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St. Nacho's #2
Physical Therapy
St. Nacho's; Previous St. Nacho's
LGBT Erotic Contemporary
When Jordan Jensen moves to St. Nacho’s he has one goal in starting over. He wants to reconnect with best friends Cooper and Shawn yet is uncertain of his welcome. He has the skills to get a job, but isn’t sure any prospective employer can get past the time he spent in jail for alcohol-related vehicular homicide. He’s past the worst part of his life but knows it will haunt him forever. So Jordan plans a life of quiet service. One thing he knows for finding love is entirely too much to ask.
On the first day of his new job, Jordan meets Ken Ashton. Ken has every reason to hate Jordan for his past and only one to seek him Ken's baseball career was shattered in a drunk-driving accident. But for some reason he can’t explain, Ken needs Jordan’s touch and finds healing within Jordan’s warmth and strength. Jordan wants to give Ken everything his new partner needs.
Without entirely understanding it, Ken and Jordan develop a powerful emotional and erotic connection, but Ken must help Jordan find the faith to trust it. Unexpected help comes from the people of Santo Ignacio--and the town itself--a place where Physical Therapy can be a path toward spiritual healing and powerful, passionate love.
Publisher’s This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.
LGBT Erotic Contemporary
When Jordan Jensen moves to St. Nacho’s he has one goal in starting over. He wants to reconnect with best friends Cooper and Shawn yet is uncertain of his welcome. He has the skills to get a job, but isn’t sure any prospective employer can get past the time he spent in jail for alcohol-related vehicular homicide. He’s past the worst part of his life but knows it will haunt him forever. So Jordan plans a life of quiet service. One thing he knows for finding love is entirely too much to ask.
On the first day of his new job, Jordan meets Ken Ashton. Ken has every reason to hate Jordan for his past and only one to seek him Ken's baseball career was shattered in a drunk-driving accident. But for some reason he can’t explain, Ken needs Jordan’s touch and finds healing within Jordan’s warmth and strength. Jordan wants to give Ken everything his new partner needs.
Without entirely understanding it, Ken and Jordan develop a powerful emotional and erotic connection, but Ken must help Jordan find the faith to trust it. Unexpected help comes from the people of Santo Ignacio--and the town itself--a place where Physical Therapy can be a path toward spiritual healing and powerful, passionate love.
Publisher’s This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2009
35 people are currently reading
1091 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
December 19, 2014
“ I want to lose the latex.”
“Jordan, you’re CLEAN. As far as anyone could possible know, you’re CLEAN and so am I.
“You’re CLEAN. ““I’m not sure. I’m not ready.”I felt like pleading. I didn’t feel CLEAN.
“You’re CLEAN.” he told me, lining up and starting that push into my ass. “I’m CLEAN and I need you,”
Dear Ms Maxfield,
Here we go again.
You are not alone in the use of the ugly CLEAN reference but you do win the prize for frequency- Congrats!
I have gone from being baffled to being offended by authors who continue to refer to an HIV negative status as being CLEAN.
And why you ask? Well if HIV negative=CLEAN , of course HIV positive= (and Congrats you win again.)
But you knew this all along.
Do you find your readership so ignorant that the mere mention of HIV could lose you books sales?
If anyone wants to argue fine, but please don’t come back with the argument that “the author” might have been referring to another STD. When gay men fuck- their only concern is HIV.
HIV is neither CLEAN nor DIRTY. It’s a treatable virus.
I guess I’m back to being baffled.
“Jordan, you’re CLEAN. As far as anyone could possible know, you’re CLEAN and so am I.
“You’re CLEAN. ““I’m not sure. I’m not ready.”I felt like pleading. I didn’t feel CLEAN.
“You’re CLEAN.” he told me, lining up and starting that push into my ass. “I’m CLEAN and I need you,”
Dear Ms Maxfield,
Here we go again.
You are not alone in the use of the ugly CLEAN reference but you do win the prize for frequency- Congrats!
I have gone from being baffled to being offended by authors who continue to refer to an HIV negative status as being CLEAN.
And why you ask? Well if HIV negative=CLEAN , of course HIV positive= (and Congrats you win again.)
But you knew this all along.
Do you find your readership so ignorant that the mere mention of HIV could lose you books sales?
If anyone wants to argue fine, but please don’t come back with the argument that “the author” might have been referring to another STD. When gay men fuck- their only concern is HIV.
HIV is neither CLEAN nor DIRTY. It’s a treatable virus.
I guess I’m back to being baffled.
October 6, 2019
I just finished reading this book. I had just finished the St Nacho's which I really enjoyed. This book, "physical therapy",kept my interest until the end when it seemed the whole story began to fall apart. I was really anticipating it's all coming together at the end. Instead, it simply fell apart, at which point I just put it down, really disappointed
August 23, 2014
2.5 rounded up
I really liked this story at first; the storyline had so much potential and I enjoyed meeting all the characters, but then it fell apart for me. I was so glad Jordan told Ken about the accident right away because I hate when an MC hides important information like that and then it causes all kinds of problems later on. That said, I don't think Ken would have adjusted that fast to wanting someone who was guilty of killing someone while driving drunk.
In general, Ken was a mess and his pull/push irritated me. Going after Jordan, then needing time, constantly sending mixed messages. And Jordan wasn't any better. He'd decide not to be with Ken, then cave at the first kiss. A lot of the conflict between them felt contrived, emotions were ping ponging all over the place and it wasn't making sense. I never really felt the chemistry between the MC's, either, so I wasn't vested in them as a couple and I was mostly impatient as I read their story.
There was a lot of telling, not showing, and too much happened off page. It was confusing because I couldn't follow the reasoning of why things were happening from scene to scene. Sometimes it felt like other scenes were thrown in for no reason, like Jordan's dinner with Cooper. They didn't even talk about Ken which I thought would be a major topic. What was the point of putting the dinner in the story? To show their close friendship?
The scene with Ken's mom was also weird; the confrontation didn't feel authentic to me. I understood her concern but she didn't even try to know Jordan, just put a bunch of labels on him and disregarded his worth as a person. Then she made a lot of assumptions about Ken and what he needed as well as what Jordan wanted. Maybe if some of the discussions between Ken and his family had been included in the story, her reaction might have made sense, but we didn't get much of a background other than Ken saying his family thought he was exorcizing his demons and Jordan was trying to relieve his guilty conscience. Any resolution later on was off page and only briefly mentioned.
Jordan and Ken's reunion after the attack was odd, too. Not getting Ken's reaction when he got the news and not having any kind of discussion about it after Jordan left the hospital was a glaring omission for me. Again, too much off page and some of it wasn't even alluded to.
Sometimes I wondered if the author wrote a bunch of separate really good scenes and then put them together without thought to how they fit together.
Side note:
I loved the red hat ladies and wish they'd had more page time.
ETC: punctuation
I really liked this story at first; the storyline had so much potential and I enjoyed meeting all the characters, but then it fell apart for me. I was so glad Jordan told Ken about the accident right away because I hate when an MC hides important information like that and then it causes all kinds of problems later on. That said, I don't think Ken would have adjusted that fast to wanting someone who was guilty of killing someone while driving drunk.
In general, Ken was a mess and his pull/push irritated me. Going after Jordan, then needing time, constantly sending mixed messages. And Jordan wasn't any better. He'd decide not to be with Ken, then cave at the first kiss. A lot of the conflict between them felt contrived, emotions were ping ponging all over the place and it wasn't making sense. I never really felt the chemistry between the MC's, either, so I wasn't vested in them as a couple and I was mostly impatient as I read their story.
There was a lot of telling, not showing, and too much happened off page. It was confusing because I couldn't follow the reasoning of why things were happening from scene to scene. Sometimes it felt like other scenes were thrown in for no reason, like Jordan's dinner with Cooper. They didn't even talk about Ken which I thought would be a major topic. What was the point of putting the dinner in the story? To show their close friendship?
The scene with Ken's mom was also weird; the confrontation didn't feel authentic to me. I understood her concern but she didn't even try to know Jordan, just put a bunch of labels on him and disregarded his worth as a person. Then she made a lot of assumptions about Ken and what he needed as well as what Jordan wanted. Maybe if some of the discussions between Ken and his family had been included in the story, her reaction might have made sense, but we didn't get much of a background other than Ken saying his family thought he was exorcizing his demons and Jordan was trying to relieve his guilty conscience. Any resolution later on was off page and only briefly mentioned.
Jordan and Ken's reunion after the attack was odd, too. Not getting Ken's reaction when he got the news and not having any kind of discussion about it after Jordan left the hospital was a glaring omission for me. Again, too much off page and some of it wasn't even alluded to.
Sometimes I wondered if the author wrote a bunch of separate really good scenes and then put them together without thought to how they fit together.
Side note:
I loved the red hat ladies and wish they'd had more page time.
ETC: punctuation
May 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this one, definitely one of ZA Maxfield's finest hurt/comfort romances. I'd have happily read about Jordan and Ken for another hundred pages.
Thomas Fawley does a lovely job performing the audio version.
Thomas Fawley does a lovely job performing the audio version.
September 13, 2013
3.5 stars
This book had a very different feel than the first, but then Jordan and Ken are very different from Shawn and Cooper. When we last saw Jordan in book 1 he was broken and depressed and voluntarily committing himself to rehab. Over a year has passed since then and Jordan is a different person, but still struggling with his past decisions and their consequences. Ken is recovering from a serious accident where his best friend was killed when their car was hit by a drunk driver. Jordan is up front with Ken about his past, but Ken pursues the relationship regardless.
I enjoyed the story, and Jordan and Ken's struggles with their own demons, but I had a bit of tough time connecting with Ken. I understand that the frame of mind of his character was not in a good place, but his back and forth attitude towards Jordan in the beginning grated on me.
Overall this is another good entry in the St. Nacho's series that also provides a good catch up with where Shawn and Cooper. As always, Z.A. Maxfield's writing is infused with humor and emotion. This book might work as a stand alone, but the first book plays a huge part in understanding what Jordan is trying to overcome and the importance of his relationship with Cooper.
This book had a very different feel than the first, but then Jordan and Ken are very different from Shawn and Cooper. When we last saw Jordan in book 1 he was broken and depressed and voluntarily committing himself to rehab. Over a year has passed since then and Jordan is a different person, but still struggling with his past decisions and their consequences. Ken is recovering from a serious accident where his best friend was killed when their car was hit by a drunk driver. Jordan is up front with Ken about his past, but Ken pursues the relationship regardless.
I enjoyed the story, and Jordan and Ken's struggles with their own demons, but I had a bit of tough time connecting with Ken. I understand that the frame of mind of his character was not in a good place, but his back and forth attitude towards Jordan in the beginning grated on me.
Overall this is another good entry in the St. Nacho's series that also provides a good catch up with where Shawn and Cooper. As always, Z.A. Maxfield's writing is infused with humor and emotion. This book might work as a stand alone, but the first book plays a huge part in understanding what Jordan is trying to overcome and the importance of his relationship with Cooper.
March 5, 2013
2.75 stars So first things first. I just need to vent and say, I don't understand why this book is called 'Physical Therapy'. Not once do we see Ken during PT, sure he goes, but Jordan is his massage therapist at his gym... it just doesn't make any sense.
Secondly, they didn't explain Ken's injury at all. Jordan mentioned he didn't see scars on his legs and he observed that he had trouble with his coordination. Ken called himself a 'motor moron'. But it wasn't until well into the book that Jordan mentioned a traumatic brain injury in passing, and this only happened once. Did other people get this? I thought it was very vague and would have liked a lot more information. I also would have liked some info about that happened to the person who hit Ken and caused all this. Especially given the theme of redemption with Jordan, it seemed appropriate.
OK, onto the story itself. People loved this, and I'm a little unsure as to why. It was OK. I liked Jordan. But what felt like a developing relationship that was taking place over a few weeks, actually took place over three days. First of all, I had trouble understanding how all that fit into three days. And second of all, I didn't see the need to make it so short. It was very odd for Ken to act the way he did after three days. If it was just a friendship at first I would have felt better about it, but then Ken would try to kiss him. That sounds like the worst recipe for disaster. Ever.
Anyway, as I was saying. Ken pursues Jordan relentlessly, over the course of three days. Finally gets what he wants... and spazes. This was pretty annoying. From there on out there was constant back-and-forth up-and-down of emotional roller coaster. But not in the good way. More in the immature and emotional stunted way. 1) the two times Ken can't find Jordan he basically accuses him of going after other guys or whatever, geeze dude calm down. 2) when expressing interest in light BDSM Jordan wants to use a safeword and Ken has a hissy fit 3) more of the same. Eh, I dunno.
But it came together in the end. I'm definitely glad it had that last chapter and sex scene or it wouldn't have felt complete though. I liked the addition of Jordan's mom as well as the addition of other characters like Izzy.
Lastly, I didn't read the first book, St. Nacho's. But I liked Jordan's character and felt like he was doing everything possible to be a good person, repent, whatever you wanna call it. I was a little disappointed (that sounds terrible) when finding out how his accident actually happened. Don't get me wrong, it's sad and terrible, etc. But the circumstances seemed off to me And yes, he was drunk and made poor decisions... but it kinda seemed like what happened would have happened even if he had been sober. I was expecting something a little more dramatic, especially when they mentioned Cooper's trauma about riding in cars . I don't know if I still would have had these issues though if I had read the series in order, but I would probably recommend that people do. Cooper and Shawn seem cool but I have trouble backtracking once I meet an established couple, so I probably won't go back and read it.
Borrowed for March Promo from Mandy in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
Secondly, they didn't explain Ken's injury at all. Jordan mentioned he didn't see scars on his legs and he observed that he had trouble with his coordination. Ken called himself a 'motor moron'. But it wasn't until well into the book that Jordan mentioned a traumatic brain injury in passing, and this only happened once. Did other people get this? I thought it was very vague and would have liked a lot more information. I also would have liked some info about that happened to the person who hit Ken and caused all this. Especially given the theme of redemption with Jordan, it seemed appropriate.
OK, onto the story itself. People loved this, and I'm a little unsure as to why. It was OK. I liked Jordan. But what felt like a developing relationship that was taking place over a few weeks, actually took place over three days. First of all, I had trouble understanding how all that fit into three days. And second of all, I didn't see the need to make it so short. It was very odd for Ken to act the way he did after three days. If it was just a friendship at first I would have felt better about it, but then Ken would try to kiss him. That sounds like the worst recipe for disaster. Ever.
Anyway, as I was saying. Ken pursues Jordan relentlessly, over the course of three days. Finally gets what he wants... and spazes. This was pretty annoying. From there on out there was constant back-and-forth up-and-down of emotional roller coaster. But not in the good way. More in the immature and emotional stunted way. 1) the two times Ken can't find Jordan he basically accuses him of going after other guys or whatever, geeze dude calm down. 2) when expressing interest in light BDSM Jordan wants to use a safeword and Ken has a hissy fit 3) more of the same. Eh, I dunno.
But it came together in the end. I'm definitely glad it had that last chapter and sex scene or it wouldn't have felt complete though. I liked the addition of Jordan's mom as well as the addition of other characters like Izzy.
Lastly, I didn't read the first book, St. Nacho's. But I liked Jordan's character and felt like he was doing everything possible to be a good person, repent, whatever you wanna call it. I was a little disappointed (that sounds terrible) when finding out how his accident actually happened. Don't get me wrong, it's sad and terrible, etc. But the circumstances seemed off to me And yes, he was drunk and made poor decisions... but it kinda seemed like what happened would have happened even if he had been sober. I was expecting something a little more dramatic, especially when they mentioned Cooper's trauma about riding in cars . I don't know if I still would have had these issues though if I had read the series in order, but I would probably recommend that people do. Cooper and Shawn seem cool but I have trouble backtracking once I meet an established couple, so I probably won't go back and read it.
Borrowed for March Promo from Mandy in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
July 10, 2012
oy. this did in so many ways not work for me, unfortunately. it's well written stylistically; i often read back over phrasing just because it was beautiful. but it has serious characterization problems which stopped the romance from happening for me.
first off, who is this jordan? not the person we met in the prequel. there is nothing much left of what we saw then, and all the work he did supposedly in the intervening years happened off-screen and gets handwaved over. uh, no. i like to see character growth on-screen; jordan was such a mess and so unlikeable that the only way i could enjoy reading about him now was to pretend he was another guy with the same name. there is no redemption if it all happens off-screen.
and then ken. he starts out as a good character sketch, an angry, taciturn man in physical and emotional pain. and the inherent conflict was neatly set up -- attraction between the victim of a drunk driver and a drunk driver -- oh yeah, that would make for a lot of character development. except then maxfield doesn't do anything with that. within what feels like hours, ken is over his initial shock and dismay at that, and turns completely around. instead maxfield uses ken being straight as the conflict -- but it's no problem for ken himself either, no; just for his family. i kept wondering whether maxfield might've thought "oh, that drunk driving conflict is so obvious, let's throw a wrench into the works". but alas ken is completely unbelievable.
last but not least, because i felt unsatisfied by cooper and sean's reunification at the end of the prequel, i was hoping i'd get more about them here -- after all, jordan stole half their page time there. but no, they're just pasted in a few times as a foil for jordan.
so yeah, not in love with this one either. but i keep reading the series; at least it's never boring. maxfield is on my autobuy list anyway; she's in that small group of mm writers who i hope might break out of the genre ghetto, and be read by the mainstream.
oh, and yay for another person with a disability who's shown as sexy and lovable!
first off, who is this jordan? not the person we met in the prequel. there is nothing much left of what we saw then, and all the work he did supposedly in the intervening years happened off-screen and gets handwaved over. uh, no. i like to see character growth on-screen; jordan was such a mess and so unlikeable that the only way i could enjoy reading about him now was to pretend he was another guy with the same name. there is no redemption if it all happens off-screen.
and then ken. he starts out as a good character sketch, an angry, taciturn man in physical and emotional pain. and the inherent conflict was neatly set up -- attraction between the victim of a drunk driver and a drunk driver -- oh yeah, that would make for a lot of character development. except then maxfield doesn't do anything with that. within what feels like hours, ken is over his initial shock and dismay at that, and turns completely around. instead maxfield uses ken being straight as the conflict -- but it's no problem for ken himself either, no; just for his family. i kept wondering whether maxfield might've thought "oh, that drunk driving conflict is so obvious, let's throw a wrench into the works". but alas ken is completely unbelievable.
last but not least, because i felt unsatisfied by cooper and sean's reunification at the end of the prequel, i was hoping i'd get more about them here -- after all, jordan stole half their page time there. but no, they're just pasted in a few times as a foil for jordan.
so yeah, not in love with this one either. but i keep reading the series; at least it's never boring. maxfield is on my autobuy list anyway; she's in that small group of mm writers who i hope might break out of the genre ghetto, and be read by the mainstream.
oh, and yay for another person with a disability who's shown as sexy and lovable!
July 17, 2016
Had to read the next book right away. It's a sweet romance, which touched my heart.
August 15, 2009
This is a sequel to the fabulous St. Nacho’s but the story can easily be read as a stand-alone story and perhaps should be. I had such high expectations after the first that while Physical Therapy is a solid story, it’s not as good as St. Nacho’s. It’s certainly unfair to compare even while the comparison is inherent so beyond that statement, I’ll try hard not to invoke the expectations from the first book. The main character of Jordan is from the first book but really his personality and journey shines here. The typically strong writing and emotion evoked within the prose is exhibited within the well-crafted story creating a beautiful coming of age tale for Ken and redemption for Jordan. It is certainly angst filled and drama ridden—to a fault sometimes—but this is a wonderful story that should delight fans and new readers alike.
The plot is very much as the blurb suggests but while the blurb focuses on Jordan, the story is much more about the maturity and growth of Ken with only Jordan’s acceptance. The wonderful backdrop of the town of St. Nacho’s was well drawn and a striking difference to the first depiction. Whereas the town was sunny, bright, and filled with laughter now there is a distinctly cool tone to the surroundings, keeping the town in fog and overcast skies with hints of disgruntled malice. This cooler backdrop fit well with the drama and angst surrounding the men and worked to create an entirely separate book from the first. It was almost as if the entire story line took place in a different town as there were very few noticeable similarities. Often I forgot they were even in the same town as Cooper and Shawn, which helps keep this as a stand-alone read and differentiate the book.
So now that clearly this is a different book with it’s own great atmosphere the relationship between Ken and Jordan does shine, even through its problems. Ken is a character that is coming of age as he struggles with the accident killing his best friend and shattering his athletic career. He is drawn to Jordan but experiences numerous back and forth moments where he aggressively pursues Jordan, then running off when the emotional toll is too much for him to process. Ken does show his strength in always returning to pursue Jordan, regardless of Jordan’s thoughts and desires, which was a much-needed contrast to his confusion and emotional growth. Interestingly Ken admits that if his life had gone differently, he likely wouldn’t have ended up with Jordan at all but is willing to accept his life as it is, not as it should have been. This acceptance was the height of Ken’s emotional maturity and growth within the story.
For his part, Jordan doesn’t grow very much either on his own or within his relationship to Ken. His journey is one of accepting the person he is and has become through his own experiences. He continues to question his own worth and his progress from the man he was when he knew Cooper. Jordan allows himself to be manipulated and pushed by not only Ken, but various secondary characters from Ken’s family to Jordan’s employer, Izzie, and Izzie’s cop boyfriend. Without the strength of those surrounding Jordan, even including his abused mother, Jordan would still be floundering waiting for someone to take charge. This need for someone strong is not only demonstrated in his sexual preferences but clear within almost every aspect of his life. Ken’s determination to be that person drives the relationship more than any action on Jordan’s part. This left Jordan as a bit unimportant within his own story and allowed the focus and interest to shift to the more dynamic characters in the book. Jordan wasn’t unlikable or weak by any means, simply more of a character dictated by others’ thoughts and actions.
Even as the relationship between Jordan and Ken was enjoyable and ultimately satisfying to read, there unfortunately were several problems with this story that may or may not bother readers. First was that there were simply too many coincidences where Jordan would be questioning his relationship with Ken to a secondary character only to have Ken overhear and run off in a fit. While these instances helped further the relationship, the sheer repetition and number of them grew old rather quickly. Additionally there was a lot packed into this story from not only Ken and Jordan’s individual pasts but family pressure, accidents, and even a story line involving Jordan’s mother. The numerous tangents pulled the attention and focus repeatedly away from the relationship and onto extraneous and unnecessary additions that left Ken and Jordan’s resolution as less than satisfying. There easily could have been a third book with all of these elements and would have worked better in my opinion. Furthermore, there is some suspension of disbelief needed due to absence of any tension relating to Ken’s accident by a drunk driver and Jordan having been a drunk driver. This story line excited me initially due to the inherent tension and angst but was almost literally dropped immediately at the beginning of the story with a single, short-lived argument between the men. This was an aspect with potential and interest that never developed unfortunately.
Overall, this was a solid and interesting story offering redemption to both men and growth for Ken. While these men would never be together without the twists and turns their life has offered, the journey was wonderful to read. The secondary cast was well rounded and fleshed out as always with this author and the writing was clean, evocative and emotional. The problems I had may be reader preference and thus, I highly encourage all readers to check out this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story even if it doesn’t slide my beloved St. Nacho’s out of its prized spot. If you want to read both for more context please do so but this story is easily read on it’s own without needing the additional plot.
The plot is very much as the blurb suggests but while the blurb focuses on Jordan, the story is much more about the maturity and growth of Ken with only Jordan’s acceptance. The wonderful backdrop of the town of St. Nacho’s was well drawn and a striking difference to the first depiction. Whereas the town was sunny, bright, and filled with laughter now there is a distinctly cool tone to the surroundings, keeping the town in fog and overcast skies with hints of disgruntled malice. This cooler backdrop fit well with the drama and angst surrounding the men and worked to create an entirely separate book from the first. It was almost as if the entire story line took place in a different town as there were very few noticeable similarities. Often I forgot they were even in the same town as Cooper and Shawn, which helps keep this as a stand-alone read and differentiate the book.
So now that clearly this is a different book with it’s own great atmosphere the relationship between Ken and Jordan does shine, even through its problems. Ken is a character that is coming of age as he struggles with the accident killing his best friend and shattering his athletic career. He is drawn to Jordan but experiences numerous back and forth moments where he aggressively pursues Jordan, then running off when the emotional toll is too much for him to process. Ken does show his strength in always returning to pursue Jordan, regardless of Jordan’s thoughts and desires, which was a much-needed contrast to his confusion and emotional growth. Interestingly Ken admits that if his life had gone differently, he likely wouldn’t have ended up with Jordan at all but is willing to accept his life as it is, not as it should have been. This acceptance was the height of Ken’s emotional maturity and growth within the story.
For his part, Jordan doesn’t grow very much either on his own or within his relationship to Ken. His journey is one of accepting the person he is and has become through his own experiences. He continues to question his own worth and his progress from the man he was when he knew Cooper. Jordan allows himself to be manipulated and pushed by not only Ken, but various secondary characters from Ken’s family to Jordan’s employer, Izzie, and Izzie’s cop boyfriend. Without the strength of those surrounding Jordan, even including his abused mother, Jordan would still be floundering waiting for someone to take charge. This need for someone strong is not only demonstrated in his sexual preferences but clear within almost every aspect of his life. Ken’s determination to be that person drives the relationship more than any action on Jordan’s part. This left Jordan as a bit unimportant within his own story and allowed the focus and interest to shift to the more dynamic characters in the book. Jordan wasn’t unlikable or weak by any means, simply more of a character dictated by others’ thoughts and actions.
Even as the relationship between Jordan and Ken was enjoyable and ultimately satisfying to read, there unfortunately were several problems with this story that may or may not bother readers. First was that there were simply too many coincidences where Jordan would be questioning his relationship with Ken to a secondary character only to have Ken overhear and run off in a fit. While these instances helped further the relationship, the sheer repetition and number of them grew old rather quickly. Additionally there was a lot packed into this story from not only Ken and Jordan’s individual pasts but family pressure, accidents, and even a story line involving Jordan’s mother. The numerous tangents pulled the attention and focus repeatedly away from the relationship and onto extraneous and unnecessary additions that left Ken and Jordan’s resolution as less than satisfying. There easily could have been a third book with all of these elements and would have worked better in my opinion. Furthermore, there is some suspension of disbelief needed due to absence of any tension relating to Ken’s accident by a drunk driver and Jordan having been a drunk driver. This story line excited me initially due to the inherent tension and angst but was almost literally dropped immediately at the beginning of the story with a single, short-lived argument between the men. This was an aspect with potential and interest that never developed unfortunately.
Overall, this was a solid and interesting story offering redemption to both men and growth for Ken. While these men would never be together without the twists and turns their life has offered, the journey was wonderful to read. The secondary cast was well rounded and fleshed out as always with this author and the writing was clean, evocative and emotional. The problems I had may be reader preference and thus, I highly encourage all readers to check out this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story even if it doesn’t slide my beloved St. Nacho’s out of its prized spot. If you want to read both for more context please do so but this story is easily read on it’s own without needing the additional plot.
December 2, 2017
~ 4.5 stars ~
June 22, 2010
I'm glad I'm finally able to read a St Nacho's book. When I bought the first book in the series, I detested 1st Person telling so I couldn't read St Nachos beyond a few pages. I'm fine with 1st POV now and enjoyed Physical Therapy very much, for all the reasons Kassa has already mentioned in her review.
Not having read St Nacho's, I did notice I was missing some history on Jordan and he himself refers to his relationship with Cooper so obviously, I'm going to have to read the first one to tie these little details up.
I was also never a fan of stories set in small towns but that changed when I started reading M/M. I don't really know, for sure, why this is so. Perhaps it's wishful thinking for gays to have a warm, secure place to live together?
My only quibble, and it's a small one, would be that I expected Jordan's attacker to have been caught. Or, at least an investigation carried out but nothing was heard about it once he was taken to hospital. In my mind, it was as if the author completely forgot her protag was not only attacked, but it was serious enough for him to be hospitalised for weeks. All I got was a few words that it was a robbery. I wasn't expecting to read about a full-scale investigation but certainly more than just a cursory mention that it was a robbery.\
I liked the reversal between Ken and Jordan. At the start, Jordan was the strong one, the dominant protag but in the second half, Ken came into his own very nicely and I'm hoping to revisit these two in the 3rd book, especially when I got the hints about Jordan liking his kink and Ken clearly willing to check that out. I can easily see Jordan being a very good, trusting sub to Ken's loving, confident Dom.
Not having read St Nacho's, I did notice I was missing some history on Jordan and he himself refers to his relationship with Cooper so obviously, I'm going to have to read the first one to tie these little details up.
I was also never a fan of stories set in small towns but that changed when I started reading M/M. I don't really know, for sure, why this is so. Perhaps it's wishful thinking for gays to have a warm, secure place to live together?
My only quibble, and it's a small one, would be that I expected Jordan's attacker to have been caught. Or, at least an investigation carried out but nothing was heard about it once he was taken to hospital. In my mind, it was as if the author completely forgot her protag was not only attacked, but it was serious enough for him to be hospitalised for weeks. All I got was a few words that it was a robbery. I wasn't expecting to read about a full-scale investigation but certainly more than just a cursory mention that it was a robbery.\
I liked the reversal between Ken and Jordan. At the start, Jordan was the strong one, the dominant protag but in the second half, Ken came into his own very nicely and I'm hoping to revisit these two in the 3rd book, especially when I got the hints about Jordan liking his kink and Ken clearly willing to check that out. I can easily see Jordan being a very good, trusting sub to Ken's loving, confident Dom.
June 17, 2012
Yesterday I picked up and abandoned 3 books after the first chapter. I didn't really want to start this one for a couple of reasons: I didn't like Jordan, the narrator, from the previous book, where he behaved in a very selfish way and took center stage when all I wanted was to see read about the main couple, Cooper and Shawn; I didn't think I would be able to feel any sympathy for someone who killed a child while driving drunk.
I was surprised after the first pages to find I cared for Jordan and I believed he was trying to do something productive in his life and that he was always aware of his past, of the guilt. I appreciated the fact that he tried to tell everyone about the accident. I was moved by how he thought he was undeserving of love. What one of the secondary characters told him: that there are very bad people, but there are also good people taking very bad decisions, was what helped me feel for Jordan.
There are a couple of things that I didn't like. First of all, the important things take place in a very short span of time, so I felt it was a bit too rushed. Also, I didn't really like Ken, Jordan's love interest. I really thought there was a touch of instability in him, he seemed to pushy sometimes.
St. Nacho's remains a wonderful place, a regenerating town where people can find their second chance at life. It gives a touch of unreality to the series, but the feelings it elicits are very real.
I was surprised after the first pages to find I cared for Jordan and I believed he was trying to do something productive in his life and that he was always aware of his past, of the guilt. I appreciated the fact that he tried to tell everyone about the accident. I was moved by how he thought he was undeserving of love. What one of the secondary characters told him: that there are very bad people, but there are also good people taking very bad decisions, was what helped me feel for Jordan.
There are a couple of things that I didn't like. First of all, the important things take place in a very short span of time, so I felt it was a bit too rushed. Also, I didn't really like Ken, Jordan's love interest. I really thought there was a touch of instability in him, he seemed to pushy sometimes.
St. Nacho's remains a wonderful place, a regenerating town where people can find their second chance at life. It gives a touch of unreality to the series, but the feelings it elicits are very real.
October 9, 2011
3.5 stars
In my opinion this definitely wasn't as good as the first book St. Nacho's, Jordan wasn't the same man. I know he's been rehabilitated but not even an ounce of his previous personality shone through. I thought I was reading about someone else entirely and I never felt any real loving connection between Ken or Jordan. Ken turned from a non talkative injured guy to a spontaneous I want you now and am determined to get you, no matter what. He even went as far as buying a house only a few days after meeting Jordan so he could move in with him, it was all too sudden for me and a little bit unbelievable. I still enjoyed much of the story and the writing is lovely. I just wish this had the chemistry and ambiance that St. Nacho's did!
In my opinion this definitely wasn't as good as the first book St. Nacho's, Jordan wasn't the same man. I know he's been rehabilitated but not even an ounce of his previous personality shone through. I thought I was reading about someone else entirely and I never felt any real loving connection between Ken or Jordan. Ken turned from a non talkative injured guy to a spontaneous I want you now and am determined to get you, no matter what. He even went as far as buying a house only a few days after meeting Jordan so he could move in with him, it was all too sudden for me and a little bit unbelievable. I still enjoyed much of the story and the writing is lovely. I just wish this had the chemistry and ambiance that St. Nacho's did!
January 3, 2011
I think I liked this story better than the 1st. My only issue is that everything felt rushed. A lot a stuff happened in such a short span of time, I didn't seem realistic. But enjoyed the read
January 25, 2021
What a redemption story. I disliked Jordan with passion in book one but felt so much for him in this one it was crazy.
April 24, 2012
I only finished reading Physical Therapy because the characters were likeable and likeable characters make books easy to read. If they hadn't been likeable, I would have dropped this book. Why? Because it possessed two things I absolutely hate in romance novels: A contrived romance and inconsistent characterization.
I think it was a big mistake of the author to make Ken's sexuality the main conflict in the book. The first person that gets Ken to open up is a drunk driver. Ken's best friend was killed and his life was destroyed (emotionally and physically) in a drunk driving accident. Jordan represented everything Ken lost. Why didn't the writer draw conflict from THAT? I wanted to see those mix of emotions when Ken learned about Jordan's past. I wanted to see Ken drawn to Jordan and disgusted with him at the same time. I wanted to read about that guilt on Ken's face when he was with Jordan. For once, I needed that self-hatred. I couldn't take Ken or their relationship seriously because he accepted Jordan's past way too fast.
Physical Therapy gets a solid 2/5 stars from me. This book had so much potential, it just about kills me. You pair up a drunk driver and and a victim of a drunk driving accident and the biggest conflict in the book is...sexuality? What a disappointment.
I think it was a big mistake of the author to make Ken's sexuality the main conflict in the book. The first person that gets Ken to open up is a drunk driver. Ken's best friend was killed and his life was destroyed (emotionally and physically) in a drunk driving accident. Jordan represented everything Ken lost. Why didn't the writer draw conflict from THAT? I wanted to see those mix of emotions when Ken learned about Jordan's past. I wanted to see Ken drawn to Jordan and disgusted with him at the same time. I wanted to read about that guilt on Ken's face when he was with Jordan. For once, I needed that self-hatred. I couldn't take Ken or their relationship seriously because he accepted Jordan's past way too fast.
Physical Therapy gets a solid 2/5 stars from me. This book had so much potential, it just about kills me. You pair up a drunk driver and and a victim of a drunk driving accident and the biggest conflict in the book is...sexuality? What a disappointment.
January 4, 2011
This is the second book in the St Nachos series.
In this book we learn about Jordan - he has has moved on and wants to start a new life. He really misses his friendship with Cooper so moves to the same town. On the first day he meets Ken who is dealing with all sorts of feelings and emotions of his own.
I was glad to find out about Jordan as I wondered about him when I finished the first book. I just love his deep friendship with Cooper.
I was pleased Jordan got his HEA.
In this book we learn about Jordan - he has has moved on and wants to start a new life. He really misses his friendship with Cooper so moves to the same town. On the first day he meets Ken who is dealing with all sorts of feelings and emotions of his own.
I was glad to find out about Jordan as I wondered about him when I finished the first book. I just love his deep friendship with Cooper.
I was pleased Jordan got his HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2011
I was very concerned that Jordan would be able to redeem himself in this book because he was so horrible in the first one. I really liked Ken a lot, he was exactly who Jordan needed. My only two issues were 1) how quickly Ken fell for Jordan and 2) the unfinished business about Jordan's attack. Who did it? Was it personal or random or what?
But it is still a really good story and i no longer hate Jordan. And it was great seeing Cooper and Shawn again too.
But it is still a really good story and i no longer hate Jordan. And it was great seeing Cooper and Shawn again too.
January 2, 2013
4.0 Stars
In the second installment of the St. Nacho's series, we catch up with Jordan Jensen. He has completed his second stint at rehab, finished his schooling, obtained massage therapy certification, and earned a certificate as a massage therapist and personal trainer in California. He heads out to St. Nacho's to reconnect with best friends Cooper and Shawn and start over. He's immediately hired at Day-Use Ex Machina, Fitness Solutions. On the first day of his new job, Jordan meets Ken Ashton. Ken has every reason to hate Jordan for his past: Ken's baseball career was shattered in a drunk-driving accident. Despite their pasts, Ken and Jordan strike up a friendship and ultimately a romance. Once again Santo Ignacio and its people work their magic and Ken and Jordan embark on a journey of healing, forgiveness, and love.
I really enjoyed this sequel to St. Nacho's, which was a bit surprising since I was NOT a Jordan fan in book one. In book two, however, we get to see Jordan in a different light. He's less self-absorbed and dedicated (to a fault) to serving others. I really liked both Jordan and Ken. Their story was very engaging despite intermittent disconnects. Ken's recovery is painful and heartwarming to watch. I loved his little brother, Mark. (But the mom was a b*tch!) The "love" between Jordan and Coop is touching but a little irritating sometimes ... I don't know why, exactly. On the other hand, the interaction between Jordan and his mom? Very touching.
Bottom line: an entertaining sequel in the St. Nacho series starring the very loveable Ken and a newly reformed - and much improved - Jordan.
In the second installment of the St. Nacho's series, we catch up with Jordan Jensen. He has completed his second stint at rehab, finished his schooling, obtained massage therapy certification, and earned a certificate as a massage therapist and personal trainer in California. He heads out to St. Nacho's to reconnect with best friends Cooper and Shawn and start over. He's immediately hired at Day-Use Ex Machina, Fitness Solutions. On the first day of his new job, Jordan meets Ken Ashton. Ken has every reason to hate Jordan for his past: Ken's baseball career was shattered in a drunk-driving accident. Despite their pasts, Ken and Jordan strike up a friendship and ultimately a romance. Once again Santo Ignacio and its people work their magic and Ken and Jordan embark on a journey of healing, forgiveness, and love.
I really enjoyed this sequel to St. Nacho's, which was a bit surprising since I was NOT a Jordan fan in book one. In book two, however, we get to see Jordan in a different light. He's less self-absorbed and dedicated (to a fault) to serving others. I really liked both Jordan and Ken. Their story was very engaging despite intermittent disconnects. Ken's recovery is painful and heartwarming to watch. I loved his little brother, Mark. (But the mom was a b*tch!) The "love" between Jordan and Coop is touching but a little irritating sometimes ... I don't know why, exactly. On the other hand, the interaction between Jordan and his mom? Very touching.
Bottom line: an entertaining sequel in the St. Nacho series starring the very loveable Ken and a newly reformed - and much improved - Jordan.
February 27, 2014
3.5 I think.
I liked these guys. I just wish that they spent more time together. Falling in love. Hell getting to know each other.
I love come back stories! Jordan. Whew. I'm glad he got his life back together. He was a mess the last we saw him. I love that he's upfront and honest about his past. It was nice not to have that whole 'I'm hiding something huge!' scene. He wore his heart on his sleeve.
Ken, well it's hard to talk about him. He spends more time off page that he does on page. When he was there he was moody and wispy-washy! I want you! I want you! Move in with me! --- wait! Wait! I need space!-- I'm sorry! I want you- maybe!' I get he was going through stuff.
But, I wasn't feeling their relationship as a whole. This was one of those brings two broken people together to make a whole. But, it needed more bringing of them together. Not just sex.
It wasn't bad at all. I just wish I had a bit more to connect with the characters so I would love this book!
I liked these guys. I just wish that they spent more time together. Falling in love. Hell getting to know each other.
I love come back stories! Jordan. Whew. I'm glad he got his life back together. He was a mess the last we saw him. I love that he's upfront and honest about his past. It was nice not to have that whole 'I'm hiding something huge!' scene. He wore his heart on his sleeve.
Ken, well it's hard to talk about him. He spends more time off page that he does on page. When he was there he was moody and wispy-washy! I want you! I want you! Move in with me! --- wait! Wait! I need space!-- I'm sorry! I want you- maybe!' I get he was going through stuff.
But, I wasn't feeling their relationship as a whole. This was one of those brings two broken people together to make a whole. But, it needed more bringing of them together. Not just sex.
It wasn't bad at all. I just wish I had a bit more to connect with the characters so I would love this book!
April 19, 2020
3.5. Overall I enjoyed this book and I liked Jordan and Ken which surprised me a little since Jordan from book 1 was not a character I liked. The first part of this book was actually better for me than the second part. I liked seeing Jordan and Ken struggling with their attraction. I loved that Jordan was upfront with Ken at the very beginning and there wasn't a big secret hanging over his head about his drunk driving and jail time. I do think Ken was able to shrug it off a bit too easily considering his best friend was killed by a drunk driver and his life was irrevocably changed. I wish the conflict was a little bit more about that because the whole thing with Jordan getting hurt just came out of left field. The book then went into too much of an instant love and the HFN wrapped up too quickly for my tastes. Still overall an enjoyable book with some great secondary characters that stole the show.
July 19, 2013
I was so happy to see how Coop and Shawn we’re doing I love them! Jordan I disliked very much in the 1st book but this one I felt I got to know him more and understand better what he did and is going through. I loved how he wanted to do for others all the time, even if they came from such a bad thing he had done to get him to this point in his life. I loved Izzy and her power to read peoples Auras was awesome! Ken I’m not sure where to start with him he made me crazy! His up down all over the place with his emotions and wants was insane. I spent more time frustrated with him than anything. I love however what Ken did for Jordan and his momma with the house, and that him and Jordan we’re able to FINALLY get their shit together. A good story indeed in the series but loved the 1st one way better. This one was only 3.5 stars for me
September 24, 2012
I went into this expected something completely different. What I got was a sweet coming out story with a bit of forced angst and a random act of violence that added to angst. The Jordan I read in St. Nacho's seemed like a completely different person from the one in this book. I found that a bit odd but went with flow. I admit I liked this Jordan much more here than I did in the previous book.
There were a few welcome cameos from Cooper and Shawn. This was a nice, easy read with likeable characters who had a sweet chemistry together.
There were a few welcome cameos from Cooper and Shawn. This was a nice, easy read with likeable characters who had a sweet chemistry together.
March 18, 2016
3.5 stars
Nice and mildly angsty: it's as if the author couldn't stand her heroes suffering and anytime they fought/separated, they made up within a couple of pages, just when things where starting to get really emotional (and interesting for me). Personally, I prefer my stories with more drama and tension, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Nice and mildly angsty: it's as if the author couldn't stand her heroes suffering and anytime they fought/separated, they made up within a couple of pages, just when things where starting to get really emotional (and interesting for me). Personally, I prefer my stories with more drama and tension, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
June 1, 2019
4.5 Stars
I like this book better than the first book in the series. It holds together better than the first. Sure it's still insta-love and the attachment's form a little quickly for believability, but I really do like Jordan and Ken together. In some ways Jordan from book one doesn't seem like the same person here in book two. But the changes are believable for what Jordan's gone through.
I liked his relationship with Ken. I found his hesitancy to be believable. He was interested in Ken and saw who he was past his injuries, but was worried how this could affect Ken and his recovery. There's some gentle angst in this one, but it works well to pull the two MC's together. The whole thing was really sweet.
I like this book better than the first book in the series. It holds together better than the first. Sure it's still insta-love and the attachment's form a little quickly for believability, but I really do like Jordan and Ken together. In some ways Jordan from book one doesn't seem like the same person here in book two. But the changes are believable for what Jordan's gone through.
I liked his relationship with Ken. I found his hesitancy to be believable. He was interested in Ken and saw who he was past his injuries, but was worried how this could affect Ken and his recovery. There's some gentle angst in this one, but it works well to pull the two MC's together. The whole thing was really sweet.
August 20, 2018
I enjoyed this redemption story more this time around than I did the first time. Not sure why. But I will absolutely recommend it, if you enjoy a good hurt / comfort / redemption story. You can read this as a stand alone, but you get a lot more backstory if you read book 1 first.
Read
June 5, 2009This is almost a wrap up book; it's the sequel of St. Nacho's and following the loose strand that was Jordan, Cooper's ex. When St. Nacho's ended, there was hope for Jordan, obviously not to be again with Cooper, but at least to build again a life. And Cooper suggested to the man to come to St. Nacho's, a place that seems to heal your soul more than your body. And to St. Nacho's Jordan comes, but he is not ready to be healed; Jordan is still eating alive by the guilt and he doesn't want to be discharged. I have the idea that more punishment you bring upon Jordan, and more he would ask. This is something that was quite clear in the previous book, where Jordan insisted to live in a town where almost everyone wants for him to go away. It was quite clear in his choosing to be the "project" of a young priest, full of good will, but maybe a bit too devoted to his task. And it was quite clear in the places Jordan chose to frequent, places where the BDSM was pushed a bit too much beyond the safe boundaries of a naughty play (but in this second book this last aspect is barely hinted and it's not an important part of the story).
In Physical Therapy this destructive behavior of Jordan is brought up front from the first moment, when Jordan applies for a job as masseur in a gym, and instead of exalting his credentials, he tries to shadow them with his con past. Lucky him Izzie, the gym's owner, is not easily mislead, and Jordan finds a work and a friend in the same day... and maybe even a boyfriend. Ken is a guy who was involved in a car accident, he was seriously injured and his girlfriend died on the place. The accident was caused by a drunk driver and so Jordan thinks that, if Ken knew the truth about him, he wouldn't have anything to do with Jordan, and obviously Jordan, self-destructive as he is, tells Ken the truth... and Ken doesn't react as expected.
Many people, his family and friends, think that the accident deprived Ken of his future as a baseball professional star: he was leading toward success, with a nice girlfriend beside him; he was the first son and obviously the perfect son, of a perfect family; all was lied in front of him and not real obstacles where on the horizons. Then the accident, and all crushed down... but it were Ken's hopes that died in that accident with his girlfriend or those of his friends and family? What is that Ken really wants? It's strange, but I have the feeling that the accident freed Ken of all those constraints, letting him finally free to do what and be who he really wants. And one of the thing he wants is to be with Jordan, even if Jordan does everything to discourage him.
Jordan believes to be the one who is helping Ken to heal, and instead I have the idea that the one who is healing is Jordan, and Ken is only finally reaching for the life he wants: having no more to bear the weight of being the perfect son, the hope of the town, allows him to be a simple guy in love with another guy.
It's hard to be disappointed by a Z.A. Maxfield's book, she has a faithful and growing readership, and I believe that this one is nicely up to the previous one, St. Nacho's, maybe not so angst like that one, but still a book that will move the sentimental reader. And again a nice setting in the fictional town of St. Nacho's, a place I wouldn't have believed possible to exist till last year, when I went in California, and actually visited those small beach village, developed around their pier and where it seems that the time has another pace than the rest of the world.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N4JSFE/?...
In Physical Therapy this destructive behavior of Jordan is brought up front from the first moment, when Jordan applies for a job as masseur in a gym, and instead of exalting his credentials, he tries to shadow them with his con past. Lucky him Izzie, the gym's owner, is not easily mislead, and Jordan finds a work and a friend in the same day... and maybe even a boyfriend. Ken is a guy who was involved in a car accident, he was seriously injured and his girlfriend died on the place. The accident was caused by a drunk driver and so Jordan thinks that, if Ken knew the truth about him, he wouldn't have anything to do with Jordan, and obviously Jordan, self-destructive as he is, tells Ken the truth... and Ken doesn't react as expected.
Many people, his family and friends, think that the accident deprived Ken of his future as a baseball professional star: he was leading toward success, with a nice girlfriend beside him; he was the first son and obviously the perfect son, of a perfect family; all was lied in front of him and not real obstacles where on the horizons. Then the accident, and all crushed down... but it were Ken's hopes that died in that accident with his girlfriend or those of his friends and family? What is that Ken really wants? It's strange, but I have the feeling that the accident freed Ken of all those constraints, letting him finally free to do what and be who he really wants. And one of the thing he wants is to be with Jordan, even if Jordan does everything to discourage him.
Jordan believes to be the one who is helping Ken to heal, and instead I have the idea that the one who is healing is Jordan, and Ken is only finally reaching for the life he wants: having no more to bear the weight of being the perfect son, the hope of the town, allows him to be a simple guy in love with another guy.
It's hard to be disappointed by a Z.A. Maxfield's book, she has a faithful and growing readership, and I believe that this one is nicely up to the previous one, St. Nacho's, maybe not so angst like that one, but still a book that will move the sentimental reader. And again a nice setting in the fictional town of St. Nacho's, a place I wouldn't have believed possible to exist till last year, when I went in California, and actually visited those small beach village, developed around their pier and where it seems that the time has another pace than the rest of the world.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N4JSFE/?...
March 21, 2010
I'm disappointed in this book, as it had been highly recommended to me by a friend. It's not like I don't like lots of gay romances, I really do, but it seems I've picked up two in a row now that just didn't do it for me. Hoping I'll adore the next one I read.
Anyway, Physical Therapy took a lot of short cuts. I was *told* quite a lot how attractive the two protags thought each other was without being shown it in a realistic way. Part of that is how short this novel is, as I felt Jordan's determination to stay away from Ken much more strongly than I felt his pull toward him.
The compression of time (the most important parts of this novel happen in a few days) is a writerly short-cut and cop-out that I don't have a lot of patience with. It's a lot harder to write a relationship that grows over a few months or even a few weeks than the few days in real time that the author allotted to Jordan and Ken. I felt the escalation of their attraction as well as the friendship Jordan made with Izzy was frankly unrealistic. How long had it been since Jordan walked ito St. Nacho's before his attack? I believe four days. Something close to that. I get how St. Nacho's represents some out-of-body experience and otherworldly place, but there's mainly just a hint of that with the majority of the emphasis placed on realism. If that's the case, then I think the author really needed to give me realistic emotions, realistic progression of time, and a more realistic presentation of friendships made.
Finally, Jordan's need to be dominated/punished/guided jumped out about two-thirds of the way through without nary a hint it had been there, lurking. While I liked to a certain extent how the author pulled that through to the final resolution of the emotional difficulties between Jordan and Ken, this smacked of a too-simple solution. The story could have been greatly enriched if this need of Jordan's had been factored into the story from the beginning.
I can see why folks are talking about Maxfield's work, because she has a smooth, very readable style. I read this novel in half a day. Good writing, with a few sentences/paragraphs that I stopped at and read over because they were beautifully, subtly expressed. So I think Maxfield knows how to write. What I hope I see in her other work is a more sophisticated rendering of characters and a better, smoother presentation of motivation.
Anyway, Physical Therapy took a lot of short cuts. I was *told* quite a lot how attractive the two protags thought each other was without being shown it in a realistic way. Part of that is how short this novel is, as I felt Jordan's determination to stay away from Ken much more strongly than I felt his pull toward him.
The compression of time (the most important parts of this novel happen in a few days) is a writerly short-cut and cop-out that I don't have a lot of patience with. It's a lot harder to write a relationship that grows over a few months or even a few weeks than the few days in real time that the author allotted to Jordan and Ken. I felt the escalation of their attraction as well as the friendship Jordan made with Izzy was frankly unrealistic. How long had it been since Jordan walked ito St. Nacho's before his attack? I believe four days. Something close to that. I get how St. Nacho's represents some out-of-body experience and otherworldly place, but there's mainly just a hint of that with the majority of the emphasis placed on realism. If that's the case, then I think the author really needed to give me realistic emotions, realistic progression of time, and a more realistic presentation of friendships made.
Finally, Jordan's need to be dominated/punished/guided jumped out about two-thirds of the way through without nary a hint it had been there, lurking. While I liked to a certain extent how the author pulled that through to the final resolution of the emotional difficulties between Jordan and Ken, this smacked of a too-simple solution. The story could have been greatly enriched if this need of Jordan's had been factored into the story from the beginning.
I can see why folks are talking about Maxfield's work, because she has a smooth, very readable style. I read this novel in half a day. Good writing, with a few sentences/paragraphs that I stopped at and read over because they were beautifully, subtly expressed. So I think Maxfield knows how to write. What I hope I see in her other work is a more sophisticated rendering of characters and a better, smoother presentation of motivation.
August 9, 2009
Mini Tasting:
Why I bought it: ZAM = auto buy.
Mini-chomp:
Dislike~ I’m pretty sure this is a me thing, but I’m getting a little tired of the interfering family member and/or friend. I’m not saying it wasn’t relevant to the story or that it didn’t help to progress the plot or anything in Physical Therapy. It's just that I’m beginning to find it a little too stock standard in m/m romance. Maybe it’s me though...
Like~ One of the protags, Jordan, was introduced to the reader in St Nacho’s (the first book in the series). I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting him and seeing how he had grown as a character – redeemed himself, I guess - in the intervening period. In all honesty, I think this was my favourite aspect of the story.
So, what I think: Whilst I preferred St Nacho’s, I’m definitely loving this series. An absolute must for fans of ZAM and for those who are thinking about giving this author a try.
===============================================
‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
Why I bought it: ZAM = auto buy.
Mini-chomp:
Dislike~ I’m pretty sure this is a me thing, but I’m getting a little tired of the interfering family member and/or friend. I’m not saying it wasn’t relevant to the story or that it didn’t help to progress the plot or anything in Physical Therapy. It's just that I’m beginning to find it a little too stock standard in m/m romance. Maybe it’s me though...
Like~ One of the protags, Jordan, was introduced to the reader in St Nacho’s (the first book in the series). I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting him and seeing how he had grown as a character – redeemed himself, I guess - in the intervening period. In all honesty, I think this was my favourite aspect of the story.
So, what I think: Whilst I preferred St Nacho’s, I’m definitely loving this series. An absolute must for fans of ZAM and for those who are thinking about giving this author a try.
===============================================
‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
April 27, 2011
Remember Jordan from St. Nacho's who was pretty much unlikable. He's back with his own story & now he's nice, reformed, turned over a new leaf & almost unrecognizable from that book. I could complain about that (consistency of character and all that) but really there was no way to make that old version of Jordan sympathetic so I'm going with this.
Good story & nice pairing of Jordan and Ken, the injured athlete. The story does unravel a bit towards the end. I don't like it when a writer throws in something and then just leaves it dangling, never to be mentioned again. Something happens to Jordan towards the end of the book and I kept waiting to find out why or some investigation, follow up--but we got nothing. This made me grumpy. Then we get pages of mom stuff and quite a few pages where Ken isn't in the book. This created a feeling of distance (literally & emotionally) between the characters & didn't leave enough pages for Jordan & Ken to work out their issues. I think she should have ditched most of the mom storyline as this distracted from the love story--which is the point isn't it? No one wants to read about a lukewarm love affair. I'll continue to read the St. Nacho series & see if ZAM finally knocks one out of the park.
Good story & nice pairing of Jordan and Ken, the injured athlete. The story does unravel a bit towards the end. I don't like it when a writer throws in something and then just leaves it dangling, never to be mentioned again. Something happens to Jordan towards the end of the book and I kept waiting to find out why or some investigation, follow up--but we got nothing. This made me grumpy. Then we get pages of mom stuff and quite a few pages where Ken isn't in the book. This created a feeling of distance (literally & emotionally) between the characters & didn't leave enough pages for Jordan & Ken to work out their issues. I think she should have ditched most of the mom storyline as this distracted from the love story--which is the point isn't it? No one wants to read about a lukewarm love affair. I'll continue to read the St. Nacho series & see if ZAM finally knocks one out of the park.
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