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Nowhere Diner #1
Finding Love
Leaving Minnesota, Timothy Gapin doesn’t have any plans except getting as far away from all the memories as he can before his money runs out. His secret lover has married, breaking his heart and making him chose a life in the open rather than a relationship built on lies.
Little does Tim know that four days later he would grab dinner at a diner and find a place to stop. Somehow this diner in the middle of nowhere becomes his home and the people who work there his family. In addition to the workers at the diner, Tim meets Bernie Capley, a long-haul trucker who isn’t all he seems to be.
Falling in love with Bernie is easy for Tim, but the past has a way of barging into the present, forcing decisions that affect their future...
Little does Tim know that four days later he would grab dinner at a diner and find a place to stop. Somehow this diner in the middle of nowhere becomes his home and the people who work there his family. In addition to the workers at the diner, Tim meets Bernie Capley, a long-haul trucker who isn’t all he seems to be.
Falling in love with Bernie is easy for Tim, but the past has a way of barging into the present, forcing decisions that affect their future...
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Chase
161 books893 followersThere is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates me and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how I share those insights. I live in the Midwest with a wonderful partner of thirteen years. When not writing, I’m watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 1, 2009
This really more of a 3.5 star read. I should have done a quick review when I marked the stars.
Nowhere Man was pretty good but not his best. The sex was hot. Flirted with a little dominance but was only just a tease. It is definitely setting up a series. At least the character recognizes that the Diner is an unusual utopia of homosexuality. Practically everyone that works there is gay or lesbian or gay friendly and it is located in TEXAS, just outide Austin...huh? It is very much like a stop in Cattle Valley.
There are quite a few contradictions in this book and the end had a reveal that really made me pause and think...WTF? The info really should have been forthcoming much, much sooner in the relationship. I would have been very angry had that info been told to me in the manner it was and that late in the game as well.
Nowhere Man was pretty good but not his best. The sex was hot. Flirted with a little dominance but was only just a tease. It is definitely setting up a series. At least the character recognizes that the Diner is an unusual utopia of homosexuality. Practically everyone that works there is gay or lesbian or gay friendly and it is located in TEXAS, just outide Austin...huh? It is very much like a stop in Cattle Valley.
There are quite a few contradictions in this book and the end had a reveal that really made me pause and think...WTF? The info really should have been forthcoming much, much sooner in the relationship. I would have been very angry had that info been told to me in the manner it was and that late in the game as well.
October 12, 2012
The beginning is maybe the worst part of the entire book, since it’s insufferably melodramatic while attempting to be sparse. The effect is that of a superficial parody commercial, or a really cheesy music video. Yeah, I think it’s the latter. It only lacks the artificial rain. Oh wait, no. We got the rain covered.
And then, well. Licking a beefy complete stranger at a truck stop in Texas out of the blue is probably a good way for a guy to get himself killed. Tim’s lucky that this diner happens to be gay central, whee.
The story’s kinda pedestrian and the narrator’s thought processes sometimes seem very naïve or downright stupid, but there’s still some indefinable appeal to this. Odd; maybe the mystery of it. Oh, not the one around Bernie (since that’s pretty obvious and I still don’t know why he felt he needed to keep his situation hush-hush). The diner and its regulars seem like a bare sketch, like figures in the fog. That’s the best I can come up with.
The strange thing is that I kind of enjoy the first person narrative here. Tim is not a terribly deep character, but he’s just ambiguous enough to confound the stereotype. I don’t know anything about his build, really, but he’s not the obvious bottom boy I first figured he might be, based among other things on his shy passiveness in regards to his first relationship. When he gets punched in the stomach, he kind of, uh, takes it like a man. Yeah, he doubles over and has to catch his breath, but the thing is, I don’t see him whining about it either.
I suppose sometimes the blind spot that can come with ego-perspective really intrigues me, no matter the quality of the rest.
I’ll also admit that one quality I appreciate about Tim is his pragmatism. Sure, he sometimes angsts over things (and then by way of sloppy writing forgets he ever did), but for example when it comes to baring his past in front of Bernie, he decides easily that he will, since while it would hurt to lose Bernie, there’s no point to keeping any more secrets. That’s common sense and pragmatism rather than an emotional flight. I like it.
The power dynamics between Tim and Bernie are a bit wonky. It seems like Bernie is putting on the pressure and steering them into things rapidly while Tim’s basically along for the ride and swept up in it, but then Tim’s talking about giving Bernie a chance and “allowing” him to stay with him and then immediately says that he won’t let him go anytime soon and so on. It just makes me go, “Huh?” There’s the age gap too. Tim’s only twenty-two, and Bernie’s hair is going grey. I guess if he’s greying early he might be mid-thirties but I thought at first it’d be more like forty and up.
Anyway, let’s take a moment to look at the contradictions in the writing.
“Here. This is the only key.” A few days later: “I dug out my second set of keys.”
“I’ll always love him.” Next day: “Once I rode away on that bus, whatever I’d felt for Aaron slowly had dissolved until now all I felt for him was pity and disgust.” Make up your goddamn mind!
And I’m sorry, but body parts do not “beg shamelessly”. They do not beg at all. Ever. If they did, we’d have a huge problem. Best case scenario the problem would land you in a psychiatrist’s office; worst case might spark campaigns for the rights of sentient body parts.
And don’t squabble with me. He gave you two hand jobs and you sucked him off. Trust me, you are “lovers”.
Also somewhat irritating is how smiles and chuckles surface at inappropriate moments without acknowledging either a) the inappropriateness or b) an accompanying sorrow, sadness or pain.
This next thing? I’m not sure if this is a sign of good writing or the opposite, but the revelation about Aaron’s really hit me out of the blue. Mind you, it does not match up to some of the established characters but still. What I do not appreciate is how those revelations contradict the thoughts we witnessed in Tim’s thoughts in the opening scene. Yeah, abusive relationships are tricky like that, but he claims he was already on his way out of it before Aaron got married and that is not what the opening said.
Also, it’s kind of a dickish thing for Tim to laugh and tell Valerie that the best thing for him to happen was that Aaron married her. Okay, he does not add that last part but it’s in there. “Yeah, thanks for taking my place with him so I could get away. Haha!” Paraphrasing. I guess.
And Bernie’s last-but-one-chapter revelation about his ? I have no clue why that was even in there. Comes out of nowhere too but this one has no relevance to anything.
The story really kind of just… fizzles out. We never get glorious revenge on the villains in the piece and the declarations of love between Tim and Bernie are anticlimactic and confusing at best (since a few hours earlier Tim thinks he does not believe in love so fast and that he does not love Bernie yet but one fuck later he suddenly in a very off-handed manner knows he loves him). Eh.
All the book does after that is set up a next volume of this series which apparently has not been written yet, if it ever will.
In the end, Tim strikes me as really apathetic and detached, which kind of would make sense with his past and which intrigued me for a while. As it turns out, though, I suspect it’s not about hidden depths but superficial blandness instead.
How does this author keep missing the point? It’s sad.
And jeez, how did this post end up being such a long one again? Do I really have that much to say about less than satisfying books? I think I need a life. :P
And then, well. Licking a beefy complete stranger at a truck stop in Texas out of the blue is probably a good way for a guy to get himself killed. Tim’s lucky that this diner happens to be gay central, whee.
The story’s kinda pedestrian and the narrator’s thought processes sometimes seem very naïve or downright stupid, but there’s still some indefinable appeal to this. Odd; maybe the mystery of it. Oh, not the one around Bernie (since that’s pretty obvious and I still don’t know why he felt he needed to keep his situation hush-hush). The diner and its regulars seem like a bare sketch, like figures in the fog. That’s the best I can come up with.
The strange thing is that I kind of enjoy the first person narrative here. Tim is not a terribly deep character, but he’s just ambiguous enough to confound the stereotype. I don’t know anything about his build, really, but he’s not the obvious bottom boy I first figured he might be, based among other things on his shy passiveness in regards to his first relationship. When he gets punched in the stomach, he kind of, uh, takes it like a man. Yeah, he doubles over and has to catch his breath, but the thing is, I don’t see him whining about it either.
I suppose sometimes the blind spot that can come with ego-perspective really intrigues me, no matter the quality of the rest.
I’ll also admit that one quality I appreciate about Tim is his pragmatism. Sure, he sometimes angsts over things (and then by way of sloppy writing forgets he ever did), but for example when it comes to baring his past in front of Bernie, he decides easily that he will, since while it would hurt to lose Bernie, there’s no point to keeping any more secrets. That’s common sense and pragmatism rather than an emotional flight. I like it.
The power dynamics between Tim and Bernie are a bit wonky. It seems like Bernie is putting on the pressure and steering them into things rapidly while Tim’s basically along for the ride and swept up in it, but then Tim’s talking about giving Bernie a chance and “allowing” him to stay with him and then immediately says that he won’t let him go anytime soon and so on. It just makes me go, “Huh?” There’s the age gap too. Tim’s only twenty-two, and Bernie’s hair is going grey. I guess if he’s greying early he might be mid-thirties but I thought at first it’d be more like forty and up.
Anyway, let’s take a moment to look at the contradictions in the writing.
“Here. This is the only key.” A few days later: “I dug out my second set of keys.”
“I’ll always love him.” Next day: “Once I rode away on that bus, whatever I’d felt for Aaron slowly had dissolved until now all I felt for him was pity and disgust.” Make up your goddamn mind!
And I’m sorry, but body parts do not “beg shamelessly”. They do not beg at all. Ever. If they did, we’d have a huge problem. Best case scenario the problem would land you in a psychiatrist’s office; worst case might spark campaigns for the rights of sentient body parts.
And don’t squabble with me. He gave you two hand jobs and you sucked him off. Trust me, you are “lovers”.
Also somewhat irritating is how smiles and chuckles surface at inappropriate moments without acknowledging either a) the inappropriateness or b) an accompanying sorrow, sadness or pain.
This next thing? I’m not sure if this is a sign of good writing or the opposite, but the revelation about Aaron’s really hit me out of the blue. Mind you, it does not match up to some of the established characters but still. What I do not appreciate is how those revelations contradict the thoughts we witnessed in Tim’s thoughts in the opening scene. Yeah, abusive relationships are tricky like that, but he claims he was already on his way out of it before Aaron got married and that is not what the opening said.
Also, it’s kind of a dickish thing for Tim to laugh and tell Valerie that the best thing for him to happen was that Aaron married her. Okay, he does not add that last part but it’s in there. “Yeah, thanks for taking my place with him so I could get away. Haha!” Paraphrasing. I guess.
And Bernie’s last-but-one-chapter revelation about his ? I have no clue why that was even in there. Comes out of nowhere too but this one has no relevance to anything.
The story really kind of just… fizzles out. We never get glorious revenge on the villains in the piece and the declarations of love between Tim and Bernie are anticlimactic and confusing at best (since a few hours earlier Tim thinks he does not believe in love so fast and that he does not love Bernie yet but one fuck later he suddenly in a very off-handed manner knows he loves him). Eh.
All the book does after that is set up a next volume of this series which apparently has not been written yet, if it ever will.
In the end, Tim strikes me as really apathetic and detached, which kind of would make sense with his past and which intrigued me for a while. As it turns out, though, I suspect it’s not about hidden depths but superficial blandness instead.
How does this author keep missing the point? It’s sad.
And jeez, how did this post end up being such a long one again? Do I really have that much to say about less than satisfying books? I think I need a life. :P
September 13, 2009
This unfortunate offering is sadly boring, stereotypical, unoriginal, and lacks interest even during the sex scenes. The characters are flat, one-dimensional at best and most often reflect staid, predictable reactions that lack energy, vitality, and emotional depth. Not to mention, the last 30 pages are unnecessary, gratuitous and offer nothing to the story itself except prolonging the happy ending. I can’t recommend this book and I’d suggest even fans skip this offering and stay with one of Chase’s better stories.
The premise is that Timothy Gapin is fleeing Minnesota after his closeted lover/best friend has gotten married. Trying to find a new life for himself, Tim lands in Gay Utopia and finds immediate work at a diner. He also finds a rich, new boyfriend. When Tim’s uncle suddenly falls ill, Tim must go back to Minnesota and face not only his ex-boyfriend but also his ex’s new wife.
The story itself lacks any interesting action and contains almost no tension or conflict. If the characters and action had actually had some depth of conflict and originality, the common place themes would get a fresh spin. Told in first person, past tense from Tim’s perspective, the narrative opens as Tim leaves behind the love of his life Aaron and gets on a bus to find a new life. A few days later Tim is at a bus stop in Texas and happens to be in the right place at the right time to immediately get a job and a place to live in what appears to be the Gay Paradise of Texas. Everyone in the diner is either gay or gay friendly and is best described by this quote from the book:
I shook my head and chuckled. “It’s like falling into a gay fantasy land. Everyone’s either queer or they don’t mind people being gay. I didn’t think Texas would be so open to differences.”
“Don’t expect things to be the same when you go elsewhere. Cookie’s Diner is one of the few places where you’ll be accepted for who you are. Cookie doesn’t allow anyone to talk bad about anyone else, and I, for one, appreciate it.” Cynthia jumped to her feet. “Got a new customer. Hey, have fun on your date tomorrow night.”
It was a gay utopia populated by a bunch of gossips.
So here in Nowhere, Texas, everyone is gay from the cops to the waitress and so on; lucky Tim landed in such a safe, happy place. This sets the story up to have an entirely too easy feel and shows there will be nothing in the context to draw the eye and keep the reader interested. Even when Tim has to go back to Minnesota and his sexuality is exposed, there is almost little to no backlash. The one person who may have an issue with the situation is predictable, stereotypical, and utterly flat as the typical, hate mongering gay basher. This marks the very lack of originality, creativity, and interest that plagues this entire story. There is nothing fresh or new in this story that hasn’t been told numerous times before and there is almost no real action. The story can’t quite decide what the purpose is – a sweet, easy love story or a troubled, young adult learning what true love is after hardship? Neither one actually fits the story but it seems to dance between the two superficially.
The characters themselves are weak and severely underdeveloped. They are mostly empty placeholders to express the right emotion or acceptance as Tim moves around the story. From Bernie’s instant love and financial help to Aaron’s shift towards the end to make Tim’s moving on acceptable, even to Valerie (Aaron’s wife) and her bizarre friendship with Tim – there is no emotional depth to any of the characters nor any personality. All of the characters, including Tim, are somewhat bland, boring, and completely homogenized so they lack any spark or anything unique and interesting. The story offers little to no depth either as Tim is over the love of his life and in love with Bernie in a matter of weeks mostly due a series of very convenient details. This use of the convenience takes any tension or conflict out of the story, as even the uncle’s illness is easy, handled quickly and without drama.
There are several disconnected and contradicting details added from Bernie’s explanations of his military past and exercise regime to Tim’s later Oprah like advice and public outing of another person’s sexuality. These contradictions are obvious and glaring, which jars the reading of the story even more. The last thirty pages are gratuitous and for the sole purpose of adding more sex, prolonging the happy ending and setting up a future sequel with other characters. None of it added to the already happy, in love couple or the sequel.
Overall this isn’t a difficult story to read but it lacks any interest and I found myself bored almost immediately and that never seemed to let up. I’ve explained the problems I had with the book and perhaps others will find the story more interesting than I did. It reads very much like an older novel with the classic issues and characters. I would suggest skipping this book and perhaps fans of the author can re-read a favored classic of Chase’s.
The premise is that Timothy Gapin is fleeing Minnesota after his closeted lover/best friend has gotten married. Trying to find a new life for himself, Tim lands in Gay Utopia and finds immediate work at a diner. He also finds a rich, new boyfriend. When Tim’s uncle suddenly falls ill, Tim must go back to Minnesota and face not only his ex-boyfriend but also his ex’s new wife.
The story itself lacks any interesting action and contains almost no tension or conflict. If the characters and action had actually had some depth of conflict and originality, the common place themes would get a fresh spin. Told in first person, past tense from Tim’s perspective, the narrative opens as Tim leaves behind the love of his life Aaron and gets on a bus to find a new life. A few days later Tim is at a bus stop in Texas and happens to be in the right place at the right time to immediately get a job and a place to live in what appears to be the Gay Paradise of Texas. Everyone in the diner is either gay or gay friendly and is best described by this quote from the book:
I shook my head and chuckled. “It’s like falling into a gay fantasy land. Everyone’s either queer or they don’t mind people being gay. I didn’t think Texas would be so open to differences.”
“Don’t expect things to be the same when you go elsewhere. Cookie’s Diner is one of the few places where you’ll be accepted for who you are. Cookie doesn’t allow anyone to talk bad about anyone else, and I, for one, appreciate it.” Cynthia jumped to her feet. “Got a new customer. Hey, have fun on your date tomorrow night.”
It was a gay utopia populated by a bunch of gossips.
So here in Nowhere, Texas, everyone is gay from the cops to the waitress and so on; lucky Tim landed in such a safe, happy place. This sets the story up to have an entirely too easy feel and shows there will be nothing in the context to draw the eye and keep the reader interested. Even when Tim has to go back to Minnesota and his sexuality is exposed, there is almost little to no backlash. The one person who may have an issue with the situation is predictable, stereotypical, and utterly flat as the typical, hate mongering gay basher. This marks the very lack of originality, creativity, and interest that plagues this entire story. There is nothing fresh or new in this story that hasn’t been told numerous times before and there is almost no real action. The story can’t quite decide what the purpose is – a sweet, easy love story or a troubled, young adult learning what true love is after hardship? Neither one actually fits the story but it seems to dance between the two superficially.
The characters themselves are weak and severely underdeveloped. They are mostly empty placeholders to express the right emotion or acceptance as Tim moves around the story. From Bernie’s instant love and financial help to Aaron’s shift towards the end to make Tim’s moving on acceptable, even to Valerie (Aaron’s wife) and her bizarre friendship with Tim – there is no emotional depth to any of the characters nor any personality. All of the characters, including Tim, are somewhat bland, boring, and completely homogenized so they lack any spark or anything unique and interesting. The story offers little to no depth either as Tim is over the love of his life and in love with Bernie in a matter of weeks mostly due a series of very convenient details. This use of the convenience takes any tension or conflict out of the story, as even the uncle’s illness is easy, handled quickly and without drama.
There are several disconnected and contradicting details added from Bernie’s explanations of his military past and exercise regime to Tim’s later Oprah like advice and public outing of another person’s sexuality. These contradictions are obvious and glaring, which jars the reading of the story even more. The last thirty pages are gratuitous and for the sole purpose of adding more sex, prolonging the happy ending and setting up a future sequel with other characters. None of it added to the already happy, in love couple or the sequel.
Overall this isn’t a difficult story to read but it lacks any interest and I found myself bored almost immediately and that never seemed to let up. I’ve explained the problems I had with the book and perhaps others will find the story more interesting than I did. It reads very much like an older novel with the classic issues and characters. I would suggest skipping this book and perhaps fans of the author can re-read a favored classic of Chase’s.
January 9, 2010
Pretty good start with lots of potential for subsequent books in the series to tease the reader. Maybe too many teases, as I was at times more interested in the cast of secondary characters than in Tim & Bernie.
I would've given more stars and enjoyed the book more if not for the big reveal on the Aaron & Tim backstory later in the book. I lost a lot of respect for Tim. A guy leaves you bruised and bloody after sex on a regular basis (and not in a good way -- he he he), and you keep coming back for more? Er...No. Plus, to me, it felt too cliched, like it made a cardboard cutout antagonist of Aaron.
Not a deal-breaker, though. I'll probably by the next book in the series. All those lovely teases...
I would've given more stars and enjoyed the book more if not for the big reveal on the Aaron & Tim backstory later in the book. I lost a lot of respect for Tim. A guy leaves you bruised and bloody after sex on a regular basis (and not in a good way -- he he he), and you keep coming back for more? Er...No. Plus, to me, it felt too cliched, like it made a cardboard cutout antagonist of Aaron.
Not a deal-breaker, though. I'll probably by the next book in the series. All those lovely teases...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2011
A love story first which makes it such a good read. I loved all the secondary characters that make up the new "family" as they give the book depth. I actually ended up really liking Valerie too. Tim is such a good guy who is just trying to do the right thing and what he finds is acceptance and love. It's a cozy comfy story that makes you feel good.
October 3, 2010
I loved this book, it was a feel good romance with just enough drama. I'm assuming/hoping there will be more of these coming.
June 13, 2014
I have been a fairly avid fan of T.A. Chase since I first discovered the M/M genre. I had read this book previously, but with the release of the sequel coming I decided to do a reread and a review for the blog. I hope y’all enjoy this as much as I did.
This story begins with a heartbreaking farewell scene at the local bus station in the small Minnesota town that Timothy Gapin has lived in his entire life. Tim never truly wanted to leave home, but after years of hiding in his lover’s closet, Tim reached his limit when he found out that the man was getting married. He knew there was no way he could stay in town and watch the man he loves be married to someone else, so he hops a bus and rides toward a new beginning.
During a stop, Tim is in a small diner and before he knows it, he has found himself a job and a place to live for a while; just until he can decide what he wants to do with himself long term. Tim finds himself a new group of friends at the small diner, and he begins to settle in with Chad, Cookie and all the other hilarious characters we meet there.
When he spots Bernie, a long haul trucker, he is almost instantly smitten. He isn’t sure which way Bernie leans, so he decides to just appreciate the view from afar until he finds out for sure. When he accidentally tips his hand, he is happily surprised to find out that Bernie had been noticing him also.
Tim and Bernie begin to date, and they quickly start to fall for one another. When Tim’s uncle falls sick, Tim realizes he has to head back to Minnesota, and Bernie is right by his side the whole way. While they are in Tim’s hometown, there are some heavy confessions made and some fairly tough confrontations.
Tim and Bernie survive the trip to Minnesota and when they return to their little diner in Texas, their relationship faces a few bumps in the road but nothing they can’t handle.
I truly enjoyed reading this story about a small diner in Texas that seems to draw all the misfits and wanderers alike. Even with all of the happenings around the men, their love story managed to remain the main focus of the book. By the time it was over, I was fully invested in the characters and so very ready for the sequel. I would highly recommend this story, and keep an eye out for the sequel as well.
Reviewed by Jackie at The Novel Approach
This story begins with a heartbreaking farewell scene at the local bus station in the small Minnesota town that Timothy Gapin has lived in his entire life. Tim never truly wanted to leave home, but after years of hiding in his lover’s closet, Tim reached his limit when he found out that the man was getting married. He knew there was no way he could stay in town and watch the man he loves be married to someone else, so he hops a bus and rides toward a new beginning.
During a stop, Tim is in a small diner and before he knows it, he has found himself a job and a place to live for a while; just until he can decide what he wants to do with himself long term. Tim finds himself a new group of friends at the small diner, and he begins to settle in with Chad, Cookie and all the other hilarious characters we meet there.
When he spots Bernie, a long haul trucker, he is almost instantly smitten. He isn’t sure which way Bernie leans, so he decides to just appreciate the view from afar until he finds out for sure. When he accidentally tips his hand, he is happily surprised to find out that Bernie had been noticing him also.
Tim and Bernie begin to date, and they quickly start to fall for one another. When Tim’s uncle falls sick, Tim realizes he has to head back to Minnesota, and Bernie is right by his side the whole way. While they are in Tim’s hometown, there are some heavy confessions made and some fairly tough confrontations.
Tim and Bernie survive the trip to Minnesota and when they return to their little diner in Texas, their relationship faces a few bumps in the road but nothing they can’t handle.
I truly enjoyed reading this story about a small diner in Texas that seems to draw all the misfits and wanderers alike. Even with all of the happenings around the men, their love story managed to remain the main focus of the book. By the time it was over, I was fully invested in the characters and so very ready for the sequel. I would highly recommend this story, and keep an eye out for the sequel as well.
Reviewed by Jackie at The Novel Approach
March 25, 2014
2.5
Not a bad read but so much just comes out of the blue with no hints at all that it had been there before. Every time a new "revelation" came out I felt more and more like it was added spur of the moment and the author never bothered to make sure it fit with the rest of the story.
Not a bad read but so much just comes out of the blue with no hints at all that it had been there before. Every time a new "revelation" came out I felt more and more like it was added spur of the moment and the author never bothered to make sure it fit with the rest of the story.
April 8, 2014
3.5 stars. Sweet romance without being sappy. While I found the relationship developed rather quickly between Tim and Bernie, I really liked their interaction. Tim's insecurities and reluctance were well written and completely believable. Bernie is obviously older and more experienced and he tries not for bulldoze Tim but he definitely makes his desires known. Tim's inexperience and heartbreak over his one relationship keeps him from going after what he wants right away, but he's not stupid and he knows that Bernie could be really good for him in so many ways. It was nice to get to see the layers to Bernie :)
The supporting characters at the diner are quite a bunch. We also get to meet Tim's family and there are some tense moments with the ex. I would really love to know what happens with that marriage and if Tim's family will be together again. Looking forward to reading the next story and even though it's Chad's story, I hope that we get to find out that Tim and Bernie are still happy and together ;)
The supporting characters at the diner are quite a bunch. We also get to meet Tim's family and there are some tense moments with the ex. I would really love to know what happens with that marriage and if Tim's family will be together again. Looking forward to reading the next story and even though it's Chad's story, I hope that we get to find out that Tim and Bernie are still happy and together ;)
November 1, 2012
This was a nice book, I loved Bernie's character. Tim's character was okay but his comparisons of Bernie to Aaron annoyed me to no end. The fact he was so hung up on Aaron was frustrating to me because he was a jerk and an ass. I really hated Aaron's character in it, then the fact he kept popping up.
When the book started I found it difficult to get into the story. It fell a bit flat for me. I only got interested when Bernie was introduced into the book. Tim and Bernie's relationship developed quickly and even though they were an okay couple. I would not say their relationship was the main aspect of this book.
As the story progressed I found myself liking the story even more. Some part still did not connect with me but overall it was an alright story. Can I say I loved the book? No. Can I say I hated the book? No. The easiest way to describe the book was that it was okay and I liked it. :)
When the book started I found it difficult to get into the story. It fell a bit flat for me. I only got interested when Bernie was introduced into the book. Tim and Bernie's relationship developed quickly and even though they were an okay couple. I would not say their relationship was the main aspect of this book.
As the story progressed I found myself liking the story even more. Some part still did not connect with me but overall it was an alright story. Can I say I loved the book? No. Can I say I hated the book? No. The easiest way to describe the book was that it was okay and I liked it. :)
September 6, 2015
The realism of the book wasn't up to par, everyone in some sleepy spot is gay or at least has no problem with it. The love story is very quick to develop especially with the MC's background. I wouldn't pick on that but it seemed that he had very little left over issues from his previous affair. I did like that the author used the love/abuse relationship in the story, I would have liked to have seen a little more of how that effected Tim in the story. You don't have some thing like that occur and have so little personal consequences and relationship issues from it. Still this was a feel good read where a really deserving character gets the love he deserves:)
March 8, 2011
This was a really sweet love story. Tim leaves a small town to get away from a boyfriend who can't accept he's gay and hides their relationship. Tim lands in a diner that needs some help and finds that he fits in and that the people there are very accepting. Not only did he find a home but he found his true love in Bernie. There's not much angst, which I generally prefer but there are some confrontational characters that liven the story up when Tim and Bernie have to go back Tim's hometown. There is also an ancillary character, Chad, who is very endearing. If T.A. Chase hasn't written a story about him yet, he should because he's been set up for one.
April 16, 2014
Tim leaves Minnesota to get away from his ex-boyfriend. Is that what we are supposed to call him?
He ends up in a gay utopia in Texas, but doesn't know it's a gay utopia. He accidentally bumps into a trucker and the trucker catches him so he doesn't fall. When he does Tim decides it's a great idea for him to LICK the trucker. Yeah, he LICKED him.
I thought some of the things that came out should have been revealed A LOT sooner! I thought they were REALLY important and should have been brought to Bernie and Tim's relationship in the beginning.
I did really like the side characters (excluding Aaron). Chad and Cookie being up there at the top.
He ends up in a gay utopia in Texas, but doesn't know it's a gay utopia. He accidentally bumps into a trucker and the trucker catches him so he doesn't fall. When he does Tim decides it's a great idea for him to LICK the trucker. Yeah, he LICKED him.
I thought some of the things that came out should have been revealed A LOT sooner! I thought they were REALLY important and should have been brought to Bernie and Tim's relationship in the beginning.
I did really like the side characters (excluding Aaron). Chad and Cookie being up there at the top.
October 27, 2011
This book was a BIG disappointment. The romance/love felt rushed, and based on the MC's backgrounds, groundless. The plot was about as thin as a bad condom, and it held up just about as well. I know that Ms. Chase can write, I've read some wonderful books by her, but lately I've come across a batch of cookie-cuter stories that just don't serve her well.
I give Nowhere Diner: Finding Love two and a half stars, which I have to round up to three because GoodReads doesn't do half stars, how 80's.
January 30, 2014
This was a typical T.A. Chase book and it kept me entertained while I was reading it. The thing that prevented me from giving it a higher rating was the speed with which the relationship progressed. Before I knew it, the book was over and they were moving in together. However, this is not to say that I didn't root for Tim and Bernie to have a happy ending. In addition, there was a great cast of secondary characters, which left me wondering if there is going to be a sequel because, in my opinion, Chad deserves a book of his own.
October 16, 2010
Fantastic book. The characters were endearing and sweet and all just a little broken in their own ways - something I really like. There was just enough angst and sadness, and the romance was spectacular. Tim and Bernie are such an adorable couple with such a sweet life and Aaron really needs someone to kick his ass. The one thing that left me wondering was what happened to Chad - but then I heard there might be a sequel. Will we find out then? Highly recommended.
February 9, 2012
This is a sweet love story, not much angst, but still some confllicts, issues and happenings that move the story forward. I liked that it was an easy read, just what I needed right then. However I can´t say that the story or the characters are very memorable (and that is why it doesn´t get a higher rating from me).
September 28, 2012
***Possible spoiler below***
Ugh ok one issue, liked the story, I really did but it just kind of left what happened to Chad open and I hate that! I mean he is missing and boom epilogue and no mention of him. It has been a few years since this was written, has the author written a sequel to this that maybe isn't shown as a sequel on GR? If not, is a sequel planned?
Ugh ok one issue, liked the story, I really did but it just kind of left what happened to Chad open and I hate that! I mean he is missing and boom epilogue and no mention of him. It has been a few years since this was written, has the author written a sequel to this that maybe isn't shown as a sequel on GR? If not, is a sequel planned?
December 17, 2012
Not bad, not great, just a sweet story about love gone bad, leaving town and finding a whole new life somewhere else. I really liked the supporting characters in this book and can see where one in particular is going to need his own story. Which I will have to read, of course. Smexing was okay but nothing to write home about.
February 28, 2013
Very fast paced story, every thing happens in a month. We are left wondering what happens to Chad who is missing at the end of the book, no mention in the epilogue either. I have looked through all the books looking to see if he has his own story but I never found one. It seems the author was weaving a series but abandoned it for what ever reason.
April 26, 2014
The first time I read this story, like five years back, I liked it more than I did yesterday, mostly because it was simply a fast paced boring romance. But than, I read to many better books compared to this one, to be satisfied with it. Anyway this story is personally, to fast paced and actually pretty boring, too. I didn't enjoy it any longer.
July 17, 2010
I wish I could give this one higher marks, but really, I just couldn't stop saying "how convenient!" the entire time I was reading it...kinda got on my nerves after the third or fourth time, you know?
January 11, 2010
A sweet m/m romance that at times reminded me of ZA Maxfield's book St. Nacho's.
March 8, 2011
Very satisfying finding love story! More like 3.5.
March 6, 2013
This was much better than the last T.A. Chase book I read. Maybe I just liked the characters more, I don't know but I found myself smiling while reading and that's always a good sign.
August 4, 2011
I hope we get to read about what happened to Chad in his own story, because he really grew on me.
November 27, 2011
*3.5 Stars
A light, easy feel-good read when you don't want anything more substantial. And sometimes that's just what one needs.
A light, easy feel-good read when you don't want anything more substantial. And sometimes that's just what one needs.
September 28, 2011
Okay - a little bland - good premise & would like to see a follow up.
October 22, 2012
There were a lot of great characters in this story. I wish it had been longer so that we could have got more than a small peek into their lives. I would really like to know Chad's story.
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