Ben Carson sure as hell didn't expect the love of his life to literally fall at his feet. But when a mysterious stranger passes out cold in front of him after a street fight, Ben knows right away that this could be something special, that this man isn't like anyone else he's ever known.
The heat between Eric Green and Ben is fierce and immediate. But it's more than a physical attraction. Ben is drawn to the sorrow and vulnerability that lie behind Eric's hot temper and suspicious nature. Generous, open, and trusting, Ben vows to help Eric put the violence and abuse of his past behind him and heal the damage it did to him.
As Ben tears down the walls Eric has built around himself and Eric learns to trust again, the powerful attraction between them grows and deepens into a love that could last a lifetime. But the past isn't always so easily pushed aside...
Publisher's Forgotten Song is a homoerotic love story and as such contains subject matter that some readers may find male/male sexual practices and violence.
Ally Blue penned her first tale at age eight, relating the breathless terror of her little sister’s not-quite-fatal encounter with a bee in the backyard. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with storytelling. She now writes gay romance of all flavors, and has recently branched into writing her first love: horror. She continues her neverending quest to scare herself. She is not a hippie or a brain surgeon, no matter what her kids’ friends say.
I forgot how much I liked Ally Blue’s writing until I read Forgotten Song. I admit that Forgotten Song isn’t my favorite book written by her, but I still really enjoyed it.
If Forgotten Song hadn’t been written in first person, I bet I would have loved it! As much as I enjoyed reading Ben’s point of view; I would have loved reading what was going on in Eric’s mind throughout the book, too!
After all, it was Eric who had been through so much, and was the firecracker between the two. His emotional turmoil was apparent from the moment Ben meets him, I felt somewhat cheated because I would have loved to see what was going on inside his mind throughout the book.
There is a lot of angst in this book. Poor Eric has been through hell and back in his short life. I for one was very happy that he was able to work through all of the abuse and issues he had, and make a happy life for himself and Ben.
Sometimes Ben was too good to be true, but I still loved him and he still was an interesting hero that I enjoyed reading about.
This book is a hard book for me to rate. I really wish goodreads had ½ stars.
I really liked this story. I thought it was a little over the top where Eric was concerned, but it served the story. I felt terrible for Eric, you had to wonder how much more bad stuff one person could stand to take.
The story starts with Ben saving Eric after he's been in a bad fight. Eric is very weary of Ben and his goodwill but reluctantly goes with him. So starts their friendship. They are both attracted to each other but Eric has a lot of trust issues, for reasons that unfold. Ben is a musician and soon discovers that Eric is as well and Ben gets Eric a job at the club he sings at. Things in their budding relationship go sour and we get a good dose of angst while they are miserable without each other. The book takes a darker turn as the fight from the beginning comes back in to play and the violence of Eric's past threatens to endanger both of them. We get a sweet ending though.
Ally Blue usualy does a great job of character building and giving each of the heroes just enough baggage to make them interesting. In this endeavor she goes waaaaay overboard with the baggage for Eric. Every time he opened up about his past something horrific poured out. The link between all the baddies was also silly and contrived. There was no reason for the warden to use the prisoner.
Ally Blue has a gift for writing gay romances that revolve around healing. “Easy,” “Untamed Hearts,” and “Willow Bend” all had characters going through very difficult times who are hesitant to start relationships again. But, love wins out eventually! Forgotten Song is another successful novel in this vein.
This novel has a darker undercurrent than previous works. Eric Green has had a horrible life. So horrible in fact, that if I didn’t watch so many true crime shows I would’ve found it hard to believe that so much could happen to one person. But it can and does. His body has many visible scars, but his heart has even more. Eric survived a brutal assault and ran from his old life. Ben first encounters Eric outside a bar his band performs at. Eric is, surprisingly, winning a fist fight against a much larger opponent. But underneath that bravado, he’s panic-stricken. Ben convinces Eric to come home with him after seeing how bad off he is. There is an attraction between them, but Eric is damaged and afraid he can’t give Ben what he needs – and deserves.
What made this novel really special was that the author didn’t discount the horrors in Eric’s life with a trite “true love conquers all at first sight”. The two men struggle with Eric’s demons for most of the novel. Abuse cannot be overcome simply by a loving, patient partner. Professional help and time are also necessary. Eric slowly opens up to Ben, telling him more of what has made him so skittish. There is sex in the novel, but not as much as in some of Blue’s other books. But those scenes are very tender as readers finally understand how much it costs Eric to open up to another person. There is a subplot to the story about how Eric’s life truly is in danger from someone (I won’t spoil it here) and that provides a good counterpoint to their romance. And again, the author doesn’t shy away from a dark tone. Neither man escapes the trouble unscathed, making the story seem more realistic.
Overall, this was a very good novel which balances tears with laughter as only Ally Blue can. Sacrifices are necessary for the happily ever after, and it makes their love all the more poignant. Highly recommended.
Ben is a cute little thing with a messiah complex (in my language it’s also called a “mother of the wounded” complex which I somehow find more fitting for Ben). So of course he brings a random hot stranger involved in a street fight home with him to tend to his wounds. Things feel a little rushed, the author half-heartedly suggests that it’s instalust and not instalove, but she doesn’t fool anyone (not even herself).
It doesn’t take long for the story to become sappy (oh, Ben, your sugary thoughts drove me crazy!) and, at times, unrealistic, the whole “I’m-gay-I’m-gay-too” thing gets on my nerves every time (it’s too easy, I need tension) and something in the way Eric talks about his traumatizing past made me laugh. I’m a terrible person, I know. I just needed him to make me shiver with terror not speak about it like he would about a broken nail.
However, they are good (and hot) together. Eric is messed up and needs help and Ben is the perfect person to take care of him. Would Ben love Eric as much if he was just a regular guy with a boring past? Probably not. It doesn’t matter. They are silly, mushy and cute (You’re just like everyone else. Only sexier.) and once they start saying “I love you” they never stop. You know that Massive Attack song, “Angel”? Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you…
This is a beautiful story and I loved it. The sweet nature of the characters and the love that blossomed between Eric and Ben was beautiful. I could not help but feel so sorry for Eric his life was tough and he still managed to survive somehow. Ben was a very supportive and loving boyfriend and what Eric needed. Those two were perfect for each other and it was painful when it looked like it might not happen. The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was because of Jason. I just wished he had not been a part of the book at all. It just took something from the story and its not a part I enjoyed but apart from that it was a lovely book :)
Perhaps some issues with plausibility, which is something I've noticed in quite a few of Ally Blue's stories, but for some reason I just don't care. I don't know why sometimes things like that drive me crazy and other times I can totally suspend my disbelief and just go for the ride. I think maybe it just has to do with the characters and their connection. I fall in love with Ally's characters, so I can forgive everything else. If what you're looking for in an m/m romance is characters that engage you, then Ally Blue's your girl and this was a great story.
I enjoyed this one because of the two main characters and their interaction, though some of the other elements of the story struck me as being unbelievable and overly dramatic. In the end, it was a good read that made me a little sniffly and still smile.
I had a hard time rating this one. While I liked the story there are a couple of things about it that simply did not do it for me.
Ben meets Eric outside of a club where Ben plays music once a week. Eric is in the middle of a major fight with a man much larger than him. Ben feels bad for him and talks him into going home with him so he could take care of him. Eric is troubled in so many ways due to events in his past. The story goes on to describe the relationship/non relationship between the two. Around the time Ben and Eric finally get their relationship on track, Eric's past (and a pretty interesting twist in the present) threatens to tear the couple apart, in more ways than one.
While I really enjoyed the story, there are a few things that bothered me about it. As soon as I saw Eric was from Mobile, I was concerned about the direction the story would take. I live in Mobile so I was expecting Eric's issues to be due to the (so called) homophobic attitudes of the deep south or something of that regard. Thankfully I was wrong, for the most part. But then again, this book takes place in Asheville so that was probably a moot point anyway.
Anyway, as I said, my town wasn't dragged across the coals as a complete anti-gay town. That was good. And the problem with Eric's dad being a bad cop could happen in any city in any state. So again, moot point.
But here are my issues........... Eric is obviously homeless and he is extremely hostile and violent when Ben sees him fighting outside the club. But yet he took him home with him. In this day and age you don't do that ANYWHERE. Also, there was quite a bit of a lull in the story. Ben touched Eric when they were kissing. Eric got upset (understandably) and took off and left Ben. I get that. I understand that. But then it basically went to "As the weeks went by........" Okay, so as the weeks went by..... what? They stopped communicating? I get that part. But Eric gets upset and leaves and suddenly they just don't speak to each other? At all? Ben claims to be in love with Eric but he doesn't push? Regardless of the circumstances, I felt he should have pushed more.
Once the lull went away the book picked up and it turned out to be quite good. The way everything came together with Eric's dad was quite disturbing, yet it worked. Also, Eric's past was EXTREMELY disturbing yet the author did not shy away from describing the real reasons for Eric's fears. I really liked that. Most books of this nature gloss over things where the reader doesn't actually feel the pain the character suffers. I love how this author did not do that. Nor did she have Ben and Eric kidnapped and then suddenly have Eric swooping in to save Ben. While he did, in fact, do that, Ben was hurt before the rescue. I don't like reading graphic details about someone inflicting pain on someone. While this was disturbing to read, it also made it seem more real. I give the author credit for that.
The ending was fitting. I had almost forgotten about the fact that Eric had confessed to Ben that he didn't even know where Jason had been buried. Having the story end at the cemetery was the perfect ending for this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is definitely not the best Ally Blue book I've read. I particularly liked (ok, loved well past rationality) Untamed Hearts, so if this one interests you, you should definitely check that one out as well.
This is a decent story, but it just doesn't feel believable. Some people have a problem with the MC bringing a violent homeless person home with him with no hesitation. I didn't have so much trouble with that, just because Ben was obviously a really caring generous person. But everything about these two seemed to be fated. They just fell in love too easily, and it was always "Oh, I'm so surprised at how easy it is to love you". The relationship just doesn't grow in a way that seems plausible. Possibly because the story leaps ahead fairly often. Rather than lingering when the two are separated, she just lets it go with "a few weeks later". Even when they are doing well, all that we really see of their relationship is "over the next few weeks, they got really close." Uh, why weren't we allowed to see that part? Half the fun of these stories is watching the two protagonists grow to trust each other!
It's a decent enough hurt/comfort story, not a total waste of a few hours, but certainly not something I'll be reading over and over again.
I have about twenty reviews to write today so I'm just going to paste my notes here. Maybe I'll turn them into an actual review at some point.
Instalove.
He was walking fine and now he can't at all.
Need to suspend disbelief but once you do, it's so sweet.
Lots of peril. And angst. My faves.
(medium spoiler)
I like that he was fine with taking meds in the hospital. I get so sick of heroes refusing medication like that makes them better people.
Father doing all that in front of witnesses is ridiculous.
Why did it take weeks (medium spoiler) ?
I like that they never compared Ben and Jason. Usually books make the relationship with the still-alive guy much closer, or they have the character constantly comparing the two in his head. Ben just accepted that it was a different relationship completely.
I can't remember my rating for sure, but I think it was 4.5.
Ben is a kind man who finds Eric fighting a much larger man outside a bar. Feeling sorry for the obviously homeless man, Ben takes him home and tries to help him. It's obvious that Eric has secrets. The two have to overcome Eric's past and a current threat in order to be together.
This is really a 3.5 read. Ben's a great character. I felt deep sympathy for Eric. If anything bad can happen to a person, it's happened to Eric. The conflict was emotional and interesting. I usually don't mind first person narratives, but I think I would have enjoyed this more if it had been written in third person. It was hard for me to get into the first 1/3 of the story because of the point of view.
First starting this book, I wasn't sure how well I would like it. Ben and Eric's romance was intense and quick, and it felt a bit too much like insta-love to me. But I adore a good hurt/comfort story, and Eric had plenty of issues to work through. Even though the lust and romance came on quickly, the trust was slower to grow between them. I really liked Ben's slow but steady efforts to break through all the walls that Eric had erected between them. I couldn't help but admire his dedication and love for Eric. And when Ben had issues of his own to combat, Eric didn't back down. So despite the rough beginning for me, I really enjoyed this one!
Fleshed out characters with the two leads being quite interesting. Side characters don't interact enough, but that is just me and my whining.. there is interaction with side characters and it can be quite intense just thought a little more interaction would be good.
Story - a great story that has little in the way of plot holes. Runs quite a good path - and on that note I say nothing more!! (Hey you don't want me to spoil the surprises do you?)
This is my first book by Allie Blue. I really enjoyed it and will be looking into more of her titles in the near future.
This was pretty close to a 5 star read for me. It would of been if it wasn't just in Ben's 1st person POV. I really think if Eric's POV was part of the story it would of taken the depth of his growth to a whole new level. His character is well written in a way you totally get he was damaged, but nothing is more powerful than a 1st POV from a character that grows.
Hhhmm, this just didn't work for me. The story never became cohesive or well paced for me to really get into the story. I also felt that the characters were a bit flat and never really made me feel that I wanted to be involved in their lives. I enjoy other Ally Blue books, this one just didn't capture my interest.
1.5 stars, Not for me, very badly written story, I enjoyed reading about Ben more, but then who wouldn't he was a paragon of virtue but completely one dimensional. Eric on the other hand was more interesting but would never say what was wrong with him. The writing in this book was not polished, very flat and monotonous, I did not care for this book at all, I would not recommend this.
I like Ally Blue, the books are light and easy eventhough there are some terrible things it them. her characters are always a little to fast to declaire love for my taste but apart from that I really do like her way of wrighting.
I liked this book. Eric is a mess of a character which is always fun for me. I thought Ben was a little too perfect but the whole thing worked for me. I loved their relationship and being an Ally Blue book, yes there was plenty of angst! Totally enjoyed!
Eric and Ben are musicians who find each other in Asheville. Eric has had more pain in his young life but still retains hope for a loving relationship. When his father comes back, trouble follows.