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Like Two Parting Seas
After two years of internet chats and crappy video calls, Nathan and Leonardo will finally meet face-to-face, and the anticipation is killing them both. Their slow-simmering desire to be together soon boils over as Nathan shows Leo around his hometown of Boise, Idaho. Witty conversation fills their days, passion fills their nights, and both young men know they belong in each other’s lives. But how can a romance, let alone a relationship, work when Nathan’s career is in Boise and Leo must soon return to his home in Italy? Since neither is ready to say goodbye to the budding love affair, they’re determined to find a solution before the end of Leo’s holiday. States of Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
- GenresM M Romance
49 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2017
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 24, 2017
Nathan from Boise, Idaho and Leonardo from Italy first met online two years ago and are now finally meeting face-to-face when Leo visits Nathan in Boise for 2 weeks. During that time, the two men explore sites around Boise as they attempt to define their relationship and where it will lead.
Throughout the novella, Nathan and Leo talk about how they need to define their relationship and the next step, but nothing is really brought up until around 92% and the story quickly ends with a HFN. I found it very frustrating, especially in such a short novella, that we get a lot of:
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Throughout the novella, Nathan and Leo talk about how they need to define their relationship and the next step, but nothing is really brought up until around 92% and the story quickly ends with a HFN. I found it very frustrating, especially in such a short novella, that we get a lot of:
He just doesn’t know what’s acceptable to tell you when you two haven’t even established what you are yet. and He’d hoped [...] they would be closer to figuring out where they wanted to go with their relationship, but with a week left, he didn’t know if much more was going to come out of it [...].This novella feels more like a vignette in that the plot is basically the two men getting to know each other better. We don't really get a clear sense of the MC's dynamic nor how they moved from friends online to the possibility of something more; most of the sex here is off-page or lightly described adding to the feeling of uncertainty. Like Two Parting Seas is a miss for me and I give it 3 stars, but I would welcome the opportunity to read more by this author in a longer format.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
August 31, 2017
2.75 stars rounded up
I am a little miffed because this story started two years after the fact. I felt like I missed the beginning – how did Nathan and Leonardo find each other on the Internet? How did they keep the friendship? Did they start from chatting or go directly to video calls? Who initiated the video calls? And so on, and so forth.
I don’t mind reading about ‘established’ relationship … but since Nathan and Leo have only been seeing each other online, I didn’t feel like they were established enough. That is why I want to read how it happens. On top of that, the ending of this short story falls into HFN territory. At least give me an epilogue if you don’t give me the beginning, dear author. *pout*
However, like the rest of the States of Love stories, I enjoyed the glimpse of Idaho. As characters go, Nathan and Leo are alright. Freytes is a new-to-me author and the writing style is pretty good. Maybe if she writes something a little bit longer, I’ll take a look on that as well.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
I am a little miffed because this story started two years after the fact. I felt like I missed the beginning – how did Nathan and Leonardo find each other on the Internet? How did they keep the friendship? Did they start from chatting or go directly to video calls? Who initiated the video calls? And so on, and so forth.
I don’t mind reading about ‘established’ relationship … but since Nathan and Leo have only been seeing each other online, I didn’t feel like they were established enough. That is why I want to read how it happens. On top of that, the ending of this short story falls into HFN territory. At least give me an epilogue if you don’t give me the beginning, dear author. *pout*
However, like the rest of the States of Love stories, I enjoyed the glimpse of Idaho. As characters go, Nathan and Leo are alright. Freytes is a new-to-me author and the writing style is pretty good. Maybe if she writes something a little bit longer, I’ll take a look on that as well.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
August 31, 2017
2.75 stars
Well, the story’s premise was great. The long-distance friendship turning into something more, caught my eye and I needed to read this. I thought would be a sweet and great story. Unfortunately, the execution was disappointing. The story was flat, really fast paced and felt very incomplete.
The plot was Okay and could be so much more if it had been better developed. Unfortunately, the novella was really short to the reader really to connect with it.
There were a lot of events where the author “told” what happened and didn’t “show” it. That was frustrating. I couldn't get a sense of the MC's friendship before they met face-to-face, nor when they truly hooked up. Even when they were together spending time with each other, there were gaps in the story telling. That was a big turn off for me about the story.
The sex wasn't much described. Actually, it was basically off-pages and it felt like we were losing a part of the story where the MC's was really bonding their feelings.
The novella wasn't all bad, though. This book is part of States of Love series. In this series, each author selects one state and surround their story around that area.
Idaho is where Like Two Parting Seas' story took place and I really liked to know more about this state: some of its sights and culture.
I also liked the easy and fluid writing. I would be very interested in reading a longer romance by this author, where she could actually develop the story.
Well, the story’s premise was great. The long-distance friendship turning into something more, caught my eye and I needed to read this. I thought would be a sweet and great story. Unfortunately, the execution was disappointing. The story was flat, really fast paced and felt very incomplete.
The plot was Okay and could be so much more if it had been better developed. Unfortunately, the novella was really short to the reader really to connect with it.
There were a lot of events where the author “told” what happened and didn’t “show” it. That was frustrating. I couldn't get a sense of the MC's friendship before they met face-to-face, nor when they truly hooked up. Even when they were together spending time with each other, there were gaps in the story telling. That was a big turn off for me about the story.
The sex wasn't much described. Actually, it was basically off-pages and it felt like we were losing a part of the story where the MC's was really bonding their feelings.
The novella wasn't all bad, though. This book is part of States of Love series. In this series, each author selects one state and surround their story around that area.
Idaho is where Like Two Parting Seas' story took place and I really liked to know more about this state: some of its sights and culture.
I also liked the easy and fluid writing. I would be very interested in reading a longer romance by this author, where she could actually develop the story.
August 30, 2017
Leo and Nathan have been talking online for the last two years. In the beginning of internet dating and webcam chats and private messages, I totally related to this in a way that reminded me of my teenage years lol which to be honest, I kept thinking of these two as teenagers, I’m not sure how old they were really… older than college age since they had degrees, but… between the dialogue and the way things went sometimes, I thought them to be younger than they probably were.
Now, Leo, lives in Italy and Nathan lives in Boise, Idaho… which is like, the most anti-accepting place in all of America. I can’t imagine if things go well for these two if they moved to be together there, but whatever…
Of course, the two weeks fly by and the two’s feelings for one another are stronger than ever. I’m not sure if there will be a continuation of this story, I’m kind of hoping so… I’d like to see these two end up together and I’d like to get a resolution for Nathan and his Dad and the woman he’s with. It was so random and thrown in at a weird time, I wasn’t sure if it held any relevance to an upcoming story or if was just something to fill a page. It was awkward and unnecessary and so very random in my opinion, but maybe it’s a precursor for something later? …..We’ll see, I reckon.
Other than that though, it’s a cute little story about two guys who finally meet after a 2 year long distance relationship.
3 stars from me.
*I received this story from its publisher with the promise of an honest and unbiased review*
August 31, 2017
Boise, Idaho, is not a place I am familiar with, but following Nathan and Leo around, so to speak, was a nice introduction to some of the sights and sounds of Idaho’s state capital. Nathan and Leo have been internet-dating for almost two years, and they do know a lot of things about each other already. But actually physically meeting is quite different, and they struggle just a little with making the adjustment.
Nathan is a little shy and has some issues around people. Leo is an outgoing Italian and not shy at all. Finding a balance between their temperaments takes some time, but the physical intimacy they add to their relationship helps with that. And while I was sort of sad that Leo had to leave at the end of his vacation, it was definitely the more realistic ending. And, after all, they do promise to see each other again…
If you like slow-burn long-distance romances with a touch of realism, if you think men should take their time before committing no matter how intense the chemistry between them is, and if you’re looking for a light, short read with some nice scenery, lots of banter, and intense passion, then you might like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Nathan is a little shy and has some issues around people. Leo is an outgoing Italian and not shy at all. Finding a balance between their temperaments takes some time, but the physical intimacy they add to their relationship helps with that. And while I was sort of sad that Leo had to leave at the end of his vacation, it was definitely the more realistic ending. And, after all, they do promise to see each other again…
If you like slow-burn long-distance romances with a touch of realism, if you think men should take their time before committing no matter how intense the chemistry between them is, and if you’re looking for a light, short read with some nice scenery, lots of banter, and intense passion, then you might like this novella.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 26, 2017
Review to come later
September 18, 2018
It was just a bit too simplistic and lovely for me. 2.5*
A character based story about Leo and Nathan who met on some sort of internet dating site (which we don’t get to know about) and have been chatting for 2 years. I thought they were younger than early 20s from blurb but time frames meant they started young. I was expecting more awkwardness at their first face to face meeting. It all went too nicely after that.
And i felt Leo sounded American rather than Italian.
Not my ideal cup of tea, fine as a fluffy filler but I like to have more umph in my stories - perhaps the short format of the collection hasn’t helped here.
A character based story about Leo and Nathan who met on some sort of internet dating site (which we don’t get to know about) and have been chatting for 2 years. I thought they were younger than early 20s from blurb but time frames meant they started young. I was expecting more awkwardness at their first face to face meeting. It all went too nicely after that.
And i felt Leo sounded American rather than Italian.
Not my ideal cup of tea, fine as a fluffy filler but I like to have more umph in my stories - perhaps the short format of the collection hasn’t helped here.
December 8, 2017
unsatisfying ending
September 27, 2018
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews