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All That Glitters
No matter what he tells himself, wealthy NYC architect Liam has never been able to forget his first love, Ben. But as he approaches midlife and realizes something is missing, can he forgive himself for the worst mistake he ever made—the one that left a hole no amount of career success can fill? Or will fear keep him from the full life he really wants? Liam and Ben were childhood sweethearts, then college boyfriends. But when Liam cheated on Ben, Ben forced himself to cut ties and move on. He’s still living in the small town where they grew up, teaching, but it’s not the life he imagined for himself as a younger man. Still, when Liam returns, he can’t risk his heart again. He certainly can’t allow himself to love Liam again after fighting so hard to get over him. Neither man wants to let go of the past and face their apprehension at starting over. They don’t want to fall in love a second time—but sometimes love happens whether it’s wanted or not.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
18 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 27, 2018
Hmmmmmm... *bum bum bum* (and yes I realise that this could be 'ass', but it really is just an expression for sounds coming out of my mouth while I'm thinking.)
SO it is no secret that second-chance-thingies (hereafter: SC) are my FAVOURITE trope, but sadly not many SC stories live up to my ridiculous pre-conceived notions on how a SC-thingy should work.
When Ky did her update and gave this motherfucker 5 stars and PRAISED the SC-trope, I took a chance and pre-ordered this one, even though I'm not normally that impulsive in regards to SC-books (seriously, I'm a grumpy bitch when it comes to this trope!)
The day finally arrived and I hit refresh on DSP so many times that it was kinda hypnotic in the end, and I think it ended up being worth it.
First of all: this was funny as all get-out. Seth, Dinah and Calvin delivered great (and needed) interludes, when Ben got too serious or Liam got too douchey.
Calvin might not be for everyone, considering he's a meddling, crazy old man, but I loved him and his scheeming and his partyplanning (baby pong or beer baby if you prefer, is SO a part of my next party!)
Now for the SC; I'm still not totally convinced. I mean Liam is basically cruising along in his life, and yes things are not quite right, but he can't really put his finger on what's wrong.
When he sees Ben again, he suddenly decides that they should be friends, and then he decides that Ben might be what he's missing...
So I never quite understood how Liam went from dissatisfied with his life to 'I want to be with Ben' again. Like his reasons were never explored thoroughly, and that for me ruined it a wee bit.
I am also REALLY against the MCs in SC-thingies sleeping together before they've had an actual conversation about the past.
I sort of understood the sentiment and happenings here, but I still wasn't 100% convinced that Liam actually wanted Ben again, and I missed some grovelling.
Some proper: "I, Liam, fucked up major big time, and I am so SO sorry for all of the pain and hurt I cost both you Ben, and you Seth!"
I don't really care if it's been 15 years, or if Ben 'allowed' the cheating to happen (and seriously, can we stop with this crap?! Cheating is cheating, and if you don't have the balls to break up before cheating, then you're scum, no matter what the other person 'allowed' to happen -IMO!) or that you were young.
Cheating is basically taking the trust your loved one has given you and pissing all over it -IMO! And how will you ever get that trust back with just a weak apology?
I need to believe that the MCs truly mean it and understand their actions, instead of having it wrapped up in lame excuses and explanations.
My last niggle, was the fact that Ben was the one to go for Liam in the end, considering I never quite bought Liam's involvement or wish for involvement. I understand that Ben needed to let go of the past, but I also felt that Liam needed to be the one to fight, and not just 'push' to see what would happen.
Realistically this SC-story is a 3,5, but it was better than 3 because of the humour and the amount of times that Ben actually asked Liam to fuck the fuck off!
So yeah, I had some issues and Liam and his 'pushing', and his 'getting his way because he is pretty' grated on my nerves at times.
But all in all I thought it was a fun, well-written romance and it made me smile most of the time, and I really, really want to go the next time Calvin throws a shindig...
SO it is no secret that second-chance-thingies (hereafter: SC) are my FAVOURITE trope, but sadly not many SC stories live up to my ridiculous pre-conceived notions on how a SC-thingy should work.
When Ky did her update and gave this motherfucker 5 stars and PRAISED the SC-trope, I took a chance and pre-ordered this one, even though I'm not normally that impulsive in regards to SC-books (seriously, I'm a grumpy bitch when it comes to this trope!)
The day finally arrived and I hit refresh on DSP so many times that it was kinda hypnotic in the end, and I think it ended up being worth it.
First of all: this was funny as all get-out. Seth, Dinah and Calvin delivered great (and needed) interludes, when Ben got too serious or Liam got too douchey.
“Possibly no figurative language is needed. We could just say it straight out. You’re dissatisfied with how I’m living my life. My decisions don’t meet your expectations. You’d like me to be bolder, more adventurous.”
Seth nodded. “It’s kind of hard to live vicariously through you when you’re not doing anything interesting.”
Calvin might not be for everyone, considering he's a meddling, crazy old man, but I loved him and his scheeming and his partyplanning (baby pong or beer baby if you prefer, is SO a part of my next party!)
Now for the SC; I'm still not totally convinced. I mean Liam is basically cruising along in his life, and yes things are not quite right, but he can't really put his finger on what's wrong.
When he sees Ben again, he suddenly decides that they should be friends, and then he decides that Ben might be what he's missing...
So I never quite understood how Liam went from dissatisfied with his life to 'I want to be with Ben' again. Like his reasons were never explored thoroughly, and that for me ruined it a wee bit.
I am also REALLY against the MCs in SC-thingies sleeping together before they've had an actual conversation about the past.
I sort of understood the sentiment and happenings here, but I still wasn't 100% convinced that Liam actually wanted Ben again, and I missed some grovelling.
Some proper: "I, Liam, fucked up major big time, and I am so SO sorry for all of the pain and hurt I cost both you Ben, and you Seth!"
I don't really care if it's been 15 years, or if Ben 'allowed' the cheating to happen (and seriously, can we stop with this crap?! Cheating is cheating, and if you don't have the balls to break up before cheating, then you're scum, no matter what the other person 'allowed' to happen -IMO!) or that you were young.
Cheating is basically taking the trust your loved one has given you and pissing all over it -IMO! And how will you ever get that trust back with just a weak apology?
I need to believe that the MCs truly mean it and understand their actions, instead of having it wrapped up in lame excuses and explanations.
My last niggle, was the fact that Ben was the one to go for Liam in the end, considering I never quite bought Liam's involvement or wish for involvement. I understand that Ben needed to let go of the past, but I also felt that Liam needed to be the one to fight, and not just 'push' to see what would happen.
Realistically this SC-story is a 3,5, but it was better than 3 because of the humour and the amount of times that Ben actually asked Liam to fuck the fuck off!
So yeah, I had some issues and Liam and his 'pushing', and his 'getting his way because he is pretty' grated on my nerves at times.
But all in all I thought it was a fun, well-written romance and it made me smile most of the time, and I really, really want to go the next time Calvin throws a shindig...
June 28, 2018
This second chance, slow burn romance rightfully deserves 5 big, fat stars! The writing was superb, the plot well thought and the characters interesting and distinguishable.
The pace of the story was good and realistic and the way the characters worked their way through past hurts was expertly handled. There were inner dialogues and we followed quite a few thought processes in order for the MCs to work through their issues, figure out their lives, what was important and what they wanted out of their future. The self awareness and the moments of epiphany were unexpected and very believable.
Liam was somewhat arrogant when it came to his professional life but it stopped there. In his personal life he was down to earth, self-aware and very approachable. Ben was content with his life but I don't think he was really happy. He was scared of putting himself out there so he limited his experiences to easy and safe within the borders of North Falls. Liam's return set in motion the changes that needed to happen for both of them in order to move on with their lives - either together again or apart once and for all.
The secondary characters were very interesting and unique. They were quirky but charming and there was no evil caricature to play the bad guy in the mix which was a nice change. My only complaint is that Liam and Ben didn't talk about the cheating that broke them up the first time around when they were thinking about giving their relationship a second chance. It was clear that they had put everything behind them and each had worked through the hurt and guilt on his own so I'm confident in it not happening again but that's only known to the reader because we get both POVs. Liam and Ben didn't talk about it and there were no reassurances, no talking through the issue or their concerns. Sure, they fought about it and brought it up while there was still resentment so they could put the past in the past but the issue didn't come up in a calm conversation while they were trying to decide if they wanted to rebuild their relationship. That was a conversation I was expecting and was disappointed not to get.
That minor niggle though wasn't enough to taint my enjoyment of this great story. It's a book well cared for and carefully planned, with a plot that develops cleverly and without any frustrating sudden side plots thrown in as an afterthought. There is very little angst but you can feel the hurt the characters carry. There is never any question that Liam and Ben belong together but there is uncertainty about whether they'll be brave enough to try again.
"All That Glitters" was my first read by Kate Sherwood and I honestly don't know how that's possible. She is a very talented author and I'll be seeking out more of her books in the future.
Highly recommended!
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
The pace of the story was good and realistic and the way the characters worked their way through past hurts was expertly handled. There were inner dialogues and we followed quite a few thought processes in order for the MCs to work through their issues, figure out their lives, what was important and what they wanted out of their future. The self awareness and the moments of epiphany were unexpected and very believable.
Liam was somewhat arrogant when it came to his professional life but it stopped there. In his personal life he was down to earth, self-aware and very approachable. Ben was content with his life but I don't think he was really happy. He was scared of putting himself out there so he limited his experiences to easy and safe within the borders of North Falls. Liam's return set in motion the changes that needed to happen for both of them in order to move on with their lives - either together again or apart once and for all.
The secondary characters were very interesting and unique. They were quirky but charming and there was no evil caricature to play the bad guy in the mix which was a nice change. My only complaint is that Liam and Ben didn't talk about the cheating that broke them up the first time around when they were thinking about giving their relationship a second chance. It was clear that they had put everything behind them and each had worked through the hurt and guilt on his own so I'm confident in it not happening again but that's only known to the reader because we get both POVs. Liam and Ben didn't talk about it and there were no reassurances, no talking through the issue or their concerns. Sure, they fought about it and brought it up while there was still resentment so they could put the past in the past but the issue didn't come up in a calm conversation while they were trying to decide if they wanted to rebuild their relationship. That was a conversation I was expecting and was disappointed not to get.
That minor niggle though wasn't enough to taint my enjoyment of this great story. It's a book well cared for and carefully planned, with a plot that develops cleverly and without any frustrating sudden side plots thrown in as an afterthought. There is very little angst but you can feel the hurt the characters carry. There is never any question that Liam and Ben belong together but there is uncertainty about whether they'll be brave enough to try again.
"All That Glitters" was my first read by Kate Sherwood and I honestly don't know how that's possible. She is a very talented author and I'll be seeking out more of her books in the future.
Highly recommended!
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
June 26, 2018
When the book started – with Liam drove to his hometown and Ben, his first ex-boyfriend caught Liam and told him “FUCK YOU” – I was very excited! I pictured an intense second chance story; it seemed that Liam fucked things up spectacularly in the past and Ben still carried up all the hurt and anger.
Unfortunately, what happened next, in my own humble opinion, was pretty much a merry go round. Ben kept being angry and pushed Liam away, but at the same time he couldn’t exactly move on. Liam kept going back – some sort of penance, maybe? – while at the same time questioning about his career and finding that ‘passion’ his boss accusing Liam as lacking of.
I was frustrated because the push and pull went on and on, however, the two men didn’t exactly sit down and talked about it. Both Liam and Ben spent too much thinking inside their head but they didn’t articulate it! I didn’t even feel like they were doing activities together much, which usually becomes a plot device for ex-couple to reconnect.
I love reunion story but this one didn’t offer any improvement from Liam and Ben’s previous failed relationship. Heck, even in the epilogue, these two men were still trying to figure things out!
I don’t dislike it, especially because Sherwood’s writing reels me in nonetheless. As much as I grumbled about it, Liam and Ben’s internal monologues about their fears and the remnants of feeling towards one another were quite compelling for me. It’s just not my favorite from Sherwood…
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Unfortunately, what happened next, in my own humble opinion, was pretty much a merry go round. Ben kept being angry and pushed Liam away, but at the same time he couldn’t exactly move on. Liam kept going back – some sort of penance, maybe? – while at the same time questioning about his career and finding that ‘passion’ his boss accusing Liam as lacking of.
I was frustrated because the push and pull went on and on, however, the two men didn’t exactly sit down and talked about it. Both Liam and Ben spent too much thinking inside their head but they didn’t articulate it! I didn’t even feel like they were doing activities together much, which usually becomes a plot device for ex-couple to reconnect.
I love reunion story but this one didn’t offer any improvement from Liam and Ben’s previous failed relationship. Heck, even in the epilogue, these two men were still trying to figure things out!
I don’t dislike it, especially because Sherwood’s writing reels me in nonetheless. As much as I grumbled about it, Liam and Ben’s internal monologues about their fears and the remnants of feeling towards one another were quite compelling for me. It’s just not my favorite from Sherwood…
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
July 2, 2018
La historia está bastante bien, pero hay varias cosas que han empañado mi disfrute de ella, como por ejemplo, no me creo que de pronto se ilumine y diga: oye, a mi lo que me hace falta es volver con aquel tio que en su día dejé. (le puse los cuernos, qué más da, estoy perdonado porque los gais somos promiscuos por naturaleza!)
Otra cosa es que hay demasiado espacio para los secundarios y en lo personal, quiero que los secundarios sean eso: secundarios, un soporte para la trama principal, no que se pierdan momentos de la pareja principal en favor de ellos.
En general, esperaba más groveling! XD Sí, soy una plasta, pero es que no me parece realista el modo en que se solucionan estas cosas tan dolorosas! Ojalá se currasen un poco más esa parte, porque es muy complicado encontrar algo satisfactorio en ese aspecto.
En una palabra; decepcionante.
Otra cosa es que hay demasiado espacio para los secundarios y en lo personal, quiero que los secundarios sean eso: secundarios, un soporte para la trama principal, no que se pierdan momentos de la pareja principal en favor de ellos.
En general, esperaba más groveling! XD Sí, soy una plasta, pero es que no me parece realista el modo en que se solucionan estas cosas tan dolorosas! Ojalá se currasen un poco más esa parte, porque es muy complicado encontrar algo satisfactorio en ese aspecto.
En una palabra; decepcionante.
September 19, 2024
This is such a weird book! It was the strangest second chance romance I think I have read and I seemed unable to put it down. I mean really.
But I don't think I liked it.
I loved the dialogue and I mostly loved each and every character. Liam has me on the fence but only when he was in the city, I don't know who that guy was. But mostly, I loved them all and they were really funny.
But.
I put on my big girl panties and was prepared for the cheating set up but what in the fuck was that? Cheating + Second Chances = Groveling. Every. Single. Time. It is just a formula that can't change.
But still, I couldn't put it down and had a great time reading it.
I don't understand the fifteen years. I don't understand the drives up and then all of a sudden I need to be back there.
I don't know if I truly believed it was fate. I just don't know what I believe!
But you guys, I totally couldn't put it down.
Such a strange book. I feel like it was totally a 4★ read but then I think, well, I don't know how I feel about the HEA. Ugh. Maybe I'll call it 3.5★'s and just round up even though I don't know if I liked it. Is that fair? Does that even make sense? No, maybe I'll just do 3★'s and call it a day. I'm so confused.
This is only my 2nd book by this author, I need to see what else is out there. Color me a bit intrigued by the writing.
But I don't think I liked it.
I loved the dialogue and I mostly loved each and every character. Liam has me on the fence but only when he was in the city, I don't know who that guy was. But mostly, I loved them all and they were really funny.
But.
I put on my big girl panties and was prepared for the cheating set up but what in the fuck was that? Cheating + Second Chances = Groveling. Every. Single. Time. It is just a formula that can't change.
But still, I couldn't put it down and had a great time reading it.
I don't understand the fifteen years. I don't understand the drives up and then all of a sudden I need to be back there.
I don't know if I truly believed it was fate. I just don't know what I believe!
But you guys, I totally couldn't put it down.
Such a strange book. I feel like it was totally a 4★ read but then I think, well, I don't know how I feel about the HEA. Ugh. Maybe I'll call it 3.5★'s and just round up even though I don't know if I liked it. Is that fair? Does that even make sense? No, maybe I'll just do 3★'s and call it a day. I'm so confused.
This is only my 2nd book by this author, I need to see what else is out there. Color me a bit intrigued by the writing.
June 26, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
All that Glitters was a lovely read that left me with the curious realization that it is possible to enjoy a book and not particularly like its main characters. All that Glitters is amazingly well paced. The author’s skill and natural writing flow make the story almost glide along. I found myself sailing through it and it never felt burdened or clumsy. The secondary characters, especially Uncle Calvin and Seth, are fantastic and written in such a way as to seem incredibly real and vibrant. We all know an Uncle Calvin… and if you don’t, well that’s just sad. You should really find one.
Everything about this book works except for the main characters. Liam cheats on Ben many times during their first go at romance. This is pretty despicable and when we meet him fifteen years later, he seems on the verge of a midlife crisis, but the reasons aren’t that big and dramatic and, as a result, he comes off as a bit of a whiner. At least to me. Other readers may feel differently. Ben hurls plenty of nasty zingers towards Liam after they meet again and it’s easy to enjoy them, at least at first. But that gets old and his behavior ends up seeming excessively cruel. He tends to toy with both Liam and a secondary character’s affections, which isn’t much better than being an adulterer in my opinion. So neither man comes off looking particularly good. Add to this that I never really felt any spark between them and the romance fizzles out long before it begins. We’re told they’re perfect for one another, but that’s a connection I never really saw. They aren’t terrible men and the author does a decent job of setting up Liam with a measure of redemption, but it was just hard to truly connect with either of them.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
All that Glitters was a lovely read that left me with the curious realization that it is possible to enjoy a book and not particularly like its main characters. All that Glitters is amazingly well paced. The author’s skill and natural writing flow make the story almost glide along. I found myself sailing through it and it never felt burdened or clumsy. The secondary characters, especially Uncle Calvin and Seth, are fantastic and written in such a way as to seem incredibly real and vibrant. We all know an Uncle Calvin… and if you don’t, well that’s just sad. You should really find one.
Everything about this book works except for the main characters. Liam cheats on Ben many times during their first go at romance. This is pretty despicable and when we meet him fifteen years later, he seems on the verge of a midlife crisis, but the reasons aren’t that big and dramatic and, as a result, he comes off as a bit of a whiner. At least to me. Other readers may feel differently. Ben hurls plenty of nasty zingers towards Liam after they meet again and it’s easy to enjoy them, at least at first. But that gets old and his behavior ends up seeming excessively cruel. He tends to toy with both Liam and a secondary character’s affections, which isn’t much better than being an adulterer in my opinion. So neither man comes off looking particularly good. Add to this that I never really felt any spark between them and the romance fizzles out long before it begins. We’re told they’re perfect for one another, but that’s a connection I never really saw. They aren’t terrible men and the author does a decent job of setting up Liam with a measure of redemption, but it was just hard to truly connect with either of them.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
June 28, 2018
This was okay, I guess. Loved the writing. But I'm kinda allergic a bit to people who think they're a victim so much. Well yes, Liam made a big mistake 15 years ago by cheating. Therefore he ruined his relationship with his boyfriend Ben. He hurt himself too. Young and foolish is no excuse but these things happen..... You would think after 15 years you won't still have all that anger in you? But Ben embraced his hurtfulness. All that anger.....
In the end I even felt sorry for Liam. He tried so hard to make things right and Ben kept pushing him away. I wanted to smack Ben. Sheesh, let it go!!!!
Ultimately I think the message is that you can't live your life scared of being hurt. Life sucks and it fucking hurts often. As to speak in Ben's favorite word; fuck !!!
In the end I even felt sorry for Liam. He tried so hard to make things right and Ben kept pushing him away. I wanted to smack Ben. Sheesh, let it go!!!!
Ultimately I think the message is that you can't live your life scared of being hurt. Life sucks and it fucking hurts often. As to speak in Ben's favorite word; fuck !!!
dnf
December 2, 2018DNF @ 45%
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from trying this, because it has its good points. But I'm almost halfway through and I can't sense any chemistry between the MCs. A couple of the secondary characters are intensely annoying -- Ben has not one but TWO nosy, intrusive, interfering, "I know what's best for you" friends. On the other hand, Ben's eccentric Uncle Calvin is one of the most delightfully distinctive characters I've encountered in a long time. But I'm not invested in the romance, my TBR pile beckons, and I think my reading time can be better spent elsewhere.
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from trying this, because it has its good points. But I'm almost halfway through and I can't sense any chemistry between the MCs. A couple of the secondary characters are intensely annoying -- Ben has not one but TWO nosy, intrusive, interfering, "I know what's best for you" friends. On the other hand, Ben's eccentric Uncle Calvin is one of the most delightfully distinctive characters I've encountered in a long time. But I'm not invested in the romance, my TBR pile beckons, and I think my reading time can be better spent elsewhere.
July 2, 2018
Wonderful writing, well drawn secondary characters and a really finely drawn pair of main characters. I have always loved Kate Sherwood's writing and in this story she manages to balance angst and snarky humour so well. I was absolutely charmed and chortling, loving the push you pull you until it started to get just a little tired at around the 70% mark and then I wanted to just knock their two heads together and tell them to just get together already.
This book busted my reading slump, thanks Ms Sherwood!
This book busted my reading slump, thanks Ms Sherwood!
June 28, 2018
Two men with unfulfilled dreams, neither one willing to admit that what they need is each other, and a second chance obscured by the fear of risking more heartbreak. These ingredients make for one of my favorite tropes, and Kate Sherwood manages to weave them into a very entertaining and emotional story I just could not put down. There is something to be said for the complexity of older characters and getting to know Liam and Ben as well as their hang-ups was an interesting journey. And I really loved the pacing of the story, the few “fateful” guiding events, and the amazing secondary characters who helped Liam and Ben figure out what was what.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 7, 2018
Liam is a successful architect in NYC, but finds himself driving the few hours back to his home town over and again, without contacting any of his friends or his first love Ben, and returning back to his empty apartment. Until the day he finally enters town and comes face to face with Ben, and finds himself with tears running down his face. Can Liam truly go home again, can Ben ever forgive Liam for cheating on him, can Liam rediscover his passion for work?
I love how Kate Sherwood develops this story, as Liam returns home more and more, staying with Ben's Uncle Calvin, working on a Habitat for Humanity house, connecting with old friends. And in the process, both he and Ben start to wonder if they have been looking at this all wrong. As young men, Ben and Liam thought because they were in love, they didn't need to work on their relationship. When Liam cheated, their relationship ended without the realization that maybe they could have worked through it. Liam's parents decide to divorce after many years without rancor and Liam realizes that putting on a false face of happiness and contentment wasn't going to work for his parents, and it wasn't going to work for him:
I loved all the secondary characters Sherwood so richly develops, and perhaps my only niggle was that at times the pace of the story moved a bit too slowly. 4.5 stars for "All That Glitters."
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
I love how Kate Sherwood develops this story, as Liam returns home more and more, staying with Ben's Uncle Calvin, working on a Habitat for Humanity house, connecting with old friends. And in the process, both he and Ben start to wonder if they have been looking at this all wrong. As young men, Ben and Liam thought because they were in love, they didn't need to work on their relationship. When Liam cheated, their relationship ended without the realization that maybe they could have worked through it. Liam's parents decide to divorce after many years without rancor and Liam realizes that putting on a false face of happiness and contentment wasn't going to work for his parents, and it wasn't going to work for him:
"You need to live your own life, Liam. You need to do what's right for you, not what other people will think is impressive."Ben, who is continually controlling and channeling his emotions, comes to understand that he can't hide away from everything - he needs to "feel it all, and live it all, and [he's] going to get hurt, but the times in between the hurt will be fantastic." The reconciliation between Liam and Ben unfolds slowly throughout the story, and while there is not a lot of on-page sex, the longing and the love between the two men is so beautifully done.
I loved all the secondary characters Sherwood so richly develops, and perhaps my only niggle was that at times the pace of the story moved a bit too slowly. 4.5 stars for "All That Glitters."
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
February 5, 2019
RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...
Premetto che le storie sui ricongiungimenti e sulle possibilità di tornare insieme non sono in cima alla lista delle mie letture preferite quindi ho affrontato la lettura con una certa titubanza. Devo ammettere però che l'autrice è stata molto brava nel creare dei personaggi e un'ambientazione particolarmente simpatici. Con uno stile fluido e prettamente discorsivo ci racconta di Liam e come si trovi ad affrontare una vera e propria crisi esistenziale, di come si ritrovi senza volerlo consciamente nel luogo che ha abbandonato quindici anni prima e come il destino lo porti ad imbattersi con le persone che ha deluso e ferito di più nel profondo. Sono quindici anni che Ben vive la sua vita con la rabbia e la delusione verso il tradimento del suo primo amore, barricato dietro un muro per proteggersi dalla sofferenza e delusione. Liam e Ben a causa delle circostanze e delle manipolazioni sottili di chi li circonda si ritroveranno più spesso del voluto ad incontrarsi e questo porta entrambi a pensare e valutare loro stessi e cosa per loro è veramente importante nella vita. Ho apprezzato tantissimo la leggerezza dell'autrice nel delineare i protagonisti senza appesantirli di elucubrazioni infinite o morbose, usando un'ironia sottile, facendoceli conoscere meglio tramite i dialoghi e le interazioni con i personaggi secondari che sono al limite del surreale e totalmente sopra le righe. Insomma li ho adorati. Ho apprezzato la delicatezza nel raccontarci il percorso personale di entrambi, le titubanze, le paure, il cercare quello che manca per essere felici, l'essere coraggiosi oppure non esserlo, il mancarsi perché alla fine di tutte le recriminazioni, di tutta la rabbia, alla fine della ricerca del successo il punto è che Liam e Ben si sono mancati. Non è un libro con molto sesso, anzi poco e descritto velatamente…
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
Premetto che le storie sui ricongiungimenti e sulle possibilità di tornare insieme non sono in cima alla lista delle mie letture preferite quindi ho affrontato la lettura con una certa titubanza. Devo ammettere però che l'autrice è stata molto brava nel creare dei personaggi e un'ambientazione particolarmente simpatici. Con uno stile fluido e prettamente discorsivo ci racconta di Liam e come si trovi ad affrontare una vera e propria crisi esistenziale, di come si ritrovi senza volerlo consciamente nel luogo che ha abbandonato quindici anni prima e come il destino lo porti ad imbattersi con le persone che ha deluso e ferito di più nel profondo. Sono quindici anni che Ben vive la sua vita con la rabbia e la delusione verso il tradimento del suo primo amore, barricato dietro un muro per proteggersi dalla sofferenza e delusione. Liam e Ben a causa delle circostanze e delle manipolazioni sottili di chi li circonda si ritroveranno più spesso del voluto ad incontrarsi e questo porta entrambi a pensare e valutare loro stessi e cosa per loro è veramente importante nella vita. Ho apprezzato tantissimo la leggerezza dell'autrice nel delineare i protagonisti senza appesantirli di elucubrazioni infinite o morbose, usando un'ironia sottile, facendoceli conoscere meglio tramite i dialoghi e le interazioni con i personaggi secondari che sono al limite del surreale e totalmente sopra le righe. Insomma li ho adorati. Ho apprezzato la delicatezza nel raccontarci il percorso personale di entrambi, le titubanze, le paure, il cercare quello che manca per essere felici, l'essere coraggiosi oppure non esserlo, il mancarsi perché alla fine di tutte le recriminazioni, di tutta la rabbia, alla fine della ricerca del successo il punto è che Liam e Ben si sono mancati. Non è un libro con molto sesso, anzi poco e descritto velatamente…
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
June 26, 2018
3.75 Stars
Liam and Ben were best friends, as well as lovers, but after Liam is caught cheating, Ben kicks him to the curb, so Liam moves a couple of hours away from their small town of North Falls to New York City where he makes a life for himself as an up and coming Architect. Ben, on the other hand, stays behind in North Falls and becomes a teacher.
After not getting a project at work he thought he deserved, Liam takes off to North Falls, usually, when he does this he turns around at the welcome sign and heads back home, but today he keeps going. What will happen when he comes face to face with his past?
I’ve read a few of Kate Sherwood’s books and have loved them. All That Glitters started off promising. It was quirky and hilariously funny. The antics of Ben and Liam, combined with those of some of the secondary characters, had me laughing out loud and although the story has humor throughout, which I really enjoyed, I wanted more romance. More focus and time with Liam and Ben as a couple.
The story itself is well-written and, as I said it’s laugh-out-loud funny, but for me, there wasn’t enough romance. It was too rushed and really we get maybe two or three scenes that have Liam and Ben romantically involved. The majority of the story focused on everything that was going on in the little town. This part kept me entertained and gets an A +, but as for the romance, it probably gets a D. 😞
Still, the story was hilarious and filled with lovable characters, it was definitely enjoyable and I’d recommend it!
* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
Liam and Ben were best friends, as well as lovers, but after Liam is caught cheating, Ben kicks him to the curb, so Liam moves a couple of hours away from their small town of North Falls to New York City where he makes a life for himself as an up and coming Architect. Ben, on the other hand, stays behind in North Falls and becomes a teacher.
After not getting a project at work he thought he deserved, Liam takes off to North Falls, usually, when he does this he turns around at the welcome sign and heads back home, but today he keeps going. What will happen when he comes face to face with his past?
I’ve read a few of Kate Sherwood’s books and have loved them. All That Glitters started off promising. It was quirky and hilariously funny. The antics of Ben and Liam, combined with those of some of the secondary characters, had me laughing out loud and although the story has humor throughout, which I really enjoyed, I wanted more romance. More focus and time with Liam and Ben as a couple.
The story itself is well-written and, as I said it’s laugh-out-loud funny, but for me, there wasn’t enough romance. It was too rushed and really we get maybe two or three scenes that have Liam and Ben romantically involved. The majority of the story focused on everything that was going on in the little town. This part kept me entertained and gets an A +, but as for the romance, it probably gets a D. 😞
Still, the story was hilarious and filled with lovable characters, it was definitely enjoyable and I’d recommend it!
* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
June 30, 2018
I can't explicitly define it, but there's something off about this book. It could be that I just never really warmed up to Liam, a character who fifteen years after cheating multiple times on his boyfriend tried to explain his behavior with "gay men are less likely to be monogamous." I understand being defensive when put on the spot, but after fifteen(!) years of recollection, reminiscence, and "remorse", you'd think someone would have a more self-reflective attitude toward their infidelity. After this rather bald and revealing admission, the book kind of just assumes that he truly is remorseful and paints the aggrieved ex-boyfriend Ben as the obstinate party. Here's a fact: cheaters are very often remorseful when they're discovered, but that almost never is a result of them feeling bad about their behavior, and is almost always because they can no longer have their cake and eat it too. I was waiting and looking for Liam's explanation as to why he cheated; even if that explanation were selfish and unreasonable, I wanted to see him admit it. Instead, the closest we got was a comment to a third party that he (Liam) was "greedy." Not good enough. In fact, now that I think about it, I can't remember if Liam ever said the word "sorry" throughout the whole book. Maybe he did, but not enough for me!
3 Star book plus 1 for multiple gay characters, a foundation any architect would be happy with.
3 Star book plus 1 for multiple gay characters, a foundation any architect would be happy with.
June 25, 2018
3.5 STARS
Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2018/06/25/review-all-that-glitters-by-kate-sherwood/
Liam is a brilliant architect living in New York. On paper, he has everything, but deep down, Liam feels empty. Fifteen years ago, he made the worst mistake of his life, he lost the love of his life, his only true love, Ben, and now he realizes something is missing in his life…or someone!
Ben is a teacher in his hometown. Between his job, his best friend Seth, and his uncle Calvin, Ben has a quiet life. But Ben is lonely too. Since Liam broke Ben’s heart fifteen years ago, he refuses to be hurt again and choose to live his life safely…too safely.
All the Glitters is a good contemporary romance full of feelings, angsts and of course love.
This book is about Liam and Ben’s second chance.
Fifteen years after leaving his town, Liam comes back without really knowing why. He’s in an almost mid-life crisis and trying to understand what’s missing. When he sees his ex, Ben, Liam realized that Ben was the missing piece, but he’s scared of being rejected after all these years. I liked Liam, and it’s something very weird coming from me since I hate cheaters and Liam is clearly one. But here, I didn’t see a dumb kid who messed up badly, I saw a man, mature, lonely and unhappy. I saw a man who really wants a second chance, who takes responsibility for his actions. I liked Liam, a lot.
Ben is calm, sweet and mature. Except in the presence of Liam, then he’s alive and full of passion. I liked Ben a lot, and I understood him. I understood his fear and why he wanted to be safe with his heart. But sometimes, I wanted to slap him… Yeah, yeah, I know he’s the one who’d been cheated on, and he had all the rights in the world to be pissed, but sometimes he was too stuck in the past and a little bit unfair with Liam, but I understood him and couldn’t blame him for too long.
I liked this book because the author didn’t write a Manichean story with Liam as the bad guy and Ben as the good guy. It was more than that, nothing was black or white, and there was a lot of other colors just like in real life. I loved it here.
The secondary characters were good, and Uncle Calvin is definitely my favorite, this guy is crazy. The only thing that bothered me is that that sometimes, in my opinion, it was a little bit repetitive, and I had the feeling that I was turning in a circle in my read sometimes.
But all in all, it was a pleasurable book, and I had a good time with Ben and Liam.
3.5 OptimuMM’s because we all need to roar
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2018/06/25/review-all-that-glitters-by-kate-sherwood/
Liam is a brilliant architect living in New York. On paper, he has everything, but deep down, Liam feels empty. Fifteen years ago, he made the worst mistake of his life, he lost the love of his life, his only true love, Ben, and now he realizes something is missing in his life…or someone!
Ben is a teacher in his hometown. Between his job, his best friend Seth, and his uncle Calvin, Ben has a quiet life. But Ben is lonely too. Since Liam broke Ben’s heart fifteen years ago, he refuses to be hurt again and choose to live his life safely…too safely.
All the Glitters is a good contemporary romance full of feelings, angsts and of course love.
This book is about Liam and Ben’s second chance.
Fifteen years after leaving his town, Liam comes back without really knowing why. He’s in an almost mid-life crisis and trying to understand what’s missing. When he sees his ex, Ben, Liam realized that Ben was the missing piece, but he’s scared of being rejected after all these years. I liked Liam, and it’s something very weird coming from me since I hate cheaters and Liam is clearly one. But here, I didn’t see a dumb kid who messed up badly, I saw a man, mature, lonely and unhappy. I saw a man who really wants a second chance, who takes responsibility for his actions. I liked Liam, a lot.
Ben is calm, sweet and mature. Except in the presence of Liam, then he’s alive and full of passion. I liked Ben a lot, and I understood him. I understood his fear and why he wanted to be safe with his heart. But sometimes, I wanted to slap him… Yeah, yeah, I know he’s the one who’d been cheated on, and he had all the rights in the world to be pissed, but sometimes he was too stuck in the past and a little bit unfair with Liam, but I understood him and couldn’t blame him for too long.
I liked this book because the author didn’t write a Manichean story with Liam as the bad guy and Ben as the good guy. It was more than that, nothing was black or white, and there was a lot of other colors just like in real life. I loved it here.
The secondary characters were good, and Uncle Calvin is definitely my favorite, this guy is crazy. The only thing that bothered me is that that sometimes, in my opinion, it was a little bit repetitive, and I had the feeling that I was turning in a circle in my read sometimes.
But all in all, it was a pleasurable book, and I had a good time with Ben and Liam.
3.5 OptimuMM’s because we all need to roar
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
October 20, 2021
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book a lot when reading but after finishing it I felt like there were some things missing. I liked the characters and thought their relationship history was interesting, but while the reason for their first breakup was brought up a lot I never really felt like it was done in a way that let them dig deep enough into why it happened or process it in a way that would let them move on. I didn't really get a good feel for who they were at that point in their lives or how they had changed since then.
I liked the push and pull, but the book ended a bit abruptly and I would have liked to see more of them being together and figuring out how to be in a relationship again after so many years. It would have felt like more of a pay-off since there weren't that many actual intimate, romantic moments between them during the push-and-pull.
I enjoyed this book a lot when reading but after finishing it I felt like there were some things missing. I liked the characters and thought their relationship history was interesting, but while the reason for their first breakup was brought up a lot I never really felt like it was done in a way that let them dig deep enough into why it happened or process it in a way that would let them move on. I didn't really get a good feel for who they were at that point in their lives or how they had changed since then.
I liked the push and pull, but the book ended a bit abruptly and I would have liked to see more of them being together and figuring out how to be in a relationship again after so many years. It would have felt like more of a pay-off since there weren't that many actual intimate, romantic moments between them during the push-and-pull.
September 23, 2018
-2
Nie jest tajemnicą, że cenię sobie dobry slow burn. Kluczem jest słowo dobry, a taki nie jest łatwo napisać. Bo gdy zamiast ekscytacji piętrzących się emocji, w głowie powtarzasz bla, bla, bla, na zmianę przewracając oczami i sprawdzając ile zostało do końca, to nie świadczy dobrze o książce. Na domiar złego nie czułam żadnego związku z bohaterami, wręcz mnie irytowali. Szkoda. Zaczęło się bardzo interesująco, potem z każdą stroną mój zapał gasł. Przegadana i bez pomysłu. Wymęczyła mnie ta historia. Gdybym kiedykolwiek - choć to raczej mi nie grozi -cierpiała na bezsenność, odpalę sobie tę książkę, pięć stron i będę spać jak zabita.
Nie jest tajemnicą, że cenię sobie dobry slow burn. Kluczem jest słowo dobry, a taki nie jest łatwo napisać. Bo gdy zamiast ekscytacji piętrzących się emocji, w głowie powtarzasz bla, bla, bla, na zmianę przewracając oczami i sprawdzając ile zostało do końca, to nie świadczy dobrze o książce. Na domiar złego nie czułam żadnego związku z bohaterami, wręcz mnie irytowali. Szkoda. Zaczęło się bardzo interesująco, potem z każdą stroną mój zapał gasł. Przegadana i bez pomysłu. Wymęczyła mnie ta historia. Gdybym kiedykolwiek - choć to raczej mi nie grozi -cierpiała na bezsenność, odpalę sobie tę książkę, pięć stron i będę spać jak zabita.
October 29, 2019
3.5 stars
July 16, 2022
RECENSIONE A CURA DI FRANCESCA
Venite a leggerla sul nostro blog!
Venite a leggerla sul nostro blog!
February 3, 2019
Recensione a cura di Lucinda per Feel The Book
Liam è un uomo di successo. O almeno si sente tale, fino a quando il proprietario dello studio di architettura presso cui lavora lo mette in panchina proprio durante la realizzazione del progetto che doveva segnare una svolta nella sua carriera. Liam non ha mai fatto mistero di voler diventare socio dello studio ma, ora che il suo principale ha favorito la giovane e ambiziosa collega, tutta la sua vita sembra andare a rotoli. Quasi alla soglia dei quarant’anni, può contare soltanto sul nome che si è fatto lavorando per lo studio. Nessun progetto proprio, nessuna prospettiva immediata di promozione, nessuno da cui tornare la sera.
E pensare che dieci anni prima la situazione era completamente diversa.
Dieci anni prima c’era Ben accanto a lui. L’accomodante ed equilibrato Ben, talmente innamorato di lui da passar sopra a tutti i sospetti di tradimento, alle bugie… Fino a quando Liam aveva fatto in modo che Seth, il loro migliore amico, lo trovasse a letto con uno dei tanti sconosciuti con cui tradiva il suo fidanzato.
Dieci anni di cose non dette e sofferenze atroci dopo, Liam, in piena crisi esistenziale, torna a North Falls, l’ultimo posto in cui era stato davvero felice. Beh, per la verità ci era tornato già altre volte, facendo inversione e tornando a New York subito dopo aver superato il confine della cittadina. Non quel giorno: per qualche motivo, Liam sente il bisogno di proseguire, di vedere i luoghi in cui è cresciuto. Complice un meccanismo di avviamento della macchina difettoso e un funerale imprevisto, l’architetto si ferma a North Falls più del dovuto. E succede l’inevitabile: incappa su un Ben più maturo, in forma e incazzato che mai.
Da quel momento, Liam torna nella sua cittadina natale molte volte. Le scuse non reggono più: torna perché Ben gli è rimasto nel cuore, e perché quel piccolo nido sembra il rifugio più sicuro nella tempesta che sta imperversando nella sua vita.
Ma Ben riuscirà a perdonarlo e a dare ad entrambi una seconda possibilità?
La trama di questo romanzo non è particolarmente originale, ma si snoda bene tra i fatti della vita di due uomini cocciuti e volitivi. Si respira l’atmosfera della piccola città di provincia, in completo contrasto con le luci scintillanti e la mondanità di New York, creando una sorta di ritorno ai valori essenziali per poter vivere in modo più profondo e sereno.
I personaggi sono caratterizzati in modo preciso e coerente, ognuno con una funzione ben precisa all’interno del tessuto della trama. Al di là dei protagonisti principali, Kevin – l’ex fidanzato pedante di Ben – e lo zio Calvin spiccano per le loro peculiarità e il ruolo nelle vite di Liam e Ben.
L’unica nota stonata, a mio avviso, è il ripetersi ossessivo dei fatti successi dieci anni prima: ad ogni capitolo c’è un riferimento ai tradimenti di Liam e alle conseguenze che hanno avuto sulla vita della coppia. Purtroppo questo ha appesantito una trama altrimenti fluida e leggera.
Lettura consigliata a chi cerca un libro che parli di perdono, seconde possibilità e… umorismo non-sense (zio Calvin vi farà girare la testa, ve l’assicuro).
Editing della recensione a cura di Lilith per feel The Book
Liam è un uomo di successo. O almeno si sente tale, fino a quando il proprietario dello studio di architettura presso cui lavora lo mette in panchina proprio durante la realizzazione del progetto che doveva segnare una svolta nella sua carriera. Liam non ha mai fatto mistero di voler diventare socio dello studio ma, ora che il suo principale ha favorito la giovane e ambiziosa collega, tutta la sua vita sembra andare a rotoli. Quasi alla soglia dei quarant’anni, può contare soltanto sul nome che si è fatto lavorando per lo studio. Nessun progetto proprio, nessuna prospettiva immediata di promozione, nessuno da cui tornare la sera.
E pensare che dieci anni prima la situazione era completamente diversa.
Dieci anni prima c’era Ben accanto a lui. L’accomodante ed equilibrato Ben, talmente innamorato di lui da passar sopra a tutti i sospetti di tradimento, alle bugie… Fino a quando Liam aveva fatto in modo che Seth, il loro migliore amico, lo trovasse a letto con uno dei tanti sconosciuti con cui tradiva il suo fidanzato.
Dieci anni di cose non dette e sofferenze atroci dopo, Liam, in piena crisi esistenziale, torna a North Falls, l’ultimo posto in cui era stato davvero felice. Beh, per la verità ci era tornato già altre volte, facendo inversione e tornando a New York subito dopo aver superato il confine della cittadina. Non quel giorno: per qualche motivo, Liam sente il bisogno di proseguire, di vedere i luoghi in cui è cresciuto. Complice un meccanismo di avviamento della macchina difettoso e un funerale imprevisto, l’architetto si ferma a North Falls più del dovuto. E succede l’inevitabile: incappa su un Ben più maturo, in forma e incazzato che mai.
Da quel momento, Liam torna nella sua cittadina natale molte volte. Le scuse non reggono più: torna perché Ben gli è rimasto nel cuore, e perché quel piccolo nido sembra il rifugio più sicuro nella tempesta che sta imperversando nella sua vita.
Ma Ben riuscirà a perdonarlo e a dare ad entrambi una seconda possibilità?
La trama di questo romanzo non è particolarmente originale, ma si snoda bene tra i fatti della vita di due uomini cocciuti e volitivi. Si respira l’atmosfera della piccola città di provincia, in completo contrasto con le luci scintillanti e la mondanità di New York, creando una sorta di ritorno ai valori essenziali per poter vivere in modo più profondo e sereno.
I personaggi sono caratterizzati in modo preciso e coerente, ognuno con una funzione ben precisa all’interno del tessuto della trama. Al di là dei protagonisti principali, Kevin – l’ex fidanzato pedante di Ben – e lo zio Calvin spiccano per le loro peculiarità e il ruolo nelle vite di Liam e Ben.
L’unica nota stonata, a mio avviso, è il ripetersi ossessivo dei fatti successi dieci anni prima: ad ogni capitolo c’è un riferimento ai tradimenti di Liam e alle conseguenze che hanno avuto sulla vita della coppia. Purtroppo questo ha appesantito una trama altrimenti fluida e leggera.
Lettura consigliata a chi cerca un libro che parli di perdono, seconde possibilità e… umorismo non-sense (zio Calvin vi farà girare la testa, ve l’assicuro).
Editing della recensione a cura di Lilith per feel The Book
June 28, 2018
This second chance, slow burn romance rightfully deserves 5 big, fat stars! The writing was superb, the plot well thought out, and the characters interesting and distinguishable. The pace of the story was good and realistic, and the way the characters worked their way through past hurts was expertly handled. There were inner dialogues, and we followed quite a few thought processes in order for the MCs to work through their issues, figure out their lives—what was important and what they wanted out of their future. The self-awareness and the moments of epiphany were unexpected and very believable.
Liam was somewhat arrogant when it came to his professional life, but it stopped there. In his personal life he was down to earth, self-aware and very approachable. Ben was content with his life, but I don’t think he was really happy. He was scared of putting himself out there, so he limited his experiences to easy and safe within the borders of North Falls. Liam’s return set in motion the changes that needed to happen for both of them in order to move on with their lives, either together again or apart once and for all.
The secondary characters were very interesting and unique. They were quirky but charming, and there was no evil caricature to play the bad guy in the mix which was a nice change. My only complaint is that Liam and Ben didn’t talk about the cheating that broke them up the first time around, when they were thinking about giving their relationship a second chance. It was clear that they had put everything behind them and each had worked through the hurt and guilt on his own, so I’m confident in it not happening again, but that’s only known to the reader because we get both POVs. Liam and Ben didn’t talk about it, and there were no reassurances, no talking through the issue or their concerns. Sure, they fought about it and brought it up while there was still resentment so they could put the past in the past, but the issue didn’t come up in a calm conversation while they were trying to decide if they wanted to rebuild their relationship. That was a conversation I was expecting and was disappointed not to get.
That minor niggle wasn’t enough to taint my enjoyment of this great story, though. It’s a book well cared for and carefully planned, with a plot that develops cleverly and without any frustrating, sudden side plots thrown in as an afterthought. There is very little angst, but you can feel the hurt the characters carry. There is never any question that Liam and Ben belong together, but there is uncertainty about whether they’ll be brave enough to try again.
All That Glitters was my first read by Kate Sherwood, and I honestly don’t know how that’s possible. She is a very talented author, and I’ll be seeking out more of her books in the future.
Highly recommended!
Reviewed by Ky for The Novel Approach
Liam was somewhat arrogant when it came to his professional life, but it stopped there. In his personal life he was down to earth, self-aware and very approachable. Ben was content with his life, but I don’t think he was really happy. He was scared of putting himself out there, so he limited his experiences to easy and safe within the borders of North Falls. Liam’s return set in motion the changes that needed to happen for both of them in order to move on with their lives, either together again or apart once and for all.
The secondary characters were very interesting and unique. They were quirky but charming, and there was no evil caricature to play the bad guy in the mix which was a nice change. My only complaint is that Liam and Ben didn’t talk about the cheating that broke them up the first time around, when they were thinking about giving their relationship a second chance. It was clear that they had put everything behind them and each had worked through the hurt and guilt on his own, so I’m confident in it not happening again, but that’s only known to the reader because we get both POVs. Liam and Ben didn’t talk about it, and there were no reassurances, no talking through the issue or their concerns. Sure, they fought about it and brought it up while there was still resentment so they could put the past in the past, but the issue didn’t come up in a calm conversation while they were trying to decide if they wanted to rebuild their relationship. That was a conversation I was expecting and was disappointed not to get.
That minor niggle wasn’t enough to taint my enjoyment of this great story, though. It’s a book well cared for and carefully planned, with a plot that develops cleverly and without any frustrating, sudden side plots thrown in as an afterthought. There is very little angst, but you can feel the hurt the characters carry. There is never any question that Liam and Ben belong together, but there is uncertainty about whether they’ll be brave enough to try again.
All That Glitters was my first read by Kate Sherwood, and I honestly don’t know how that’s possible. She is a very talented author, and I’ll be seeking out more of her books in the future.
Highly recommended!
Reviewed by Ky for The Novel Approach
June 26, 2018
The first chapter of this book is frantic....this is not necessarily a bad thing, but I had to read it twice to make sure it had all gone in.
Liam and Ben...… I was still undecided at the end of the book as to whether or not I liked Liam, and both characters had me fluctuating between totally taken with them, and frustrated as all get out, all the way through. Both have their endearing qualities, and both, at times, were in serious need of a slapping!
Ben kept me guessing as to which way he was going to jump until fairly late in the story, leaving the book a little short on the romance, but the secondary cast in this tale were great, and a good chunk of the storyline involved the town and its residents.
All in all its a good story, some great characters, some incredibly infuriating characters, and definitely worth a read.
Reviewed for divinemagazine.biz
Liam and Ben...… I was still undecided at the end of the book as to whether or not I liked Liam, and both characters had me fluctuating between totally taken with them, and frustrated as all get out, all the way through. Both have their endearing qualities, and both, at times, were in serious need of a slapping!
Ben kept me guessing as to which way he was going to jump until fairly late in the story, leaving the book a little short on the romance, but the secondary cast in this tale were great, and a good chunk of the storyline involved the town and its residents.
All in all its a good story, some great characters, some incredibly infuriating characters, and definitely worth a read.
Reviewed for divinemagazine.biz
February 12, 2020
This was a well-written M/M-ROM novel about second chances and not really getting over your first love. While this story had a feel-good ending, it wasn't very realistic. We've all been there; the One That Got Away is someone you'll always wonder over, but how many times does the fantasy ever truly match up with the reality? Usually break-ups happen for a reason, but I suppose that's the beauty of a romance novel- reality can be suspended and the fantasy of HEA comes into play. I enjoyed this book, especially the angst.
June 26, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review
Rating: 5 stars ot of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-dXm
From that review, " All That Glitters by Kate Sherwood is one of those books that I just submersed myself in from the very beginning and happily stayed that way, never wanting to emerge from the story , town of North Falls and warm company of characters Kate Sherwood created.:
For all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 5 stars ot of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-dXm
From that review, " All That Glitters by Kate Sherwood is one of those books that I just submersed myself in from the very beginning and happily stayed that way, never wanting to emerge from the story , town of North Falls and warm company of characters Kate Sherwood created.:
For all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
September 3, 2018
It was a well-written story but I did not emotionally connect to either MC.
I was not put off by Liam's cheating at a young age, it's an unfortunate fact of real life, but I was not overly impressed with Ben's indecisiveness either.
Can't put my finger on why I did not enjoy it more than I did.
I was not put off by Liam's cheating at a young age, it's an unfortunate fact of real life, but I was not overly impressed with Ben's indecisiveness either.
Can't put my finger on why I did not enjoy it more than I did.
October 7, 2018
This is an outstanding second chance romance with maybe a bit of a mid life crisis thrown into the mix and some great comic relief when the times get tough.
I consider this story to be a happily for now vs a happily ever after.....FYI.
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
I consider this story to be a happily for now vs a happily ever after.....FYI.
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
September 29, 2019
Cada vez que termino de leer un libro de Kate Sherwood pienso en que las historias no son 5*, apenas llegan a un 3.5* para mí, siendo entretenidas, pero la narración siempre tiene un toque de emoción fuerte que me golpea, los personajes que crea son interesantes y siempre me quedo con ganas de leer otra historia más de ella.
November 21, 2020
Tre stelline perché non amo molto le seconde occasioni, soprattutto se quando a separare la coppia c’è stato un tradimento, cosa che di solito fa scendere il punteggio ancora più in basso. La cosa che invece mi ha impressionato di questa scrittrice è il suo modo di scrivere ironico e spumeggiante, i suoi personaggi così pazzi e sopra le righe, dalla battuta pronta e divertentissimi.
July 3, 2018
I have enjoyed the book.
It is slow burn romance but the pace of the story is good.
Secong chance story, cheating in younger days...
It is slow burn romance but the pace of the story is good.
Secong chance story, cheating in younger days...
July 4, 2018
2nd chance romances are my crack.
But this crack was laced to not make it as potent as I really wanted it to be.
Sigh.
I still enjoyed it tho.
Mare~Slitsread
But this crack was laced to not make it as potent as I really wanted it to be.
Sigh.
I still enjoyed it tho.
Mare~Slitsread
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