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Blue Ruin #2
Close to Me
Blue finds pleasure in playing pet to Derek, but is eager to pursue goals outside of their relationship. When Blue starts GED classes and expands his social circle, Derek affords him room to grow, trusting their love is enough to keep his restless pet in line. That love is put to the test when Cameron Carter reappears in Blue's life. An abusive crush from Blue's school days, Cameron is a reformed adult now and seeks absolution for old wrongs. While Blue must find it in his heart to forgive Cameron, the greater challenge lies in keeping his unrequited desire for the former bully at bay. Derek's torn between enforcing boundaries and allowing Blue closure to heal old wounds. Meanwhile, Cameron struggles to forgive himself for the pain he once caused the boy he secretly loved. As Cameron and Blue begin the road to recovery, the sizzling chemistry between them can no longer be ignored. Caught between two strong-willed men, can Blue prove his loyalty to one while denying his attraction for the other, or, is it maybe just possible that Blue can have them both?
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM (including tethering, humiliation), male/male sexual situations, menage (m/m/m), strong violence.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM (including tethering, humiliation), male/male sexual situations, menage (m/m/m), strong violence.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 31, 2010
While i enjoyed the story, i truly hated what Blue did in this book. I understand that given his age, past physical experience and even the fact that he is male is pretty accurate. Yet regardless of these factors, cheating is never right in my book; when you profess to love and want a committed relationship with your partner. Add on the Dom/Sub dynamic and i have no love or respect left for the character.
Not wanting to place restrictions on Blue, when i would think it was totally necessary, shows that Derek wishes to trust his partner to make the right decisions. He trusts that Blue loves him enough not ruin what they have found on each other. That Blue thought that kissing, groping and sucking with Cameron was not cheating, made me see red. If i had not been reading the book on my e-reader, it would have ended up with a satisfying thud on my wall. I'm not even going to get into what i thought of Cameron's behavior. He is as low in my eyes as Blue, for he knew of the relationship between Derek and Blue and rather than back off after apologizing he was even more aggressive.
I have no problems with couples indulging in menage. In fact, i tend to love those stories if they are done right. It is plain though that when you indulge in such, it is not just with your partners permission but the fact that it will not ultimately hurt them to share you. One could blame Derek for giving permission, but it was plain that he loves Blue enough to suffer through it. Honestly when he cried trying to explain to Blue the ramifications of his actions, i truly wanted to castrate Blue.
So really my rating is not on how the story was told, but my personal enjoyment. It left a too bitter taste in my mouth.
Not wanting to place restrictions on Blue, when i would think it was totally necessary, shows that Derek wishes to trust his partner to make the right decisions. He trusts that Blue loves him enough not ruin what they have found on each other. That Blue thought that kissing, groping and sucking with Cameron was not cheating, made me see red. If i had not been reading the book on my e-reader, it would have ended up with a satisfying thud on my wall. I'm not even going to get into what i thought of Cameron's behavior. He is as low in my eyes as Blue, for he knew of the relationship between Derek and Blue and rather than back off after apologizing he was even more aggressive.
I have no problems with couples indulging in menage. In fact, i tend to love those stories if they are done right. It is plain though that when you indulge in such, it is not just with your partners permission but the fact that it will not ultimately hurt them to share you. One could blame Derek for giving permission, but it was plain that he loves Blue enough to suffer through it. Honestly when he cried trying to explain to Blue the ramifications of his actions, i truly wanted to castrate Blue.
So really my rating is not on how the story was told, but my personal enjoyment. It left a too bitter taste in my mouth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2011
So, I'm torn about how to rate this book. Mostly because some of the things that happened in this book would make me rate it very low, but the writing was fine.. so I compromised and rated it a 3.
This second book begins just a few weeks after the events of the first one. Derek and Blue are still trying to regain some normalcy after everything that happened. Then Blue is ready to get on with his life, get his GED, go to college, get a jib, in general he needs to feel like he is a contributing member of his relationship. While going to his GED prep classes he makes some new friends, and is faced with Cameron Carter, the boy who made his teen years unbearable and contributed to the broken boy Derek found months before.
Whatever. There is also a mystery in this book. Someone is killing young male prostitutes in the area. The mystery is pretty easy to figure out and is really a small piece of the overall plot.
This second book begins just a few weeks after the events of the first one. Derek and Blue are still trying to regain some normalcy after everything that happened. Then Blue is ready to get on with his life, get his GED, go to college, get a jib, in general he needs to feel like he is a contributing member of his relationship. While going to his GED prep classes he makes some new friends, and is faced with Cameron Carter, the boy who made his teen years unbearable and contributed to the broken boy Derek found months before.
Whatever. There is also a mystery in this book. Someone is killing young male prostitutes in the area. The mystery is pretty easy to figure out and is really a small piece of the overall plot.
Read
April 23, 2009I should confess, I was uncertain. Even if I liked a lot Blue Ruin 1, I don't like very much menages (even if they are M/M/M menages), and so when I saw the new cover of Blue Ruin 2 I was perplexed (even is it's a wonderful cover by the very good cover artist P.L. Nunn): I will like this new ones like the previous ones? And the answer is yes.
Close to Me is a litlle less yaoi then Blue Ruin 1, and maybe because Blue, the uke and pet of the first book, in this one is growing and is forming a own personality apart from his seme and master Derek.
After Blue was kidnapped in the first book, Derek is worrying for him a bit much; he also restrains himself during lovemaking and treats Blue like a porcelain doll. This is not something Blue can accept and after proving to Derek that he can still hold on thier pleasure/pain games in the bedroom, he wants also to prove him that he can be independent. This leads to him returning school to obtain his GED. And here he meets again Cameron.
Cam was Blue's nemesis at high school. He is the boy who always beat Blue, sometime with severe physical consequences for the smaller guy. But now Cam seems a different guy, and he wants to apologize. Worst he wants to be with Blue, since he has finally admitted to be gay and that all his violence in the past was only a way to hide his feelings toward Blue.
Blue is torn. He loves Derek, he has also vowed a commitment to the man, but he can't deny his feelings for Cam. He has long admitted that even if the boy treated him like a punching ball, he was drawn by him in the past. And now he has the chance to be with him. Don't forget that Derek was Blue first man, and Blue is a almost naivee 19 years old guy, where Derek is a 30 years old man with a very long lived past. I think Blue's uncertainity is very understandable, and also Derek's reaction at first is so: he doesn't want to share Blue, let alone leave him go. So what can he do to keep the boy with him?
As I said "Close to me" is more romance than yaoi. The seme/uke relationship is less strong and also the master/pet ones. Blue is growing, and doing that he is shortining the distance between him and Derek, if not in age for sure in experience. But Blue is a clever guy and he knows how to do it right. Still it's tender to see him act like the teenager he is, sharing a kiss while eating an icepop.
I also have to make my compliments to Katrina Strauss to have written a menage that it's not really a true ones, since the main couple maintains its integrity and closeness, and above all a menage that I, who don't like this type of relationship, have read with pleasure and also enjoyed.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002T45WG2/?...
Close to Me is a litlle less yaoi then Blue Ruin 1, and maybe because Blue, the uke and pet of the first book, in this one is growing and is forming a own personality apart from his seme and master Derek.
After Blue was kidnapped in the first book, Derek is worrying for him a bit much; he also restrains himself during lovemaking and treats Blue like a porcelain doll. This is not something Blue can accept and after proving to Derek that he can still hold on thier pleasure/pain games in the bedroom, he wants also to prove him that he can be independent. This leads to him returning school to obtain his GED. And here he meets again Cameron.
Cam was Blue's nemesis at high school. He is the boy who always beat Blue, sometime with severe physical consequences for the smaller guy. But now Cam seems a different guy, and he wants to apologize. Worst he wants to be with Blue, since he has finally admitted to be gay and that all his violence in the past was only a way to hide his feelings toward Blue.
Blue is torn. He loves Derek, he has also vowed a commitment to the man, but he can't deny his feelings for Cam. He has long admitted that even if the boy treated him like a punching ball, he was drawn by him in the past. And now he has the chance to be with him. Don't forget that Derek was Blue first man, and Blue is a almost naivee 19 years old guy, where Derek is a 30 years old man with a very long lived past. I think Blue's uncertainity is very understandable, and also Derek's reaction at first is so: he doesn't want to share Blue, let alone leave him go. So what can he do to keep the boy with him?
As I said "Close to me" is more romance than yaoi. The seme/uke relationship is less strong and also the master/pet ones. Blue is growing, and doing that he is shortining the distance between him and Derek, if not in age for sure in experience. But Blue is a clever guy and he knows how to do it right. Still it's tender to see him act like the teenager he is, sharing a kiss while eating an icepop.
I also have to make my compliments to Katrina Strauss to have written a menage that it's not really a true ones, since the main couple maintains its integrity and closeness, and above all a menage that I, who don't like this type of relationship, have read with pleasure and also enjoyed.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002T45WG2/?...
June 24, 2012
I am conflicted about this story -
March 24, 2009
Someone's been watching a little too much Queer as Folk.
...well, okay, maybe that's not technically possible. :)
But Derek and Blue definitely have a Brian/Justin vibe going. And then there's the whole gay neighborhood "rainbow district" thing, and the distrust of the police force thing, and even the resident drag queen at the favorite gay bar...
This particular story sort of channels the whole season 2 thing where Justin left Brian for someone closer to his own age, and then realized later the good thing he'd given up.
The difference being that Derek is actually monogamous, and Blue never actually leaves him. But the story has a similar feel, at least in my opinion, primarily in the way it deals with Blue's temptation.
And there's a new character, a female friend of Blue's, who obsesses over anime and all things Japanese, and tacks on Japanese honorifics to the end of everyone's name. This made me smile because I had a friend like that in high school.
I really liked this story. These Blue Ruin e-books are fun m/m romantica. However, the BDSM aspects seem a little out of place to me. I love reading BDSM erotica, but there's just something about Derek and Blue's relationship or maybe just the overall tone of the stories that makes it weird to me. It just doesn't fit.
I would almost prefer they just have regular sex - the BDSM parts lose their sizzle somehow in the context. I really can't put my finger on it or explain why, it just doesn't seem to fit with the story and doesn't really need to be there.
...well, okay, maybe that's not technically possible. :)
But Derek and Blue definitely have a Brian/Justin vibe going. And then there's the whole gay neighborhood "rainbow district" thing, and the distrust of the police force thing, and even the resident drag queen at the favorite gay bar...
This particular story sort of channels the whole season 2 thing where Justin left Brian for someone closer to his own age, and then realized later the good thing he'd given up.
The difference being that Derek is actually monogamous, and Blue never actually leaves him. But the story has a similar feel, at least in my opinion, primarily in the way it deals with Blue's temptation.
And there's a new character, a female friend of Blue's, who obsesses over anime and all things Japanese, and tacks on Japanese honorifics to the end of everyone's name. This made me smile because I had a friend like that in high school.
I really liked this story. These Blue Ruin e-books are fun m/m romantica. However, the BDSM aspects seem a little out of place to me. I love reading BDSM erotica, but there's just something about Derek and Blue's relationship or maybe just the overall tone of the stories that makes it weird to me. It just doesn't fit.
I would almost prefer they just have regular sex - the BDSM parts lose their sizzle somehow in the context. I really can't put my finger on it or explain why, it just doesn't seem to fit with the story and doesn't really need to be there.
December 24, 2011
It’s all Blue’s fault that this rating ended up as 3 stars. Part of me wanted to rate it lower because I was so disappointed in some of Blue’s actions in this second book, and part of me still recognized that the writing was better than 3 stars to make me care. I’m settling on 3 as a compromise.
It was nice to learn much more history behind Blue and Derek’s lives in this installment. I enjoy the D/s aspect of their relationship and look forward to reading more in Book 3. As in Book 1, trouble seems to find Blue like a homing beacon. He gets into Trouble (with a capital “T”) on more than one front, and this time it’s hurtful to Derek. I realize Blue is relatively young, but young doesn’t have to mean stupid or incapable of restraint. Oh Blue, I really question whether you do love Derek – it seems he’s the one doing all the giving and you’re the one doing all the taking!
I’ll give the boys another chance as I move on to Book 3, but I’m on my guard!!
It was nice to learn much more history behind Blue and Derek’s lives in this installment. I enjoy the D/s aspect of their relationship and look forward to reading more in Book 3. As in Book 1, trouble seems to find Blue like a homing beacon. He gets into Trouble (with a capital “T”) on more than one front, and this time it’s hurtful to Derek. I realize Blue is relatively young, but young doesn’t have to mean stupid or incapable of restraint. Oh Blue, I really question whether you do love Derek – it seems he’s the one doing all the giving and you’re the one doing all the taking!
I’ll give the boys another chance as I move on to Book 3, but I’m on my guard!!
June 25, 2015
Another great instalment with Derek and Blue. Cameron is now added to the mix, it will be interesting to see if this ménage is carried on through the rest of the series. The baddy in this was easily picked but apparently he has a copycat so no doubt that will be where future books go. Will read further in the series but not right now.
March 7, 2011
This was about the same than the first book in the series. Okay in all counts, but nothing special, really.
Good, easy read, but I'll leave the rest of the series for another time.
February 15, 2011
It's fine for what it is. It feels like an after-school special the way the challenges are solved so quickly. That being said the adventures of Derek and Blue are a good weekend read.
January 7, 2013
I am really liking this series. The 3-some threw me a bit as it was so out of character, but once I read about what lead up to it, kinda made more sense. Looking forward to #3
December 9, 2024
Rating After First Read: 4 Stars
Rating After Second Read: 2.5 Stars
September 22; 2024
Discalimer: The following review contains spoilers for this book as well as the first book in this series, Some Kind of Stranger. I also fully intend for this review to be exhaustive and lengthy, so you have been forewarned.
Before we get into this review, I need to get this one thing off my chest.
DEREK IS SUCH A FUCKING JERK.
Okay, now that that's done, let's get into the review itself.
In the first book, we meet Blue aka Shane McGowan, the son of the District Attorney who was kicked out by said father for being gay and is now sofa-surfing as well as working in the decrepit establishment, Blue Ruin where a sexual predator has been lurking looking for victims. But, that's not all, one of the victims of this crime is lurking in search of his assailant eager for revenge and that is none other than our other MC Derek Graves. When the predator zones in on Blue to be his next victim, Derek intercepts them beating the guy to a pulp and putting him in the hospital. Derek decides to take a drugged and unconscious Blue home just to figure out what he knows and how much info he will be able to give the authorities regarding the crime and the person who committed it namely himself. Although it's still unclear how far he would have truly gone to shut Blue up if he knew a little too much, do you catch my drift? And, that's how these two meet. What follows is a highly questionable relationship with an eleven-year age gap. Blue gets kidnapped again by the same perp and Derek whales on him again and the book ends with Blue and Derek confessing their love for each other.
When I read the first book my biggest issue was with the relationship and it still is but there are other patterns at play as well that we will be discussing later.
Let's talk about that age gap first. I refuse to believe such relationships can't or don't work. I also don't believe that such relationships are inherently predatory. But I do believe that a relationship between an 18-year-old and a 30-year-old man introduces a power dynamic that can very easily be exploited in the older man's favour and that's before taking into account the context behind Shane and Derek's relationship. Also, such an age gap is more likely to work when the younger one is at least in his late twenties because, at that point in life, you are more likely to have similar outlooks on life. Both of you will be holding down jobs and that creates a commonality. Also, you are mature enough to find pleasure in things that are different about you two something that can only come with experience. But at eighteen, Shane has completely different priorities than Derek, their problems are different and besides the sex, they have nothing in common despite two books chronicling their relationship.
In this book, Blue wants to get his GED and get a job, which is completely different from Derek's life as a freelance programmer who wants to keep Blue for himself which is a red flag if I ever saw one but in this case, it just gets drowned in the sea of red flags that already pepper this entire relationship. Because not only is Shane eighteen and Derek thirty but there is the added fact that at the time their relationship began, Shane was dependent on Derek for all basic necessities - food, shelter and clothing and that's still true to a large extent.
At the end of the last book, it is heavily implied that Shane and his father are mending their relationship and in the beginning of this book, we get more concrete evidence to support that claim. So, at least if things go wrong between Derek and Shane he won't quite literally be out in the streets and Shane's father is also supporting Shane monetarily to some effect but the thing is that Shane is still very afraid of being homeless. And, even though he can go back to his parents for help, the bigger question is will he? Because in this very book, Shane is very clear that he is afraid of upsetting Derek because that will mean that Derek will turn him out and I'm sorry but no relationship should have stakes like this one.
And the worst part is that this is before we even talk about the sex. Derek is initiating Shane in BDSM something that Shane has very little knowledge about though he does seem aware that he likes to be dominated. But it's clear that Derek is taking advantage of Shane's naivete. A small plot point in the last book was that Derek believed that his actions especially when it comes to his sexual preferences were similar to that of the guy who raped him and frankly, this point wasn't disputed by the plot of the book strongly enough because it brushed over everything that Blue wouldn't know about BDSM and negotiating kinks. I am supposed to assume that everything is on the up and up but there is nothing to support this observation. I did feel more comfortable making that assumption with this book but given that I still had to do that leg work makes consent in this book dubious AT BEST!
There is a scene in this book wherein Blue wakes up from a sex dream involving Cameron. Derek hears him call out Cameron's name and proceeds to fuck him without any lube and Blue is in tears during this whole scene and the idea of using sex as literal punishment gives me the ick. In fact, remembering this scene makes me feel like I should lower my rating even below 2 stars. What makes it worse is that Derek has a similar dream featuring someone else in this very book and what is his punishment, not literal rape I can assure you of that. Again, the absence of lube in this book is sorely felt.
The entirety of this book is about how Blue has so much in common with people his age contrasted against the nothing he has in common with Derek. In fact, this book is a good showcase of why Derek and Shane should not be together except I came to a completely different conclusion than the book.
Something I ignored in the first book that is emerging as more of a pattern in this book is the fact that Derek is violent. He literally narrates a story where he came out better in a fight against mafia goons plural. That raised my eyebrows so high! How is this guy the main love interest in this book?
I'm going to take a break from whaling on Derek to talk about other little things. Misogyny is embedded in our lives and if you stop to look for it you can find it everywhere. There are always little nuggets of it hidden away in most books from the aughts and that is true for this book as well but this book is misogynistic in one very big way as well.
Polly, Blue's mother, is someone who is done extremely dirty by the narrative. Firstly, before reading this book you would be forgiven for thinking Blue's mother isn't even in the picture because she is never brought up in the first book at all. Secondly, when she behaves like the only sane person in this book and brings up the significant age difference between Derek and Blue, the book and Blue make it clear that Polly's concerns should be dismissed. Thirdly, the subtext in the only scene featuring Polly wants to make it clear that she is struggling with how she handled things with Blue something that ended up putting Blue directly in harm's way but instead of sympathizing with her, the narrative seems to villanize her. While Blue's father who is definitely more at fault in this whole debacle seems to have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Now, let's move on to the other little thing, Cameron. Cameron Carter the horrible bully who is Blue's literal nightmare but also his sexual awakening. He is the reason Blue can't take a shower. This is one fear Derek helps Blue overcome though the way he goes about it probably would have been more traumatizing than helpful in real life but hey, I guess in make-believe land it works and I said we were putting Derek down for a minute damn it.
So, Cameron swaggers his way back into Blue's life and he is working on bettering himself. The moment he arrives he apologises to Blue and is ready to do whatever will make Blue comfortable. Blue, still smitten with Cameron and seeing him make the effort, melts and lets him creep into his social circle. Soon his sexual attraction to Cameron becomes more obvious and this leads to some very heated kisses, heavy petting and an almost blow job. So, Blue begins to cheat on Derek. And I'm not going to lie but Cameron and Blue have such great chemistry. It must be because the book is not looking to excuse every one of Cameron's faults as it does with Derek, so I felt more guilt-free in enjoying those scenes.
Cameron is not an ideal partner for Blue, he still has a lot to work on and Blue clearly has lasting trauma because of Cameron that he can't just dismiss because Cameron is making an effort. But, I liked that. I liked that this book which was really building Cameron up as a great love interest also then proceeds to expose his flaws that make you realise why Blue shouldn't be with Cameron. The thing this book doesn't realise is that it also makes the same case for Blue and Derek's relationship.
The best thing, the biggest advantage to being in a relationship with someone older than you is that they are more experienced, more likely to use their brain in any given situation and not let their emotions dictate their actions. I would have liked to see Derek be more mature about the situationship developing between Cameron and Blue because he can realise as a thirty year old man, that Blue might need to work this one out for himself. He has a right to be angry but the way he handles things is so abysmally immature.
When I first read this book, I left with the impression that Derek had in fact been level-headed about the situation and I liked him for something he never was. In the very last scene in this book, Derek initiates a threesome with Cameron for Blue but is then annoyed at Blue when he agrees that he wants it. Like, make up your mind man. And, all of this while, Derek fully acknowledges how easy it could be to cheat with someone and he is almost ready to do so with a complete stranger while Blue has feelings involved that are much harder to get rid of or ignore especially as a teenager. Have I mentioned that Blue is barely nineteen? Why the hell am I expecting more emotional maturity from a nineteen-year-old when a thirty-year-old man isn't giving me anywhere near the level of maturity expected from him?
There is this scene where Blue comforts Cameron after he lashes out at the perp behind the Maple Street murders that serve as the backdrop to this novel and Blue gets hit while trying to stop Cameron. Derek pulls Cameron off of the perp to punch him for hitting Blue but sees no reason why he should have done that any sooner than that. Did I talk about Derek and violence yet? Anyhow despite all that Blue comforts Cameron and it is a very emotional moment in the book because we all realise that Cameron isn't the man for Blue but we also realise that Blue is in love with Derek something that Derek takes that very moment to acknowledge and throw at Blue as a taunt. Emotional maturity is apparently something Derek Graves does not compute at all. Derek is snide where he can be understanding.
Let's get back to Derek. He has a penchant for young barely legal boys something that is unfortunately brought up again in this book. I don't know when the author will realise that this isn't a good thing to bring up if they want us to trust in the longevity of Derek and Blue's relationship.
At the end of the book I would have loved to see Blue strike it out on his own terms not letting anyone else define him but if he had to end up with someone I would rather it be Cameron.
This re-read has been insane because I remembered this series fondly and I'm having to rewrite a lot of what I thought this series was - good, for one.
Rating After Second Read: 2.5 Stars
September 22; 2024
Discalimer: The following review contains spoilers for this book as well as the first book in this series, Some Kind of Stranger. I also fully intend for this review to be exhaustive and lengthy, so you have been forewarned.
Before we get into this review, I need to get this one thing off my chest.
DEREK IS SUCH A FUCKING JERK.
Okay, now that that's done, let's get into the review itself.
In the first book, we meet Blue aka Shane McGowan, the son of the District Attorney who was kicked out by said father for being gay and is now sofa-surfing as well as working in the decrepit establishment, Blue Ruin where a sexual predator has been lurking looking for victims. But, that's not all, one of the victims of this crime is lurking in search of his assailant eager for revenge and that is none other than our other MC Derek Graves. When the predator zones in on Blue to be his next victim, Derek intercepts them beating the guy to a pulp and putting him in the hospital. Derek decides to take a drugged and unconscious Blue home just to figure out what he knows and how much info he will be able to give the authorities regarding the crime and the person who committed it namely himself. Although it's still unclear how far he would have truly gone to shut Blue up if he knew a little too much, do you catch my drift? And, that's how these two meet. What follows is a highly questionable relationship with an eleven-year age gap. Blue gets kidnapped again by the same perp and Derek whales on him again and the book ends with Blue and Derek confessing their love for each other.
When I read the first book my biggest issue was with the relationship and it still is but there are other patterns at play as well that we will be discussing later.
Let's talk about that age gap first. I refuse to believe such relationships can't or don't work. I also don't believe that such relationships are inherently predatory. But I do believe that a relationship between an 18-year-old and a 30-year-old man introduces a power dynamic that can very easily be exploited in the older man's favour and that's before taking into account the context behind Shane and Derek's relationship. Also, such an age gap is more likely to work when the younger one is at least in his late twenties because, at that point in life, you are more likely to have similar outlooks on life. Both of you will be holding down jobs and that creates a commonality. Also, you are mature enough to find pleasure in things that are different about you two something that can only come with experience. But at eighteen, Shane has completely different priorities than Derek, their problems are different and besides the sex, they have nothing in common despite two books chronicling their relationship.
In this book, Blue wants to get his GED and get a job, which is completely different from Derek's life as a freelance programmer who wants to keep Blue for himself which is a red flag if I ever saw one but in this case, it just gets drowned in the sea of red flags that already pepper this entire relationship. Because not only is Shane eighteen and Derek thirty but there is the added fact that at the time their relationship began, Shane was dependent on Derek for all basic necessities - food, shelter and clothing and that's still true to a large extent.
At the end of the last book, it is heavily implied that Shane and his father are mending their relationship and in the beginning of this book, we get more concrete evidence to support that claim. So, at least if things go wrong between Derek and Shane he won't quite literally be out in the streets and Shane's father is also supporting Shane monetarily to some effect but the thing is that Shane is still very afraid of being homeless. And, even though he can go back to his parents for help, the bigger question is will he? Because in this very book, Shane is very clear that he is afraid of upsetting Derek because that will mean that Derek will turn him out and I'm sorry but no relationship should have stakes like this one.
And the worst part is that this is before we even talk about the sex. Derek is initiating Shane in BDSM something that Shane has very little knowledge about though he does seem aware that he likes to be dominated. But it's clear that Derek is taking advantage of Shane's naivete. A small plot point in the last book was that Derek believed that his actions especially when it comes to his sexual preferences were similar to that of the guy who raped him and frankly, this point wasn't disputed by the plot of the book strongly enough because it brushed over everything that Blue wouldn't know about BDSM and negotiating kinks. I am supposed to assume that everything is on the up and up but there is nothing to support this observation. I did feel more comfortable making that assumption with this book but given that I still had to do that leg work makes consent in this book dubious AT BEST!
There is a scene in this book wherein Blue wakes up from a sex dream involving Cameron. Derek hears him call out Cameron's name and proceeds to fuck him without any lube and Blue is in tears during this whole scene and the idea of using sex as literal punishment gives me the ick. In fact, remembering this scene makes me feel like I should lower my rating even below 2 stars. What makes it worse is that Derek has a similar dream featuring someone else in this very book and what is his punishment, not literal rape I can assure you of that. Again, the absence of lube in this book is sorely felt.
The entirety of this book is about how Blue has so much in common with people his age contrasted against the nothing he has in common with Derek. In fact, this book is a good showcase of why Derek and Shane should not be together except I came to a completely different conclusion than the book.
Something I ignored in the first book that is emerging as more of a pattern in this book is the fact that Derek is violent. He literally narrates a story where he came out better in a fight against mafia goons plural. That raised my eyebrows so high! How is this guy the main love interest in this book?
I'm going to take a break from whaling on Derek to talk about other little things. Misogyny is embedded in our lives and if you stop to look for it you can find it everywhere. There are always little nuggets of it hidden away in most books from the aughts and that is true for this book as well but this book is misogynistic in one very big way as well.
Polly, Blue's mother, is someone who is done extremely dirty by the narrative. Firstly, before reading this book you would be forgiven for thinking Blue's mother isn't even in the picture because she is never brought up in the first book at all. Secondly, when she behaves like the only sane person in this book and brings up the significant age difference between Derek and Blue, the book and Blue make it clear that Polly's concerns should be dismissed. Thirdly, the subtext in the only scene featuring Polly wants to make it clear that she is struggling with how she handled things with Blue something that ended up putting Blue directly in harm's way but instead of sympathizing with her, the narrative seems to villanize her. While Blue's father who is definitely more at fault in this whole debacle seems to have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Now, let's move on to the other little thing, Cameron. Cameron Carter the horrible bully who is Blue's literal nightmare but also his sexual awakening. He is the reason Blue can't take a shower. This is one fear Derek helps Blue overcome though the way he goes about it probably would have been more traumatizing than helpful in real life but hey, I guess in make-believe land it works and I said we were putting Derek down for a minute damn it.
So, Cameron swaggers his way back into Blue's life and he is working on bettering himself. The moment he arrives he apologises to Blue and is ready to do whatever will make Blue comfortable. Blue, still smitten with Cameron and seeing him make the effort, melts and lets him creep into his social circle. Soon his sexual attraction to Cameron becomes more obvious and this leads to some very heated kisses, heavy petting and an almost blow job. So, Blue begins to cheat on Derek. And I'm not going to lie but Cameron and Blue have such great chemistry. It must be because the book is not looking to excuse every one of Cameron's faults as it does with Derek, so I felt more guilt-free in enjoying those scenes.
Cameron is not an ideal partner for Blue, he still has a lot to work on and Blue clearly has lasting trauma because of Cameron that he can't just dismiss because Cameron is making an effort. But, I liked that. I liked that this book which was really building Cameron up as a great love interest also then proceeds to expose his flaws that make you realise why Blue shouldn't be with Cameron. The thing this book doesn't realise is that it also makes the same case for Blue and Derek's relationship.
The best thing, the biggest advantage to being in a relationship with someone older than you is that they are more experienced, more likely to use their brain in any given situation and not let their emotions dictate their actions. I would have liked to see Derek be more mature about the situationship developing between Cameron and Blue because he can realise as a thirty year old man, that Blue might need to work this one out for himself. He has a right to be angry but the way he handles things is so abysmally immature.
When I first read this book, I left with the impression that Derek had in fact been level-headed about the situation and I liked him for something he never was. In the very last scene in this book, Derek initiates a threesome with Cameron for Blue but is then annoyed at Blue when he agrees that he wants it. Like, make up your mind man. And, all of this while, Derek fully acknowledges how easy it could be to cheat with someone and he is almost ready to do so with a complete stranger while Blue has feelings involved that are much harder to get rid of or ignore especially as a teenager. Have I mentioned that Blue is barely nineteen? Why the hell am I expecting more emotional maturity from a nineteen-year-old when a thirty-year-old man isn't giving me anywhere near the level of maturity expected from him?
There is this scene where Blue comforts Cameron after he lashes out at the perp behind the Maple Street murders that serve as the backdrop to this novel and Blue gets hit while trying to stop Cameron. Derek pulls Cameron off of the perp to punch him for hitting Blue but sees no reason why he should have done that any sooner than that. Did I talk about Derek and violence yet? Anyhow despite all that Blue comforts Cameron and it is a very emotional moment in the book because we all realise that Cameron isn't the man for Blue but we also realise that Blue is in love with Derek something that Derek takes that very moment to acknowledge and throw at Blue as a taunt. Emotional maturity is apparently something Derek Graves does not compute at all. Derek is snide where he can be understanding.
Let's get back to Derek. He has a penchant for young barely legal boys something that is unfortunately brought up again in this book. I don't know when the author will realise that this isn't a good thing to bring up if they want us to trust in the longevity of Derek and Blue's relationship.
At the end of the book I would have loved to see Blue strike it out on his own terms not letting anyone else define him but if he had to end up with someone I would rather it be Cameron.
This re-read has been insane because I remembered this series fondly and I'm having to rewrite a lot of what I thought this series was - good, for one.
November 28, 2010
In Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me author Katrina Strauss continues Derek and Blue’s story where it left off in Book 1 Some Kind of Stranger. It is some two-weeks after Blue’s kidnapping and close encounter with death at the hands of a seriously disturbed predator. They’ve been holed-up in Derek’s loft, where Derek has been taking care of Blue while he recovers both physically and emotionally.
Blue is feeling much better and ready to begin living again. They haven’t had the kind of pain and pleasure sex that Blue craves since before the incident and Blue is feeling frustrated. He’s also restless and wants to pull his weight by contributing to the household expenses. Problem is, as a high school drop out all he can probably get is menial work. Blue decides to go back to school and get his GED. Derek doesn’t want to let him out of his sight and suggests online courses instead, but Blue’s made up his mind ~ he’s going to night school to get his diploma and then probably on to a local college or technical school.
On his first day of class, Blue meets a very interesting girl named Jodi with amethyst-colored eyes and matching hair who loves all things Japanese and they quickly become good friends. Blue also comes face-to-face with his nemesis, Cameron Carter, the football jock from high school who was cruel and brutalized Blue causing him much physical and emotional pain, while at the same time serving as the main source of Blue’s sexual fantasies as a teenager.
Seeing Cameron again causes Blue much angst, bringing back all the horrific memories of the torture that Cameron and his cronies had inflicted on him. But Cameron is no longer the bully that Blue remembers. He’s changed and has come to a few life-altering revelations of his own. He also wants Blue’s forgiveness. While Blue is trying to come to terms with whether he can grant Cameron absolution, he also can’t deny their strong mutual attraction. Blue finds himself caught in a triangle - he loves Derek and has vowed to be with him forever, but he also wants Cameron. However, the time that Blue and Cameron spend together may in the end cost them both their lives.
In Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me Katrina Strauss delves deeper into both the characters of Derek and Blue and by extension their relationship, while at the same time expanding their universe with the introduction of new characters to the story. There are several themes running through Blue Ruin 2 that make the second installment in this series a rich reading experience in terms of plot and in particular in respect of character development.
The most obvious character growth is with Blue. We know from Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger that Blue’s submissive role in his relationship with Derek is not all consuming. Blue has a strong sense of self and a curiosity about people and life that outside of the bedroom manifests itself in Blue’s need to not rely solely on being taken care of by Derek and to contribute in some way to their household and ultimately to their relationship. At the same time, Blue is maturing and attempting to make emotional inroads with his estranged parents. In this context, Strauss writes the progression of this character naturally and in-keeping with the foundational attributes she ascribes to Blue at the inception of the series.
Strauss also delves deeper into the character of Derek. After almost losing Blue at the hands of a mad man Derek comes to the realization that he is in love for the first time in his life and begins to reveal more and more of himself and his past to Blue. He is also very possessive of Blue and although he should be proud of Blue’s independence and his need to make something of himself there’s a part of Derek that wants to keep Blue all to himself. These dichotomous feelings serve to further expose Derek’s underlying vulnerabilities and their origins.“He knew he needed to support Blue, that it was unrealistic of him to keep Blue at home with him forever. Yet a part of him was scared to let Blue out of his sight. While his thoughts shifted instantly to the night Blue had been kidnapped, a deeper memory inexplicably hit him full force.”
“Bundled in his scarf and coat, clutching his mother’s hand as she’d hefted a suitcase in the other. The studio had been freezing, the radiator gone cold that day after the landlord had shut off access to the boiler room.”
While Cameron is a secondary character, he practically steals the show and this is wholly attributable to the manner in which Katrina Strauss has written this character. Given his back-story, Blue’s reminiscences and the fact that he is a key source of tension and possible divisiveness between Derek and Blue, Cameron is not necessarily a character that would at first instance evoke empathy. And yet, Katrina Strauss has written this character in such a way that the reader cannot help but have empathy if not outright compassion for him. Cameron demonstrates courage, maturity and as Blue puts it "humility" in his quest for not only absolution but also for redemption. Cameron fascinates me not only in terms of his relationship with Blue, but also in terms of who and what he is and I make no bones about the fact that he is a character for whom I have developed a great affinity.
In many respects, Blue’s need for a level of independence is the initial catalyst that encroaches upon Derek’s fantasy to both physically and emotionally cocoon his relationship with Blue. We see glimpses of this in Blue Ruin 1 and it is a constant theme throughout Close to Me. But it is the arrival and role of Cameron in their lives that brings with it Derek’s realization that if he holds on too tight the fragile balance between their private and public relationship will be broken, possibly threatening their relationship altogether. The reintroduction of Cameron into Blue’s life obviously creates conflict between Derek and Blue. But instead of taking the easy way out the author blurs the lines of this triangle in such a way that it creates delicious complexities, tensions and ambiguities that heighten the richness of not only the interaction between these three characters, but also of the overall story itself. And while there is more drama within the context of the story’s backdrop with yet another killer on the loose it is the characters and their relationships that dominate in Blue Ruin 2.
As a sequel Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me more than lives up to the promise of the first book. I can honestly say that while I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Ruin 1, I enjoyed Blue Ruin 2 even more. Katrina Strauss leaves the door open wide enough that the tenuous balance in Derek and Blue’s relationship will continue to be an issue in books to come and that the happily-for-now agreement that Derek, Blue and Cameron reach in respect of their intersecting lives remains equally fragile. Luckily for us readers there’s more to come.
While Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me can be read as a stand-alone book I strongly recommend reading Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger first in order to fully appreciate the complexities and subtleties of the relationships of the primary and secondary characters in this story.
NOTE: This review was originally published online by Rainbow Reviews on December 13, 2009.
July 2, 2015
** THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS **
Okay, so I have mixed feelings about this story. Really, it's a 3.5, but I'm marking it up to 4, because I love Derek and Blue so much.
I'm not a fan of cheating in books. Especially not in developed relationships that I've invested time and emotions into, like here with Derek and Blue. I also don't like characters justifying kissing or anything more than that, but less than sex, as not cheating. It is. At least, it is to me.
I was kind of disappointed in Blue, in this story. It's not his fault, because I could see why he was doing the stupid things he was doing. The disappointment came from not knowing or understanding his previous relationship with Cameron well enough. In book 1, we had a flashback mentioned, never shown and we never really found out all the details about it. That didn't bother me, when I thought it wasn't that important. Well, it's important to this story and we still don't get all the details.
I don't understand this intense attraction to Cameron, because I never saw them interacting back when he was being a bully. There's no justification for Blue's feelings except that he fancies the pants off a guy who used to treat him like dirt. That part of the story doesn't work for me.
Also, the 'crime' element, which I'm guessing is a theme throughout the series, is a little weird. I love a crime element and I love how it was done in book 1. I had no clue what was going on there or who to suspect. Unfortunately, I did suspect the person in this book, though it was a little...shall we say ridiculous? I'm really not sure what other word to use. Far-fetched might be better. It made no sense and there was no logic or history behind it, other than one mentioned event in the past that was downplayed. That didn't made any sense to me, either.
I'm also a little disappointed with Cameron, who was hyped up by Blue, after they met again. Cameron kept saying he imagined things, that he was being silly -> who wouldn't get angry with someone who kept saying that? Especially at the important moments that Cameron does. Yet, we see no mention of Derek believing or not believing him, which was a disappointment. I choose to believe that Derek knows him well enough to know that he's not a naturally over-reactive person.
But, saying all of that, the relationship between Derek and Blue is just as great as before. I'm hoping that this Cameron thing has made it stronger (and that we never see Cameron again - sorry, but I don't like him). I'm looking forward to seeing how they recover from this event and who the copycat killer is, because I know Blue is right and there's one out there. :)
Okay, so I have mixed feelings about this story. Really, it's a 3.5, but I'm marking it up to 4, because I love Derek and Blue so much.
I'm not a fan of cheating in books. Especially not in developed relationships that I've invested time and emotions into, like here with Derek and Blue. I also don't like characters justifying kissing or anything more than that, but less than sex, as not cheating. It is. At least, it is to me.
I was kind of disappointed in Blue, in this story. It's not his fault, because I could see why he was doing the stupid things he was doing. The disappointment came from not knowing or understanding his previous relationship with Cameron well enough. In book 1, we had a flashback mentioned, never shown and we never really found out all the details about it. That didn't bother me, when I thought it wasn't that important. Well, it's important to this story and we still don't get all the details.
I don't understand this intense attraction to Cameron, because I never saw them interacting back when he was being a bully. There's no justification for Blue's feelings except that he fancies the pants off a guy who used to treat him like dirt. That part of the story doesn't work for me.
Also, the 'crime' element, which I'm guessing is a theme throughout the series, is a little weird. I love a crime element and I love how it was done in book 1. I had no clue what was going on there or who to suspect. Unfortunately, I did suspect the person in this book, though it was a little...shall we say ridiculous? I'm really not sure what other word to use. Far-fetched might be better. It made no sense and there was no logic or history behind it, other than one mentioned event in the past that was downplayed. That didn't made any sense to me, either.
I'm also a little disappointed with Cameron, who was hyped up by Blue, after they met again. Cameron kept saying he imagined things, that he was being silly -> who wouldn't get angry with someone who kept saying that? Especially at the important moments that Cameron does. Yet, we see no mention of Derek believing or not believing him, which was a disappointment. I choose to believe that Derek knows him well enough to know that he's not a naturally over-reactive person.
But, saying all of that, the relationship between Derek and Blue is just as great as before. I'm hoping that this Cameron thing has made it stronger (and that we never see Cameron again - sorry, but I don't like him). I'm looking forward to seeing how they recover from this event and who the copycat killer is, because I know Blue is right and there's one out there. :)
January 26, 2012
I started this book on Sept. 10, 2010 and made it to the bottom of the first page. Why you ask? I have no idea. It might have been the cover. With all that happened in the first book, I think I wanted to have more Derek and Blue alone time. Within no time, enter Cameron, the reason Blue cannot shower and has nightmares about getting the shit kicked out of him in high school. We then get immediately embroiled with Blue having love feelings for Cameron.
Also, one of my pet peeves about stories like this is lying, or lying by omission. Blue hid his feelings and his burgeoning 'love' relationship with Cameron from Derek. The two of them are still so insecure and the trust is not 100% which makes them both to question the love. On top of that Blue does not give Derek the respect to tell him what is going on. Derek gets to hear it in dreams and also bluntly when the shit hits the fan. While all this ends up strengthening their relationship, it still had a huge cost. In addition some understanding does have to go to Blue. He is still so so young and Derek is the only person he has ever been with. So I get that, I completely do, but use your words Blue, use them, Derek will love you no matter what.
In the end this is not a true menage story. The last scene in the book was not three people having a relationship. It was to dominant men in love with one person, Blue and being able to show that love to Blue.
Even with all this relationship angst going on, there were these pesky murders of rentboys going on. This story line was just 'okay' and really was unnecessary in my opinion.
Katrina Strauss is a strong writer and I have enjoyed her work. I will continue to read this series at some point although I do not feel compelled to hurry and read them. I like knowing they are there for me, yet it is not the irresistible desert I expect in a series.
Also, one of my pet peeves about stories like this is lying, or lying by omission. Blue hid his feelings and his burgeoning 'love' relationship with Cameron from Derek. The two of them are still so insecure and the trust is not 100% which makes them both to question the love. On top of that Blue does not give Derek the respect to tell him what is going on. Derek gets to hear it in dreams and also bluntly when the shit hits the fan. While all this ends up strengthening their relationship, it still had a huge cost. In addition some understanding does have to go to Blue. He is still so so young and Derek is the only person he has ever been with. So I get that, I completely do, but use your words Blue, use them, Derek will love you no matter what.
In the end this is not a true menage story. The last scene in the book was not three people having a relationship. It was to dominant men in love with one person, Blue and being able to show that love to Blue.
Even with all this relationship angst going on, there were these pesky murders of rentboys going on. This story line was just 'okay' and really was unnecessary in my opinion.
Katrina Strauss is a strong writer and I have enjoyed her work. I will continue to read this series at some point although I do not feel compelled to hurry and read them. I like knowing they are there for me, yet it is not the irresistible desert I expect in a series.
July 10, 2013
I really ended up enjoying CLOSE TO ME, and I wasn't sure if I would. The plot was great and it was impossible not to get hooked. As is usual with Strauss, characters were well-developed, complicated, complex. The and the story was twistedly dark. I have to admit, the only hesitation for me from the get-go was the addition of a third, to make this a menage all of a sudden, which I wasn't really expecting after book #1. Initially it simply wasn't believable to me, which says more for Strauss' writing and development of characters more than anything else. I LOVE the 1st book and CLOSE TO ME has much less of a yaoi foundation because Blue is growing, developing, and coming into his own, so it makes sense that Strauss would have to develop the plot in this way. In demonstrating his independence, Blue meets the third, Cameron, who was Blue's bully when they were in high school. Cameron is now gay and desires Blue, which makes for a pretty interesting story twist. That's about all the spoilerishness I want to get into but it certainly makes for an interesting plot and and even more interesting menage. Because of the changes in character development and plot, CLOSE TO ME is a tad more romance than BDSM, but that's not a bad thing. I still highly enjoy this series and definitely recommend it!
August 6, 2015
And that’s a wrap on this series for me. I liked the dynamic between Blue and Derek in the first one because of how they came together. I understood that Derek had a traumatic experience and was maybe a little frail. I had high hopes due to the age gap. Unfortunately Blue’s character just doesn’t seem very thought out to me. First off he was kicked out and on the streets but really it doesn’t seem like it. I’m not sure I understand how at 20 he’s going back to get his GED but he was only kicked out for a year? The timeline just doesn’t make sense to me. Also the whole thing with Blue and Cameron….just not believable. Blue is like an unbelievable magnet for trouble. Two deranged murders. Where do these people live? AND Derek is super emotional one minute fearful Blue is going to leave him and the next he’s like a super hero with his trench coat flapping as he single handedly brings down a guy who’s killing ALL the rent boys, two cops and beating Cam’s ass like he owns it. Last 5% is a menage…seriously….SERIOUSLY. It was also the most unsexy threesome ever, like why bother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
What is wrong with Blue? He's a freaking trouble magnet. Derek, I think your lover is just a little to young. This second installment of Blue Ruin was a great read. I enjoyed Blue's recovery and closure with a schoolyard bully. I just wish he wasn't so torn. Oh well. I figure I'd be like Blue too, in some ways.
I liked learning more about Derek. He's the kind of Dom I enjoy and admit I'd have a hard time saying no. His control of Cameron is hot. I wish he did more. After reading this story, I want to read the rest of this series. I recommend it to m/m lovers who enjoy kink.
I liked learning more about Derek. He's the kind of Dom I enjoy and admit I'd have a hard time saying no. His control of Cameron is hot. I wish he did more. After reading this story, I want to read the rest of this series. I recommend it to m/m lovers who enjoy kink.
June 25, 2010
Not one of the better one's of read on this subject, but still not running along where you would expect it to go. The relationship between blue and Derek is is an unusual one even in this genre you don't really know where the they are coming from in their feelings. The author doesn't explain much in the feeling and reasoning behind decisions. All in all not bad though.
December 24, 2014
A good sequel to the original book, I liked the fact the author expands on facts and details she told in the first book to create the basis of this book. Mainly bringing the bully that used to torment Blue in high school. Poor Blue, it seems to me he comes with his own ransom note. Hopefully for the next book, he wont be psycho bait...
February 27, 2013
Blue pisses me off so much in this book. And I detest Cameron. The threeway sex was such a turn off because two of them didn't even want to get it on with each other.
And goddamn it Blue. Is making out and groping not counted a cheating? DBGSJLdkSUGDK
So. Fucking. Frustrated.
Someone slap that dick.
And goddamn it Blue. Is making out and groping not counted a cheating? DBGSJLdkSUGDK
So. Fucking. Frustrated.
Someone slap that dick.
January 5, 2011
I really liked this installment in the Blue Ruin series. I thought it was just going to be the main couple dabbling in a kinky ménage but the story was much more emotionally complex. Nicely done.
February 6, 2013
Damn, Blue just manages to get himself into trouble...again. I don't know that I love where this series is going. I adore Blue and Derick as a couple and am not loving the addition. Will reserve true judgement until I read #3. Love the kinky sex though. Go BDSM!
June 17, 2009
Hotter!
April 24, 2016
I think this was better than the first one. A bit more plot this time around. Love April and Jodi. Live action yaoi indeed. *g*
*goes for book three*
*goes for book three*
July 27, 2010
good story but the 1st one was better.
October 18, 2010
Sexy series...love Blue!
November 20, 2011
blue pissed me off. i can't read anymore. the truth is Blue is the selfish one.I think him wanting both is okay and all but not in this story. i'm sorry but he is a slut.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2014
Book 2 of the wonderful Blue Ruin series. Review to follow. :)
October 21, 2013
4 stars
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