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Ohio Books #1
Regularly Scheduled Life
It's a long way back to happily ever after.
Sean and Kyle have enjoyed six perfect years of what their friends called a disgustingly happy relationship. But what happens one sunny Tuesday morning in October might be more than even the most loving couple can survive.
When the bell rings that morning in chemistry teacher Sean Farnham's first-period class, a terrifying sound fills the halls - gunshots. Without considering the consequences, Sean runs to tackle the shooter, sustaining a bullet wound to his leg. Despite his actions, he is unable to save the lives of the principal and two students.
Architect Kyle DeRusso hears about the shooting on the radio, and in the flash of an instant finds his life irrevocably altered. Everything - especially his heart - hangs suspended in a nightmare until he finds out Sean is alive. It doesn't matter that Sean will be left with a permanent limp. Kyle's just relieved the worst is over.
Or is it? Putting that day behind them isn't as simple as it sounds. As Sean struggles to make something positive out of the tragedy, Kyle fights to save their relationship from the dangers of publicity - and Sean's unwillingness to face how the crisis has changed him.
Warning: This book contains adults doing adult things, like using adult language and having hot m/m sex in various positions and on various furnishings. It might also cause the more tender-hearted adult to reach for a tissue or two.
Sean and Kyle have enjoyed six perfect years of what their friends called a disgustingly happy relationship. But what happens one sunny Tuesday morning in October might be more than even the most loving couple can survive.
When the bell rings that morning in chemistry teacher Sean Farnham's first-period class, a terrifying sound fills the halls - gunshots. Without considering the consequences, Sean runs to tackle the shooter, sustaining a bullet wound to his leg. Despite his actions, he is unable to save the lives of the principal and two students.
Architect Kyle DeRusso hears about the shooting on the radio, and in the flash of an instant finds his life irrevocably altered. Everything - especially his heart - hangs suspended in a nightmare until he finds out Sean is alive. It doesn't matter that Sean will be left with a permanent limp. Kyle's just relieved the worst is over.
Or is it? Putting that day behind them isn't as simple as it sounds. As Sean struggles to make something positive out of the tragedy, Kyle fights to save their relationship from the dangers of publicity - and Sean's unwillingness to face how the crisis has changed him.
Warning: This book contains adults doing adult things, like using adult language and having hot m/m sex in various positions and on various furnishings. It might also cause the more tender-hearted adult to reach for a tissue or two.
293 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2008
22 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Mitchell
43 books1,111 followersK.A. Mitchell discovered the magic of writing at an early age when she learned that a carefully crayoned note of apology sent to the kitchen in a toy truck would earn her a reprieve from banishment to her room. Her career as a spin-control artist was cut short when her family moved to a two-story house, and her trucks would not roll safely down the stairs. Around the same time, she decided that Chip and Ken made a much cuter couple than Ken and Barbie and was perplexed when invitations to play Barbie dropped off. She never stopped making stuff up, though, and was surprised to find out that people would pay her to do it. Although the men in her stories usually carry more emotional baggage than even LAX can lose in a year, she guarantees they always find their sexy way to a happy ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
February 12, 2011
I hated this book. I thought it was going to be sad, it wasn’t it was just annoyingly frustrating. I would have liked it better if Kyle wouldn’t have taken Sean back.
I hated Sean and how selfish and inconsiderate he was towards Kyle.
On the plus side it wasn’t sad and I didn’t cry
I hated Sean and how selfish and inconsiderate he was towards Kyle.
On the plus side it wasn’t sad and I didn’t cry
September 20, 2014
I am aware a lot of people love this book.
I have a message for Sean and Kyle:
You both unnerved me!
I must be sick or something because I have the bad habit of finishing my books. And I don’t learn!
That’s not healthy, or practical, but that’s me: the silly young woman who reads every paragraph from page 1 to the end. I must change, I know, I’ll die soon if I don’t. Because these two gave me heart palpitations!
Firstly, I have had not very good experiences with stablished relationships. For instance, Prey and The General and the Horse-Lord were a no-no for me. I had those warnings, and maybe that’s why this book spent so much time on my TBR self: something within me, very deep within me, knew this was going to happen.
Thanks, inner goddess.
You knew better than me.
Secondly, the writing didn’t get to me. I found better hobbies to do than reading this book. That’s a bad signal itself. The writing tired me only for trying to follow the thread, which itself was not interesting to begin with.
Thirdly, the plot is studiously shocking: a shooting in a high school, in which Sean is one of the victims who survive. After the worst has passed, he and his boyfriend for six years, Kyle, have to come back to normal life. But things are not as easy as they seemed in the beginning, and soon they discover that the hard part has yet to come. So, okey, it plays with your emotions: the fear of confronting a mad kid with a gun and the despair at knowing that the love of your life has been shot. It was convincing. Almost. That’s the excuse for us to get attached to the MC but I didn’t fall for it. I need pages and time for that, and there is no chance of achieving it without getting to know the characters first. Eventually I did have a concern of sorts, but it wasn’t enough to get on with them.
Fourthly, the main characters are plainly stupid. They are grown adults. Really?
So, Sean, why do you agree with Brandt’s plans? Can’t you see the obvious? Can’t you see your relationship is sinking because of that? Can’t you see the important things in life? Can’t you UNDERSTAND? And then you are shocked because things go wrong? Seriously, you know about cause and effect? The butterfly effect? The last straw?
Maybe you deserved it all and I almost like Brandt for it.
And Kyle, your reactions are childish sometimes. I can’t buy that after a two-page argument things are over. You give up too easily. You don’t fight for what you want or what you believe or what you love.
The characters are so thick they are hilarious sometimes. I can’t believe they lasted six years.
The sex…
It’s supposed to be hot but for me it was like a cold shower.
