What do you think?
Rate this book
Belong to Me #1
Suddenly Beck
A surprisingly sweet, sinfully sexy, and deliciously hilarious romp along the Cornish coast.
Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never. Leaving behind a world of wealth and privilege, and a strict patriarchal family that would never except a gay son, he’s ready to embrace life and make up for lost time, but nothing’s ever that simple. A coin toss, a delayed train, and a wrong bus later, and Nat finds himself in a small bay in Cornwall being hauled out of the ocean by a gorgeous stranger and wondering how the hell his life got so off track.
Beck Ainsley lives life by a very simple ethos, don’t get attached, don’t get involved and don’t fall in love. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt that reads I’m a gullible idiot. Now, he keeps his life simple; all he needs is his dog, his art, his rambling sea cottage overlooking the bay and a few choice waves to surf. He’s not looking for love or commitment, but when he ends up plucking a posh boy from London with incredible blue eyes from the ocean, Cupid doesn’t just shoot him with an arrow, he decides to club him senseless with the bow too.
One simple agreement. A summer fling, a chance to act on the insane attraction between them with no strings attached, and at the end of the summer they walk away.
There’s just one problem, fate is a fickle and capricious creature, and she has no intention of letting them walk away unscathed. They’re about to discover that sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants…
From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes this hot and sweet, first time, MM romance that will leave you laughing out loud and fanning yourself from the heat…
Can be read as a Standalone
Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never. Leaving behind a world of wealth and privilege, and a strict patriarchal family that would never except a gay son, he’s ready to embrace life and make up for lost time, but nothing’s ever that simple. A coin toss, a delayed train, and a wrong bus later, and Nat finds himself in a small bay in Cornwall being hauled out of the ocean by a gorgeous stranger and wondering how the hell his life got so off track.
Beck Ainsley lives life by a very simple ethos, don’t get attached, don’t get involved and don’t fall in love. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt that reads I’m a gullible idiot. Now, he keeps his life simple; all he needs is his dog, his art, his rambling sea cottage overlooking the bay and a few choice waves to surf. He’s not looking for love or commitment, but when he ends up plucking a posh boy from London with incredible blue eyes from the ocean, Cupid doesn’t just shoot him with an arrow, he decides to club him senseless with the bow too.
One simple agreement. A summer fling, a chance to act on the insane attraction between them with no strings attached, and at the end of the summer they walk away.
There’s just one problem, fate is a fickle and capricious creature, and she has no intention of letting them walk away unscathed. They’re about to discover that sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants…
From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes this hot and sweet, first time, MM romance that will leave you laughing out loud and fanning yourself from the heat…
Can be read as a Standalone
348 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2021
106 people are currently reading
1261 people want to read
About the author
Vawn Cassidy
27 books460 followersVawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders.
She writes supernatural & contemporary fantasy as Wendy Saunders. She also writes romantic suspense.
She writes supernatural & contemporary fantasy as Wendy Saunders. She also writes romantic suspense.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
December 19, 2023
3,75 stars.
Sweet and heartwarming romance, situated in Cornwall, with beautiful MCs falling in love, lots of surfing, cooking, art and sex, a big and loving family, awesome friends and aquaintences.
I loved the growing attraction and relationship between Nat and Beck, the beautiful setting of the story.
The story was not perfect, the approaching third act breakup was visible from a couple miles away, and thankfully was over soon, but it was a cozy read without angst and just some misunderstanding.
This was what I needed, as work is exhausting, and I wanted to more or less turn off my brain while reading.
I just skipped over the epilogue with yet another sex-scene.
Ps better editing would be nice, there were a few spelling errors, and "maybe" was used instead of "she may be" a couple of times.
Sweet and heartwarming romance, situated in Cornwall, with beautiful MCs falling in love, lots of surfing, cooking, art and sex, a big and loving family, awesome friends and aquaintences.
I loved the growing attraction and relationship between Nat and Beck, the beautiful setting of the story.
The story was not perfect, the approaching third act breakup was visible from a couple miles away, and thankfully was over soon, but it was a cozy read without angst and just some misunderstanding.
This was what I needed, as work is exhausting, and I wanted to more or less turn off my brain while reading.
I just skipped over the epilogue with yet another sex-scene.
Ps better editing would be nice, there were a few spelling errors, and "maybe" was used instead of "she may be" a couple of times.
April 25, 2022
~3.5~
The star of this book is a little Cornish town by the bay that Nat shows up in because he flipped a coin and the rabbit (featured on the head of a £5 coin) made him do it.
In a moment of unbridled spontaneity, Nat jumps into the water and nearly drowns, but Beck, artist and surfer extraordinaire, saves him.
Thus begins a low-angst, high-heat romance between two very different men who gravitate toward each other like lock and key.
Nat befriends everyone in town and becomes chef at Nat's mom's restaurant, which is on the brink of failure since Nat's dad, the beloved Sully, passed away a year ago.
Initially, Nat and Beck are just friends who pine for each other, but their chemistry is too strong to be contained. Nat is a gay sex virgin, but he doesn't hold back.
Considering the feel-good, gentle nature of the story, I'm surprised by how steamy it was (not that I'm complaining!).
Due to both MCs keeping secrets, a misunderstanding occurs toward the end, but it's resolved quickly. The HEA is glorious (I signed up to receive a bonus short called The Italian Job, which I recommend).
However, the pacing was slower than I prefer, and I noted several editing issues (missing words, extra words, missing apostrophes, possessive used instead of a plural, etc.) that pulled me out of the story.
Also, there is something going on with Nat's sister, but that plot point is not resolved. I'm not sure why you'd introduce a storyline only to drop it like that.
For these reasons I'm rounding down.
The star of this book is a little Cornish town by the bay that Nat shows up in because he flipped a coin and the rabbit (featured on the head of a £5 coin) made him do it.
In a moment of unbridled spontaneity, Nat jumps into the water and nearly drowns, but Beck, artist and surfer extraordinaire, saves him.
Thus begins a low-angst, high-heat romance between two very different men who gravitate toward each other like lock and key.
Nat befriends everyone in town and becomes chef at Nat's mom's restaurant, which is on the brink of failure since Nat's dad, the beloved Sully, passed away a year ago.
Initially, Nat and Beck are just friends who pine for each other, but their chemistry is too strong to be contained. Nat is a gay sex virgin, but he doesn't hold back.
Considering the feel-good, gentle nature of the story, I'm surprised by how steamy it was (not that I'm complaining!).
Due to both MCs keeping secrets, a misunderstanding occurs toward the end, but it's resolved quickly. The HEA is glorious (I signed up to receive a bonus short called The Italian Job, which I recommend).
However, the pacing was slower than I prefer, and I noted several editing issues (missing words, extra words, missing apostrophes, possessive used instead of a plural, etc.) that pulled me out of the story.
Also, there is something going on with Nat's sister, but that plot point is not resolved. I'm not sure why you'd introduce a storyline only to drop it like that.
For these reasons I'm rounding down.
May 15, 2025
Loved this wonderfully British romance
I really enjoyed this author's paranormal detective novel but until now, I'd not tried her contemporary romances and I'm really glad I did.
I absolutely adored this romance, it had exactly the perfect balance between the growing friendship, attraction and love between Nat and Beck and the wider narrative of setting up the location and secondary characters.
I don't think I could have liked two characters more than Nat and Beck too.
They're both compelling personalities, with great individuality.
And I also very much appreciated the lack of Third Act/75% dramady break up.
While Beck might have had a very realistic reaction to hearing something (which tbh was telegraphed from the first mention of his troubles in Florence), I liked the way he accepted he'd been hasty and immediately went to try and sort things out.
My one tiny note on this book would be that it could have done with another swift proofing, there were a few odd times tenses were mixed up and stray commas all over the place.
It's not enough to distract completely, though, and I suspect it's more noticeable to me because of my previous career as a journalist and sub-editor.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
I really enjoyed this author's paranormal detective novel but until now, I'd not tried her contemporary romances and I'm really glad I did.
I absolutely adored this romance, it had exactly the perfect balance between the growing friendship, attraction and love between Nat and Beck and the wider narrative of setting up the location and secondary characters.
I don't think I could have liked two characters more than Nat and Beck too.
They're both compelling personalities, with great individuality.
And I also very much appreciated the lack of Third Act/75% dramady break up.
While Beck might have had a very realistic reaction to hearing something (which tbh was telegraphed from the first mention of his troubles in Florence), I liked the way he accepted he'd been hasty and immediately went to try and sort things out.
My one tiny note on this book would be that it could have done with another swift proofing, there were a few odd times tenses were mixed up and stray commas all over the place.
It's not enough to distract completely, though, and I suspect it's more noticeable to me because of my previous career as a journalist and sub-editor.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
April 8, 2022
Not bad for a debut, but not overwhelmingly good, either
Before I start with my review, let me start with a few formalities: dear authors, when in doubt, please let your book be proof-read by some willing readers. What really threw me off more than once was the lack of commas at times, or the slightly repetive use of words in sentences. For example:
I end up at one for a local company who make cold pressed oils, and I end up with a whole crate of various cooking oils(...)
I mean - I'm no native speaker, but even I would have come up with a smoother way to write this.
But as I said - it's obviosly a debut, so I won't complain too loudly - after all, we're all thankful for all these stories that provide us with a little escape, and I'm thankful for every author who take their time to share the things they envision.
Back to the story: what I loved most about it was the setting, the small town in Cornwall with all its beautiful nature and quirky and lovable people. That alone should make the book worth your while.
The MCs are sweet and lovable, too, even though Nat is a bit of a male "Mary Sue" - beautiful, captivating and sexy without even knowing it, shy but sassy, wealthy but a passionate cook, yearning for the simple things he didn't have (like eating ice cream or visiting an aquarium).
Yes, they're a bit cliché, so even the obligatory (and predictable) 80-90% drama almost fell short because they're just too... nice. Uncomplicated. And while we're told how attracted they were to each other, I coudn't really feel the sparks and sizzle.
All in all, a nice, relaxing read in between, where the side characters where a tiny bit more interesting than the two romancing guys.
Before I start with my review, let me start with a few formalities: dear authors, when in doubt, please let your book be proof-read by some willing readers. What really threw me off more than once was the lack of commas at times, or the slightly repetive use of words in sentences. For example:
I end up at one for a local company who make cold pressed oils, and I end up with a whole crate of various cooking oils(...)
I mean - I'm no native speaker, but even I would have come up with a smoother way to write this.
But as I said - it's obviosly a debut, so I won't complain too loudly - after all, we're all thankful for all these stories that provide us with a little escape, and I'm thankful for every author who take their time to share the things they envision.
Back to the story: what I loved most about it was the setting, the small town in Cornwall with all its beautiful nature and quirky and lovable people. That alone should make the book worth your while.
The MCs are sweet and lovable, too, even though Nat is a bit of a male "Mary Sue" - beautiful, captivating and sexy without even knowing it, shy but sassy, wealthy but a passionate cook, yearning for the simple things he didn't have (like eating ice cream or visiting an aquarium).
Yes, they're a bit cliché, so even the obligatory (and predictable) 80-90% drama almost fell short because they're just too... nice. Uncomplicated. And while we're told how attracted they were to each other, I coudn't really feel the sparks and sizzle.
All in all, a nice, relaxing read in between, where the side characters where a tiny bit more interesting than the two romancing guys.
