Lead Me Not

by Ann Gallagher

A Gay Christian Romance.

Isaac Morris has devoted his life to preaching against the sin of homosexuality. But when his sister proposes a documentary to demonstrate once and for all that it’s a choice—with Isaac choosing to be gay as proof—he balks. Until he learns his nephew is headed down that perverted path. Isaac will do anything to convince the teenager he can choose to be straight…including his sister’s film.
When Isaac’s first foray into the gay lifestyle ends with a homophobic beating, he’s saved and cared for by Colton Roberts, a gentle, compassionate bartender with a cross around his neck. Colton challenges every one of Isaac’s deeply held beliefs about gay men. He was kicked out by homophobic parents, saved from the streets by a kind pastor, and is now a devout Christian. Colton’s sexuality has cost him dearly, but it also brought him to God.
As the two grow closer, everything Isaac knows about homosexuality, his faith, and himself is called into question. And if he’s been wrong all along, what does that mean for his ministry, his soul, his struggling nephew—and the man he never meant to love?

This 108,000 word novel was previously published.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Religion, LGBT, Fiction, Queer

422 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2015

About the author

Ann Gallagher is the slightly more civilized alter ego of L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt. So she tells herself, anyway. When she isn't wreaking havoc on Spain with her husband and trusty two-headed Brahma bull, she writes romances just like her wilder counterparts, but without all the heat.

(Source: Amazon.com.)

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian romance for the M/M crowd? Apparently so.

I can see why L.A. Witt adopted a new pen name for this book: it is a HUGE departure from her normal stuff, so if you are expecting smoking hot man sex and dirty talking, look elsewhere. This is a totally clean romance with only kissing on page. Everything else is only vaguely alluded to. It is also pro-religion, treating Christianity with respect and showing how devotion and faith can coincide with being queer. If that isn't your thing, look elsewhere. I enjoyed reading something that was different from my usual reading material, but I found that the relationship development took a backseat to the religious messages.

I've always been fascinated by religious zealots, or really anyone that strongly believes in a faith. For a mostly cultural Jew with liberal opinions on social issues, I have a surprising number of very religious friends. For a time, my closest friends were a group of wig-wearing, no opposite sex touching, virgins until marriage, long sleeves and tights in summer, Orthodox Jews. I also have a number of Mormon friends, and I am lifelong friends with not just one, but two girls who grew up to be lesbian pastors. But honestly, the only time I have ever been frightened or turned off by a religious person was when I met my friend's Fundamentalist Christian cousins. They reduced me to tears, preaching about the word of Jesus and how my heathen Jewish ways were wrong. There was no gray area, in their minds: I was going to HELL.

Because of that power of that encounter, I have my doubts that this book would ever happen in real life. The people who grow up in churches that homeschool and preach fire and brimstone would probably never consider trying to "be gay" as an experiment, even if they were repressing their homosexuality. I don't really buy it, but I went with it anyway.

First of all, I think that the author did her research well. There are a ton of scripture passages quoted, and there are many arguments about their interpretations from both the anti-gay and pro-gay Christian backgrounds. I was a little lost with some of the Bible references, but I sort of hung in there. I think if you have even a working knowledge of the old and new testaments, you would probably be able to follow along... sort of. It is nice that the author really goes so far to show different arguments against homosexuality and how you could disprove them in a religious context. However, on the flip side, much of this book is devoted to religious discussion, which left the relationship development as sort of an afterthought, for me.

I think my problem is that I didn't feel a ton of chemistry between Isaac and Colton. It sort of felt like they were together mainly because they were both Christian and patient with one another. It isn't a really bad thing because I feel like the focus on the book is meant to be on reconciling religion and homosexuality with romance as a catalyst, but it isn't what I prefer to read about.

I think if you have an interest in religion and want to read a story that is different from the usual, you should try this book. I honestly could see this book distributed in LBGT Christian youth groups like the ones depicted in the story. It feels like a book about how "everything happens for a reason," which can be a powerful message for some people. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I'll stick to the smutty stuff from here on out.

**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Brandon Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Lead Me Not prepared to be unconvinced. Being raised extremely fundamental (not the protesting kind against gays, but the kind convinced there would be a civil war about the gays), I wasn’t sure I’d be able to believe the main character who dove headlong into he and his twin’s documentary about choosing to be gay, then choosing to be straight again. Gallagher not only convinced me, she stunned me. She understood the thinking of the anti-arguments, and not just out of hate, but out of the ‘love’ that side feels—believing they’re saving people’s souls. She nailed it! And, I bought her premise, and I was WAY skeptical before hand.
Beyond that, the writing was nearly flawless. And the romance was simply beautiful. If you’re looking for erotica, go somewhere else. If you’re looking for romance, here it is. Those kiss scenes. Holy crap!
Most of the time, I’m a very slow reader, and it takes me weeks to read a book. I devoured this one in three sessions. And loved every single minute!

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 5 STARS!***

*ARC given by Netgalley for review*

Review is here http://myreviewbookblog.blogspot.com/

and here https://www.netgalley.com/reviewer/vi...

"“I found answers I didn’t know I was looking for. I found forgiveness where I didn’t know I needed it. And I found love I didn’t know existed.”"

I was skeptical when I read this story. I'm not really into a Christian Romance. And reading some reviews, there's no sex, it's clean romance, which I rarely liked. But, hey, we don't need sex if the story was 'that good', right.
But this is L.A. Witt writing as Ann GallagherAnn Gallagher. So I give it a try.
Right from the start, I'm hooked!

I loved Colton and Isaac's chemistry. They're definitely made for each other.
One homophobic and one with a tortured trauma, it was a hard composition, made they made it !
I really loved Pastor Mike and Ruth. Best part of Colton and Isaac relationship ! And there were Chris and Julien from No Distance Left to Run , oh how I missed the guys.

Colton stole my heart with what he had been though, with the trauma and shitty parents. You know, parents who wanted to 'CURE' their son's homosexuality, blah lah blah !

"“I’ve found a therapist in town who specializes in curing homosexuals,” his father had declared. “He’ll fix—”
“That’s the part you want to fix?” Colton had asked coldly. “I’ve been raped, pimped, homeless, and hooked on things you’ve probably never even heard of, but priority one is getting the gay out of me?”

And the struggling Isaac with his 'unknown sexuality', that made his ex wife run away and Ruth tried to open his eyes about that. The feeling inside, the fight with his inner self, that's a hard battle for sure. Not very easy to accept who you really are, unless, something hit you on the head and makes you 'wake up'!

"“Colton, wait.”
Against his better judgment, Colton turned around.
Isaac spoke just loud enough for him to hear: “I’m sorry.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
Colton thanked God for his pounding heart. At least that drowned out the rest of Isaac’s pleas long enough for him to get inside and let the big steel door slam behind him.

And there are some sweet moments that made me hold my breath, especially the first kiss.
Oh.My.God.
Isaac and Colton's first kiss was THE.BEST.EPIC.FIRST.KISS.EVER.!

"“Because the first step toward healing is knowing the truth. And for some people, the next step is knowing your apology was heard by the heart it was intended for.”"

I hope I can write a proper review for this one. But the problem with books I loved, is always, writing a review.

This one is a must read. Highly recommended !

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evangelical Abrahamic religions damage and kill LGBTQ people around the world, directly and indirectly, and fiction can bring light into that darkness. In this story, Isaac is the youngest son of a hellfire preacher, raised to follow in his father's footsteps. His twin sister comes up with a plan for him to make a movie that would prove the most vital of their tenets - that homosexuality is a choice, not an identity. Isaac will prove it by choosing to join, and then choosing to leave, the gay life. For Isaac, who has been hiding and battling inappropriate impulses since his teens, this is playing with fire, but his deep desire to save folk from hellfire and damnation makes him go along.

