What do you think?
Rate this book
Home #4
Amore a prima vista
Dal momento in cui l’ingenuo e ottimista Jonathan Doyle intravede un bellissimo sconosciuto dagli occhi blu, inizia a credere nell’amore a prima vista. Per sua sfortuna, ne perde subito traccia senza riuscire a conoscerlo e poi passa anni a cercarlo disperatamente. Proprio quando è sul punto di arrendersi, Jonathan finalmente incontra David Miller faccia a faccia.
David, uomo sicuro di sé e di successo, trasforma la vita fino a quel momento solitaria di Jonathan in una favola, dandogli più di quanto lui avesse mai immaginato. Ma gli anni passati alla ricerca di David sono stati difficili per Jonathan, e lui è terrorizzato dal fatto che suo figlio e il proprio passato scandaloso possano distruggere la loro nascente relazione.
Se vorranno costruire un futuro insieme, entrambi dovranno scavare in profondità: David dovrà trovare il coraggio di condividere se stesso in un modo che non aveva mai nemmeno preso in considerazione e Jonathan dovrà trovare il coraggio di dire tutta la verità.
David, uomo sicuro di sé e di successo, trasforma la vita fino a quel momento solitaria di Jonathan in una favola, dandogli più di quanto lui avesse mai immaginato. Ma gli anni passati alla ricerca di David sono stati difficili per Jonathan, e lui è terrorizzato dal fatto che suo figlio e il proprio passato scandaloso possano distruggere la loro nascente relazione.
Se vorranno costruire un futuro insieme, entrambi dovranno scavare in profondità: David dovrà trovare il coraggio di condividere se stesso in un modo che non aveva mai nemmeno preso in considerazione e Jonathan dovrà trovare il coraggio di dire tutta la verità.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
41 people are currently reading
678 people want to read
About the author
Cardeno C.
70 books2,380 followersCardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.
Heartwarming Stories. Strong Relationships. Forever Love.
Website: www.cardenoc.com
Blog: (Shared Blog) https://gayromanceauthors.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @CardenoC
FB Profile: http://www.facebook.com/CardenoC
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carde...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6M...
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cardenoC/
Heartwarming Stories. Strong Relationships. Forever Love.
Website: www.cardenoc.com
Blog: (Shared Blog) https://gayromanceauthors.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @CardenoC
FB Profile: http://www.facebook.com/CardenoC
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carde...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6M...
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cardenoC/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
February 18, 2015
This review is for the second edition of this book, which includes a bonus chapter originally published in:
This is yet another romantic cuppa served warm with extra cream and sugar from Cardeno C.
Jonathan and David are a very sweet couple. David adores and dotes on Jonathan, and Jonathan worships David. David, the go-to sexy realtor for the town's LGBT community, realizes that Jonathan and his young son, Sam, are a package deal, and he wants them both.
I really liked the way Sam was portrayed in this book. He was a cute 2-year-old who was present without being the focal point of the story. The scenes with Jonathan's family were good for a few laughs, although his sister's three boys were over-the-top annoying brats.
The way Jonathan came to be a father was rather horrifying, actually. There was nothing remotely okay about what happened. The baby's mama was a sick, selfish person, and Jonathan needed to work the word "NO" into his vocabulary.
I'm not entirely sure how Jonathan supported himself and his son in New York after he quit his, uh, lucrative position .
Yes, Jonathan has a "scandalous," albeit brief, past, and, yes, David finds out about it before Jonathan can confess, but this is a CC special, people. You know nothing bad's going to happen.
Of course, there was smex and love galore, and the romantic, awwwww-inducing bonus chapter brought the story full circle.
I wouldn't expect anything else from Cardeno C!
This is yet another romantic cuppa served warm with extra cream and sugar from Cardeno C.
Jonathan and David are a very sweet couple. David adores and dotes on Jonathan, and Jonathan worships David. David, the go-to sexy realtor for the town's LGBT community, realizes that Jonathan and his young son, Sam, are a package deal, and he wants them both.
I really liked the way Sam was portrayed in this book. He was a cute 2-year-old who was present without being the focal point of the story. The scenes with Jonathan's family were good for a few laughs, although his sister's three boys were over-the-top annoying brats.
The way Jonathan came to be a father was rather horrifying, actually. There was nothing remotely okay about what happened. The baby's mama was a sick, selfish person, and Jonathan needed to work the word "NO" into his vocabulary.
I'm not entirely sure how Jonathan supported himself and his son in New York after he quit his, uh, lucrative position .
Yes, Jonathan has a "scandalous," albeit brief, past, and, yes, David finds out about it before Jonathan can confess, but this is a CC special, people. You know nothing bad's going to happen.
Of course, there was smex and love galore, and the romantic, awwwww-inducing bonus chapter brought the story full circle.
I wouldn't expect anything else from Cardeno C!
April 2, 2015
1.5 stars
"Holy fuck. Who moves in with someone that quickly? Well, other than lesbians, that is."
...I don't even know what this means...am I missing the joke?
The book was...bad. So very bad. And I'm a Cardeno C fan. I really am.
The first 3 chapters were ALL telling...I felt my blood pressure rising. And not only telling...but telling a really bad story.
And the characters were...ugh...so bad.
I love instalove. I love "mine"s. I love over-the-top love stories.
I do not love calling your lover "tiger" over and over again as an endearment/nickname in bed in the throes of passion.
I do not love silly, silly choices made by weak-willed characters without any real explanation.
I do not love irresponsible references describing bad parenting, being laughed off.
I gave up and skimmed all the sex scenes too. That's how you know...just...bad.
The kid Sam was cute though...
April 2, 2017
Well...I kinda liked this one...but for me, it was a bit too heavy on the insta-love.
I mean the guy litteraly spend years pining away for a man he only saw once..from a distance.
That was a bit too much for me. I can understand falling in lust and even in love really quick, but doing so after just seeing someone and not even interacting with him...that's a bit unbelievable to me. And than spending 3 years just thinking about his eyes.....They finally meet in person, fuck each other right away and a few weeks later, they move in together.
Also, I think this one was a bit too sweet for me..I think I got some extra cavities while reading. I like some sweet in my man on man loving books, but damn I was just starting to hope for some sort of little conflict, because it was too sweet.
And than when the secrets were revealed...I got nothing. No arguiment, no fight, not even a discussion. I didn't want them to break up or anything, but a bit of a reaction would have been nice.
At least the sex was oke. They were pretty hot together eventhough I prefer reading about ,M en that are verse.
2,5 - 3 stars from me..
I mean the guy litteraly spend years pining away for a man he only saw once..from a distance.
That was a bit too much for me. I can understand falling in lust and even in love really quick, but doing so after just seeing someone and not even interacting with him...that's a bit unbelievable to me. And than spending 3 years just thinking about his eyes.....They finally meet in person, fuck each other right away and a few weeks later, they move in together.
Also, I think this one was a bit too sweet for me..I think I got some extra cavities while reading. I like some sweet in my man on man loving books, but damn I was just starting to hope for some sort of little conflict, because it was too sweet.
And than when the secrets were revealed...I got nothing. No arguiment, no fight, not even a discussion. I didn't want them to break up or anything, but a bit of a reaction would have been nice.
At least the sex was oke. They were pretty hot together eventhough I prefer reading about ,M en that are verse.
2,5 - 3 stars from me..
January 26, 2016
Okay, first of all, this has all the classic Cardeno C. warm fuzzies her readers expect, but there's a little something extra. The oomph that made me up this from three stars to four. And this is a tiny spoiler, so read at your own risk.
When David finds out that Jonathan spent a few months doing porn, his reaction isn't disgust, nor is it excitement. Just calm acceptance. And when they finally talk about it and Jonathan apologizes, David's response is killer.
"'There's nothing to forgive, Jonathan. You didn't do anything wrong. Hell, I've watched my share of porn and I'm not exactly a virgin here. What kind of a hypocrite would I be if I thought less of you for this?'"
Definitely worth the read, and it'll be staying on my Kindle for a while.
When David finds out that Jonathan spent a few months doing porn, his reaction isn't disgust, nor is it excitement. Just calm acceptance. And when they finally talk about it and Jonathan apologizes, David's response is killer.
"'There's nothing to forgive, Jonathan. You didn't do anything wrong. Hell, I've watched my share of porn and I'm not exactly a virgin here. What kind of a hypocrite would I be if I thought less of you for this?'"
Definitely worth the read, and it'll be staying on my Kindle for a while.
October 14, 2018
He leído toda la serie y lo he hecho de forma desordenada en uno días según me interesaba una pareja u otra. Todas las historias tienen unas características comunes, la que más destaca es que lo que pasa no se lo cree nadie, los diálogos muchos son nefastos y el rolling eyes es contínuo. Pero, son entretenidos y están en KU, es lo mejor que puedo decir de ellos.
abandoned
July 5, 2020Seriously? Insert eyeroll emoji here...
November 30, 2016
This Home series by Cardeno C is so good. These are just sweet stories about two people finding a love they never thought possible. Loved these two guys and Sam too.
July 15, 2011
As with the previous book in the series, I had some problems with it. I liked it but I didn't so it's very hard for me to rate it.
What I liked most about the story, though, was the last chapter. I have a soft spot for books with kids in them (even though the little shits are annoying in real life) so the last chapter was my favorite of the whole book . I liked how much of a klutz Jonathan was in the beginning. It was endearing because I love characters who get themselves into troublesome situations and that's what made the book start off good for me.
In retrospect, this plot is a good one. I like the idea of it, I think the thought fate had something to do with getting these two characters, Jon and David, back together after just a glance is an interesting one. The insta-love is getting a bit old because it's overused a lot but I could look past that because, to me, this plot had potential. Unfortunately, I don't think it was delivered to the best of it's ability. The clogging sweetness and fairy-tale perfection to the story made the entertaining plot into something that was kind of.... frustrating. There's only so much unrealisticness I can take before I roll my eyes and wish desperately for something non-perfect with realistic characters.
That's one of the things I didn't like about the story. Everything was resolved way too quickly and too easily for it to even be a conflict. .
While I liked Jon's kid, Sam, it was hard to understand whether this kid was five years old or two. He'd speak like a grown up one minute then revert back to using toddler words and speech the next.
Which brings us to the next problem I had with the story. I felt like there was barely any dialogue between Jon and David getting to know each other.
For me, there was too much sex. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like much sex in her stories. I want more dialogue, plot, suspense, conflict even angst. I don't want a boat load of sex and sweet sex is even worse to me. When I do like reading sex, I want it down and dirty. Rough and hard, baby. I don't want 'I love yous' or overly wordy sex scenes. Now, I have to admit, I skipped most of the sex because what I glimpsed of it was just what I don't like. Don't take my word for it, though, because like I said, I skipped it. And I skipped a lot.
That's about it, I think. There was a timeline issue with how long they met. I noticed it. I'm not sure if anyone else will . I feel like I'm missing something but I can't remember what it is.
All in all, I think people who have liked the series so far will like this one as well. It's as sweet as the previous one with minimal conflict.
What I liked most about the story, though, was the last chapter. I have a soft spot for books with kids in them (even though the little shits are annoying in real life) so the last chapter was my favorite of the whole book . I liked how much of a klutz Jonathan was in the beginning. It was endearing because I love characters who get themselves into troublesome situations and that's what made the book start off good for me.
In retrospect, this plot is a good one. I like the idea of it, I think the thought fate had something to do with getting these two characters, Jon and David, back together after just a glance is an interesting one. The insta-love is getting a bit old because it's overused a lot but I could look past that because, to me, this plot had potential. Unfortunately, I don't think it was delivered to the best of it's ability. The clogging sweetness and fairy-tale perfection to the story made the entertaining plot into something that was kind of.... frustrating. There's only so much unrealisticness I can take before I roll my eyes and wish desperately for something non-perfect with realistic characters.
That's one of the things I didn't like about the story. Everything was resolved way too quickly and too easily for it to even be a conflict. .
While I liked Jon's kid, Sam, it was hard to understand whether this kid was five years old or two. He'd speak like a grown up one minute then revert back to using toddler words and speech the next.
Which brings us to the next problem I had with the story. I felt like there was barely any dialogue between Jon and David getting to know each other.
For me, there was too much sex. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like much sex in her stories. I want more dialogue, plot, suspense, conflict even angst. I don't want a boat load of sex and sweet sex is even worse to me. When I do like reading sex, I want it down and dirty. Rough and hard, baby. I don't want 'I love yous' or overly wordy sex scenes. Now, I have to admit, I skipped most of the sex because what I glimpsed of it was just what I don't like. Don't take my word for it, though, because like I said, I skipped it. And I skipped a lot.
That's about it, I think. There was a timeline issue with how long they met. I noticed it. I'm not sure if anyone else will . I feel like I'm missing something but I can't remember what it is.
All in all, I think people who have liked the series so far will like this one as well. It's as sweet as the previous one with minimal conflict.
October 23, 2015
This started out very strange with the way Jonathan got to be a father.
I was all for the love at first sight angle of this book. Some think it’s stalking, with the way Jonathan tried to find the man he saw once, but felt was his soulmate. But I actually thought it pretty romantic.
Once Jonathan and David meet it’s all fuck me, tiger, clenching chutes and hungry holes. It didn’t really bother me. I’ve read worse.
What did bother me was the storyline of shy Jonathan having been a porn star. He never even kissed a man before he met David or received a blow job. Must have been some pretty bad porn then.
Other than this there were a lot of I love yous, massive amounts of sex (too much), but also some cute moments with Sam, Jonathan’s son.
Not one of Cardeno C’s best books, but still a pretty cute, low angst story.
I was all for the love at first sight angle of this book. Some think it’s stalking, with the way Jonathan tried to find the man he saw once, but felt was his soulmate. But I actually thought it pretty romantic.
Once Jonathan and David meet it’s all fuck me, tiger, clenching chutes and hungry holes. It didn’t really bother me. I’ve read worse.
What did bother me was the storyline of shy Jonathan having been a porn star. He never even kissed a man before he met David or received a blow job. Must have been some pretty bad porn then.
Other than this there were a lot of I love yous, massive amounts of sex (too much), but also some cute moments with Sam, Jonathan’s son.
Not one of Cardeno C’s best books, but still a pretty cute, low angst story.
February 5, 2017
Another sweet and sexy read by Cardeno.
Poor Jonathan..he had such a hard time in the beginning. Unexpected news throwing him for a loop. He made some bad choices but thankfully, he pulled himself out of it quickly for his son, Sam and became a wonderful father. David was the perfect hero...loving, caring and accepting. I was so glad he did not push Jonathan away once his secret was revealed. He was amazing with Sam and when Sam called him daddy....definitely sigh worthy material right there.
My biggest complaint was I wish old wretched "Nick" had gotten some kind of comeuppance. He was a despicable person and deserved some kind of retribution for his nastiness. And can I say here, I really feel like what Jonathan's supposedly "bff", Kathy, did to him in the beginning that resulted in Sam, was a little "rapey" to me. I honestly don't think he gave consent.
Poor Jonathan..he had such a hard time in the beginning. Unexpected news throwing him for a loop. He made some bad choices but thankfully, he pulled himself out of it quickly for his son, Sam and became a wonderful father. David was the perfect hero...loving, caring and accepting. I was so glad he did not push Jonathan away once his secret was revealed. He was amazing with Sam and when Sam called him daddy....definitely sigh worthy material right there.
My biggest complaint was I wish old wretched "Nick" had gotten some kind of comeuppance. He was a despicable person and deserved some kind of retribution for his nastiness. And can I say here, I really feel like what Jonathan's supposedly "bff", Kathy, did to him in the beginning that resulted in Sam, was a little "rapey" to me. I honestly don't think he gave consent.
April 2, 2016
Jonathan Doyle isn't the brightest bulb. He's a simple man who doesn't really have any ambitions, other than to meet the man with the navy blue eyes that he sees behind the glass at a hospital in New York one day. The man disappears before Jonathan can meet him, but for Jonathan it was love at first sight.
Years later Jonathan finally meets Realtor David Miller, the man with the navy blue eyes, with whom he fell in love with years ago. David is everything Jonathan ever hoped he would be and David, of course, falls fast for Jonathan as well. The two fit together like perfect puzzle pieces.
Jonathan and David are so sweet together. David adores Jonathan and his son, Sam, and Jonathan worships the ground David walks on. The story is sweet, funny, hot and filled with romantic moments.
The first couple of times I read this, Jonathan's naïveté and dimness didn't really resonate with me. But every time I revisit this heartwarming story his character becomes more endearing to me.
I feel like I should note that the level of attraction directly lessens the level of creepy in any situation. David's almost stalker-like behavior, the possessiveness, buying Jonathan a phone, etc. is considered super romantic here because Jonathan already loves David so much! Otherwise, it would be hella creepy.
I love Alexander Collins' narration of this series. He does a great job with the narration making Jonathan's naïveté sweet and David's possessiveness super hot. I really enjoyed the pacing and his character voices. This love at first sight romance has great narration, likable characters, hot sex, humor, and lots of wonderful feels.
April 2, 2016
The first couple of times I read this, Jonathan's naïveté and dimness didn't really resonate with me. But every time I revisit this heartwarming story his character becomes more endearing to me.
I feel like I should note that the level of attraction directly lessens the level of creepy in any situation. David's almost stalker-like behavior, the possessiveness, buying Jonathan a phone, etc. is considered super romantic here because Jonathan already loves David so much! Otherwise, it would be hella creepy.
Read: 07/2014, 09/2014, 02/2015, 04/01/2016
I feel like I should note that the level of attraction directly lessens the level of creepy in any situation. David's almost stalker-like behavior, the possessiveness, buying Jonathan a phone, etc. is considered super romantic here because Jonathan already loves David so much! Otherwise, it would be hella creepy.
Read: 07/2014, 09/2014, 02/2015, 04/01/2016
August 16, 2011
What is it with this author and his painfully naive heroes who allow themselves to be taken advantage of and humiliated sexually? Sure Jonathan was naive but he seemed mentally retarded as well. Good grief to LET yourself to be gang banged in a porn movie? DUMBOOOO!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
January 17, 2013Yes, the second one. But I stuck to it up to 40%, go me! Enough is enough. The whole set up of the story was totally unbelievable, just one thing: small town guy moves to New York and with a homevideo of his first sexual encounter got into the porn business??? Well, it wasn't really his first, because his best female friend got him into bed as a revenge to her boyfriend and guess what? She got pregnant. No! Yes!!! And so on and so on.
On top of that were several small things adding on, so around 40% I stopped.
On top of that were several small things adding on, so around 40% I stopped.
December 30, 2015
It was an over-the-top story. But I liked it and I didn't liked it.
Everytime i was thinking OMG this is so overdone and unrealistic and then there were such sweet lines i melted. In my head I knew it was sometimes bad written but I loved it.
Overall because of the sweetness and really good hot sexscenes four stars.
(Sorry, bad bad English i have a fever and im to tired to give it an gramma controle)
Everytime i was thinking OMG this is so overdone and unrealistic and then there were such sweet lines i melted. In my head I knew it was sometimes bad written but I loved it.
Overall because of the sweetness and really good hot sexscenes four stars.
(Sorry, bad bad English i have a fever and im to tired to give it an gramma controle)
March 14, 2013
"When other boys dreamt of growing up to be basketball players, rock stars, or firefighters, all Jonathan wanted was that head-over-heels, traditional love story."
This is the story of Jonathan, who has one glimpse of David (well actually it was more like a 3 hour session spent studying the man from afar), and it is love at first sight. Unfortunately the man of his dreams disappears before they have a chance to meet.
Jonathan then faces some very tough times including doing some things he regrets. He is very lonely but has a young son to look after. 3 years later he finds David and it seems to be love at first sight for David too.
This was a really sweet and romantic story. With lots of humour including a real highlight of how Jonathan came out to his family.
This is the story of Jonathan, who has one glimpse of David (well actually it was more like a 3 hour session spent studying the man from afar), and it is love at first sight. Unfortunately the man of his dreams disappears before they have a chance to meet.
Jonathan then faces some very tough times including doing some things he regrets. He is very lonely but has a young son to look after. 3 years later he finds David and it seems to be love at first sight for David too.
This was a really sweet and romantic story. With lots of humour including a real highlight of how Jonathan came out to his family.
September 6, 2015
I loved these characters. Jonathan was so young at the beginning, not so much in age but in experience. He traveled to NY with his high school class and saw his heart. They never spoke and the subject of his instant love never saw Jonathan.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Jonathan Doyle sure did. Oh, he knew it was silly and naive, but deep down he believed. He wanted to believe. Jonathan was a dyed-n-the-wool hopeless romantic. He always had been.
His alleged BF was a selfish, mean person. There is a forced sex act taking advantage of youth and naivete. Jonathan takes responsibility for his child that the mother did not want.
David is driven in his profession and a player with his sex. He does not have relationships, until he met Jonathan. Jonathan and David fell in love at first sight of the other, it just took three year for both of them to experience that feeling.
"Will you please stay with me tonight, Jonathan?I meant it when I said I don't want to let you go."
Really, it was a a wonder David didn't ask the man to stay with him forever, because that was how he felt. And where in the hell had that felling come from?
I like how the characters from previous books weave through all these stories.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Jonathan Doyle sure did. Oh, he knew it was silly and naive, but deep down he believed. He wanted to believe. Jonathan was a dyed-n-the-wool hopeless romantic. He always had been.
His alleged BF was a selfish, mean person. There is a forced sex act taking advantage of youth and naivete. Jonathan takes responsibility for his child that the mother did not want.
David is driven in his profession and a player with his sex. He does not have relationships, until he met Jonathan. Jonathan and David fell in love at first sight of the other, it just took three year for both of them to experience that feeling.
"Will you please stay with me tonight, Jonathan?I meant it when I said I don't want to let you go."
Really, it was a a wonder David didn't ask the man to stay with him forever, because that was how he felt. And where in the hell had that felling come from?
I like how the characters from previous books weave through all these stories.
Read
June 23, 2015Rating this book is as easy as folding a fitted sheet with a ferret inside it.
It was literally love at first sight for both the MC's, albeit 4 years apart. One of then, Jonathan, moves because he saw, that's right just saw the other one. I don't think that is normal.
When they finally meet, within hours they are At It, and its all tiger, fuck me, mine, clenching channels and dribbling cocks. And at one stage we find out the David, who is both older and larger than Jonathon, doesn't do laundry..those sheets....
There are things that worru me so much, about this..I mean semen goes into your body- its doesn't stay there, it does come out..and yet its a massive surprise - really?
And yet there is something incredibly comforting about the insta love tender thing as well.
I am confused, disturbed and entertained...
It was literally love at first sight for both the MC's, albeit 4 years apart. One of then, Jonathan, moves because he saw, that's right just saw the other one. I don't think that is normal.
When they finally meet, within hours they are At It, and its all tiger, fuck me, mine, clenching channels and dribbling cocks. And at one stage we find out the David, who is both older and larger than Jonathon, doesn't do laundry..those sheets....
There are things that worru me so much, about this..I mean semen goes into your body- its doesn't stay there, it does come out..and yet its a massive surprise - really?
And yet there is something incredibly comforting about the insta love tender thing as well.
I am confused, disturbed and entertained...
September 12, 2013
Another enjoyable read from the Home series but drops a star because I just felt that Jonathan's personality didn't really fit the picture of the ' porn star ' and the drama that I thought might come from it was pretty much brushed under the carpet so it almost felt as if that storyline didn't really fit... But it still has the sweet romance , the hot love scenes and and the lovely HEA so for the most part I still liked it a lot. I'm sorry to say that the cover doesn't float my boat either .. But it's inside what counts so really that's a moot point as the story is still endearing.
December 28, 2015
Oh shit- I made a mistake. THIS is the greatest love story ever told.
Read
October 31, 2015 DNF at 16%
It isn't often that I just CAN'T finish book, hell I rarely stop because I am naive and i always want to give a chance to surprise me, but this book is just TOO MUCH .
I knew I shouldn't read Cardeno's stories, but I wanted to just try again. FACEPALM.