March 14, 2022
3.5 stars
RTC but this one was so sweet and just a lot of fun to read. I’ve been looking for more low angst books like this lately so this really worked for me.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
RTC but this one was so sweet and just a lot of fun to read. I’ve been looking for more low angst books like this lately so this really worked for me.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
April 19, 2022
Telling not showing.
Run away, be gay, and cook.
There's some sweetness here.
Reread for TART challenge and liked it better.
Run away, be gay, and cook.
There's some sweetness here.
Reread for TART challenge and liked it better.
October 4, 2021
Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Sometimes, it's about how it makes you feel.
With all that's going on these days, this just made me feel
all warm and good.
I enjoyed it a great deal. Low on angst, high on good
people.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Sometimes, it's about how it makes you feel.
With all that's going on these days, this just made me feel
all warm and good.
I enjoyed it a great deal. Low on angst, high on good
people.
July 23, 2021
3,5 stars.
I was a bit contemplating my rating, but decided on 3,5 stars. I enjoyed the story, which started off good, but made me feel a little less invested towards the end.
I liked both MC's well enough, but couldn't really feel their connection or their chemistry, which was quite a pity. I had expected more, I suppose. The blurb seemed promising, I loved the cover, but in the end it didn't really meet my expectations.
There are several things in this story that are responsible for that.
First, people who read my reviews probably are aware of the fact that I don't like the insta-love trope. And though this might not be considered an insta-love by others, it felt like it was to me. I get that you can feel an instant attraction, but to me both Beck and Nat acted like they were head over heels in love and even though they promised they weren't looking for a relationship, it felt like they wanted one from the start. As if the other person was the only one they could see and think about, and it wasn't just sex they were thinking of. Their acts were not on the same page with their words.
Second, I usually also don't enjoy the food storyline. It just doesn't interest me - the recipes, the whole restaurant business...I don't feel it. So, when the story took me there, I felt myself skimming these parts.
Third, the storyline felt a bit unreal. Now, of course I know this is fiction, so authors have quite a lot of freedom where it comes to writing the story, but I still like it better when it feels at least a bit logical. Nat had run away from home, he was hiding for his family and lost contact with his sister Pia, with whom he'd had a good relationship when they were younger. Still, after he became a chef, he posted pictures on his social media. Would someone, who didn't want to be found, do such a thing?
Specially when he had a fear of his father finding him. I just didn't find it very believable.
Which, in the end, also leads to the unnecessary drama.
Well, so far my complaints. Now on to the positive things, and the reasons for my 3,5 stars.
I did like the writing - that worked well for me. I think I'd give this author another try because of that.
I also liked Beck's family and friends. They were a bunch of interesting characters and I enjoyed reading about their dynamics and their banter.
I liked Beck and Nat; they were enjoyable characters to read about, specially Beck.
I loved the British setting in Cornwall too. The small town vibe - which I do enjoy! - was done quite well.
All in all, an enjoyable read, which, unfortunately didn't meet my expectations. Maybe they were too high? Looking at the other reviews, I'm thinking they might have been, because the overall rating is quite positive.
If the blurb sounds interesting to you, I'd say you should definitely give this book a try.
I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review
I was a bit contemplating my rating, but decided on 3,5 stars. I enjoyed the story, which started off good, but made me feel a little less invested towards the end.
I liked both MC's well enough, but couldn't really feel their connection or their chemistry, which was quite a pity. I had expected more, I suppose. The blurb seemed promising, I loved the cover, but in the end it didn't really meet my expectations.
There are several things in this story that are responsible for that.
First, people who read my reviews probably are aware of the fact that I don't like the insta-love trope. And though this might not be considered an insta-love by others, it felt like it was to me. I get that you can feel an instant attraction, but to me both Beck and Nat acted like they were head over heels in love and even though they promised they weren't looking for a relationship, it felt like they wanted one from the start. As if the other person was the only one they could see and think about, and it wasn't just sex they were thinking of. Their acts were not on the same page with their words.
Second, I usually also don't enjoy the food storyline. It just doesn't interest me - the recipes, the whole restaurant business...I don't feel it. So, when the story took me there, I felt myself skimming these parts.
Third, the storyline felt a bit unreal. Now, of course I know this is fiction, so authors have quite a lot of freedom where it comes to writing the story, but I still like it better when it feels at least a bit logical. Nat had run away from home, he was hiding for his family and lost contact with his sister Pia, with whom he'd had a good relationship when they were younger. Still, after he became a chef, he posted pictures on his social media. Would someone, who didn't want to be found, do such a thing?
Specially when he had a fear of his father finding him. I just didn't find it very believable.
Which, in the end, also leads to the unnecessary drama.
Well, so far my complaints. Now on to the positive things, and the reasons for my 3,5 stars.
I did like the writing - that worked well for me. I think I'd give this author another try because of that.
I also liked Beck's family and friends. They were a bunch of interesting characters and I enjoyed reading about their dynamics and their banter.
I liked Beck and Nat; they were enjoyable characters to read about, specially Beck.
I loved the British setting in Cornwall too. The small town vibe - which I do enjoy! - was done quite well.
All in all, an enjoyable read, which, unfortunately didn't meet my expectations. Maybe they were too high? Looking at the other reviews, I'm thinking they might have been, because the overall rating is quite positive.
If the blurb sounds interesting to you, I'd say you should definitely give this book a try.
I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review
October 24, 2021
Ta książka jest gorące kakao w środku ponurego, zimnego jesiennego wieczoru. Od początku do końca masz uśmiech na twarzy.
July 21, 2021
This was an absolute delight of an MM debut. There was plenty of romance and the found family of side characters were extremely fun. I loved how Becks big family just welcomes Nat right in with open arms. They were able to show him what it was like to have a real family, one full of people who care about you. Ending up in the Bay and almost drowning was the best thing to ever happen to him. I mean who wouldn't fall in love with the hot guy who saves your life?
Beck put up the token struggle of saying he wasn't looking for anything serious, but the more he learned about and spent time with Nat the more that became impossible. Despite Nat having a cold upbringing from his parents, he brought nothing but light into Becks and his families lives with his kindness and willingness to help anyone he could. I adored him to no end.
Becks brothers were hilarious in all the ribbing back and forth as was Ryan, Becks BFF. It looks like Jesse's book is next in the series and it will be a best friend to lovers story. Book 3 will be Ryans and I am keeping my fingers crossed that he falls for a certain nerdy baker. I definitely plan to continue on with this series.
Beck put up the token struggle of saying he wasn't looking for anything serious, but the more he learned about and spent time with Nat the more that became impossible. Despite Nat having a cold upbringing from his parents, he brought nothing but light into Becks and his families lives with his kindness and willingness to help anyone he could. I adored him to no end.
Becks brothers were hilarious in all the ribbing back and forth as was Ryan, Becks BFF. It looks like Jesse's book is next in the series and it will be a best friend to lovers story. Book 3 will be Ryans and I am keeping my fingers crossed that he falls for a certain nerdy baker. I definitely plan to continue on with this series.
March 10, 2022
Vawn Cassidy is a new to me author and FOR SURE this won't be my last read of hers because I really loved this!
Beautiful scenery (so much so that I'm debating looking for jobs at Cornwall), lovely MCs and even lovelier secondary characters (without being overbearing).
Loved Nat's clumsiness and I laughed so much in scenes like the one of him face-planting after trying to go over Beck's fence. And really what to say about the whole Ainsley clan? Warm, supportive and everything one wants to have as a family, especially after being raised in a sterile and austere environment.
I really appreciated that the drama with Nat's parents was kept to a minimum and not a drawn out affair because I think that would have diminished the joyful vibes of the story.
It was light, angst free, finding yourself and finding love. Just the read I needed to lift my spirits! Can't wait for Jesse and Deacon's story and I'm kinda hoping for Ryan x Colin!!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Beautiful scenery (so much so that I'm debating looking for jobs at Cornwall), lovely MCs and even lovelier secondary characters (without being overbearing).
Loved Nat's clumsiness and I laughed so much in scenes like the one of him face-planting after trying to go over Beck's fence. And really what to say about the whole Ainsley clan? Warm, supportive and everything one wants to have as a family, especially after being raised in a sterile and austere environment.
I really appreciated that the drama with Nat's parents was kept to a minimum and not a drawn out affair because I think that would have diminished the joyful vibes of the story.
It was light, angst free, finding yourself and finding love. Just the read I needed to lift my spirits! Can't wait for Jesse and Deacon's story and I'm kinda hoping for Ryan x Colin!!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
July 21, 2021
Surfing and Cornwall, two of my favorite things to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed Vawn Cassidy's debut MM novel, which is an opposites-attract, hurt-comfort story that has plenty of heat and humor. I fell in love with the village and the characters who live there, including Beck's family. If you like Lily Morton and Con Riley, you should enjoy Suddenly Beck.
August 27, 2021
review soon
March 11, 2022
NGL, I decide to read this book because of the setting of the Cornish coast rather than the premise of it.
Nat and Beck have an interesting meet cute. Beck saves Nat from drowning.
After that, they go their separate ways to only be reunited in a surprising way.
The book has a TON of internal dialogue which I’m not a big fan of. Pages and pages of it. Some things were OVER mentioned. We get that Nat is from London! He mentions it over 30xs! Ugh.
It took me a bit to settle into the story. Once I did, it started to be very good. The chemistry between Beck and Nat was super hot. BUT you know the other shoe is about to drop.
84% in and I’m still waiting on that shoe. There are things mentioned WAY back at the beginning that you know are about to hit the fan but the waiting is making me anxious. So many secrets. Time to skim…
The truth comes out and things are resolved pretty quickly. Thank god. I hate drawn out drama. The prologue ends hotly which was good. Overall, a good story but not sure I can handle book 2 if there’s so much internal dialogue again in Jesse’s book.
***Annoyances:
Previously MF authors who now write MM need to learn not to use the term clean. You can say negative. Words matter. Clean implies you are dirty if positive, which is SO not true. Get with it! It’s 2022 educate yourself.
ALL THE DICK TWITCHING. It’s said like a million times 🤪😵💫🙄🙄🙄
Also, Molly pinching Nat without consent earlier in the book made me cringe SO hard. That’s NOT ok. If a old man did that to a young girl, there would be more outrage but it’s the same imo in this instance. ICK. NOPE
Nat and Beck have an interesting meet cute. Beck saves Nat from drowning.
After that, they go their separate ways to only be reunited in a surprising way.
The book has a TON of internal dialogue which I’m not a big fan of. Pages and pages of it. Some things were OVER mentioned. We get that Nat is from London! He mentions it over 30xs! Ugh.
It took me a bit to settle into the story. Once I did, it started to be very good. The chemistry between Beck and Nat was super hot. BUT you know the other shoe is about to drop.
84% in and I’m still waiting on that shoe. There are things mentioned WAY back at the beginning that you know are about to hit the fan but the waiting is making me anxious. So many secrets. Time to skim…
The truth comes out and things are resolved pretty quickly. Thank god. I hate drawn out drama. The prologue ends hotly which was good. Overall, a good story but not sure I can handle book 2 if there’s so much internal dialogue again in Jesse’s book.
***Annoyances:
Previously MF authors who now write MM need to learn not to use the term clean. You can say negative. Words matter. Clean implies you are dirty if positive, which is SO not true. Get with it! It’s 2022 educate yourself.
ALL THE DICK TWITCHING. It’s said like a million times 🤪😵💫🙄🙄🙄
Also, Molly pinching Nat without consent earlier in the book made me cringe SO hard. That’s NOT ok. If a old man did that to a young girl, there would be more outrage but it’s the same imo in this instance. ICK. NOPE
August 4, 2023
Came across this on my Goodreads feed, the blurb looked good, some good reviews, and it was in KU so I requested it.
There's a good story in this book, with a decent plot and some interesting characters, but the writing and editing just wasn't up to par.
3 stars for the plot/story. 1 star for the writing.
The book begins with Nat(han) on the train headed for Penzance after running away from his life in London. Except there's a storm, and a fallen tree, and one wrong bus later, Nat ends up in a small town in Cornwall by the bay. It's still storming, so going down to the beach to stand in the surf is obviously the best idea evah. Big wave, Nat goes under, but is rescued by Beck.
By 19%, we had two gratuitous self-love scenes, one for each MC, that weren't necessary and did nothing to further the plot.
At this point it was already clear that the author and her editor were allergic to proper comma placement, or proper punctuation in general. We are given either run-on sentences or half sentences that should have been part of the previous sentence. Who edited this?
It's WIENER schnitzel, not weiner. Sea World is the proper name of the place and should be capitalized. The plural of lip is LIPS, not lip's. And each time I came across things like these, I was yanked out of the story.
And then we have issue with using the appropriate tense. When writing a book in the present tense, anything that happened in the past is then supposed to be simple past tense. "I'd done xyz" is not the proper tense for something in the past when the entire story is in the present tense. This is simply grammar, and it irritated me to no end that these rules weren't followed, edited, or caught in proof-reading. If you set your book in England, in Cornwall no less, use proper English.
By this point in the book, I was only half-interested in the story anymore. My mind was mostly focused on each and every error I kept coming across, which was only topped by the ridiculousness of the sex scenes, which were clearly written by someone newly writing M/M romance. Nat is brand new to gay sex, but you'd never know it. Also, cum is not scalding hot upon exit. Seriously. We're not talking boiling water temperature here. It's body temperature. Which is not scalding.
Please, for the love of all you hold dear, get a good editor and a good and detailed proofreader before you publish a book for sale. There was a good story inside. The writing and lack of editing however made it a lot less than it could have been.
Meh.
There's a good story in this book, with a decent plot and some interesting characters, but the writing and editing just wasn't up to par.
3 stars for the plot/story. 1 star for the writing.
The book begins with Nat(han) on the train headed for Penzance after running away from his life in London. Except there's a storm, and a fallen tree, and one wrong bus later, Nat ends up in a small town in Cornwall by the bay. It's still storming, so going down to the beach to stand in the surf is obviously the best idea evah. Big wave, Nat goes under, but is rescued by Beck.
By 19%, we had two gratuitous self-love scenes, one for each MC, that weren't necessary and did nothing to further the plot.
At this point it was already clear that the author and her editor were allergic to proper comma placement, or proper punctuation in general. We are given either run-on sentences or half sentences that should have been part of the previous sentence. Who edited this?
It's WIENER schnitzel, not weiner. Sea World is the proper name of the place and should be capitalized. The plural of lip is LIPS, not lip's. And each time I came across things like these, I was yanked out of the story.
And then we have issue with using the appropriate tense. When writing a book in the present tense, anything that happened in the past is then supposed to be simple past tense. "I'd done xyz" is not the proper tense for something in the past when the entire story is in the present tense. This is simply grammar, and it irritated me to no end that these rules weren't followed, edited, or caught in proof-reading. If you set your book in England, in Cornwall no less, use proper English.
By this point in the book, I was only half-interested in the story anymore. My mind was mostly focused on each and every error I kept coming across, which was only topped by the ridiculousness of the sex scenes, which were clearly written by someone newly writing M/M romance. Nat is brand new to gay sex, but you'd never know it. Also, cum is not scalding hot upon exit. Seriously. We're not talking boiling water temperature here. It's body temperature. Which is not scalding.
Please, for the love of all you hold dear, get a good editor and a good and detailed proofreader before you publish a book for sale. There was a good story inside. The writing and lack of editing however made it a lot less than it could have been.
Meh.
July 23, 2021
An ARC of this title was provided to me by GRR and frankly, at first I was reluctant to sign up for it. An author unknown to me, plus the trope is really not my usual cup of tea. I prefer action/mystery/enemies to lovers trope, but the promise of humor and great cover lured me in. I'm so glad I didn't miss this one, because I would have missed one of the best reads I had this year and there were many! Frankly I can hardly remember the last time I was having that much fun! The story and the characters kept my attention from the first page to the end, it was hard to put down, but life kept interfering. Author's attention to subtle detail sets the mood and ads the depth to the story and characters. All of them are memorable no matter if they are MC's or just a bus driver or lady on the train. One of my major pet peeves is writing in present tense, because it's almost never done right. Well not in this case. Masterfully written - I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a simple story, no major vilian or drama, just life, and some personal secrets and issues that are slowly revealed, but this author managed to elevate it on another level. Interesting and entertaining charathers with depth, sizzling attraction between MC's, family found trope and humor, combined with an excellent pace of the story. My Kindle looks like a kids coloring book, because I highlighted so many hilarious and at the same time realistic and touching moments. I was laughing out loud to the point of tears. I know I'll be rereading this highlights any time I'll need something to cheer me up. Supporting charathers show so much promise, so I'll be waiting impatiently for the next book in this series. This author is an auto buy for me in the future. Following.
September 11, 2022
Young man runs away from the big city, falls in love with another young man who saves him from drowning, finds his dream job, and gets fucked every five pages, in scenes eminently skimmable.
November 4, 2021
This is a new author to me and I can't wait to read more by her. This is a beautifully written MM story. This is Beck and Nat's story.
Nat has been running away from a life he despises. Growing up with parents that never spared him an ounce of affection, and doing a job that was crushing his soul, he realizes he has to escape his current life to maintain sanity. Nat has a passion for cooking that was always discouraged. Meeting a local that needs help in the kitchen finds this eager young man finally doing a job he loves.
Beck is a local artist. He avoids relationships and just wants to fool around in the romance department. Beck’s world gets tilted sideways when he comes to the aid of a visitor.
I loved Beck and his family and friends. I love small town romances. Its also set in Cornwall, I love reading books set in that area and it has Surfing another thing I love. I also love Beck's cottage with a studio overlooking the sea sounds like a awesome place to live.
I can't wait for Jesse and Deacon's book.
Nat has been running away from a life he despises. Growing up with parents that never spared him an ounce of affection, and doing a job that was crushing his soul, he realizes he has to escape his current life to maintain sanity. Nat has a passion for cooking that was always discouraged. Meeting a local that needs help in the kitchen finds this eager young man finally doing a job he loves.
Beck is a local artist. He avoids relationships and just wants to fool around in the romance department. Beck’s world gets tilted sideways when he comes to the aid of a visitor.
I loved Beck and his family and friends. I love small town romances. Its also set in Cornwall, I love reading books set in that area and it has Surfing another thing I love. I also love Beck's cottage with a studio overlooking the sea sounds like a awesome place to live.
I can't wait for Jesse and Deacon's book.
December 23, 2023
Suddenly Beck (Belong To Me Book 1) Vawn Cassidy
Nathan Elliott is sick to death of his life in London, and his parents lifestyle. His father is a control freak, who rules over every aspect of Nathan’s life since he was born. He insists he attends specific schools, has particular friends, attends specific social events to meet the ‘right’ people. Nathan has been forced to work at his father’s Investment Bank as soon as he finished his degree in Finance studies. He hates it as his dream is to become a Chef and have his own restaurant.
Sophia is Nathan’s older sister by 3 years, but because she was not the son he wanted, she is totally ignored by both parents, especially their father. At 18 she is forced to marry a Partner in her father’s Bank, and he is 15 years older than her. She doesn’t begrudge the attention Nathan gets because he’s the son, instead both Nathan and Sophia have depended on each other growing up because their parents didn’t lavish any attention on them as long as they did as they were bid. If it wasn’t for their Housekeeper/Cook, Carmella, nobody took any real care of them. It was Carmella who instilled a love of cooking in Nathan. She was Italian, as is Nathan’s mother.
Beck Ainsley and his large family of siblings live in The Bay, not far from Newquay in Cornwall. He’s a sculptor. His parents operated a restaurant near the beach until a year ago when his beloved father died very quickly after being diagnosed with cancer. Beck has 3 brothers Jesse his twin, Reed, and Quinn, plus twin sisters.
As well a being a sculptor, Beck is a Lifeguard and a Surfing Instructor.
On a stormy day as he walked the beach with his dog, he sees a guy being swept off his feet by a huge wave. He’s being dragged out to sea when Beck dives in and rescues him from certain death.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I dislike the angst created by parental situations like Nathan’s.
Apart from that I loved this story set in Cornwall especially the Newquay area, as I’ve spent a few holidays there with my family.
The MC’s here are so adorable and they are surrounded by such terrific side characters that are family members and also local characters in small business in The Bay.
I’m glad that I managed to find and start with Book 1 of this series (and I’ve already downloaded Book 2). This must be a first for me to start at the beginning.
So if you enjoy reading MM set in Cornwall, in a really great local community setting, grab “Suddenly Beck” and enjoy a sweet story with plenty of characters to pique further interest.
Nathan Elliott is sick to death of his life in London, and his parents lifestyle. His father is a control freak, who rules over every aspect of Nathan’s life since he was born. He insists he attends specific schools, has particular friends, attends specific social events to meet the ‘right’ people. Nathan has been forced to work at his father’s Investment Bank as soon as he finished his degree in Finance studies. He hates it as his dream is to become a Chef and have his own restaurant.
Sophia is Nathan’s older sister by 3 years, but because she was not the son he wanted, she is totally ignored by both parents, especially their father. At 18 she is forced to marry a Partner in her father’s Bank, and he is 15 years older than her. She doesn’t begrudge the attention Nathan gets because he’s the son, instead both Nathan and Sophia have depended on each other growing up because their parents didn’t lavish any attention on them as long as they did as they were bid. If it wasn’t for their Housekeeper/Cook, Carmella, nobody took any real care of them. It was Carmella who instilled a love of cooking in Nathan. She was Italian, as is Nathan’s mother.
Beck Ainsley and his large family of siblings live in The Bay, not far from Newquay in Cornwall. He’s a sculptor. His parents operated a restaurant near the beach until a year ago when his beloved father died very quickly after being diagnosed with cancer. Beck has 3 brothers Jesse his twin, Reed, and Quinn, plus twin sisters.
As well a being a sculptor, Beck is a Lifeguard and a Surfing Instructor.
On a stormy day as he walked the beach with his dog, he sees a guy being swept off his feet by a huge wave. He’s being dragged out to sea when Beck dives in and rescues him from certain death.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I dislike the angst created by parental situations like Nathan’s.
Apart from that I loved this story set in Cornwall especially the Newquay area, as I’ve spent a few holidays there with my family.
The MC’s here are so adorable and they are surrounded by such terrific side characters that are family members and also local characters in small business in The Bay.
I’m glad that I managed to find and start with Book 1 of this series (and I’ve already downloaded Book 2). This must be a first for me to start at the beginning.
So if you enjoy reading MM set in Cornwall, in a really great local community setting, grab “Suddenly Beck” and enjoy a sweet story with plenty of characters to pique further interest.
July 26, 2021
This is a new author for me and to say I was blown away, is putting it mildly. I was drawn into the lush and magnetic descriptions of the rustic seaside town. Equally mesmerizing is the lyrical list of locals that fill the pages. I sincerely hope Ms. Cassidy will continue to write mm because her novel was so authentic, and perfect.
