.
This story goes into some really dark places, but it's never too overwhelming, I think? Trigger warnings for this book would definitely include forced underage prostitution, drug use, and mentions of an attempted suicide (references something that happened in a previous book). There's a HEA at the end of this, but it's a journey to get there.
I guess I have some reservations about this book, more so than the previous two. It's made pretty clear that Remy has OCD, but they're written in as "quirks" or something that Soren can somehow make Remy...not do the things he does (like cleaning a messy kitchen, checking the stove several times before leaving the apartment, etc.). At one point, Soren even purposefully messes up Remy's meticulously organized living room just to see if he would notice. I can't really speak for the OCD rep in this book, but it seems more like a joke that Remy has some "odd quirks" in this story instead of something that's handled with more seriousness? I don't know, maybe it's just me. There's also a few moments where Soren's dyslexia is mentioned, and handled slightly better than Remy's OCD in this story. But only slightly.
There's also one minor, minor detail in the epilogue that I get why the author chose to do this, but it threw me off a bit. Again, it's a minor detail to give a HEA that the characters can finally move on with their lives, but still.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the characters. I liked that even when Remy was helping Soren out, it was never creepy in any way and never looked like Remy was doing all these nice things for Soren for sex. I really enjoyed seeing my faves from the last book make an appearance. Almost makes me want to go read the first two books again. If I had another box of tissues to go through to read them. <3 Soren and Remy were lovely characters, and the story sure has some heart-wrenching moments. Will we get another book in this series? I really want a story for A.J now, because whatever he went through as the oldest at The Escape was worse than what Soren went through and I would love for him to get a HEA too.
Soren works at The Escape on Friday and Saturday evenings. It's a club that once looked like a dream to underage Soren. It was a quick way to earn money doing the things he already enjoyed - dancing and sex. Soren rooms with another dancer, Ash, but after years at doing the same thing, the same type of men, Soren wants out. Everything about his weekends are starting to look more like a burden than an escape from reality. Until he meets Remy.
Remy life is orderly and he's an introvert. He likes things clean and done just so, and when he meets 23-year-old brash and loud Soren, it opens up something inside of him. Soren loves to push his buttons and take Remy out of his comfort zone, and when Remy ventures into The Escape, he becomes Soren's salvation.
"Listen to me, Soren. I will never cross lines you don't want me to cross. I will respect your wishes and you. I'm not like those other men you see at the club. Please don't put me in that same category. Let me make us something to eat. Just dinner."
I love Remy and I love Soren. They're so very different in nature, but there's something about them together that complements one another. I think this book is structured slightly differently than what I've come to expect from romance books? The conflict mainly takes place towards the beginning of the book, instead of near the end. By the last 25% or so of the book, we're just rooting for the two to finally catch a break and be happy. While it's not necessary to read the first two books in this series, and Soren's book works as a standalone, I think the last part of this book makes more sense with Soren's family dynamic with his parents and two older siblings.
This story goes into some really dark places, but it's never too overwhelming, I think? Trigger warnings for this book would definitely include forced underage prostitution, drug use, and mentions of an attempted suicide (references something that happened in a previous book). There's a HEA at the end of this, but it's a journey to get there.
I guess I have some reservations about this book, more so than the previous two. It's made pretty clear that Remy has OCD, but they're written in as "quirks" or something that Soren can somehow make Remy...not do the things he does (like cleaning a messy kitchen, checking the stove several times before leaving the apartment, etc.). At one point, Soren even purposefully messes up Remy's meticulously organized living room just to see if he would notice. I can't really speak for the OCD rep in this book, but it seems more like a joke that Remy has some "odd quirks" in this story instead of something that's handled with more seriousness? I don't know, maybe it's just me. There's also a few moments where Soren's dyslexia is mentioned, and handled slightly better than Remy's OCD in this story. But only slightly.
There's also one minor, minor detail in the epilogue that I get why the author chose to do this, but it threw me off a bit. Again, it's a minor detail to give a HEA that the characters can finally move on with their lives, but still.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the characters. I liked that even when Remy was helping Soren out, it was never creepy in any way and never looked like Remy was doing all these nice things for Soren for sex. I really enjoyed seeing my faves from the last book make an appearance. Almost makes me want to go read the first two books again. If I had another box of tissues to go through to read them. <3 Soren and Remy were lovely characters, and the story sure has some heart-wrenching moments. Will we get another book in this series? I really want a story for A.J now, because whatever he went through as the oldest at The Escape was worse than what Soren went through and I would love for him to get a HEA too.
July 13, 2017
While Abel and Kieran from No Regrets and New Beginnings are featured in this story, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I loved Soren when I met him in New Beginnings, and I'm so happy we got his story.
Soren is just trying to get by taking it one step at a time, but working at The Escape nightclub, and being forced to have sex with some of the backroom regulars so he won't lose his job and home is becoming too much for him, but Soren can't seem to find a solution that will let him break free of the nightclub owner, Donny's grasp. Coming home from work one night, he meets Remy in front of his apartment complex where the police are arresting one of the other tenants. They later meet again at the bar Soren works at during the week as a bartender. Remy wants to get to know Soren better, but Soren doesn't trust Remy or anyone for that matter. Remy is nothing if not persistent, but can he get Soren to trust him enough to help get him away from the life he so desperately wants to escape?
I loved both Soren and Remy. Soren is stubborn, but scared. He's been on his own for quite some time and hasn't had anyone to lean on in years, so it's hard for him to believe that Remy just truly likes him and wants to get to know him without any ulterior motives. Omg Remy, I absolutely loved him. While he's not perfect, he comes very close. He was so good to Soren and he didn't push. He seemed to know instinctively when to step back and give Soren some breathing room. I wanted to hug poor Remy, he suffered from extreme OCD, as well as Mysphobia, better known as germophobia. Poor guy, going into The Escape, a seedy nightclub, made his skin crawl and as Soren grows closer to Remy, he can't help but do things like moving objects in his home around, that drives Remy absolutely crazy.
I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of age gaps in books, it's one of the first things I try to decipher when I read a book's blurb, reading big age gaps almost always gives me a creepy feeling. Logically, I know this is just me, and not the characters, but it makes it harder to enjoy the story. I usually refuse to read books with more than an 8 or so years age gap, but I loved Soren so much, that I just couldn't pass this story up. I'm really glad I didn't, because although there is a 13 year age gap between Soren and Remy, they were meant for one another. I truly believe with the situation Soren was in he needed someone like Remy, someone who was mature and established to help get him out of his horrible situation. These two men just fit and I absolutely loved both of them to pieces.
The progression of the relationship between Soren and Remy was slow, but with Soren's situation, it was realistic. I loved getting to know these two men as they got to know one another. The story is well-written and paced well. It's much lighter than the other books in the series, but it's still filled with plenty of conflict and angst to help keep the story entertaining and interesting.
Okay, now let's talk about Abel. I love getting to visit with characters from previous stories, but I found myself not liking Abel all that much. He was a real twat to Soren. I understand him not liking what his brother did for a living, but I thought it was wrong of him to tease him and call him names and whatnot because of it. Abel may not respect what Soren does, but he didn't mind it when it kept a roof over his head, food in his belly and gave him the opportunity to lay in bed all day and drown his sorrows in alcohol over the death of his husband, Landon. I'm glad the author had him come around in the end.
I absolutely adored this story. It captivated me from the moment I started reading and held my attention to the very end. The Escape nightclub had a ton of wonderful secondary characters and was filled with a plethora of new stories to be told, I hope Ms. James gives some of them a voice. Highly recommended!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.*
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