To sum up the storyline so far: Jonathan had sex (his 1st time to be specific) with his best friend (tbh it was more like she took him to bed, used him - because yeah, he seems to be kinda stupid) and since obviously she didn't use a condom (because she was too angry on her so called ex, let's face it -she is also kinda stupid and childish) voila - pregnancy. And yes, You guessed right, she got back to her ex and they were getting married so they didn't need a kid. and yeah, You win again, Jonathan said he wanted the baby with him. and oh, don't forget that he just graduated school and moved out to NYC because once he saw there a beautiful guy with "dark blue eyes". In the meantime he hooked up, once, because You have to know he was already in love with this stranger, he got filmed during having sex and became Will Dragon a porn actor. In the pub he meets his beautiful stranger - David and faints. After "I don't know what's happening here but I need to kiss You" I seriuosly wanted to scream and hit sth.
It is HORRIBLE
It isn't often that I just CAN'T finish book, hell I rarely stop because I am naive and i always want to give a chance to surprise me, but this book is just TOO MUCH .
I knew I shouldn't read Cardeno's stories, but I wanted to just try again. FACEPALM.
To sum up the storyline so far: Jonathan had sex (his 1st time to be specific) with his best friend (tbh it was more like she took him to bed, used him - because yeah, he seems to be kinda stupid) and since obviously she didn't use a condom (because she was too angry on her so called ex, let's face it -she is also kinda stupid and childish) voila - pregnancy. And yes, You guessed right, she got back to her ex and they were getting married so they didn't need a kid. and yeah, You win again, Jonathan said he wanted the baby with him. and oh, don't forget that he just graduated school and moved out to NYC because once he saw there a beautiful guy with "dark blue eyes". In the meantime he hooked up, once, because You have to know he was already in love with this stranger, he got filmed during having sex and became Will Dragon a porn actor. In the pub he meets his beautiful stranger - David and faints. After "I don't know what's happening here but I need to kiss You" I seriuosly wanted to scream and hit sth.
It is HORRIBLE
May 18, 2015
Cardeno C is a go to author for me when I'm in a slump or just want something light and romantic, but this one was too light for me. There was really no conflict or issues between the two men.
I was also really annoyed at the MC Jonathan's reaction to an event in the beginning . I liked Jonathan and felt for his struggles in the beginning. David was too good to be true and actually was sort of on the bland side. The chemistry and sex scenes were hot (as usual in these books), but there was a lot of use of the words "younger man" that I really noticed after a while (there is a 10 year age difference). Although this one tipped the scale on sugary sweet fairytale for me, it certainly won't stop me from going for my next Cardeno C fix.
I was also really annoyed at the MC Jonathan's reaction to an event in the beginning . I liked Jonathan and felt for his struggles in the beginning. David was too good to be true and actually was sort of on the bland side. The chemistry and sex scenes were hot (as usual in these books), but there was a lot of use of the words "younger man" that I really noticed after a while (there is a 10 year age difference). Although this one tipped the scale on sugary sweet fairytale for me, it certainly won't stop me from going for my next Cardeno C fix.
September 10, 2011
Ok m/m romance about a high school senior on a trip to NYC who falls in love with a guy he sees at the hospital holding a newborn and crying. After he graduates, he moves to NYC to find his dream man again, but things don't go as he had hoped. This book was painfully sweet, which isn't my favorite thing. And there were several points in the book when the head hopping drove me nuts.
August 12, 2016
Sappy is too inadequate a word...saccharine doesn't adequately describe the sweetness...this series is a comfort read and a bit of a guilty read...insta love...huge willies...gag-inducing pet names...unnatural eye colours...what more do you need...if you look up 'cliché' in the dictionary, you'll see the blurb for this book...wonderful and wonderfully awful...compelling reading
April 17, 2015
Totally unrealistic. Completely over the top. Incredibly sweet and understanding man with the heart of a saint. Another adorable man who lives his life seeking a fairy tale romance.
Too much?
Probably. I still loved it. I loved the fantasy of the situation. I loved how naive and clueless both men were. I loved Sam... the little dumpling.
Too much?
Probably. I still loved it. I loved the fantasy of the situation. I loved how naive and clueless both men were. I loved Sam... the little dumpling.
October 15, 2014
Read the first 15% and could barely stomach the ridiculous of the plot and characters and about DNF it. Skipped to the last 10% to see what happened at least have closure. This was a HUGE miss for me.
November 29, 2021
Nayeli - per RFS
.
“Trovare l’uomo che aveva visto all’ospedale era una cosa difficile ed era probabile che non fosse nemmeno gay o, se lo era, magari stava già con qualcun altro, ma un ragazzo con un bambino… chi l’avrebbe voluto? Era l’ultimo chiodo sulla bara che seppelliva ogni speranza che avesse mai avuto di trovare il ragazzo dei suoi sogni.”
A differenza dei soliti “tipi” da romance, il nostro Jonathan è un ragazzo dalla mente semplice, molto ingenuo, manipolabile, e spesso va a finire che la gente si approfitta di lui.
Emotivo e sognatore, ha la rettitudine morale per tenere un figlio il cui concepimento gli è stato rubato con l’inganno e il coraggio e la determinazione per seguire l’utopia di cercare il ragazzo della sua vita: uno di cui si è innamorato da lontano vendendolo una sola volta.
La sua forte sensibilità lo rende insicuro e ansioso di compiacere (o almeno non dispiacere) gli altri. Così finisce spesso per essere deriso e truffato, oltre che portato su cattive strade suo malgrado.
È quindi solo dopo una serie di sfortunati incontri che ritrova il ragazzo cercato per anni, e qui la storia si trasforma in fiaba.
«Non ho paura di te.»
Di tutto e di tutti gli altri, forse. Di incasinare un’altra parte della sua vita. Di rompere uno degli strumenti di suo fratello o una delle pregiate palle da collezione in ceramica con la neve di sua sorella. Di deludere i suoi genitori, dato che era gay, non abbastanza sveglio, non abbastanza forte e non abbastanza motivato. Di non guadagnare abbastanza da assicurare una buona vita per sé e Sam. Sì, aveva paura di tutte quelle cose ma non di David. Non avrebbe mai potuto avere paura dell’uomo con quegli occhi blu, così caldi e premurosi.
David si rivela effettivamente adorabile come in un sogno, si comporta come se fosse uscito da un romanzo: si innamora a prima vista di lui, lo tratta con rispetto, se ne prende cura, gli parla e lo tratta dolcemente. È comprensivo, empatico e sembra il ragazzo perfetto sotto ogni aspetto. Adora Jonathan per la sua purezza, la sua trasparenza, il suo essere incapace di fare giochetti e drammi. È solo con la sua amorevole vicinanza che Jonathan, nonostante sia terrorizzato, trova il coraggio di aprirsi e di rivelare le brutte esperienze del passato, nella speranza di non esser ripudiato, giudicato dall’uomo che ama e che non vorrebbe mai perdere.
" Non avendo mai avuto problemi di fiducia in se stesso, lui decise che non era quello il momento per iniziare. Marciò verso Jonathan, gli tolse lo spazzolino dalla mano e lo lasciò cadere nel contenitore che aveva attaccato al muro dove teneva il proprio. Non era una dichiarazione di amore eterno, una proposta di matrimonio o un tatuaggio sopra il cuore, ma era l’unico modo che aveva per mostrare le sue intenzioni. L’altro si voltò, gli avvolse le braccia attorno alla vita e lo strinse forte. David gli accarezzò i capelli, gli baciò la testa e sospirò."
La trama non dimentica il piccolo figlio di Jonathan, che non è visto come una zavorra lasciata da una donna troppo ubriaca per prendere precauzioni, quanto come un prezioso e adorabile monello che regala la sensazione di pienezza, di amore incondizionato, di sentirsi a casa che va ad aggiungersi al calore che solo l’avere accanto la persona che si ama può regalare.
Si tratta di una storia dolcissima, decisamente calda e passionale, con poco contrasto ma resa interessante dalla particolare caratterizzazione del protagonista. Una lettura che sicuramente accompagna i nostri sonni felici.
«Se mi sta bene? Stai scherzando? È bellissimo. Non ho mai pensato che avrei avuto un figlio. Hai idea di cosa significhi per me che lui la pensi in questo modo? Che pensi a me come un suo famigliare?»
«Sì, ce l’ho, perché è tanto quanto significa per me che tu ti senta così riguardo a noi.»
.
“Trovare l’uomo che aveva visto all’ospedale era una cosa difficile ed era probabile che non fosse nemmeno gay o, se lo era, magari stava già con qualcun altro, ma un ragazzo con un bambino… chi l’avrebbe voluto? Era l’ultimo chiodo sulla bara che seppelliva ogni speranza che avesse mai avuto di trovare il ragazzo dei suoi sogni.”
A differenza dei soliti “tipi” da romance, il nostro Jonathan è un ragazzo dalla mente semplice, molto ingenuo, manipolabile, e spesso va a finire che la gente si approfitta di lui.
Emotivo e sognatore, ha la rettitudine morale per tenere un figlio il cui concepimento gli è stato rubato con l’inganno e il coraggio e la determinazione per seguire l’utopia di cercare il ragazzo della sua vita: uno di cui si è innamorato da lontano vendendolo una sola volta.
La sua forte sensibilità lo rende insicuro e ansioso di compiacere (o almeno non dispiacere) gli altri. Così finisce spesso per essere deriso e truffato, oltre che portato su cattive strade suo malgrado.
È quindi solo dopo una serie di sfortunati incontri che ritrova il ragazzo cercato per anni, e qui la storia si trasforma in fiaba.
«Non ho paura di te.»
Di tutto e di tutti gli altri, forse. Di incasinare un’altra parte della sua vita. Di rompere uno degli strumenti di suo fratello o una delle pregiate palle da collezione in ceramica con la neve di sua sorella. Di deludere i suoi genitori, dato che era gay, non abbastanza sveglio, non abbastanza forte e non abbastanza motivato. Di non guadagnare abbastanza da assicurare una buona vita per sé e Sam. Sì, aveva paura di tutte quelle cose ma non di David. Non avrebbe mai potuto avere paura dell’uomo con quegli occhi blu, così caldi e premurosi.
David si rivela effettivamente adorabile come in un sogno, si comporta come se fosse uscito da un romanzo: si innamora a prima vista di lui, lo tratta con rispetto, se ne prende cura, gli parla e lo tratta dolcemente. È comprensivo, empatico e sembra il ragazzo perfetto sotto ogni aspetto. Adora Jonathan per la sua purezza, la sua trasparenza, il suo essere incapace di fare giochetti e drammi. È solo con la sua amorevole vicinanza che Jonathan, nonostante sia terrorizzato, trova il coraggio di aprirsi e di rivelare le brutte esperienze del passato, nella speranza di non esser ripudiato, giudicato dall’uomo che ama e che non vorrebbe mai perdere.
" Non avendo mai avuto problemi di fiducia in se stesso, lui decise che non era quello il momento per iniziare. Marciò verso Jonathan, gli tolse lo spazzolino dalla mano e lo lasciò cadere nel contenitore che aveva attaccato al muro dove teneva il proprio. Non era una dichiarazione di amore eterno, una proposta di matrimonio o un tatuaggio sopra il cuore, ma era l’unico modo che aveva per mostrare le sue intenzioni. L’altro si voltò, gli avvolse le braccia attorno alla vita e lo strinse forte. David gli accarezzò i capelli, gli baciò la testa e sospirò."
La trama non dimentica il piccolo figlio di Jonathan, che non è visto come una zavorra lasciata da una donna troppo ubriaca per prendere precauzioni, quanto come un prezioso e adorabile monello che regala la sensazione di pienezza, di amore incondizionato, di sentirsi a casa che va ad aggiungersi al calore che solo l’avere accanto la persona che si ama può regalare.
Si tratta di una storia dolcissima, decisamente calda e passionale, con poco contrasto ma resa interessante dalla particolare caratterizzazione del protagonista. Una lettura che sicuramente accompagna i nostri sonni felici.
«Se mi sta bene? Stai scherzando? È bellissimo. Non ho mai pensato che avrei avuto un figlio. Hai idea di cosa significhi per me che lui la pensi in questo modo? Che pensi a me come un suo famigliare?»
«Sì, ce l’ho, perché è tanto quanto significa per me che tu ti senta così riguardo a noi.»
November 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
I caught sight of Jonathan in another book by Cardeno and hunted around until I found the romance with him in the lead.
He is a sweetheart. Even the the love at first sight trope is a bit much, I just love me a sweet, sunny character.
David and his issues could have been better explored to make this a great book but I enjoyed the low key sweet fest of this book and loved how Jonathan's secret was handled with very little fuss.
A great circle of friends romance.
I caught sight of Jonathan in another book by Cardeno and hunted around until I found the romance with him in the lead.
He is a sweetheart. Even the the love at first sight trope is a bit much, I just love me a sweet, sunny character.
David and his issues could have been better explored to make this a great book but I enjoyed the low key sweet fest of this book and loved how Jonathan's secret was handled with very little fuss.
A great circle of friends romance.
April 23, 2020
David was amazing, Jonathan was kind of annoying, but it was an entertaining listen.
Read
February 23, 20154 star review live at http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
Jonathon is a newly out young man who didn’t really get the chance to explore his sexuality before mistakes were made and a life altering decision changed the course of his future. A child, conceived in a random moment could place all chances of him keeping David in jeopardy. When David meets Jonathon’s son Samuel it all seems too good to be true. How will he react to Jonathon’s less than honourable past?
CC does tend to fit together opposites who complement each other and together they make a new brand of love. I get a laugh at the stereotypical humour. And that is why I return to CC’s books, I’ll always get a light-hearted read, complete with a sense of belonging and family. I mean some of it is unbelievable, but hey this is fiction. If nowhere else, we should at least be able to dream in the literary sense, right?
This edition comes complete with a Bonus Chapter, written to celebrate the US Supreme Court marriage decision. I loved the inclusion of Samuel in this chapter and the completeness marriage gives this little family.
Full review available at: http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
Jonathon is a newly out young man who didn’t really get the chance to explore his sexuality before mistakes were made and a life altering decision changed the course of his future. A child, conceived in a random moment could place all chances of him keeping David in jeopardy. When David meets Jonathon’s son Samuel it all seems too good to be true. How will he react to Jonathon’s less than honourable past?
CC does tend to fit together opposites who complement each other and together they make a new brand of love. I get a laugh at the stereotypical humour. And that is why I return to CC’s books, I’ll always get a light-hearted read, complete with a sense of belonging and family. I mean some of it is unbelievable, but hey this is fiction. If nowhere else, we should at least be able to dream in the literary sense, right?
This edition comes complete with a Bonus Chapter, written to celebrate the US Supreme Court marriage decision. I loved the inclusion of Samuel in this chapter and the completeness marriage gives this little family.
Full review available at: http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews