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Revolutionary Heart #1
Love's Magic
Professor Nate Reese rushes to protect a female student and is severely injured at the hands of her assailant. Traumatized by the attack, Nate sets his feet on a no-holds-barred path of activism designed to force university officials into addressing the issue of on-campus assault. To his shock, his primary frustration comes not from the university, but from his partner, David Gardener, a veteran of 12 years as a very popular Professor of Revolutionary War History.
Terrified of losing his hard-won status at the school, David is reluctant to support Nate's militant efforts, while Nate, feeling abandoned by his partner, sees David's aversion to his activism as indifference to the trauma he suffered. Day by day they watch as their relationship disintegrates, while still struggling to resolve the disruptive issues engulfing the school they love.
At the same time Irishman Colin Campbell, handsome and charismatic Sergeant for the campus police force, fights his own on-going war against campus assault. But behind his obsessive desire to gain justice for victims lies a devastating secret which could forever destroy his fiercely independent facade and expose his deepest fear. Ultimately, it is Colin’s powerful connection to a quiet, dark-eyed Title IX consultant which threatens to tear down his defenses and shatter the barriers protecting his heart.
Colin was the bolt of lightning that ignited Joshua Abram’s heart. Cocky and irresistible, the dynamic police officer was everything Joshua had ever longed for in a man, and despite Colin’s insistence that he didn’t ‘do relationships’ Joshua couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love. He knew his attraction to Colin could only end in heartbreak. His quiet, introverted nature could never hope to snare the vibrant, freedom-loving Irishman, so despite the undeniable and heated passion between them, he forces himself to back slowly away.
When disagreements over an oddly disturbing case causes Colin’s hot Irish temper to erupt, their relationship is irrevocably shattered. Heartbroken, and convinced that Colin never wants to see him again, Joshua flees Charlottesville without a word, leaving Colin adrift and inconsolable.
Finally forced to admit that he desperately needs Joshua by his side, Colin must now face the dark and long-suppressed memories which are irrevocably linked to his love for the handsome, Jewish consultant. Without even a forwarding address to guide him, he vows to find Joshua and beg his forgiveness. Colin’s struggle to conquer his pride and fear in order to find the love of his life and achieve their happily ever after will touch your heart.
Four lives in turmoil fighting for the relationships they cherish, and at the heart of the struggle, a great university struggles to survive its most harrowing challenge.
Please Note: This book contains adult language & steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only.
Terrified of losing his hard-won status at the school, David is reluctant to support Nate's militant efforts, while Nate, feeling abandoned by his partner, sees David's aversion to his activism as indifference to the trauma he suffered. Day by day they watch as their relationship disintegrates, while still struggling to resolve the disruptive issues engulfing the school they love.
At the same time Irishman Colin Campbell, handsome and charismatic Sergeant for the campus police force, fights his own on-going war against campus assault. But behind his obsessive desire to gain justice for victims lies a devastating secret which could forever destroy his fiercely independent facade and expose his deepest fear. Ultimately, it is Colin’s powerful connection to a quiet, dark-eyed Title IX consultant which threatens to tear down his defenses and shatter the barriers protecting his heart.
Colin was the bolt of lightning that ignited Joshua Abram’s heart. Cocky and irresistible, the dynamic police officer was everything Joshua had ever longed for in a man, and despite Colin’s insistence that he didn’t ‘do relationships’ Joshua couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love. He knew his attraction to Colin could only end in heartbreak. His quiet, introverted nature could never hope to snare the vibrant, freedom-loving Irishman, so despite the undeniable and heated passion between them, he forces himself to back slowly away.
When disagreements over an oddly disturbing case causes Colin’s hot Irish temper to erupt, their relationship is irrevocably shattered. Heartbroken, and convinced that Colin never wants to see him again, Joshua flees Charlottesville without a word, leaving Colin adrift and inconsolable.
Finally forced to admit that he desperately needs Joshua by his side, Colin must now face the dark and long-suppressed memories which are irrevocably linked to his love for the handsome, Jewish consultant. Without even a forwarding address to guide him, he vows to find Joshua and beg his forgiveness. Colin’s struggle to conquer his pride and fear in order to find the love of his life and achieve their happily ever after will touch your heart.
Four lives in turmoil fighting for the relationships they cherish, and at the heart of the struggle, a great university struggles to survive its most harrowing challenge.
Please Note: This book contains adult language & steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only.
196 pages, ebook
First published December 22, 2017
About the author
Janice Jarrell
28 books82 followersMy name is Jan Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called ‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifty’s, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knew that there was something hot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.
I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.
Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.
I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life.
I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.
Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.
I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 4, 2020
Wow, I’m a bit speechless, this was such an amazingly honest, real story.
Maturity, second chances, so much pain, where past influences the present.
All four men have a story to tell.
First, we meet Nate and David, they love and live together. They both work at the University.
After Nate is being stabbed and recovered, he has a new goal, he’s determined to keep the ground around college ground safe. David isn’t on the same page. It changed their relationship to a breaking point.
During the investigation of Nate’s assault, we meet Colin the police officer on the college campus and Joshua, the therapist.
Colin and Joshua are attracted to each other. They meet each other because of work but also in private. Colin can’t commit to any relationship and is clear about it. Joshua refuses friends with benefit with Colin. He’s already falling hard for, larger than life, Colin.
When deep hurt troubles a clear view, any form of relationship is eliminated.
With a change of heart, there is a road back, back to their beloved.
So here we have two couples. First, they are slightly involved with the other later on there is a blooming friendship.
What a journey! We can follow them, how they rise above themselves, how they redeem.
Beautifully, absolutely beautifully painted people, engaging, vulnerable, flawed, so so real in all ways. There is an epic confession of true love, breathtaking!
A stunningly written narrative, the author created four beautiful emotional characters, intriguing main and side stories, plausible with all the feelings, and made me fall in love with all four men.
Highly recommended!
Maturity, second chances, so much pain, where past influences the present.
All four men have a story to tell.
First, we meet Nate and David, they love and live together. They both work at the University.
After Nate is being stabbed and recovered, he has a new goal, he’s determined to keep the ground around college ground safe. David isn’t on the same page. It changed their relationship to a breaking point.
During the investigation of Nate’s assault, we meet Colin the police officer on the college campus and Joshua, the therapist.
Colin and Joshua are attracted to each other. They meet each other because of work but also in private. Colin can’t commit to any relationship and is clear about it. Joshua refuses friends with benefit with Colin. He’s already falling hard for, larger than life, Colin.
When deep hurt troubles a clear view, any form of relationship is eliminated.
With a change of heart, there is a road back, back to their beloved.
So here we have two couples. First, they are slightly involved with the other later on there is a blooming friendship.
What a journey! We can follow them, how they rise above themselves, how they redeem.
Beautifully, absolutely beautifully painted people, engaging, vulnerable, flawed, so so real in all ways. There is an epic confession of true love, breathtaking!
A stunningly written narrative, the author created four beautiful emotional characters, intriguing main and side stories, plausible with all the feelings, and made me fall in love with all four men.
Highly recommended!
June 29, 2019
The blurb was definitely interesting and intriguing on this one and it turned out the story and the narrator were even better...full review to follow soonish!
'Love's Magic' is the story of how 1 event touches 4 lives, leaving them forever altered...
From the bigger picture issue of sexual assault and violent crimes in the setting of academia, Janice Jarrell takes us into the lives of four men, giving us a very up close and personal look at how one act of violence touches their lives...bringing them together, driving them apart, making each man look more closely at what he has, what he could loose and ultimately what he's willing to do to keep it.
'Love's Magic' isn't an epic or grand action or romance story, but rather it's a story about how one event unfolded to touch the lives of four men. We begin with David and Nate, who are in a committed relationship at the start of the story and we follow them as they each struggle to deal with Nate's attack. While each man's reaction to events is distinctly different their love for each other and their desire not to give up on the relationship that means so much to them remains strong within their hearts. It's going to take a lot of introspection on both of their parts to find their way back to each other.
When Professor David Gardener gets a call telling him that Professor Nate Reese, the man he lives with and loves more than life itself has been seriously injured preventing the assault of one of the college's students all he can think about is getting to his lover. What neither David nor Nate could possibly foretell was how much their lives and the lives of those around them would be affected.
As the reader, or in this case the listener, follows David and Nate, while each man deals with the effects of Nate's attack in their own way we are introduced to a number of secondary characters and while our look at the effects on their lives isn't as in depth as that of David and Nate it is undeniably present from the strain it creates between David and his fellow professors to the bond that forms between Nate and the guardian of the student he rescued to how it draws Sergeant Colin Campbell from the campus police and Dr. Joshua Abrams, the colleges Title IX Consultant, together...ultimately becoming the catalyst that pushes them apart leaving Colin on his own to deal with the memory of events from his past that could keep him from having the future that in his heart he knows he wants with Joshua.
Ms Jarrell has created four characters that are all very likable and by the end of this story I was a fan of all four men...each of them containing their own admirable traits and imperfections...making all of them seem not just human but so very likable and real. While the focus of the story is David and Nate along with Colin and Joshua the author also weaves other characters into the story giving a more thorough and well rounded picture of the story's events along with who and how their lives were touched. At the end of it all we are essentially given David and Joshua's story with a solid HEA and we are left with Colin and Joshua in a good place.
If you’re looking for a steamy, sex fixes everything story than I have to admit you’re probably going to be disappointed. That’s not to say that there aren’t any sexy times here but the sex in this one is very much a part of the relationships and often times almost fade to black and not a driving force of the story. This ones definitely more plot driven than sex dependent and if you’re a fan of stories where it take more than some dazzling sex for the MCs to be able to overcome obstacles and get their lives on track than I think maybe like me, you won’t be disappointed.
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I started this one but what I got was a story that drew me in, was compelling, realistic and told with very believable characters and was narrated by new to me narrator Walker Williams, who did a superb job of giving added depth and emotion to both the story and the characters while bringing them to life. While his overall narration was enjoyable for me his voices for David, Nate, Colin and Joshua connected incredibly well with each of the characters and meshed perfectly with the images that I had in my mind. So in the end what I was given was a story that I loved and that I’m looking forward to continuing with more of in regards to Colin and Joshua but if David and Nate turn up from time to time you can be sure that this listener/reader will be doing a bit of a happy dance.
*************************
An audio book of "Love's Magic" was graciously provided by the 'Gay Book Promotions' in exchange for an honest review.
'Love's Magic' is the story of how 1 event touches 4 lives, leaving them forever altered...
From the bigger picture issue of sexual assault and violent crimes in the setting of academia, Janice Jarrell takes us into the lives of four men, giving us a very up close and personal look at how one act of violence touches their lives...bringing them together, driving them apart, making each man look more closely at what he has, what he could loose and ultimately what he's willing to do to keep it.
'Love's Magic' isn't an epic or grand action or romance story, but rather it's a story about how one event unfolded to touch the lives of four men. We begin with David and Nate, who are in a committed relationship at the start of the story and we follow them as they each struggle to deal with Nate's attack. While each man's reaction to events is distinctly different their love for each other and their desire not to give up on the relationship that means so much to them remains strong within their hearts. It's going to take a lot of introspection on both of their parts to find their way back to each other.
When Professor David Gardener gets a call telling him that Professor Nate Reese, the man he lives with and loves more than life itself has been seriously injured preventing the assault of one of the college's students all he can think about is getting to his lover. What neither David nor Nate could possibly foretell was how much their lives and the lives of those around them would be affected.
As the reader, or in this case the listener, follows David and Nate, while each man deals with the effects of Nate's attack in their own way we are introduced to a number of secondary characters and while our look at the effects on their lives isn't as in depth as that of David and Nate it is undeniably present from the strain it creates between David and his fellow professors to the bond that forms between Nate and the guardian of the student he rescued to how it draws Sergeant Colin Campbell from the campus police and Dr. Joshua Abrams, the colleges Title IX Consultant, together...ultimately becoming the catalyst that pushes them apart leaving Colin on his own to deal with the memory of events from his past that could keep him from having the future that in his heart he knows he wants with Joshua.
Ms Jarrell has created four characters that are all very likable and by the end of this story I was a fan of all four men...each of them containing their own admirable traits and imperfections...making all of them seem not just human but so very likable and real. While the focus of the story is David and Nate along with Colin and Joshua the author also weaves other characters into the story giving a more thorough and well rounded picture of the story's events along with who and how their lives were touched. At the end of it all we are essentially given David and Joshua's story with a solid HEA and we are left with Colin and Joshua in a good place.
If you’re looking for a steamy, sex fixes everything story than I have to admit you’re probably going to be disappointed. That’s not to say that there aren’t any sexy times here but the sex in this one is very much a part of the relationships and often times almost fade to black and not a driving force of the story. This ones definitely more plot driven than sex dependent and if you’re a fan of stories where it take more than some dazzling sex for the MCs to be able to overcome obstacles and get their lives on track than I think maybe like me, you won’t be disappointed.
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I started this one but what I got was a story that drew me in, was compelling, realistic and told with very believable characters and was narrated by new to me narrator Walker Williams, who did a superb job of giving added depth and emotion to both the story and the characters while bringing them to life. While his overall narration was enjoyable for me his voices for David, Nate, Colin and Joshua connected incredibly well with each of the characters and meshed perfectly with the images that I had in my mind. So in the end what I was given was a story that I loved and that I’m looking forward to continuing with more of in regards to Colin and Joshua but if David and Nate turn up from time to time you can be sure that this listener/reader will be doing a bit of a happy dance.
*************************
An audio book of "Love's Magic" was graciously provided by the 'Gay Book Promotions' in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2020
What an absolutely stunning performance by Walker Williams! Mr. Williams’ voice is rich and appealing, and he takes care to use a distinct voice for each character. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to listen to this talented narrator, and I’m looking forward to many more.
Love’s Magic, the first book in Janice Jarrell’s Revolutionary Heart series, is the story of two couples facing… well, some trials.
I always like to see how authors handle established couples and Ms. Jarrell does a really nice job with Nate and David’s story. The love between them is clear and powerful at the start of the novel, and when their issue blows up there’s no doubt how much pain they’re in.
The second couple, Colin and Joshua, have to work their way through more traditional issues. I like how Josh stays true to his values, and makes Colin work to get him back. Total opposites, Ms. Jarrell takes the opportunity to set up the story in the next book, Love’s Trials, and I can tell it’s going to be a doozy.
an audiobook copy of Love’s Magic was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
Love’s Magic, the first book in Janice Jarrell’s Revolutionary Heart series, is the story of two couples facing… well, some trials.
I always like to see how authors handle established couples and Ms. Jarrell does a really nice job with Nate and David’s story. The love between them is clear and powerful at the start of the novel, and when their issue blows up there’s no doubt how much pain they’re in.
The second couple, Colin and Joshua, have to work their way through more traditional issues. I like how Josh stays true to his values, and makes Colin work to get him back. Total opposites, Ms. Jarrell takes the opportunity to set up the story in the next book, Love’s Trials, and I can tell it’s going to be a doozy.
an audiobook copy of Love’s Magic was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
September 26, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Love’s Magic has a really unique set up as it combines the stories of two couples and weaves them together over the course of the book. I was impressed by the way Janice Jarrell manages to build these two storylines and nicely develop each of them, while still blending them throughout the book. It can sometimes be hard with four main characters to keep everything straight, but I never felt lost or confused as to which couple was the focus or where we were in the story. I think the way the author balances the two storylines works well too, as David and Nate’s journey takes prominence through the earlier parts of the book and then more focus shifts to Joshua and Colin. I do think some more overlap in storylines would have been nice, however. The men meet as Colin is the cop who investigates the attack where Nate is injured. They have a couple of casual interactions over the middle of the book, and Colin also helps out by working security during the End Assault rally. But there isn’t much plot crossover after the initial meeting, and the guys becoming friends sort of felt crammed in to the story (I don’t want to spoil anything, but at the end of the book these guys present as WAY closer than makes sense given the actual amount of interaction they have in the story).
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Love’s Magic has a really unique set up as it combines the stories of two couples and weaves them together over the course of the book. I was impressed by the way Janice Jarrell manages to build these two storylines and nicely develop each of them, while still blending them throughout the book. It can sometimes be hard with four main characters to keep everything straight, but I never felt lost or confused as to which couple was the focus or where we were in the story. I think the way the author balances the two storylines works well too, as David and Nate’s journey takes prominence through the earlier parts of the book and then more focus shifts to Joshua and Colin. I do think some more overlap in storylines would have been nice, however. The men meet as Colin is the cop who investigates the attack where Nate is injured. They have a couple of casual interactions over the middle of the book, and Colin also helps out by working security during the End Assault rally. But there isn’t much plot crossover after the initial meeting, and the guys becoming friends sort of felt crammed in to the story (I don’t want to spoil anything, but at the end of the book these guys present as WAY closer than makes sense given the actual amount of interaction they have in the story).
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 7, 2018
Shockingly so very good.
I'm sure you are wondering why I say shockingly. There are many reasons I say that. Reading the blurb for this book intrigued me. Seeing that this is Janice Jarrell's first full length novel had me very curious. From that blurb my two thoughts were that it sounded like a great plot concept but having four main characters and two distinct couples with their own love story seemed like such a big challenge. Here's the thing. She totally pulled it off. When we meet these guys David and Nate are already an established couple while Joshua and Colin are just meeting each other. This helps keep us from being confused. Also, all four of these characters are deep, complex, and we'll thought out. The details about David and his therapy as well as Colin's Irish heritage and Joshua's Jewish traditions commented my connection to them and brought so much life into them. This does not mean Mate was less so. He is the fierce passion that pulled it all together. I am truly impressed with the writer's skill to conquer such a challenging storyline. The copy I read had some editing issues which are being corrected. That is the only thing that kept this from being a five star read. So those of you who get the new edition are in for an amazing treat.
www.reviewsforthosewholoveagoodbook.w...
Having read the edited version of the book, I have changed the rating to the 5 stars it deserves.
I'm sure you are wondering why I say shockingly. There are many reasons I say that. Reading the blurb for this book intrigued me. Seeing that this is Janice Jarrell's first full length novel had me very curious. From that blurb my two thoughts were that it sounded like a great plot concept but having four main characters and two distinct couples with their own love story seemed like such a big challenge. Here's the thing. She totally pulled it off. When we meet these guys David and Nate are already an established couple while Joshua and Colin are just meeting each other. This helps keep us from being confused. Also, all four of these characters are deep, complex, and we'll thought out. The details about David and his therapy as well as Colin's Irish heritage and Joshua's Jewish traditions commented my connection to them and brought so much life into them. This does not mean Mate was less so. He is the fierce passion that pulled it all together. I am truly impressed with the writer's skill to conquer such a challenging storyline. The copy I read had some editing issues which are being corrected. That is the only thing that kept this from being a five star read. So those of you who get the new edition are in for an amazing treat.
www.reviewsforthosewholoveagoodbook.w...
Having read the edited version of the book, I have changed the rating to the 5 stars it deserves.
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August 8, 2018
REVEALING*TOUCHING*BEAUTIFUL
This is a magnificently written story involving the romance and lives of two couples. David and Nate are college professors at a prestigious university. Their relationship is established and strong until Nate is savagely attacked defending a student. From there, the previous love and security that was a given, seems to be an illusion. The relationship between Colin, the campus top police officer and Josh is completely different. Josh is the new campus Title IX, who work in accordance with students, administrators and campus police. When Colin and Josh first meet they both know working together is going to be a stretch in sexual restraint. The problems begin from their first kiss. Colin doesn't do relationships. Josh is falling head over heels in love. There are sooo many components to both sets and sides of these couples that are intertwined that you can't stop turning the pages. This is the type of story I love because the main focus is on the relationship between the couples. These are fantastic characters, that could be any friend you have ever given advice to. I love relatable characters. I loved the flow, pace, structure and feel of this story. I am SOOO looking forward to the next book in the continuing love story between Josh and Colin. I can't wait to see what their future holds for them. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!
This is a magnificently written story involving the romance and lives of two couples. David and Nate are college professors at a prestigious university. Their relationship is established and strong until Nate is savagely attacked defending a student. From there, the previous love and security that was a given, seems to be an illusion. The relationship between Colin, the campus top police officer and Josh is completely different. Josh is the new campus Title IX, who work in accordance with students, administrators and campus police. When Colin and Josh first meet they both know working together is going to be a stretch in sexual restraint. The problems begin from their first kiss. Colin doesn't do relationships. Josh is falling head over heels in love. There are sooo many components to both sets and sides of these couples that are intertwined that you can't stop turning the pages. This is the type of story I love because the main focus is on the relationship between the couples. These are fantastic characters, that could be any friend you have ever given advice to. I love relatable characters. I loved the flow, pace, structure and feel of this story. I am SOOO looking forward to the next book in the continuing love story between Josh and Colin. I can't wait to see what their future holds for them. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!
February 28, 2020
* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *
I liked this story very much about couples and their very realistic personal challenges in every day life and extraordinary experiences.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
The storyline is good and progresses nicely to a happy ending
Well described characters that’s developed in to realistic personalities
Narrator:
Extremely enjoyable listening to, clear pronunciation and read with feelings
I fell in love with these characters
5 stars overall
I liked this story very much about couples and their very realistic personal challenges in every day life and extraordinary experiences.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
The storyline is good and progresses nicely to a happy ending
Well described characters that’s developed in to realistic personalities
Narrator:
Extremely enjoyable listening to, clear pronunciation and read with feelings
I fell in love with these characters
5 stars overall
April 8, 2019
I wish I could give 100 stars for this book.
Janice Jarrell has written a book I wish I had written and not that I have written many. Janice has a soul that’s been places and is reflected in this moving, brilliant work that I can only call a masterpiece.
Let me give you reasons. A masterpiece is defined as a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. Love’s Magic is an outstanding example of her skill.
Ms Jarrell juggles between two story lines and connects the two as seemlessly as a shunted railway track.
Nate and David work at the university and are deeply in love. When Nate stops an oncampus sexual attack, his life changes and it affects their relationship. Colin Campbell, the campus detective investigates the attack and meets Joshua, very quickly an attraction develops between the two. But Colin has issues with relationships and as much as he wants to step away from Josh, the closer they become. When Colin’s past comes back to haunt him, an explosive quarrel sends Joshua home without a word.
Firstly, Ms Jarrell allows her mastery of the English language to filter into the reader’s mind as a slow burn. It doesn’t initially come across like that, but as I read on, it dawned on me that her knowledge of placing words exactly where they belong to convey a message, is truly brilliant, (first star) the moment it hit me was when the pages just turned by themselves and that was in the first ten pages.
I could not fault the mechanics. She uses action and reaction as if she’s eating breakfast. Uses deepening as though she were documenting a real life experience with each of her characters and she doesn’t linger; she gets in and she doesn’t mess around. (Second star)
Each scene is rich, like an old English wall; In the English countryside they have stone walls to keep in the sheep. These walls have been around for a long long time, hundreds of years. The flat stones are not uniform, they differ in colour and shape yet they fit together to form the whole. Janice’s scenes are like an English wall. Not bricks, because bricks all look the same. Her scenes vary in shape and size, colour and texture and when you step back they all fit together. (3rd star)
Every scene contains that most important ingredient in every writer’s inkpot: Tension and conflict.
Each word of dialogue moves the story forward. She includes cooking and songs in her work, and one of the songs is my favourite (from my Dad), called Danny Boy.
Janice writes effortlessly.
She invests her pen in what we call “double duty”; she doesn’t simply describe her characters, she describes in such a way that she adds to the mood and tone of the book. Her descriptions do more than create a picture; they support the other things happening in the story. (4th Star)
She portrays David as a professor of moralistic emporium who is forever protecting his best interest, Nate. One word comes to mind here; honour. An inner quality that motivates right action, even in the face of terrible odds. But she embues both Nate and David with honour. She portrays Nate as a soul who is slightly rebellious but knows his limits.
Detectives Colin Campbell and Joshua are real and relatable. Colin is unselfish in his work, and we like characters who don't just think of themselves all the time. Emotionally he is wanting and she is careful to separate the two. Joshua shows concern and creates a strong bond with the reader. I became emotionally invested with Colin and Joshua. Fiction is an emotional exchange. I felt this story. Emotion is the active ingredient of fiction; her characters are driven desperately into crisis.
I am not sure if Ms Jarrell knows this, but she managed to perfect the "Lock System" in fiction. L is for Lead, (bonding with the reader), O is for Objective (crucial for forward motion in fiction), C is for Confrontation (opposition to the lead's objective) and K is for Knockout (I was kocked out in the end). (5th Star)
I tried to compare this book with others in the gay genre, but couldn’t find any simply because it is so masterfully constructed. I would compare her to Patricia Nell Warren, that inimitable icon of gay letters; The Front Runner, Billy's Boy. Love's Magic came as a surprise. It explores the subtleties of belonging, not just lust, but true romantic feelings. I cried and laughed and shook in anger with the characters.
This is a read I will cherish for a long long time. Ms. Jarrell has become my favourite author.
She should be yours too.
Janice Jarrell has written a book I wish I had written and not that I have written many. Janice has a soul that’s been places and is reflected in this moving, brilliant work that I can only call a masterpiece.
Let me give you reasons. A masterpiece is defined as a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. Love’s Magic is an outstanding example of her skill.
Ms Jarrell juggles between two story lines and connects the two as seemlessly as a shunted railway track.
Nate and David work at the university and are deeply in love. When Nate stops an oncampus sexual attack, his life changes and it affects their relationship. Colin Campbell, the campus detective investigates the attack and meets Joshua, very quickly an attraction develops between the two. But Colin has issues with relationships and as much as he wants to step away from Josh, the closer they become. When Colin’s past comes back to haunt him, an explosive quarrel sends Joshua home without a word.
Firstly, Ms Jarrell allows her mastery of the English language to filter into the reader’s mind as a slow burn. It doesn’t initially come across like that, but as I read on, it dawned on me that her knowledge of placing words exactly where they belong to convey a message, is truly brilliant, (first star) the moment it hit me was when the pages just turned by themselves and that was in the first ten pages.
I could not fault the mechanics. She uses action and reaction as if she’s eating breakfast. Uses deepening as though she were documenting a real life experience with each of her characters and she doesn’t linger; she gets in and she doesn’t mess around. (Second star)
Each scene is rich, like an old English wall; In the English countryside they have stone walls to keep in the sheep. These walls have been around for a long long time, hundreds of years. The flat stones are not uniform, they differ in colour and shape yet they fit together to form the whole. Janice’s scenes are like an English wall. Not bricks, because bricks all look the same. Her scenes vary in shape and size, colour and texture and when you step back they all fit together. (3rd star)
Every scene contains that most important ingredient in every writer’s inkpot: Tension and conflict.
Each word of dialogue moves the story forward. She includes cooking and songs in her work, and one of the songs is my favourite (from my Dad), called Danny Boy.
Janice writes effortlessly.
She invests her pen in what we call “double duty”; she doesn’t simply describe her characters, she describes in such a way that she adds to the mood and tone of the book. Her descriptions do more than create a picture; they support the other things happening in the story. (4th Star)
She portrays David as a professor of moralistic emporium who is forever protecting his best interest, Nate. One word comes to mind here; honour. An inner quality that motivates right action, even in the face of terrible odds. But she embues both Nate and David with honour. She portrays Nate as a soul who is slightly rebellious but knows his limits.
Detectives Colin Campbell and Joshua are real and relatable. Colin is unselfish in his work, and we like characters who don't just think of themselves all the time. Emotionally he is wanting and she is careful to separate the two. Joshua shows concern and creates a strong bond with the reader. I became emotionally invested with Colin and Joshua. Fiction is an emotional exchange. I felt this story. Emotion is the active ingredient of fiction; her characters are driven desperately into crisis.
I am not sure if Ms Jarrell knows this, but she managed to perfect the "Lock System" in fiction. L is for Lead, (bonding with the reader), O is for Objective (crucial for forward motion in fiction), C is for Confrontation (opposition to the lead's objective) and K is for Knockout (I was kocked out in the end). (5th Star)
I tried to compare this book with others in the gay genre, but couldn’t find any simply because it is so masterfully constructed. I would compare her to Patricia Nell Warren, that inimitable icon of gay letters; The Front Runner, Billy's Boy. Love's Magic came as a surprise. It explores the subtleties of belonging, not just lust, but true romantic feelings. I cried and laughed and shook in anger with the characters.
This is a read I will cherish for a long long time. Ms. Jarrell has become my favourite author.
She should be yours too.
May 27, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Love’s Magic by Janice Jarrell has two storylines. One is about two professors slash lovers (Nate and David) whose relationship is tested by a situation that involves the university where they both work, and the other is about two policemen (Colin and Joshua) who developed a stronger connection while working in the same department. The same line of work, same feelings. But just like any other romance where struggles always await, feelings are challenged by beliefs based on different experiences and priorities. Will love be able to work its magic and make these men have their happily ever after?
Janice is no rooky at writing skill. I am aware of her writing gigs for the past years and her experience certainly pays off well in this book. No bad for a debut mm romance. I enjoyed knowing about the four characters, that’s for sure. And I like the plot for both romances as well.
But the thing about storylines that fictionalize real-life actual events is that they are predictable. The crimes that involved teenagers being abused, the university expectedly refusing to entertain the issue, mindful people rebelling against the school system, and of course the misunderstanding between people involved in the situation (two lovers included) may not be a surprise to some. Lucky for me, I haven’t been able to read lots of fiction stories involving rally events (except the news) so this book is a thumbs up.
And, sorry in advance, but in the beginning, I actually struggled to follow who owned the emotions described in this book. Shifting from one lane to another is not my strong suit. As soon as I start connecting to Nate and David, the story turns to the other two main characters, Josh and Colin, and I was easily lost. Don’t get me wrong. Janice Jarrell is a good writer as I said, and she obviously exerted a huge effort to make the emotions believable. Maybe I just wish Joshua and Colin, and Nate and David’s stories were written on separate books because they can both be a kick-ass standalone romance. I swear I would have loved it even more if that had happened. Maybe it would have enough room to expand the story and talk more about each character’s background. Especially Colin since Irish men seem interesting. Heheh.
Nate and David already in a relationship makes me feel cheated. How they met for the first time was explained, but I feel denied the chance to see the spark when they first laid eyes on each other (Because seriously, that’s when the magic starts!). Yeah, or maybe it’s just me.
I definitely enjoyed the arguments between the characters in this book. Lots of arguments I should say (lucky there is the romantic gay sex that follows). Fighting over and over again for the same reason may appear boring to other readers, but hey, admit it, this is how crazy we are. I guess this book proves how pride can overpower one’s rationality. It also shows that even people who are trained to understand are the oblivious ones. (Yes, Professor David, I am talking about you)
I admire Nate’s character for standing up for what is best for the majority even to the point of losing David, and I also love Joshua for leaving Colin upon realizing his feelings do not seem to be fully reciprocated. Because how many times has Justin Bieber reminded you to love yourself first? If the guy can’t fight for you, then he might not be the right guy.
Finally, I love how the author ended the book. The happy ever after is, of course, expected, yet, still, reading how it happens without a cliffhanger calmed me down.
The author, as if being aware of my wish, hinted about the next book and I am so looking forward to it. Give me some more Irish culture, please!
***Electronic copy generously provided by the author for an honest review***
For more of my reviews, please visit RS Book Blog
Love’s Magic by Janice Jarrell has two storylines. One is about two professors slash lovers (Nate and David) whose relationship is tested by a situation that involves the university where they both work, and the other is about two policemen (Colin and Joshua) who developed a stronger connection while working in the same department. The same line of work, same feelings. But just like any other romance where struggles always await, feelings are challenged by beliefs based on different experiences and priorities. Will love be able to work its magic and make these men have their happily ever after?
Janice is no rooky at writing skill. I am aware of her writing gigs for the past years and her experience certainly pays off well in this book. No bad for a debut mm romance. I enjoyed knowing about the four characters, that’s for sure. And I like the plot for both romances as well.
But the thing about storylines that fictionalize real-life actual events is that they are predictable. The crimes that involved teenagers being abused, the university expectedly refusing to entertain the issue, mindful people rebelling against the school system, and of course the misunderstanding between people involved in the situation (two lovers included) may not be a surprise to some. Lucky for me, I haven’t been able to read lots of fiction stories involving rally events (except the news) so this book is a thumbs up.
And, sorry in advance, but in the beginning, I actually struggled to follow who owned the emotions described in this book. Shifting from one lane to another is not my strong suit. As soon as I start connecting to Nate and David, the story turns to the other two main characters, Josh and Colin, and I was easily lost. Don’t get me wrong. Janice Jarrell is a good writer as I said, and she obviously exerted a huge effort to make the emotions believable. Maybe I just wish Joshua and Colin, and Nate and David’s stories were written on separate books because they can both be a kick-ass standalone romance. I swear I would have loved it even more if that had happened. Maybe it would have enough room to expand the story and talk more about each character’s background. Especially Colin since Irish men seem interesting. Heheh.
Nate and David already in a relationship makes me feel cheated. How they met for the first time was explained, but I feel denied the chance to see the spark when they first laid eyes on each other (Because seriously, that’s when the magic starts!). Yeah, or maybe it’s just me.
I definitely enjoyed the arguments between the characters in this book. Lots of arguments I should say (lucky there is the romantic gay sex that follows). Fighting over and over again for the same reason may appear boring to other readers, but hey, admit it, this is how crazy we are. I guess this book proves how pride can overpower one’s rationality. It also shows that even people who are trained to understand are the oblivious ones. (Yes, Professor David, I am talking about you)
I admire Nate’s character for standing up for what is best for the majority even to the point of losing David, and I also love Joshua for leaving Colin upon realizing his feelings do not seem to be fully reciprocated. Because how many times has Justin Bieber reminded you to love yourself first? If the guy can’t fight for you, then he might not be the right guy.
Finally, I love how the author ended the book. The happy ever after is, of course, expected, yet, still, reading how it happens without a cliffhanger calmed me down.
The author, as if being aware of my wish, hinted about the next book and I am so looking forward to it. Give me some more Irish culture, please!
***Electronic copy generously provided by the author for an honest review***
For more of my reviews, please visit RS Book Blog
May 25, 2018
This was a first book by this author and I absolutely loved it. The story had me with in the first paragraph as Nate and his boyfriend David bantered. But this also includes a fabulous story for Collin and Joshua's romance.
"Maybe some men are worth a broken heart, he mused. Maybe some men are worth it."
💖 a beautiful quote in this book for Joshua's thoughts. I loved the Irish scenes with Joshua and Colin. Both stories interweaving and brilliantly written. You feel different things as each couple scenes read while they go through life, love and dramas. I could write in more detail but that would spoilers. I high recommend this book as you'd get not one romance but two. I loved that with this one.
Professors David and Nate both worked at the same Uni. Nate was a history documentary producer for his boss Lance which was how he'd met David a year ago....
Late at night Nate goes to the rescue of a girl being attacked and gets injured himself.
Sergeant Colin with campus police was investigating the attack and 6 other cases. The new Title IX coordinator, Joshua would also be working on the case too. Sparks fly and chemistry is there but who'd be the first ta give in to what they'd feel. Definitely a rough trip ahead for them but makes a great read.
(Book received for an honesty review).
"Maybe some men are worth a broken heart, he mused. Maybe some men are worth it."
💖 a beautiful quote in this book for Joshua's thoughts. I loved the Irish scenes with Joshua and Colin. Both stories interweaving and brilliantly written. You feel different things as each couple scenes read while they go through life, love and dramas. I could write in more detail but that would spoilers. I high recommend this book as you'd get not one romance but two. I loved that with this one.
Professors David and Nate both worked at the same Uni. Nate was a history documentary producer for his boss Lance which was how he'd met David a year ago....
Late at night Nate goes to the rescue of a girl being attacked and gets injured himself.
Sergeant Colin with campus police was investigating the attack and 6 other cases. The new Title IX coordinator, Joshua would also be working on the case too. Sparks fly and chemistry is there but who'd be the first ta give in to what they'd feel. Definitely a rough trip ahead for them but makes a great read.
(Book received for an honesty review).
May 16, 2020
I think I'm the minority here. Jan Jarrell is a new to me author, so I had to make some adjustment when reading.
This book told about two couples. I usually a little bit uncomfortable, but maybe this is the way this author tell a tale.
Love's Magic was a nice read, not really my favorite, but maybe the next three books, I could find my pace and liking more.
Onward!
April 29, 2020
Pretty meh to me to be honest. It’s not bad, it just lacks that punch that makes me want to read more about the characters.
The narration was pretty good tho. So there’s that. I don’t know...maybe I wasn’t in the right mood to read this right now. It’s an ok book.
The narration was pretty good tho. So there’s that. I don’t know...maybe I wasn’t in the right mood to read this right now. It’s an ok book.
Want to Read
September 8, 2018Love's Magic was graciously provided to me by the author for an honest review. Review to follow.
March 22, 2023
I had had my eye on this series for a long time but there was always so many other stories already on my Kindle, but I've finally decided now is the time, there are many in this series. This one, where we see Colin and Josh first meet, is a great read as we also meet David and Nate, who feature in this episode quite a bit. There is love, pain and sadness but all in all it's a very lovely read.
October 6, 2018
Review in English and Polish ||Recenzja po angielsku i polsku
Working as professors at the University of Virginia, David and Nate have been a couple for many months. Their life consist of small problems and huge joys that come from their love for each other. One day, however, a drama that none of them could have foreseen shakes their carefree life, as Nate is brutally attacked when he defends a female student. Although he has a lot of luck and manages to survive the attack, this event doesn't remain without consequences for his well-being and psyche. The problem is that right now, when he needs his partner's support and unconditional love the most, David seems more concerned about their positions and job than about Nate himself.
On a daily basis, Colin, a full of energy and passion campus police officer, deals with both minor and more serious crimes committed by the students. Many of the cases that are piling up on his desk are more personal to him than he would like to admit, but that's exactly the reason why he started this job. It is also thanks to this work that he meets Joshua Abrams, a new Title IX coordinator. Although both men are undoubtedly interested in each other, they both want something completely different. Josh is interested in a stable relationship, while Colin is a hard-core bachelor who keeps away from any romantic commitments. As if that was not enough, their work and Colin's painful past, about which the policeman doesn't want to talk to anyone, also make it impossible to even think about a serious relationship.
