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Finding Shore #1
Coming Home
When Sam Carlisle was called away to the Navy SEALs, he left behind his family and the man he was falling for. Though he promised he’d come back, he never expected it to be like this: half-dead, bloodied, and terrified to say anything to the man he left behind.
Wes Adams loved his town, his job, his best friend—and his best friend’s brother. But Sam is gone and hasn’t tried to reach out to him since their fateful first kiss.
When Sam comes back from a dangerous mission, Wes embarks on his own: falling in love with a man who has already broken his heart.
Can these two make the most of their second chance together, or has too much come between them for love to bloom once more?
This sexy and heartwarming 75,000- word contemporary MM romance Coming Home contains mature themes and strong sexual content. Adults only.
Wes Adams loved his town, his job, his best friend—and his best friend’s brother. But Sam is gone and hasn’t tried to reach out to him since their fateful first kiss.
When Sam comes back from a dangerous mission, Wes embarks on his own: falling in love with a man who has already broken his heart.
Can these two make the most of their second chance together, or has too much come between them for love to bloom once more?
This sexy and heartwarming 75,000- word contemporary MM romance Coming Home contains mature themes and strong sexual content. Adults only.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2017
214 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Oliver
59 books128 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This is J.P.^^Oliver, where ^=space.
About the Author:
J.P. is the writer of Swipe Right, Breaking the Rules, and other novels set around the boys of Joe's Bar. Settled in the bay area, J.P. lives with Joey, Bailey, and Sugar. Two are dogs, one is not, but all three require frequent walks and feeding twice a day.
J.P.'s hobbies include watching far too much television, eating far too much ice cream, and pestering the hardworking employees at the local library. When not writing M/M fiction, J.P. is usually reading it, because what better way to relax on the beach.
I am part of Equal Love Publishing now. Check out other authors like me and ways join our team as an author at www.equallovepublishing.com!
This is J.P.^^Oliver, where ^=space.
About the Author:
J.P. is the writer of Swipe Right, Breaking the Rules, and other novels set around the boys of Joe's Bar. Settled in the bay area, J.P. lives with Joey, Bailey, and Sugar. Two are dogs, one is not, but all three require frequent walks and feeding twice a day.
J.P.'s hobbies include watching far too much television, eating far too much ice cream, and pestering the hardworking employees at the local library. When not writing M/M fiction, J.P. is usually reading it, because what better way to relax on the beach.
I am part of Equal Love Publishing now. Check out other authors like me and ways join our team as an author at www.equallovepublishing.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 9, 2018
The story goes like this... Wesley is best friend to Tommy, with a girlfriend name Sara, with a son name John, whose uncle is Sam, who is inlove with Wesley, vice versa...
I don't know how I finished this one. It's too long. Many conversation that can be deleted. Many descriptive actions that can be shorten. Many repeated scenes that can be combined into one chapter. And an annoying dramatic sequence between the lead characters.
Anyway, this novel can be categorized as a stretched short story because of its repetitive sequence, conversations and plot. But some may like it...???
I don't know how I finished this one. It's too long. Many conversation that can be deleted. Many descriptive actions that can be shorten. Many repeated scenes that can be combined into one chapter. And an annoying dramatic sequence between the lead characters.
Anyway, this novel can be categorized as a stretched short story because of its repetitive sequence, conversations and plot. But some may like it...???
January 11, 2018
So the only reason this rated a two and not a one star is because I finished it. I skimmed the majority of it, pausing only to read the actual conversations since there was SO MUCH internal monologue. Plus I found it super hard to believe that two people LOVE each other without ever actually talking. I mean, lust sure but actual love??
I just couldn’t get into this one.
I just couldn’t get into this one.
January 8, 2018
‘It was easy to stand in front of an enemy with a gun. All they could do was shoot you dead. Standing in front of the man you love, putting everything on the line? Well, he could kill him a thousand worse ways. He could break his heart.’
This book was not what I was expecting at all. Firstly before I go any further this book needs some content warnings! There’s harrowing torture and physical violence scenes in this book. I’ll be honest I was expecting a standard childhood sweethearts, war veteran, romance story and I was very wrong. Whilst I would still class it as romance the story is so much more than that and in actuality there’s no sex scenes until after 80%. But please don’t let that put you off, this story is BEAUTIFULLY written, seriously the writing is outstanding. I’ll put some quotes in for you to see for yourself.
‘Wes had thought a lot of things about Sam over the years. He had idolized him and demonized him and sometimes, not as often as he’d like, he saw him for the real and human person he was in between. He saw him through Tom’s stories and he really, really thought he saw him that night under the stars with promises between them, thick as the sky.
But in the entirety of that time, even when Wes thought of Sam at his worst, he was never someone that didn’t count. If anything, his biggest problem was just how much he did count.’
This is the story of Wesley and Sam. Wes moved to a small town for a fresh start, whilst exploring the town he spots a guy around his age who will eventually become his best friend Tommy and his older brother Sam who will become the love of his life. Fast forward a few years and Wes begs Sam not to go back to the Navy when he’s home on leave. They share a soul changing kiss and Sam promises he will keep in touch and come home to him.
The characters in this book are so complex. They are well developed and realistic. I loved the secondary characters and in particular Tommy and his girlfriend Sara who play a big part in this story. It’s not all about romance, it’s about the awful events of war, it’s about family, love, strength and self acceptance. There’s a lot of internal monologue in this book which I’ll admit usually drives me mad but it was so well written and really worked for the theme of this story that I actually enjoyed it.
I won’t spoil any more as this book just needs to be read. An excellent debut book by J.P. Oliver and Peter Styles is a new author to me too. I’m now eagerly anticipating the next book!.
Reviewed by Lulu from Alpha Book Club 
Want to read
November 25, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/25/2018)!💝
Blurb:
When Sam Carlisle was called away to the Navy SEALs, he left behind his family and the man he was falling for. Though he promised he’d come back, he never expected it to be like this: half-dead, bloodied, and terrified to say anything to the man he left behind.
Wes Adams loved his town, his job, his best friend—and his best friend’s brother. But Sam is gone and hasn’t tried to reach out to him since their fateful first kiss.
When Sam comes back from a dangerous mission, Wes embarks on his own: falling in love with a man who has already broken his heart.
Can these two make the most of their second chance together, or has too much come between them for love to bloom once more?
Blurb:
When Sam Carlisle was called away to the Navy SEALs, he left behind his family and the man he was falling for. Though he promised he’d come back, he never expected it to be like this: half-dead, bloodied, and terrified to say anything to the man he left behind.
Wes Adams loved his town, his job, his best friend—and his best friend’s brother. But Sam is gone and hasn’t tried to reach out to him since their fateful first kiss.
When Sam comes back from a dangerous mission, Wes embarks on his own: falling in love with a man who has already broken his heart.
Can these two make the most of their second chance together, or has too much come between them for love to bloom once more?
August 30, 2018
Literally forgettable - 2.5* rounding up.
I had the third book on my wishlist and I could not remember why. So I looked up this book and had zero recollection of it but it sounded okay so I downloaded it from Amazon and sure enough it shows that I have already read it. But I had to skim a lot of it to bring it back to mind. And it really was not that long ago.
However what I do remember is that there were some nice parts. A bit too much detail on Sam's mission and not nearly enough detail on the "fateful kiss". Clearly what happened between Wes and Sam was significant or they both would not be waiting for the other on the basis of the one kiss. I also remember rolling my eyes at how these grown men were behaving. I like my characters to be internally consistent and not do inconceivable things. But I must have enjoyed it enough to read book 2 and put book 3 on my wishlist.
I had the third book on my wishlist and I could not remember why. So I looked up this book and had zero recollection of it but it sounded okay so I downloaded it from Amazon and sure enough it shows that I have already read it. But I had to skim a lot of it to bring it back to mind. And it really was not that long ago.
However what I do remember is that there were some nice parts. A bit too much detail on Sam's mission and not nearly enough detail on the "fateful kiss". Clearly what happened between Wes and Sam was significant or they both would not be waiting for the other on the basis of the one kiss. I also remember rolling my eyes at how these grown men were behaving. I like my characters to be internally consistent and not do inconceivable things. But I must have enjoyed it enough to read book 2 and put book 3 on my wishlist.
June 15, 2018
So um I am not sure where I am supposed to start this review. I am always intrigued with military specially Navy SEALS and marine force recon books. And even more when it is m/m. So I saw this and didn’t really read reviews. I don’t think I have ever read anything by this author.
So the plot was interesting, captured SEAL, tortured and left broken for months. A pining man left behind. Yet it didn’t work. So it says that every book is a stand alone however after reading this I learned there was a prequel to this. About Sam and Wes during his last leave home. I didn’t read it and was kind of lost. What happened to Wes family? Why happened to Sams mom? What was the family dynamic? These answers were never given in this book. So maybe the author should let everyone know to READ THE PREQUEL!!!
Also the author has a tendency to tell you what’s going to happen in the future when you are still in the present. Example: when Sam is being tortured he says, years from now when he is happy in his home in his bed and he is happy, he will not remember this. Well now we know, while he is still captured, that he will survive.
A few other times the author does this. Then the end kind of jumps to a future but no warning, it just starts as a new paragraph. Again this author also leaves out clues, did they adopt? when did they decide to get married? By a house? No warning no nothing .
I don’t think I’ll read more of this series
So the plot was interesting, captured SEAL, tortured and left broken for months. A pining man left behind. Yet it didn’t work. So it says that every book is a stand alone however after reading this I learned there was a prequel to this. About Sam and Wes during his last leave home. I didn’t read it and was kind of lost. What happened to Wes family? Why happened to Sams mom? What was the family dynamic? These answers were never given in this book. So maybe the author should let everyone know to READ THE PREQUEL!!!
Also the author has a tendency to tell you what’s going to happen in the future when you are still in the present. Example: when Sam is being tortured he says, years from now when he is happy in his home in his bed and he is happy, he will not remember this. Well now we know, while he is still captured, that he will survive.
A few other times the author does this. Then the end kind of jumps to a future but no warning, it just starts as a new paragraph. Again this author also leaves out clues, did they adopt? when did they decide to get married? By a house? No warning no nothing .
I don’t think I’ll read more of this series
November 29, 2019
Good gracious
This book was for lack of a better word, boring. There was A LOT of details that were missing. I had absolutely no idea who Wesley was, none. I didn't get him as a person. In don't appreciate being told there is a prequel at the very end of the book, that's supposed to help understand this one. I should be able to pick up book one and get a sense of who the characters are. Speaking of, Wes and Sam had at most, 3 face to face, brief encounters through the majority of the book. In fact, they didn't actually really talk until the 70% mark when they tell each other ILY. If you're wondering what that 70% was made up of then ? Nothing. A whole lot of repetitive memories and inner musings and inner monologues. That's it. So you can see why this book would drag. The amount of actual dialogue is minimal at best. I can't believe I managed to finish it, although I did skip a ton of pages because they were basically useless.
This book was for lack of a better word, boring. There was A LOT of details that were missing. I had absolutely no idea who Wesley was, none. I didn't get him as a person. In don't appreciate being told there is a prequel at the very end of the book, that's supposed to help understand this one. I should be able to pick up book one and get a sense of who the characters are. Speaking of, Wes and Sam had at most, 3 face to face, brief encounters through the majority of the book. In fact, they didn't actually really talk until the 70% mark when they tell each other ILY. If you're wondering what that 70% was made up of then ? Nothing. A whole lot of repetitive memories and inner musings and inner monologues. That's it. So you can see why this book would drag. The amount of actual dialogue is minimal at best. I can't believe I managed to finish it, although I did skip a ton of pages because they were basically useless.
January 8, 2018
3 and 1/2 stars
probably-not-but-freebie
November 26, 2018Freebie at the zon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Coming-Home-...
January 15, 2018
This was a very disappointing read. The first 75% of this book was pretty good. I'd give that portion 3.5 stars. My only two gripes with that part: (a) instalove between characters that don't really know each other at all? no... (b) pacing. The author isn't great at communicating time shifts clearly, so it's easy to get lost if you're not paying super close attention. Some parts get repetitive and/boring, but generally speaking, the first 75% is decent writing and storytelling if you excuse the instalove.
The last 25%, though, is almost total trash. The first sex scene (happens at ~80%) is really long and hard to follow with the immediate next scene. Then, we go immediately into the MCs moving in together, getting married, having a kid, and then having a second kid. It spans several years. ALL WITHIN THE LAST ~10-15% OF THE BOOK. This entire book spent a HUGE amount of time and effort building up to the main relationship, and then literally everything after they enter the relationship happens in like a single chapter or two. It's like switching between a little economy car to a 1000HP corvette with a snap of a finger. It's fucking nuts and completely inconsistent. It's one of the worst endings I've ever read, and considering I read paranormal gay romance frequently (notoriously low quality on average)... well yeah, that should say something.
Also, I *REALLY* fucking hate when a book just throws kids into the ending of a story. The huge pacing issue aside... a good portion of gay men don't actually want the traditional family vision or kids. We saw NOTHING of who the MCs were together once they started their relationship. Sam doesn't have PTSD from his shit? We don't even get to see what Sam is doing now that he's not military? And you want to throw not one but two kids at us? It's just straight to kids and happily every after. Fuck that. Worse than a Disney movie. If this were a 3 or 4 book series and this was book 3 or 4 where we're about to say goodbye to the MCs and they just had kids at that point after we've seen their relationship as the main story, okay I'll stomach that. But the whole kid/family angle in this book was just garbage.
The military portion is fairly unrealistic, too, now that I'm thinking about it. If it wasn't said directly in the story, I would never guess that Sam is military. He just quits? No.
1 star rating because frankly, the sheer laziness of the last 25% is inexcusable. This book ended up being a large waste of my time because the point at which I would call bullshit and DNF it happens in the last quarter of the book. I thought, based on the first three quarters, that I had found a really solid author and series that was going to drag out the story in incredible detail over many books. I might try reading the second book in this series to see if something can be redeemed (and I try to give new authors the benefit of the doubt), but I'd also be just fine never reading this author again. It's left that bad of a taste with me. We'll see.
The last 25%, though, is almost total trash. The first sex scene (happens at ~80%) is really long and hard to follow with the immediate next scene. Then, we go immediately into the MCs moving in together, getting married, having a kid, and then having a second kid. It spans several years. ALL WITHIN THE LAST ~10-15% OF THE BOOK. This entire book spent a HUGE amount of time and effort building up to the main relationship, and then literally everything after they enter the relationship happens in like a single chapter or two. It's like switching between a little economy car to a 1000HP corvette with a snap of a finger. It's fucking nuts and completely inconsistent. It's one of the worst endings I've ever read, and considering I read paranormal gay romance frequently (notoriously low quality on average)... well yeah, that should say something.
Also, I *REALLY* fucking hate when a book just throws kids into the ending of a story. The huge pacing issue aside... a good portion of gay men don't actually want the traditional family vision or kids. We saw NOTHING of who the MCs were together once they started their relationship. Sam doesn't have PTSD from his shit? We don't even get to see what Sam is doing now that he's not military? And you want to throw not one but two kids at us? It's just straight to kids and happily every after. Fuck that. Worse than a Disney movie. If this were a 3 or 4 book series and this was book 3 or 4 where we're about to say goodbye to the MCs and they just had kids at that point after we've seen their relationship as the main story, okay I'll stomach that. But the whole kid/family angle in this book was just garbage.
The military portion is fairly unrealistic, too, now that I'm thinking about it. If it wasn't said directly in the story, I would never guess that Sam is military. He just quits? No.
1 star rating because frankly, the sheer laziness of the last 25% is inexcusable. This book ended up being a large waste of my time because the point at which I would call bullshit and DNF it happens in the last quarter of the book. I thought, based on the first three quarters, that I had found a really solid author and series that was going to drag out the story in incredible detail over many books. I might try reading the second book in this series to see if something can be redeemed (and I try to give new authors the benefit of the doubt), but I'd also be just fine never reading this author again. It's left that bad of a taste with me. We'll see.
January 12, 2018
Needs some work
I hate leaving bad reviews so that's not my intention here at all. Firstly, I absolutely loved Sam and Wes and loved them together even more.
I struggled with this book because it seemed to be all over the place and I found myself skimming over a lot. It was confusing with the way it jumped from scene to scene. Some background info would've been nice too. Why did Wes have a rough childhood and no relationship with his sisters? What come of everything with Sam? Why did Tom & Sam have a strained relationship with their dad?
It also had a lot of the same stories repeated over and over so that was a bit aggravating. This book had incredible potential but it sadly didn't quite make it.
I hate leaving bad reviews so that's not my intention here at all. Firstly, I absolutely loved Sam and Wes and loved them together even more.
I struggled with this book because it seemed to be all over the place and I found myself skimming over a lot. It was confusing with the way it jumped from scene to scene. Some background info would've been nice too. Why did Wes have a rough childhood and no relationship with his sisters? What come of everything with Sam? Why did Tom & Sam have a strained relationship with their dad?
It also had a lot of the same stories repeated over and over so that was a bit aggravating. This book had incredible potential but it sadly didn't quite make it.
December 11, 2017
I really really hate leaving bad reviews but wow, only reason I left two starts was because of potential and the epilogue look into the future which I adored. But everything else? Unbelievable, the povs, if you read the prequel some things are badly recounted, it was just painful to read, I’m really sad but that’s what this was for me.
October 12, 2020
**Audio Review**
I have mixed feelings about Wes and Sam’s romance. When I started listening, the narrator really threw me off. His pace was too slow for me, his tone was a bit monotonous, and he enunciated some words very strangely. Increasing the speed to 1.2x helped a lot, but I had to actively ignore the lack of emotions and over enunciation multiple times. That being said, once I got to know Wes and Sam, I was able to sink into this story and really feel everything that was going on.
While parts of this story were amazingly written, I seriously struggled with some of the choices these authors made. For starters, I don’t even think the first half of this book was a romance—instead it was a graphic, brutal account of military violence and torture so realistic that I felt sick to my stomach just listening to it. Part of me was in awe by just how much I felt every ounce of Sam’s pain and hope and fear, but I also have no idea why these scenes were included with so much detail since they added almost nothing to advance the romance in this story. It seemed to me like the authors were trying to make a point that Sam’s love for Wes kept him sane, but I just couldn’t see where that epic love came from given how limited their interactions were previously. The letters were a very sweet and touching addition, but not enough to convince me that any of this was actually real. From Wes’s end, I could at least understand why he fell so hard, because he had years of crushing on Sam.
Once Sam did come home, the romance fell apart even more for me. Wes was full of so much guilt and self-hate that he didn’t allow himself to be there for Sam at all, which I found very annoying. Then when Sam was lucid, their interactions were so painfully awkward that I just wanted to fast-forward through all the cringey moments. I usually love a hefty dose of pining, but if I had to listen to one more instance of Wes rhapsodizing about how Sam makes him feel whole while he acted like a total idiot when he did get to see him in person, I think I’d have screamed. At this point, both men were claiming to be so deeply and emotionally in love with each other (but only in their private thoughts), and I was just not on board with the way they were acting around each other. My disconnect with the romance didn’t get any better as the story progressed, and in the end I had to put aside my disbelief and accept that these two made no sense at all so that I could enjoy the last couple of chapters.
After such a detailed and slow-paced start, I was surprised by how quickly the end of this book caught up to me. For a story with such detailed scenes of Sam’s trauma, it completely left me hanging when it came to his recovery. I was expecting to see Sam and Wes grow and bond while they each came to terms with all that Sam went through, but instead it felt like these two were pretending like nothing out of the ordinary happened. In addition, I never found out what happened with Sam’s dad, Wes’s family, or even why Sam was so eager to get out of Poplar, Kansas. I adored the glimpses into Sam and Wes’s married life, but if anything they left me with even more questions about how Sam and Wes got from an awkward, new couple to the happy, settled family the epilogue made them out to be.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
I have mixed feelings about Wes and Sam’s romance. When I started listening, the narrator really threw me off. His pace was too slow for me, his tone was a bit monotonous, and he enunciated some words very strangely. Increasing the speed to 1.2x helped a lot, but I had to actively ignore the lack of emotions and over enunciation multiple times. That being said, once I got to know Wes and Sam, I was able to sink into this story and really feel everything that was going on.
While parts of this story were amazingly written, I seriously struggled with some of the choices these authors made. For starters, I don’t even think the first half of this book was a romance—instead it was a graphic, brutal account of military violence and torture so realistic that I felt sick to my stomach just listening to it. Part of me was in awe by just how much I felt every ounce of Sam’s pain and hope and fear, but I also have no idea why these scenes were included with so much detail since they added almost nothing to advance the romance in this story. It seemed to me like the authors were trying to make a point that Sam’s love for Wes kept him sane, but I just couldn’t see where that epic love came from given how limited their interactions were previously. The letters were a very sweet and touching addition, but not enough to convince me that any of this was actually real. From Wes’s end, I could at least understand why he fell so hard, because he had years of crushing on Sam.
Once Sam did come home, the romance fell apart even more for me. Wes was full of so much guilt and self-hate that he didn’t allow himself to be there for Sam at all, which I found very annoying. Then when Sam was lucid, their interactions were so painfully awkward that I just wanted to fast-forward through all the cringey moments. I usually love a hefty dose of pining, but if I had to listen to one more instance of Wes rhapsodizing about how Sam makes him feel whole while he acted like a total idiot when he did get to see him in person, I think I’d have screamed. At this point, both men were claiming to be so deeply and emotionally in love with each other (but only in their private thoughts), and I was just not on board with the way they were acting around each other. My disconnect with the romance didn’t get any better as the story progressed, and in the end I had to put aside my disbelief and accept that these two made no sense at all so that I could enjoy the last couple of chapters.
After such a detailed and slow-paced start, I was surprised by how quickly the end of this book caught up to me. For a story with such detailed scenes of Sam’s trauma, it completely left me hanging when it came to his recovery. I was expecting to see Sam and Wes grow and bond while they each came to terms with all that Sam went through, but instead it felt like these two were pretending like nothing out of the ordinary happened. In addition, I never found out what happened with Sam’s dad, Wes’s family, or even why Sam was so eager to get out of Poplar, Kansas. I adored the glimpses into Sam and Wes’s married life, but if anything they left me with even more questions about how Sam and Wes got from an awkward, new couple to the happy, settled family the epilogue made them out to be.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
February 11, 2019
[Spoiler alert]
Every now and then a prequel moves me to buy into the series that follows. Wes has crushed on his best friend’s older brother Sam for over a decade even in the face of the fact that Sam didn’t remember the kid who hung around his home with his brother and got rides to school with them. Again from the prequel one suspects that it wasn’t by accident that Tommy sends Wesley to pick up his brother at the airport and later Sam to collect the half-drunk Wes from a bar. Sam was the boy who couldn’t get away from home fast enough joining the Navy Seals at 18 and failing to return home until eleven years later. Even after their amorous backyard meet up Sam continues to make no attempt at any contact after returning to duty. This being an M+M romance we are left wondering where all this will lead.
I realize that there are two different authors credited with writing these books but they need to get their acts together. The prequel that was written after this novel gives an entirely different timeline for Wesley’s arrival in Poplar and a totally different scenario for their lives together. Other than this discrepancy the two share entire chapters of text. Sam’s military intelligence was obviously faulty but it is hard to believe so experienced an operative would have taken it so entirely at face value. The jeep, not a humvee, the team is driving breaks down a mile before the mission site but a page later Sam is using it to dodge bullets. The country in which this action takes place is left non-specific save for its desert nature. Follows a graphic description of torture. And it goes on and on and on.
When we return stateside to Wes he’s out on a blind date with a gay dude his boss set him up with. Wes comes off as self-obsessed and indecisive. His stream of consciousness neurotic compulsive broodings wear thin on the reader rather quickly.
We are given no time frame for Sam’s captivity and torture save that in Sam’s perception it is interminable. When he is finally rescued, brought home and given surgery for his many wounds and the bullets in him removed he is kept under sedation and his hallucinations are described at length.
None of the three principals here is particularly sympathetic. How common it is for operatives overseas to fail to communicate with their loved ones back home I have no way of knowing. Whether you find the “war on Terror” defensive or simply retaliatory is a personal decision. Wes obsessing over a man after one brief encounter and kiss comes off as rather pathetic. His friend Tommy lives with a girlfriend and their infant son in a common-law arrangement. They all swear like troopers.
When the two lovebirds finally get together they make up for lost time in an orgy that lasts for 60 pages. The language here is stilted and verbose. Like so many other word processor novels it could benefit by losing 200 pages. The surrogate mothers are never acknowledged.
I should have paid closer attention to the reviews of others.
Every now and then a prequel moves me to buy into the series that follows. Wes has crushed on his best friend’s older brother Sam for over a decade even in the face of the fact that Sam didn’t remember the kid who hung around his home with his brother and got rides to school with them. Again from the prequel one suspects that it wasn’t by accident that Tommy sends Wesley to pick up his brother at the airport and later Sam to collect the half-drunk Wes from a bar. Sam was the boy who couldn’t get away from home fast enough joining the Navy Seals at 18 and failing to return home until eleven years later. Even after their amorous backyard meet up Sam continues to make no attempt at any contact after returning to duty. This being an M+M romance we are left wondering where all this will lead.
I realize that there are two different authors credited with writing these books but they need to get their acts together. The prequel that was written after this novel gives an entirely different timeline for Wesley’s arrival in Poplar and a totally different scenario for their lives together. Other than this discrepancy the two share entire chapters of text. Sam’s military intelligence was obviously faulty but it is hard to believe so experienced an operative would have taken it so entirely at face value. The jeep, not a humvee, the team is driving breaks down a mile before the mission site but a page later Sam is using it to dodge bullets. The country in which this action takes place is left non-specific save for its desert nature. Follows a graphic description of torture. And it goes on and on and on.
When we return stateside to Wes he’s out on a blind date with a gay dude his boss set him up with. Wes comes off as self-obsessed and indecisive. His stream of consciousness neurotic compulsive broodings wear thin on the reader rather quickly.
We are given no time frame for Sam’s captivity and torture save that in Sam’s perception it is interminable. When he is finally rescued, brought home and given surgery for his many wounds and the bullets in him removed he is kept under sedation and his hallucinations are described at length.
None of the three principals here is particularly sympathetic. How common it is for operatives overseas to fail to communicate with their loved ones back home I have no way of knowing. Whether you find the “war on Terror” defensive or simply retaliatory is a personal decision. Wes obsessing over a man after one brief encounter and kiss comes off as rather pathetic. His friend Tommy lives with a girlfriend and their infant son in a common-law arrangement. They all swear like troopers.
When the two lovebirds finally get together they make up for lost time in an orgy that lasts for 60 pages. The language here is stilted and verbose. Like so many other word processor novels it could benefit by losing 200 pages. The surrogate mothers are never acknowledged.
I should have paid closer attention to the reviews of others.
September 18, 2018
Well.... it’s possibly not the worst book I ever read.
Wes has been crushing on Sam, a SEAL and his best friend’s older brother, for years. When Sam leaves on a mission, promising to return, Wes is elated.....finally he’ll have a chance to share his feelings. Except Sam doesn’t return for months, and when he does return, he’s been gravely injured. Wes must face the possibility that what he thought he could have with Sam was just an impossible dream.
I suppose my basic problem with the book is that Wes fancies himself in love with someone he barely knows. Soon after Wes arrived in town, Sam left to join the Navy, and returns infrequently to see his brother. How can you form a deep and lasting attachment to a person who’s not there? Sam, in turn, is apparently is carrying a torch for Wes.... but has never really shared his feelings. And when Sam comes back home after his failed mission, he and Wes spend most of the story avoiding each other at the hospital. Not to mention some plot holes: 1) I'd like to think that the Navy would have notified the family that he was either MIA or dead, and 2) why was he being treated in a civilian hospital, since most military are treated at military hospitals.
We know more about Wes’s relationship with his BFF Tommy, Sam’s brother, as well as Tommy’s girlfriend Sara, than we do about Sam.
Then there’s the weird detour we take early in the book when Sam’s captured and tortured. Initially, I was figuring that this would play a large part later in the story....but....nah. There’s just pages of extraordinarily painful details about what happens to him, and then.....boom, he’s home....apparently without any PTSD or anything....
The writing style is....well, just pages of narrative describing what’s happening, and what the characters are thinking and feeling. There’s hardly any dialogue...but that’s almost OK, because when it’s there’s it’s stale, wooden, and awkward.
So...if you’re searching for a great story about a hot SEAL and the man he left behind....keep looking...this isn’t it.
Wes has been crushing on Sam, a SEAL and his best friend’s older brother, for years. When Sam leaves on a mission, promising to return, Wes is elated.....finally he’ll have a chance to share his feelings. Except Sam doesn’t return for months, and when he does return, he’s been gravely injured. Wes must face the possibility that what he thought he could have with Sam was just an impossible dream.
I suppose my basic problem with the book is that Wes fancies himself in love with someone he barely knows. Soon after Wes arrived in town, Sam left to join the Navy, and returns infrequently to see his brother. How can you form a deep and lasting attachment to a person who’s not there? Sam, in turn, is apparently is carrying a torch for Wes.... but has never really shared his feelings. And when Sam comes back home after his failed mission, he and Wes spend most of the story avoiding each other at the hospital. Not to mention some plot holes: 1) I'd like to think that the Navy would have notified the family that he was either MIA or dead, and 2) why was he being treated in a civilian hospital, since most military are treated at military hospitals.
We know more about Wes’s relationship with his BFF Tommy, Sam’s brother, as well as Tommy’s girlfriend Sara, than we do about Sam.
Then there’s the weird detour we take early in the book when Sam’s captured and tortured. Initially, I was figuring that this would play a large part later in the story....but....nah. There’s just pages of extraordinarily painful details about what happens to him, and then.....boom, he’s home....apparently without any PTSD or anything....
The writing style is....well, just pages of narrative describing what’s happening, and what the characters are thinking and feeling. There’s hardly any dialogue...but that’s almost OK, because when it’s there’s it’s stale, wooden, and awkward.
So...if you’re searching for a great story about a hot SEAL and the man he left behind....keep looking...this isn’t it.
April 1, 2018
Possible spoilers; 3 but could have been much higher
This is my first book by either of these authors. Will I read another book by either author? I honestly don't know.
The MCs Wes and Sam were awesome, great chemistry, great details. The secondary characters, namely Tom and Sara, were equally great.
However, while I love long books that I can really get lost in, I want all the words to matter. Saying the same thing over and over multiple times, in different ways, can be used effectively, but this is a case of it being over-used. I skimmed probably a third of the book. It does indicate my investment in the characters that I wanted to see this couple get their HEA. I also must say that some of those multiple thoughts of the characters were absolutely brilliant moments of introspection.
Here's a possible spoiler. I don't have a military background, but from reading thousands of books, in multiple genres, and from general news watching, I can't imagine a POW being rescued and shipped straight to a local hospital, and with no military escort. Sam was a SEAL on a secret mission and didn't get a visit from his commander for a month? And Sam didn't have the first of what would surely be multiple surgeries somewhere like Ramstein AFB in Germany or Walter Reed? As a reader, I didn't need the authors to have detailed knowledge of these things, and maybe my assumptions are wrong. It just doesn't seem realistic that a Navy SEAL would be flown from a desert torture spot somewhere in the world straight to Topeka, Kansas, to have multiple bullets removed.
The ending is wonderful.
This is my first book by either of these authors. Will I read another book by either author? I honestly don't know.
The MCs Wes and Sam were awesome, great chemistry, great details. The secondary characters, namely Tom and Sara, were equally great.
However, while I love long books that I can really get lost in, I want all the words to matter. Saying the same thing over and over multiple times, in different ways, can be used effectively, but this is a case of it being over-used. I skimmed probably a third of the book. It does indicate my investment in the characters that I wanted to see this couple get their HEA. I also must say that some of those multiple thoughts of the characters were absolutely brilliant moments of introspection.
Here's a possible spoiler. I don't have a military background, but from reading thousands of books, in multiple genres, and from general news watching, I can't imagine a POW being rescued and shipped straight to a local hospital, and with no military escort. Sam was a SEAL on a secret mission and didn't get a visit from his commander for a month? And Sam didn't have the first of what would surely be multiple surgeries somewhere like Ramstein AFB in Germany or Walter Reed? As a reader, I didn't need the authors to have detailed knowledge of these things, and maybe my assumptions are wrong. It just doesn't seem realistic that a Navy SEAL would be flown from a desert torture spot somewhere in the world straight to Topeka, Kansas, to have multiple bullets removed.
The ending is wonderful.
December 6, 2017
I have read hundreds of m/m novels since I discovered this genre. Of all of those, this selection touched my heart and was by far the most romantic. If any one doubts that a man cannot write romance, this book should put those ideas to rest. Not only are the main character's expressions of tenderness, their intimate feelings and personal loss examined, but they also reflect on past mistakes and make adaptations to new situations.
War isn't pretty, even when fought honorably, and this is very apparent when you read the scenes from the Middle East. They are so realistic you can taste the dust and feel the heat beating down on you.
Embedded in the story and the passion between the two characters, you'll be given the opportunity to reflect on some life lessons you can apply to your own future. There are wonderful phrases and quotes that were especially poignant;
'...what he thought was important wasn't actually half as important as what he was willing to die for.'
'...their gossamer thread of a growing future...'
'It tasted like promises and stardust and nights that didn't end because they exist outside of time. It felt like everything in his life was being woven together, magically stitching each different part of him to one another.'
'Everything about this evening was almost too much. It rode the cusp of perfection so closely that Wes felt the happiness so strong it almost felt like sadness.'
I will definitely be looking for more HEA's by this wonderful writing duo.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
War isn't pretty, even when fought honorably, and this is very apparent when you read the scenes from the Middle East. They are so realistic you can taste the dust and feel the heat beating down on you.
Embedded in the story and the passion between the two characters, you'll be given the opportunity to reflect on some life lessons you can apply to your own future. There are wonderful phrases and quotes that were especially poignant;
'...what he thought was important wasn't actually half as important as what he was willing to die for.'
'...their gossamer thread of a growing future...'
'It tasted like promises and stardust and nights that didn't end because they exist outside of time. It felt like everything in his life was being woven together, magically stitching each different part of him to one another.'
'Everything about this evening was almost too much. It rode the cusp of perfection so closely that Wes felt the happiness so strong it almost felt like sadness.'
I will definitely be looking for more HEA's by this wonderful writing duo.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
January 29, 2020
While I can't give this book a low rating because it was very well written and thoughtful, I didn't personally love it. Okay, here's where I sound like a hypocrite: My biggest criticism in most of the M/M-ROM books I read is the lack of angst and how quickly things get tied up in a neat bow of 'happily-ever-after. Now, this book? Believe it or not, I felt it went WAY too far the other way. Without giving too much of the storyline away, there were times that I didn't believe in this great all-time love between the two MCs, mainly because, other than one kissy session, they didn't speak for a year. Now, they did know each other for years before that, but they were barely acquaintances- let alone lovers. A quick promise of, 'I'll wait for you,' turned into a year-long silence. When some situations resolve themselves, they go on one or two dates before forgiveness is offered and their 'ever-after' begins. The yearning, wanting and angsting became a tad too much for me. And the concept of drowning was heavy on the emotional symbolism. There were NO quick fixes, as even when the couple finally got together, the year of silence still weighed heavily on them. The point I'm getting to here is that while very well-written and thought out, I felt uneasy after reading this book. Since I LOVE these authors, (alone and separate) perhaps I owe it to myself to REREAD this book at a later date to see if it was just my own unsettled mind that was blocking me from getting the full enjoyment from this one.
December 15, 2017
70% of this book was effing amazing
The first 70% of this book was visceral and hard. It made me feel deeply and cry and react. I loved it.
rq
Then the last 30% happened and it was sooooo bad. I’m averaging the two parts to get a three star rating because the first part was definitely 5 Stars, but the second part was so bad that 1 Star would have been appropriate.
I’m just going to use one
The first 70% of this book was visceral and hard. It made me feel deeply and cry and react. I loved it.
rq
Then the last 30% happened and it was sooooo bad. I’m averaging the two parts to get a three star rating because the first part was definitely 5 Stars, but the second part was so bad that 1 Star would have been appropriate.
I’m just going to use one
October 6, 2020
Great story, wasn't hugely in favour of the narrator, but I think that's an accent thing. UK v USA. But others will love it. I think it was because it was slow, so I sped it up to x1.20.
Coming Home (An M/M Contemporary Gay Romance)
Finding Shore, Book 1
By: J.P. Oliver, Peter Styles
Narrated by: Barney Parkwynne
Series: Finding Shore, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.20 speed on Audible
A great story, the ups and downs of two men who had known of each other for years, one with a crush that had been a secret for a decade.
The finally kiss but that was before Sam was posted on a mission as a Seal. During the mission things go wrong but unknown to his family (Tommy) or his crush (West).
West had given up on his crush with Sam after not hearing from him since that kiss at the airport. So he starts dating, well one date was all it took and things changed drastically for everyone.
This is a very long slow burn, they don't actually get together until about 6 hours into the audio.
Good book but it's a little drawn out, again I don't think the narrator helped on that front for me.
Coming Home (An M/M Contemporary Gay Romance)
Finding Shore, Book 1
By: J.P. Oliver, Peter Styles
Narrated by: Barney Parkwynne
Series: Finding Shore, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.20 speed on Audible
A great story, the ups and downs of two men who had known of each other for years, one with a crush that had been a secret for a decade.
The finally kiss but that was before Sam was posted on a mission as a Seal. During the mission things go wrong but unknown to his family (Tommy) or his crush (West).
West had given up on his crush with Sam after not hearing from him since that kiss at the airport. So he starts dating, well one date was all it took and things changed drastically for everyone.
This is a very long slow burn, they don't actually get together until about 6 hours into the audio.
Good book but it's a little drawn out, again I don't think the narrator helped on that front for me.
February 21, 2021
2.5
I feel a little a little bit of mixed emotions about this book.
My initial thoughts whilst reading were that the overall structure and writing of this book were very awkward.
The general premise of the book seemed intriguing to me and there was good potential there, however I felt that too much time was spent on some parts, such as the pining and torture scene. The book just lacked too much depth to be a convincing sort of navy SEAL/MIA story. It doesn’t make sense to me to focus so heavily on the torture when there isn’t some sort of ‘resolution’ at the end. There was little talk of PTSD or therapy which struck me again as odd.
This book could have been cut by 50% and it would have been more enjoyable.
Something I did enjoy and would have liked to have seen more of was both MCs finally getting to know each other properly. There was a distinct lack of any context / substance regarding how their undying love towards each other came about. Flashbacks would have perhaps been nice instead of ,again the extended torture scene.
I feel a little a little bit of mixed emotions about this book.
My initial thoughts whilst reading were that the overall structure and writing of this book were very awkward.
The general premise of the book seemed intriguing to me and there was good potential there, however I felt that too much time was spent on some parts, such as the pining and torture scene. The book just lacked too much depth to be a convincing sort of navy SEAL/MIA story. It doesn’t make sense to me to focus so heavily on the torture when there isn’t some sort of ‘resolution’ at the end. There was little talk of PTSD or therapy which struck me again as odd.
This book could have been cut by 50% and it would have been more enjoyable.
Something I did enjoy and would have liked to have seen more of was both MCs finally getting to know each other properly. There was a distinct lack of any context / substance regarding how their undying love towards each other came about. Flashbacks would have perhaps been nice instead of ,again the extended torture scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2018
Conflicted. 5 stars for technical skills, 1 star for execution
First the good. These author's write believable dialog. They have great technical skills. The plot is a winner. But the angst overwhelmed me. Sam's deployment was so intense I had to skip it all. There was too much in head monologue. Way too much. Pages and pages and pages, when a little more action would have been better. 80% of the book could have been reduced to 40% And then more could have been devoted to the story of the last 3%. And the water analogy seemed to consume the book. I skimmed so much of that i think I lost some story. About Wes's sisters, no clue. Why was Wes such a mess and what was he running from? Why did Sam run away from his life so hard? So much for our MC's to work thru, yet that part of the story was virtually non existent. Yet, I loved these two guys. Not sure I'd read anything else from the author's. I respect their abilities, I'm just not into their story telling style.
First the good. These author's write believable dialog. They have great technical skills. The plot is a winner. But the angst overwhelmed me. Sam's deployment was so intense I had to skip it all. There was too much in head monologue. Way too much. Pages and pages and pages, when a little more action would have been better. 80% of the book could have been reduced to 40% And then more could have been devoted to the story of the last 3%. And the water analogy seemed to consume the book. I skimmed so much of that i think I lost some story. About Wes's sisters, no clue. Why was Wes such a mess and what was he running from? Why did Sam run away from his life so hard? So much for our MC's to work thru, yet that part of the story was virtually non existent. Yet, I loved these two guys. Not sure I'd read anything else from the author's. I respect their abilities, I'm just not into their story telling style.
December 7, 2018
Kind of a frustrating read. Lots of questions left unanswered and just...plot issues. I mean, I get that you're trying to just push the two main characters together, especially after them not even sharing the same scene for what seems like half the book. But with zero explanations on just how Sam got home/rescued (unless it was just a line or paragraph somewhere that I missed when I started skimming), or more than just bits and pieces of Wes' life from before....
Anyway....Not my kind of read.
And then there's the thing between the two main characters. Wes had even said he was virtually a stranger to Sam. They had one conversation and then absolutely zero communication between them...and then suddenly they were in love? I mean, I've liked insta-love before but this one just didn't work for me. Mostly because it's not quite insta-love but feels like the wrong kind of slow burn.
Rating: 1.5, rounded up to 2
Anyway....Not my kind of read.
And then there's the thing between the two main characters. Wes had even said he was virtually a stranger to Sam. They had one conversation and then absolutely zero communication between them...and then suddenly they were in love? I mean, I've liked insta-love before but this one just didn't work for me. Mostly because it's not quite insta-love but feels like the wrong kind of slow burn.
Rating: 1.5, rounded up to 2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2020
Overall: 2.5 Stars
Performance: 2 Stars
Story: 2.5 Stars
I'm generally a big fan of the hurt/comfort, brother's best friend, and second chance romance tropes, but "Coming Home" never really clicked for me. It was compelling at the start with sweet starry night kisses (swoonworthy) and whispered promises between MCs Wes and Sam, but quickly shifted to an ever-growing pool of angst for them individually and in their tentative relationship. I did like the characters and felt empathy for them, particularly given all that Sam went through, but after a while their constant inner turmoil just felt exhausting and repetitive.
I also never found a comfortable groove listening to narrator Barney Parkwynne and his delivery didn't enhance the story for me, which is very much a personal preference so other listeners may not have that issue.
I received an ARC of this audio book and have left this honest review voluntarily. [*Review cross-posted on Audible.*]
Performance: 2 Stars
Story: 2.5 Stars
I'm generally a big fan of the hurt/comfort, brother's best friend, and second chance romance tropes, but "Coming Home" never really clicked for me. It was compelling at the start with sweet starry night kisses (swoonworthy) and whispered promises between MCs Wes and Sam, but quickly shifted to an ever-growing pool of angst for them individually and in their tentative relationship. I did like the characters and felt empathy for them, particularly given all that Sam went through, but after a while their constant inner turmoil just felt exhausting and repetitive.
I also never found a comfortable groove listening to narrator Barney Parkwynne and his delivery didn't enhance the story for me, which is very much a personal preference so other listeners may not have that issue.
I received an ARC of this audio book and have left this honest review voluntarily. [*Review cross-posted on Audible.*]
March 18, 2022
I thought this book was a mess. Not only was the writing treacly, but there were many missing connective words such as to, at, but, the, etc. This book needed an editor and a better proofreader. The author kept repeating the same thoughts of their characters but reworded them. It was irritating. So much angst! So much thinking about every single decision and rethinking it, again and again. So much insecurity. Wes was so whiny. Sam was so insecure. We never really knew much about either main characters' backgrounds. Why did Wes move to the city of Poplar at the age of 17? What about his family? Sam's recovery was never discussed. I had a hard time finishing the book. But it was all sunshine and rainbows at the end. Blech.
December 8, 2017
Coming Home (Finding Shore Book 1) by J.P. Oliver and Peter Styles
This Sam Carlisle and Wes Adams’ story.
Man, this story is emotional and you experience so many different emotions. You just need to read the story to understand the different emotions. I look forward to future books by this author. I enjoyed Wes and Sam’s story.
Sam has been running away physically and emotionally for a long time. Wes in his way has been running away emotionally too. Sam and Wes’ journey took awhile but eventually they got it right.
FYI, contains graphic and mature content. This is a MM romance. I received the book through my Kindle Unlimited account.
This Sam Carlisle and Wes Adams’ story.
Man, this story is emotional and you experience so many different emotions. You just need to read the story to understand the different emotions. I look forward to future books by this author. I enjoyed Wes and Sam’s story.
Sam has been running away physically and emotionally for a long time. Wes in his way has been running away emotionally too. Sam and Wes’ journey took awhile but eventually they got it right.
FYI, contains graphic and mature content. This is a MM romance. I received the book through my Kindle Unlimited account.
December 9, 2017
Overwhelming
I now understand both the glowing and negative reviews.
My advice ignore them both and read this book, I gave it a four then just this minute revised to a 5.
Since "Olive Juice" this is one that went deep.
Really and truly, I thank every soldier who serves and served with honor for their service.
Oliver and Styles have managed to perfectly blend romance and reality into a powerful tale and lesson.
Will read again and am sure each time another aspect will strike right now the one that lingers is how when I hear or read of conflict I never see the individual fighting on the ground, after reading this book that won't ever happen again.
And the love was great.
I now understand both the glowing and negative reviews.
My advice ignore them both and read this book, I gave it a four then just this minute revised to a 5.
Since "Olive Juice" this is one that went deep.
Really and truly, I thank every soldier who serves and served with honor for their service.
Oliver and Styles have managed to perfectly blend romance and reality into a powerful tale and lesson.
Will read again and am sure each time another aspect will strike right now the one that lingers is how when I hear or read of conflict I never see the individual fighting on the ground, after reading this book that won't ever happen again.
And the love was great.
December 15, 2017
This is one poignant, romantic read that you do not want to put down. This is Wes and Sam’s story. Wes has had feelings for Sam, his best friend’s brother, for years. It all came to a head when Sam returned home on leave and Wes decided to step up and take some initiative the night before he was to ship off again. Although he was unable to follow through, Sam stepped up and they shared their first kiss. Sam promises to return but things change. Can Wes and Sam make something work between them or is there too much for them to overcome?
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
September 30, 2020
I’m reviewing the audio edition. I liked the story. Maybe because I didn’t knit pick everything but took it as a romance. I listen to the overall story. I might be simple but I think there are a lot of people like me who read/listen for relaxation and this story fit that for me. I enjoyed that these two guys were meant to be but with everything happening would it work out. Maybe it is because I loved where the author’s took the journey and the ending. Maybe because the characters are likable humans with issues I enjoyed them. Whatever the reason I enjoyed this story. I was given a free copy from Gay Romance Review and this is my honest opinion.
August 2, 2018
After reading some reviews, I felt compelled to leave my own. I very much enjoyed this book. Yes, there is a plot. I do wish that there was more to Wesley's backstory. The only problem I really had was continuity with the prequel. In the prequel, Wes and Tom are friends in middle school, whereas in the main story, Wes doesn't move to town until he is 17. I like the prequel story better because it gives Wes a chance to know the object of his desire, Sam, instead of just crushing on someone he's only seen from across the street.
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