Shaking the Sugar Tree

Sugar Tree #1

by Nick Wilgus

Wise-cracking Wiley Cantrell is loud and roaringly outrageous -- and he needs to be to keep his deeply religious neighbors and family in the Deep South at bay. A failed writer on food stamps, Wiley works a minimum wage job and barely manages to keep himself and his deaf son, Noah, more than a stone’s throw away from Dumpster-diving.

Noah was a meth baby and has the birth defects to prove it. He sees how lonely his father is and tries to help him find a boyfriend while Wiley struggles to help Noah have a relationship with his incarcerated mother, who believes the best way to feed a child is with a slingshot. No wonder Noah becomes Wiley’s biggest supporter when Boston nurse Jackson Ledbetter walks past Wiley’s cash register and sets his sugar tree on fire.

Jackson falls like a wet mule wearing concrete boots for Wiley’s sense of humor. And while Wiley represents much of the best of the South, Jackson is hiding a secret that could threaten this new family in the making.

When North meets South, the cultural misunderstandings are many, but so are the laughs, and the tears, but, as they say down in Dixie, it’s all good.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Disability, Family, LGBT, Humor

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2014

About the author

I sold my first short story to The Horror Show Magazine at the age of seventeen and I've been writing ever since. An award-winning movie was based on my first novel, MINDFULNESS AND MURDER, and I was also nominated for a Lambda Award.

A former newspaper editor and author of more than a dozen novels and two screenplays, I currently live in Tupelo, Mississippi right down the street from the house where Elvis grew up..

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 unapologetically candid stars. Review completed March 10, 2014

Wiley has long hair and a goatee. Even though he's not Jared he keeps popping up in my mind. :)





Tears…


What Bill is trying to say is that the deaf boy should have a real man for a father," Papaw pointed out. "Someone who likes a good set of tits and knows how to scratch his balls, not someone who's going to teach him how to have sex with a chimpanzee."
"That's what your parents did, Papaw, and look how that turned out," I said.
He grinned.

"I reckon if you're a friend of Wiley's then you like rear deliveries. Am I right? Bend over, take it up the chuff? Ha!"

"It's like a massive onramp to the freeway of love," Papaw observed. "Fasten your seat belts! We're going in!"

"Every time a woman has a period, it's a spontaneous abortion because the egg didn't take," I said, undeterred. "Are we going to start having a funeral for every used tampon?"

"It's like they say: If you love Southern men, raise your glass. If you don't, raise your standards."

Papaw is the s@it! Oh my, he is a character. Both Papaw and Wiley have a wicked and mighty crude sense of humor.



"In a Northern fairy tale, you start off by saying: 'Once upon a time' and all that. In the South, we start off by saying: 'Y'all ain't going to believe this shit!'" I can't believe it but I LOVED this s@it!! I've got a crush on a book. *goofy grin on my face*

Wiley Cantrell is living in Tupelo, Mississippi. Statistically speaking, Wiley lives with his son in the (I quote) poorest state, the least educated, the fattest, the least healthy. Wiley is gay and he loves his deaf son Noah very much but he feels lonely. He would love to have a boyfriend in his life to talk to, someone who would make him laugh and of course he misses sex. He would like to feel desirable and wanted again. And being gay doesn't really help him to enjoy the benefits of society. As a gay man it's tough to find a job where he can make good money. In consequence, the 'failed' writer who depends on food stamps, can hardly make ends meet with his job at FoodWorld. While Wiley's financial situation is a long way off from being more burgeoning, his love life situation seems to be ready for a change when an attractive man in blue scrubs puts two cases of Dos Equis on Wiley's counter at FoodWorld. His name is Jackson Ledbetter. Wiley and Jackson (Jack) hit it off and the story takes it from there.

Shaking the Sugar Tree is thoughtful and thought-provoking and really amazing. The snarky dialogue made me laugh my ass off (Papaw, anyone?). On the other hand, it was an emotional ride that forced me to shed a few tears. However, the sad parts have been outweighed by the positive ones, all the happiness and joie de vivre, and I closed the book with a smile on my face.

The story doesn’t provide any hot smexin’ and it’s not particularly romantic either. It is, however, a difficult and sad yet funny and interesting story that gave me an insight into the lives of a Southern family and their environment. What’s more it’s a book about a gay dad who has to face the daily challenges of raising a special-needs child—a meth baby with birth defects. Politics, religion, bigotry and gay rights are rather prominently displayed in Shaking the Sugar Tree. Also, the writing is unapologetically candid, even crude at times. If you are easily offended then I'm not sure if it's a book for you, but I gotta say you'll be missing out on something fabulously good. It's not a perfect book by any means. Regardless, when an author is able to make me feel such a wide range of emotions and keeps me glued to the pages from start to finish, then I'll be gladly giving out five stars.

Due to Noah's hearing loss he needs reassurance more than other kids. He’s insecure and anxious yet at the same time he's very curious, sociable and open-minded. Noah is a happy boy and very eager to make new friends and it pains him when he's rejected. Noah not only connects with his father and other people through sign language, he does it even more so through touch and he depends on facial expression as well. There's more than sign language, after all, and our body gives off lots of signs without being vocal. Wiley and Noah hugging, touching and having fun playing a game was beautiful to watch.

I'm not a US citizen and I'm certainly not familiar with your situation in the South. It’s possible that some readers will state it's yet another book that depicts stereotypes, but isn't it true that behind every stereotype is a grain of truth? I guess in this story there is way more than a modicum of truth to be found. Plus, the author is living in the south, and I assume he's familiar with his surroundings, the political situation, religious communities and gay rights. While the American Family Association (AFA), BaptistLand and the Republicans have had their come-uppance, Father Ginderbach was portrayed as a kind and open-minded man without prejudices. He was a priest who welcomed Wiley and his son with open arms and I really liked him very much.

Walking In Memphis by Marc Cohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5YGW...

Despite his flaws, Wiley was a very likable character. He was sorry for the mistakes he made in his life prior to Noah’s birth and he was willing to shoulder a part of the responsibility and guilt. He changed his ways and his son’s well-being was his priority. In fact, the affectionate relationship between Wiley and Noah was a personal highlight for me. This leads me to this train of thought: Straight parents being affectionate with their kid(s) are considered normal, and I don't get it why gay parents shouldn't do the same with their kid(s). Straight or gay, what counts most is being devoted and attentive to your children. You listen to them, you educate and protect them, so they can grow up and become human beings who will treat their fellow human beings with respect and kindness.

I was disappointed how Jack’s addiction to pills had been dealt with. The cure was kind of instantaneous, almost wrapped up with a nice little bow. An addiction is something serious and deserves more page time, all the more as the book did address more than a couple controversial themes. In consequence, I just expected more in that regard.

Steam: What's that? Joking aside, there are no explicit sex scenes in Shaking the Sugar Tree.

The ‘romance’ between Wiley and Jack didn’t play the first fiddle. That’s why I was pondering for a long time what I should call this story, and then at some point, Wiley Cantrell took the words right out of my mouth. This is a love story between a father and his son. At the end of the day it doesn't matter that Wiley is gay and Noah is deaf and, as outcasts, have to struggle to fit in. It is what it is. A loving relationship between a father and his son.

Maybe things DO change in the South, I thought. Or maybe all we could do was change ourselves and hope the South would eventually catch up.

Recommended read.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a refreshing mix of the crazy, the honest, the wildly inappropriate and the deep sweetness of love. This is less a romance than a book about the love of a father for his child. It is the story of survival, because you are just too stubborn and batshit crazy to quit. It is about integrity and recognizing what really counts in life, no matter how it hurts. And it's about holding on to hope, in a corner of your battered heart, no matter how much you convince yourself there is no chance.

Wiley is a long-haired, laid-back gay Southern boy. Once upon a time he had a friend who was a girl, who liked meth and sharing with him. A book he wrote sold well enough to look like a career, and he dropped out of college. Then he decided to try sleeping with the girl, and she got pregnant, and now he has a son.