It’s rare when I instantly love both mcs equally. The author’s portrayal of Beck the local artist, despite his casual attitude, gave the reader a picture of his caring and creative nature. He avoids relationships, and just wants to fool around in the romance department. Beck’s world gets tilted sideways when he comes to the aid of a visitor. Nat is 26 years old and running away from a life he despises. Growing up with parents that never spared him an ounce of affection, and doing a job that was crushing his soul, he realizes he has to escape his current life to maintain sanity.
Nat has a passion for cooking that was always discouraged. Meeting a local that needs help in the kitchen finds this eager young man finally doing a job he loves. Naturally the owner’s son, the gorgeous Beck, rescued him. The new chef fits in the restaurant, and slowly Beck and Nat become good friends. With time, their friendship becomes so much more. The two together were aching for each other, and I expected both to ignite and leave a pile of ashes! It was delightful to see the strong fortress Beck built come slowly tumbling down, along with the suffocating past that poor Nat had to endure. The thing about the past is that you need to watch out, because it tends to resurface.
Naughty geriatrics, adorable animals, zany townspeople, crazy siblings, and delectable food will be present throughout this must have book. I can’t wait for the second story in the series. I highly recommend this amazing, tender romance, and hope you love it as much as I did. Happy reading!
* * * Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement * * *
It’s rare when I instantly love both mcs equally. The author’s portrayal of Beck the local artist, despite his casual attitude, gave the reader a picture of his caring and creative nature. He avoids relationships, and just wants to fool around in the romance department. Beck’s world gets tilted sideways when he comes to the aid of a visitor. Nat is 26 years old and running away from a life he despises. Growing up with parents that never spared him an ounce of affection, and doing a job that was crushing his soul, he realizes he has to escape his current life to maintain sanity.
Nat has a passion for cooking that was always discouraged. Meeting a local that needs help in the kitchen finds this eager young man finally doing a job he loves. Naturally the owner’s son, the gorgeous Beck, rescued him. The new chef fits in the restaurant, and slowly Beck and Nat become good friends. With time, their friendship becomes so much more. The two together were aching for each other, and I expected both to ignite and leave a pile of ashes! It was delightful to see the strong fortress Beck built come slowly tumbling down, along with the suffocating past that poor Nat had to endure. The thing about the past is that you need to watch out, because it tends to resurface.
Naughty geriatrics, adorable animals, zany townspeople, crazy siblings, and delectable food will be present throughout this must have book. I can’t wait for the second story in the series. I highly recommend this amazing, tender romance, and hope you love it as much as I did. Happy reading!
* * * Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement * * *
July 17, 2021
Some parts of this book were okay, but the writing wasn't good and that pulled my focus from the plot quite often. There were commas where there shouldn't have been commas, there weren't commas where there should have been, there were stray apostrophes, and a whole lot of typos. The book is in dire need of editing and then proofreading and I do not believe it has time to go through that process before it's published in a few days.
The final nail in the coffin was how completely unbelievable the manufactured misunderstanding at the end was. It didn't make any sense to the story, it wasn't true to the personalities of the characters, and it was resolved more quickly than it took to set it up in the first place. It was just completely pointless and one of the hallmarks of the bad writing I was talking about.
This is the first book in a new series and is this author's m/m debut novel. I do not feel compelled to read any other books in the series, nor will I. I really can't think of any reason for anyone to read this book, because it's been done before and done a lot better, hence the two star rating.
The final nail in the coffin was how completely unbelievable the manufactured misunderstanding at the end was. It didn't make any sense to the story, it wasn't true to the personalities of the characters, and it was resolved more quickly than it took to set it up in the first place. It was just completely pointless and one of the hallmarks of the bad writing I was talking about.
This is the first book in a new series and is this author's m/m debut novel. I do not feel compelled to read any other books in the series, nor will I. I really can't think of any reason for anyone to read this book, because it's been done before and done a lot better, hence the two star rating.
July 27, 2021
A great MM debut, interesting characters with real depth and a captivating storyline. The writing is excellent I felt I was in The Bay alongside Beck and Nat, everything is so well described, the place was jumping off the page to me.
The romance was all consuming, you could really feel every emotion Nat and Beck had, it was a joy to read about their love story.
This book sets up some intriguing storylines for future books and I look forward to reading them all.
The romance was all consuming, you could really feel every emotion Nat and Beck had, it was a joy to read about their love story.
This book sets up some intriguing storylines for future books and I look forward to reading them all.
December 31, 2021
“I’ll always belong to you.” I am weak for mushy stuff like this 🥲
December 17, 2023
4.5 stars. Well written love story of breaking away and starting a life that brings you joy. The characters are so well written, the MCs are well fleshed out and the side characters are excellent. It’s a fun, low angst story set by the ocean, a summer fling that leads to finding a home and family. Sweet, cute, funny, charming, sexy. The steam is pretty high and the cuddling and affection add a layer of tenderness that is swoony. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the tipsy scene is absolutely adorable and entertaining.
I would have loved more, I could have read another 200 pages on this couple. I wanted to know more about the art and see an art show happen, maybe bump into some of those former friends from the old crusty social circle. Despite reading 340 pages of this couple, I wanted to poke into so much more with them. I wish there was a second book for this couple!
There is a big cast as there seems to be plans for more books in this series. The author did a good job of making them individuals and memorable. Excellent dialogue and conversations, truly a joy to read, excellent pacing, I always felt entertained and that the story was moving forward. A bit predictable? Yes, but beautifully so. I knew certain events would happen but I highly anticipated them and how they would unfold. The predictability added a bit of suspense and I couldn’t wait to see how it would be handled.
London, small Oceanside town, m/m, chef, artist, series, book 1, found family, wealthy, surfing.
I would have loved more, I could have read another 200 pages on this couple. I wanted to know more about the art and see an art show happen, maybe bump into some of those former friends from the old crusty social circle. Despite reading 340 pages of this couple, I wanted to poke into so much more with them. I wish there was a second book for this couple!
There is a big cast as there seems to be plans for more books in this series. The author did a good job of making them individuals and memorable. Excellent dialogue and conversations, truly a joy to read, excellent pacing, I always felt entertained and that the story was moving forward. A bit predictable? Yes, but beautifully so. I knew certain events would happen but I highly anticipated them and how they would unfold. The predictability added a bit of suspense and I couldn’t wait to see how it would be handled.
London, small Oceanside town, m/m, chef, artist, series, book 1, found family, wealthy, surfing.
March 6, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I grinned, chuckled, and swooned through this entire book. I swear, the Perma smile never left my face and I didn't want to put the book down. I kept reading to see how they would make the jump into dating, then how the dating would go, then, you know, how they got their happy ending, till finally, I was a little sad because it was over.
Nat and Beck are perfect together. Nat escaping from his suffocating posh family who only cares so much as what others think. Meanwhile, Beck is hiding from heartache and loss, with only his art to soothe him. Despite their instant chemistry (which is fire), they move slowly, until slowly just won’t work anymore.
The side characters are equally lovely and sweet and funny, and I really look forward to the next book where hopefully we’ll get to see more of them. Truthfully I just hope to get more Vawn Cassidy books period.
< ARC provided by GRR and this is my honest review >
I grinned, chuckled, and swooned through this entire book. I swear, the Perma smile never left my face and I didn't want to put the book down. I kept reading to see how they would make the jump into dating, then how the dating would go, then, you know, how they got their happy ending, till finally, I was a little sad because it was over.
Nat and Beck are perfect together. Nat escaping from his suffocating posh family who only cares so much as what others think. Meanwhile, Beck is hiding from heartache and loss, with only his art to soothe him. Despite their instant chemistry (which is fire), they move slowly, until slowly just won’t work anymore.
The side characters are equally lovely and sweet and funny, and I really look forward to the next book where hopefully we’ll get to see more of them. Truthfully I just hope to get more Vawn Cassidy books period.
< ARC provided by GRR and this is my honest review >
March 2, 2022
Wow – definitely lived up to it’s sweet, sexy and hilarious description…😍😍
Beck and Nat are such lovable characters that you can’t help but smile every time you think about them.
The chemistry and passion between them is instant and sizzling…🔥🔥
The descriptions and imagery by the author are so vivid and bright that you can picture it all so clearly – the beautiful Cornwall Bay and all of the other characters too.
Looking forward to ‘Definitely Deacon’ and more from this ‘Belong to Me’ series…💙💙
Beck and Nat are such lovable characters that you can’t help but smile every time you think about them.
The chemistry and passion between them is instant and sizzling…🔥🔥
The descriptions and imagery by the author are so vivid and bright that you can picture it all so clearly – the beautiful Cornwall Bay and all of the other characters too.
Looking forward to ‘Definitely Deacon’ and more from this ‘Belong to Me’ series…💙💙
July 20, 2021
Excellent, from beginning to end. Their beginning simply led you on a journey that was both enjoyable and heart warming. The heroes were captivating. This author does a great job with descriptions and developing a connection between the reader and the evolving relationships, it leaves you connected emotionally.. Their relationship felt so personal as you read their story. It pulls you in and gives the feeling of belonging to their family. The atmosphere surrounding the story is so welcoming. Past hurts are so real that when they resurface your heart hurts. The birthday scene actually brought tears to my eyes. I look forward to continuing this family’s stories as they develop. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
August 7, 2022
Strasznie fajny, ciepły i udany debiut 😁
Czy ma wady? Oczywiście. Ale ja nie mam w sobie dzisiaj zupełnie tego, by się czepiać. Skoro historia zostawiła we mnie zdecydowanie pozytywne wrażenia, to ja zostawiam pełną czwóreczkę 😁
Czy ma wady? Oczywiście. Ale ja nie mam w sobie dzisiaj zupełnie tego, by się czepiać. Skoro historia zostawiła we mnie zdecydowanie pozytywne wrażenia, to ja zostawiam pełną czwóreczkę 😁
July 24, 2021
Check out my 5 star review of this amazing book: http://www.mmromancereviewed.com/2021...
August 10, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
4.5*s of seaside sexiness!
This is the first book in a new series, and I am absolutely invested in the people of the Bay community and definitely will be reading future installments.
There is something so wonderfully magical about the place that Nat and Beck meet, yet incredibly real. Beck's cottage with a studio overlooking the sea; the fading, slightly neglected air in the town; the surf shack; the vitality of Molly; the loss of a family. expressed by the disappearance of a chef. We are drawn into a community which is caring, slightly apart from the real world, and which absorbs the very lost Nathan into its ambit.
The romance between Beck and Nat is so fragile, and so precious, yet fierce in its potency. I loved the line between it being everything or nothing, and we get to watch the intensity along with Beck's family, and friends. Delicious from start to end.
I cannot wait for the next book to come out, as I find that I care about these people as if I knew them!
4.5*s of seaside sexiness!
This is the first book in a new series, and I am absolutely invested in the people of the Bay community and definitely will be reading future installments.
There is something so wonderfully magical about the place that Nat and Beck meet, yet incredibly real. Beck's cottage with a studio overlooking the sea; the fading, slightly neglected air in the town; the surf shack; the vitality of Molly; the loss of a family. expressed by the disappearance of a chef. We are drawn into a community which is caring, slightly apart from the real world, and which absorbs the very lost Nathan into its ambit.
The romance between Beck and Nat is so fragile, and so precious, yet fierce in its potency. I loved the line between it being everything or nothing, and we get to watch the intensity along with Beck's family, and friends. Delicious from start to end.
I cannot wait for the next book to come out, as I find that I care about these people as if I knew them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews