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Revolutionary Heart #2
Love's Trials
Colin and Joshua faced the most harrowing ordeal of their lives with strength and courage. Believing they'd survived their trial, they looked forward to a future filled with happiness only to discover that the worst was yet to come. Sometimes surviving is the toughest trial of all.
After half a lifetime spent in short-term liaisons that allowed no intimacy, charismatic Irish police officer, Colin Campbell, found the love of his life. Dark-eyed, steady Joshua Abrams burned through Colin’s emotional barriers and taught him to look at life through new eyes, eyes that made room for the love and closeness he had always denied himself. Deeply in love and completely happy, their life together remains idyllic and their fiery passion for each other seems limitless.
They survive the Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' riots, though not without scars. But later that month Colin’s position with the campus police force places him in charge of an informant program designed to crack a dangerous drug ring. Fully aware of the risks, he swears to Joshua that he will oversee the program without becoming directly involved. But Colin's promise shatters when he becomes the only thing standing between a young Nigerian exchange student and a deadly drug lord.
After half a lifetime spent in short-term liaisons that allowed no intimacy, charismatic Irish police officer, Colin Campbell, found the love of his life. Dark-eyed, steady Joshua Abrams burned through Colin’s emotional barriers and taught him to look at life through new eyes, eyes that made room for the love and closeness he had always denied himself. Deeply in love and completely happy, their life together remains idyllic and their fiery passion for each other seems limitless.
They survive the Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' riots, though not without scars. But later that month Colin’s position with the campus police force places him in charge of an informant program designed to crack a dangerous drug ring. Fully aware of the risks, he swears to Joshua that he will oversee the program without becoming directly involved. But Colin's promise shatters when he becomes the only thing standing between a young Nigerian exchange student and a deadly drug lord.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2018
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 54 reviews
February 1, 2020
4.5 stars rounded down.
It’s back to the world of academia…
In ‘Love’s Magic’ we were introduced to the characters of Professor Nate Reese, Professor David Gardener, Sergeant Colin Campbell & Dr. Joshua Abram and while we saw Nate and David get their happily ever after we really only saw the beginning of Colin and Joshua’s story, so now here in ‘Love’s Trails’ the reader/listener gets the rest of their story.
For both of these couples getting to their happily ever after has been a hard fought battle, but a well deserved victory. I thoroughly enjoyed “Love’s Magic’ so much so that I very willingly listened to it again before beginning ‘Love’s Trials’ and if anything I have to say I think I may have been a bit stingy with my stars but be that as it may, I’m going to let that rating stand because really 4 stars is not a shabby thing in my humble opinion. Even more surprising to me than realizing that I seem to have enjoyed the first book more than I realized at the time is the fact that for me the second book was just that tiny bit better.
I knew from ‘Love’s Magic’ that I liked Colin and Joshua, which was part of the reason that I was so excited about this audiobook. What I didn’t realized was how much I would connect with this book on an emotional level…more than once I found myself reaching for the tissues.
While ‘Love’s Magic’ addressed the very real issue of violence on today’s college campus’s, ‘Love’s Trials’ takes it a step further when adding in the issues of drugs. Colin and Joshua each face their own challenges as these two men endeavor to become a committed couple. Colin’s a bit of a commitment phoebe or he was until Joshua entered his life, while Joshua is struggling to adjust to life with a man whose job puts him in harms way on a daily basis. He’s always known what Colin does for a living he’s quickly coming to realize that knowing this and living it are two very different things.
After getting through the Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ riots life should have been a breeze for them but when Colin finds himself in charge of an informant program intended to infiltrate a drug ring he promises Joshua that he won’t be in the line of danger and he’s determined to keep his promise until one of the student’s in the program is placed in harms way and suddenly Colin’s the only thing between him and life threatening danger. It’s the aftermath of these events that will test the strength of Colin and Joshua’s commitment to each other.
While I loved David and Nate’s story and I was rooting for them from start to finish in ‘Love’s Magic’ even then I was equally as curious about Colin and Joshua. Here in ‘Love’s Trial’s’ for me it was all about these two men and the struggles they faced. There’s a solid dose of realism here from start to finish as we’re given a story that’s not wrapped up with a pretty pink bow but held together by two men who are committed to each other and sometimes held together by the strength and clearer heads of friends and loved ones who aren’t afraid to step up to help them find their way back to each other.
I honestly can’t even say that their reactions would have been mine…again that’s not how the world works we don’t all react the same way to the same things but for me how these two men reacted to their circumstances was believable…sometimes heartbreakingly so.
I loved that we got a fair but not overwhelming amount of David and Nate. The friendship that began in the first book between these four men has continued and as the story progresses, we get to see it grow even stronger. So often in series we’ll see couples that start as friends but with subsequent stories the friendship seems to diminish and sometimes the characters disappear altogether and that’s fair enough…it happens that way in real life to but what also happens in real life is that friendships grow stronger as times passes and within the pages of this story we are shown this in a way that isn’t often captured in a story. I’m a fan of stories where we get to see the MCs interact with the rest of the world and not just each other for me it just gives everything a more realistic atmosphere.
This story had me hooked from start to finish, but it was the latter part of the story that left me feeling a bit shattered. There was so much there that I was able to relate to. For very different reasons, I know how it feels to suffer a really traumatic injury and the havoc this can play on even the strongest of relationships add to this the fact that we were given things from both men’s perspective and this story for me was taken to a whole new level.
Add in the fact that Walker Williams was once again the narrator for this story and it all combines to create what was for me a supremely awesome listening experience that I know I’ll be repeating in the near future…this one’s definitely recommended.
*************************
An audio book of ‘Love’s Trials’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
It’s back to the world of academia…
In ‘Love’s Magic’ we were introduced to the characters of Professor Nate Reese, Professor David Gardener, Sergeant Colin Campbell & Dr. Joshua Abram and while we saw Nate and David get their happily ever after we really only saw the beginning of Colin and Joshua’s story, so now here in ‘Love’s Trails’ the reader/listener gets the rest of their story.
For both of these couples getting to their happily ever after has been a hard fought battle, but a well deserved victory. I thoroughly enjoyed “Love’s Magic’ so much so that I very willingly listened to it again before beginning ‘Love’s Trials’ and if anything I have to say I think I may have been a bit stingy with my stars but be that as it may, I’m going to let that rating stand because really 4 stars is not a shabby thing in my humble opinion. Even more surprising to me than realizing that I seem to have enjoyed the first book more than I realized at the time is the fact that for me the second book was just that tiny bit better.
I knew from ‘Love’s Magic’ that I liked Colin and Joshua, which was part of the reason that I was so excited about this audiobook. What I didn’t realized was how much I would connect with this book on an emotional level…more than once I found myself reaching for the tissues.
While ‘Love’s Magic’ addressed the very real issue of violence on today’s college campus’s, ‘Love’s Trials’ takes it a step further when adding in the issues of drugs. Colin and Joshua each face their own challenges as these two men endeavor to become a committed couple. Colin’s a bit of a commitment phoebe or he was until Joshua entered his life, while Joshua is struggling to adjust to life with a man whose job puts him in harms way on a daily basis. He’s always known what Colin does for a living he’s quickly coming to realize that knowing this and living it are two very different things.
After getting through the Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ riots life should have been a breeze for them but when Colin finds himself in charge of an informant program intended to infiltrate a drug ring he promises Joshua that he won’t be in the line of danger and he’s determined to keep his promise until one of the student’s in the program is placed in harms way and suddenly Colin’s the only thing between him and life threatening danger. It’s the aftermath of these events that will test the strength of Colin and Joshua’s commitment to each other.
While I loved David and Nate’s story and I was rooting for them from start to finish in ‘Love’s Magic’ even then I was equally as curious about Colin and Joshua. Here in ‘Love’s Trial’s’ for me it was all about these two men and the struggles they faced. There’s a solid dose of realism here from start to finish as we’re given a story that’s not wrapped up with a pretty pink bow but held together by two men who are committed to each other and sometimes held together by the strength and clearer heads of friends and loved ones who aren’t afraid to step up to help them find their way back to each other.
I honestly can’t even say that their reactions would have been mine…again that’s not how the world works we don’t all react the same way to the same things but for me how these two men reacted to their circumstances was believable…sometimes heartbreakingly so.
I loved that we got a fair but not overwhelming amount of David and Nate. The friendship that began in the first book between these four men has continued and as the story progresses, we get to see it grow even stronger. So often in series we’ll see couples that start as friends but with subsequent stories the friendship seems to diminish and sometimes the characters disappear altogether and that’s fair enough…it happens that way in real life to but what also happens in real life is that friendships grow stronger as times passes and within the pages of this story we are shown this in a way that isn’t often captured in a story. I’m a fan of stories where we get to see the MCs interact with the rest of the world and not just each other for me it just gives everything a more realistic atmosphere.
This story had me hooked from start to finish, but it was the latter part of the story that left me feeling a bit shattered. There was so much there that I was able to relate to. For very different reasons, I know how it feels to suffer a really traumatic injury and the havoc this can play on even the strongest of relationships add to this the fact that we were given things from both men’s perspective and this story for me was taken to a whole new level.
Add in the fact that Walker Williams was once again the narrator for this story and it all combines to create what was for me a supremely awesome listening experience that I know I’ll be repeating in the near future…this one’s definitely recommended.
*************************
An audio book of ‘Love’s Trials’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2020
In this installment we met more of Joshua and Colin.
Their love starting to get more bumps and trial.
Frankly, I liked Nate and David's dynamic more, and I didn't really interested in Colin and Joshua.
I remember it was insta-love between them, the chemistry was mediocre, I didn't feel too strong about it.
I was still trying to finished it, but this one. as well, not my favorite of the series. Let's move to book three.
February 21, 2020
DNF. I liked the characters okay but just couldn’t get into the story.
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.
October 11, 2018
In Love’s Magic, we thought that Colin and Joshua had passed the tests of life and love and emerged victorious, but in this follow-up to the first book in Janice Jarrell’s Revolutionary Hearts series, we see that their trials and tribulations are only just beginning.
What makes Love’s Trials so compelling is its authenticity in terms of setting and character. The first part of the story is set against the backdrop of the harrowing 2017 Unite the Right riots in Charlottesville. Ms Jarrell not only conveys a sense of realism in using this event, but she also delivers a gripping sense of tension and fear within a community, something that then becomes an underlying thread in the main characters’ relationship as the unease and danger in the outside world begins to unravel their relationship from the inside. For while the first half of the book is very much about a community under attack, the second part is about a life-threatening injury and the ramifications it has on the heart.
Physical harm inflicted by an outsider can have dire effects on a relationship, leading to emotional and psychological scars that can tear two people apart, and that is the canvas on which Ms Jarrell paints her story.
How these two men react in this story is what made it feel so real to me, and it’s that authenticity that makes the romance of this story so rich. I kept thinking, that’s exactly how I would react. I would put up a wall. I would try to heal myself in silence or words said that I could well regret. That’s reality. That’s what so many of us do, when the only real healer is love.
Can Colin and Joshua overcome a wound that now threatens to tear both their lives apart? Will one or both of them close up completely as many of us do when attacked, or will they be able to rekindle the connection between them… a connection that is the only real hope they have of truly surviving their ordeal as a loving couple? You’ll have to read Colin and Joshua’s journey to find out. Trust me, you will be rewarded.
What makes Love’s Trials so compelling is its authenticity in terms of setting and character. The first part of the story is set against the backdrop of the harrowing 2017 Unite the Right riots in Charlottesville. Ms Jarrell not only conveys a sense of realism in using this event, but she also delivers a gripping sense of tension and fear within a community, something that then becomes an underlying thread in the main characters’ relationship as the unease and danger in the outside world begins to unravel their relationship from the inside. For while the first half of the book is very much about a community under attack, the second part is about a life-threatening injury and the ramifications it has on the heart.
Physical harm inflicted by an outsider can have dire effects on a relationship, leading to emotional and psychological scars that can tear two people apart, and that is the canvas on which Ms Jarrell paints her story.
How these two men react in this story is what made it feel so real to me, and it’s that authenticity that makes the romance of this story so rich. I kept thinking, that’s exactly how I would react. I would put up a wall. I would try to heal myself in silence or words said that I could well regret. That’s reality. That’s what so many of us do, when the only real healer is love.
Can Colin and Joshua overcome a wound that now threatens to tear both their lives apart? Will one or both of them close up completely as many of us do when attacked, or will they be able to rekindle the connection between them… a connection that is the only real hope they have of truly surviving their ordeal as a loving couple? You’ll have to read Colin and Joshua’s journey to find out. Trust me, you will be rewarded.
October 20, 2018
BEAUTIFUL ENDURING LOVE STORY
This absolutely gripping love story that speaks of the current climate in America is amazing. Colin and Josh face new challenges, heartache and danger in this sequel to Love's Magic. This story deals with some real, TRUE to life problems. I want to say that this author has her own style of writing. I personally always feel like I'm right in the book with the characters. Like I could reach out to comfort Josh. Slap Colin in the back of the head, when his Irish is up. I love writers who can make me feel that engrossed in their story. These characters are smart, hard working, honest, amazing men who love each other to a fault. In this story, it shows you what can happen when life gives you some crushing blows and a few hard left and right turns. This book has it all!!! Devoted friends David and Nate are there to help them and there are also new characters introduced. Janice Jarrell is a MAGNIFICENT AUTHOR who puts you in the experience of the book. ***This book does include writings about the Charlottesville Riots*** THAT is a time in our lives that should NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. Bless those whose lives were damaged or destroyed by the senseless violence of those events. I personally loved this book and the true wisdom woven into the fabric of this story. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AMAZING SERIES!!!!!
This absolutely gripping love story that speaks of the current climate in America is amazing. Colin and Josh face new challenges, heartache and danger in this sequel to Love's Magic. This story deals with some real, TRUE to life problems. I want to say that this author has her own style of writing. I personally always feel like I'm right in the book with the characters. Like I could reach out to comfort Josh. Slap Colin in the back of the head, when his Irish is up. I love writers who can make me feel that engrossed in their story. These characters are smart, hard working, honest, amazing men who love each other to a fault. In this story, it shows you what can happen when life gives you some crushing blows and a few hard left and right turns. This book has it all!!! Devoted friends David and Nate are there to help them and there are also new characters introduced. Janice Jarrell is a MAGNIFICENT AUTHOR who puts you in the experience of the book. ***This book does include writings about the Charlottesville Riots*** THAT is a time in our lives that should NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. Bless those whose lives were damaged or destroyed by the senseless violence of those events. I personally loved this book and the true wisdom woven into the fabric of this story. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AMAZING SERIES!!!!!
October 13, 2018
Where do I start with this review? I guess at the beginning. The book follows on from the first book in the Revolutionary Hearts Series. We meet Colin and Josh at a rather settled time in their relationship and everything seems to be on an even keel.
Then the author suddenly takes us on a gut-wrenching trip of emotions, that will rip your heart out of your chest wring it tight and pull it apart before the author pieces it back together.
We see how both guys and their friends deal with this troubled time. Collins pig headedness and self-esteem causes a rift between him and Josh. One that is breaking both of their hearts, but neither can find a way to communicate without making matters worse.
Luckily, they both are unable to give up on each other and with the support of their friends Dave and Nate and a wakeup call, they eventually start the journey to see if they can salvage their relationship.
As well as the emotional rollercoaster the author takes us on, she paints a real and gritty scene. The way the characters deal with their emotions also feels very authentic.
Though this is book 2 in the Revolutionary Hearts Series, you can read it as a standalone, as I have done. Though I have a feeling the journey would be even more emotional having read the first book.
Then the author suddenly takes us on a gut-wrenching trip of emotions, that will rip your heart out of your chest wring it tight and pull it apart before the author pieces it back together.
We see how both guys and their friends deal with this troubled time. Collins pig headedness and self-esteem causes a rift between him and Josh. One that is breaking both of their hearts, but neither can find a way to communicate without making matters worse.
Luckily, they both are unable to give up on each other and with the support of their friends Dave and Nate and a wakeup call, they eventually start the journey to see if they can salvage their relationship.
As well as the emotional rollercoaster the author takes us on, she paints a real and gritty scene. The way the characters deal with their emotions also feels very authentic.
Though this is book 2 in the Revolutionary Hearts Series, you can read it as a standalone, as I have done. Though I have a feeling the journey would be even more emotional having read the first book.
October 10, 2018
Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku i polsku
After a tumultuous struggle with his feelings and with himself, Colin Campbell finally settled down and for months has enjoyed a satisfying, blissful life with Josh. Unfortunately, peace and joy can't last forever, because fate has completely different plans for two lovers. When the Charlottesville authorities agree to the neo-Nazi march, from the very beginning it is known that it will not be a peaceful manifestation, but a real struggle for survival for all those who at that time will be nearby. due to that fact, all police officers are put in a state of readiness, including the university police, and hence Colin himself.
However, this is not all that fate prepared for Colin and Josh, because the police officer is forced to take part in an informant program designed on the one hand, to help students detained for drug offenses in cleaning their record, on the other hand, to arrest a drug lord who is distributing his goods at the university. Colin is supposed to be responsible for everything from behind his desk, but Josh is well aware that his lover will do almost anything for students, so there's simply no way there won't be any problems.
"Love's Magic", the first volume of "Revolutionary Heart" series, definitely deserved praise because of the psychological depth of that story presented by Janice Jarrell. However, "Love's Trials", the second part of this series, is even better and goes even deeper into the psyche of our protagonists. This time, the author focuses primarily on the subject of a brush with death and, as a consequence, serious health problems. It is worth noting that she makes use of this plot element to the maximum, as she presents it on many planes. And let's add that throughout the story she remains true to her characters and their personalities. The first of the mentioned planes is the impact that the serious damage to health has on a person directly affected by it. The reader witnesses how a proud, confident man slowly changes and pushes his loved ones away. A tough guy who has never needed any help, suddenly becomes dependent on another person, and worst of all, on a person whom he would like to spare this kind of experience, which naturally doesn't remain without consequences for his psyche. The second aspect of the problems raised in this volume is the impact that the possibility of losing a loved one has on an ordinary person. Therefore, we are presented with a whole range of negative emotions connected with such an event, as well as its possible consequences. The next plane consist of the impact of dramatic events on the relationship and adversities with which characters have to deal not only as individuals but also as a couple. Janice Jarrell shows that events that change people and pose a serious challenge to the psyche are of great importance also in the context of interpersonal relationships, such as love relationship and friendship. Finally, I will add that the author from the beginning to the end in a really excellent manner showed the personalities of all her characters, as well as the psychological problems with which they have to struggle after what happens to them.
A few words I would also like to write about the subject of anti-Semitism raised in "Love's Trials", which is all the more important because it directly affects our lead characters. I admit that I did not expect the author to lead the story in such a way as to refer to this extremely serious problem to such a large extent, so I was really positively surprised. In a very dramatic and moving manner she showed the enormity of human hatred, which can destroy another human being not only physically but also mentally. It is very important in this context that Janice Jarrell presented the influence of anti-Semitism not only on people with Jewish roots, but also on people close to them, such as colleagues, friends, lovers. I must admit that describing the neo-Nazi march, the author moved me to the core many times, and Colin's words: "[...] I sleep beside a Jewish man every night!" are engraved in my memory deeply enough that I will remember them for the rest of my life, as in my opinion they contain much more meaning, than one might think.
I believe it is also very important that 'Love's Trials' is not only a novel about love and its problems, but a moving story about true friendship. Janice Jarrell not only stressed how lucky Colin and Joshua are to have David and Nate at their side, but she also showed the reader how extremely important friends are and how supportive they could be. They are our eyes when there's something we can't see, our ears when we don't hear a sound, our understanding when we can't rely on our own. They are also our conscience, anchor, guidepost, alarm siren when something bad happens. They are part of us. And this kind of friends we see in "Love's Trials", exactly this kind of friends David and Nate are. And so, although the novel focuses on Colin and Josh, these two supporting characters also play an incredibly important role in this volume, and hence we can fall in love with them once again, maybe even more than while reading "Love's Magic".
Finally, I have to mention one thing that I already noticed in the previous volume of the series, thing that in "Love's Trials" was presented by the author in even more detail. Namely, what I have in mind is the fact that Colin considers both his Irish ancestry and Joshua's Jewish roots as extremely important. It really captivated me, because if from the first volume of "Revolutionary Heart" we knew that Colin is proud of his Irish origin, in this part of the series we also see that he is equally proud of the Jewish blood flowing through his lover's veins. You can even say he is in love with that fact, just as he is in love with everything that makes Josh who he is. It's something really beautiful. What's more, one can't miss the fact that in "Love's Trials" our two lead characters often exchange assurances of love in the languages of their ancestors, which is almost magical. At this point, I must add that this somewhat small gesture clearly stresses the uniqueness of Colin and Josh both as individuals and as a pair. In this way, the author undoubtedly conquered my heart even more than before.
To sum up, I consider "Love's Trials" to be truly perfect. This novel is full of psychological depth, various violent emotions, honest, strong feelings, and it also touches incredibly important topics and makes us fall in love anew with the characters, who already stole our hearts. It is a moving and beautiful story that one will remember for years. It is simply magical.
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Po burzliwej walce z uczuciami oraz z samym sobą, Colin Campbell w końcu się ustatkował i już od miesięcy rozkoszuje się satysfakcjonującym, błogim życiem u boku Josha. Niestety spokój i radość nie mogą trwać wiecznie, ponieważ los ma względem dwójki kochanków zupełnie inne plany. Kiedy władze Charlottesville wyrażają zgodę na marsz neonazistów, z góry wiadomo, że nie będzie to pokojowa manifestacja, ale prawdziwa walka o przetrwanie dla wszystkich, którzy znajdą się w pobliżu. Z tego też powodu w gotowość zostają postawieni wszyscy funkcjonariusze policji, wliczając to także policję uniwersytecką, a tym samym Colina.
To jednak nie wszystko, co los przygotował dla niego i Josha, ponieważ policjant zostaje zmuszony do zaangażowania się w program informatorski, mający z jednej strony pomóc studentom zatrzymanym za przestępstwa narkotykowe w oczyszczeniu ich kont, z drugiej zaś w ujęciu narkotykowego bossa rozprowadzającego swój towar na terenie uniwersytetu. Z założenia Colin ma za wszystko odpowiadać zza swojego biurka, jednak Josh doskonale zdaje sobie sprawę z tego, że kochanek dla studentów zrobi niemal wszystko, a więc na pewno nie obejdzie się bez problemów.
„Love’s Magic”, pierwszy tom „Revolutionary Heart”, zdecydowanie zasługiwał na pochwałę ze względu na zarysowane w nim zaplecze psychologiczne przedstawionej przez Janice Jarrell historii. „Love’s Trials”, druga odsłona tej serii, jest jednak jeszcze lepsza i wchodzi jeszcze głębiej w psychikę naszych bohaterów. Tym razem autorka skupia się przede wszystkim na temacie otarcia się o śmierć oraz, w konsekwencji, poważnych problemów zdrowotnych. Warto zauważyć, że wykorzystuje ten element fabuły do maksimum, jako że przedstawia go na wielu płaszczyznach. A dodajmy, że przez cały ten czas pozostaje wierna swoim bohaterom i ich charakterom. Pierwszą ze wspomnianych płaszczyzn stanowi ukazanie wpływu, jaki poważny uszczerbek na zdrowiu ma na osobę bezpośrednio poszkodowaną. Czytelnik jest świadkiem tego, jak dumny, pewny siebie mężczyzna zmienia się powoli i odsuwa od siebie najbliższych. Twardziel, który nigdy nie potrzebował żadnej pomocy, nagle staje się zależny od innej osoby, a co najgorsze od kogoś, komu wolałby oszczędzić podobnych doświadczeń, co naturalnie nie pozostaje bez konsekwencji dla jego psychiki. Drugim aspektem poruszonych w tym tomie problemów jest wpływ jaki możliwość utraty ukochanej osoby wywiera na człowieka. Przedstawiony zostaje nam więc cały wachlarz związanych z takim wydarzeniem negatywnych emocji, jak również jego możliwe następstwa. Kolejną płaszczyznę stanowi wpływ dramatycznych wydarzeń na związek oraz przeciwności losu, z jakimi bohaterowie muszą się zmagać już nie tylko jako jednostki, ale także jako para. Janice Jarrell pokazuje bowiem, że wydarzenia, które zmieniają człowieka i stanowią poważne wyzwanie dla psychiki mają ogromne znaczenie także w kontekście relacji międzyludzkich, takich jak miłość czy przyjaźń. Na koniec dodam, iż autorka od początku do końca w naprawdę doskonały sposób ukazała charaktery wszystkich swoich postaci, jak i problemy natury psychicznej, z jakimi muszą zmagać się po tym, co ich spotyka.
Kilka słów chciałabym także napisać o poruszonym w „Love’s Trials” temacie antysemityzmu, który jest tym ważniejszy, że dotyka bezpośrednio naszych bohaterów. Przyznaję, że nie spodziewałam się tego, iż autorka poprowadzi fabułę w taki sposób, aby w tak ogromnym stopniu odnieść się do tego niezwykle poważnego problemu, toteż zaskoczyła mnie naprawdę pozytywnie. W bardzo dramatyczny i poruszający sposób ukazała ogrom ludzkiej nienawiści, która potrafi niszczyć drugiego człowieka nie tylko fizycznie, ale także psychicznie. Za bardzo istotne w tym kontekście uważam to, że Janice Jarrell przedstawiła wpływ antysemityzmu nie tylko na osoby o żydowskich korzeniach, ale również na ludzi im bliskich, jak znajomi, przyjaciele, kochankowie. Nie ukrywam, że opisując marsz neonazistów autorka poruszyła mnie do głębi wielokrotnie, a słowa wypowiedziane wtedy przez Colina: „[…] I sleep beside a Jewish man every night!” wyryły się w mojej pamięci na tyle głęboko, że na pewno zapamiętam je do końca życia, jako że w moim odczuciu kryją w sobie o wiele więcej, niż mogłoby się wydawać.
Uważam, że bardzo istotny jest również fakt, iż „Love’s Trials” to nie tylko powieść o miłości i jej problemach, ale także poruszająca historia prawdziwej przyjaźni. Janice Jarrell nie tylko podkreśliła w niej jak wielkimi szczęściarzami są Colin i Joshua mając u boku Davida i Nate’a, ale także pokazała czytelnikowi jak niesamowicie ważni są przyjaciele i jak ogromnym potrafią być wsparciem. Są naszymi oczami, kiedy nie potrafimy czegoś dostrzec, uszami, gdy nie dociera do nas żaden dźwięk, naszym rozumiem, kiedy nie możemy polegać na swoim, a także sumieniem, kotwicą, drogowskazem, syreną alarmową, kiedy źle się dzieje. Są częścią nas samych. I właśnie takich przyjaciół widzimy w „Love’s Trials”, właśnie kimś takim są David i Nate. Tym samym, chociaż powieść skupia się na Colinie i Joshu, także ta dwójka pobocznych bohaterów odgrywa w tym tomie niesamowicie ważną rolę, a co za tym idzie, możemy zakochać się w nich na nowo, może nawet bardziej, niż po przeczytaniu „Love’s Magic”.
Na koniec muszę wspomnieć także o czymś, na co zwróciłam uwagę już w poprzednim tomie serii, a co w „Love’s Trials” zostało przez autorkę jeszcze szerzej przedstawione. Chodzi mianowicie o wagę jaką Colin przywiązuje do korzeni, zarówno swoich irlandzkich, jak i żydowskich Josha. Naprawdę mnie to ujęło, ponieważ o ile od pierwszego tomu „Revolutionary Heart” wiedzieliśmy, że Colin jest dumny ze swojego irlandzkiego pochodzenia, o tyle w tej części serii widzimy także, że równie dumny jest z żydowskiej krwi płynącej w żyłach kochanka. Można nawet powiedzieć, że jest w niej zakochany, tak jak zakochany jest we wszystkim, co czyni Josha tym, kim jest. To naprawdę piękne. Nie można jednak pominąć faktu, iż w „Love’s Trials” nasza dwójka głównych bohaterów nierzadko wymienia się zapewnieniami miłości w językach swoich przodków, co jest wręcz magiczne. W tym miejscu muszę dodać, że ten w pewnym stopniu drobny gest wyraźnie podkreśla wyjątkowość Colina i Josha zarówno jako jednostek, jak i jako pary. Autorka bezsprzecznie podbiła w ten sposób moje serce jeszcze bardziej niż do tej pory.
Podsumowując, „Love’s Trials” uważam za powieść naprawdę perfekcyjną. Pełna jest bowiem psychologicznej głębi, najróżniejszych gwałtownych emocji, szczerych, silnych uczuć, jak również porusza niesamowicie istotne tematy i jeszcze bardziej rozkochuje nas w bohaterach, dla których już wcześniej mieliśmy okazję stracić głowę. To wzruszająca i piękna historia, którą pamięta się przez lata. Jest po prostu magiczna.
After a tumultuous struggle with his feelings and with himself, Colin Campbell finally settled down and for months has enjoyed a satisfying, blissful life with Josh. Unfortunately, peace and joy can't last forever, because fate has completely different plans for two lovers. When the Charlottesville authorities agree to the neo-Nazi march, from the very beginning it is known that it will not be a peaceful manifestation, but a real struggle for survival for all those who at that time will be nearby. due to that fact, all police officers are put in a state of readiness, including the university police, and hence Colin himself.
However, this is not all that fate prepared for Colin and Josh, because the police officer is forced to take part in an informant program designed on the one hand, to help students detained for drug offenses in cleaning their record, on the other hand, to arrest a drug lord who is distributing his goods at the university. Colin is supposed to be responsible for everything from behind his desk, but Josh is well aware that his lover will do almost anything for students, so there's simply no way there won't be any problems.
"Love's Magic", the first volume of "Revolutionary Heart" series, definitely deserved praise because of the psychological depth of that story presented by Janice Jarrell. However, "Love's Trials", the second part of this series, is even better and goes even deeper into the psyche of our protagonists. This time, the author focuses primarily on the subject of a brush with death and, as a consequence, serious health problems. It is worth noting that she makes use of this plot element to the maximum, as she presents it on many planes. And let's add that throughout the story she remains true to her characters and their personalities. The first of the mentioned planes is the impact that the serious damage to health has on a person directly affected by it. The reader witnesses how a proud, confident man slowly changes and pushes his loved ones away. A tough guy who has never needed any help, suddenly becomes dependent on another person, and worst of all, on a person whom he would like to spare this kind of experience, which naturally doesn't remain without consequences for his psyche. The second aspect of the problems raised in this volume is the impact that the possibility of losing a loved one has on an ordinary person. Therefore, we are presented with a whole range of negative emotions connected with such an event, as well as its possible consequences. The next plane consist of the impact of dramatic events on the relationship and adversities with which characters have to deal not only as individuals but also as a couple. Janice Jarrell shows that events that change people and pose a serious challenge to the psyche are of great importance also in the context of interpersonal relationships, such as love relationship and friendship. Finally, I will add that the author from the beginning to the end in a really excellent manner showed the personalities of all her characters, as well as the psychological problems with which they have to struggle after what happens to them.
A few words I would also like to write about the subject of anti-Semitism raised in "Love's Trials", which is all the more important because it directly affects our lead characters. I admit that I did not expect the author to lead the story in such a way as to refer to this extremely serious problem to such a large extent, so I was really positively surprised. In a very dramatic and moving manner she showed the enormity of human hatred, which can destroy another human being not only physically but also mentally. It is very important in this context that Janice Jarrell presented the influence of anti-Semitism not only on people with Jewish roots, but also on people close to them, such as colleagues, friends, lovers. I must admit that describing the neo-Nazi march, the author moved me to the core many times, and Colin's words: "[...] I sleep beside a Jewish man every night!" are engraved in my memory deeply enough that I will remember them for the rest of my life, as in my opinion they contain much more meaning, than one might think.
I believe it is also very important that 'Love's Trials' is not only a novel about love and its problems, but a moving story about true friendship. Janice Jarrell not only stressed how lucky Colin and Joshua are to have David and Nate at their side, but she also showed the reader how extremely important friends are and how supportive they could be. They are our eyes when there's something we can't see, our ears when we don't hear a sound, our understanding when we can't rely on our own. They are also our conscience, anchor, guidepost, alarm siren when something bad happens. They are part of us. And this kind of friends we see in "Love's Trials", exactly this kind of friends David and Nate are. And so, although the novel focuses on Colin and Josh, these two supporting characters also play an incredibly important role in this volume, and hence we can fall in love with them once again, maybe even more than while reading "Love's Magic".
Finally, I have to mention one thing that I already noticed in the previous volume of the series, thing that in "Love's Trials" was presented by the author in even more detail. Namely, what I have in mind is the fact that Colin considers both his Irish ancestry and Joshua's Jewish roots as extremely important. It really captivated me, because if from the first volume of "Revolutionary Heart" we knew that Colin is proud of his Irish origin, in this part of the series we also see that he is equally proud of the Jewish blood flowing through his lover's veins. You can even say he is in love with that fact, just as he is in love with everything that makes Josh who he is. It's something really beautiful. What's more, one can't miss the fact that in "Love's Trials" our two lead characters often exchange assurances of love in the languages of their ancestors, which is almost magical. At this point, I must add that this somewhat small gesture clearly stresses the uniqueness of Colin and Josh both as individuals and as a pair. In this way, the author undoubtedly conquered my heart even more than before.
To sum up, I consider "Love's Trials" to be truly perfect. This novel is full of psychological depth, various violent emotions, honest, strong feelings, and it also touches incredibly important topics and makes us fall in love anew with the characters, who already stole our hearts. It is a moving and beautiful story that one will remember for years. It is simply magical.
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Po burzliwej walce z uczuciami oraz z samym sobą, Colin Campbell w końcu się ustatkował i już od miesięcy rozkoszuje się satysfakcjonującym, błogim życiem u boku Josha. Niestety spokój i radość nie mogą trwać wiecznie, ponieważ los ma względem dwójki kochanków zupełnie inne plany. Kiedy władze Charlottesville wyrażają zgodę na marsz neonazistów, z góry wiadomo, że nie będzie to pokojowa manifestacja, ale prawdziwa walka o przetrwanie dla wszystkich, którzy znajdą się w pobliżu. Z tego też powodu w gotowość zostają postawieni wszyscy funkcjonariusze policji, wliczając to także policję uniwersytecką, a tym samym Colina.
To jednak nie wszystko, co los przygotował dla niego i Josha, ponieważ policjant zostaje zmuszony do zaangażowania się w program informatorski, mający z jednej strony pomóc studentom zatrzymanym za przestępstwa narkotykowe w oczyszczeniu ich kont, z drugiej zaś w ujęciu narkotykowego bossa rozprowadzającego swój towar na terenie uniwersytetu. Z założenia Colin ma za wszystko odpowiadać zza swojego biurka, jednak Josh doskonale zdaje sobie sprawę z tego, że kochanek dla studentów zrobi niemal wszystko, a więc na pewno nie obejdzie się bez problemów.
„Love’s Magic”, pierwszy tom „Revolutionary Heart”, zdecydowanie zasługiwał na pochwałę ze względu na zarysowane w nim zaplecze psychologiczne przedstawionej przez Janice Jarrell historii. „Love’s Trials”, druga odsłona tej serii, jest jednak jeszcze lepsza i wchodzi jeszcze głębiej w psychikę naszych bohaterów. Tym razem autorka skupia się przede wszystkim na temacie otarcia się o śmierć oraz, w konsekwencji, poważnych problemów zdrowotnych. Warto zauważyć, że wykorzystuje ten element fabuły do maksimum, jako że przedstawia go na wielu płaszczyznach. A dodajmy, że przez cały ten czas pozostaje wierna swoim bohaterom i ich charakterom. Pierwszą ze wspomnianych płaszczyzn stanowi ukazanie wpływu, jaki poważny uszczerbek na zdrowiu ma na osobę bezpośrednio poszkodowaną. Czytelnik jest świadkiem tego, jak dumny, pewny siebie mężczyzna zmienia się powoli i odsuwa od siebie najbliższych. Twardziel, który nigdy nie potrzebował żadnej pomocy, nagle staje się zależny od innej osoby, a co najgorsze od kogoś, komu wolałby oszczędzić podobnych doświadczeń, co naturalnie nie pozostaje bez konsekwencji dla jego psychiki. Drugim aspektem poruszonych w tym tomie problemów jest wpływ jaki możliwość utraty ukochanej osoby wywiera na człowieka. Przedstawiony zostaje nam więc cały wachlarz związanych z takim wydarzeniem negatywnych emocji, jak również jego możliwe następstwa. Kolejną płaszczyznę stanowi wpływ dramatycznych wydarzeń na związek oraz przeciwności losu, z jakimi bohaterowie muszą się zmagać już nie tylko jako jednostki, ale także jako para. Janice Jarrell pokazuje bowiem, że wydarzenia, które zmieniają człowieka i stanowią poważne wyzwanie dla psychiki mają ogromne znaczenie także w kontekście relacji międzyludzkich, takich jak miłość czy przyjaźń. Na koniec dodam, iż autorka od początku do końca w naprawdę doskonały sposób ukazała charaktery wszystkich swoich postaci, jak i problemy natury psychicznej, z jakimi muszą zmagać się po tym, co ich spotyka.
Kilka słów chciałabym także napisać o poruszonym w „Love’s Trials” temacie antysemityzmu, który jest tym ważniejszy, że dotyka bezpośrednio naszych bohaterów. Przyznaję, że nie spodziewałam się tego, iż autorka poprowadzi fabułę w taki sposób, aby w tak ogromnym stopniu odnieść się do tego niezwykle poważnego problemu, toteż zaskoczyła mnie naprawdę pozytywnie. W bardzo dramatyczny i poruszający sposób ukazała ogrom ludzkiej nienawiści, która potrafi niszczyć drugiego człowieka nie tylko fizycznie, ale także psychicznie. Za bardzo istotne w tym kontekście uważam to, że Janice Jarrell przedstawiła wpływ antysemityzmu nie tylko na osoby o żydowskich korzeniach, ale również na ludzi im bliskich, jak znajomi, przyjaciele, kochankowie. Nie ukrywam, że opisując marsz neonazistów autorka poruszyła mnie do głębi wielokrotnie, a słowa wypowiedziane wtedy przez Colina: „[…] I sleep beside a Jewish man every night!” wyryły się w mojej pamięci na tyle głęboko, że na pewno zapamiętam je do końca życia, jako że w moim odczuciu kryją w sobie o wiele więcej, niż mogłoby się wydawać.
Uważam, że bardzo istotny jest również fakt, iż „Love’s Trials” to nie tylko powieść o miłości i jej problemach, ale także poruszająca historia prawdziwej przyjaźni. Janice Jarrell nie tylko podkreśliła w niej jak wielkimi szczęściarzami są Colin i Joshua mając u boku Davida i Nate’a, ale także pokazała czytelnikowi jak niesamowicie ważni są przyjaciele i jak ogromnym potrafią być wsparciem. Są naszymi oczami, kiedy nie potrafimy czegoś dostrzec, uszami, gdy nie dociera do nas żaden dźwięk, naszym rozumiem, kiedy nie możemy polegać na swoim, a także sumieniem, kotwicą, drogowskazem, syreną alarmową, kiedy źle się dzieje. Są częścią nas samych. I właśnie takich przyjaciół widzimy w „Love’s Trials”, właśnie kimś takim są David i Nate. Tym samym, chociaż powieść skupia się na Colinie i Joshu, także ta dwójka pobocznych bohaterów odgrywa w tym tomie niesamowicie ważną rolę, a co za tym idzie, możemy zakochać się w nich na nowo, może nawet bardziej, niż po przeczytaniu „Love’s Magic”.
Na koniec muszę wspomnieć także o czymś, na co zwróciłam uwagę już w poprzednim tomie serii, a co w „Love’s Trials” zostało przez autorkę jeszcze szerzej przedstawione. Chodzi mianowicie o wagę jaką Colin przywiązuje do korzeni, zarówno swoich irlandzkich, jak i żydowskich Josha. Naprawdę mnie to ujęło, ponieważ o ile od pierwszego tomu „Revolutionary Heart” wiedzieliśmy, że Colin jest dumny ze swojego irlandzkiego pochodzenia, o tyle w tej części serii widzimy także, że równie dumny jest z żydowskiej krwi płynącej w żyłach kochanka. Można nawet powiedzieć, że jest w niej zakochany, tak jak zakochany jest we wszystkim, co czyni Josha tym, kim jest. To naprawdę piękne. Nie można jednak pominąć faktu, iż w „Love’s Trials” nasza dwójka głównych bohaterów nierzadko wymienia się zapewnieniami miłości w językach swoich przodków, co jest wręcz magiczne. W tym miejscu muszę dodać, że ten w pewnym stopniu drobny gest wyraźnie podkreśla wyjątkowość Colina i Josha zarówno jako jednostek, jak i jako pary. Autorka bezsprzecznie podbiła w ten sposób moje serce jeszcze bardziej niż do tej pory.
Podsumowując, „Love’s Trials” uważam za powieść naprawdę perfekcyjną. Pełna jest bowiem psychologicznej głębi, najróżniejszych gwałtownych emocji, szczerych, silnych uczuć, jak również porusza niesamowicie istotne tematy i jeszcze bardziej rozkochuje nas w bohaterach, dla których już wcześniej mieliśmy okazję stracić głowę. To wzruszająca i piękna historia, którą pamięta się przez lata. Jest po prostu magiczna.
February 7, 2020
Holy Mother of Audiobooks. This was fantastic!
First, I'd like to gush about Walker Williams, who not only narrated this gem of a story but performed it so well, Joshua and Colin were alive and well, telling me their story. I loved his take on Colin's voice. It was magical and he made this already fantastic book even better with his contribution of talent.
I fell hard for the couple in the first book, but this was the continuation of their story, post-trauma from book one. And just when we thought it was smooth sailing for this couple, Colin's job takes him into a situation he's lucky to survive. But he's still got his Irish ego to deal with.
Overall, I think this might have been my favorite book in the series. It gutted me in parts. The way Joshua talks about how he feels and then it's Colin's turn to lay it on the line. Truly exceptional.
I loved every moment, every word. I laughed, I mourned, and I rejoiced. So well done!
First, I'd like to gush about Walker Williams, who not only narrated this gem of a story but performed it so well, Joshua and Colin were alive and well, telling me their story. I loved his take on Colin's voice. It was magical and he made this already fantastic book even better with his contribution of talent.
I fell hard for the couple in the first book, but this was the continuation of their story, post-trauma from book one. And just when we thought it was smooth sailing for this couple, Colin's job takes him into a situation he's lucky to survive. But he's still got his Irish ego to deal with.
Overall, I think this might have been my favorite book in the series. It gutted me in parts. The way Joshua talks about how he feels and then it's Colin's turn to lay it on the line. Truly exceptional.
I loved every moment, every word. I laughed, I mourned, and I rejoiced. So well done!
October 12, 2018
Wow! Just wow! Love's Trials, book two in Janice Jarrell's Revolutionary Heart series is amazing!
Colin and Josh are back, and are dealt some tough obstacles. They have to deal with a dangerous drug case, the Charlottesville Neo Nazi march, and more. The scenes of the Charlottesville rally are as riveting as they are haunting. It was bad enough to see these events on tv, but to read about them from the characters points of view is mind-numbing. It's a tough read, but so worth it.
This story is one of two men who are each other's everything, each other's strength, but stagger with insecurities, fear and emotional distance. The writing takes us on a journey demonstrating the dangers of pride.
Overall, this book contains some tough topics, including PTSD. Without one another, Colin and Josh would be lost. But, together they can face anything.
I absolutely recommend Love's Trials, as well as Love's Magic, book 1 of this amazing series by Janice Jarrell. And I can't wait to see what she comes up with for these boys next!
Colin and Josh are back, and are dealt some tough obstacles. They have to deal with a dangerous drug case, the Charlottesville Neo Nazi march, and more. The scenes of the Charlottesville rally are as riveting as they are haunting. It was bad enough to see these events on tv, but to read about them from the characters points of view is mind-numbing. It's a tough read, but so worth it.
This story is one of two men who are each other's everything, each other's strength, but stagger with insecurities, fear and emotional distance. The writing takes us on a journey demonstrating the dangers of pride.
Overall, this book contains some tough topics, including PTSD. Without one another, Colin and Josh would be lost. But, together they can face anything.
I absolutely recommend Love's Trials, as well as Love's Magic, book 1 of this amazing series by Janice Jarrell. And I can't wait to see what she comes up with for these boys next!
February 20, 2020
One of my favorite couples (an audio review)
I loved Love’s Magic and was happy to hear Love’s Trials was coming out on audio. Needless to say, I snapped it up. In the first book I always felt Colin and Joshua were the secondary couple. They were given as much time as David and Nathan, but because they were introduced second, I never quite connected with them the same way. Fortunately I got a second chance to get to know them in this book.
In the first book, when I realized the book was set in Charlottesville, my immediate thought was the violent and deadly Unite the Right march. When it wasn’t mentioned in the book, I wondered if perhaps the book had been written before the rally, or if it wasn’t going to be an issue. Those questions were answered in this second book where the march does come up. Colin is an Irish cop. Since his sister’s death, he’s wanted to be a cop so he can ensure the guilty are punished. As a campus police officer, he’s straddling the line between caring for victims and nabbing perpetrators. In the last book the focus was on assault, specifically sexual assault. This book digs into drugs and their very real impact on campuses.
Between the rally and his work trying to take down a drug kingpin, Colin is busy. Joshua is understanding, though. He’s got his own counselling practice and he’s completely supportive of Colin’s career choice.
Until everything goes horribly wrong.
Man, this book made my heart hurt. When Colin was shot, I was stunned and was gripped by the worry for his safety. He survived, but the recovery takes up a lot of space in this book and I liked that. This is the story of what happens after the crisis. What life looks like when the attention and spotlight are gone. How two people fix what has been so badly broken.
Now, these are two intelligent men. Both can see that Colin’s injury is serious and life-altering. As a counselor, Joshua knows all the signs to watch out for and yet, when the rubber hits the road, he gives up. He acquiesces to Colin and let Colin run roughshod over him. And Colin knows what he’s doing is destructive and wrong, but he’s so obsessed with getting back to where he was that he doesn’t realize he’s going to lose the most important thing in his life.
Man, I wanted to knock their heads together to see if any sense could be shaken loose. And yet as frustrated as I was, I recognized that this was real life. Tragedy can either bring people together or it can tear them apart. I knew which one I preferred but I wasn’t convinced I would get my way. In the end, though, I got my happy ending.
The turbulence of emotion that I was put through is, to me, the sign of a good book. Make me work for it and I’m all in. This author weaves a compelling tale with very simple story lines chocked full of emotional highs and lows. In other words, a great book.
I loved Love’s Magic and was happy to hear Love’s Trials was coming out on audio. Needless to say, I snapped it up. In the first book I always felt Colin and Joshua were the secondary couple. They were given as much time as David and Nathan, but because they were introduced second, I never quite connected with them the same way. Fortunately I got a second chance to get to know them in this book.
In the first book, when I realized the book was set in Charlottesville, my immediate thought was the violent and deadly Unite the Right march. When it wasn’t mentioned in the book, I wondered if perhaps the book had been written before the rally, or if it wasn’t going to be an issue. Those questions were answered in this second book where the march does come up. Colin is an Irish cop. Since his sister’s death, he’s wanted to be a cop so he can ensure the guilty are punished. As a campus police officer, he’s straddling the line between caring for victims and nabbing perpetrators. In the last book the focus was on assault, specifically sexual assault. This book digs into drugs and their very real impact on campuses.
Between the rally and his work trying to take down a drug kingpin, Colin is busy. Joshua is understanding, though. He’s got his own counselling practice and he’s completely supportive of Colin’s career choice.
Until everything goes horribly wrong.
Man, this book made my heart hurt. When Colin was shot, I was stunned and was gripped by the worry for his safety. He survived, but the recovery takes up a lot of space in this book and I liked that. This is the story of what happens after the crisis. What life looks like when the attention and spotlight are gone. How two people fix what has been so badly broken.
Now, these are two intelligent men. Both can see that Colin’s injury is serious and life-altering. As a counselor, Joshua knows all the signs to watch out for and yet, when the rubber hits the road, he gives up. He acquiesces to Colin and let Colin run roughshod over him. And Colin knows what he’s doing is destructive and wrong, but he’s so obsessed with getting back to where he was that he doesn’t realize he’s going to lose the most important thing in his life.
Man, I wanted to knock their heads together to see if any sense could be shaken loose. And yet as frustrated as I was, I recognized that this was real life. Tragedy can either bring people together or it can tear them apart. I knew which one I preferred but I wasn’t convinced I would get my way. In the end, though, I got my happy ending.
The turbulence of emotion that I was put through is, to me, the sign of a good book. Make me work for it and I’m all in. This author weaves a compelling tale with very simple story lines chocked full of emotional highs and lows. In other words, a great book.
October 8, 2018
The story is set in Charlottesville, and we get a glimpse of what it was like there during the horrible riots in 2017, which I thought was very interesting. For the MC's though, on a more personal level, the trouble really only starts after the riots, when Colin gets hurt in an unrelated shooting.
Sorry to say, but this is where the story started to become too melodramatic for my taste. Unfortunately, once the tone is set, the drama and scenes just keep on coming.
I had a hard time believing in the strength of Colin's and Joshua's love for each other, seeing as how it crumbles at the first real test they encounter. The worst thing for me was their absolute lack of communication, which is so essential in any good relationship. There's very little caring for or sharing with each other when the going gets rough. Even when things finally start looking up again, they still don't share their worries with each other. They lie to each other. Sigh... Not what I look for in a romance.
Supposedly Joshua is Colin's "oak", but I don't see that in him. Not in any part of the story. He doesn't even try to keep it together.
After his ordeal, Colin's gratitude and relief about being alive are quickly forgotten and he starts wallowing in self-pity and negative thoughts. He completely shuts Joshua out, knowing it is wrong to do so. He really got on my nerves. Colin is prideful and self-absorbed.
Eventually Colin sees the light and makes some changes, but I didn't like the catalyst for his change in attitude. This should have happened without another "dramatic" event.
I liked the Hebrew and Gaelic dialogues, but was a bit thrown by the use of the pet name "laddie", which I think is far more commonly used in Scottish dialects than in Irish. I also found it a bit weird that Colin calls Joshua his "bud".
There were also a couple of references that rubbed me the wrong way, like "whiny little girl" or "cried like a lil' girl". These to me are remarks in the style of "boys will be boys", reinforcing hateful stereotypes, and quite misogynistic in nature. I disliked the machismo and the immature stubbornness that Colin, and some of the secondary characters displayed.
Not my cup of tea.
Sorry to say, but this is where the story started to become too melodramatic for my taste. Unfortunately, once the tone is set, the drama and scenes just keep on coming.
I had a hard time believing in the strength of Colin's and Joshua's love for each other, seeing as how it crumbles at the first real test they encounter. The worst thing for me was their absolute lack of communication, which is so essential in any good relationship. There's very little caring for or sharing with each other when the going gets rough. Even when things finally start looking up again, they still don't share their worries with each other. They lie to each other. Sigh... Not what I look for in a romance.
Supposedly Joshua is Colin's "oak", but I don't see that in him. Not in any part of the story. He doesn't even try to keep it together.
After his ordeal, Colin's gratitude and relief about being alive are quickly forgotten and he starts wallowing in self-pity and negative thoughts. He completely shuts Joshua out, knowing it is wrong to do so. He really got on my nerves. Colin is prideful and self-absorbed.
Eventually Colin sees the light and makes some changes, but I didn't like the catalyst for his change in attitude. This should have happened without another "dramatic" event.
I liked the Hebrew and Gaelic dialogues, but was a bit thrown by the use of the pet name "laddie", which I think is far more commonly used in Scottish dialects than in Irish. I also found it a bit weird that Colin calls Joshua his "bud".
There were also a couple of references that rubbed me the wrong way, like "whiny little girl" or "cried like a lil' girl". These to me are remarks in the style of "boys will be boys", reinforcing hateful stereotypes, and quite misogynistic in nature. I disliked the machismo and the immature stubbornness that Colin, and some of the secondary characters displayed.
Not my cup of tea.
February 12, 2020
I don't even know where to begin. This book hit me hard. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to slap someone, and this time it wasn't the characters...well, maybe them a little. LOL. Ten years ago, I became sick and disabled, so this one hits close to home. I could relate to Colin on a level I couldn't in book one, and while it was an emotional read, I absolutely loved it. Let's get into the review.
STORY: 4.5 STARS
Colin, Josh, Nate, and David are back, but this time the story solely focuses on Colin and Josh, and I will tell you now, I liked that a lot more than I did the first book, Love's Magic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed book one, but it wasn't my fave. This one...blew me away. Maybe because we only have to keep up with the one, which I'm going to tell you now, there was enough drama, nothing needed to be added to it. LOL. The raw emotion that is written into this story when Colin is hurt and the way he deals with it came through loud and clear. Not everyone can do that. Like I said, it hits close to home for me and pressed certain buttons. I'm not saying it has triggers, but if you have ever had a disease or injury that basically put on the breaks and changed your life, you will be able to understand Colin very well. Still a great cast of characters - I love the physical therapist - and a plot that will touch you emotionally.
NARRATION: 4.5 STARS
Once again Walker Williams brought these characters to life. With a steady pace, the book is easy to follow, and he gave different voices to the various characters, which means you won't get lost trying to figure out who said what.
OVERALL: 4.5 STARS
I loved this book, and while there were still a couple of times when I yelled at my audible app and told the characters to pull their heads out of their...you know, the story pulled me in. For some of you, this will be very emotional, and I'll recommend tissue to those of you that warning applies to. I needed them a few times. Great story, great plot, fantastic characters, and good narration. Overall, I'm giving this book 4.5 stars and recommend you one-click today!
STORY: 4.5 STARS
Colin, Josh, Nate, and David are back, but this time the story solely focuses on Colin and Josh, and I will tell you now, I liked that a lot more than I did the first book, Love's Magic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed book one, but it wasn't my fave. This one...blew me away. Maybe because we only have to keep up with the one, which I'm going to tell you now, there was enough drama, nothing needed to be added to it. LOL. The raw emotion that is written into this story when Colin is hurt and the way he deals with it came through loud and clear. Not everyone can do that. Like I said, it hits close to home for me and pressed certain buttons. I'm not saying it has triggers, but if you have ever had a disease or injury that basically put on the breaks and changed your life, you will be able to understand Colin very well. Still a great cast of characters - I love the physical therapist - and a plot that will touch you emotionally.
NARRATION: 4.5 STARS
Once again Walker Williams brought these characters to life. With a steady pace, the book is easy to follow, and he gave different voices to the various characters, which means you won't get lost trying to figure out who said what.
OVERALL: 4.5 STARS
I loved this book, and while there were still a couple of times when I yelled at my audible app and told the characters to pull their heads out of their...you know, the story pulled me in. For some of you, this will be very emotional, and I'll recommend tissue to those of you that warning applies to. I needed them a few times. Great story, great plot, fantastic characters, and good narration. Overall, I'm giving this book 4.5 stars and recommend you one-click today!
March 31, 2020
Dynamic. Rich and Powerful.
How can one possibly emulate the mistress of gay novels, Janice Jarrell?
Here's the thing.
One cannot.
So let's talk.
I've said it before that Ms Jarrell's style lends itself to a dynamic of wealth and power in the most subtle, beautiful way.
Her descriptions sing.
Her prose rings out like distant church bells on a lazy Sunday morning.
And Walker Williams brings all of it to life.
Perfect life.
He has that eclectic resonance that dances through the voice of each character, it's as if balloons could use his voice for fuel to float. His renditioning of Love's Trials is just that powerful.
I cast myself back to remember Love's Magic. A masterful work which explores the tangible coming together of four stalwart characters and their road to fulfilment. I remember thinking; How on earth is Janice Jarrell going to top this? Well, I'll need to go back into my hole and suffer the pain of doubt. Big, Big, huge mistake!
Miss Jarrell has outdone herself.
Colin just cannot stay out of trouble and nail biting adventure. That's what draws me to him. From the Unite The Right riots to working undercover, to a drug cartel, Ms Jarrell paints the 2nd incredible Revolutionary Heart novel with nothing but her imagination and ten typing fingers. Tragedy strikes once again and hits both Colin and Joshua totally out of kilter. It moved me. It struck home that out of tragedy, in many instances, comes good things and without giving anything away, once again I wanted to klap Colin out of his deadlock with himself.
That's how immersed one becomes when reading a Revolutionary Heart. You know that kick reflex when you're watching a movie and suddenly you're cussing loudly at the characters on screen, well, that's what I was doing and it felt wonderful!
With Walker William's voice to lend authenticity to very word in the novel, Ms Jarrell has another winner. I loved listening to this book and fully recommend it to everyone, gay or straight.
How can one possibly emulate the mistress of gay novels, Janice Jarrell?
Here's the thing.
One cannot.
So let's talk.
I've said it before that Ms Jarrell's style lends itself to a dynamic of wealth and power in the most subtle, beautiful way.
Her descriptions sing.
Her prose rings out like distant church bells on a lazy Sunday morning.
And Walker Williams brings all of it to life.
Perfect life.
He has that eclectic resonance that dances through the voice of each character, it's as if balloons could use his voice for fuel to float. His renditioning of Love's Trials is just that powerful.
I cast myself back to remember Love's Magic. A masterful work which explores the tangible coming together of four stalwart characters and their road to fulfilment. I remember thinking; How on earth is Janice Jarrell going to top this? Well, I'll need to go back into my hole and suffer the pain of doubt. Big, Big, huge mistake!
Miss Jarrell has outdone herself.
Colin just cannot stay out of trouble and nail biting adventure. That's what draws me to him. From the Unite The Right riots to working undercover, to a drug cartel, Ms Jarrell paints the 2nd incredible Revolutionary Heart novel with nothing but her imagination and ten typing fingers. Tragedy strikes once again and hits both Colin and Joshua totally out of kilter. It moved me. It struck home that out of tragedy, in many instances, comes good things and without giving anything away, once again I wanted to klap Colin out of his deadlock with himself.
That's how immersed one becomes when reading a Revolutionary Heart. You know that kick reflex when you're watching a movie and suddenly you're cussing loudly at the characters on screen, well, that's what I was doing and it felt wonderful!
With Walker William's voice to lend authenticity to very word in the novel, Ms Jarrell has another winner. I loved listening to this book and fully recommend it to everyone, gay or straight.
March 8, 2020
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.75
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 4.5
Another emotional roller-coaster of reality, truth, love, and heartache!
Janice has a talent for such raw and real emotions that go beyond the story and settle in your heart. I loved Colin and Josh from book 1 and loved the chance to revisit them again. I really liked Janice’s approach to this story and how this fits with reality! Colin and Josh may have faced death but the story, pain, and struggles, was only just beginning, and this is so true of real life. It’s refreshing to find a story that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life!
Colin and Josh face a major milestone in their relationship that goes beyond Colin surviving getting shot. This story follows the aftermath of a chaotic and dangerous case that challenges the foundations of Colin and Josh’s relationship. It was so raw and real, my heart broke with the characters as they drifted apart and faced the harsh reality of Colin’s injury and what his recovery would mean for both of them.
This is a truly realistic journey of heartache, recovery, vulnerability, and healing, and reflects the truth that you have to work at a relationship and it’s not all hearts, rainbows, and happy endings! Colin’s and Josh’s journey is hard but seeing them fight tooth and nail for each other, even while hurting is harrowing. Janice, you’ve created a truly real and beautiful story. I loved all these characters and can’t wait for more. (Trent’s story please 😉 )
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚!
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.75
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 4.5
Another emotional roller-coaster of reality, truth, love, and heartache!
Janice has a talent for such raw and real emotions that go beyond the story and settle in your heart. I loved Colin and Josh from book 1 and loved the chance to revisit them again. I really liked Janice’s approach to this story and how this fits with reality! Colin and Josh may have faced death but the story, pain, and struggles, was only just beginning, and this is so true of real life. It’s refreshing to find a story that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life!
Colin and Josh face a major milestone in their relationship that goes beyond Colin surviving getting shot. This story follows the aftermath of a chaotic and dangerous case that challenges the foundations of Colin and Josh’s relationship. It was so raw and real, my heart broke with the characters as they drifted apart and faced the harsh reality of Colin’s injury and what his recovery would mean for both of them.
This is a truly realistic journey of heartache, recovery, vulnerability, and healing, and reflects the truth that you have to work at a relationship and it’s not all hearts, rainbows, and happy endings! Colin’s and Josh’s journey is hard but seeing them fight tooth and nail for each other, even while hurting is harrowing. Janice, you’ve created a truly real and beautiful story. I loved all these characters and can’t wait for more. (Trent’s story please 😉 )
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚!
October 13, 2018
Brilliant! She has a way of bringing her characters to life
The only thing that I disliked about this compelling read was that I wasn’t going to do it justice in my review.
The book is full of true to life characters. Not only is the narrative SHARP the plot is also spot-on regarding the current social events not to mention the amazing character development. I was hooked from page one.
It was necessary for Colin to get injured in the line of duty to facilitate the plot of the story. The raw emotions that emanate from him and Josh as we walk through this journey with them are indescribable. Colin’s a tough Irish cop who’s having trouble receiving and reciprocating the help that he’s getting, while Josh just wants to be his strength and feels like he’s failing miserably. Their lack of communication is the culprit, but the support that they get from friends and family is unequivocal as we are reintroduced to secondary characters from the author's previous book Love’s Magic. She brings mental health to the forefront once again and I applaud her tenacity to keep this topic alive because it has long been misunderstood.
This exciting and gripping read left me yearning for more. I was reminded that the choices and decisions that we make always come with consequences, but the HEA ending was an absolute thrill that made up for all the tears shed. A definite must read and a wonderful story to add to one’s growing library.
**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
The only thing that I disliked about this compelling read was that I wasn’t going to do it justice in my review.
The book is full of true to life characters. Not only is the narrative SHARP the plot is also spot-on regarding the current social events not to mention the amazing character development. I was hooked from page one.
It was necessary for Colin to get injured in the line of duty to facilitate the plot of the story. The raw emotions that emanate from him and Josh as we walk through this journey with them are indescribable. Colin’s a tough Irish cop who’s having trouble receiving and reciprocating the help that he’s getting, while Josh just wants to be his strength and feels like he’s failing miserably. Their lack of communication is the culprit, but the support that they get from friends and family is unequivocal as we are reintroduced to secondary characters from the author's previous book Love’s Magic. She brings mental health to the forefront once again and I applaud her tenacity to keep this topic alive because it has long been misunderstood.
This exciting and gripping read left me yearning for more. I was reminded that the choices and decisions that we make always come with consequences, but the HEA ending was an absolute thrill that made up for all the tears shed. A definite must read and a wonderful story to add to one’s growing library.
**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
February 6, 2020
This is a review of the audiobook:
Performance: 5
Story: 5
Overall: 5
Great story, wonderful audio performance
I kind of feel like I've been waiting for this audiobook forever. 😊 It's really only been seven months or so but after listening to Love's Magic back in June 2019 I couldn't wait to listen to Love's Trials. I own all of the books in this series but I haven't read them simply because I am in love with Walker Williams performance of the stories and I knew this audiobook was in the works.
I was totally enthralled by this story and the dulcet timber of Walker Williams voice. To best understand Colin and Joshua's love story I encourage you to either read or listen to Love's Magic first. The blurb is excellent and from it I'm sure you can tell that hard times lie ahead for Collin and Joshua. There are many harrowing moments in this book and I shed more than a few tears. But all of those tears were worth it in the end because Joshua and Colin get their HEA.
Love's Trials isn't as complex of a story as Love's Magic was because it pretty much focuses on only one couple but we do get to visit with Nate and David from Love's Magic quite a bit. I sincerely hope that more of the books from the Revolutionary Hearts series will be coming out as audiobooks – especially if Walker Williams will be performing them.
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***
Performance: 5
Story: 5
Overall: 5
Great story, wonderful audio performance
I kind of feel like I've been waiting for this audiobook forever. 😊 It's really only been seven months or so but after listening to Love's Magic back in June 2019 I couldn't wait to listen to Love's Trials. I own all of the books in this series but I haven't read them simply because I am in love with Walker Williams performance of the stories and I knew this audiobook was in the works.
I was totally enthralled by this story and the dulcet timber of Walker Williams voice. To best understand Colin and Joshua's love story I encourage you to either read or listen to Love's Magic first. The blurb is excellent and from it I'm sure you can tell that hard times lie ahead for Collin and Joshua. There are many harrowing moments in this book and I shed more than a few tears. But all of those tears were worth it in the end because Joshua and Colin get their HEA.
Love's Trials isn't as complex of a story as Love's Magic was because it pretty much focuses on only one couple but we do get to visit with Nate and David from Love's Magic quite a bit. I sincerely hope that more of the books from the Revolutionary Hearts series will be coming out as audiobooks – especially if Walker Williams will be performing them.
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***
February 19, 2020
Well, the first book definitively wasn't a fluke, because this one is as good as that one.
When the book begins, Nate and David are happily married, and they had become very good friends with Joshua and Colin.
But, of course, troubles are brewing: a white supremacists' rally at the college left them all unsettled. Add to that that there is a project going in which students are being used as bait to catch drug dealers in exchange of dropping charges of possession and/or distribution of drugs and avoid being expelled, and well... things are messy enough. And then, Colin gets shoot during one of the ops set to bust a big dealer...
From then on, the story is an absolute emotional wreck: raw, honest and painful. We are witness to the consequences of the shooting, the way in which trauma affects Josuha and Colin, how they deal (or don't deal) with it, and it's a fantastic but truly distressing ride.
I find the writer's style compelling, and beautiful. I like that there aren't easy solutions in their stories, and that love isn't a magic cure to everything that's wrong. I love how she constructs characters who are complex and human, with weaknesses and strengths. I love how their cultural heritage are interwoven in the stories and how they are part of who they are.
And I loved this book. Very much! Janice Jarrel has become a new favourite author, that's for sure.
Walker Williams did a really good job here, too.
When the book begins, Nate and David are happily married, and they had become very good friends with Joshua and Colin.
But, of course, troubles are brewing: a white supremacists' rally at the college left them all unsettled. Add to that that there is a project going in which students are being used as bait to catch drug dealers in exchange of dropping charges of possession and/or distribution of drugs and avoid being expelled, and well... things are messy enough. And then, Colin gets shoot during one of the ops set to bust a big dealer...
From then on, the story is an absolute emotional wreck: raw, honest and painful. We are witness to the consequences of the shooting, the way in which trauma affects Josuha and Colin, how they deal (or don't deal) with it, and it's a fantastic but truly distressing ride.
I find the writer's style compelling, and beautiful. I like that there aren't easy solutions in their stories, and that love isn't a magic cure to everything that's wrong. I love how she constructs characters who are complex and human, with weaknesses and strengths. I love how their cultural heritage are interwoven in the stories and how they are part of who they are.
And I loved this book. Very much! Janice Jarrel has become a new favourite author, that's for sure.
Walker Williams did a really good job here, too.
October 3, 2021
I loved this to a point. Josh ruined the experience for me with the constant excuses he made for Colin. He has to be the worse psychiatrist ever. Their friends told Colin the truth, how much his attitude hurt everyone especially the man he loves. His wake up call was believeble, finally realizing what could have happened to Josh. Josh"s reaction was also heartfelt and I was glad he finally told Colin how he felt. But then the next day came and Josh was back to "it s my fault", "poor u and your ego". Colin will never learn from his mistakes if his boyfriend constantly makes excuses for him and takes on blame. I might have been more sympathetic towards Colin if his struggle weren t so much ab his ego and arrogance. A thing they all knew and aqnolwdged. When he wanted to take care of Josh after he got hurt I literally went : "How does it feel to see your partner struggle, to want to take care of him but him shutting you out?! Serves you right!". So, I was fine with this book until that moment, Josh is a push over and a doormat and it made all their struggles irrelevant bc Josh just forgets everything after a night's sleep. After complaining for half the book ab Colin not letting him be there for him and help with his recovery, when Colin finally apologizes for beeing a dick, Josh tells him he is so proud of him for doing everything on his own. Well, what the hell were you complaining about then🤷♀️. Josh is enabling every narcissistic trait Colin has.
December 21, 2021
In my review of the first book in this series, I mentioned that I was halfway through this second book but was unsure if I would finish it and continue to the third book in the trilogy. I had reservations about the author's continuous use of referencing her characters by their ethnic backgrounds - Colin being Irish and Joshua being Jewish. At the beginning of book #1, describing the characters physically and ethnically gives the reader a general sense of understanding. However, the author continually repeated the ethnic heritage of the two main characters throughout the book! It was almost an obsession by the author that you know one guy was Irish (and a tough, stalwart cop!) and the other Jewish (and a reticent scholar) - stereotypes, anyone? - as if it had any bearing on the story development, at all. It didn't. It was annoying and frustrating to be constantly reminded that the two MCs were starkly different - one cool and confident and the other overly emotional and unsure. Additionally, there is one scene at the hospital that could have been taken directly from an overacted, overly dramatic telenovela, bad dialog and all. It was cringeworthy. I finished the book with reservations about reading the third installment. (I bought all three books at the same time, so I already owned it.) We'll see how that pans out.
October 23, 2018
Writing this review the next day and I'm still recovering! The emotional turmoil that the characters go through, especially in the second half of the book, is just so heartbreaking. You know it's a great book when you're sat reading and shouting at the characters of the book to get their acts together.
Janice has written the two main characters so very well. Colin and Joshua got together in book one of the series are now sharing their lives and living together. Colons job as a campus police office becomes more intense though when drugs become more prolific on site and he's asked to help with the investigation. The outcome has drastic effects of both men, both physical and mental and we get to follow them on their journey together and how much strength it takes to stay with the person you live through the tough times.
All of the emotions and actions that you read feel so real! And engaging! I cried on several occasions and I'm so glad I read this book! I didn't think it could have beaten how highly I thought of book one but, to me, this story takes us to the next level and I was fully immersed from beginning to end!
I cannot recommend this book and series enough!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review
Janice has written the two main characters so very well. Colin and Joshua got together in book one of the series are now sharing their lives and living together. Colons job as a campus police office becomes more intense though when drugs become more prolific on site and he's asked to help with the investigation. The outcome has drastic effects of both men, both physical and mental and we get to follow them on their journey together and how much strength it takes to stay with the person you live through the tough times.
All of the emotions and actions that you read feel so real! And engaging! I cried on several occasions and I'm so glad I read this book! I didn't think it could have beaten how highly I thought of book one but, to me, this story takes us to the next level and I was fully immersed from beginning to end!
I cannot recommend this book and series enough!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review
October 26, 2018
After reading the beginning of Josh and Colin's romance in Love's Magic, I was excited to read more about them here. These poor guys went through so much! Colin was basically Mr. Perfect, with his looks, singing talent, athletic prowess, and heroic actions as a police officer. He was wonderful. My favorite character though, had to be Josh. He was quieter and more thoughtful before acting; and he was nothing but supportive to the man he loved. When Colin was injured and his pride was keeping him from confiding in and finding comfort in Josh, I became angry. I know those reactions were valid and not at all unusual, but I hated seeing Josh get hurt over and over. I liked the friendship these two still had with David and Nate, and I loved the support that couple offered through the good and bad times. I also enjoyed the character of Trent, even when Josh didn't like him. I thought he was exactly the kind of person Colin needed to help him deal with his injury.
This was a great wrap-up of the romance Colin and Josh began in the first book. I loved both men, and I needed to see them find their way to happiness. I was completely satisfied with the way things were wrapped up. Excellent love story!
This was a great wrap-up of the romance Colin and Josh began in the first book. I loved both men, and I needed to see them find their way to happiness. I was completely satisfied with the way things were wrapped up. Excellent love story!
October 11, 2018
3,5*
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit)
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow- Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save the kids' series from EM Leya or 'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's
like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it
was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit)
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow- Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save the kids' series from EM Leya or 'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's
like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it
was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
October 13, 2018
An emotional roller coaster! I'll admit that I went into this second book in the series with some trepidation. I liked Colin and Josh in Love's Magic, but Nate and David had my heart. Thankfully, I did get some time with them in this one, and while they still have me, Colin and Josh have their place in there too. Love's Trials is loaded with angst and turmoil - actually, a bit more than I normally care for. However, here's where this author wins me over - The characters. They're real, like reach out and touch them real. Throughout this story, I wanted to shake some sense into both Colin and Joshua more than once, but I spent equal amounts of time wanting to hug one or both of them. These guys frustrated the living daylights out of me while still pulling at my heartstrings, making me root for their happy ending. Janice Jarrell seamlessly blends real world events with the traumas and trials of her characters. The story is real, raw, and emotional, and filled with the ups and downs that tragedy can bring about in a relationship. It is angsty and at times, heartbreaking, but it's also a story of hope and finding your way through the darkness with friends and loved ones.
October 16, 2018
4 Stars
Love's Trials is book 2 in the Revolutionary Heart series and it needs to be read in order. This time around the story focuses mainly on Colin and Joshua, although Nate and David feature prominently in it.
Colin and Joshua's relationship is flourishing, but their love is tested when Colin gets a new case at the campus police where he works.
I still like Joshua more than I like Colin, although I will admit that there were a few times in which I wished I could shake some sense into both of them. I was a tad frustrated with Josh because he's a psychologist and such he should have known better. And Colin, ugh, he's so pigheaded that I just wanted to scream! Grrrr! I'm glad David and Nate were there to help them out, along with some new and old faces, because I'm not sure they would've made it on their own.
While the book is well-written and emotional in certain parts, there were others in which I felt it dragged a little and if I read Irish something or other in regards to Colin one more time I was going to kill someone. Still, it was a good and engaging read. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Love's Trials is book 2 in the Revolutionary Heart series and it needs to be read in order. This time around the story focuses mainly on Colin and Joshua, although Nate and David feature prominently in it.
Colin and Joshua's relationship is flourishing, but their love is tested when Colin gets a new case at the campus police where he works.
I still like Joshua more than I like Colin, although I will admit that there were a few times in which I wished I could shake some sense into both of them. I was a tad frustrated with Josh because he's a psychologist and such he should have known better. And Colin, ugh, he's so pigheaded that I just wanted to scream! Grrrr! I'm glad David and Nate were there to help them out, along with some new and old faces, because I'm not sure they would've made it on their own.
While the book is well-written and emotional in certain parts, there were others in which I felt it dragged a little and if I read Irish something or other in regards to Colin one more time I was going to kill someone. Still, it was a good and engaging read. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
October 26, 2018
WOW 5 PLUS STARS.. This author is brilliant with writing stories that get you loving the characters. The first book of the series is gorgeous and so is this one. Note: you WILL need tissues for this book, I totally needed them. Okay so the start of the book is not an easy read as there's horrible scenes in the story. A protectors group at University goes wrong and people die as supremacists rampage. Colin get hurt and this makes Joshua angry, but Colin is a Cop just doing his job. But that's only the start of what happens next. Thank gods David and Nate are there for them all. Smokin hot sexy scenes are hotter as the kitchen table gets used.. ;) There relationship is tested to the max even I had my doubts they'd make it. I absolutely loved the ending it was totally perfect. I really hope there's more to come for these guys.
Colin was a Sergeant with the Police force and loved his beloved Firebird car, but Joshua was his soul partner living together. Joshua was an psychology doctor helping head trauma cases. When Colin gets a drug ring case operating out of the Uni, Joshua gets worried. (KU read)
Colin was a Sergeant with the Police force and loved his beloved Firebird car, but Joshua was his soul partner living together. Joshua was an psychology doctor helping head trauma cases. When Colin gets a drug ring case operating out of the Uni, Joshua gets worried. (KU read)
February 6, 2019
ove’s Trials picks up where Love’s Magic ended. Colin Campbell, campus police Sargent, is tasked with heading a risky operation to catch a notorious drug dealer selling drugs to students at the university. David Gardner, beloved professor, is also involved with assisting Colin.
When I read the blurb, I thought the book would be about undercover police work, but the author gave me a bigger surprise, so the book is aptly named.
I’ve never read a romance where the trials of an already established relationship are put to the test, and this is what makes the book a winner for me. In the real world, there is no such thing as HEA. Relationships go through many hardships, and love is greatly tested. That is what happens in Love’s Trials.
The main characters are Colin and his lover Joshua, the psychologist Colin committed to in the last novel. For something like this to happen while the two are establishing their relationships as partners showed how devoted they were to each other.
You can read the rest of the review here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2019/01/0...
When I read the blurb, I thought the book would be about undercover police work, but the author gave me a bigger surprise, so the book is aptly named.
I’ve never read a romance where the trials of an already established relationship are put to the test, and this is what makes the book a winner for me. In the real world, there is no such thing as HEA. Relationships go through many hardships, and love is greatly tested. That is what happens in Love’s Trials.
The main characters are Colin and his lover Joshua, the psychologist Colin committed to in the last novel. For something like this to happen while the two are establishing their relationships as partners showed how devoted they were to each other.
You can read the rest of the review here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2019/01/0...
March 25, 2023
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love's Trial is the second book in the Revolutionary Heart series and follows on directly from volume one. I think it can also be read as a standalone, but you'll get more enjoyment out of it if you've read volume one before.
Joshua and Colin are very happy after initial difficulties in their relationship. But little do they know that their love will soon be severely tested. Colin is protecting a student on duty and is shot in the process. He is badly injured, but Colin does not leave his side. What follows is an emotional roller coaster in their relationship as Colin's recovery progresses slowly and emotions run high. I was so anxious for their relationship! The author has described the time after the attack on Colin realistically and my heart bled. For Colin and even more for Joshua.
In addition to the two of them, we also see David and Nate again, but the focus of the story is on Colin and Joshua's relationship.
Walker William did a great job bringing the story to life here as well. I liked how he gave the characters appropriate voices and emotions. An entertaining listen.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love's Trial is the second book in the Revolutionary Heart series and follows on directly from volume one. I think it can also be read as a standalone, but you'll get more enjoyment out of it if you've read volume one before.
Joshua and Colin are very happy after initial difficulties in their relationship. But little do they know that their love will soon be severely tested. Colin is protecting a student on duty and is shot in the process. He is badly injured, but Colin does not leave his side. What follows is an emotional roller coaster in their relationship as Colin's recovery progresses slowly and emotions run high. I was so anxious for their relationship! The author has described the time after the attack on Colin realistically and my heart bled. For Colin and even more for Joshua.
In addition to the two of them, we also see David and Nate again, but the focus of the story is on Colin and Joshua's relationship.
Walker William did a great job bringing the story to life here as well. I liked how he gave the characters appropriate voices and emotions. An entertaining listen.
October 12, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-eUZ
From that review: "Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart #2) by Janice Jarrell is another one of those stories whose rating I dithered over. Well written with a compelling story I need to keep asking myself why the disconnect with it? Because for me there was one.
It wasn't totally with the location and storyline. That "ripped right from the headlines" plot about the "Unite the Right" march in Charlottesville is close enough to me that it was more of a local news story here and I have very close ties to UVA. No, that felt about right, along with all it's accompanying issues. Even Colin's handling and emotions towards a drug enforcement operation on campus, it's use of students, and the administration's official view felt realistic. Although the clumsy foreshadowing only needed organ music to make it feel completely obvious what was about to happen."
For all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-eUZ
From that review: "Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart #2) by Janice Jarrell is another one of those stories whose rating I dithered over. Well written with a compelling story I need to keep asking myself why the disconnect with it? Because for me there was one.
It wasn't totally with the location and storyline. That "ripped right from the headlines" plot about the "Unite the Right" march in Charlottesville is close enough to me that it was more of a local news story here and I have very close ties to UVA. No, that felt about right, along with all it's accompanying issues. Even Colin's handling and emotions towards a drug enforcement operation on campus, it's use of students, and the administration's official view felt realistic. Although the clumsy foreshadowing only needed organ music to make it feel completely obvious what was about to happen."
For all our reviews, check out http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
April 21, 2019
I recently found this author and I sit fretting over writing the review for this series. I’m a reader and my skills at writing are next to none. Yet I hope someone will come away from my reviews of the books in this series wanting to read them. I am so glad I had the books from the series when I started. I’m not a patient person and once I started these I had to keep reading. There is so much emotion to this series. This book is a continuation of the story in Love’s Magic. I read a lot of books and this author is one of the few who can bring me right in the story. Her characters are so real. The situations so well described. The emotions written so well that I felt a little of what they were going through. I love how Colin is not only strong but also has a softer side. I enjoy that he is Irish and it plays so much into the story. The flow of the story is consistent and held my complete attention. I also have to say the covers for these stories are perfect. The characters and the pictures on the covers completely fit.
October 12, 2018
I honestly enjoyed reading this amazing, emotional yet heartwarming MM romance.
It is about: the heartbreaking, anguished filled journey of two men (Colin, an Irish Policeman) & (Joshua, a Psychologist) and the trials & tribulations they go through to find their love & happiness again.
There is: drama, intrigue, twists & turns, law enforcement, drug dealers, cases, reports, informants, investigations, suspects, shootings, injuries, memories, verbal banter, shock, emotional feelings, anxiety, verbal conflict, therapy, fear, rejection, anguish, devastation, grief, pain, seduction, panic attacks, desire, happiness, love, trust, some steamy scenes & a satisfying happy ending,
The story-line and plot is well-written and entertaining, at times it causes the reader either great satisfaction or great frustration at the characters actions and/or reaction to the situations they find themselves in.
I really would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading the MM genre.
It is about: the heartbreaking, anguished filled journey of two men (Colin, an Irish Policeman) & (Joshua, a Psychologist) and the trials & tribulations they go through to find their love & happiness again.
There is: drama, intrigue, twists & turns, law enforcement, drug dealers, cases, reports, informants, investigations, suspects, shootings, injuries, memories, verbal banter, shock, emotional feelings, anxiety, verbal conflict, therapy, fear, rejection, anguish, devastation, grief, pain, seduction, panic attacks, desire, happiness, love, trust, some steamy scenes & a satisfying happy ending,
The story-line and plot is well-written and entertaining, at times it causes the reader either great satisfaction or great frustration at the characters actions and/or reaction to the situations they find themselves in.
I really would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading the MM genre.
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