Except rather than the orgies and promiscuity and sin he expects, Isaac's first foray into the world of gay men earns him a homophobic beating, and brings him in contact with gay men who are kind, sometimes married, and who don't fit his stereotypes. Most dangerously, it brings him to Colton, who is everything Isaac would want in a close friend, if he wasn't gay. Colton is even a devout Christian, except his church has rainbow blasphemy and scripture side by side, like there was no conflict.

Isaac is confused, and under stress, but he's determined to soldier on and prove his faith. Except sometimes, he sees it in a new and distressing way.

This book, like the YA by Alex Sanchez - The God Box - gives us a sweet and well-entwined love story along with a look at scripture and the crucial question of how people interpret and misinterpret the Bible in light of a modern day. For those unfamiliar with or uninterested in the Bible, there may be more of this than would be ideal for the story structure. But this is important - the kind of information we want LGBTQ folk battling with the idea that they can't be both Christian and gay, to have. The pastor of Colton's church has some wise things to say that it may be worth bookmarking, if you have homophobic religious folk (or their LGBTQ kids) within your circle.

This story's not high-angst in its delivery, despite the theme and Colton's very troubled past. We see some of Colton's battle with nightmares and the lure of the bottle, but there is a balance here that doesn't delve as deeply into either man's pain as it might. It's also fade-to-black, making it a no-sex read you could give to a teenager (although much of it is set in a bar.) The main characters are good people, doing their best with all the pressures their pasts impose. Their mutual issues make them a good fit for each other, and there's a nice slow build to the relationship.

The secondary characters cover a range, and the different ways a rigid religion can damage folk was pretty evident. Isaac's brother John's anguish over having a son who may be lost to mortal sin is real, and painful (and painfully unnecessary, another casualty of religion.) But there was also Pastor Mike and his church, with his faith that was a shining light of hope, not a weapon wielded against others.

The original plot device - the movie - is a place where I had to suspend disbelief at times. But otherwise, I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the persuasive arguments. I hope this book finds its way into some hands that need to read it, just as I wish every LGBTQ teen from a phobic religious family could meet Pastor Mike.

[Silver-Flames · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell you how exited I was to receive a ARC of Lead Me Not, after I sent my request to NetGalley I was literally checking my approved shelf every couple hours…


And then guess what? I was approved! (quite quickly actually, my impatience made it feel like forever though!)


Do you ever read a synopsis and just think "yes", this is a premise that works for me. Now you only have to hope that the writing is as good as the story has the potential to be. That was how I felt when I came across this book online, I just knew I needed it!

So let’s just jump right in, shall we?

The Story:

The synopsis pretty much sums up the gist of it and the rest you should find out for yourself! But I will say it was a well developed world, the story was never to slow, it was a very fleshed out book. The pacing was just right for me.

The Characters:

Love, love, loveeeeeee!

I loved how kind Colton was, he was a absolutely sweetheart with a terrible past. *grabs his cheeks and squishes them together* I hurt for him and I cried for him, and I just knew with his trust issues how the angst was going to blow up when he found out the truth. It was like watching a train-wreck in slow motion. You just have to wait for impact.

Isaac, ahhhhhhhhh you problematic fav. You won me over eventually but it was a rough ride for me as it was for you. The beauty of it though was that it was a constant struggle, it was realistic, there was no insta-love, or insta-“OH IM GAY”, it was so paced and gradual. It was just….perfection.


Steamy-ness factor:

There was not any graphic sexual content, and whilst that would normally leave me a little unsatisfied with a story, it didn’t here. The kisses, the snuggling in bed and continuous sexual tension kept the fire burning.

Overall?

Definitely recommend, if you are worried about it being overly religious and that’s not your thing I understand, I am an atheist but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. If anything it was quite interesting. Such fascinating points and debates where had pertaining to the bible’s outlook on homosexuality. Very very interesting.

Like I said above no sexy-times, so that may be a bit of a prob for some of my buddies on here…But it definitely makes up for it in sexual tension!


(ALSO: Major props for a gorgeous cover, so many books in the m-m genre make me cringe, and are just disappointing. This one? A+++++++. Fits perfectly with the story!)

This title was generously provided by (RipTide Publishing) on NetGalley for a honest review!

[Reflection · Rating 3 out of 5]

With hindsight, I am not the target audience. I guess I was hoping for something deliciously decadent, or at least an exploration of the ethical dilemma of doctrine, that would intrigue my atheist sensibilities.

Instead I found a rather saccharin romance, and not the hot man on man sex I was looking for. This romance is totally clean, with only kissing. Sigh.

Preacher Isaac Morris comes from a family of fundamentalist fire and brimstone Christians, and he sets out to prove that being gay is a matter of choice, using himself as a human guinea pig. He decides to live temporarily as an openly gay man. His guide and fellow Christian, barman Colton Roberts challenges every one of Isaac’s deeply held beliefs about gay men.

Essentially, I think my main problem (amongst several) is the chemistry between Isaac and Colton felt lacklustre. It seemed their attraction was shared faith, patience and their personal journeys to reconcile religion with homosexuality.

I freely admit, I was hoping Lead Me Not would deliver temptation on a plate, and frankly it does not. There is some exploration of scriptural passages and interpretations both pro and anti gay. It was not delivered with sufficient depth to ignite my atheistic heart and overcome my disappointment with a rather pedestrian romance.

Therefore, this book left me bored and unengaged.

Possibly the target audience is American LBGTQ Christian youth (maybe not the wider world). It is a gentle romance, and personally I prefer passion and pomp, so this story was a miss for me that took more effort than expected to read to the end.

** Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

How do I write a review for a book that moved me so much, that made me think, that made me hope it makes other people think, that gets the fact that just because someone is gay, bi, or transgender that they can also be spiritual, that respects the rights of all and that tries to make others see that in preaching hate they are driving children, teens, and young men and women into hurting themselves or putting themselves in danger? Seriously someone, tell me how I do that? I feel so much about this book, Lead Me Not by Ann Gallagher (aka L.A. Witt, aka Lauren Gallagher) that I want it required reading for anyone who works with children, any parent who has a gay or transgender child, any religious leader, and our politicians that want to condemn what they have no clue about. This is one of those books I won't ever forget; it is a 5 star read times ten, it is passionate, it is beautiful, and it is about two men who when their paths cross they are changed forever.

I'll be honest and say I've never understood "fire and brimstone" preaching, I experienced it late in life and understood immediately why my husband wanted nothing to do with the church he grew up in and why he was so shocked to attend a church where the message was about good and not evil. So what happens when someone has grown up in one of these churches, where his father is the pastor, where all he's heard all his life is that homosexuality is a sin, when he's had temptations but has turned away from them and when he begins to question those teachings, not his faith, never his faith but the "word" his father has preached? Lead Me Not is that story and it is an amazing journey of self discovery, faith, and love.

Isaac Morris has spent his life learning the teachings of his father's church and becoming a preacher to spread the word against the sin of homosexuality. When a man at a rally challenges him to prove being gay is a choice he's unsure how to show that until his sister comes up with a plan; one that will put him living the gay lifestyle and leave him questioning everything.

Being kicked out of his home for being gay and living on the streets doing whatever necessary to survive Colton Roberts has had a hard life and doesn't trust many people. When he helps a patron of the bar he works in after an attack he feels something he hasn't in a long time, something that gives him hope but also scares him. Taking a chance with a man barely out of the closet is a risk but one he's pretty sure he wants to take.

Two very different men, two very different lives, but two men who believe in God, church and the bible just different interpretations of it made this one hell of a story. I can't even begin to explain the complexity and the feelings this book brought forth so I'm not going to try. At the beginning of this book there was no doubt these men did not see eye to eye on what the Bible says and while they both had secrets, Isaac 's secret was something that he couldn't share for fear of ruining what he was trying to accomplish even knowing that in the end Colton would be hurt. While my rational brain understood this, I had issues with the fact that this good Christian man was lying and could potentially devastate another human being. One would think that without a lot of sexy times this book moved at a slow pace but it did not, I was surprised by how quickly I worked through it and that was largely because I couldn't wait to see how everything played out. I enjoyed watching the friendship between Isaac and Colton blossom, watching their trust build (even though I knew it was going to come crashing down) and watching Isaac struggle with his growing feelings towards Colton and figuring out that the impulses he's had all of his life that he pushed down were no longer something he wanted to deny. I hurt for both of these men on several occasions throughout this book; it was tough watching them struggle, to cope and to accept, but through it all there was also this message of goodness, light and hope.

If you've never read a gay romance, if you are worried about the religious aspect of this book, if you think you can't like it because there is no sex I urge you to try this book. The message in this book is one of love and understanding, it is not "preachy" at all and if this book helps one person realize how harmful hate preaching can be, then it has done its job but it is my hope that it shows many people the light. I'm not an overly religious person and I was concerned about reading this inspirational romance, but because I've always admired this author's work and she asked me to give it a try, I did and I could not be happier that I listened. This is one of my top reads for 2015 and as I'm writing this review I have read 279 books so far in 2015 so that tells you how much I loved this book, so much so that I feel I can't even adequately express my thoughts. So, I'll just say read this book, let the story envelope you, let the message seep into your soul and then remember it when you come across someone who claims to be a Christian but all they want to do is preach their intolerance for people not like them. Well done Ann Gallagher, you have once again floored me and left me tongue tied.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a hard one for me. It's very well written, but I struggled with the subject matter. That's not to say that these characters didn't get to me emotionally, they did, but the topic was a hard one for me to get into.

Isaac Morris has spent his entire life believing that homosexuality is a sin and a threat to all good Christians out there. He has preached often and loudly against the degenerates who will not turn away from sin and into a path of righteousness. His father's church has been at the forefront of the protestors at every gay rights event or rally. One of the heathens at a rally though manages to catch Isaac's attention. The man actually spoke to him and tried to listen not just react. But what the man asked him throws Isaac for a loop, "If being gay is a choice, then why not choose to be gay and show us all." Isaac wants to ignore it but his sister proposes a documentary where Isaac does just that and then chooses to return to the heterosexual lifestyle they could minister to so many by proving that the choice exists. Still Isaac hesitates, but learning that his nephew is battling with those sorts of thoughts Isaac is determined to do everything he can to help him, even if that means stepping into the lion's den and risking his soul.

Colton Roberts hasn't had an easy life. Thrown out of his home by his parents when he came out he spent a number of years on the street spiraling down into a life of prostitution and drugs to get by. A chance meeting with a friendly pastor though changed his life and helped him find not only the path to God, but a chance for a new and better life for himself. Now he has committed his life to staying on the straight and narrow while helping to minister to at risk youth. He enjoys his job bartending at one of the premier gay clubs on Capital Hill in Seattle. Finding love though isn't something he holds out much hope for. His past makes it hard to trust anyone, to let them into his personal space. When a gay bashing happens outside the doors of the club, Colton never expects the man being attacked to be the catalyst to change everything.

Ok so this was a struggle to read for me because of it's religious tones. This isn't a story with a minor dose of religion. No this is full on written to preach in a lot of ways. Now I am not against that per se. But because I grew up in the church, with a minister for a father, I shudder at those very closed minded churches like the one that Isaac grew up in. While I know they exist and are exactly as horrible as this book writes them to be, I don't like living in that world and it is to me the very antithesis of being Christian.

So while I enjoyed these two as they got to know each other and discovered more about who they are, I didn't enjoy the way that Isaac went about things. I disliked his lying and reasons behind making his documentary. While I understood where the story was going to go and the journey it was going to take Isaac on, it was not something that I could just escape into the way I like my books to be.

This is a really wonderfully written rendition of just what it would be like, and what would be necessary for someone this indoctrinated into a church that condemns homosexuality, to confront in order to accept that they themselves is truly gay. This doesn't shy away from the hateful rhetoric or how hard the internal struggle would be. It very smartly stays away from the more erotic elements of most romance novels and could very easily have a Christian Romance designation on this book if not that a large portion of that community would find the MM elements of this story to be incredibly objectionable. This book is very pro religion and tries (very well I might add) to show that being gay is first of all not a choice, and secondly not at odds with Christianity. Devotion and faith are not the exclusive rights of the heterosexual world.

So really it's not even that I disagree with the points of this story, or think they were poorly done. It's more that this sort of subject matter makes me uncomfortable, as it should, and thus took away from my overall enjoyment of the story. Colton and Isaac were very touching. Their first kiss was EPIC! I felt for these guys and they got me with tears in the end. All of the characters in this story were well placed and had a reason for why they were there. I enjoyed the secondary characters as much as I did our heroes.

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When readers think of male/male romance, they don't usually think of inspirational romance. However, issues of orientation and how those intersect with religious belief play an important role in the lives of many same-sex couples I have known. While not without its flaws, Lead Me Not shows issues of Christian religious belief playing out in the lives of same-sex protagonists who have each traveled very difficult roads to get anywhere near a shot at an HEA in life.

It's pretty obvious at the beginning of the book that preacher Isaac Morris is so far into the closet that, as the saying goes, he can see Narnia. Isaac comes from a church that sounds much like the Westboro Baptist Church one sees in the news. Insular, politically active and virulently opposed to any hint of homosexual activity, Isaac has followed the family way of protesting against gays and loudly urging the world around him to turn from the sin of homosexuality.

A chance encounter at a rally puts Isaac on a path that could change his life. When a protester challenges Isaac's claim that one can choose to be gay and then choose to walk away and be straight again, he decides to prove it. His sister Ruth, a Christian filmmaker, pairs up with him to create a documentary that will show Isaac willfully entering and then leaving what they term "the gay lifestyle." The idea is that this will be a powerful testimony to show once and for all that sexual orientation is not an inborn trait. Since Isaac's own nephew struggles with same-sex attraction, Isaac also sees this as a way to keep his beloved nephew from going down what the entire family sees as a deeply sinful path.

Bringing someone from a background as fundamentalist as Isaac's into circles where he might meet openly gay people in a setting other than yelling at them on the street would undoubtedly prove challenging for any author, but I will say right off the bat that the documentary setup felt contrived. The discussions among the Morris family as to how the film will be made and just how far into homosexual behavior Isaac will go never felt entirely real. Also, as someone raised in a conservative denomination, I could think of more than a few reasons why it would be hard to believe in Isaac and his family agreeing to some of the things they were deciding to do in the name of the film.

However, once Ruth and Isaac break free of the family compound and head to Seattle to film, the story gets much better. Early on, Isaac finds himself the target of a homophobic attack in an alley behind a gay bar. One of the bartenders, Colton Roberts, rescues Isaac from his attackers. Believing Isaac to be newly out with regard to his orientation, Colton helps him get a job at Capitol OUT, the bar where Colton works and which will soon become Isaac's new social center. Using his newly announced orientation as a way to get to know Colton better, Isaac basically asks him for help learning how to be gay.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet romance and I liked that it was slow and very thoughtful. I personally am not Christian and don't really give a shit about what the Bible says about anything, but it was fascinating to watch Issac's journey. Colton was a great character and I enjoyed reading this one.

[L.A. Witt]

August 2015 from Riptide Publishing.

[Carlos Mock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead Me Not by Ann Gallagher


Isaac Morris is a pastor - and the son of a very conservative preacher - at the Summer Bluff Christian Church in Washington State. After protesting at the summer Bluff Pride Parade, a gay man challenges Isaac to try to become gay - since Isaac believes that being gay is a choice.

Initially Isaac shrugs the idea, but his twin sister, Ruth, convinces him to "create" a documentary where she will record Isaac's transition to the "gay lifestyle" and then back to being straight. Originally, Isaac is not willing; first because he's had gay tendencies himself, and second because he can't reconcile that lifestyle with his religious beliefs. But John, one of his older brothers, pushes him to do the project because John's son, Griffin, is struggling with homosexuality. John reasons that if Isaac can convert in and out of homosexuality it will be an example for Griffin and all the teens who are struggling with homosexual tendencies. Reluctantly Isaac and his family agree to do the project.

Ruth and Isaac move to Seattle where Isaac tries to blend with the gay culture and on his first encounter he's beaten quite badly in the back alley of the gay club Capitol OUT by a bunch of straight men. Isaac is saved by Colton Roberts and the Capitol OUT bouncers.

Colton Roberts has had a miserable existence. Kicked out of his home when he came out to his parents at age 14, he had pimped himself to be able to survive. Ravaged by alcoholism and lack of self esteem, Colton is saved by Pastor Mike, pastor of the South Street Community Church, and his wife, Gail. Colton is now a bartender at the Capital OUT gay bar in Seattle and volunteers at Pastor's Mike's church where he helps run a shelter for homeless LGBT kids.

After being released from the hospital, Colton takes Isaac under his wing - teaching him how to survive in the scene, and most importantly, finding a job as a bartender at Capitol OUT. They become friends - and soon thereafter they have feelings for each other. Isaac is introduced to Pastor Mike's ministry, where everyone is welcomed and loved without reservations. Isaac argues with the Pastor that being gay is an abomination. They go over the "passages" that Isaac's father uses to condemn homosexuals. For the first time Isaac realizes that there is much more about being gay and that his church could be very wrong on their interpretation of the scriptures because it ends up condemning children to be rejected by their families and treated with violence as a result - as his brother John is planning to do to Griffin if he can't be "cured" of his homosexuality.

Colton has not have a meaningful relationship with any man, because every time he does, he gets seriously hurt. Slowly, he warms up to Isaac. First is the physical attraction - Isaac is a very handsome 27 y/o man - but later is the tenderness. Soon they form a very strong bond. They fall in love.

Isaac realizes he's gay and in love with Colton.

Unfortunately, Isaac's brothers have been keeping tabs on the project and right after Isaac reaches out to his nephew to let him know that Isaac will always be there for him (John was planning to send Griffin to a conversion therapy camp) - Isaac's two older brothers break into Capitol OUT and expose Isaac in front of Colton and all their gay friends. Colton is, once again, severely hurt for opening up.

Isaac and Ruth leave Seattle. They decide to make the documentary, but instead of condemning homosexuality, they decide that the love Isaac has for Colton trumps all the teachings their family stood for. After the documentary airs nationally, Colton and Isaac make up and live happily ever after...

This wonderful sappy work is narrated from the third person point of view of both our protagonists: Isaac and Colton. Since both men are dealing with their demons there is no other better way to express their love story than to see it from their respective points of view.

Themes like parental rejection are very well presented. Colton would go to his parents' tomb to ask for forgiveness for being gay - even though it's quite clear that it was the parents who failed the son: "The thing is, our parents are the core of our worlds from the time we're children. Given the opportunity, for better or worse, children - even as adults - will forgive their parents faster and more often than they will anyone except their own children" (Isaac tells Colton as he counsels Colton that what he really need to do is forgive himself.)

On coming out: "The night I came out, all I wanted was for my family to know I'd figured out who I was. I didn't expect everything to change. I didn't set out to be defined by it. But I am. Everything in my life for the last twelve years is defined by being gay." (Colton tells Isaac why he came out.)

Low self esteem: "The thing is, after my own parents turned me away, I was sure no one would ever love me again. I didn't know if they'd ever loved me." (Colton tells Isaac why he has such a hard forming a relationship.)

On whether homosexuality is a choice: "Tonight felt...bigger than it should have been. Like it was something inevitable that we've been moving toward for...for I don't know how long. Like God was moving us toward tonight, and when tonight happened, it wasn't something I could chose or deny. It just...it just was." (Isaac tells Colton on the first night they spend together.)

Pastor Mike and Isaac hold a long discussion (Chapter 17) as to the validity of the Bible and as to whether it actually condemns homosexuals, transgenders, and masturbation. Personally, I give the Bible as much validity as I give any other fairy tale, but for the sake of the work at hand, according to Pastor Mike: transgenders are afflicted by a sin that "manifests as a mind whose gender is mismatched to its body," The story of Onan, which is used to condemn masturbation, "when Onan was condemned for 'spilling his seed upon the ground' it wasn't because he'd masturbated...he was for being disobedient to the Lord and for refusing to honor his dead brother" giving his widowed sister in law an heir, as the law required. Sodom and Gomorra were destroyed for being inhospitable and for raping their guests. Leviticus: if you obeyed every rule in Leviticus, you could not wear a polyester blend, shave, or eat seafood. Eagles and storks would be abominations also. And finally the tale of the Centurion and his slave where Jesus cured the slave because the Centurion was in "love" with him - a very controversial passage that some people interpret as Jesus condoning homosexuality.

I believe Ms. Gallagher has created a very important work and should be required reading for all high schools. Not only it's wonderful read - I did shed some tears and could barely put the book down - but also, I believe it would make the world a better place.

[Vampire-lk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book that I normally read, but glad I did! Very clean read especially given the m/m theme! Sweet read about the power of faith & path of true love that goes beyond the binary! Really forgot the main characters were both male vs the more “traditional couple” of male & female! Their struggles were real & have the same hopes & dreams to find true love! Thought the author did a great job with this engaging storyline & the respect given to both Christianity as well as the LGBTQ!

[Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isaac and his family preach very strongly and fiercely about what they believe in, that homosexuality is a sin and those engaging will go to hell. Isaac has believed this his whole life and he wants to save the sinners. So he sets out to prove that it's a choice and he can walk away. What he doesn't expect to find is love and himself.

This book was beautiful. But it was so hard to read at times. The hurtful things Isaac and his family were saying just made me so angry at times. They way they acted ticked me off. But I understood that it was what they truly believed. I could see Isaac struggling with it all; his feelings that didn't line up with what he believed and was taught. Religion and Scripture play a major role in this book. I know that bothers some people, but I loved that it wasn't a black and white choice. Isaac learned to embrace his true self while still staying true to his faith and his God. At times, it was heartbreaking, at times it made me angry, and then there was love. And it was beautiful.

I'm so happy I read this book. I would recommend it to everyone.

A copy of this book was provided by Riptide via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this one on sale at amazon and BOY was it worth a lot more than the sale price!

To start I completely engaged with both characters. Isaac and his background, Colton and his tragic past. Certainly Isaac didn't win any points for being an ass at times - but I thought the framing of how he grew up, who his father was, and how his family really has disintegrated over the years due to the violently held believes really set the stage and made it clear that he was under immense pressure to be the perfect son.

Colton's background could have done with some flashbacks that made what happened to him a bit more real. It is all telling - no real showing - and the emotional punch it backs is distanced and lessened due to that. It's the only thing I would change about the book. I react more viscerally to actually reading what happened as if it was happening as that tends to imprint on my psyche much deeper.

The story is not instal-love - and grows over time. The camera scenes were dramatic and really packed a punch. The epilogue was a bit pollyanna but this is romance so I welcomed it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was as much about the religious journeys of the two main characters as their romantic journey, maybe more. If I was more interested in/open to religion I probably would have enjoyed this one more.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

When I heard the concept for this book, I was more than a little intrigued. I mean, when was the last time you read a gay Christian romance? I met the author at RT this past May, and when she offered to send me an advanced copy, I jumped at it, but I have to confess that I was also a little nervous. Books with religious themes can be hit or miss for me – I don’t like super preachy, but I’m also not crazy about books that portray Christians as judgmental villains who are out to tell everyone they’re going to burn in hell. Reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure how this book was going to go. So imagine my surprise when Gallagher managed to give a really balanced viewpoint and show us multiple sides to a complex issue in a way that definitely takes a very obvious side but manages to humanize everyone in the process – even the people with the “wrong” point of view. This is the type of book that makes you think. And I LOVE books that make me think!!

What I LOVED:

Complexities.
To some people, Isaac may actually come off as a “villain” at first. For many people who would be likely to pick up a gay romance, it may be difficult to read Isaac’s thoughts and feelings because he and his family members so strongly believe in their conviction that being gay is a sin. And they don’t simply quietly believe it – they go out and protest and spew damnation at gay events. They’re the enemy, so to speak. But this is one of the things that I loved about the book – Gallagher didn’t make Isaac a cardboard character who starts out with hatred in his heart and then sees the light. She humanized the other side of her issue (because, of course, the final message of the book is that Isaac was wrong – that can’t be doubted with a book like this). Isaac’s feelings about homosexuality are complex and multilayered, and his motivations are actually pure – Isaac truly does “hate the sin and not the sinner.” He believes with his whole heart that what he is doing is right and that he can help people if only he could make them understand. Gallagher manages to make Isaac’s motivations and even most of his actions understandable because she shows us why he believes what he does. At the same time, Isaac has spent forever resisting urges that he’s been taught his whole life are wrong and even evil. Even when he starts to realize that he has real feelings for Colton (and that the gay lifestyle isn’t just a life of debauchery as he’d been taught), that realization doesn’t make his decisions instantly easier – he has to sort out what this means for his beliefs and whether or not he can (and should) choose to fight his feelings. His transformation is a slow one with many bumps along the road, and his quest to understand himself and God is truthful and sometimes painful.

The spiritual journey.
This book actually has a lot of theology in it. It shows both sides of the issue – why Isaac believes that homosexuality is a sin and the biblical evidence that Colton and Pastor Mike present to the contrary. But more than just theology, the book explores both Isaac’s and Colton’s spiritual journeys. Isaac’s struggles are obvious (and I pretty much already talked about them), but the book also shows Colton’s more subtle spiritual journey. Colton is a man with a dark past and it’s hard for him to trust completely in God’s presence, love and forgiveness. He worries that questioning shows a lack of faith or that his faith just isn’t strong enough to overcome his lack of spiritual direction. Colton’s not sure what his purpose in this world is – and this scares him. I loved that even the characters with a strong sense of God and their faith questioned things and wondered – let’s face it, faith is sometimes just that – faith – and even in those moments where we hear God’s still, small voice we can question ourselves. I loved seeing both Colton and Isaac struggle with this and come out with a stronger faith because of it.

The negatives:

The documentary.
My only real issue with this book was the believability of the premise. I just didn’t understand how Isaac thought that his video was going to make any sort of impact. How would showing that he could choose to be gay (or at least to live a gay lifestyle) and then choose not to be again prove anything to anyone? There are people who have done this, but that doesn’t mean that anyone and everyone can choose their sexuality. Wouldn’t people just assume that he’s bisexual if he could be happy with either choice? And I didn’t believe for a second that Isaac’s family would be on board with his decision to make the documentary. It just didn’t make sense. So, I had to suspend disbelief about the documentary itself and just kind of ignore my qualms about that. I found the journey that Isaac and Colton were on to be compelling enough to make up for that, though.

Mixed message about the gay lifestyle?
I did feel like there were a few minor mixed messages about the gay lifestyle in the book. On the one hand, Isaac had all these preconceived notions about what it meant to be gay – hookups and encounters that are devoid of actual feelings beyond the physical. Those stereotypes were shattered in a lot of ways. Isaac realized that being gay doesn’t automatically mean going to gay bars and hooking up with the first guy who catches your attention. He sees men in relationships that look very much like any other type of relationship and he realizes that there is no one “gay lifestyle.” Colton gives this message to Isaac but then, at the same time, he kind of negated it with his own thoughts. He felt like Isaac was pretty much the only gay man he could get involved with who wouldn’t expect a physical relationship immediately – and the implication was that (from Colton’s perspective) all gay men pretty much want one thing and they want it right away. I found myself thinking, Wait, wasn’t that the stereotype we were just trying to fight against? For the most part, I felt like the message was clear, but then there were a few little moments that I thought kind of undermined it.

Despite a few flaws, I thought that this book explored an incredibly complex issue in a compelling way. I was completely pulled into Isaac and Colton’s story. I give this book 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Mazmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie, but I really struggled with this one. Not with it being a 'clean' romance, in fact I can often be heard bemoaning that I was searching for story amongst the sex scenes. No, the struggle for me was the religious zealots aspect of this book. To be honest, that stuff in real life boils my bones, people using a book for their own interpretations and agendas and anything that spreads hate I want to be miles away from. Therefore a huge amount of this book was vastly uncomfortable for me to read and had me wanting to stop reading/pummel someone who is like this in real life with my kindle. I did persevere and make it to the end and it's not a bad book. I don't think it was for me though and that's ok. I think in the main when I read M/M I want to read stories of love and light - even if it takes a while to get there. I can cope with a bit of drama but I guess my ratio of drama to feel good needs to be heavily weighted towards the latter, or at least if I'm reading a gritty drama I know I'm going into it with my eyes wide open. This doesn't sit in a category for me either side of those, so I think I'm happy to leave this one here.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful and emotional story. The feelings and struggles feel real. Colton has been through so much and he shows his strength by what he has overcome. Isaac has been haunted by his feelings. It is easy to see how fear could lead him to become the man he is. There is some pretty nail biting moments as everyone has to come to terms with their lives.
This book does a great job of making a point with limited intimacy and I recommend it to my 17 yo daughter to read.

[karlakolumna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't decide on the rating. It's something between 3 and 4 stars. There are parts that I really liked and some that I didn't, that I felt exasperated by.

This book is full of religious talk, religious soul-searching, "what is right and wrong in the eyes of God and Jesus?", "who will (and for what reasons) burn in Hellfire?" & "how to save the poor, misguided but perverted degenerates from their wrong, wrong path?". Some heavy stuff right there. And not nearly as relevant today anymore as once upon a time. Progress and common sense be thanked.
Well, or at least I'd like to think so. Because I personally don't know any person among my friends, work colleagues, fellow students or even just acquaintances who thinks that homosexuality is wrong or a sin.... But then again, I live in a big, modern, multicultural and diverse city known for its great Gay Pride parades and its fairly big LGBTQ community, so my experience might be quite different from others, especially people living, e.g. in smaller towns. And smaller towns in the US? -Well, since I'm not from the USA, I can only judge its openness from TV and Hollywood -- and those, at least, seem to be very open and accepting...

Although recent developments let me to seriously doubt that America is as progressive, modern, great, open as it wants the rest of the world believe it to be... I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about....

No country is, unfortunately, free of hillbillies and hatemongers. More's the utter pity when these people get to be parents, teachers or preachers of persons who are different from their defined 'normal', who struggle with who they are. Because all these backwards people can offer such a person is hate (rather than acceptance) and stir up self-loathing and desperation in them.

So, this book might offer the one or other teenager who is struggling with a crisis of identity, sexuality and/or faith comfort and give them the strength to be who they are instead of who they are expected to be...

Hopefully.

As for me, since I am a convinced atheist who thinks that any and every religion can be and is poisonous for a countless number of reasons and is, quite frankly, a man-made invention, ... well. I think all this talk about "is homosexuality wrong in the eyes of God; is it a sin?" couldn't be less relevant or important. Because in my opinion there's no God who judges any of us for our actions, life choices, and least of all for who we love. Even if there was, for the sake of argument, a God why would He/She/It care about anybody's sexuality?? The Bible, as well as any other religious book (that is known to me, at least) is full of discriminate, misogynistic stuff made up by men. Stuff that is as archaic as the time it was first written down... (I know, religion and faith are impossible to argue about because they're simply unverifiable, so any discussion thereof is just endless, unsolvable and pointless... but this is my very humble opinion.)

Why does my stance to religion matter at all, in terms of my review of this book, you may ask? Well, because while reading "Lead Me Not" I could hardly relate to the characters or their struggle. I was totally exasperated at times, yelling "Who the fuck cares what the Bible has to say about homosexuality?" at my Kindle. I simply can't comprehend why anyone would care about what some people, some men, wrote on a piece of paper, in a book thousands of years ago and declared to be God's Word. Especially since His supposed Word is far from clear, undisputed and un-ambiguous.

So, you might see my dilemma.

Because here we deal with not just one, but two very Christian protagonists who imploringly ask God what His plan for them is. Ask Him to help them. To lead them towards the righteous path. And they do so frequently, throughout the whole book.

I couldn't care less. Tbh.

But, even despite all this, and despite the clichés -- about hate-spewing preachers talking about damnation and sin and hellfire, about the 'gay lifestyle' and its relation to promiscuity, about parents throwing their children out due to being gay, them ending up on the street, hustling, possibly contracting diseases, being raped etc.** -- I found myself enjoying this tale of self-discovery and love.

Even though I couldn't relate to their religious struggle, I could relate to their general struggle of accepting oneself, of finding love, of overcoming obstacles. Both characters grew on me, made me sappily rooting for them to get their HEA. Which was a surprise, really. But I ended up liking the books despite myself.
And since I was lucky enough to grab this book for free, I feel generous enough to round my rating up to 4 stars.

So, even if religion isn't something you relate to, especially not the hardcore preaching kind the book entails, it is possible to enjoy the journey of these two characters. I certainly was drawn into their drama.


(**I am aware that that can happen, that it's the harsh and terrible reality for some people; and every single time it happens is one time too many! But still, as far as books/fiction about gay romance go all of this is an often used cliché... The tortured hero(es). And love heals all wounds, even ones as horrible as this.)

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.


Isaac Morris strongly believes in spreading the word of the Lord as he firmly and loudly protests homosexuality at rallies organized by his church at any and all LGBTQ pride gatherings. Following in the footsteps of his father, the leader of the church which has a zero tolerance for that type of sexual deviant Sodomizer, he and his brothers are being groomed to take over the flock when, and if, his father retires. At one such protest, a gay man challenges him to prove that being homosexual is a choice. Stunned, Isaac begins to think through the possibilities of proving that one can choose to be homosexual and one can choose to come back to the Lord and be heterosexual again.

His twin sister, Ruth, encourages him and helps him to convince their father and older brothers that their plan is sound. Their nephew Griffin has been struggling with being gay and is due to be sent to a special camp as a last resort to save him. His father, Isaac’s brother John, supports the project in the hope that it will help Griffin see that he can become “normal” through a conscious decision to change. Ruth, a film major, and Isaac, a recently divorced man, have nothing to lose by setting up a house in Seattle to film a documentary while Isaac infiltrates the gay community to prove being gay is a choice. Motivated by the knowledge that he is helping Griffin and others like him, Isaac stifles his nausea at having to do this project. Focusing on the hope that he can help lead those sinners back to God, they move forward with their plan.

His first foray into attempting a hookup ends up with him being bashed in the alley behind the bar, CapitalOUT. Colton, one of the bartenders, accompanies the bouncers as they head into the alley to break up the fight and rescue the guy. It’s Colton who treats Isaac’s wounds and extends the hand of comfort, healing, and friendship to Isaac. And it’s Colton, whom Isaac turns to when he decides he needs some guidance before attempting this again. Colton is a sweet, quiet, confidant man who conveys a soft-spoken attitude and acceptance of the Lord’s way in most everything he does. Colton volunteers all his spare time at his church, a church which welcomes and supports LGBTQ members and provides a youth center for those teens who have been abandoned by their families.

Pastor Mike once saved Colton from the same fate, and Colton is firm about giving back to the church which saved his life. Over time, Isaac finally acknowledges that the church is based on love and respect for all who seek the Lord, and he has lengthy discussions and debates with the pastor about the sections of the Bible his father uses as a basis for his hatred of homosexuality. Pastor Mike shows Isaac a different interpretation and suggests that Isaac’s father is using the Bible for his own means to spread hatred, rather than love. (To clarify here, no one knows who Isaac’s father actually is.)

Isaac also discovers that he has feelings for Colton, feelings he never felt for his wife, and feelings which scare him. How can he come to care for a man? Is he really gay? Can he possibly go back when this film production is done? And can he break the heart of the wonderful man he’s come to care for? The decision is taken from his hands when his brothers discover his confidential video of his private thoughts about each situation he’s been thrown in. They also discover that he works now as a bartender at CaptialOUT, and they come storming in to pull him away— but not before revealing his secret to Colton— a secret which clearly devastates Colton and tears the couple apart before they ever have a chance to commit to each other.

This is an absolutely wonderful story. It’s long, and non-explicit, but that seems of little importance as it clearly shows the depth of love two men can have for each other. This story is not so much about the sexual attraction as it is about other things that attract one person to another. The beauty of the soul of a man, his goodness shining through, the buildup of trust between two people and yes, even the butterflies in the tummy when their gazes meet across a room.

What happens to Isaac and Colton and how the issues are resolved is both fascinating and engaging and I quickly reached the point where I didn’t want to put the book down. I highly recommend this story to all lovers of M/M romance, and especially to those who struggle with the arguments related to religion and homosexuality and the “word of God” in the Bible. I found the story quite educational and enlightening without feeling as if I were sitting at the foot of a preacher and being spoon-fed Bible studies. This story is also great because it can be shared with family members who prefer to read non-explicit romances or those who may be considered too young to read such stories. I can summarize by saying that when I finished the book, I was stunned by the powerful message and the depth of feeling conveyed to readers. Don’t hesitate to read this one.

[RomanceLoverMA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it.
Religious theme - so if this is not your thing , stay away

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
 
Lead Me Not,  Ann Gallagher
 Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre:  Romance, Women’s Fiction
Well, when I first was looking for info about Ann Gallaher it seemed this was a debut book. I was very intrigued by the story premise though and decided to request it. Its a fabulous read which I was really pulled into, characters for whom I was so invested in thier future, bigotry, hate and anger wrapped up in a message of God's word. A really interesting read, full of things to think of. Then when I came to write this review I discovered Ann is the alter ego of one f my favourite authors L.A.Witt – no wonder I loved this book. she writes people I care about, stories that make me think and question myself...
Isaac and Colton were true stars of the book. Colton was thrown out of his home at a very young age for being gay, and has gone through an incredible amount of trauma before being found by Pastor Mike, who runs an open to everyone church, and a shelter for those in need. Through him Colton has found God and now works nights as a barman in a gay bar, and spends most of his free time helping with the church and shelter – he wants to do all he can to help others escape the life he fell into. Then Isaac turns up and its an attraction he feels strongly, after being afraid for so long. There’s something about Isaac, he’s cautious, shy and so innocent of all that being gay means. He tells Colton he’s only just come out even though he’s also in his mid twenties, and Colton offers to help him find his way after the awful start he got beaten up outside the bar by homophobes.
Isaac is struggling, this life is not at all like his church, led by his father, has always preached. The people aren’t sexual deviants, lustful and degenerate...he doesn’t understand either how the church Colton attends can be so open about something he’s always been taught God absolutely forbids, and after attending several sessions he starts to think. Is it like Colton and Pastor Mike say – simply that the bible is God’s word but times have changed, and interpretations for things differ. They give a new meaning to the stories Isaac has been told prohibit homosexuality. Its all making him very confused, along with his growing feelings for Colton. Can it really be so wrong to kiss him when it feels so right? He’s praying constantly, and struggling with his upbringing in a very devout, homophobic church against what he’s learned since being in his new role...
It illustrates for me all the things that make me a non church going Christian type. I can’t believe that God, if he exists ( I do believe in some form of higher being, just not sure what it is) can be so unforgiving. Why let people love each other if its wrong? And why do people “cherry pick” which stories to believe. The parts referring to the Bible here are some that I know, and had been taught the traditional interpretation so reading Pastor Mike’s views felt far more comfortable, and fit well with my belief that the bible is a set of stories, passed down verbally through generations and open to interpretations and the “Chinese whispers” facet that belongs to verbal histories. Why do we know it forbids shellfish and mixed fibres ( I didn’t know that last one) but ignore it, and if God’s word via the bible is law why are we still not stoning wives for adultery...sadly in some parts they still do, but in the educated world we like to thing we’ve adapted, so why not adapt all the Bible, look at all interpretations. I’ve always thought the story of Job,. held up to us as kids as a testament of his Faith, was unfair to the wives ( plural –we don’t do that either- and kids that died. What had they done wrong?  The story of the man who was told by God to kill his first born son, and takes him up to a mountain, pulls out a knife and has it at the boys throat, before Gods says “ sorry, just a test – you’ve passed” We’d lock him up now if he did that!  
Its a great read, full of things to ponder, a beautiful and tender romance, and a story that makes me wonder once again why people are so bigoted. Its really sad that awful as the things are in this novel they aren’t the worst things that happen to people, and under the guise of religion people are happy to spout bigotry and abandon their families, genuinely believing that its what god wants....Isaac and Colton’s histories show this so well, and feel so real. There’s a short epilogue that ties up any lose ends I’ve wondered about, and I really enjoyed that. I like to see what’s in store done the road for those I’ve come to love, and just a few pages is a perfect ending .
Stars: Five,a beautiful and tender romance, surrounded by a very thought provoking story.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers 

[Aerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a book I'd normally pick up. I detest religious books, especially ones full of bible thumpers, and I knew from the beginning this was going to be one of those. BUT...I also knew we'd get to see the other side of things, the way LGBT friendly churches interpret the Bible. I love L.A. Witt, I'll try anything she writes (well except the MF books..cuz yuck!) and while I had my reservations about this book, there was never any question whether I'd attempt to read it. I am so glad I did, because I've read one of the best books ever. Whether you like religious MM books or not, you need to read this. The final message alone is worth the emotional pain you'll go through while reading this book.

First thing that comes to mind? My heart hurts. Really, there are so many emotions in this book, and the emotional pain the characters experience will make you cry your eyes out. Believe me, you need some tissues because I don't believe you'll go through this without using a few. Is this book full of angst? Yes and no! I hurt....for the homeless kids who are rejected by their parents because of who they love; for Isaac, for his personal struggles in finding out who he is; for Colton, who's faith is shaken and has to learn to love himself as he is; and finally, for all the real people in this world, who go through the same struggles some of our characters did. Yes, this book is full of hurt, but it's also full of hope.

Can you imagine being raised in an environment that preaches hate? Hate for who you think you are, to the point where you have no idea how to come to terms with being yourself? Can you imagine that after spending years preaching God's hate for homosexuals, you come to realize all your beliefs are cause for hate crimes, teenagers becoming homeless, kids hating who they are because they believe God hates them. I'm not a religious person, but this brief walk in Isaac's shoes wrecked me. I hated his beliefs at first, I hated the influence his family had over him, I was mad and furious and disgusted; but I couldn't help but feel bad for him. He was the grown-up version of a repressed and confused child.

Issac's relationship with Colton starts out as friends. It slowly turns into more, but it's beautiful! Theirs was one of those stories that will stay with me forever. We don't get any sex, but they kiss a lot, and it's so emotionally charged, it was better than sex. Honestly, I felt the chemistry, the attraction was there, but they each had reasons for not rushing to the penetrative sex part. It was sweet and innocent and beautiful. Their HEA is one of the sweetest ones, I loved it like crazy.

Father Mike was an amazing character and I hope that there are a lot of people like him out there. His beliefs about the interpretations of the bible were a breath of fresh air. I've always though the bible has been interpreted to fit with different people's agenda, and I'm so glad we got his thought on this subject. Isaac's twin sister was great as well, and her true intention behind her support for making that documentary speaks of the level of influence their father had over Isaac.

And Griffin, Isaac's nephew....could that kid break my heart any more? Knowing his feelings and his confusion, his frustration that despite his best efforts he couldn't change who he was, made me sad. But it all ended up good, they're happy, and love won. Really, this is the message this book conveys: love will win! Always! No matter the bumps along the way, in the end love will always win.

I'm emotionally exhausted right now. And I know many people don't like angst in their books. But please read this, no matter how hard it's going to be. It's a truly beautiful book, unlike any I've read so far in this genre. I have new respect for this author for managing to write this book; I couldn't have done it, not in a million years. I would've broken my own heart trying to write Issac's family's beliefs and doing so while making those characters believe what they were saying. A big round of applause!

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to review this one without getting a bit philosophical. What I will say, is that before, during and almost right up to the end, I thought I'd tag this under MCs I'd never forgive. And now I kind of don't want to. I can explain.

First, this entire thing gave me that vibe of.....you know how sometimes men say they didn't realize what women go through until they had daughters? Yeah.. Kind of like that but woo woo, gay people are bad until whoops... I fell in love with another man. So a bit mmmh on the icky side but....

Reading it, it's kind of hard to hate Isaac because he's so repressed and bogged down by religious guilt, he can hardly think straight. And the yo-yo of his back and forth feelings is genuinely exhausting, but also sort of reads genuine???

At some point, I didn't want Colton to forgive him, because he really DID do a lot of harm. But how can you not understand when you're in his mind and feeling the angst right alongside him, you know? This is written as a man fighting himself, and it comes across really well.

The public apology helped. Let me tell you, I'm a sucker for public apologies, especially when the disrespect was very loud as this was. I really felt for Colton in that month. Heartbreak is hard enough without literally everyone you know and most people you don't knowing exactly what happened, it's timeline and having an opinion on it.

Isaac will never be a beloved MC, and he's not a misunderstood MC. But given everything going on, I don't hate him, and I don't hate that Colton forgave him.

Anyway aside from all that, this took me a while to get through because there's a LOT of delving into religious texts and attempting to debunk theories and whatnot. And that's a slog for me.

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about coming to terms with sexuality and features a Christian youth minister attempting to "choose" to be gay, in order to PROVE that homosexuality is a choice to turn from. Intellectually, it was a fascinating premise, and the execution of the story was exceptional.

Isaac is the youngest child of a fundamentalist Christian minister whose teachings are undeniably homophobic. His twin, Ruth, convinces Issac--and their conservative family--that Issac should try to be gay and then return to heterosexuality, in order to prove that there exists a "choice." Isaac is unsure of the wisdom of this path--he's suffered impure thoughts of men his whole life, and his faith is also shaken by his recent divorce from his high school sweetheart. However, his brother John's eldest son, Griffin, is showing definite inclinations down this sin-laden path and Isaac wants desperately to can help guide Griffin back to the straight and holy. Still, this premise is dubiously accepted by ttheir father and his congregation. Ruth and Isaac move to Seattle, to immerse Isaac in the "gay scene" which Ruth documents with video. Unfortunately, it's not exactly what Isaac's father's preachings have professed. First, Isaac doesn't witness the outright debauchery he expected. Second, while trying to find a suitable partner in the bar scene, Isaac is beat up by homophobic bigots, and the man who saves him is Colton, a shy and compassionate gay man.

Colton is a former homeless child prostitute who's had the roughest of lives since he came out in his early teens and his parents kicked him out. He's suffered alcohol and drug addiction, exposure and depression, and come out the other side. He's still tormented by the loss of his family, and works hard at Capital OUT (a gay bar) and the South Street Community Church, a gay-friendly church and homeless shelter for LGBT youth, sheparded by Pastor Mike, Colton's surrogate father.

Isaac is blown away that a gay person is a church-goer, and he's sure that the heresy taught there is as big an abomination as homosexuality itself, but time and contact with Colton begin to soften Isaac's feelings. Isaac takes Colton up on a job at Capital OUT--all in the guise of research--and is astounded by the normality and loving nature of the gay scene. As well as by Colton's tenderness. (Expect some cameos from characters in other LA Witt/Gallagher books!) In the process of this experiment Isaac does some serious soul-searching, aided by Ruth, his ex-wife, and an estranged sister. I was really touched by the depths to which Isaac dug to understand his sexuality, and also to recognize that his opinions were slowly morphing as he gained new and valuable perspective.

In truth, I felt like this book had so much resonance. Having grown up in a Christian fundamentalist church I was exposed to lots of conservative ideals--similar to Isaac's upbringing. I got out before things became too contentious, but I could really identify with Isaac, and his big decisions. His torment over his soul, and Griffin's prospects in their decidedly homophobic family, weigh heavily upon him.

Meanwhile, Colton and Isaac are falling for each other. This is a cautious and quiet exploration. Isaac is essentially a shy virgin, and Colton suffers PTSD from the rapes and horrors he suffered as a rentboy. The emotional context of this story was so ripe and engaging. Do not expect a lot of steam, this book is all about the heart and the feels.

Naturally, Isaac's mission comes to light, and in the worst way possible. The resolution was outstanding, however, and the epilogue literally brought tears to my eyes. Really, I adored this book. The religious bits were so well done, and Isaac and Colton were not mere shells--they were whole, rendered persons that I cheered for throughout.

I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Funzee Shu · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Definitely 5 Stars ***

Because if God had put a man on this earth who Colton could someday fall in love with, that man was Isaac. ~ Colton.

Colton was Isaac’s lifeline in this world. His anchor in that chaotic, alien place... ~ Isaac.

You know that moment, when you have strong feelings that a book gonna be "something", and then when you actually finished it and found out that the book was not only be something but come out to be a gem ?

That's exactly what I feel about this book !



===Edited full review===

Lead Me Not is a Christian gay romance, and yes, it's a clean romance. But instead boring, I found that this story is so beautiful & deep.

Before I'm going further about my review, I just want you to know that "clean romance" was not usually my things when I read gay romance.
I'm used to read gay romance with good storyline and lots of hot sex in it !

For me, "a good book without sex is boring, but a lots of sex without a good storyline is nothing", so good storyline & hot sex scenes are both very important for me !

But sometimes, there's a time when I feel the sex part are not very important anymore if the book has good storyline that could consumed me enough to make me forget about the sex. And this book is definitely one of that exception !

I love Colton character so much and of course Isaac with his journey & struggles to find the truth about who he is and how he's dealing with his faith. It's very interesting to follow.

I can feel the emotions from both MC consumed my mind. I even had broken heart when their heart shattered into pieces.
Oh trust me, it feels like I'm the one there who's "heart hit the pavement" at 78% !

This book brought lots of those "butterfly on my stomach effects" countless times while I read it.
Even with all the simplest things that happened between Colton & Isaac, the light touch or their first kiss could bring that tingling sensation in me.

How come ?

I think its all due to the writing. Sometimes, the good writing can make a book "sing" in amazing way.

You can feel the humming vibes through your veins, and tingling sensation dance on your skin.

If a book could sing...
It would be like this...

And this book definitely could "sing".

There's two secondary characters who stole the spotlight (but in a good way of course) in this story and I like them very much, they're Pastor Mike and Ruth. They both took important role in Colton & Isaac life.

Well, as a Christian who lived in country which LGBT still not have their rights to be heard, I know those Bible verses that being quoted in this book very well. But I tried to open my mind and choose to see all things in different perspective.
And when I did that, all I can see is "Love is love"...

And like what Pastor Mike said...

".... attraction happens. Whether we act on it or not, whether we choose to let it happen or not . . .and you can't choose who you fall in love with..."

In the end, what I can only say about this book is...

Beautiful...

I RECOMMENDED this book to everyone and definitely will be put on my re-read shelf !

Gosh, I NEED the paperback soon !

Don't judge....just feel the love...

ARC provided by Netgalley to review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me out of the blue. I had no idea anyone was writing books like this. Gay romance between Christians? I hope I'm not the only one this appeals to!

The characterization is deft and believable. I feel for our heroes, I have compassion for their struggles, and I understand them even if I don't agree with them. Some suspension of disbelief is necessary (would a hard-core Evangelical really accept the possibility of anonymous hookups the way Isaac does?), but the reward is completely worth it.

What impresses me the most is how respectful and honest the novel is when it comes to the perspective of the Evangelicals. The arguments, the (mis)use of scripture, the logical tactics all ring true, but it's not written as though these people are merely blindly hateful. They think they are doing profound good and the author understands this! It would be so easy to write them as muahaha bigot villains without hearts or reasons, but Gallagher has the grace and skill to circumvent the easy in favor of the true.

What I love the most (aside from the effective and touching romance) is how the (for lack of a better term) pro-gay Christians speak and behave. Their arguments and the explanations for the verses usually used to attack LGBTQ people are 100% accurate and expertly portrayed. And it's not as though the book screeches to a halt for a Bible lesson, either. It's worked into the story well and it doesn't overstay its welcome. For awhile I thought the Christians' inner monologues contained too many uses of the word "Lord," but then I caught myself doing the same thing in my every day, so I guess it's just something we honestly do.

I'm impressed by and grateful for this novel. I found it when I needed to read it, I enjoyed it, and I even learned from it. I don't think it will be changing any Evangelical minds, but I think gay Christians can find themselves in it. I think it can be balm for gay Christians who are afraid they can't be all right with God and true to the way He made them at the same time. And I very much hope it can help some non-Christians understand LGBTQ Christians better. We're not self-loathing Bible-thumpers or people who have to throw away their faith in order to live honestly. We have The Word too, we have the love of God, and His commandment to be compassionate and kind and empathetic and loving. We can be Christians and be gay people too. We are.

[Abra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book at RT16.

This is a m/m inspie. It is about the thoughtful journey of Isaac from a fire and brimstone preacher to a man who is comfortable with his homosexuality. It's a long trip and I'm glad this book didn't rush through the process to get to the HEA.

Isaac is a fundamentalist preacher who decides to make a documentary showing that being gay is a choice so he can help his gay nephew. Isaac has always been attracted to men, but he thought that all men wrestled with that and never considered the possibility he was gay. Not so his ex-wife or twin sister who were unsurprised by the idea. Isaac meets Colton, an ex-runaway who had been abused horribly until he was saved (and Saved) many years ago by Pastor Mike. Colton is also a devout Christian and invites Isaac to his church. At first the rainbow flag near the cross makes Isaac nauseous. Even after a discussion with Paster Mike, Isaac can't wrap his head around the thought that the Bible might not be saying what he thought it did. Meanwhile, he's falling more and more in love with Colton.

Throughout the book Isaac wrestles with learning everything he's been taught may be wrong. I'm happy to say that love doesn't conquer all and that Isaac gets where he needs to go under his own steam.

There's no sex in this book other than some fooling around behind closed doors. Between Isaac's issues and Colton having trouble trusting that Isaac isn't going to physically abuse him, the physical side of the relationship (other than kissing) understandably moves very slowly.

This is a lovely, interesting book. The introspection was great and the love story sweet.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of love and faith in the gay community. It seems sometimes that people don't feel that homsexuality and faith can co-exist. I know there are plenty of people in different religions that condemn those who are in the LGBT spectrum. I know that hate is sometimes spewed from the mouths of people who consider themselves righteous. But as a spiritual person, I don't believe that God is about that, it is the hate-mongers that are misguided. In Lead Me Not, a zealous anti-gay preacher from a community that sounds like the Westboro Baptist Church allows himself to walk in the shoes of a gay man, and truths about himself come to light and truths about the God he worships. The man who helps him explore the gay community is also a man of faith, a man who believes that the strongest message the bible has to give is to love one another. It might be as hypocritical as those that pick and choose messages of sin and judgment from the bible to base their beliefs, but I do pick and choose that love is the greater commandment. I was happy to read this book of faith that falls in line with a lot of what I believe. I think it is a great message to those who might be having a crisis of faith as they come out. There is no sex on page, and I think that it was meant so that those with strong faiths can read about the love of two men without it being too sexual. It might fall under the category of inspirational romance. Whatever subgenre it does belong to, I enjoyed the novel very much.