But this is not one of those typical, fluffy "gay man left with a sweet child finds true love with child-friendly boyfriend" stories. Because Wiley's son Noah isn't some cute plot-muppet. Noah is deaf, has minor birth defects and some developmental delays, and was born addicted to meth. As a newborn, he had to be shot up with drugs so he wouldn't die from the withdrawal. He was born hurting, and angry and unable to understand why. He had tantrums, and screaming fits. He couldn't hear "I love you" or "It will get better". All he understood was touch, and patience, and love that proved itself in dirty diapers and cleaning puke, and day after day of a father doing his best. And a lot of time.

Wiley loves his son, more than anything on Earth. But he has had ten years of hell, interrupted by flashes of pure joy. His girlfriend Kayla took off the moment the baby was born, her parents offered to "take Noah off his hands, if he survived, and raise him in a good, Christian home" and when Wiley insisted on being a father, they washed their hands of both of them. He was left trying to raise a deaf, meth-affected baby with almost no help. His own family chips in sometimes, with hand-me-downs, or a birthday party. But they don't do much day-to-day to support him, and they are ashamed of his gayness, and constantly question his fitness to parent a child. His book sales tanked, and he works minimum wage, to keep the two of them in Ramen noodles and carrot sticks.

Wiley has coped, and even in his own way has thrived. Noah is now ten, knows sign language, mostly sleeps through the night, and loves people. He's a tiny optimist, hoping that someday his mom will love him, and that Iron Man will come to town and make his dad happy and comfortable. Wiley knows he's done well by his boy.

He's managed to keep a sense of humor, although it's become a little black and biting at times, after years of having even his own family put him down. He won't pretend to be straight, and he won't keep his head down and his mouth shut. If his mother gives him a hard time about being gay, he'll take her on straight out, family dinner table or no.
"Mama, why don't you just sew up a Scarlet H and glue it on my forehead?" I asked. "H for the happy homo. Can't we have one conversation that doesn't involve my penis?"
Eli snorted a mouthful of mashed potatoes halfway across the table.

Into his life comes Jackson, a beautiful, gay, male pediatric nurse recently moved down from Boston. Jackson even knows how to sign to Noah. It feels like a glimpse of heaven, or at least Palm Springs. But no one can be as perfect as Jackson seems at first glance. And who would want to take on Wiley with his problems, his mouth, his poverty, crazy grandfather, homophobic family and all? Wiley's dreams of shaking the sugar tree with this guy feel like just that - impossible dreams. And when he's not dreaming he still has his life to live, and his son to love. Fitting in another man, in the homophobic South, is something the next generation may get to do, but Wiley is trying to be content with just keeping his head and Noah's above water. Luckily, Jackson will also have something to say about that. At least, until he reveals his own feet of clay.

I loved this book. Sometimes I was left choking at the things that came out of the characters' mouths into the light of day. Especially the grandfather.
"He's crazy!"
"We don't hide crazy," I said, "We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbors."
Which the old man sure does, in a stream-of-consciousness bullshit that is homophobic, misogynistic, paranoid, rude, defamatory, and yet somehow doesn't have the acid to cut deep. It's the words of Wiley's brother, mother, and in-laws that inflict wounds on him. And his line of humor and Southern bullshit charm that he uses to deflect things don't hide the pain he carries around. Unique, brave, honest, foul-mouthed, funny and a bit broken - Wiley is one of the most endearing MCs I've met in a long time. Although there were a few moments of healing that came a bit too easily at the end, I still recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who is not easily offended by the words of a crazy old man, or the occasional moral slip on the part of a strong young man swimming hard against a tide of hard times.

[Jenni Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa.

How freaking amazing was this book, huh?

So unapologetic, so gritty, so unashamedly Southern.

I was just bitch slapped with reality.

This went places I never expected it to go. I thought, "surely the author wouldn't dare go there". But he did. And I loved every last minute of of it.

Every. Last. Word.

I want a Noah of my own.

I wish Papaw was my grandfather.

Read this book. You won't be sorry you did.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is why you have to be SO careful who narrates your audiobook! I could barely concentrate on the story, the audiobook was so bad.

1 star for the audiobook + 1 extra star for the benefit of the doubt. With all of these 5 star reviews, this book must be better than what I got from it, right?

This review will be mostly about how the audiobook didn't work for me. I can't/won't comment much on the story because I didn't get very far into it (33%, where I DNF-ed).

The MC in this book is supposed to be 33 with a thick, specific Southern accent. The narrator of this book sounds like a grandpa ---> mistake #1. I researched this narrator after I decided to DNF this one, and this narrator IS a grandpa. While some older men might be able to pull off a younger voice, this narrator, Wayne Messmer, can't. It sounds borderline nasty (in a bad way) when the narrator says some of his lines. It was a huge turn off.

Also, the accent that the narrator adopts for this role is very odd. It sounds almost like a parody of what the accent is supposed to be. It was distracting and uncomfortable. In addition, he doesn't do much vocal differentiation between the characters so the conversation was really hard to follow.

I also had a major problem with the cadence of the narrator. It sounded like he randomly interjected commas into each sentence. His pauses and line breaks were really weird and made the story sound unnatural and choppy.

Finally, the quality of the narration was off. There was a ton of static in the background, which was distracting and unprofessional sounding.

I have nothing but complaints. If I want to analyze the story itself, I think I'll have to buy the ebook.

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

[Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried EVERY SINGLE PAGE of this book.

I am exhausted. My eyes are swollen shut. My tear-ducts are burned dry. I have kleenex flecks all over my face.

What's this book about? Well, the author says it best through his fictional character:

What was I writing, exactly? Romance? Drama? Slice of life? Romantic comedy? Would there be an audience for such a book? ...I realized it was none of those things. It was a love story about a father and a son.

For me, this book was about...life. And life is HARD sometimes. REALLY hard A LOT of times for some. And it's about doing your best to just...live...and to love. And what's "best" isn't and can't be judged and compared with others. Someone growing up in the deep South, below poverty levels, raising a child with special needs, in an environment that condemns you for who you are...their "best" is quite different then my own. And I think maybe that was really eye-opening for me.

I started this book uncertain what to think of the lead character, Wiley Cantrell. He's a self-proclaimed redneck. He was described looking like Darryl from "The Walking Dead". And while I sometimes do find Darryl hot, I don't picture him as the romantic lead in my fairy tales. So, embracing Wiley took some time. He's not your typical Prince Charming.

But I think once you give Wiley that chance...once you let him in...game over. You fall in love. Well, at least I did. Wiley is a man who's been dealt a shitty hand in life. And he's made his own mistakes and bad choices. And he's doing the best he can to be true to who he is while still making it in life and taking care of his son, Noah. Noah was a meth-baby, has a lot of emotional and learning disabilities, is deaf...and is the bravest most big-hearted child I've ever read in a book. I'd be proud to meet and know someone like Noah in life.

There's a love interest, Jack.

There's a non-existent, troubled mother, Kayla.

There are family members that are coming to their own terms with Wiley's life.

There's a whole lotta southern preaching and LOTS of hellfire and damnation.

There are heartwrenching emotional bits that hurt and heal.

There are tears...so many tears. Who knew that a child's simple plea of "Why?" could open up the floodgates?

And not one single character is without their flaws...no one is even close to perfect here.

The book is exhausting. Wiley's character is a LOT to take. His family even more so. The "character" of the South overwhelmed me.

But at the center of it all there's love...specifically between father and son, Wiley and Noah. That relationship, that commitment, that interaction...it's what set this book apart and made it quite special.

[Macky · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this is another book I've read recently that had me dithering about how to do it justice and give it the review it deserves. Some books you read have you tied in knots because they're so good it's hard to put down in words just how deeply they impacted on you. It’s at times like this, I'd love to be able to just blast everyone with 'Emotion-O-Rama' if there was such a thing, because it would get across perfectly the feelings this wonderful story evoked in me and a lot my friends who've already had it in their hands.

Shaking The Sugar Tree is definitely a story choc full of intense mixed emotions. The comedic side of the book shows itself in many ways. Wiley is a funny guy. He's witty, self-deprecating and a real southern charmer but like all funny guys his humour also masks all the bullshit going on in his life....and he has a lot, bless him. Then there's Pawpaw. What can I say about him? He's a rude, irascible, eccentric, insulting old man who had my jaw dropping with the stuff that came out of his mouth, but however non PC he was, there was never any true malice in him whatsoever, he is what he is and he had me snorting and laughing out loud at his (very) naughty comments. I loved how Wiley described him to Jackson, who's left pretty much speechless by his antics the first time he meets the old guy.

"We don't hide crazy," I said. "We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbours.”

Then came the times when I had kindle tantrums because of the bigotry and homophobia still raising its ugly head in this Bible Belt, Southern Community. Boy did that aspect bring out my angry side but it was necessary to the plot and part of what makes this story such an extraordinary journey. You wonder why Wiley doesn't just up and leave but the simple truth is like most of us, he still feels the pull of his roots to his birth place because there are good memories too, so despite the crap he has thrown at him, he stays. It’s his unconditional love for the one male in his life who truly has his heart that makes him put up with all the negativity he faces and I loved him for that.

Which brings me to the little man who totally stole my heart as well. I can't tell you how many times Noah had my lip quivering. Tears running down my face to the point where I couldn't see to read. I cried so hard for this adorable, little fighter who through no fault of his own had been thrown so many curve balls in his young life, that I just wanted to jump into the story, hug the pants off him and show him just how loveable he is! The scenes with his mother and his grandparents being a major catalyst for a lot of the crying sessions and heartache, but sometimes it was just little everyday things he struggled with, things we take for granted, that touched me to the core. Thankfully it’s balanced by the tons of love and affection he gets from Wiley and their relationship is a joy to watch, but despite their closeness, Wiley is not getting all he wants from life. Being openly gay in a Southern town is far from easy. He's working a tiring, dead end job just so he can raise ten year old Noah, a meth baby, whose deafness, fragility and psychological problems have been challenging over the years, to say the least. His family try but they aren't always in his corner as they constantly challenge him with their out-dated religious views about him being a single gay dad. There were times when I wanted to scream at them because they were so stubborn and obtuse! The family dinners were both funny and frustrating to read because Pawpaw was at his irreverent best and the rest, especially Bill, his brother, at their god fearing worst.

Last but not least, his love life sucks! Wiley wants a man and Noah wants him to have one, even though his insecurities make him worry that his daddy won't love him the same if he does. Omg I adored that kid! Then Jackson, a beautiful Yankee paediatric nurse drops into his and Noah's life and it looks like love is finally on the horizon. Is it an easy journey getting there? Of course it isn't, Jack has his own baggage that nearly puts a spoke in the wheel, but it’s certainly a story and a half watching them get to their final destination, which I have to say left me happy, hopeful and smiling.

Honestly I can't recommend this highly enough. It's so different. Almost hard to pin it into a category because even though there's a romance running through it, I don't think you can class it as your common or garden m/m love story. This is very much a character lead book, with a cast of larger than life people. Some you will love with a passion, others you'll hate with equal intensity, but you'll never forget one single persona in its pages and you'll be thinking about it long after you've closed your copy.

I think the character of Wiley in author mode sums this up the best when he writes:


I can't argue with that, but I will add the 'window dressing' was amazing!

- See more at: http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.co....

[Sheziss · Rating 3 out of 5]

1974. Harold Whittles’s face when he heard the world for the first time.



This is a love story about a father and a daughter.

To my Father:

We were the best of friends. I don’t remember it, I only remember that time when I was running in the corridor; I slipped on the just swept floor and fall down the stairs and broke my left arm. The teacher at school said I was right-handed, but after a month I started drawing as a leftie again. You put a wooden fence on the stairs to avoid that from happening again to my older brother or to me. Not that I hadn’t already learnt the lesson to not to run on socks. I haven’t broken anything since, except when that damn horse decided to throw himself to the ground and roll around on my leg. I had to wear bandage on my knee for a week. I read Eragon and Eldest then because I couldn’t do anything apart from reading. Not that I would choose to do another thing voluntarily.

Anyway, we were the best of friends. But Mr. Haemophilus came and my mother was the one to take me to the hospital. I had meningitis. I was dying. The doctor said I wouldn’t survive.

But I did.

Some months later, my mother realized I didn’t answer to her calling. It was intermittent. For some time I would come, for other time I couldn’t find her voice in the house.

I was turning deaf.

I was 2 years and a half.

I lost all my learning. Sounds, words, sentences…

Oh, how I used to talk a lot and to sing very nicely! My mother sings pretty well, and she makes fun of my brothers and my father for singing awfully! I used to have good hearing.

But… Not anymore.

I stopped singing. I couldn’t even form simple phrases.

Because I forgot everything.

Back to square one again.

You were depressed. You were the strongest person in my life. But that really knocked you over. My mother has told me several times she had never seen you like that in her whole life. Only when I was completely deaf, and you thought I was doomed to live in a world of silence.

You loved me and you loved me more then.

But you didn’t resign yourself. My mother did, my whole family did, but you did not.

Before that happened, there used to be a “distribution of chores”. She took care of my older brother because he couldn’t accept her paying attention a kid that wasn’t himself (he used to turn over my baby stroller, that dick!), but I didn’t mind, because you were with me when I wanted to be with someone. As opposite as my brother, I was very independent, I played by myself most of the time. But I always welcomed you.

But things changed. I needed constant attention, so my mother spent more time with me. I came very close to her then. My brother sulking all the time. My mother tied me to the baby stroller and she would carry it everywhere she went in the house. My brother was a lousy kid.

Meanwhile, you recovered. You decided there must be something to do to me. You asked my mother’s brother, cardiologist, to find out if there was any chance to improve my situation.

He said there was no hope at all.

You decided to not to listen to him anymore in your life. And if there is something to describe you, it’s stubbornness. I inherited that from you.

You know what is ironic? The vaccine came out a year after I fell sick with the bug.

You researched and you heard about the hearing aids. Something called “audífonos”. You bought two, one for each ear.

I took them off when you were not looking.

You put them on me again.

I was angry, they hurt a lot!!!

And there was no progress in my hearing.

You never gave up, you kept looking for a solution.

You heard about cochlear implants.

You saw the light in the horizon.

There were only 3 clinics in Spain that operated on them then. You took me to one of them.

It was almost 20 years ago. There were some beliefs then. Beliefs that were demonstrated to be false afterwards. Like, the notion of a minimum of intelligence in the kid in order for him to take advantage of them. They got me tested and I passed.

I was operated just before my birthday. I was 3 years old in the clinic.

I never got rid of them.

Changes happened in quick succession.

I was very far behind from other kids my age but I got into a inclusion school and caught up in no time. I learnt sounds, words, sentences… again. But I could no longer sing as I used to.

Not that I let that stop me from chasing what I want.

As I said, I am as stubborn as you are.

There was another father in your workplace who had a deaf son. You talked to him about the success with the cochlear implant.

He got away from you. He didn’t want to listen to you. He accepted his son’s fate.

I had very hard times. I remember that teacher before I was even 10 years old, who said it was impossible to teach me English. You speak native Spanish, a very good French, and an acceptable English. You believed in languages, although in your inner self you think everyone must speak the same one. You blame the Tower of Babel, not that you are a very good Catholic. But you wanted me to have the same chances in life as a normal kid would, so I HAD TO learn English, even when I was just beginning to get the thing with the Spanish.

I am very grateful you didn’t believe that teacher, as well as you didn’t believe my uncle saying that there was nothing to be done.

I had my cup of speech therapists. Oh my, that’s a hell of a topic. They didn’t believe in cochlear implants, either. You did have to fight my battles everywhere. Now I fight them myself, but there used to be a time you believed you would have to do it for me forever. But you began to think otherwise. I was stubborn, and hard-working, and a fighter.

I inherited your spirit, too.

I was operated on the other inner ear some years later but if it had been your choice, you would had have me operated right after the first operation. But the belief then was that only one was enough, and that “exercising” one “exercises” the other one at the same time.

I respect doctors, trial-and-error approach is not easy. It’s like being blind and trying to paint a Velázquez picture.

You pushed. You pushed. You pushed.

And I began to hear from the other inner ear, too.

I remember that time. I was 10. I remember waking up from the anesthesia and ORDER, not ask, no, ORDER, a glass of water. And then I complained because I had a heavy bandage on my head. The surgeon even came into the room to pacify me. I was so MAD! I was a hell of a girl, not easy to deal with. Nobody makes fun of me, and if so, deal with the consequences. My mother tried to not to argue with me because I always won. I was so stubborn!!!

I screamed when I saw half of my skull with no hair at all and a big scar above my temporal bone.

I looked like a skinhead.

At that time I didn’t know what skinheads were, but I still have that image engraved in my mind.

Anyway, cochlear implants are not magical. Rehabilitation must be done, it’s like using a muscle you didn’t know you had, and you have to discover how it works. I confused the “a” with the “o” and the “e” with the “i”. In Spanish there are only 5 vowels, thank God! But consonants were even trickier.

I never learnt the sign language. I learnt to read lips when I didn’t have my “machines” on. I liked and still like being in my silence world. It’s quiet and calm and there are no expectations. I am most of the time like this: while sleeping, while reading, while using the computer, while studying… But then I come back to the real world whenever I choose to.

I finished school with high marks. I even got distinction in some subjects. I got into the university. I am studying Medicine. I pass all the subjects every year (touch wood).

I have my own adapted phonendoscope. I use a FM for my classes (a kind of radio to listen to the teacher directly). I hear nothing in the swimming pool. I watch movies (with subtitles). I listen to music (with heatsets or even with my FM). I go every year to said clinic to have my annual programming (an “adjustement” of my hearing to get closer to the “real” thing). But apart from that, my life is normal.

Nobody notices I am deaf. Every time I meet a new person, I announce it. It’s very tiresome, as I guess getting out of the closet every time is. But it’s necessary. I have difficulties while socializing, and the person should know to speak clearly and to not to frown at me if I ask more than once a repetition of some sentence or word I don’t catch.

Everybody is shocked when I tell them I am 100% deaf. I don’t speak like one. I don’t listen like one. I take that as a compliment.

Not because I am ashamed of being deaf, but because I am proud of how far I’ve gotten with my handicap.

My father’s colleague’s son has not even finished school.

I know a lot of deaf people who didn’t finish school either. It’s not the rule, but it’s not rare. Lots of them had to repeat a year or two. More needed curricular adaptation. No one of them had cochlear implants. Every kid who was operated on had a better future, and the earlier, the better. And I talk from my very own experience.

Objectively speaking, I am on the top of my kind.

Thank you, Daddy, for not listening to anybody that there was nothing to be done.

You would hate this book with all your being.

Wiley has a deaf son, and he is great. But he is not like you. He resigned himself. He accepted his son’s fate. He even has confused notions about cochlear implants, and talks about them to other people. That information he gives makes them fearful to operate on their own kids.

You don’t believe in sign language. You didn’t want me to only speak with deaf people. You didn’t want me to live in a guetto speaking only to those who were deaf or deaf people’s family. You wanted me to have equal chances in life as every kid should have.

You always encourage people to believe in cochlear implants.

But mostly, they are scared and, if they hear a different opinion, they chicken out.

You stopped saying anything unless they specifically asked for it.

And when that happens you are like Attila, the grass doesn’t grow again. You are honest and you make people have high hopes, and with a good reason.

Because you feel we live in a fools’ world and you feel you can do little about it unless they really want to believe.

You once said there was no worse fate than having a parent who resigns himself/herself. That there was no worse thing than a stupid parent.

I love you.

And I will always love you.

Thanks for believing in me.

And for still believing in me.

And for always believing in me.

*****

If you want to hear my real thoughts during the reading of this book, my original review and my first three comments below are enough:

Original Review
Comment #1: Reality, Social Systems and Facts
Comment #2: Summary of the Final Review
Comment #3: Big Mistakes in the Book

[It's just me Shelly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is EPIC!!!! I haven't laughed this hard in a LONGGGG time!!!

“Allow me to welcome you to the buckle of the Bible Belt.” I raised my beer in salute. “There’s a church on every corner and a bigot in every garage.”

Now as a person who was born, raised and still resides in the Bible Belt....this statement is completely true. While this issue isn't a laughing matter it's the way, Wiley the main character, deals with this issue and his family it is 100% gut wrenching FUNNY!

“How are you, Papaw?” I asked. “I’m still not dead,” he announced. “Your mother might kill me with her cooking, or what she calls cooking. You still a faggot, Wiley?” “Yes, sir,” I said. “Good for you,” he said. “Don’t run away from your problems, kid. Just take ’em up the chuff and use a lot of Crisco, eh?” “Don’t start on me, Papaw”



Poor Wiley he has so many issues, or so his family and community think, he's a single father of a meth baby who's now 9 years old, he works for minimum wage at a grocery store, he's gay and he has long hair. He's a hippy at heart!! Even though his family thinks he's worthless he has a reason for everything he does......I just LOVE him....I want to give a big HUG!!! He is such a wonderful father and a smart ass to boot!!! Bless his heart...what more could you want!


His family drove me CRAZY but Wiley always handled them so well......the weird thing is they are actually a close family...none of them hold back their feelings....

“But this is the South and we have our own ways of doing things down here. We’re not going to sit back in silence while people like Wiley ram their homosexuality down our throats.” “God knows I ain’t about to put my homosexuality in your mouth, Billy,” I said. “Good one, Wiley,” Papaw said”


I guess this book is a romance but honestly that part felt like a side story, not that I didn't enjoy it or love the way it ended, I just loved it as a whole....I loved EVERY part!!!!!!

But Wiley and Papaw took the damn CAKE!!!! I'm gonna have to just say it Papaw is the SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He loves saying stuff to get people all riled up and pissed!!!!!! Love him!!

“And your grandfather….” “Leave my Papaw alone.” “He’s crazy.”
“We don’t hide crazy,” I said. “We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbors."

“Papaw sat on the recliner watching the kids as they opened their presents.
“Bunch of greedy shits!” Papaw announced. “When I was their age, the only thing I got from Santa was syphilis!”


I highlighted every page in this book so I have to stop now.....or I will basically quote the ENTIRE book!!!

I would also like to warn you.....if you are looking for a uber over the top sexy smexy book this isn't the book. However if you are looking for a good book that will make you smile....THIS IS IT!!!

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!

This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me laugh, made me cry, made me think and made me very happy.

Not just simply HAPPY.

BUT REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HAPPY.
And a bit sad too.

It is not your usual MM-romance.
It is not overloaded with testosterone as a lot of MM-books.
BUT
There are so many heart in every line!
There are so many truth in every sentence!

Who has to read it in the first place:

Every single STRAIGHT/GAY farther.

Every single mother.

All parents, straight or not.

People with heart.

People without. There is a big hope they'll get it back.

All good politicians who help to become gay marriage legal in every country and in every state.

Everybody who considers gay marriage is not a human right. There is a big hope you can change your opinion.

No, it is not a political book. Don't get me wrong.

It is a beautifully written story- I'm strongly believe that this book is very autobiographical- about a single father Wiley Cantrell who lives in Tupelo, Mississippi with his 10 years old son Noah,a meth baby with the birth defects(how can somebody not fall in love with this kid?!), has a difficult relationship with his religious family, except his crazy grandfather Papaw(he is hilarious!) and goes through ups and downs with his boyfriend Jackson Ledbetter.

It is about life and about love.

Excellent told, from my favourite first person POV, in a form of a personal diary.

It was a love story about a father and a son. The rest was window dressing. As a love story between a parent and a child, it was universal. Didn't matter that I was gay, that he was deaf, that we didn't fit in, that we were each outcasts in our own way. God, fate, the universe, luck - we had been thrown together in this thing we call life for a reason we might never be able to fathom.

Sweet, charming, witty and heart-wrenching piece of prose!

READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!!!!!!

P.S. Heather, I'm sure your uncle will like it!

[Susan65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing I can say will ever come close to adequately describing the brilliant awesomeness that is this book. I feel like I hit the reader’s jackpot and am a better person, a better reader, and a better reviewer for having the privilege of experiencing the life that is Wiley Cantrell, and by extension, Jackson Ledbetter and their son, Noah. It’s not very often a book gets a strangle hold on me but this one grabbed me from the get-go, and wow, what a strong grip that wouldn’t let go.

From the start I laughed out loud…not just a little “lol”, but a deep, gut clenching belly laugh. But I also cringed for the horrific way that Wiley was treated. A man who did everything that a straight man would have been praised for, but instead he was constantly pissed on for daring to do right by his deaf child. The love and affection that Wiley has for his son and Noah for him is like a breath of fresh air. Noah “checking in” was just so beautiful. Their interactions were pure love and I could not understand how anyone could possibly consider that a bad thing. Small minds just kill me…and there were plenty in this story.

The blurb gives you a pretty good idea what this story is all about, but what it can’t do is allow the reader to experience this amazing journey. It’s a journey that isn’t bogged down in excess details but still vividly allows the reader to experience this world in all its southern charm. The chapters are short but it’s what works best and there is not one word that was unnecessary. The humor and total inappropriateness that comes out of Wiley’s mouth and that of his grandfather was pure magic. That humor is what made this girl a fan of Nick Wilgus. If this were the Olympics of Novels I would be holding up my sign depicting the number 10 and then handing out the Gold medal. Yes, it’s that good and will undoubtedly be on my Best Books of 2014 list.

It’s the love story of a poor, lonely, gay father and his special needs son. A man who uses humor to cope with his very difficult life and the fact that no one expects him to succeed, no one offers him any assistance, and everyone thinks it’s okay to ridicule anything and everything that Wiley does. It’s quite sad the way he is surrounded by family, but still completely alone. It’s shocking, but not, that there are small towns with small minds that care more for their sensibilities than for a small deaf child and the father that he adores.

This is also the love story of Wiley and Jack. They have their ups and downs but they love each other…and Noah. Wiley and Noah are a package deal and not only does Jack accepts these terms, but he embraces Noah with both hands and his heart. Truly, this is an amazing story but I can only think of so many ways to describe the brilliant writing of Nick Wilgus. Nick is a new author for me and I am very thankful that this book showed up on my radar. Now all I have to do is try to get others, to get YOU, to experience what will no doubt be on many people’s Best Books of 2014 list.

So, I will leave you with this. I rarely read books with children, I rarely read books where the sex scenes fade to black, I rarely read authors I am unfamiliar with without someone else reading it first, and I rarely text my fellow reviewers and tell them to “stop what you’re doing and read this book, you will love it, I guarantee it”, but I did all of those things and I will continue pushing this book because it is all that and I want to share the experience. So please, read this, you will thank me, and then I will say, “I told you so”.

Overall Impression: It was AMAZING

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

***More than the GR “Christ and sweet and sunny jumped-up Jesus” Stars**

“Anyway, it reminds me of the difference between a Northern fairy tale and a Southern fairy tale.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“In a Northern fairy tale, you start off by saying: ‘Once upon a time’ and all that. In the South, we start off by saying: ‘Y’all ain’t going to believe this shit!’”

So Y’all ain’t going to believe this shit… This book is WONDERFULL … “Cross my heart and hope to die”

We have Willey…

Gay man. Single dad. Raising a deaf child with birth defects, in the South!


We have Jackson…


“But I don't just want you to get into my pants," he said. " I want you to get into my life.”
“Takes more than a sugar mouth to shake the sugar tree, darling.”
“North meets South. It could get ugly.”

We have the most important thing in the book for me … the love of father and son ….you could feel their love and the difficulty of parenthood with every word written!



I LOVED this book. Sometimes I was speechless there are issues that for me is a NO, NO, but everyone has their opinion and their believes, so I just going to say : It’s all good,” That was the Southern way of saying that life is crap, so suck it up and deal with it and stop squealing like a stuck pig.

The most funny parts is definitely the things that came out of some characters mouths. Especially the grandfather. PAPAW he had a wicked, though rather crude, sense of humor.

“We don’t hide crazy,” I said. “We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbors.”
“You still a faggot, Wiley?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“Good for you,” he said. “Don’t run away from your problems, kid. Just take ’em up the chuff and use a lot of Crisco,”


For me one of the best in 2014, superb story-telling!!

[T.A. Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodgodalmighty, son.

I bought this book a few months ago, and it's sitting on my Kindle with 164 other in my "Gay" folder. There are 14 in the "Re-read" one, 18 in my "To Review" (for my publisher and for an awards site I help judge), and then 89 in the "Wanna Read Soon" folder where I dump freebies and the GR event giveaways.

So...I won't say why I picked it up other than to hint I miiiight have seen a sequel laying about for some reason or the other, and then I HAD to read this one.

It. Blew. My. Tiny. Little. Mind.

Nick Wilgus is amazing.

I love Wiley. I adore Noah.

I was raised with these people.

Read it. Pop a PBR and pull some pork and SAVOR the freshness.

Great. Just great.

Tom

[Julio Genao · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to my jolly christmas elf for the gift!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

So... this is very Southern. My previous exposures to southern writers did not prepare me for this. Maybe my reading is lacking. Took me a few moments to get into the groove and frankly, I think I was sitting through more than a few of the scenes shaking my head right along with Jackson going, "How do I get off the crazy train?"

Wiley is a loud narrator who does not make nice even if his momma wished we would. He's brash and honest and puts things out there, warts and all. Might be a bit more honesty than I'm use to. Anyway, you can see he didn't fall far from the tree when his Papaw opens his mouth and witness the gems that come out. Rude and offensive pretty much describe every conversation which Papaw takes part in. Inevitably, he manages to become less obnoxious and more endearing, but I think that's after you figure out he's making fun of you for playing along. Let's just say that as far as attention getting maneuvers go, Papaw is hard to ignore.

“We don’t hide crazy,” I said. “We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbors.”

Wiley's situation isn't unique and isn't easy. Sole parent to a special needs child living under the poverty level and doing the best he can. Rough barely begins to describe it. But, one look at Noah and you can't help but smile. Noah is one of those rare determined and joy-grabbing people. He's both in his own world and radically interacting with others. He won't be ignored. I fell more than a little in love with him.

The hard part was watching how those who should really have a vested interest in Noah, didn't. Then there are those who see Wiley and Noah and understand and know: Jackson, Father Ginderbach, Tonya, and Mrs. Humphries. And those who need to be dragged to common sense--it's a distinguished list and longer than it should be. But the journey to make a family in the unforgiving territory surrounding Wiley was a good one.

The author's note about the story was spot on: This is the story of one man's love for his child. It is beautiful.

Overall, big, bold and in your face.

Favorite quote:

For the first time, there was acceptance and, oddly enough, disinterest, as though I had finally reached a point in my life where my peculiarities were so commonplace as to be no longer worth noticing.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, raw, beautiful, painful, gritty and honest story. It left me speechless and blown away when I finally reached the last page and it’s one of those books that will stay with me forever. It’s the story of a love between a father and son with a romance mixed in on the side. It’s book like this one that shake me up, get my emotions churned up that make my reading experience that much more wonderful.