I think I'll skip an unnecessary introduction and I'll go straight to the point, since "Love's Magic" is not a perfect novel, but it has many undeniable advantages, which make this book really pleasurable to read. One of them are undoubtedly the main characters who quickly become close to us and arouse our curiosity about their fate presented in this first volume of the "Revolutionary Heart" series. In this respect, Janice Jarrell definitely showed herself at her best. Her characters were presented on several different planes, which is an irrefutable proof of her excellent writing skills. However, let's focus on the characters and the way they are presented. The author not only sketched the external appearance of her four leading characters, but above all she clearly outlined their personality, thanks to which they conquer the readers' hearts because of who they they are and not who they seem to be. It also makes them distinctive and unique, and makes us see them more as friends than as fictional characters. What's more, to some extent we also have an insight into their thoughts and psyche, thanks to which we can better understand their feelings and the motives that guide them. It is also worth mentioning that they are so diverse that it really is an irreplaceable help in getting to know them better. Another plane of the characters' construction, which certainly should be mentioned, is their past. Also in this respect each of the men is different from others, which is a huge advantage, but at this point we also see a small problem here, and it mainly concerns David. There are moments when the readers are so taken-aback that they begin to wonder whether they certainly did not miss something, something that would precede the events presented in "Love's Magic". The narrator doesn't prepare us for some revelations about David's life from before his relationship with Nate, which makes the information like some kind of a flash grenade thrown into a crowd of people. Before we even understand what is going on, it just explodes and it's done, a fait accompli.
I will return for a moment to the already mentioned clearly outlined characters' personalities, as they are important in the context of problems the leads have to deal with. It's about the huge and somehow really cute stubbornness of some of them, the amazing pride of others and the fear they feel, which varies depending on the character. All this has a huge impact on the problems that are another advantage of "Love's Magic", considering believable and undeniably serious manner in which they were presented. Thanks to the fact that the characters created by Janice Jarrell are so diverse, adversities that they must face also differ from one another. Just like in the real life, in this novel each character approaches all the problems in accordance with his personality and life experiences. Thus, what will only be a minor inconvenience for some, will be a great obstacle for others. What's more, solving all these problems requires from the characters to fight the internal struggle and overcome themselves. The author has not created a story whose plot revolves around trifles, but she presented the most real problems that are taken really seriously by her characters. Something like that just needs to be appreciated.
Reviewing "Love's Magic", I can't omit one of the greatest advantages of this novel, and at the same time a very important problem, which really is the central point of the plot. What I'm talking about is naturally the subject of the rape, and most importantly, also of the rape on people from the LGBT+ community, which I personally consider as too often ignored. I am very happy that the author has largely referred to this problem in her book, as well as showed to some extent the consequences of such a terrible act for its victims and their relatives. The fact that in "Love's Magic" the subject of violence, not only the sexual one, occupies such an important place, gives this novel meaning and depth that can't be ignored. The more so, because the author took these problems very seriously, she built around them the plot of this volume and made them an integral part of her characters' creation.
However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, "Love's Magic" is not perfect. What I consider to be the biggest disadvantage of this book is the fact that too little emphasis was placed on the interaction between the characters, as it would more strongly outline their mutual relations and better explain the feelings born between them. As the reader is witnessing a rather small number of really significant meetings between the leads that have an impact on the development of their feelings, sometimes one gets the impression that everything our boys feel for one another is based either on what we do not know or on this little knowledge we have. And in both cases, it is far too little for us to create a full and convincing picture of the relationships and friendships we see in the novel. In the end, as viewers, we analyze what happens on the stage when the curtain goes up, not what happens behind the scenes and is hidden from our eyes. In other words, as readers, we do not participate often enough in the interactions between the characters. For this reason the novel and the readers lose a lot.
To sum up, "Love's Magic" is a valuable, interesting and quite well-written book that conquers readers' hearts with some amazing, perfectly created characters and a story based not only on the theme of romantic feelings, but above all of various problems. It is undoubtedly a novel that is worth recommending to a wide range of readers, especially those who are looking for titles that offer more than just pure entertainment.
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Pracujący jako profesorowie na Uniwersytecie Wirginii, David i Nate są parą już od wielu miesięcy. Ich życie składa się z drobnych problemów i ogromnych radości płynących z miłości, jaką się darzą. Pewnego dnia ich beztroskim życiem wstrząsa jednak dramat, którego żaden z nich nie mógł przewidzieć. Nate zostaje bowiem brutalnie zaatakowany, kiedy staje w obronie uczennicy. Chociaż ma wiele szczęścia i wychodzi z ataku cało, wydarzenie to nie pozostaje bez konsekwencji dla jego samopoczucia i psychiki. Problem w tym, że właśnie w tej chwili, kiedy najbardziej potrzebuje wsparcia i bezwzględnej miłości swojego partnera, David wydaje się bardziej troszczyć o ich stanowiska i pracę, niż o samego Nate’a.
Colin, pełen energii i pasji policjant pracujący w obrębie miasteczka uniwersyteckiego, na co dzień zmaga się zarówno z drobnymi, jak i z bardziej poważnymi przestępstwami, których dopuszczają się studenci. Wiele ze spraw, które lądują na jego biurku jest mu bliższych, niżby tego chciał, ale to właśnie one są powodem, dla którego podjął tę właśnie pracę. To także właśnie dzięki niej poznaje Joshuę Abramsa, nowego koordynatora Tytułu IX, stanowiącego część federalnego kodeksu praw obywatelskich. Chociaż obaj mężczyźni są sobą niewątpliwie zainteresowani, obaj pragną czegoś zupełnie innego. Joshowi zależy bowiem na stałym związku, podczas gdy Colin jest zatwardziałym kawalerem, który trzyma się z daleka od jakichkolwiek romantycznych zobowiązań. Jakby tego było mało, między mężczyznami staje także ich praca oraz bolesna przeszłość Colina, o której policjant nie chce z nikim rozmawiać.
Myślę, że podaruję sobie zbędne wstępy i od razu przejdę do rzeczy, jako że „Love’s Magic” nie jest może powieścią idealną, jednak posiada wiele niezaprzeczalnych zalet, które sprawiają, że książkę tę czyta się z prawdziwą przyjemnością. Jedną z nich bez wątpienia są główni bohaterowie, którzy bardzo szybko stają się nam bliscy i rozbudzają naszą ciekawość, co do ich losów przedstawionych w pierwszym tomie serii „Revolutionary Heart”. Pod tym względem Janice Jarrell zdecydowanie pokazała się z jak najlepszej strony. Jej postaci zostały bowiem przedstawione na kilku różnych płaszczyznach, co stanowi niezbity dowód jej kunsztu pisarskiego. Skupmy się jednak właśnie na bohaterach oraz ich przedstawieniu. Autorka nie tylko odmalowała nam wygląd zewnętrzny czwórki swoich wiodących postaci, ale przede wszystkim bardzo wyraźnie nakreśliła ich charaktery, dzięki czemu podbiją oni serca czytelników tym jacy są, a nie tym jacy mają się nam wydawać. To też czyni ich charakterystycznymi, wyjątkowymi i sprawia, że odbieramy ich jako przyjaciół, a nie fikcyjnych bohaterów. Co więcej, do pewnego stopnia mamy także wgląd w ich myśli i psychikę, dzięki czemu możemy lepiej zrozumieć ich uczucia i kierujące nimi motywy. Warto wspomnieć, że są oni tak różnorodni, że naprawdę jest to niezastąpioną pomocą w lepszym ich poznaniu. Kolejną płaszczyzną budowy bohaterów, o której na pewno należy wspomnieć jest ich przeszłość. Także i pod tym względem każdy z mężczyzn różni się od innych, co jest ogromną zaletą, jednak w tym miejscu pojawia się również drobny problem, a dotyczy on głównie osoby Davida. Są bowiem chwile, kiedy czytelnik w trakcie lektury jest na tyle skonsternowany, że zaczyna zastanawia się nad tym, czy aby na pewno czegoś nie pominął, czy coś mu nie umknęło, coś, co poprzedzałoby wydarzenia przedstawione w „Love’s Magic”. Narrator nie przygotowuje nas bowiem wcześniej do poznania niektórych rewelacji na temat życia Davida sprzed pojawienia się w nim Nate’a, co sprawia, że informacje te są niczym granat błyskowy wrzucony w tłum ludzi. Zanim w ogóle zrozumiemy co się dzieje, on po prostu wybucha i stajemy przed faktem dokonanym.
Powrócę jeszcze na chwilę do wspomnianych przed chwilą wyraźnie zarysowanych charakterów bohaterów, jako że mają one duże znaczenie w kontekście problemów z jakimi muszą się oni zmagać. Chodzi między innymi o niesamowity i w pewnym stopniu naprawdę słodki upór niektórych z nich, rozbrajającą dumę innych oraz odczuwany przez nich strach, który różni się w zależności od tego, z którym z bohaterów mamy do czynienia. Wszystko to wpływa w ogromnym stopniu na problemy, które stanowią kolejną zaletę „Love’s Magic” zważywszy na ich bardzo prawdopodobne przedstawienie oraz niezaprzeczalną powagę. Dzięki temu, że postaci stworzone przez Janice Jarrell są tak różnorodne, przeciwności losu, którym muszą stawić czoła także się od siebie różnią. Tak jak w prawdziwym życiu, tak i w tej powieści każdy z bohaterów podchodzi do wszelkich problemów zgodnie ze swoim charakterem oraz doświadczeniami życiowymi. Tym samym to, co dla jednych będzie tylko drobną niedogodność, dla innych będzie stanowić przeszkodę nie do przejścia. Co więcej, rozwiązanie wszystkich tych problemów wymaga od bohaterów stoczenia wewnętrznej walki, pokonania samych siebie. Autorka nie stworzyła więc historii, której fabuła kręci się wokół drobnostek, ale przedstawiła problemy jak najbardziej prawdziwe i traktowane przez jej bohaterów naprawdę poważnie. Czegoś takiego nie sposób nie docenić.
Recenzując „Love’s Magic” nie można jednak pominąć jednej z największych zalet powieści, a jednocześnie bardzo ważnego problemu, który tak naprawdę stanowi centralny punkt fabuły. Chodzi naturalnie o temat gwałtów, a co najważniejsze, także gwałtów na osobach ze środowiska LGBT+, który osobiście uważam za stanowczo zbyt często ignorowany. Bardzo cieszę się, że autorka w dużej mierze odniosła się do tego problemu w swojej książce, jak również w pewnym stopniu pokazała, co podobny czyn oznacza dla jego ofiar i ich bliskich. Fakt, iż w „Love’s Magic” temat przemocy, i to nie tylko tylko seksualnej, zajmuje tak ważne miejsce, nadaje tej powieści znaczenia oraz głębi, których nie można zignorować. Tym bardziej, że autorka potraktowała te problemy bardzo poważnie, budując wokół nich fabułę tego tomu, jak również czyniąc je integralną częścią budowy bohaterów.
Jak wspomniałam na początku tej recenzji, „Love’s Magic” nie jest jednak perfekcyjne. Za największą wadę tej książki uważam zbyt mały nacisk położony na interakcję między bohaterami, która mocniej nakreśliłaby ich wzajemne relacje oraz lepiej wyjaśniłaby rodzące się między nimi uczucia. Jako że czytelnik jest świadkiem raczej małej liczby naprawdę znaczących spotkań między bohaterami, które mają wpływ na rozwój ich uczuć, czasami odnosi się wrażenie, że wszystko, co czują względem siebie nasi chłopcy opiera się albo na tym czego nie wiemy, albo na tej niewielkiej wiedzy jaką posiadamy. I w jednym i w drugim przypadku jest to stanowczo zbyt mało, abyśmy mogli stworzyć pełny i niezachwiany obraz łączących główne postaci relacji, zarówno tych romantycznych, jak i przyjacielskich. W końcu jako widzowie oceniamy to, co dzieje się, kiedy kurtyna idzie w górę, nie zaś to, co za kulisami, ukryte przed naszym wzrokiem. Inaczej mówiąc, jako czytelnicy zbyt mało uczestniczymy w interakcjach między bohaterami na czym tracimy zarówno my, jak i sama powieść.
Podsumowując, „Love’s Magic” to wartościowa, interesująca i całkiem dobrze napisana książka, która podbija serca czytelników wspaniałymi, doskonale stworzonymi bohaterami oraz fabułą opierającą się nie tylko na temacie romantycznych uczuć, ale przede wszystkim rozmaitych problemów. Jest to bezsprzecznie powieść, którą warto polecić szerokiemu gronu czytelników, a w szczególności tym, którzy szukają tytułów oferujących coś więcej, niż tylko czystą rozrywkę.
Working as professors at the University of Virginia, David and Nate have been a couple for many months. Their life consist of small problems and huge joys that come from their love for each other. One day, however, a drama that none of them could have foreseen shakes their carefree life, as Nate is brutally attacked when he defends a female student. Although he has a lot of luck and manages to survive the attack, this event doesn't remain without consequences for his well-being and psyche. The problem is that right now, when he needs his partner's support and unconditional love the most, David seems more concerned about their positions and job than about Nate himself.
On a daily basis, Colin, a full of energy and passion campus police officer, deals with both minor and more serious crimes committed by the students. Many of the cases that are piling up on his desk are more personal to him than he would like to admit, but that's exactly the reason why he started this job. It is also thanks to this work that he meets Joshua Abrams, a new Title IX coordinator. Although both men are undoubtedly interested in each other, they both want something completely different. Josh is interested in a stable relationship, while Colin is a hard-core bachelor who keeps away from any romantic commitments. As if that was not enough, their work and Colin's painful past, about which the policeman doesn't want to talk to anyone, also make it impossible to even think about a serious relationship.
I think I'll skip an unnecessary introduction and I'll go straight to the point, since "Love's Magic" is not a perfect novel, but it has many undeniable advantages, which make this book really pleasurable to read. One of them are undoubtedly the main characters who quickly become close to us and arouse our curiosity about their fate presented in this first volume of the "Revolutionary Heart" series. In this respect, Janice Jarrell definitely showed herself at her best. Her characters were presented on several different planes, which is an irrefutable proof of her excellent writing skills. However, let's focus on the characters and the way they are presented. The author not only sketched the external appearance of her four leading characters, but above all she clearly outlined their personality, thanks to which they conquer the readers' hearts because of who they they are and not who they seem to be. It also makes them distinctive and unique, and makes us see them more as friends than as fictional characters. What's more, to some extent we also have an insight into their thoughts and psyche, thanks to which we can better understand their feelings and the motives that guide them. It is also worth mentioning that they are so diverse that it really is an irreplaceable help in getting to know them better. Another plane of the characters' construction, which certainly should be mentioned, is their past. Also in this respect each of the men is different from others, which is a huge advantage, but at this point we also see a small problem here, and it mainly concerns David. There are moments when the readers are so taken-aback that they begin to wonder whether they certainly did not miss something, something that would precede the events presented in "Love's Magic". The narrator doesn't prepare us for some revelations about David's life from before his relationship with Nate, which makes the information like some kind of a flash grenade thrown into a crowd of people. Before we even understand what is going on, it just explodes and it's done, a fait accompli.
I will return for a moment to the already mentioned clearly outlined characters' personalities, as they are important in the context of problems the leads have to deal with. It's about the huge and somehow really cute stubbornness of some of them, the amazing pride of others and the fear they feel, which varies depending on the character. All this has a huge impact on the problems that are another advantage of "Love's Magic", considering believable and undeniably serious manner in which they were presented. Thanks to the fact that the characters created by Janice Jarrell are so diverse, adversities that they must face also differ from one another. Just like in the real life, in this novel each character approaches all the problems in accordance with his personality and life experiences. Thus, what will only be a minor inconvenience for some, will be a great obstacle for others. What's more, solving all these problems requires from the characters to fight the internal struggle and overcome themselves. The author has not created a story whose plot revolves around trifles, but she presented the most real problems that are taken really seriously by her characters. Something like that just needs to be appreciated.
Reviewing "Love's Magic", I can't omit one of the greatest advantages of this novel, and at the same time a very important problem, which really is the central point of the plot. What I'm talking about is naturally the subject of the rape, and most importantly, also of the rape on people from the LGBT+ community, which I personally consider as too often ignored. I am very happy that the author has largely referred to this problem in her book, as well as showed to some extent the consequences of such a terrible act for its victims and their relatives. The fact that in "Love's Magic" the subject of violence, not only the sexual one, occupies such an important place, gives this novel meaning and depth that can't be ignored. The more so, because the author took these problems very seriously, she built around them the plot of this volume and made them an integral part of her characters' creation.
However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, "Love's Magic" is not perfect. What I consider to be the biggest disadvantage of this book is the fact that too little emphasis was placed on the interaction between the characters, as it would more strongly outline their mutual relations and better explain the feelings born between them. As the reader is witnessing a rather small number of really significant meetings between the leads that have an impact on the development of their feelings, sometimes one gets the impression that everything our boys feel for one another is based either on what we do not know or on this little knowledge we have. And in both cases, it is far too little for us to create a full and convincing picture of the relationships and friendships we see in the novel. In the end, as viewers, we analyze what happens on the stage when the curtain goes up, not what happens behind the scenes and is hidden from our eyes. In other words, as readers, we do not participate often enough in the interactions between the characters. For this reason the novel and the readers lose a lot.
To sum up, "Love's Magic" is a valuable, interesting and quite well-written book that conquers readers' hearts with some amazing, perfectly created characters and a story based not only on the theme of romantic feelings, but above all of various problems. It is undoubtedly a novel that is worth recommending to a wide range of readers, especially those who are looking for titles that offer more than just pure entertainment.
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Pracujący jako profesorowie na Uniwersytecie Wirginii, David i Nate są parą już od wielu miesięcy. Ich życie składa się z drobnych problemów i ogromnych radości płynących z miłości, jaką się darzą. Pewnego dnia ich beztroskim życiem wstrząsa jednak dramat, którego żaden z nich nie mógł przewidzieć. Nate zostaje bowiem brutalnie zaatakowany, kiedy staje w obronie uczennicy. Chociaż ma wiele szczęścia i wychodzi z ataku cało, wydarzenie to nie pozostaje bez konsekwencji dla jego samopoczucia i psychiki. Problem w tym, że właśnie w tej chwili, kiedy najbardziej potrzebuje wsparcia i bezwzględnej miłości swojego partnera, David wydaje się bardziej troszczyć o ich stanowiska i pracę, niż o samego Nate’a.
Colin, pełen energii i pasji policjant pracujący w obrębie miasteczka uniwersyteckiego, na co dzień zmaga się zarówno z drobnymi, jak i z bardziej poważnymi przestępstwami, których dopuszczają się studenci. Wiele ze spraw, które lądują na jego biurku jest mu bliższych, niżby tego chciał, ale to właśnie one są powodem, dla którego podjął tę właśnie pracę. To także właśnie dzięki niej poznaje Joshuę Abramsa, nowego koordynatora Tytułu IX, stanowiącego część federalnego kodeksu praw obywatelskich. Chociaż obaj mężczyźni są sobą niewątpliwie zainteresowani, obaj pragną czegoś zupełnie innego. Joshowi zależy bowiem na stałym związku, podczas gdy Colin jest zatwardziałym kawalerem, który trzyma się z daleka od jakichkolwiek romantycznych zobowiązań. Jakby tego było mało, między mężczyznami staje także ich praca oraz bolesna przeszłość Colina, o której policjant nie chce z nikim rozmawiać.
Myślę, że podaruję sobie zbędne wstępy i od razu przejdę do rzeczy, jako że „Love’s Magic” nie jest może powieścią idealną, jednak posiada wiele niezaprzeczalnych zalet, które sprawiają, że książkę tę czyta się z prawdziwą przyjemnością. Jedną z nich bez wątpienia są główni bohaterowie, którzy bardzo szybko stają się nam bliscy i rozbudzają naszą ciekawość, co do ich losów przedstawionych w pierwszym tomie serii „Revolutionary Heart”. Pod tym względem Janice Jarrell zdecydowanie pokazała się z jak najlepszej strony. Jej postaci zostały bowiem przedstawione na kilku różnych płaszczyznach, co stanowi niezbity dowód jej kunsztu pisarskiego. Skupmy się jednak właśnie na bohaterach oraz ich przedstawieniu. Autorka nie tylko odmalowała nam wygląd zewnętrzny czwórki swoich wiodących postaci, ale przede wszystkim bardzo wyraźnie nakreśliła ich charaktery, dzięki czemu podbiją oni serca czytelników tym jacy są, a nie tym jacy mają się nam wydawać. To też czyni ich charakterystycznymi, wyjątkowymi i sprawia, że odbieramy ich jako przyjaciół, a nie fikcyjnych bohaterów. Co więcej, do pewnego stopnia mamy także wgląd w ich myśli i psychikę, dzięki czemu możemy lepiej zrozumieć ich uczucia i kierujące nimi motywy. Warto wspomnieć, że są oni tak różnorodni, że naprawdę jest to niezastąpioną pomocą w lepszym ich poznaniu. Kolejną płaszczyzną budowy bohaterów, o której na pewno należy wspomnieć jest ich przeszłość. Także i pod tym względem każdy z mężczyzn różni się od innych, co jest ogromną zaletą, jednak w tym miejscu pojawia się również drobny problem, a dotyczy on głównie osoby Davida. Są bowiem chwile, kiedy czytelnik w trakcie lektury jest na tyle skonsternowany, że zaczyna zastanawia się nad tym, czy aby na pewno czegoś nie pominął, czy coś mu nie umknęło, coś, co poprzedzałoby wydarzenia przedstawione w „Love’s Magic”. Narrator nie przygotowuje nas bowiem wcześniej do poznania niektórych rewelacji na temat życia Davida sprzed pojawienia się w nim Nate’a, co sprawia, że informacje te są niczym granat błyskowy wrzucony w tłum ludzi. Zanim w ogóle zrozumiemy co się dzieje, on po prostu wybucha i stajemy przed faktem dokonanym.
Powrócę jeszcze na chwilę do wspomnianych przed chwilą wyraźnie zarysowanych charakterów bohaterów, jako że mają one duże znaczenie w kontekście problemów z jakimi muszą się oni zmagać. Chodzi między innymi o niesamowity i w pewnym stopniu naprawdę słodki upór niektórych z nich, rozbrajającą dumę innych oraz odczuwany przez nich strach, który różni się w zależności od tego, z którym z bohaterów mamy do czynienia. Wszystko to wpływa w ogromnym stopniu na problemy, które stanowią kolejną zaletę „Love’s Magic” zważywszy na ich bardzo prawdopodobne przedstawienie oraz niezaprzeczalną powagę. Dzięki temu, że postaci stworzone przez Janice Jarrell są tak różnorodne, przeciwności losu, którym muszą stawić czoła także się od siebie różnią. Tak jak w prawdziwym życiu, tak i w tej powieści każdy z bohaterów podchodzi do wszelkich problemów zgodnie ze swoim charakterem oraz doświadczeniami życiowymi. Tym samym to, co dla jednych będzie tylko drobną niedogodność, dla innych będzie stanowić przeszkodę nie do przejścia. Co więcej, rozwiązanie wszystkich tych problemów wymaga od bohaterów stoczenia wewnętrznej walki, pokonania samych siebie. Autorka nie stworzyła więc historii, której fabuła kręci się wokół drobnostek, ale przedstawiła problemy jak najbardziej prawdziwe i traktowane przez jej bohaterów naprawdę poważnie. Czegoś takiego nie sposób nie docenić.
Recenzując „Love’s Magic” nie można jednak pominąć jednej z największych zalet powieści, a jednocześnie bardzo ważnego problemu, który tak naprawdę stanowi centralny punkt fabuły. Chodzi naturalnie o temat gwałtów, a co najważniejsze, także gwałtów na osobach ze środowiska LGBT+, który osobiście uważam za stanowczo zbyt często ignorowany. Bardzo cieszę się, że autorka w dużej mierze odniosła się do tego problemu w swojej książce, jak również w pewnym stopniu pokazała, co podobny czyn oznacza dla jego ofiar i ich bliskich. Fakt, iż w „Love’s Magic” temat przemocy, i to nie tylko tylko seksualnej, zajmuje tak ważne miejsce, nadaje tej powieści znaczenia oraz głębi, których nie można zignorować. Tym bardziej, że autorka potraktowała te problemy bardzo poważnie, budując wokół nich fabułę tego tomu, jak również czyniąc je integralną częścią budowy bohaterów.
Jak wspomniałam na początku tej recenzji, „Love’s Magic” nie jest jednak perfekcyjne. Za największą wadę tej książki uważam zbyt mały nacisk położony na interakcję między bohaterami, która mocniej nakreśliłaby ich wzajemne relacje oraz lepiej wyjaśniłaby rodzące się między nimi uczucia. Jako że czytelnik jest świadkiem raczej małej liczby naprawdę znaczących spotkań między bohaterami, które mają wpływ na rozwój ich uczuć, czasami odnosi się wrażenie, że wszystko, co czują względem siebie nasi chłopcy opiera się albo na tym czego nie wiemy, albo na tej niewielkiej wiedzy jaką posiadamy. I w jednym i w drugim przypadku jest to stanowczo zbyt mało, abyśmy mogli stworzyć pełny i niezachwiany obraz łączących główne postaci relacji, zarówno tych romantycznych, jak i przyjacielskich. W końcu jako widzowie oceniamy to, co dzieje się, kiedy kurtyna idzie w górę, nie zaś to, co za kulisami, ukryte przed naszym wzrokiem. Inaczej mówiąc, jako czytelnicy zbyt mało uczestniczymy w interakcjach między bohaterami na czym tracimy zarówno my, jak i sama powieść.
Podsumowując, „Love’s Magic” to wartościowa, interesująca i całkiem dobrze napisana książka, która podbija serca czytelników wspaniałymi, doskonale stworzonymi bohaterami oraz fabułą opierającą się nie tylko na temacie romantycznych uczuć, ale przede wszystkim rozmaitych problemów. Jest to bezsprzecznie powieść, którą warto polecić szerokiemu gronu czytelników, a w szczególności tym, którzy szukają tytułów oferujących coś więcej, niż tylko czystą rozrywkę.
October 12, 2018
Okay, so, I’m new to this author and by the blurb, I was confused. It seems this story is about two couples; David and Nate, and Josh and Colin. Now, first, we have David and Nate, both professors at a college and so very much in love. They were both so sweet and I loved their relationship together. Well, I loved it until Nate got attacked saving a girl from being raped and everyone except his nemesis acted like he was such a terrible person for wanting justice for the girl and himself and everyone else that gets assaulted on school grounds. I didn’t like David so much after that. Why in the world would he not be leading the people trying to stand up for his partner, and helping him and people like him get the justice they deserve? Instead, he made Nate doubt himself and what he should do about something he cared a lot about. David tried to talk him out of it and made him feel guilty for it. How disgusting of him, and everyone else who tried to sweep it under the rug….
Then, we have Josh and Colin…. Colin being a campus cop with a purpose for taking the assaults so personally…. Still, all these people getting hurt and raped and nobody but Colin wants to do something about it???? WHAT? And then Josh, a therapist who works together with Colin to talk to these victims and witnesses…which I thought, cool….two more people who want justice… But really…. We just get trusts into this relationship of friends with benefits, knowing that Josh wants more than that because that’s not what he ever wanted with Colin, and Colin being like, nahhh… I don’t do relationships. We can be friends who hook up.
Number one, I HATE when guys are like…. I don’t do relationships. Yeah, okay, I’m slut shaming….I don’t even care. It’s gross and you’re an idiot because that almost always guarantees you’re going to be the one falling in love with whomever you’re trying to keep at arm's length and then boo you for figuring it out too late… I get so tired of reading the sentence. “I don’t do relationships” I rolled my eyes so hard I almost threw my back out. They still hook up, but it’s okay, because Colin reminds him every five minutes while acting like a boyfriend, that he’s not one and doesn’t want to be one, cuz…..they’re just friends. Enter another eye roll…. Yeah, we get it. I don’t even know how they went from working with each other having a professional relationship, to kissing and being together in the span of one motorcycle ride to a bar together. Okay.
Also, Colin is a campus cop, right?? He shouldn’t be. His personal feelings towards a certain case is completely hindered by a past experience and he can’t be objective. I mean, it’s understandable, I could see the correlation, and I felt for him, I really did…But, to him…. the guy in question is guilty, no if ands or buts, and the way he explodes at Josh…. Unjustifiable. I get where he’d be upset, reliving a case that hits so close to home, but he acted very unprofessionally and ended up pushing Josh away. Then, to get over him…. Slept with numerous people, just after telling his mom how he’d found someone that stole his heart away…. Not really though, right? Not if in the next scene you’re waking up with someone else. Strike two for Colin. Strike three was how immature he was when he talked his friend from the bar into finding him…. I was like… is he twelve? Jeeeez.
Now… now that I have the ranting out of the way…. I’ll admit, that once everyone stopped being so selfish and pulled their heads out… the story got better. David realized (though, not because of Nate, but because of his therapist) that he should’ve been supporting his partner…Go figure, eh??.... And then Colin understood that he wasn’t happy without Josh and things got better. I think David or Nate one had 2 kids, but they never make an appearance. Maybe once for literally 2 words at the end, and I’d have liked to have seen more interaction with them if he and his partner were apart of their lives. They were young kids. I’m also extremely impressed that this author is 74, and those love scenes were pretty hot, I cannot lie. I can only hope to still be inspired to write after so many years. I applaud her passion to keep going.
So, the ending went a long way in making up for the first half…. It ended on a good note, and I was happy it worked out for all involved. I hope eventually the people affected by the assaults get the justice that they deserve.
3 stars from me.
Then, we have Josh and Colin…. Colin being a campus cop with a purpose for taking the assaults so personally…. Still, all these people getting hurt and raped and nobody but Colin wants to do something about it???? WHAT? And then Josh, a therapist who works together with Colin to talk to these victims and witnesses…which I thought, cool….two more people who want justice… But really…. We just get trusts into this relationship of friends with benefits, knowing that Josh wants more than that because that’s not what he ever wanted with Colin, and Colin being like, nahhh… I don’t do relationships. We can be friends who hook up.
Number one, I HATE when guys are like…. I don’t do relationships. Yeah, okay, I’m slut shaming….I don’t even care. It’s gross and you’re an idiot because that almost always guarantees you’re going to be the one falling in love with whomever you’re trying to keep at arm's length and then boo you for figuring it out too late… I get so tired of reading the sentence. “I don’t do relationships” I rolled my eyes so hard I almost threw my back out. They still hook up, but it’s okay, because Colin reminds him every five minutes while acting like a boyfriend, that he’s not one and doesn’t want to be one, cuz…..they’re just friends. Enter another eye roll…. Yeah, we get it. I don’t even know how they went from working with each other having a professional relationship, to kissing and being together in the span of one motorcycle ride to a bar together. Okay.
Also, Colin is a campus cop, right?? He shouldn’t be. His personal feelings towards a certain case is completely hindered by a past experience and he can’t be objective. I mean, it’s understandable, I could see the correlation, and I felt for him, I really did…But, to him…. the guy in question is guilty, no if ands or buts, and the way he explodes at Josh…. Unjustifiable. I get where he’d be upset, reliving a case that hits so close to home, but he acted very unprofessionally and ended up pushing Josh away. Then, to get over him…. Slept with numerous people, just after telling his mom how he’d found someone that stole his heart away…. Not really though, right? Not if in the next scene you’re waking up with someone else. Strike two for Colin. Strike three was how immature he was when he talked his friend from the bar into finding him…. I was like… is he twelve? Jeeeez.
Now… now that I have the ranting out of the way…. I’ll admit, that once everyone stopped being so selfish and pulled their heads out… the story got better. David realized (though, not because of Nate, but because of his therapist) that he should’ve been supporting his partner…Go figure, eh??.... And then Colin understood that he wasn’t happy without Josh and things got better. I think David or Nate one had 2 kids, but they never make an appearance. Maybe once for literally 2 words at the end, and I’d have liked to have seen more interaction with them if he and his partner were apart of their lives. They were young kids. I’m also extremely impressed that this author is 74, and those love scenes were pretty hot, I cannot lie. I can only hope to still be inspired to write after so many years. I applaud her passion to keep going.
So, the ending went a long way in making up for the first half…. It ended on a good note, and I was happy it worked out for all involved. I hope eventually the people affected by the assaults get the justice that they deserve.
3 stars from me.
February 18, 2020
This is a new to me author as well as a new to me narrator. The story follows an established couple Nate and David. They are both professors at the same college. One evening Nate is stabbed while saving a student from being attacked. We then meet Colin who is campus police who is investigating the incident and then almost immediately meet Joshua. Colin is basically a man-whore and I didn't like his whole outlook that he doesn't want a relationship. And even though they are not really in a committed relationship, I didn't like Colin thinking about him still seeing other men while he is with Joshua. I also hated the fact that Colin does hook up with guys when he supposedly figures out he is in love with Joshua, after Joshua leaves. When Colin finds out that Joshua has left, he realizes what he has lost. I also didn't like David not standing up with Nate in the beginning and he keeps shoving it in Nate’s face that he is putting his place with the University at jeopardy. Your partner, whom you love, was attacked and could have been killed, wasn’t the one leading the charge! I'm glad that Joshua walked away from Colin when Colin was not able to make a commitment. I'm not sure if I could have forgiven Colin for what he said. But in the end, Nate and David do find their solid HEA and Colin and Joshua in a pretty good place.
Audio ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
Audio ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2021
Janice Jarrell is a New-To-Me Author and I am so glad that I found her. This book has something that not all MM romance books have. Depth.
All four characters are fleshed out in a way that you can’t help but feel their joy, pain and struggles. How she weaves these men’s lives into a cohesive story (without any plot holes) is admirable. Each character brings so much to the story and it makes every page riveting.
This is the first book of the series and I can’t wait to read the next installment. If you are like me and have never read any of Janice Jarrell’s work, I urge you to start with this one.
All four characters are fleshed out in a way that you can’t help but feel their joy, pain and struggles. How she weaves these men’s lives into a cohesive story (without any plot holes) is admirable. Each character brings so much to the story and it makes every page riveting.
This is the first book of the series and I can’t wait to read the next installment. If you are like me and have never read any of Janice Jarrell’s work, I urge you to start with this one.
July 1, 2018
Wow. Color me surprised....and impressed. This is my first read by this author and to say I was pleasantly surprised is definitely an understatement. Two unique stories that intersect, vivid characters with wonderful qualities and dark shadows. Mental health. Love. Honesty. Trust. Struggles. Communication. Learning. Growing. This book had it all. And then some.
September 14, 2018
Janice Jarrell’s Love’s Magic reads matter-of-factly, even as deep emotions whiz by. A similar paradox occurs as Jarrell pairs a double-romance with a dreadful theme, that of campus sexual assaults. However, her distance works, creating suspense in the context of charmingly thick-headed couples.
The first pair consists of David, an older, well-loved, tenured professor, and his lover, Nate, a newly-minted professor. In fact, to get Nate hired, David had to battle homophobic Professor Fox, Nate’s Department Chair. David is understandably overprotective of Nate. But this rankles Nate, who is trying to make his own reputation on campus.
One night, Nate successfully prevents an attempted rape, not knowing the target is Professor Fox’s niece. When Nate is stabbed in the rescue, Dr. Fox takes an about-face in their relationship. He asks Nate to stand with him in organizing a campus protest, requesting their university do more to prevent campus assaults.
This puts David in an awkward position, as his friend, the Chancellor, doesn’t want negative publicity for the university. Nate’s tenure could be on the line if he participates in the rally.
The second couple includes Colin, who is campus police. He might be a boisterous, carefree, larger-than-life Irish bachelor in private, but he’s a methodical champion of his student victims. Normally, the university’s Title IX campus liaison has been a thorn in Colin’s side. That person’s job is to neutrally assess both sides of an episode, supposed victim and assailant. Then Collin meets the new liaison; quiet, compassionate, steady Joshua, who challenges Colin to acknowledge his own dark past, and the lack of intimacy it has generated.
Will two relationships, one established, one just blooming, be swept aside by the violence and turmoil of sexual assault, with its sometimes deadly consequences?
I certainly learned a great deal about the issue of campus assault from ‘Love’s Magic.’ For example, since universities must treat every student equally, they may have a very nuanced view of accuser and accused. This means their Title IX liaison might perceive an assault differently than campus police, with their tendency to label crimes as perpetrator versus victim.
Likewise, those directly and indirectly affected by crimes can have conflicting needs. One may want justice and the other security.
And assault, which is especially prevalent for the LGBTQ community, often creates long-term difficulties for unprepared families and communities. Their recovery needs are each unique.
Rather than read about the effects of this very important topic in a theoretical manner, Jarrell shows readers, as we follow the lives of four men in these two matches. And she permits us a glimpse into the differences between personality types as well.
In so doing, Jarrell examines the core of love, itself. What are over-dependence, independence and interdependence? How can an individual perceive one behavior as kindness while another experiences it as rejection? Why do those undergoing similar traumas recover with very different reactions and styles?
For all this, the book remains a romance whose couples are often surprised by the strengths and fragility of love. Jarrell creates great tension against which acts of sweetness are starkly satisfying. She takes care to follow her men past where some romances end, so we may understand the lasting implications of crimes and those affected.
Sensitive readers will especially appreciate Love’s Magic. Despite its thoroughness and suspense, the novel is never gruesome. Ms. Jarrell earns my respect and gratitude for her willingness to explore a very complex, critical topic in a detailed, yet entertaining fashion, to bring us decent, interesting men, who struggle to develop delightfully realistic relationships. As it is the first in her Revolutionary Hearts series, we can surely expect an intense follow-up!
The first pair consists of David, an older, well-loved, tenured professor, and his lover, Nate, a newly-minted professor. In fact, to get Nate hired, David had to battle homophobic Professor Fox, Nate’s Department Chair. David is understandably overprotective of Nate. But this rankles Nate, who is trying to make his own reputation on campus.
One night, Nate successfully prevents an attempted rape, not knowing the target is Professor Fox’s niece. When Nate is stabbed in the rescue, Dr. Fox takes an about-face in their relationship. He asks Nate to stand with him in organizing a campus protest, requesting their university do more to prevent campus assaults.
This puts David in an awkward position, as his friend, the Chancellor, doesn’t want negative publicity for the university. Nate’s tenure could be on the line if he participates in the rally.
The second couple includes Colin, who is campus police. He might be a boisterous, carefree, larger-than-life Irish bachelor in private, but he’s a methodical champion of his student victims. Normally, the university’s Title IX campus liaison has been a thorn in Colin’s side. That person’s job is to neutrally assess both sides of an episode, supposed victim and assailant. Then Collin meets the new liaison; quiet, compassionate, steady Joshua, who challenges Colin to acknowledge his own dark past, and the lack of intimacy it has generated.
Will two relationships, one established, one just blooming, be swept aside by the violence and turmoil of sexual assault, with its sometimes deadly consequences?
I certainly learned a great deal about the issue of campus assault from ‘Love’s Magic.’ For example, since universities must treat every student equally, they may have a very nuanced view of accuser and accused. This means their Title IX liaison might perceive an assault differently than campus police, with their tendency to label crimes as perpetrator versus victim.
Likewise, those directly and indirectly affected by crimes can have conflicting needs. One may want justice and the other security.
And assault, which is especially prevalent for the LGBTQ community, often creates long-term difficulties for unprepared families and communities. Their recovery needs are each unique.
Rather than read about the effects of this very important topic in a theoretical manner, Jarrell shows readers, as we follow the lives of four men in these two matches. And she permits us a glimpse into the differences between personality types as well.
In so doing, Jarrell examines the core of love, itself. What are over-dependence, independence and interdependence? How can an individual perceive one behavior as kindness while another experiences it as rejection? Why do those undergoing similar traumas recover with very different reactions and styles?
For all this, the book remains a romance whose couples are often surprised by the strengths and fragility of love. Jarrell creates great tension against which acts of sweetness are starkly satisfying. She takes care to follow her men past where some romances end, so we may understand the lasting implications of crimes and those affected.
Sensitive readers will especially appreciate Love’s Magic. Despite its thoroughness and suspense, the novel is never gruesome. Ms. Jarrell earns my respect and gratitude for her willingness to explore a very complex, critical topic in a detailed, yet entertaining fashion, to bring us decent, interesting men, who struggle to develop delightfully realistic relationships. As it is the first in her Revolutionary Hearts series, we can surely expect an intense follow-up!
June 28, 2018
Amazing!
**ARC kindly provided by the author Janice Jarrell in exchange for an honest review**
Awe-inspiring is the word I'd use to describe Love's Magic. Having never have read a book by Ms. Jarrell before I wasn't sure what to expect until I read the first few sentences. Her use of humor certainly grabbed my attention and as I continued to read it proved to a remarkable book.
Nate, a documentary producer in Hollywood is sent on assignment to Virginia where he meets his liaison David a professor of Revolutionary War History. Over the course of their working together they fall in love. Nate is six years younger than David and is charming and boisterous, while David's troubled childhood has left him with insecurities that tend to cloud his judgment at times.
Ruben is David's professional rival. David fought hard to get Nate a position in the Cinema and Media Studies Department which incidentally is headed by Ruben. I'll have to admit that though the author gave no indication, I kept thinking that the animosity between the two was because Ruben was harboring a secret, as in he's a closeted gay who's envious of David and Nate's relationship.
Ruben's the legal guardian of his niece Alexandra. She's attacked on campus, Nate comes to her rescue and he ends up with a knife wound to the chest. This changes everything. Once Nate is healed he and Ruben champion "End Assault" a movement geared toward enlightening the public about the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses. David's insecurity rears its ugly head and were introduced to Dr. Deena Mallory his therapist. Mental health has been a taboo topic for years and I'm glad that the author didn't shy away from bringing forth the fact that its okay to seek help when one is unsure of their negative emotions, feels overwhelmed, or is depressed.
Supporting characters mild mannered Joshua and promiscuous Colin are my favorite. They're hardly ever on the same page, but it doesn't mean that they love each other any less. Joshua refuses to settle for a friends-with-benefits relationship and when he finally tames Colin's heart I'm elated, because I failed to understand why Colin still sees other men when it was perfectly clear that he's very attracted to Joshua. A sequel featuring them would be captivating.
It's admirable to see the way the author brings together two people of different faith's, broaches the subject of sexual assault, it's consequences and aftermath. She reminds us that through life's long journey there's always hope and finding your true love is indeed magical. I certainly recommend this book.
Thank you to the author for the gift of allowing me to provide my honest opinion.
**ARC kindly provided by the author Janice Jarrell in exchange for an honest review**
Awe-inspiring is the word I'd use to describe Love's Magic. Having never have read a book by Ms. Jarrell before I wasn't sure what to expect until I read the first few sentences. Her use of humor certainly grabbed my attention and as I continued to read it proved to a remarkable book.
Nate, a documentary producer in Hollywood is sent on assignment to Virginia where he meets his liaison David a professor of Revolutionary War History. Over the course of their working together they fall in love. Nate is six years younger than David and is charming and boisterous, while David's troubled childhood has left him with insecurities that tend to cloud his judgment at times.
Ruben is David's professional rival. David fought hard to get Nate a position in the Cinema and Media Studies Department which incidentally is headed by Ruben. I'll have to admit that though the author gave no indication, I kept thinking that the animosity between the two was because Ruben was harboring a secret, as in he's a closeted gay who's envious of David and Nate's relationship.
Ruben's the legal guardian of his niece Alexandra. She's attacked on campus, Nate comes to her rescue and he ends up with a knife wound to the chest. This changes everything. Once Nate is healed he and Ruben champion "End Assault" a movement geared toward enlightening the public about the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses. David's insecurity rears its ugly head and were introduced to Dr. Deena Mallory his therapist. Mental health has been a taboo topic for years and I'm glad that the author didn't shy away from bringing forth the fact that its okay to seek help when one is unsure of their negative emotions, feels overwhelmed, or is depressed.
Supporting characters mild mannered Joshua and promiscuous Colin are my favorite. They're hardly ever on the same page, but it doesn't mean that they love each other any less. Joshua refuses to settle for a friends-with-benefits relationship and when he finally tames Colin's heart I'm elated, because I failed to understand why Colin still sees other men when it was perfectly clear that he's very attracted to Joshua. A sequel featuring them would be captivating.
It's admirable to see the way the author brings together two people of different faith's, broaches the subject of sexual assault, it's consequences and aftermath. She reminds us that through life's long journey there's always hope and finding your true love is indeed magical. I certainly recommend this book.
Thank you to the author for the gift of allowing me to provide my honest opinion.
December 31, 2019
Painfully topical (an audio review)
I wish this book wasn’t so relevant, but it is. Although crime is at its lowest level in years, it does still exist. Violence still takes place in our world. And college campuses are not immune. Women get drunk and then assaulted. Men can get gang raped for being too ‘gay’. People can get mugged. The high-profile incident earlier this month is proof no one is guaranteed safety and security.
This book takes place with the backdrop of campus violence. Each man in the story has a distinct role to play. Colin is the cop. He’s blunt, honest, and wants perpetrators prosecuted. He sees things as black and white. Joshua, a Title IX consultant, works in the gray areas. His job is to ensure students are treated fairly. It’s a job I’d never heard of. (Although being Canadian definitely has something to do with that. I guess our student liaisons would be an equivalent.)
Nate is the young professor who intervenes during an assault on a young woman and himself becomes a victim. No longer willing to hide in the shadows, he becomes a leader in the movement to end violence on campus. A crusader to get the college administration to pay attention to what is going on and to be proactive rather than reactive. David is his partner and he worries about Nate. He sees pitfalls in being branded a troublemaker. His cautionary stance is a point of friction between the two men.
So two couples. One clearly established and one that’s just beginning. With the reality of violence in their shared community, things are bound to get complicated.
I really enjoyed this book. Something about the characters compelled me. The men drew me in to their struggles. I have to say I related to Nate the most and Colin the least, but I suspect that was how the author intended it. Or maybe not. Each reader will have their own reaction. I will say I was annoyed it took Colin so long to get his head on straight. At least once he did, he was all in.
Walker Williams is a narrator I enjoy and this book was a challenge. There is a lot of head hopping – changing of point of view – even within scenes. It can be tough for a narrator to change so abruptly and bring the listener along with them. Also, in print books, scene changes are denoted with double line spaces. In an audiobook, we count on the narrator to give that break. They weren’t always there and sometimes it took me a moment to realize we were in a new scene. Was it a little annoying? Yes. Did it detract from the book? No. All that being said, I can strongly recommend this book as it is topical and important. Oh, and two great love stories.
I wish this book wasn’t so relevant, but it is. Although crime is at its lowest level in years, it does still exist. Violence still takes place in our world. And college campuses are not immune. Women get drunk and then assaulted. Men can get gang raped for being too ‘gay’. People can get mugged. The high-profile incident earlier this month is proof no one is guaranteed safety and security.
This book takes place with the backdrop of campus violence. Each man in the story has a distinct role to play. Colin is the cop. He’s blunt, honest, and wants perpetrators prosecuted. He sees things as black and white. Joshua, a Title IX consultant, works in the gray areas. His job is to ensure students are treated fairly. It’s a job I’d never heard of. (Although being Canadian definitely has something to do with that. I guess our student liaisons would be an equivalent.)
Nate is the young professor who intervenes during an assault on a young woman and himself becomes a victim. No longer willing to hide in the shadows, he becomes a leader in the movement to end violence on campus. A crusader to get the college administration to pay attention to what is going on and to be proactive rather than reactive. David is his partner and he worries about Nate. He sees pitfalls in being branded a troublemaker. His cautionary stance is a point of friction between the two men.
So two couples. One clearly established and one that’s just beginning. With the reality of violence in their shared community, things are bound to get complicated.
I really enjoyed this book. Something about the characters compelled me. The men drew me in to their struggles. I have to say I related to Nate the most and Colin the least, but I suspect that was how the author intended it. Or maybe not. Each reader will have their own reaction. I will say I was annoyed it took Colin so long to get his head on straight. At least once he did, he was all in.
Walker Williams is a narrator I enjoy and this book was a challenge. There is a lot of head hopping – changing of point of view – even within scenes. It can be tough for a narrator to change so abruptly and bring the listener along with them. Also, in print books, scene changes are denoted with double line spaces. In an audiobook, we count on the narrator to give that break. They weren’t always there and sometimes it took me a moment to realize we were in a new scene. Was it a little annoying? Yes. Did it detract from the book? No. All that being said, I can strongly recommend this book as it is topical and important. Oh, and two great love stories.
May 31, 2018
This debut by Janice Jarrell is a well-written, touching romance. Okay, actually, it's two romances. Two intersecting storylines brought together by a topic that is not only current, but one that certainly deserves attention.
The book starts with David and Nate, who seem absolutely perfect for each other until the aftermath of a traumatic event puts a wedge between them. Then we have Colin and Joshua, who are quite different in personality but have an undeniable chemistry. Each romance is engaging in its own right and the book moves back and forth between the couples with them sometimes interacting as the four men become friends.
I will say that in most cases, the two stories running along at the same time would be a negative for me as it tends to take away from one or the other, but the author does a wonderful job of making each character distinct and with the writing style, it just works for this book. The only drawback, for me, is around chapter three, we start to get both couples in the same chapter with scene breaks to signal a change. At times that seemed a bit abrupt and I did feel like a new chapter for those changes could've been more effective. Those changes from one couple the next were minor, in my opinion, and the story itself is good enough that it didn't diminish my interest or attention.
The connecting storyline of on-campus assault is a serious one and Ms Jarrell does a wonderful job of bringing attention to it with fiction without going over the top or detracting from its importance. Each of these terrific characters is affected by assault in one way or another, and it's interesting to see how each one deals with it.
All in all, Love's Magic is a sweet romance with a bit of sexy combined with a story about standing up for what's right and forcing change in the system. It's a thoroughly compelling read from start to finish and I can't wait to see more of Colin and Joshua in the next Revolutionary Heart book.
The book starts with David and Nate, who seem absolutely perfect for each other until the aftermath of a traumatic event puts a wedge between them. Then we have Colin and Joshua, who are quite different in personality but have an undeniable chemistry. Each romance is engaging in its own right and the book moves back and forth between the couples with them sometimes interacting as the four men become friends.
I will say that in most cases, the two stories running along at the same time would be a negative for me as it tends to take away from one or the other, but the author does a wonderful job of making each character distinct and with the writing style, it just works for this book. The only drawback, for me, is around chapter three, we start to get both couples in the same chapter with scene breaks to signal a change. At times that seemed a bit abrupt and I did feel like a new chapter for those changes could've been more effective. Those changes from one couple the next were minor, in my opinion, and the story itself is good enough that it didn't diminish my interest or attention.
The connecting storyline of on-campus assault is a serious one and Ms Jarrell does a wonderful job of bringing attention to it with fiction without going over the top or detracting from its importance. Each of these terrific characters is affected by assault in one way or another, and it's interesting to see how each one deals with it.
All in all, Love's Magic is a sweet romance with a bit of sexy combined with a story about standing up for what's right and forcing change in the system. It's a thoroughly compelling read from start to finish and I can't wait to see more of Colin and Joshua in the next Revolutionary Heart book.
July 25, 2019
Fantastic audio performance!
Love's Magic is my first book by Janice Jarrell and my first audiobook by Walker Williams and I loved it. The story is great but this is a case of an outstanding audio performance greatly enhancing the story for me. I had a few minor issues with the story but Walker Williams' performance pretty much made me forget all about them.
I listened to this book a few weeks ago and deliberately waited to review it because I wanted to let to story settle with me a bit. It's a complicated book that details the love story of two different couples who eventually become connected and friends.
I know from reading Janice Jarrell's bio that she's been writing fan fiction for a long time but Love's Magic is her first full-length novel. I was skeptical that it would be a good book because it involved two separate couples. I've never read a story like this before which was part of why I wanted to review it. It seemed like a pretty ambitious undertaking for a first novel but she really nailed it! Please, please read the detailed blurb as it explains the story so much better than I ever could.
Love's Magic got all of my emotions involved, I laughed and I cried, both sad and happy tears, and this is the surest sign for me of how much I loved a book. Both of the love stories were so compelling I'd be hard pressed to say which couple's story I liked best.
I really want to read the other books in this series but I'm kind of holding off (even though I own all of them already) to see if they come out in audio. I think the author is working on this now. If the next one doesn't come out soon, however, I'll start reading. 😊
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Love's Magic is my first book by Janice Jarrell and my first audiobook by Walker Williams and I loved it. The story is great but this is a case of an outstanding audio performance greatly enhancing the story for me. I had a few minor issues with the story but Walker Williams' performance pretty much made me forget all about them.
I listened to this book a few weeks ago and deliberately waited to review it because I wanted to let to story settle with me a bit. It's a complicated book that details the love story of two different couples who eventually become connected and friends.
I know from reading Janice Jarrell's bio that she's been writing fan fiction for a long time but Love's Magic is her first full-length novel. I was skeptical that it would be a good book because it involved two separate couples. I've never read a story like this before which was part of why I wanted to review it. It seemed like a pretty ambitious undertaking for a first novel but she really nailed it! Please, please read the detailed blurb as it explains the story so much better than I ever could.
Love's Magic got all of my emotions involved, I laughed and I cried, both sad and happy tears, and this is the surest sign for me of how much I loved a book. Both of the love stories were so compelling I'd be hard pressed to say which couple's story I liked best.
I really want to read the other books in this series but I'm kind of holding off (even though I own all of them already) to see if they come out in audio. I think the author is working on this now. If the next one doesn't come out soon, however, I'll start reading. 😊
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
October 16, 2018
4 Stars
Love's Magic is book 1 in the Revolutionary Heart series and it follows two couples, David and Nate, who are already together when the book starts, and Colin and Joshua, who meet after the book started.
Let's start with David and Nate. I loved Nate, I think he was my favorite of all the MCs. He was strong and stubborn and determined to do the right thing no matter what. It took me longer to like David. His excuses for not supporting Nate after what he went through were flimsy at best and I just wanted to throat-punch him several times. He pulled through for Nate and his students, though, so there's that, but it took him forever! They had good chemistry, but I would've liked to see a bit more of how they got together, the summary we got was definitely not enough for me.
Joshua was probably my second favorite MC and I was very glad when he went away, forcing Colin to realize what he could be losing. Colin was a bit ugh, difficult for most of the book, although he finally did right by Josh. They were a good match, once Colin stopped being so headstrong, and their attraction and growing feelings were palpable.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and a good start to the series. There was a lot going on with the rally and the relationships and other issues, and with four different POVs, things got muddled sometimes. One thing, or rather two, that I appreciated was that the MCs who messed up actually did the grand gesture and made up for whatever they did. The writing was good and while Janice Jarrell is a new-to-me author, I'll be looking forward to more of her work. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Love's Magic is book 1 in the Revolutionary Heart series and it follows two couples, David and Nate, who are already together when the book starts, and Colin and Joshua, who meet after the book started.
Let's start with David and Nate. I loved Nate, I think he was my favorite of all the MCs. He was strong and stubborn and determined to do the right thing no matter what. It took me longer to like David. His excuses for not supporting Nate after what he went through were flimsy at best and I just wanted to throat-punch him several times. He pulled through for Nate and his students, though, so there's that, but it took him forever! They had good chemistry, but I would've liked to see a bit more of how they got together, the summary we got was definitely not enough for me.
Joshua was probably my second favorite MC and I was very glad when he went away, forcing Colin to realize what he could be losing. Colin was a bit ugh, difficult for most of the book, although he finally did right by Josh. They were a good match, once Colin stopped being so headstrong, and their attraction and growing feelings were palpable.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and a good start to the series. There was a lot going on with the rally and the relationships and other issues, and with four different POVs, things got muddled sometimes. One thing, or rather two, that I appreciated was that the MCs who messed up actually did the grand gesture and made up for whatever they did. The writing was good and while Janice Jarrell is a new-to-me author, I'll be looking forward to more of her work. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
July 31, 2019
The story is good, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but there were a few things. Here is my audiobook review.
Story: 3.5 stars
This book is about 2 couples: Nate and David, and Joshua and Colin. Nate experienced something horrific and David doesn't know how to cope. Instead of focusing on Nate and what he needs to get through the event, he focuses on the job. Joshua and Colin are opposites. They meet at work, and while they try to fight their connection, they can't. Unfortunately, Josh wants more than to be friends with benefits and that's all Colin wants...but maybe that will change. Not only are they trying to get over that hoop, but Colin also has a past, and it's holding him back.
The story is well written and has a good plot with a great message, but there are times it gets drawn out and repetitive. More than once I was frustrated by the characters and wanted to slap them. They, in some ways, acted younger than they are, especially some of the supporting characters. Nate and David's story ends, but it is a cliffy for Colin and Josh.
Narration: 4.5 stars
The narration brought this story to life, like it so often does with good narrators. Walker Williams was able to give each character their own voice, but there were a few times when I got lost because the voices weren't completely different. Those moments were few and far between. Overall though, I loved this version of the book and the narrator did a great job.
Overall: 4 stars
There were some issues with this story, but that said, the book is still good, and I think you should listen or read it for yourself. I am going to continue with the series and am excited to see what happens to Josh and Colin next. 4 stars overall.
Story: 3.5 stars
This book is about 2 couples: Nate and David, and Joshua and Colin. Nate experienced something horrific and David doesn't know how to cope. Instead of focusing on Nate and what he needs to get through the event, he focuses on the job. Joshua and Colin are opposites. They meet at work, and while they try to fight their connection, they can't. Unfortunately, Josh wants more than to be friends with benefits and that's all Colin wants...but maybe that will change. Not only are they trying to get over that hoop, but Colin also has a past, and it's holding him back.
The story is well written and has a good plot with a great message, but there are times it gets drawn out and repetitive. More than once I was frustrated by the characters and wanted to slap them. They, in some ways, acted younger than they are, especially some of the supporting characters. Nate and David's story ends, but it is a cliffy for Colin and Josh.
Narration: 4.5 stars
The narration brought this story to life, like it so often does with good narrators. Walker Williams was able to give each character their own voice, but there were a few times when I got lost because the voices weren't completely different. Those moments were few and far between. Overall though, I loved this version of the book and the narrator did a great job.
Overall: 4 stars
There were some issues with this story, but that said, the book is still good, and I think you should listen or read it for yourself. I am going to continue with the series and am excited to see what happens to Josh and Colin next. 4 stars overall.
June 24, 2019
Innovative Approach
The best thing about this one is that it takes one seriously committed couple, University professors David and Nate, and alternates their plotline with that of University cop Colin and psychologist Joshua. It's an intense back and forth which takes place at the University of Virginia (UVA) during a series of violent assaults and rapes on students.
All this happening before the "Unite the Right" conflict (which will be dealt with in a sequel) and midst a deeply political situation at UVA leads me to believe that the author must know a lot about what goes on at this storied Charlottesville campus.
But I digress. The plotlines spin off of Nate's effort to stop an on campus rape which gets him severely beaten up, a situation which paralyzes David's response in the inquiry process (read the blurb). This is an interesting couple but I found David to be a bit too stoic and gun shy while I really liked Nate.
Officer Colin Campbell is brought in to investigate the assault--he's a big, brash hunk from Boston who is as Irish as Danny Boy and never lets anyone forget it. I found him to be a bit much sometimes. I also was a bit put off by the fact that his last name is Campbell and as far my experience is concerned every Campbell I've ever met in my life is of Scottish heritage. Whatever.
Colin gets help from Joshua Abrams, a small, adorable nice Jewish boy from Chicago (he and Colin are on the cover). Joshua works as a sort of free-lance psychologist and before long he and Colin start dancing around each other before they finally join hands--and other body parts.
I liked this book for a lot of reasons but there was really a bit too much angst and politics at times. As the rest of the series proceeds it's obvious that Colin and Joshua are the focus, and I may go on to the sequels because the HEA and HFN aspects of this one give me some hopes.
The best thing about this one is that it takes one seriously committed couple, University professors David and Nate, and alternates their plotline with that of University cop Colin and psychologist Joshua. It's an intense back and forth which takes place at the University of Virginia (UVA) during a series of violent assaults and rapes on students.
All this happening before the "Unite the Right" conflict (which will be dealt with in a sequel) and midst a deeply political situation at UVA leads me to believe that the author must know a lot about what goes on at this storied Charlottesville campus.
But I digress. The plotlines spin off of Nate's effort to stop an on campus rape which gets him severely beaten up, a situation which paralyzes David's response in the inquiry process (read the blurb). This is an interesting couple but I found David to be a bit too stoic and gun shy while I really liked Nate.
Officer Colin Campbell is brought in to investigate the assault--he's a big, brash hunk from Boston who is as Irish as Danny Boy and never lets anyone forget it. I found him to be a bit much sometimes. I also was a bit put off by the fact that his last name is Campbell and as far my experience is concerned every Campbell I've ever met in my life is of Scottish heritage. Whatever.
Colin gets help from Joshua Abrams, a small, adorable nice Jewish boy from Chicago (he and Colin are on the cover). Joshua works as a sort of free-lance psychologist and before long he and Colin start dancing around each other before they finally join hands--and other body parts.
I liked this book for a lot of reasons but there was really a bit too much angst and politics at times. As the rest of the series proceeds it's obvious that Colin and Joshua are the focus, and I may go on to the sequels because the HEA and HFN aspects of this one give me some hopes.
October 5, 2018
This was a really enjoyable contemporary romance! A new author with some great characters, an interesting story line and everything works well together.
It's the first time I've read about two separate couples in one book but I found that with the way it was written, everything worked really well. The same as well as it's my first time reading about an already established couple, Nate and David. It was good reading with them already being in love and happy together though what made they relatable was the worries that each man still had about themselves and their worth to the other. Alongside them we have the meeting and developing relationship of Colin and Joshua. Sometimes frustrating with Colin because of his self doubt and how long things took but overall this book is wonderful to read with many heartfelt moment. Because of the different times at which we first meet the MC's, we also then get to read and follow different times of a relationship. It's easy to fall in love with all of the men, each with their endearing qualities and Jan's writing ensured that I was fully engaged in their story's, needing to know how things were going to turn out. I'm really looking forward to book 2, focusing on Colin and Joshua, and seeing how well their doing as their relationship moves forward.
I highly recommend this book and this new author. It's a great contemporary romance with a twist, following two separate relationships that are slightly linked.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
It's the first time I've read about two separate couples in one book but I found that with the way it was written, everything worked really well. The same as well as it's my first time reading about an already established couple, Nate and David. It was good reading with them already being in love and happy together though what made they relatable was the worries that each man still had about themselves and their worth to the other. Alongside them we have the meeting and developing relationship of Colin and Joshua. Sometimes frustrating with Colin because of his self doubt and how long things took but overall this book is wonderful to read with many heartfelt moment. Because of the different times at which we first meet the MC's, we also then get to read and follow different times of a relationship. It's easy to fall in love with all of the men, each with their endearing qualities and Jan's writing ensured that I was fully engaged in their story's, needing to know how things were going to turn out. I'm really looking forward to book 2, focusing on Colin and Joshua, and seeing how well their doing as their relationship moves forward.
I highly recommend this book and this new author. It's a great contemporary romance with a twist, following two separate relationships that are slightly linked.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
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