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Starting Over #5
The Beginning
Is this the end of the road, or the start of a whole new journey?
Aled’s had enough. His family is hundreds of miles away from him, his job is pointless and the feeling that he’s missing out on his own life has grown too big. But how can he call time on Yorkshire when it’s the place that Gabriel calls home?
Chris doesn’t know what to do. Inheriting property in the childhood village where he felt such a freak growing up wasn’t what he wanted, and he didn’t expect to miss Aled and Gabriel as much as he has since returning to Somerset. He’s out of place yet again, but doesn’t know where to call home.
When Aled is offered a job in Cornwall, Gabriel senses an opportunity to fix Aled’s misery, shed Chris’ unhappy history and bring their entire relationship under one roof. It will be the biggest gamble Gabriel’s ever taken on them…but this time, it doesn’t feel like taking a risk.
They’re starting over at the beginning, and there’s nothing left to fear.
Reader advisory: This book contains expressions of homophobia and transphobia from multiple characters. There are scenes of rough sex, BDSM and RACK.
General Release Date: 3rd November 2020
Aled’s had enough. His family is hundreds of miles away from him, his job is pointless and the feeling that he’s missing out on his own life has grown too big. But how can he call time on Yorkshire when it’s the place that Gabriel calls home?
Chris doesn’t know what to do. Inheriting property in the childhood village where he felt such a freak growing up wasn’t what he wanted, and he didn’t expect to miss Aled and Gabriel as much as he has since returning to Somerset. He’s out of place yet again, but doesn’t know where to call home.
When Aled is offered a job in Cornwall, Gabriel senses an opportunity to fix Aled’s misery, shed Chris’ unhappy history and bring their entire relationship under one roof. It will be the biggest gamble Gabriel’s ever taken on them…but this time, it doesn’t feel like taking a risk.
They’re starting over at the beginning, and there’s nothing left to fear.
Reader advisory: This book contains expressions of homophobia and transphobia from multiple characters. There are scenes of rough sex, BDSM and RACK.
General Release Date: 3rd November 2020
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2020
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Metzger
34 books351 followersMatthew is an asexual, transgender author from the wet and windy British Isles.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 27, 2021
This is the last book in this series, and I would not try to read it alone. These three men have a complicated, poly, open, BDSM, ace-spectrum mix of identities, and are still figuring out what they need, together and apart. I really enjoyed watching those needs and choices come together in this volume, as some of the uncertainties and stresses in their lives finally get worked through.
One of the best things about this series is that these guys work hard to communicate, and to include each other and not play jealousy mind games. They are an unbalanced trio, and there's no drive to make everything exactly equal, as long as they each get what they need. And part of the pleasure of this volume, especially with Chris, is watching them figure out just what they do need, and don't, can live with and without, as they form a family.
One of the best things about this series is that these guys work hard to communicate, and to include each other and not play jealousy mind games. They are an unbalanced trio, and there's no drive to make everything exactly equal, as long as they each get what they need. And part of the pleasure of this volume, especially with Chris, is watching them figure out just what they do need, and don't, can live with and without, as they form a family.
November 18, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
The Beginning is the end of a long journey for Aled and Gabriel and Chris. It is book five in The Starting Over series and the books work best read in order as it is a continuing story. Gabriel and Aled are more settled than either of them ever thought they would be. Gabriel is feeling more settled with himself and Aled is a great support for him. The have a unique relationship and give each other what they need and Aled knew from the beginning that Gabriel is not monogamous. While Aled likes to play rough, Kevin, Gabriel’s other dominant partner, plays even rougher to give Gabriel everything. Gabriel has specific tastes, specific kinks, and there are scenes of rough sex, BDSM, and RACK that give all of the players what they need and that is the heart of this series. There is no jealousy and there is incredibly clear communication between all of them.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
The Beginning is the end of a long journey for Aled and Gabriel and Chris. It is book five in The Starting Over series and the books work best read in order as it is a continuing story. Gabriel and Aled are more settled than either of them ever thought they would be. Gabriel is feeling more settled with himself and Aled is a great support for him. The have a unique relationship and give each other what they need and Aled knew from the beginning that Gabriel is not monogamous. While Aled likes to play rough, Kevin, Gabriel’s other dominant partner, plays even rougher to give Gabriel everything. Gabriel has specific tastes, specific kinks, and there are scenes of rough sex, BDSM, and RACK that give all of the players what they need and that is the heart of this series. There is no jealousy and there is incredibly clear communication between all of them.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
January 13, 2021
The Beginning (Starting Over) by Matthew J Metzger
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy reviews
Find us on the web at www.BoyMeetsBoyReviews.com
Rating 5 hearts
Blurb:
Book five in the Starting Over series
Is this the end of the road, or the start of a whole new journey?
Aled's had enough. His family is hundreds of miles away from him, his job is pointless and the feeling that he's missing out on his own life has grown too big. But how can he call time on Yorkshire when it's the place that Gabriel calls home?
Chris doesn't know what to do. Inheriting property in the childhood village where he felt such a freak growing up wasn't what he wanted, and he didn't expect to miss Aled and Gabriel as much as he has since returning to Somerset. He's out of place yet again, but doesn't know where to call home.
When Aled is offered a job in Cornwall, Gabriel senses an opportunity to fix Aled's misery, shed Chris' unhappy history and bring their entire relationship under one roof. It will be the biggest gamble Gabriel's ever taken on them...but this time, it doesn't feel like taking a risk.
They're starting over at the beginning, and there's nothing left to fear.
This is the fifth book in the series. I have read the others, but reckon a reader would be able to enjoy this as a stand alone. The story follows a polyamorous group of guys in a complex and loving relationship. Everyone has their own needs and although Gabriel’s needs don’t resonate with me personally, I could see how his various relationships met all of his needs.
Aled is growing increasingly unhappy in his work life, but he really needs Gabriel. Could Gabriel ever consider a move across the country even if it means one of his partners would be closer, as he simultaneously leaves another further behind?
Chris isn’t sure what to do. He misses Gabriel and Aled, and has never been happy here, but he is alone with his inherited house.
It’s such a complicated scenario for a book, but is the perfect culmination to this series. We see our guys make a BIG change in their quest for happiness and balance, and fortunately this is a romance with a solid gold HEA with all the quirks!
Oh my goodness I loved this book! It is raw, somewhat gritty and a lot is outside my experience, but the writing is stellar. The characters are well formed and three dimensional, the relationships are so real I felt like they were real-life friends of mine. The pursuit of happiness in a form that is not the societal norm can be so very hard. This book is a high quality Own Voices tale by one of my favourite authors. The Trans, Poly and Ace rep are real and beautiful. This is another triumph by Matthew. I Cannot recommend it enough.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy reviews
Find us on the web at www.BoyMeetsBoyReviews.com
Rating 5 hearts
Blurb:
Book five in the Starting Over series
Is this the end of the road, or the start of a whole new journey?
Aled's had enough. His family is hundreds of miles away from him, his job is pointless and the feeling that he's missing out on his own life has grown too big. But how can he call time on Yorkshire when it's the place that Gabriel calls home?
Chris doesn't know what to do. Inheriting property in the childhood village where he felt such a freak growing up wasn't what he wanted, and he didn't expect to miss Aled and Gabriel as much as he has since returning to Somerset. He's out of place yet again, but doesn't know where to call home.
When Aled is offered a job in Cornwall, Gabriel senses an opportunity to fix Aled's misery, shed Chris' unhappy history and bring their entire relationship under one roof. It will be the biggest gamble Gabriel's ever taken on them...but this time, it doesn't feel like taking a risk.
They're starting over at the beginning, and there's nothing left to fear.
This is the fifth book in the series. I have read the others, but reckon a reader would be able to enjoy this as a stand alone. The story follows a polyamorous group of guys in a complex and loving relationship. Everyone has their own needs and although Gabriel’s needs don’t resonate with me personally, I could see how his various relationships met all of his needs.
Aled is growing increasingly unhappy in his work life, but he really needs Gabriel. Could Gabriel ever consider a move across the country even if it means one of his partners would be closer, as he simultaneously leaves another further behind?
Chris isn’t sure what to do. He misses Gabriel and Aled, and has never been happy here, but he is alone with his inherited house.
It’s such a complicated scenario for a book, but is the perfect culmination to this series. We see our guys make a BIG change in their quest for happiness and balance, and fortunately this is a romance with a solid gold HEA with all the quirks!
Oh my goodness I loved this book! It is raw, somewhat gritty and a lot is outside my experience, but the writing is stellar. The characters are well formed and three dimensional, the relationships are so real I felt like they were real-life friends of mine. The pursuit of happiness in a form that is not the societal norm can be so very hard. This book is a high quality Own Voices tale by one of my favourite authors. The Trans, Poly and Ace rep are real and beautiful. This is another triumph by Matthew. I Cannot recommend it enough.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2022
I have literally binged my way through the remainder of the series and it was worth it.
The thing I love about this series is that it offers a whole new avenue on how to live life and I feel it's very important to have your horizons widened every now and then. I feel like this love story featuring such an unconventional relationship is proof that love can exist and does exist in more forms than we can probably comprehend.
This book is a fitting end to the story that began five years ago with the divorce and I liked how these characters have grown over those years especially Aled and Gabriel who were our first protagonists. Their story had me hooked from the beginning and I love the fact that I have gotten so far with these two and along the way we found Chris and Chris is just amazing. I mean I don't know what it is about how he is portrayed but I love the guy and seeing him settle into their new home, in the end, brought tears to my eyes which is more than the other two managed, so he's definitely got my heart.
I don't think there is much more to say but that I have really enjoyed this journey even though we didn't start on the right foot and it's nice to see Gabriel grow out of his more destructive behaviours and see him so settled and happy and same with Aled.
This series has been a journey through some serious kink and love and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The thing I love about this series is that it offers a whole new avenue on how to live life and I feel it's very important to have your horizons widened every now and then. I feel like this love story featuring such an unconventional relationship is proof that love can exist and does exist in more forms than we can probably comprehend.
This book is a fitting end to the story that began five years ago with the divorce and I liked how these characters have grown over those years especially Aled and Gabriel who were our first protagonists. Their story had me hooked from the beginning and I love the fact that I have gotten so far with these two and along the way we found Chris and Chris is just amazing. I mean I don't know what it is about how he is portrayed but I love the guy and seeing him settle into their new home, in the end, brought tears to my eyes which is more than the other two managed, so he's definitely got my heart.
I don't think there is much more to say but that I have really enjoyed this journey even though we didn't start on the right foot and it's nice to see Gabriel grow out of his more destructive behaviours and see him so settled and happy and same with Aled.
This series has been a journey through some serious kink and love and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 17, 2021
I knew I'd be unable to put down this book once I started reading since it was A Matthew Metzger book afterall, which is why I waited so long to read it. I love Matthews style of writing and the fact that most of his books are just about the characters and don't involve any big drama. And even if I don't GET what the characters are into, Matthew always make sure I understand why they think and feel and act in a certain way. In hindsight I wish I'd reread the first 4 books in this series before reading this - but I can just do that another time.
June 6, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this series. Metzger’s books are brilliant and the Starting Over series is no different. Fabulous ace and trans representation from an own voices author, I loved Gabriel, Aled and Chris. Also - starting over in your mid thirties? Totally here for that - as someone who’s finally just working out who they are at thirty and feeling like I’ve wasted so much time, it was great to see Aled get his new beginning.
It wrapped up brilliantly - although I’m greedy and want to see more of these characters.
It wrapped up brilliantly - although I’m greedy and want to see more of these characters.
February 26, 2021
4.5 stars
I love this series and to read anything about Gabriel and his boyfriends, Aled and Chris is a joy. This book brings them all together, happy and closer than ever. There is not much angst in here, which is a good thing. The sex scenes are pretty hot, especially the secretary roleplay.
A great series from one of my favorite authors. Definitely recommended. Not a standalone, series to be read in order.
I love this series and to read anything about Gabriel and his boyfriends, Aled and Chris is a joy. This book brings them all together, happy and closer than ever. There is not much angst in here, which is a good thing. The sex scenes are pretty hot, especially the secretary roleplay.
A great series from one of my favorite authors. Definitely recommended. Not a standalone, series to be read in order.
Read
December 26, 2020Loved this series! Dark eroticism & romance don’t usually mesh but in the case of these characters it works. I really enjoy the way Metzger writes.
January 31, 2021
3.5 stars
July 10, 2022
This one was a bit bittersweet for me. Wanted more Aled and Gabriel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews