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War Paint
There’s an art to love.
Mural artist Ben has come from Tel Aviv to Atlanta to work on a commission. A successful artist, he’s still lonely and isolated after his family’s rejection. Ben is charmed and surprised when local soldier Eli mistakes him for homeless, and brings him a cup of coffee and a biscuit. This gesture opens the door. Eli is lost, trying to make sense of a future without the Army after a combat injury ends his career.
Art gives them a new language and a path forward. But lost men can reach out, desperate to hang on to anyone close. Is what they find together real, and the kind of love that will last?
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
Mural artist Ben has come from Tel Aviv to Atlanta to work on a commission. A successful artist, he’s still lonely and isolated after his family’s rejection. Ben is charmed and surprised when local soldier Eli mistakes him for homeless, and brings him a cup of coffee and a biscuit. This gesture opens the door. Eli is lost, trying to make sense of a future without the Army after a combat injury ends his career.
Art gives them a new language and a path forward. But lost men can reach out, desperate to hang on to anyone close. Is what they find together real, and the kind of love that will last?
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
88 pages, ebook
First published May 25, 2018
4 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 25, 2018
4.5 stars
Eli mistakenly thinks that Ben – who sits on a bench with his dog on his feet across of a diner where Eli has been contemplating what to do with his life after Army – as homeless and he gives Ben his biscuit. Afterwards, love and friendship blooms between the two men as they – probably – save each other as well…
For me, Sarah Black’s stories are always more than just romance. There’s MEANING behind it, and it is like balm to my soul. War Paint delves into the life of young ex-soldier, Eli, who has been struggling after he is no longer welcome into the Army due to his injury… as well as Ben, an experienced street artist who – at the time when Eli finds him sitting on the bench – is losing his inspiration to his latest project.
I am in love with this tale … in his young life, the Army is everything for Eli. He leaves his home because his parents are not exactly at peace with his sexuality. When Eli is no longer part of the Army, he doesn’t know what to do. His counselor has instructed Eli to write down his thoughts in a journal and to explore what vocations he can do instead. When Ben gives Eli his camera, it’s like Ben gives himself back.
Ben has also been uprooted of his old life somewhat – he left Tel Aviv after telling his family about his sexuality and he have never returned. He travels a lot, doing his street arts project by project, but never really have a place he can call home.
And Eli, beautiful young Eli, has given Ben an inspiration of someone to hold on to. Eli who flourishes with his idea about war paint and how it is a protection for people who wear it.
Sarah Black’s writing is exquisite and evocative… which is why I find myself willing to return to her book, again and again.
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.
The war paint, it gave me back something I thought I had lost when they took my uniform. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I could see myself again.
Eli mistakenly thinks that Ben – who sits on a bench with his dog on his feet across of a diner where Eli has been contemplating what to do with his life after Army – as homeless and he gives Ben his biscuit. Afterwards, love and friendship blooms between the two men as they – probably – save each other as well…
For me, Sarah Black’s stories are always more than just romance. There’s MEANING behind it, and it is like balm to my soul. War Paint delves into the life of young ex-soldier, Eli, who has been struggling after he is no longer welcome into the Army due to his injury… as well as Ben, an experienced street artist who – at the time when Eli finds him sitting on the bench – is losing his inspiration to his latest project.
I am in love with this tale … in his young life, the Army is everything for Eli. He leaves his home because his parents are not exactly at peace with his sexuality. When Eli is no longer part of the Army, he doesn’t know what to do. His counselor has instructed Eli to write down his thoughts in a journal and to explore what vocations he can do instead. When Ben gives Eli his camera, it’s like Ben gives himself back.
Ben has also been uprooted of his old life somewhat – he left Tel Aviv after telling his family about his sexuality and he have never returned. He travels a lot, doing his street arts project by project, but never really have a place he can call home.
“If disaster strikes, I don’t have a shield. No family, no home. Nothing to anchor me to a place. It feels sort of, I don’t know, thin. Like the barriers that protect me from the world, the walls I’ve built for myself, are thin.”
And Eli, beautiful young Eli, has given Ben an inspiration of someone to hold on to. Eli who flourishes with his idea about war paint and how it is a protection for people who wear it.
Sarah Black’s writing is exquisite and evocative… which is why I find myself willing to return to her book, again and again.
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.
May 23, 2018
Artist Ben is in Atlanta, Georgia to complete a commissioned mural and while sitting on a bench pondering his concept, he is approached by Eli, who mistakes Ben for a homeless man and offers him a coffee and a biscuit and tucks a dollar into Ben's dog, David's, collar. Eli is a wounded warrior living in an extended stay hotel, writing in his therapeutic journal and struggling to find his place in the world.
Sarah Black has a beautiful writing style - very evocative - and the structure of this novella feels like a series of vignettes (with titles Ben, Hungry for Pot Stickers, Eli with the camera, etc.) where we learn about each man; their histories, their strengths and their weaknesses. And their relationship evolves naturally into an abiding love that neither expects:
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Sarah Black has a beautiful writing style - very evocative - and the structure of this novella feels like a series of vignettes (with titles Ben, Hungry for Pot Stickers, Eli with the camera, etc.) where we learn about each man; their histories, their strengths and their weaknesses. And their relationship evolves naturally into an abiding love that neither expects:
He wanted him like he’d been thirsty for years, lost in the desert, and now his thirst was slaked and his tongue wet and his throat soothed. Ben had fallen in love before, but he couldn’t remember these feelings of hunger and need, desire and sweetness.I loved this book - loved the language, loved the way each character slowly unfolds before our eyes, the way the men develop together as artists, and all in less than 100 pages. My only (very small) complaint is that while the book is in the "States of Love" series, I didn't learn anything about Georgia and its uniqueness. The story would have worked in any setting. 4.5 stars for this little gem of a story.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
June 5, 2018
This lovely novella gives us the kind of characters Sarah Black does so well, set in the vivid context of an artistic vision. Ben is an Israeli artist, commissioned to do a building mural in Atlanta. Eli is a wounded veteran, trying to put together a life in which he is no longer a warrior. Dave is a small dog.
These three come together through a misunderstanding, as Eli sees Ben with his wild hair and beard, sitting on a bench with his little dog, staring at a blank wall. Eli assumes Ben's homeless. That moment of compassion becomes a glimpse into the soul of a lost young man. Ben's touched and curious. As they spend time together, Ben helps open the artist's (or photographer's) eye in Eli, and he begins to see a path forward and not just back. Eli's VA therapist (whom he dubs The Manatee) isn't sure this sudden relationship is good for him, but we see Eli coming back to life and know that she's wrong. But Ben has a 4 month visa to the US, and Eli has no occupation, and the future won't be simple.
The writing is done in short sections of alternating POV, between Ben with his age and experience and eye for form and color, and Eli with his hurts and uncertainty, compassion and kindness, and his grasping for a way to redefine himself. The story forms like a painting, sections layered on each other, with not a lot of plot, perhaps moving not forward as much as deeper and wider, until the couple in love that will be BenAndEli is revealed. I've missed this author's books, and this was a lovely new entry in her array of great stories.
These three come together through a misunderstanding, as Eli sees Ben with his wild hair and beard, sitting on a bench with his little dog, staring at a blank wall. Eli assumes Ben's homeless. That moment of compassion becomes a glimpse into the soul of a lost young man. Ben's touched and curious. As they spend time together, Ben helps open the artist's (or photographer's) eye in Eli, and he begins to see a path forward and not just back. Eli's VA therapist (whom he dubs The Manatee) isn't sure this sudden relationship is good for him, but we see Eli coming back to life and know that she's wrong. But Ben has a 4 month visa to the US, and Eli has no occupation, and the future won't be simple.
The writing is done in short sections of alternating POV, between Ben with his age and experience and eye for form and color, and Eli with his hurts and uncertainty, compassion and kindness, and his grasping for a way to redefine himself. The story forms like a painting, sections layered on each other, with not a lot of plot, perhaps moving not forward as much as deeper and wider, until the couple in love that will be BenAndEli is revealed. I've missed this author's books, and this was a lovely new entry in her array of great stories.
May 26, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
War Paint was a roller coaster of the sweet, the sad, and the profound, and all of in equal measure. The author has done a masterful job of packing a lot of punch into just a few pages. This was a quick read and it’s almost over before you realize it. I think it ends a bit too abruptly, but the entire work has a clipped, almost brusque tone and the writing mirrors this. That isn’t a complaint, as it makes for an interesting experience and definitely feels unique among other stories. There is no great romance here; instead, it’s a story about two men who just fit. They meet and they seem to suit one another at nearly every level. So it seems like the romance period is bypassed and instead they’re a couple who’ve already achieved the comfortable warmth of an established relationship. I’m not sure how believable that really is, but it manages to works for Ben and Eli.
In the midst of trying to find his new sense of self, Eli begins to explore photography. His first major project idea is to photograph veterans in historical war paints. It’s a powerful theme and one that runs as an undercurrent beneath the story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
War Paint was a roller coaster of the sweet, the sad, and the profound, and all of in equal measure. The author has done a masterful job of packing a lot of punch into just a few pages. This was a quick read and it’s almost over before you realize it. I think it ends a bit too abruptly, but the entire work has a clipped, almost brusque tone and the writing mirrors this. That isn’t a complaint, as it makes for an interesting experience and definitely feels unique among other stories. There is no great romance here; instead, it’s a story about two men who just fit. They meet and they seem to suit one another at nearly every level. So it seems like the romance period is bypassed and instead they’re a couple who’ve already achieved the comfortable warmth of an established relationship. I’m not sure how believable that really is, but it manages to works for Ben and Eli.
In the midst of trying to find his new sense of self, Eli begins to explore photography. His first major project idea is to photograph veterans in historical war paints. It’s a powerful theme and one that runs as an undercurrent beneath the story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
November 29, 2020
I do believe that Sarah Black is my favorite author. There's a unique quality to her books, an imagery and a deep introspection on weighty matters of symbolism and philosophy, that I just don't find anywhere else. It always feels a little like reading poetry, where each line needs to be savored and evaluated on it's own while also evaluating it's place in the big picture.
Speaking of big pictures . . . I sure would have liked to see that mural.
Speaking of big pictures . . . I sure would have liked to see that mural.
June 4, 2018
Blurb:
There’s an art to love.
Mural artist Ben has come from Tel Aviv to Atlanta to work on a commission. A successful artist, he’s still lonely and isolated after his family’s rejection. Ben is charmed and surprised when local soldier Eli mistakes him for homeless, and brings him a cup of coffee and a biscuit. This gesture opens the door. Eli is lost, trying to make sense of a future without the Army after a combat injury ends his career.
Art gives them a new language and a path forward. But lost men can reach out, desperate to hang on to anyone close. Is what they find together real, and the kind of love that will last?
Review:
Dear Sarah Black,
I enjoyed your recently published novella very much, but in this one your words were singing to me again. As blurb tells you Eli and Ben meet when Ben is trying to decide what themes to incorporate in his mural (what he was hired to do) and Eli mistakes him for the homeless person and tries to feed him.
"Ben watched the old Buick dealership across the street being painted gunmetal gray. The building was three stories high, made of old brick with big plate-glass industrial windows. The previous layers of paint were heavy with lead, so there would be no blasting down to the soft old brick. It was sad, he thought, that the rosy clay would never again feel sunshine on its face. The bricks were in lockdown. His painted layer would be the last in a long line. It was also sad they were using gunmetal gray when he very specifically detailed it should be dove gray. Dove was several shades lighter, a gentle color with a hopefulness gunmetal was seriously lacking. Americans, he thought, were both obsessed with guns and unable to follow directions."
"It took Ben a moment to realize this boy with his tired eyes and lined face was actually bringing him a biscuit and coffee. What was this? Maybe he was going to talk about being saved? “Well, thank you. I like biscuits.” It seemed lame, but Ben wasn’t really sure what was going on, and he didn’t want to seem too encouraging."
Eli is drifting and trying to figure out the path forward in his life now when he cannot continue to serve in the Army after the injury and meeting with Ben shows him how his future work can be connected with art, if Eli so chooses.
"“So what’s your essay about? Did you say?” Eli dropped the fork with a clatter. “I’ve got to figure out what to do next. Like, forever next. And I can’t think of a single thing. There is nothing I want to do. No place I want to go. It’s like, my life ended, but I forgot to die or something.” “Huh.” Ben gestured to the food. “Eat.”"
Some commentary about the art, about the artistic process and what artist may choose to do or not to do with his work seemed incredibly insightful to me. This is not the first work by this writer which convinced me that she must know what she was talking about where painting art is concerned, but it feels like in this novella the author spoke with even more sophistication.
And of course the men fall in love as well. Really, since this is an 88 page novella not that much happens outside of the romance and Eli being at the crossroads in the beginning and them choosing to work their cross roads together, but it felt as if *so much* did happen and I think the evocative writing is the main reason for the fact that I felt like that.
It was very beautiful and worked almost perfectly for me. I even bought the falling in love after they met - something I rarely do, but once again the author made it work for me. Maybe because she did not make the ending to be a neatly tied bow and there was a chance that their journey together may not work, but it just felt so believable to me that it would work.
Grade: A-
There’s an art to love.
Mural artist Ben has come from Tel Aviv to Atlanta to work on a commission. A successful artist, he’s still lonely and isolated after his family’s rejection. Ben is charmed and surprised when local soldier Eli mistakes him for homeless, and brings him a cup of coffee and a biscuit. This gesture opens the door. Eli is lost, trying to make sense of a future without the Army after a combat injury ends his career.
Art gives them a new language and a path forward. But lost men can reach out, desperate to hang on to anyone close. Is what they find together real, and the kind of love that will last?
Review:
Dear Sarah Black,
I enjoyed your recently published novella very much, but in this one your words were singing to me again. As blurb tells you Eli and Ben meet when Ben is trying to decide what themes to incorporate in his mural (what he was hired to do) and Eli mistakes him for the homeless person and tries to feed him.
"Ben watched the old Buick dealership across the street being painted gunmetal gray. The building was three stories high, made of old brick with big plate-glass industrial windows. The previous layers of paint were heavy with lead, so there would be no blasting down to the soft old brick. It was sad, he thought, that the rosy clay would never again feel sunshine on its face. The bricks were in lockdown. His painted layer would be the last in a long line. It was also sad they were using gunmetal gray when he very specifically detailed it should be dove gray. Dove was several shades lighter, a gentle color with a hopefulness gunmetal was seriously lacking. Americans, he thought, were both obsessed with guns and unable to follow directions."
"It took Ben a moment to realize this boy with his tired eyes and lined face was actually bringing him a biscuit and coffee. What was this? Maybe he was going to talk about being saved? “Well, thank you. I like biscuits.” It seemed lame, but Ben wasn’t really sure what was going on, and he didn’t want to seem too encouraging."
Eli is drifting and trying to figure out the path forward in his life now when he cannot continue to serve in the Army after the injury and meeting with Ben shows him how his future work can be connected with art, if Eli so chooses.
"“So what’s your essay about? Did you say?” Eli dropped the fork with a clatter. “I’ve got to figure out what to do next. Like, forever next. And I can’t think of a single thing. There is nothing I want to do. No place I want to go. It’s like, my life ended, but I forgot to die or something.” “Huh.” Ben gestured to the food. “Eat.”"
Some commentary about the art, about the artistic process and what artist may choose to do or not to do with his work seemed incredibly insightful to me. This is not the first work by this writer which convinced me that she must know what she was talking about where painting art is concerned, but it feels like in this novella the author spoke with even more sophistication.
And of course the men fall in love as well. Really, since this is an 88 page novella not that much happens outside of the romance and Eli being at the crossroads in the beginning and them choosing to work their cross roads together, but it felt as if *so much* did happen and I think the evocative writing is the main reason for the fact that I felt like that.
It was very beautiful and worked almost perfectly for me. I even bought the falling in love after they met - something I rarely do, but once again the author made it work for me. Maybe because she did not make the ending to be a neatly tied bow and there was a chance that their journey together may not work, but it just felt so believable to me that it would work.
Grade: A-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2018
4.5 stars
There was a lot of feeling in this short story. Probably one of my favourite States of Love stories.
There was a lot of feeling in this short story. Probably one of my favourite States of Love stories.
May 23, 2018
This was really, really lovely and unique. I enjoyed it so much. <3 <3 <3 Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreviews.com
May 20, 2018
3 Stars
I was really excited to start this book and I really liked Eli and Ben’s story, but at times, I was absolutely bored to tears and confused. The author focuses on a lot of the artistic aspects surrounding their relationship. Ben and Eli have a great deal of conversations, as well as a lot inner-musings, about specific types of art and I was completely lost and found I couldn’t relate.
This was already a short story to begin with, and it’s harder to manage individual character development, not to mention relationship development in a shorter book. While Ben and Eli were sweet and I liked the idea of their story, the author needed to devote more time to them, rather than the art.
The story had so much potential, but for me, it just didn’t work and unfortunately, if you’re looking for a nice romance with good character development, this one isn’t it.
*copy provided by author/publisher for my reading pleasure, a review was not a requirement*
I was really excited to start this book and I really liked Eli and Ben’s story, but at times, I was absolutely bored to tears and confused. The author focuses on a lot of the artistic aspects surrounding their relationship. Ben and Eli have a great deal of conversations, as well as a lot inner-musings, about specific types of art and I was completely lost and found I couldn’t relate.
This was already a short story to begin with, and it’s harder to manage individual character development, not to mention relationship development in a shorter book. While Ben and Eli were sweet and I liked the idea of their story, the author needed to devote more time to them, rather than the art.
The story had so much potential, but for me, it just didn’t work and unfortunately, if you’re looking for a nice romance with good character development, this one isn’t it.
*copy provided by author/publisher for my reading pleasure, a review was not a requirement*
June 2, 2018
3.5* This was a case of me not loving the writing style, and that's a very personal thing. It came across as very introspective and kind of dreamy at times and it's just not to my taste. However I loved Eli and Ben and how Ben allowed Eli to be part of his process, bouncing ideas off each other and he just allowed Eli to find his path without really pushing him in any direction. It was also interesting to see that while Ben was older and more experienced, he seemed more concerned that he would lose Eli as he went off and found out who he was meant to be.
I LOVED the idea for Eli's pictorial on war paint. I think that is very cool. And I was a bit disappointed that we don't seem them a bit down the road. How is the project going? Do they go to Prague? Has Eli found his purpose? So I was left wanting a bit more resolution, not so much to the relationship but to Eli's journey.
I LOVED the idea for Eli's pictorial on war paint. I think that is very cool. And I was a bit disappointed that we don't seem them a bit down the road. How is the project going? Do they go to Prague? Has Eli found his purpose? So I was left wanting a bit more resolution, not so much to the relationship but to Eli's journey.
May 26, 2018
“Painting is the passage from the chaos of the emotions to the order of the possible.” ~ Balthus
Ben, of 'War Paint' by Sara Black, has been expressing his artistic genius on the sides of buildings all over the world. His art is inspirational and thought-provoking, while still fitting into his clients’ idea of what they think his mural should look like. Sometimes, it's a delicate balance between what Ben wants to represent and what the client thinks should be there, but he's an excellent diplomat, often able to sway his employer to accept his ideas, even if he has to alter them a little.
While Ben is in Atlanta, studying the wall of his latest project, an attractive young man named Eli comes over to the bench on which Ben is sitting with his little dog, David, and offers him coffee and a biscuit. Apparently, Eli mistakes Ben's scruffy-look for an unfortunate person and, as a random act of kindness, offers him food. Although this gesture warms Ben's heart, he doesn't quite know what to think of Eli, who, although young, looks much older than he should. After talking a while, Ben realizes how lost Eli actually is. He expected the armed services to be his life-long career, but when he was severely wounded, he had no idea what else he can or wants to do. Ben doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to sex, so he soon suggests that he and Eli be 'creative' in bed. When Ben realizes that Eli is interested in photography, he encourages him to develop his ability. Ben usually works alone, but he can't resist letting Eli become a part apprentice. When Eli comes up with a special addition to the mural, he's not only found an expression for his pain, but he's also learned what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
I loved Ben and Eli and David the dog, of course. The intensity in this book is awesome as well as the humor. I cracked up when Ben jokes that with names like Ben, Eli, and David they could start a rock band and call it 'The Old Testaments'. There's so much sincerity and honesty in this book; it made my heart ache. My only “complaint” is that the book ended. I was not ready to let Ben and Eli go. I wanted to see what they did with the rest of their lives, that I am convinced will be together. Thanks, Sara, for a heartfelt tale.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Ben, of 'War Paint' by Sara Black, has been expressing his artistic genius on the sides of buildings all over the world. His art is inspirational and thought-provoking, while still fitting into his clients’ idea of what they think his mural should look like. Sometimes, it's a delicate balance between what Ben wants to represent and what the client thinks should be there, but he's an excellent diplomat, often able to sway his employer to accept his ideas, even if he has to alter them a little.
While Ben is in Atlanta, studying the wall of his latest project, an attractive young man named Eli comes over to the bench on which Ben is sitting with his little dog, David, and offers him coffee and a biscuit. Apparently, Eli mistakes Ben's scruffy-look for an unfortunate person and, as a random act of kindness, offers him food. Although this gesture warms Ben's heart, he doesn't quite know what to think of Eli, who, although young, looks much older than he should. After talking a while, Ben realizes how lost Eli actually is. He expected the armed services to be his life-long career, but when he was severely wounded, he had no idea what else he can or wants to do. Ben doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to sex, so he soon suggests that he and Eli be 'creative' in bed. When Ben realizes that Eli is interested in photography, he encourages him to develop his ability. Ben usually works alone, but he can't resist letting Eli become a part apprentice. When Eli comes up with a special addition to the mural, he's not only found an expression for his pain, but he's also learned what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
I loved Ben and Eli and David the dog, of course. The intensity in this book is awesome as well as the humor. I cracked up when Ben jokes that with names like Ben, Eli, and David they could start a rock band and call it 'The Old Testaments'. There's so much sincerity and honesty in this book; it made my heart ache. My only “complaint” is that the book ended. I was not ready to let Ben and Eli go. I wanted to see what they did with the rest of their lives, that I am convinced will be together. Thanks, Sara, for a heartfelt tale.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 17, 2018
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ THREE & 1/2-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Not a lot to see on this cover. A portion of a person is shown, from behind, with an aerosol can in hand. Other than the bluish cloud mixed with the title, there's no other indication that the can is spray paint and there's no graffiti in the background to indicate that the subject is a tagger or an artist. If I'd not been presented with the synopsis, I may have passed this one up while skimming through covers for my next read.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Alternating third-person
I'm not sure what it was about this story that made it so difficult for me to read. The sections were marked off by strange little titles telling the reader who is doing what.
Eli continually mentally (and occasionally verbally) calls Ben "Bison" due to his appearance. Ben thinks of Eli as "a boy". Then there was "the Manatee".
The dynamics of their relationship made no sense to me. I did not feel the insta-love that the author was trying to sell, instead, I felt there was a co-dependency borne of circumstances of brokenness. Conversations felt cold and disjointed. Ben has a dog, but would that not complicate the life of a poor, traveling artist? And if he's commissioned worldwide, wouldn't he be paid better?
As the story continued, I still struggled to feel the bond, the love they seemed to find for one another. If felt more like a dysfunctional symbiosis than romance. The conclusion was not solid nor satisfying, I felt cheated at the end with the way it left things.
Overall, it should not have taken me three days to read less than 100 pages but sadly, my struggle was real with this one. I truly hope other readers have a better experience with it.
.
Rating: [PG-13] ~ Score: 3.725 ~ Stars: 3.5 - 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Not a lot to see on this cover. A portion of a person is shown, from behind, with an aerosol can in hand. Other than the bluish cloud mixed with the title, there's no other indication that the can is spray paint and there's no graffiti in the background to indicate that the subject is a tagger or an artist. If I'd not been presented with the synopsis, I may have passed this one up while skimming through covers for my next read.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Alternating third-person
I'm not sure what it was about this story that made it so difficult for me to read. The sections were marked off by strange little titles telling the reader who is doing what.
Eli continually mentally (and occasionally verbally) calls Ben "Bison" due to his appearance. Ben thinks of Eli as "a boy". Then there was "the Manatee".
The dynamics of their relationship made no sense to me. I did not feel the insta-love that the author was trying to sell, instead, I felt there was a co-dependency borne of circumstances of brokenness. Conversations felt cold and disjointed. Ben has a dog, but would that not complicate the life of a poor, traveling artist? And if he's commissioned worldwide, wouldn't he be paid better?
As the story continued, I still struggled to feel the bond, the love they seemed to find for one another. If felt more like a dysfunctional symbiosis than romance. The conclusion was not solid nor satisfying, I felt cheated at the end with the way it left things.
Overall, it should not have taken me three days to read less than 100 pages but sadly, my struggle was real with this one. I truly hope other readers have a better experience with it.
.
Rating: [PG-13] ~ Score: 3.725 ~ Stars: 3.5 - 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
June 9, 2018
I am an unashamed fan of Sarah Black and am thrilled she's back from hiatus. Her books and characters always linger with me and the memories of some are still strong enough to feel like friends I spent good times with years ago. Anyone who loves this story and hasn't read The General and the Horse Lord should definitely do so.
This book has all the classic SB elements; charming, well drawn, real characters and effortless dialogue. Elements of art and/or the creative process often feature in her work , always something intriguing for me to chew over after the story ends.
This book has all the classic SB elements; charming, well drawn, real characters and effortless dialogue. Elements of art and/or the creative process often feature in her work , always something intriguing for me to chew over after the story ends.
May 28, 2018
I love the way Sarah Black’s men are so sweet with each other. There’s a gentleness and a naked, vulnerable honesty that is just so lovely.
August 26, 2018
*happy sigh*
There is nothing like excellent writing.
This might be a good book for people new to m/m.
There is nothing like excellent writing.
This might be a good book for people new to m/m.
May 29, 2018
War Paint is my second book by Sarah Black—the first was The Legend of the Apache Kid—and it is the second one that turned out to be a lovely, thought-provoking, and unique read. Black is such a gifted storyteller. She took the eighty-eight pages in War Paint and turned them into a beautiful and memorable love story between two characters who are, perhaps, an unlikely pairing. Their hookup sort of popped up out of nowhere, and their dynamic is maybe not one you’d expect, but they totally work. The story structure itself was a little quirky as well, but also completely worked for me. I pretty much dug everything about this one.
Ben is an artist from Tel Aviv, who is scoping out the building he’s been commissioned to paint a mural on when he meets Eli, an ex-soldier who is back home for good after suffering a career-ending injury on his last deployment and has been struggling with being out of commission. Eli is supposed to be writing an essay for his counselor about who he is as a person, but all he has ever really seen himself as is a soldier. And now he’s having to basically reinvent himself in his mind. After he meets Ben, though, he begins thinking more about it, and he remembers that he enjoyed taking pictures with an old pinhole camera when he was a kid. Ben recognizes the artist in Eli, and soon Eli is helping him out with the mural planning as his apprentice, taking photographs.
I loved the development of the relationship between these guys. Even though things did move quite quickly, I felt like it happened very naturally for them. I loved how smitten with each other they were, and how it sort of took them both by surprise. Eli was constantly in awe of Ben’s pull…
“It’s like you’ve got this power. No, not power. Like some sort of….It’s like you’re the sun rising in the morning. All this heat and light. Something. I don’t know. You’ve got gravity. It’s pulling me in.”
And, Ben couldn’t believe how strongly he felt for this young man who fell into his life…
Ben couldn’t speak around the feelings that clogged his throat. All he could do was reach out with open arms, hold Eli close, this young man who had never been in love before, this soldier looking for a way ahead.
I also liked the setting, and the discussion of Atlanta’s history. If you follow my reviews at all, you know I’ve been really enjoying these States of Love books, and once again, I liked what the author did with this one. Ben is planning to pull the history of the city into the mural he’s painting, and picturing his vision in my mind while I was reading was very cool.
And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the perfection of the title. I don’t want to give anything away, but it has to do with a project idea of Eli’s that Ben is amazing about helping him with, too. It was such a cool premise and done really well.
Bottom line? War Paint was a quick, angst-free, fun read, and I adored it!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
Ben is an artist from Tel Aviv, who is scoping out the building he’s been commissioned to paint a mural on when he meets Eli, an ex-soldier who is back home for good after suffering a career-ending injury on his last deployment and has been struggling with being out of commission. Eli is supposed to be writing an essay for his counselor about who he is as a person, but all he has ever really seen himself as is a soldier. And now he’s having to basically reinvent himself in his mind. After he meets Ben, though, he begins thinking more about it, and he remembers that he enjoyed taking pictures with an old pinhole camera when he was a kid. Ben recognizes the artist in Eli, and soon Eli is helping him out with the mural planning as his apprentice, taking photographs.
I loved the development of the relationship between these guys. Even though things did move quite quickly, I felt like it happened very naturally for them. I loved how smitten with each other they were, and how it sort of took them both by surprise. Eli was constantly in awe of Ben’s pull…
“It’s like you’ve got this power. No, not power. Like some sort of….It’s like you’re the sun rising in the morning. All this heat and light. Something. I don’t know. You’ve got gravity. It’s pulling me in.”
And, Ben couldn’t believe how strongly he felt for this young man who fell into his life…
Ben couldn’t speak around the feelings that clogged his throat. All he could do was reach out with open arms, hold Eli close, this young man who had never been in love before, this soldier looking for a way ahead.
I also liked the setting, and the discussion of Atlanta’s history. If you follow my reviews at all, you know I’ve been really enjoying these States of Love books, and once again, I liked what the author did with this one. Ben is planning to pull the history of the city into the mural he’s painting, and picturing his vision in my mind while I was reading was very cool.
And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the perfection of the title. I don’t want to give anything away, but it has to do with a project idea of Eli’s that Ben is amazing about helping him with, too. It was such a cool premise and done really well.
Bottom line? War Paint was a quick, angst-free, fun read, and I adored it!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
May 22, 2018
This is a short story, and the blurb summarizes the book fairly succinctly, so I won’t rehash.
Eli is a Veteran, recovering from a debilitating injury caused by a bomb. He doesn’t know who he’s supposed to be next. He’s young, in an uncertain place, and then he meets Ben and David. I thought Eli’s vulnerability, uncertainty, and personal growth were well portrayed in such a few short pages. I would even go so far to say, this is Eli’s story.
Ben is a world renown mural artist. He comfortable in his own skin, good at his art, and well-known in the mural-art community. But he’s a bit adrift in his own way after his family rejected him. Coming from a culture where family is all encompassing, he looking for something to ground him.
I loved the conversation and emotional connection surrounding the War Paint concept – how it gave hope and purpose to both men. I admit, I’m curious if any one has done a project like that because it would be pretty darn cool.
I also loved how Eli mentally re-named people, David was adorable, and I liked the tidbits dropped in about Atlanta’s history. Finally, the chapter headings were amongst the more creative I’ve seen – well done!
I dropped a star because I thought this was too short and could have benefited from a few more aspects being fleshed out. Such as, Eli talked about being a soldier, but we find out in passing that he was a journalist. If he’s a journalist, I found it odd that he would have had such a hard time putting pen to paper to write something for the counselor. Ben has been in Atlanta for a bit, has friends there, but doesn’t seek them out until after he’s meet Eli and then awkwardness all around.
To sum up, this hit all my happy buttons with the exception of length. I can see myself re-reading this when I need a short feel-good read.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Eli is a Veteran, recovering from a debilitating injury caused by a bomb. He doesn’t know who he’s supposed to be next. He’s young, in an uncertain place, and then he meets Ben and David. I thought Eli’s vulnerability, uncertainty, and personal growth were well portrayed in such a few short pages. I would even go so far to say, this is Eli’s story.
Ben is a world renown mural artist. He comfortable in his own skin, good at his art, and well-known in the mural-art community. But he’s a bit adrift in his own way after his family rejected him. Coming from a culture where family is all encompassing, he looking for something to ground him.
I loved the conversation and emotional connection surrounding the War Paint concept – how it gave hope and purpose to both men. I admit, I’m curious if any one has done a project like that because it would be pretty darn cool.
I also loved how Eli mentally re-named people, David was adorable, and I liked the tidbits dropped in about Atlanta’s history. Finally, the chapter headings were amongst the more creative I’ve seen – well done!
I dropped a star because I thought this was too short and could have benefited from a few more aspects being fleshed out. Such as, Eli talked about being a soldier, but we find out in passing that he was a journalist. If he’s a journalist, I found it odd that he would have had such a hard time putting pen to paper to write something for the counselor. Ben has been in Atlanta for a bit, has friends there, but doesn’t seek them out until after he’s meet Eli and then awkwardness all around.
To sum up, this hit all my happy buttons with the exception of length. I can see myself re-reading this when I need a short feel-good read.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
May 24, 2018
Cover love: 2 Meows. Its a pretty cover but to me told me nothing about the book.
Ben is an artist from Tel Aviv hired to work on a mural on a newly converted old building. The building will be tiny apartments. Ben sits out on a sidewalk and stares at the building to get his idea.
War Paint is a States of Love book and Georgia is the state. The cover is a bit misleading to me. In the book, I don't think Ben uses spray paint to do his mural as it's meant to last long. Also If he is a renowned mural artist I don't think he would be so poor.
Eli is a soldier that has been hurt and discharged from the military. He is only twenty-three and now has no career path. The military has him seeing a therapist and he has to write what he wants to do with his life and choose a new path. He sees this man on the bench with a small dog every morning and thinks he is homeless. He brings him a biscuit and coffee. They are both staying in the same motel and become lovers.
The story is deeply emotional and delves deep into Eli's thoughts. There are a few funny moments when he dubs his therapist as Manatee and Ben as Bison, because of his thick long hair and beard. The story seems to be instalove but for me, that fell flat. The romance felt more out of need and a desire to find a new path.
If you like, May/ December, cute dogs, broken men, military men, artists, interracial romance and off-page sex you will like this. There are several beautiful moments, especially the war paint scene.
Ben is an artist from Tel Aviv hired to work on a mural on a newly converted old building. The building will be tiny apartments. Ben sits out on a sidewalk and stares at the building to get his idea.
War Paint is a States of Love book and Georgia is the state. The cover is a bit misleading to me. In the book, I don't think Ben uses spray paint to do his mural as it's meant to last long. Also If he is a renowned mural artist I don't think he would be so poor.
Eli is a soldier that has been hurt and discharged from the military. He is only twenty-three and now has no career path. The military has him seeing a therapist and he has to write what he wants to do with his life and choose a new path. He sees this man on the bench with a small dog every morning and thinks he is homeless. He brings him a biscuit and coffee. They are both staying in the same motel and become lovers.
The story is deeply emotional and delves deep into Eli's thoughts. There are a few funny moments when he dubs his therapist as Manatee and Ben as Bison, because of his thick long hair and beard. The story seems to be instalove but for me, that fell flat. The romance felt more out of need and a desire to find a new path.
If you like, May/ December, cute dogs, broken men, military men, artists, interracial romance and off-page sex you will like this. There are several beautiful moments, especially the war paint scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
War Paint was under 100 pages, yet I actually really enjoyed it—which says a lot coming from someone who loves long, slow-burn, angsty books. Sarah Black did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and crafting such endearing characters. They were easy to love, and I found myself immediately engaged in the writing and invested in their journey.
Yes, I would have loved a little more development to smooth out the slightly choppy transitions between chapters and events, but the pacing still worked well overall. I could easily picture this as a full-length novel, and honestly, I kind of wish it had been.
That aside, I thought the relationship was really sweet and satisfying. The characters Eli and Ben, complemented each other beautifully, filling in the missing pieces in one another’s lives. My only minor gripe is that it was fade-to-black. While I’m not a fan of overly smutty books or gratuitous steam, I also don’t usually love fade-to-black scenes. That said, it didn’t bother me too much here—just a small personal preference.
In the end, this was a really wonderful read, and I had such a great time with it. War Paint gets 4 stars from me, and I’m pretty sure Sarah Black is the only author who writes novellas that actually work for me—so I can’t wait to read more!
Yes, I would have loved a little more development to smooth out the slightly choppy transitions between chapters and events, but the pacing still worked well overall. I could easily picture this as a full-length novel, and honestly, I kind of wish it had been.
That aside, I thought the relationship was really sweet and satisfying. The characters Eli and Ben, complemented each other beautifully, filling in the missing pieces in one another’s lives. My only minor gripe is that it was fade-to-black. While I’m not a fan of overly smutty books or gratuitous steam, I also don’t usually love fade-to-black scenes. That said, it didn’t bother me too much here—just a small personal preference.
In the end, this was a really wonderful read, and I had such a great time with it. War Paint gets 4 stars from me, and I’m pretty sure Sarah Black is the only author who writes novellas that actually work for me—so I can’t wait to read more!
January 2, 2019
Read on January 1st, and I'm already prepared to say this book is going to be among the top ten 'good reads' for 2019.
Wow.
Even if you aren't into romance, this is worth reading for the WRITING.
Even if you aren't into m/m romance, this is worth reading for the CHARACTERS.
This is the first book I've read by Sarah Black. It won't be the last.
I have a love/hate relationship with 'spoiler' reviews - on the one hand, I do like knowing something about what I'm getting into before reading, but on the other hand, I don't want to know every single detail before I read something, either.
This short (how long was it? I don't know!) novel is about grown up people, with actual real lives, and true problems, who meet by chance and find they are better for it, and can see a future. My only complaint about the story is that it could have been LONGER. I do like characters that 'live' off page, so to speak - you meet them in a book and they are so well presented that you know they have lives before that, and lives after that, and they are 'real'.
Eli and Ben are real people.
Writing this well is an art, and this is book about artists, by an artist. Thank you, Ms Black.
Wow.
Even if you aren't into romance, this is worth reading for the WRITING.
Even if you aren't into m/m romance, this is worth reading for the CHARACTERS.
This is the first book I've read by Sarah Black. It won't be the last.
I have a love/hate relationship with 'spoiler' reviews - on the one hand, I do like knowing something about what I'm getting into before reading, but on the other hand, I don't want to know every single detail before I read something, either.
This short (how long was it? I don't know!) novel is about grown up people, with actual real lives, and true problems, who meet by chance and find they are better for it, and can see a future. My only complaint about the story is that it could have been LONGER. I do like characters that 'live' off page, so to speak - you meet them in a book and they are so well presented that you know they have lives before that, and lives after that, and they are 'real'.
Eli and Ben are real people.
Writing this well is an art, and this is book about artists, by an artist. Thank you, Ms Black.
March 10, 2019
4.5 Stars
Absolutely beautiful writing about two men falling in love with each other and their own futures. The whole story was very hopeful and charming in a realistic way and the way the author injected art and history into Ben and Eli's story brought a uniqueness that I loved getting lost in.
My only issue was, I was so into their story I wasn't paying attention to my percentage read and all of a sudden it was over. I wasn't ready for them to be done and the ending felt a little abrupt because it caught me unawares (my fault) but even so, I believed in their future and would have loved an additional chapter or two. The story was complete though and the rather open ending worked for what the focus of the story was about.
Absolutely beautiful writing about two men falling in love with each other and their own futures. The whole story was very hopeful and charming in a realistic way and the way the author injected art and history into Ben and Eli's story brought a uniqueness that I loved getting lost in.
My only issue was, I was so into their story I wasn't paying attention to my percentage read and all of a sudden it was over. I wasn't ready for them to be done and the ending felt a little abrupt because it caught me unawares (my fault) but even so, I believed in their future and would have loved an additional chapter or two. The story was complete though and the rather open ending worked for what the focus of the story was about.
May 25, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-dJE
From that review: " War Paint is a perfect example of why I love her stories so. Small, encapsulated, yet so fully formed a universe that every building, cafe, street, and benches across that street can easily be envisioned. And populated with layered, wounded characters trying to find their way through life, one day, one person at a time (see Sarah Black's guest post on Adaptive Reuse on Young Guys and Old Buildings)*.
for all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-dJE
From that review: " War Paint is a perfect example of why I love her stories so. Small, encapsulated, yet so fully formed a universe that every building, cafe, street, and benches across that street can easily be envisioned. And populated with layered, wounded characters trying to find their way through life, one day, one person at a time (see Sarah Black's guest post on Adaptive Reuse on Young Guys and Old Buildings)*.
for all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
May 30, 2018
A good story but the writing style of this author made it hard for me to concentrate on what was going on. MC's were a painter from Tel Aviv commissioned to create an outdoor mural in a small town in the U.S. He has a cute little dog traveling with him and is mistaken for a homeless person by a wounded soldier, just released by the Army and finding himself lost and not being able to find his way in life. Great characters but I just couldn't get invested too much in them because the story seemed to jig/jag back and forth.
August 14, 2018
Short and sweet. Wasn't really much of a plot - the two MCs meet, they get involved, they discuss art, Eli starts to figure out what he wants to do with his life, the dog is happy to have a new human friend, and then it's over. I guess I was waiting for some kind of crisis or challenge that never came. Black has a unique voice though, and I wouldn't mind reading more of her work.
March 6, 2019
This is my first book by this author. Her writing style is understated and had a literary feel to it. I liked the characters she created in this novella and their connection felt real, if a bit rushed..
I would read another book by her.
I would read another book by her.
June 11, 2018
Beautiful writing with a lovely ending.
June 23, 2018
4.5 stars
July 14, 2018
Sarah is back!
It's been a while since we've gotten a book from this author. This one snuck up on me and I'm so glad it did. Loved it.
It's been a while since we've gotten a book from this author. This one snuck up on me and I'm so glad it did. Loved it.
August 12, 2018
So, I liked Ben and Eli. I liked the premise, but it was so slow. And just ended...disappointed, I usually like Sarah Black.
August 15, 2018
** 3.5 Stars **
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