Wiley Cantrell is trying to raise his son Noah, who is deaf and a meth baby living in the south. In the middle of the bible belt, with it’s southern charms, friendly folks, but also their backwards thinking, bigotry, hatred, “the south will raise again” mentality (hey folks you lost the war, get over it). Where folks are proud of their crazy family members, “We put them on the porch and let them entertain the neighbors”, but having a gay family member is something to be ashamed of.

Wiley is a character I loved, at times i could understand is reactions, others I had to have patience with and forgiveness. He isn’t someone who always does the right thing, he is angry, complicated and has been fighting a war his entire life it seems. He is a weary soldier looking for some help and understanding, love, and he eventually finds it in Jackson Ledbetter.

And then there is Noah…strong, amazing, break my heart into tiny pieces Noah. I honestly don’t know how to express how much I loved this little guy, but to say he immediately grabbed hold of my heart and never let go….OMG….

I can’t recommend this book enough, the story is a difficult one, it’s intense and gritty, inspiring, and filled with all the various forms of love. Everyone should read this book…

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

charming, sappy, raunchy, heart-warming, rude, shocking, hilarious, offensive
and so very Politically Incorrect lil’ southern story and I loved every bit.




She said I have three words for you, Mr. Cantrell. Exercise, exercise, exercise. I said I’ve got three words for you, honeybunch: Weight Fucking Watchers.

“Everyone knows it, Martha,” he said. “Been that way since he was knee-high to a bull frog and ain’t nothing gonna change it now. Likes to take it up the chuff! And I say more power to him. God bless the faggots!”

“Thank you,” Mrs. Warren said. “You’re Wiley’s….” “Boyfriend,” Papaw said loudly as Jackson struggled to find an answer. “They’re queer for each other. They’ve gone through about five cans of Crisco at this point. The Piggly Wiggly in New Albany had to special order a whole case just for the two of them.

“I ain’t worried about it, boy,” he replied. “Since they upped me to ninety milligrams a day, I ain’t worried about a damned thing. Just as long as my bowels keep working, hell, it’s all good.”spoiler>

[Vanessa North · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really good.

Captured some aspects of living in the South perfectly--like weathering a tornado warning in the bathtub. Captured the anxiety and the difficulty of parenthood without sacrificing the joy.

And Papaw, the old coot. Yeah, i've met a papaw or two in my life.

I feel the last thirty percent got a liitle preachy, a little rushed and tell-not-showy, and the pacing sort of imploded. But even so, this is my favorite book I've read so far this year.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I have a Confession to make. I almost moved this book to the Did Not Finish shelf before reaching the 10% mark. The reason I didn't was because a good friend and fellow southerner, Jenni Lea, loved and praised it. So I kept reading and boy am I glad I did. The beginning was a little rough for me. It was like reading Hollywood's idea of what living in the south is like....everything was completely exaggerated!! However, as I continued to read I began to enjoy the writing and zaniness of the characters. Especially Papaw.

I absolutely fell in love with Noah. With it being less than a two hour drive, I found myself wanting to go to Tupelo just to give him a big hug. He broke my heart constantly and I hurt for him.

I laughed. I cried. And many times I laughed until I cried. At times it was an honest portrayal of life in a small southern town. At times I found it was a bit over-the-top. But I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it. I also would read more from this author.

[Silkeeeeeereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is superb story-telling. I don't know if there are blue ribbons or some type of awards given for excellence but this author should definitely receive one for this story. Reading the blurb, or even writing another would not tell a reader how wonderful this story is. I'm sure there are a lot of people that think people in the South don't actually talk like this or act like this. Being from the South I can assure you they do. I would start to cry and dab my eyes, wipe my nose and the next paragraph had me giggling like a school girl. The swing in emotions was constant throughout this book. I have to thank this author for this beautiful piece and highly recommend it! 

[Katharina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was a five-star read for me, right until about 80% and then something became clear I wasn't aware of before and I kind of hated Wiley for it and everything that came after was coloured by that. Unfortunately. So despite this still being an awesome book with an amazing little boy as the main character ('cause for me Noah IS the main character, even if Wiley is the narrator), I can't give more than four stars.

I really loved this. I loved the ... realness of this story, the fact that Wiley wasn't a bigshot something, that he had to struggle to make a living for himself and Noah and still give Noah everything he needed. I loved that Noah wasn't the "perfect" little kid either, because he really was perfect exactly the way he was - only a little different definition of it than you usually find. I loved that this story was really a love story of a father and a son who face odds and adversities (and lots of them), but who still take on every day and cope with everything with as much humour as they can. That's fantastic.

There were many other things I really enjoyed - Wiley's struggles with his family, the real pain he so obviously feels even if he doesn't show it often, his job, his way with people, his humour. I absolutely loved Papaw to pieces. Talk about a crazy old man. He's the best example of how it isn't the words themselves that hurt, it's the intention behind them. Papaw uses the most filthy, mean words imaginable sometimes, but it's all good because it's never spoken in malice and Wiley knows it. I like how Wiley's mom's attitude changes, although I kind of resent her for needing a new priest to help her do that. But these developments in the main and secondary characters are what makes a story real and this book had plenty of them.

Other things I had a bit more problems with: the religiosity was just too much for me. I had such a hard time accepting that the US south really is still like this in some corners - like a weird mix of modern appliances and medieval thinking. (It's been pointed out to me that this is maybe phrased in a misleading way: I do not doubt in any way that this is true, I just think it's horrible and absolutely shocking that it's still like that!) Wiley's religious too - and all the talking about Jesus and heaven and I don't know what, that really did make me uncomfortable. And Wiley doesn't see himself as a Christian? Man, he's more of a by-the-book Christian than anyone I've ever met in real life. Besides my Grandma maybe. He goes to church. He believes in God and in Jesus. What else is needed to define yourself as a Christian? Man, I'm really glad that particular cup passed me by. I don't know why teaching kids something like that would be a good idea. I'm a pretty fierce atheist though, so I guess my perception is simply different.

But here are the things that really rattled me at about 70 to 80% or later: I think Bill didn't even do close to enough groveling. I mean, seriously, he freaking threatened Wiley to take Noah away from him, simply because of his own absurd bigotry. And then he hit him. And then afterwards he just changes his attitude and everyone is supposed to be jubliant about it? Not me, believe me! ... Although I have to admit that his presence and his words at the protest kind of redeemed him. A bit. :-D
I also had a bit of a problem with how Jack's addiction was handled. He simply stopped taking drugs. Is it really that simple? No further therapy, no professional help, he just stops? Seems... too easy to me somehow.
But here now, here comes the real deal breaker: The "cheating" (Wiley being with Juan) was one thing. I mean, is it cheating? Yes and no, I think, but I can totally live with that. But the no condom thing? That's an absolute, big fat no go. Let me retrace that: Wiley had sex with someone rather casually, seemingly without a condom? And then later had sex with Jackson again? Also probably without a condom? What? That's the most irresponsible thing ever! It speaks of such high disregard - simply because you don't only endanger yourself, you endanger the person you supposedly love as well! And they don't even really talk about it later? What the hell? It's all okay just like that? Boy, that made me so freaking freaking angry. I really hated Wiley for this. This is something I have a very hard time to forgive.

I have to say, I really liked the ending though - it wasn't a verbalized sugarcoated tooth-ache, but still sweet and lovely. So, yes, four stars. Almost five even. :-D

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What was I writing exactly? Romance? Drama? Slice of life? Romantic comedy? Would there be an audience for such a book? Watching Noah sit down, chomping on his Pop-Tart, I realized it was none of those things. It was a love story about a father and a son. The rest was window dressing. As a love story between a parent and a child, it was universal. Didn't matter that I was gay, that he was deaf, that we didn't fit in, that we were outcasts in our own way. God, fate, the universe, luck–we had been thrown together in this thing we call life for reasons we couldn't fathom. As Mrs Humphries would say, The Lord gon' find a way–and He had."

This is the story of Wiley Cantrell and his son Noah. Their life isn't easy - it is largely the two of them against the world and they sure have been dealt with more than their fair share of things to overcome.

Noah is a special little boy. Born addicted to meth and deaf, from the very moment of his birth he has struggled. Emotionally he is also very fragile and has craved the love of his mother who left him at birth. But Noah is blessed with the love of his father.

Wiley has reached his thirties and struggles through life. As a gay single father of a child with difficulties, he is on minimum wage and deals with people continually judging his lifestyle and deeming him an unfit parent. Even Wiley's own family judge him. "I had no career to speak of, no future, no money in the bank, no man to go home to and make love to and be with, no chance in hell that I would ever get gay-married and live happily ever after. I don't often through myself a pity party, but I threw one for myself that afternoon, sitting there on the bench staring into space. I couldn't help but feel that maybe Bill and my mother were right, maybe there was something really wrong with me. Maybe I didn't deserve happiness. Maybe there was no room in the Magnolia state for souls like mine. Maybe I was really born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, living a life that fit me about as well as Elvis's sideburns or Honey Boo Boo's baby fat."

Sad and heartbreaking, it is also inspirational to see such love and such sacrifices made by a father for this child. But the standout is the writing and how this tale is told - even in the depths of feeling Wiley's pain, I was laughing at the total, hysterical craziness that accompanied every visit Wiley made home to see his family. Papaw is definitely a character I won't be forgetting in a hurry!
"Mr. Light-in-the-Loafers is here," Papaw announced. "And he's got a little faggy friend. He's also a little light in the loafers, if you know what I mean. They'll probably both be dead of some venereal disease by Christmas so I wouldn't get attached." What a wonderful way for your new boyfriend to be greeted by your grandfather!

Yes, there is a love story. Jackson enters Wiley's life and so begins the first relationship Wiley has had in years. They are wonderful together and I loved their easy banter and teasing and how their relationship worked around Noah. It's not smooth sailing (you wouldn't expect it to be) and Jackson has some problems of his own. I would have loved some more insight into Jackson's struggles, to understand how he got to be in the situation he was in and his emotional journey to win Wiley. But the focus of this story stayed with Wiley.

Sadness, happiness, life, religion, homophobia, violence, tolerance, family, forgiveness, humour, love - this book pretty much packs it all in and is highly recommended reading!

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.

For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a bloody good book! Wasn't really sure what to expect as this author is new to me but I couldn't put this down.
The story centres around gay man Wiley raising his deaf son Noah in the deep south and let me tell you he does not have it easy, everyone in town knows he's gay including his family and they are not shy with the dirty looks or comments. Must admit this book really opened my eyes as to how bad it can be for gay people in the south - that radio station (AFA) is mental!!
Highly recommended - Wiley's Pawpaws scenes are worth the book price alone (had me crying with laughter)!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incredibly impressed by this book. I purchased it on a whim and because I was exhausted, almost put off reading it when I saw it topped 300 pages. But, it was really, really good. It was so honest, so REAL. I could feel the heat and humidity. I could hear the southern twang in people's voices. I couple times I looked up expecting to see the characters they were so well written. The dialogue was incredibly witty and just pulled me in all the more. I fell in love with Papaw-aint nothing wrong with puttin' crazy out on the porch. All the characters were so full of life. I think every one of them did or said something at least once that made me cringe, but then they would turn around and do something that would show how big their hearts were. The writing is incredible, the scenery is masterfully depicted, the dialogue is some of the best I've read, and the characters will grab you, but what made this book great is how it all came together to become a story about family. It was a book about family and a book about people. People are both good and bad and THAT was what this book was about. The realism of the people just blew me away.

The book touches on a lot of things: religion on multiple fronts, southern pride and stubbornness, civil rights and equality, the importance of treating a special needs child as normal instead of as if he/she has a problem, and they were all written in such a way as to show how such things affect people's perceptions and interpersonal relationships. I didn't feel the author was using the book to get on his soap box. Rather, he wrote a very accurate depiction of life in a southern state. The thing I took from this book is that people can and will surprise you. It doesn't matter who they are or where they come from, love and support can be found both where you least expect it and where you should always expect it. This was a book full of surprising people. Wiley and Noah continued to hope for the best and have faith in their fellow man. Having the courage to live that way definitely left them open to a lot of pain, but it also brought them a lot of happiness.

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Goodread features many good reviews for this book and I was really looking forward to reading it - and I'm happy that I finally did. I will not try to give a summary of the events, it would spoil the fun of reading this story and I wouldn't be able to due the story and its complexity any justice.

It is a very catchy and emotional read illustrating what it means to be a gay single father of a deaf child in the South of the US. Hateful looks and comments, pity and the general assumption of not being able to be a good father - this book took me on a rollercoaster ride! It was hard to handle the way Wiley was treated by his family.

The humor of the book might not be for everyone, but it had me rolling on the floor several times - cruel, but so very true and real in many aspects!

While I loved the story about Wiley and Noah and all the difficulties they had to face as a single gay father and a disabled child, I wasn't touched by the romance aspect of the story at all!. I didn't particulary like Jackson and I had the feeling that their relationship was moving too fast! I might get a better feeling for their romance in the second part of the series, but the lack in the romance department, made me deduce one star.

To sum it all up:

It was a love story about a father and a son. The rest was window dressing. As a love story between a parent and a child, it was universal. Didn't matter that I was gay, that he was deaf, that we didn't fit in, that we were each outcastes in our own way.

[John The Cosmic Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful slice of life, father and son story with some romance mixed into it. The homophobic scenes where very hard to read. It made me really sad and angry but also made me realize how hard must it be for gay people living in areas where most people are christian extremists. It made me even more appreciate the life I have right now. Noah, Wiley and Papaw are very unforgettable characters. I hated some characters here but ended up forgiving them in the end.

I did quite like the romance part here. There's a realness to it. Wiley and Jackson is not a perfect couple and I did not agree with some of their actions, especially with Wiley's towards Juan, but they are meant to be together. They forgave each other in the end and Love is never ending forgiveness. For those that need HEA in their stories like me, you won't be disappointed. :)

One of the best in 2014.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Fantastic! Gut wrenching. Angst. Humorous. Entertaining. Insightful. Gritty, in your face serious truths. That oughta' hold me for a bit. A FIVE STAR read! I wanted something completely different and I got that. This is a new author for my reading list. I will look for more of his works.

This one took my to a place where life is a struggle for Wiley and his son Noah. But with the under current of unconditional love in the midst of all the shit that they go through, one cannot help to see the HEA in this story. I know I did. He (Wiley) puts up with so much. The sacrifices for his son and the life for them touched me deeply. And Papaw, love that man. Bless his heart. All the characters in this story remind me of people I've met throughout my life.

I reacted. The story pulled, tugged, wrung me out. Made me laugh out loud at 2 in the morning when all was quiet. Made me wipe a tear here and there because something hit home. Frustrated me because someone could not see past their blindness of another human being. Pulled me up with the hope of grabbing on to the one thing in life that is a constant, LOVE.

I identified, lived and am living with a lot of what this story told to me. It hit home. You have to know that most of what is said in this book is 'truth'. Maybe not for you, but for many. We press on, moving forward in the hopes of changing the world so that we, and the generations ahead of us make this world a better place. Stories like this always remind me of the song Joe South used to sing...

"Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in in my shoes"

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very wild ride. The blurb is a very simple version of what the book is about. It's definitely one where you want to read portions to friends out loud, or anyone who will listen. There is heartache too and great sadness, especially as it relates to meth babies.
My momma was from the south and so there is a certain draw it has on my soul. Yet the homophobia and racial prejudice repulses me as well. This story served up lots of that and yet it has a wonderfully uplifting ending that gives one hope.
Do read Kaje's review. She has a special ability to get to the heart.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Nick Wilgus was a new author for me and I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. What I got just blew me away. I loved it. Three simple words. :)

I loved Wiley, our narrator.
I loved Noah, his deaf son, born as a meth baby.
I loved Papaw… OMG… I can’t even tell how much I loved Wiley’s granddad. He reminds me of Ty Grady’s granddad Chester. What a wonderful, loving, dirty mind!
Eventually I even started to like Jackson… yeah, he seems to be the right guy for Wiley… and his growing affection, his love for Noah was just wonderful to watch. But Jackson’s secret threatens to destroy everything Wiley and he have been building up together.
I loved the southern slang.
I loved Wiley’s Mom.
Wiley’s bro Bill…well, first I couldn’t stand him but at some point I discovered where his bigotry was coming from. First it was hard to guess but he really loves his brother.

I loved Nick’s writing style. This book is entertaining, gut wrenching, insightful… gritty, witty and charming, and just brilliantly written. Nick’s humor made me laugh out loud, the emotionally parts broke my heart and made me cry… OMG… I’ve never read a book written like this one.

I loved how much Wiley loves his son Noah… their sign language conversations made me smile and cry simultaneously.

I don’t want you to be sad all the time.
I’m not sad all the time. I have you.
Do you love me?
A lot.
Would you still love me if he was your boyfriend?
Of course.
Are you sure?
Yes.
You wouldn’t leave me for him?
Not a chance.
Do you love me a lot?
As big as a house?
Bigger.
The grocery store?
Bigger.
The mall?
Bigger.
The sky?
Bigger.
Bigger than anything?
There isn’t anything in this world bigger.
There must be something.
If you had a boyfriend, you’d love him more than me, wouldn’t you?
Of course not.
Promise?

I won’t go into any more details because if you love emotional and humorously written M/M romances you deserve to experience a story like this… filled with buckets of tears, many laughs and a lot of heart… of your own.

Wanna shake the sugar tree? :)

Highly recommended!

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story about a man struggling against some mighty odds to take care of his son is beautifully told. At turns hilarious and achingly sad... really tragically sad. The big ol' ugly cry sad. But the sometimes abrasive and deliciously vulgar humour infuses and lifts this story from the average cute-kid-poor-single-gay-dad angst fest and turns it into a joyous celebration of life. Gritty, witty and charming is a helluva combination.
On the downside, I felt that some of the story's themes were a bit clobbered to death by the end and while some issues were were resolved too neatly, others were not addressed at all. It felt like the last 20% could have been pared down and edited a bit more ruthlessly.

I loved this book. Wiley and Noah now own a little piece of my heart.

Highly recommended!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Nick Wilgus before seeing this title on offer for review. Evidently he is quite well-know as an author and screenwriter and his work has been recognized within the literary community for its excellence. My introduction to Mr. Wilgus’s work was nothing short of extraordinary. I loved Shaking the Sugar Tree so much. As far as I can tell, and I had to do quite a bit of looking to find this information, (I read about 50 times that Pam Tillis recorded a song of the same name in the 90s) the title refers to shaking up someone’s comfort and complacency to see if you achieve the desired effect, which seems to be a change in their behavior or feelings toward the tree shaker. As a Yankee, my limited knowledge of Dixie was a hindrance in understanding the title, but not the book itself. And the book was breathtaking.

First I will get my little pet peeves out of the way, then I will be able to concentrate on the 95% of the book that was sensational. Lack of condom use between partners who don’t know each other well enough to trust the other’s word. As a woman, I think that if a prospective sexual partner whom you have know only briefly says, “I’m clean.” it’s not the best idea to trust their word alone these days. I may be naïve in this belief as I don’t have any experience as a gay man, so other readers may hold an entirely different opinion on the subject. Then there was “gay-married”. I chose to believe this to be a tongue in cheek reference by Mr. Wilgus to the consensus of many Southerners that gay couples somehow marry differently than heterosexual couples. The continual reference to getting “gay-married” instead of just “married” would have gotten annoying if I took it seriously.

Wiley (only in the South will you find a man named after a cartoon character!) is a gay single dad. He is a failing writer, dirt-floor poor and struggling to get by with a child who is deaf as well as being born addicted to methamphetamines. In a moment of youthful misjudgment, Wiley, while trying to be the straight young man his family and community demanded him to be, got his meth-addicted girlfriend pregnant. As soon as Noah was born, his mom took off an is now in prison. Noah’s needs take center stage in Wiley’s life. Wiley often hides his loneliness and frustration with his living situation behind his constant joking. He is a complete smart-ass. It is hard to know which things he says are serious, so it’s safer to assume none of them are.

Wiley’s humor fades in comparison to that of his Papaw, a politically incorrect, loud-mouthed, opinionated, bigoted, homophobic grumpy old man. In the South, they evidently have a saying about not hiding your crazy in the attic, but putting on the front porch to display. This is surely the case with Papaw, who had me laughing out loud as often as he had me infuriated by the seemingly cruel jokes he made whenever he spoke. Papaw is just one of the many supporting characters with whom Nick Wilgus surrounded Wiley and Jack. They were all such an important part of the story. All the characters were integral to the evolution of Wiley and Jack’s relationship as they, themselves evolved as well.

Before I move on to Jack, I need to say a tiny bit more about Wiley. As a single, poor dad of a special needs child, there were several clichés Mr. Wilgus could have gone with. There are stereotypes aplenty to choose from. The selfless parent who gives up everything for his child, the welfare rat, the taking advantage of family help while living a selfish single life, the father who ships his child off to a “special” school for the deaf, or the absolute bottom of the barrel father who deserts his child all together. Wiley was not one of these alone, but pieces of some.

I was so impressed with the threads of realism Mr. Wilgus wove into Wiley’s character. Wiley is portrayed as imperfect. He is lonely and wants a lover or husband. He is frustrated with and sometimes bitter about his situation. He loves his son dearly and wants to protect him but refuses to allow Noah to use his disabilities as excuses for bad behavior. Wiley is not easy to pigeonhole. He is a normal human being. One with all the faults and strengths the rest of us have. It was refreshing to read about him and all his normal!

Jackson is a pediatric nurse who recently moved to Mississippi from Boston. The reasons behind that move become a focal point of the plot, but aren’t revealed until well into the book. What does happen early on is that Jack falls hard and fast for both Wiley and Noah. Or, as Mr. Wilgus put it, “he fell like a wet mule wearing concrete boots”. He isn’t sure what to make of the rest of the family, though, especially Papaw. If Wiley has a jocularity that’s hard for a Yankee to read, imagine the trouble Jack had figuring out Papaw’s “jokes”.

Jack and Wiley’s relationship took most of the familiar turns found in M/M romance novels. They had the predictable ups and downs which we have come to expect and accept. What made this book different, was the raw emotion shown by all the characters. This isn’t the first romance written about a single parent finding love while raising a disabled child alone. It is, however, the first I have read that portrays those characters as emotionally honest as Mr. Wilgus does in Shaking the Sugar Tree. The anguish, disappointment and sense of inadequacy Noah feels that fuel his fear of abandonment are expressed straightforwardly, as only a child can do. The conviction Wiley shows so decisively when Jack’s reason for moving comes to light is either stubborn and knee-jerk or smart and protective, depending on how you read it. The more I thought about it the more I vacillated between the two. Either way, it gave me something to think about. My emotions went from mountain top to rock bottom and back again while reading this outstanding book. Laughing out loud and crying could be heard in turn coming from my room. A visitor to my home may have though that the family had hidden their crazy in that room down the hall.

There is so much love in this book. The love between a father and his son. Between a man and his lover. That of a heart-broken little boy for the mom whose actions he can’t understand. The unconditional love a supportive mother feels for her child, manifested by clearly wanting his happiness. The love, and sometimes not so much, between brothers. Even the loving way in which everyone chastises Papaw, but accepts him as he is. The love a grandmother has to express for a grandchild, no matter how painful the surrounding circumstances may be. Shaking The Sugar Tree isn’t just a love story, it is love stories. Lovingly recommended.