Ok, there were one or two scenes that were not that bad, but most of them didn’t inspire me. If I read sex scenes and I feel like I’m reading the shopping list in the supermarket, they are not worth it.
So, this book was boring and unreal, I WASTED too much time reading it and the feeling I had when I finished it was not satisfaction or contentment, just relief and frustration. It was almost a torture sitting down to continue the story. I didn't like the form nor the content of this novel. It made me roll my eyes, it made me yawn and it made me pull my hair out.
************
***Buddy Read with Alvin, Mishyjo, Meli Mel, Catherine, Sonia and Erika.***
I have a message for Sean and Kyle:
You both unnerved me!
I must be sick or something because I have the bad habit of finishing my books. And I don’t learn!
That’s not healthy, or practical, but that’s me: the silly young woman who reads every paragraph from page 1 to the end. I must change, I know, I’ll die soon if I don’t. Because these two gave me heart palpitations!
Firstly, I have had not very good experiences with stablished relationships. For instance, Prey and The General and the Horse-Lord were a no-no for me. I had those warnings, and maybe that’s why this book spent so much time on my TBR self: something within me, very deep within me, knew this was going to happen.
Thanks, inner goddess.
You knew better than me.
Secondly, the writing didn’t get to me. I found better hobbies to do than reading this book. That’s a bad signal itself. The writing tired me only for trying to follow the thread, which itself was not interesting to begin with.
Thirdly, the plot is studiously shocking: a shooting in a high school, in which Sean is one of the victims who survive. After the worst has passed, he and his boyfriend for six years, Kyle, have to come back to normal life. But things are not as easy as they seemed in the beginning, and soon they discover that the hard part has yet to come. So, okey, it plays with your emotions: the fear of confronting a mad kid with a gun and the despair at knowing that the love of your life has been shot. It was convincing. Almost. That’s the excuse for us to get attached to the MC but I didn’t fall for it. I need pages and time for that, and there is no chance of achieving it without getting to know the characters first. Eventually I did have a concern of sorts, but it wasn’t enough to get on with them.
Fourthly, the main characters are plainly stupid. They are grown adults. Really?
So, Sean, why do you agree with Brandt’s plans? Can’t you see the obvious? Can’t you see your relationship is sinking because of that? Can’t you see the important things in life? Can’t you UNDERSTAND? And then you are shocked because things go wrong? Seriously, you know about cause and effect? The butterfly effect? The last straw?
Maybe you deserved it all and I almost like Brandt for it.
And Kyle, your reactions are childish sometimes. I can’t buy that after a two-page argument things are over. You give up too easily. You don’t fight for what you want or what you believe or what you love.
The characters are so thick they are hilarious sometimes. I can’t believe they lasted six years.
The sex…
It’s supposed to be hot but for me it was like a cold shower.
Ok, there were one or two scenes that were not that bad, but most of them didn’t inspire me. If I read sex scenes and I feel like I’m reading the shopping list in the supermarket, they are not worth it.
So, this book was boring and unreal, I WASTED too much time reading it and the feeling I had when I finished it was not satisfaction or contentment, just relief and frustration. It was almost a torture sitting down to continue the story. I didn't like the form nor the content of this novel. It made me roll my eyes, it made me yawn and it made me pull my hair out.
************
***Buddy Read with Alvin, Mishyjo, Meli Mel, Catherine, Sonia and Erika.***
July 24, 2014
♥♥♥ 3.75 "Stop fighting" Stars ♥♥♥
Some parts of this book I really liked, while others not so much. It was hard for me to get into at times, but there moments that I was totally connected.
What I liked about this book, was the fact that the two male leads were already in a relationship of six years when this book began. This was about a couple trying hard to maintain their happily ever after. But after Sean gets injured during a school shooting, their relationship seems to be headed down a bad turn.
Sean I liked in the beginning, in fact I liked both in the beginning. They seemed so caring and loving of each other. But after Sean got injured, I became annoyed with the way he at times pushed Kyle away. I got that his pride was hurt with him being "handicapped" for a while, but it still made no sense to push the one person who loved him away. I also didn't like how selfish Sean was when it came to Kyle's feelings. He knew that Kyle didn't like having Brandt around, but that didn't stop him from letting Brandt into their homes and pretty much their lives. However, I did like that he tried to make a difference. He wanted to send a positive message that being gay isn't a bad thing. That I loved about him.
Kyle was at times as frustrating as Sean was. He would complain about Sean not paying much attention to their relationship. I got where he was coming from, but I also thought Kyle should have been a little more supported of what Sean was doing. I liked how much Kyle loved Sean, so it hurt my heart to see them arguing all the time.
While, the beginning was a tad bit slow, and the book had it's boring moments. The second half of the book really grabbed my attention. I desperately wanted things to work between them. And right when things seem to be getting better, it gets worse. I was so frustrated and hurt by all the things they were saying to each other that, I almost wanted them to separate (I know!! How could I want that to happen!?!). I'm so glad they didn't.
In the end, I really did enjoy this book. It wasn't perfect, which is kind of what I liked about it. Relationships don't end at Happily Ever After, and this book was great at showing how you can struggle to keep it going, but they tried. The ending was great, I was really happy for them. I think they still need to work on a lot of things, but I'm glad they have each other. I hurt and smiled. I loved the secondary characters as well. Overall, it was a good read.
*Buddy Read with Alvin, Mishyjo, Catherine, Sonia, Sheziss and Erika*
February 13, 2011
It was really hard to rate this one and really hard to think of a review. I always try to write more good things than bad things *frustrated sigh* but I just can't for this one.
It's not often that I take away stars because of my feelings for a character but in this case, I absolutely detested Sean and Brandt.
The only highlight of this book was Kyle, imo. And maybe Tony and Jack. I just felt so bad for him that I want him all to myself. He's sweet and caring and tries to make Sean happy when all Sean is doing is making them both miserable. The writing is really good, though. I wanted to just not finish this book but the writing is strangely captivating even with how much sex there is. And the fact that this book was so able to get a rise out of me is why I'm not giving it one star.
Honestly, it breaks my heart giving this story such a low rating (since a 2 for me is a poor book) because I've loved all the books I've read from KA but I just hated this one. Sean and Brandt ruined my enjoyment of it and I just couldn't get past what an absolute douche bag Sean was. I'm sorry but I can't recommend this one. :-/
It's not often that I take away stars because of my feelings for a character but in this case, I absolutely detested Sean and Brandt.
The only highlight of this book was Kyle, imo. And maybe Tony and Jack. I just felt so bad for him that I want him all to myself. He's sweet and caring and tries to make Sean happy when all Sean is doing is making them both miserable. The writing is really good, though. I wanted to just not finish this book but the writing is strangely captivating even with how much sex there is. And the fact that this book was so able to get a rise out of me is why I'm not giving it one star.
Honestly, it breaks my heart giving this story such a low rating (since a 2 for me is a poor book) because I've loved all the books I've read from KA but I just hated this one. Sean and Brandt ruined my enjoyment of it and I just couldn't get past what an absolute douche bag Sean was. I'm sorry but I can't recommend this one. :-/
May 19, 2010
Wow. I don't think I have ever needed an HEA for a couple more than I needed one for Sean and Kyle. Whew!
This book was amazing. I was blown away by the writing. I am used to m/m being light and romantic with relatively simple characters and writing style. But this was serious as a heart attack and didn't ever let up until the end. This story was real, and it was poignant and heart wrenching and just so well crafted. It kept me hooked every single page.
Sean and Kyle are a perfect couple, and Mitchell did a great job of filling them out and making them real and believable. I loved the way she showed the little things that made them who they were together - the cute little games they played with each other and the way they said "I love you." These two were so in sync with each other and then Mitchell showed us in excruciating detail how it slowly derailed.
I really want to recommend this book to everyone. It completely transcends the genre. This was not just an m/m romance. This was a well written story about how people deal after a crisis and the way it can tear a relationship apart. This story tore me to shreds but I loved every minute of it!
**May 2010 re-read**
Still 5 stars. I love Kyle and Sean an I so badly need a sequel! I know there are prequel shorts on Mitchell's web site, but I don't want prequel shorts. I want a full length sequel so that I can rest assured knowing Kyle and Sean were able to learn from their mistakes and make their HEA last. I NEED it!
This book was amazing. I was blown away by the writing. I am used to m/m being light and romantic with relatively simple characters and writing style. But this was serious as a heart attack and didn't ever let up until the end. This story was real, and it was poignant and heart wrenching and just so well crafted. It kept me hooked every single page.
Sean and Kyle are a perfect couple, and Mitchell did a great job of filling them out and making them real and believable. I loved the way she showed the little things that made them who they were together - the cute little games they played with each other and the way they said "I love you." These two were so in sync with each other and then Mitchell showed us in excruciating detail how it slowly derailed.
I really want to recommend this book to everyone. It completely transcends the genre. This was not just an m/m romance. This was a well written story about how people deal after a crisis and the way it can tear a relationship apart. This story tore me to shreds but I loved every minute of it!
**May 2010 re-read**
Still 5 stars. I love Kyle and Sean an I so badly need a sequel! I know there are prequel shorts on Mitchell's web site, but I don't want prequel shorts. I want a full length sequel so that I can rest assured knowing Kyle and Sean were able to learn from their mistakes and make their HEA last. I NEED it!
November 24, 2008
Sean and Kyle have been together happily for six years. Their friends call them the perfect couple and they truly do love each other.
One day, everything changes when a young man comes into Sean's school where he is a teacher and begins shooting randomly. Sean runs to the rescue, tackling the shooter, saving a bunch of kids, and getting shot in the process. Sean's leg is injured pretty badly, but the minute everyone hears about the shooting, Sean becomes a hero. He is interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show with his partner Kyle by his side. All of a sudden, Sean is a "gay" hero and becomes somewhat bombarded by offers to appear on TV shows etc. He ends up hiring a PR guy named Brandt to help him get speaking engagements and other bookings.
Kyle has felt like he needed to tiptoe around Sean from the minute he got home from the hospital. Now, with Brandt's help, and Sean getting tons of media attention, they cant even go out to dinner without being interrupted by appreciative people. Kyle feels bad about his annoyance, but after months of enduring the attention, it begins to seriously impact their relationship. It doesnt help that Brandt is very attractive and gay.
Kyle wishes things could go back to the way they were before the shooting and Sean cant understand why Kyle is being so moody and difficult. If their relationship is going to work, something has to change. Can they make it work?
This book is actually really good. The author does a great job building up Sean and Kyle's relationship prior to the shooting, so I really felt for them, especially Kyle, when everything started going south. The constant miscommunication and avoidance of the issue at hand, reminded me a lot of a real relationship. There were times when I had to put this book down and pick it up again later because the angst was a little too much to take. When I did pick it back up however, it would suck me right back in. There is definitely some hot m/m sex in this book, but there were some times of awkwardness, which made it seem all the more realistic. I really enjoyed this book and if you like drama in your m/m romance, give this one a try.
xo
One day, everything changes when a young man comes into Sean's school where he is a teacher and begins shooting randomly. Sean runs to the rescue, tackling the shooter, saving a bunch of kids, and getting shot in the process. Sean's leg is injured pretty badly, but the minute everyone hears about the shooting, Sean becomes a hero. He is interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show with his partner Kyle by his side. All of a sudden, Sean is a "gay" hero and becomes somewhat bombarded by offers to appear on TV shows etc. He ends up hiring a PR guy named Brandt to help him get speaking engagements and other bookings.
Kyle has felt like he needed to tiptoe around Sean from the minute he got home from the hospital. Now, with Brandt's help, and Sean getting tons of media attention, they cant even go out to dinner without being interrupted by appreciative people. Kyle feels bad about his annoyance, but after months of enduring the attention, it begins to seriously impact their relationship. It doesnt help that Brandt is very attractive and gay.
Kyle wishes things could go back to the way they were before the shooting and Sean cant understand why Kyle is being so moody and difficult. If their relationship is going to work, something has to change. Can they make it work?
This book is actually really good. The author does a great job building up Sean and Kyle's relationship prior to the shooting, so I really felt for them, especially Kyle, when everything started going south. The constant miscommunication and avoidance of the issue at hand, reminded me a lot of a real relationship. There were times when I had to put this book down and pick it up again later because the angst was a little too much to take. When I did pick it back up however, it would suck me right back in. There is definitely some hot m/m sex in this book, but there were some times of awkwardness, which made it seem all the more realistic. I really enjoyed this book and if you like drama in your m/m romance, give this one a try.
xo
August 6, 2014
HAS A GREAT BEGINNING, BUT...
It has too much bickering from the middle of the book onwards.
Stopped at 46%
I'll try to finish this because it was a buddy read. (but unlikely)
The beginning was great and the writing of the shooting was sensitive enough. I just can't handle more quarrels from both MCs anymore.
If you can get pass that though...
It has too much bickering from the middle of the book onwards.
Stopped at 46%
I'll try to finish this because it was a buddy read. (but unlikely)
The beginning was great and the writing of the shooting was sensitive enough. I just can't handle more quarrels from both MCs anymore.
If you can get pass that though...
February 10, 2011
This is one of the best books I've read about relationships. We meet these guys when their relationship is in crisis but it's clear that these guys really love each other and have lost their way. Many times they don't talk and if they do it's superficial and it ends up with them in bed. We watch as these guys just fall apart and it's really hard to watch when it's clear how much they both love each other but they just don't know how to fix things. This book is really a journey through loss and redemption. One of the best things in the book is when someone tells them that marriage isn't for the weak. It's tough and it's difficult but it's worth it. These guys learn this but the hard way. As heartbreaking as it is to watch these guys fall apart it's equally satisfying to watch them redeem themselves.
Read
November 16, 2022This is my 7th time reading this book and the first time properly reviewing it. The fact that I’ve read it so much tells you something, and that something is that no matter how old a book is, if it’s a good book we must not put it on a shelf and forget about it. There are so many new readers to this genre and sometimes it’s just good business, or in this case, a public service to keep this one on the table. Obviously, not everyone loves the same thing, but K.A. Mitchell, and the Ohio series is still, years later, one of my all-time favorites.
Sean and Kyle immediately called to me because they are disgustingly happy six years into their relationship. Established couples are a rare breed and though I like to read about guys meeting for the first time and falling in love, I also love to read about the established pairs dealing with real life issues that test their relationship and find their way back to each other.
In this case, Sean, a high school teacher, is involved in a school shooting and is injured then instantly touted as a hero. Kyle, his biggest fan, is scared to death of having their faces, especially Sean’s, plastered all over the national news. Not everyone is happy to read about a gay hero. But, lucky for them, Brandt, a public relations expert convinces Sean that he needs to get ahead of the ball and put his story out there before it’s twisted…of course, Brandt has a lot of money to make off Sean, and Kyle knows it. To him, Brandt is sleazy, to me, Brandt is sleazy, to Sean, Brandt is helping him showcase gays in a positive light and earning him a couple pennies at the same time. Kyle just wants to go back to his regularly scheduled life where he and Sean are safe.
My heart went out for Kyle. He needed as much comfort, if not more, than Sean. But, Sean was the one shot so Kyle is just viewed as being petty, at first. Sean was really not the good guy at home. Even though I loved him, and he was my favorite between the two (odd, I know), he still needed to speak up with his internal fears. His desire to not depend on Kyle was paramount to pushing Kyle away, he just didn’t see in time. And allowing Brandt liberties he would not allow Kyle really irked me. But, I got it. He wasn’t trying to be jerk, but he clearly was not thinking straight.
These two go through the ringer, but in the end, Brandt is gone and Sean and Kyle are the committed couple that began this story. It was not easy, and it was not pretty, but sometimes you have to lose the best thing that ever happened to you in order to move forward. I love this book and will probably read it again. That right there tells you more than this review.
Overall Impression: It was amazing!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
The 7th read but the first real review by Thew Blogger Girls
Sean and Kyle immediately called to me because they are disgustingly happy six years into their relationship. Established couples are a rare breed and though I like to read about guys meeting for the first time and falling in love, I also love to read about the established pairs dealing with real life issues that test their relationship and find their way back to each other.
In this case, Sean, a high school teacher, is involved in a school shooting and is injured then instantly touted as a hero. Kyle, his biggest fan, is scared to death of having their faces, especially Sean’s, plastered all over the national news. Not everyone is happy to read about a gay hero. But, lucky for them, Brandt, a public relations expert convinces Sean that he needs to get ahead of the ball and put his story out there before it’s twisted…of course, Brandt has a lot of money to make off Sean, and Kyle knows it. To him, Brandt is sleazy, to me, Brandt is sleazy, to Sean, Brandt is helping him showcase gays in a positive light and earning him a couple pennies at the same time. Kyle just wants to go back to his regularly scheduled life where he and Sean are safe.
My heart went out for Kyle. He needed as much comfort, if not more, than Sean. But, Sean was the one shot so Kyle is just viewed as being petty, at first. Sean was really not the good guy at home. Even though I loved him, and he was my favorite between the two (odd, I know), he still needed to speak up with his internal fears. His desire to not depend on Kyle was paramount to pushing Kyle away, he just didn’t see in time. And allowing Brandt liberties he would not allow Kyle really irked me. But, I got it. He wasn’t trying to be jerk, but he clearly was not thinking straight.
These two go through the ringer, but in the end, Brandt is gone and Sean and Kyle are the committed couple that began this story. It was not easy, and it was not pretty, but sometimes you have to lose the best thing that ever happened to you in order to move forward. I love this book and will probably read it again. That right there tells you more than this review.
Overall Impression: It was amazing!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
The 7th read but the first real review by Thew Blogger Girls
February 10, 2020
Just when I thought I couldn’t detest this author any more than I already do, THIS book happens!! I have so much to say but I need to NOT be as pissed off as I am. Thoughts to come! In the meantime, MINUS all the stars; even 1 star is way too much!!
This author likes to fuck around with her MCs' relationships and HEAs and I have had fucking enough, she's just as bad as Mercy Celeste [another author I've put on my "author whose books I'll never read again" list], if not even worse!!!!
BTW - What the hell was that with Sean and Brandt at around 87%?!!? Really?!!? THEN is when this needs to happen?!!? Also, to anyone thinking "life doesn't always have HEAs" ... Well, yes, that's why we call this FICTION! That's why we read this sort of thing, otherwise we'd just watch reality tv or the friggin' news!! I don't need my books to contain MCs that are idiots or ass-wipes [it depends on the context obviously, because some characters HAVE to redeem themselves throughout their characterization and that's COMPLETELY fine - I've encountered bastard MCs that I ended up absolutely ADORING but it's not within this same context, it's not now and it's not in this book]!! You know what I mean and you know what I'm getting at]!!
This author hurts her MCs just for the sake of it, without rhyme or reason, for pure shock value, simply because she can!! That's fucked up!!!
More to say but I'll end it here for now ... // Puts rant on pause *still fuming* :-/!
*******************
And if you’re wondering why I continued to read this author’s books after discovering the author and her books are just NOT for me [I've discovered I absolutely detest them], it’s because when I FIRST read the blurbs of these books and before having read ANY of the books themselves, I went all out and purchased about 10 books right off the bat! YUP, I committed BIG time [dammit!!]! How was I to know I’d detest this author’s writing as a general whole and subsequently, detest her books as well?! I figured since I spent the money, I’d read the books … mind you, I gave each and every book a fair and decent chance, thus the rating is also 100% fair and decent (in that previous experiences were NOT an influence). Each and every book got the rating it deserved by its own isolated merit!! Verdict? There is absolutely NO doubt this author is NOT for me and I most definitely will NOT be purchasing anything of hers in the future!!
This author likes to fuck around with her MCs' relationships and HEAs and I have had fucking enough, she's just as bad as Mercy Celeste [another author I've put on my "author whose books I'll never read again" list], if not even worse!!!!
BTW - What the hell was that with Sean and Brandt at around 87%?!!? Really?!!? THEN is when this needs to happen?!!? Also, to anyone thinking "life doesn't always have HEAs" ... Well, yes, that's why we call this FICTION! That's why we read this sort of thing, otherwise we'd just watch reality tv or the friggin' news!! I don't need my books to contain MCs that are idiots or ass-wipes [it depends on the context obviously, because some characters HAVE to redeem themselves throughout their characterization and that's COMPLETELY fine - I've encountered bastard MCs that I ended up absolutely ADORING but it's not within this same context, it's not now and it's not in this book]!! You know what I mean and you know what I'm getting at]!!
This author hurts her MCs just for the sake of it, without rhyme or reason, for pure shock value, simply because she can!! That's fucked up!!!
More to say but I'll end it here for now ... // Puts rant on pause *still fuming* :-/!
*******************
And if you’re wondering why I continued to read this author’s books after discovering the author and her books are just NOT for me [I've discovered I absolutely detest them], it’s because when I FIRST read the blurbs of these books and before having read ANY of the books themselves, I went all out and purchased about 10 books right off the bat! YUP, I committed BIG time [dammit!!]! How was I to know I’d detest this author’s writing as a general whole and subsequently, detest her books as well?! I figured since I spent the money, I’d read the books … mind you, I gave each and every book a fair and decent chance, thus the rating is also 100% fair and decent (in that previous experiences were NOT an influence). Each and every book got the rating it deserved by its own isolated merit!! Verdict? There is absolutely NO doubt this author is NOT for me and I most definitely will NOT be purchasing anything of hers in the future!!
November 8, 2010
What really struck me about this book is that the author plays her characters as if they were musical instruments. She brings out all kinds of emotions with incredible depth and subtlety.
I found myself worried about Sean and Kyle and I couldn't take sides, because both know what is making them miserable (or happy) and, like many people in real life, they can't bring themselves to do the things which will improve their situation because of their pride or because they are afraid they'll make things even worse than how they are.
I could really feel the chemistry between Sean and Kyle, but I could also feel the strain of their relationship, as they were going through their trial. I also liked the secondary character - the sleazy Brandt, or Jack and Tony, the main couple's best friends, the sometimes overwhelming families.
I can't really say much more, it's an amazing book.
I found myself worried about Sean and Kyle and I couldn't take sides, because both know what is making them miserable (or happy) and, like many people in real life, they can't bring themselves to do the things which will improve their situation because of their pride or because they are afraid they'll make things even worse than how they are.
I could really feel the chemistry between Sean and Kyle, but I could also feel the strain of their relationship, as they were going through their trial. I also liked the secondary character - the sleazy Brandt, or Jack and Tony, the main couple's best friends, the sometimes overwhelming families.
I can't really say much more, it's an amazing book.
September 30, 2013
If you read my reviews, then by now you know I keep reading K.A. Mitchell's books out of order. It doesn't hurt, but I seem to do it with her books a lot. This is #1 in the Ohio series.
This story is about Sean and Kyle, who have been together for 6 years. Everyone knows and comments on how much in love they are. It seems like the perfect relationship. Sean is a high school teacher. Kyle an architect. They have good jobs, a great house, a good life. This is all shattered one day when a gunman enters Sean's high school. Sean becomes a hero when he thwarts the gunman, but not before students are killed, and Sean is badly injured.
This event shakes Sean and Kyle's relationship to it's core. There is much anger, angst, anxiety, as their relationship begins to unravel. The book becomes a testament to how much a relationship can stand before it crumbles to dust. I felt a great deal of anxiousness over how this story was going to play out. I really wanted them to find their way and find their happiness again.
I started this book, but it lost me in the beginning. I went back to it several months later determined to finish it. I am so glad I did. It's a wonderful read and a lesson in survivor guilt.
I give it a classroom full of stars. K.A. Mitchell has yet to disappoint me.
This story is about Sean and Kyle, who have been together for 6 years. Everyone knows and comments on how much in love they are. It seems like the perfect relationship. Sean is a high school teacher. Kyle an architect. They have good jobs, a great house, a good life. This is all shattered one day when a gunman enters Sean's high school. Sean becomes a hero when he thwarts the gunman, but not before students are killed, and Sean is badly injured.
This event shakes Sean and Kyle's relationship to it's core. There is much anger, angst, anxiety, as their relationship begins to unravel. The book becomes a testament to how much a relationship can stand before it crumbles to dust. I felt a great deal of anxiousness over how this story was going to play out. I really wanted them to find their way and find their happiness again.
I started this book, but it lost me in the beginning. I went back to it several months later determined to finish it. I am so glad I did. It's a wonderful read and a lesson in survivor guilt.
I give it a classroom full of stars. K.A. Mitchell has yet to disappoint me.
October 5, 2012
2.5 Stars
This was just an ok book for me. I liked the story well enough but I had a hard time getting over the never-ending rut that the MC's, Kyle and Sean were stuck in. They both irritated me to no end. Three quarters of the book was one of them asking the other “Are you ok?”, “Fine”, “Okay”, and then makeup sex. Wash, rinse, repeat. That’s usually not a good sign when reading a romance.
I thought the storyline was interesting. It felt like this could be a real life situation, happening anywhere in the world. Kyle and Sean’s emotions also seemed realistic. The author did a great job of bringing you into their world, experiencing their day to day life with them. I guess I just had a hard time with the monotony of their actions.
The secondary characters were great, although Sean’s mother got a bit annoying. Overbearing much? I did like Kyle’s family though, they were so cute. It reminded me of my family on Christmas Eve, big fish dinner, everyone together and nowhere to sit, kids running around everywhere. Oh and I loved Tony! I was very happy to find out the next book was about him. Need more of him.
October 16, 2010
This was a very emotional book but in a good way. It was hard to put down. It starts 6 years into a very loving couples relationship, that perfect couple, when an unimagineable tragedy strikes that turns their world upside down. They each have different ways of dealing with it. Being guys, instead of talking about it, they go off and deal with it in their own ways so you want to shake both of them because you have the benefit of knowing what's going on in both of their heads. You know they both want the same thing...each other. They deal with some serious real world issues and some scary ones at that. They're still very much in love through all the crap that they drag each other through and in the end they realize what they are to each other and how much they don't want to loose that and we get our HEA. But it's an emotinally charged ride...heart in your throat, sometimes you want to cry, sometimes you want to smack Kyle and/or Sean, before you get to the end, but once you get there, it was well worth the ride.
April 24, 2010
Really liked this one. The characters are so real and memorable, and for me that's the key to this book.
Sean and Kyle each have strengths that feed theirs and each other's weaknesses, and weaknesses that feed their strengths. Their love both encourages and scares each one of them in a different way, despite being together for over 6 years. Their relationship is strong and lasting, but at the same time fragile and at times helpless. I adore the both of them.
The circumstances in the book come to vivid life through both Sean and Kyle, and the other host of characters, as well, circumstances that would seriously try any relationship and make anyone re-evaluate their lives and loves .
Damn good read.
Sean and Kyle each have strengths that feed theirs and each other's weaknesses, and weaknesses that feed their strengths. Their love both encourages and scares each one of them in a different way, despite being together for over 6 years. Their relationship is strong and lasting, but at the same time fragile and at times helpless. I adore the both of them.
The circumstances in the book come to vivid life through both Sean and Kyle, and the other host of characters, as well, circumstances that would seriously try any relationship and make anyone re-evaluate their lives and loves .
Damn good read.
March 16, 2014
This was really high octane angst. An edge of your seat type angst. Not so much from actual suspense, but more from not knowing exactly how either Sean or Kyle were going to screw up next. It's one of those stories where lack of communication almost poisons and ruins everything right and good. One of the only complaints I have is that we see such a small glimpse of their "perfect" relationship prior to the tragedy, it makes it hard to believe and therefore hard to be invested. Although I did become invested, it just took a bit. 3.5 stars.
April 23, 2013
2.5 stars
While I liked the overall story, this was just an okay read for me. Most of the time I couldn't figure out who I wanted to slap more, Kyle or Sean. They both were being so stubborn and it was getting annoying and frustrating. I just wanted them to actually talk and stop trying to solve everything with sex which seemed to be such a large part of how they handled things.
While I liked the overall story, this was just an okay read for me. Most of the time I couldn't figure out who I wanted to slap more, Kyle or Sean. They both were being so stubborn and it was getting annoying and frustrating. I just wanted them to actually talk and stop trying to solve everything with sex which seemed to be such a large part of how they handled things.
January 12, 2014
With romance the standard is to have the meet cute, the falling in love, the big misunderstanding and then the reconciliation/happily ever after. It’s rare that you get a book where the couple has already found each other, are living their happily ever after only to have it taken from them. You get that with Regularly Scheduled Life and it is amazing.
Kyle and Sean are the perfect couple, so perfect the often make their friends sick with envy and adoration at how well they fit together and complement each other. Take one day; a day that is supposed to be full of love and celebration and suddenly everything they had is ripped from them. The actions of a young man with a gun and Sean’s decision to stop him, has their lives forever changed.
This story, it was so real. It read real. I think that is the biggest draw to it for me. I could see this happening, see it all. Not just the horrible news of another school shooting, but Sean and Kyle read normal and I adore that. Life with another person day in and day out no matter how much you love them can become a challenge when and if things get rough. But when something this big, one of you doing something heroic and getting injured in the process and now you are having to take care of them in ways you never thought you would or have them get on your last nerve in a way you never though they could? You are being taken care of by your lover in ways you never thought you would have to; resenting the fact that you want to ask for help but don't want to be a burden or have thing blurred and confused. Not only are you both in these new roles but once the news of the shooting goes viral, the country beings to go ape shit over the fact that not only was the act heroic but “hey, you also happen to be a gay man and now it’s up to you to change the way everyone sees gay men”…yeah.
This book wasn’t just about the relationship of Kyle and Sean. It was about the responsibility one can decide to take when they are put in a situation. Sean has the choice and the chance to be a spokesperson against school violence and one for the gay community. He can put himself out there and do well for the cause but at what cost to his relationship?
I felt for both Kyle and Sean in this story. I went back and forth trying to figure out which one I would be and I still am not clear on that. One on hand I would have been Sean; doing all that I could to make a change, to make sure that things changed and to give all that I could to see it happen. But on the other hand, I would have been Kyle; wanting things to go back to the way they were or at least trying to get their lives to resemble what it used to look like before the shooting. It’s such a fine line to walk and the separation it causes with these two was heartbreaking. They are such a wonderful couple and to see them struggle through this hurt my heart.
If only it was that easy Kyle, if only it was that easy. It really isn't easy when your lover takes on this new side job and gets a PR person whose motives are beyond questionable and you start to wonder what lines have been crossed and if they are any lines anymore? You start to wonder where the man you loved has gone and if this never ending talk show/interview/speaking engagement circuit will stop and if it never does where does that leave your relationship? If you could only get on the same page and see what the other is thinking, hear why they think this is important and see if from their point of view. If only you could just understand, if only he could just understand...OMG! This story really hurt at times. Really hurt. I wanted to smack both Kyle and Sean a few times and just tell them to talk to each other! Just. Talk. Please! Ugh.
The journey these men take to fight and try to keep their happily ever after was again, amazing. The way the story is told took my breath away. It was a beautiful love story. A sexy as all hell love story as well. Let me take a minute from my gushing about the story to say how simply HOT these men were together. Wow. I was speechless. Through their struggle to get back to where they were, they only way they could seem to connect at times was through sex and I wanted them to keep connecting, again and again and again. They know each other so well after six years and they still can’t get enough, still have that same passion for their lover that can turn them on with a glance or a light touch. My goodness. I am blushing thinking of one scene that stands out; from start to finish the scene was sexy, sensual and so intimate. Gah. Just so good.
Regularly Scheduled Life was my first book from K.A. Mitchell and I am a huge fan of her writing already. This was such a wonderful, heartbreaking and again, REAL story and it was a stellar book. I could not have chosen a better way to introduce myself to this author and I cannot wait to read more from her.
Kyle and Sean are the perfect couple, so perfect the often make their friends sick with envy and adoration at how well they fit together and complement each other. Take one day; a day that is supposed to be full of love and celebration and suddenly everything they had is ripped from them. The actions of a young man with a gun and Sean’s decision to stop him, has their lives forever changed.
After six perfect years, he couldn’t handle a month of bullshit?
This story, it was so real. It read real. I think that is the biggest draw to it for me. I could see this happening, see it all. Not just the horrible news of another school shooting, but Sean and Kyle read normal and I adore that. Life with another person day in and day out no matter how much you love them can become a challenge when and if things get rough. But when something this big, one of you doing something heroic and getting injured in the process and now you are having to take care of them in ways you never thought you would or have them get on your last nerve in a way you never though they could? You are being taken care of by your lover in ways you never thought you would have to; resenting the fact that you want to ask for help but don't want to be a burden or have thing blurred and confused. Not only are you both in these new roles but once the news of the shooting goes viral, the country beings to go ape shit over the fact that not only was the act heroic but “hey, you also happen to be a gay man and now it’s up to you to change the way everyone sees gay men”…yeah.
Sean was alive, and eventually everything would get back to normal.
This book wasn’t just about the relationship of Kyle and Sean. It was about the responsibility one can decide to take when they are put in a situation. Sean has the choice and the chance to be a spokesperson against school violence and one for the gay community. He can put himself out there and do well for the cause but at what cost to his relationship?
I felt for both Kyle and Sean in this story. I went back and forth trying to figure out which one I would be and I still am not clear on that. One on hand I would have been Sean; doing all that I could to make a change, to make sure that things changed and to give all that I could to see it happen. But on the other hand, I would have been Kyle; wanting things to go back to the way they were or at least trying to get their lives to resemble what it used to look like before the shooting. It’s such a fine line to walk and the separation it causes with these two was heartbreaking. They are such a wonderful couple and to see them struggle through this hurt my heart.
Why couldn’t he just forget about all the little things and know that as long as Sean had made it through alive, everything else would work out?
If only it was that easy Kyle, if only it was that easy. It really isn't easy when your lover takes on this new side job and gets a PR person whose motives are beyond questionable and you start to wonder what lines have been crossed and if they are any lines anymore? You start to wonder where the man you loved has gone and if this never ending talk show/interview/speaking engagement circuit will stop and if it never does where does that leave your relationship? If you could only get on the same page and see what the other is thinking, hear why they think this is important and see if from their point of view. If only you could just understand, if only he could just understand...OMG! This story really hurt at times. Really hurt. I wanted to smack both Kyle and Sean a few times and just tell them to talk to each other! Just. Talk. Please! Ugh.
Kyle's throat ached. He couldn't lose this. Didn't want to think about crawling into an empty bed without Sean's warmth to greet him.
The journey these men take to fight and try to keep their happily ever after was again, amazing. The way the story is told took my breath away. It was a beautiful love story. A sexy as all hell love story as well. Let me take a minute from my gushing about the story to say how simply HOT these men were together. Wow. I was speechless. Through their struggle to get back to where they were, they only way they could seem to connect at times was through sex and I wanted them to keep connecting, again and again and again. They know each other so well after six years and they still can’t get enough, still have that same passion for their lover that can turn them on with a glance or a light touch. My goodness. I am blushing thinking of one scene that stands out; from start to finish the scene was sexy, sensual and so intimate. Gah. Just so good.
Regularly Scheduled Life was my first book from K.A. Mitchell and I am a huge fan of her writing already. This was such a wonderful, heartbreaking and again, REAL story and it was a stellar book. I could not have chosen a better way to introduce myself to this author and I cannot wait to read more from her.
December 28, 2013
Ugh. Maybe 3.5ish. But I'm in a grumpy mood after reading this so I didn't round up. Whatever.
The good news: It made me feel something.
The bad news: It made me feel supremely pissed.
God, I wanted to strangle these two. I mean... GET IT TOGETHER. Jesus.
Now, to a more appropriate review:
Regularly Scheduled Life deals with a couple who have been together for six years of blissful love. A tragic day in October changes all of that when a shooter enters Sean's school, leaving three dead and Sean injured.
So, perhaps you're expecting acute stress disorder, and perhaps even that's what Sean has, but the thing is I really didn't see any of that. I just saw a couple who suddenly struggled under the weight of a tragedy.
Eventually, Sean does develop some symptoms, but still, that really doesn't explain the hardship in this relationship. I was also really surprised at the lack of horror expressed about the actual event. It was made to seem so mundane, and while I'm not advocating for something more detailed, I just think that the avenue of what was witnessed really wasn't fully explored at all.
This was less about the tragedy, and far more about the epic fail of their relationship.
Also, I couldn't stand Brandt. Wanted to strangle him, along with Sean for at least half of the story.
It just irritated me to no end, and I couldn't stop being annoyed long enough to actually enjoy it. But I liked Tony, so that's a plus.
Normally I really enjoy K.A. Mitchell's books, but this one, not so much, I'm afraid.
The good news: It made me feel something.
The bad news: It made me feel supremely pissed.
God, I wanted to strangle these two. I mean... GET IT TOGETHER. Jesus.
Now, to a more appropriate review:
Regularly Scheduled Life deals with a couple who have been together for six years of blissful love. A tragic day in October changes all of that when a shooter enters Sean's school, leaving three dead and Sean injured.
So, perhaps you're expecting acute stress disorder, and perhaps even that's what Sean has, but the thing is I really didn't see any of that. I just saw a couple who suddenly struggled under the weight of a tragedy.
Eventually, Sean does develop some symptoms, but still, that really doesn't explain the hardship in this relationship. I was also really surprised at the lack of horror expressed about the actual event. It was made to seem so mundane, and while I'm not advocating for something more detailed, I just think that the avenue of what was witnessed really wasn't fully explored at all.
This was less about the tragedy, and far more about the epic fail of their relationship.
Also, I couldn't stand Brandt. Wanted to strangle him, along with Sean for at least half of the story.
It just irritated me to no end, and I couldn't stop being annoyed long enough to actually enjoy it. But I liked Tony, so that's a plus.
Normally I really enjoy K.A. Mitchell's books, but this one, not so much, I'm afraid.
April 2, 2010
Ultimately, this book was annoying. Very thin in characterization and or emotional development. The premise is very complex and compelling. (That's why I bought it!) However, I found no rich discoveries or compelling examples of the different ways traumatic events affect many more people than the actual participants, or in this case even the two people most directly affected by it. Every once in a while, when an outside source was chosen to propel the drama forward, that interaction or character was dropped in, no real history presented and usually not even mentioned before and rarely again. Case in point: Kyle's sister. But all of that is a mute point because the action, drama, and development were only excuses to write another sex scene. .and they got to be quite boring after the fist 5.
As I am becoming more aware of this genre of work, I am struck at the balance, or lack of balance between good writing, rich character development, clearly delineated dialogue and sex scenes. IMHO (yeah, whatever) this story is really an erotic work masquerading as a romance. And what I have come to realize, is that I want to experience good fiction that utilizes gay characters. I bought this book with some preconceived ideas and hopes that were not met.
The lesson to be learned here is: if you want good fiction, then get good fiction, not erotica. If you want good erotica, then buy good erotica . . . not this book!
As I am becoming more aware of this genre of work, I am struck at the balance, or lack of balance between good writing, rich character development, clearly delineated dialogue and sex scenes. IMHO (yeah, whatever) this story is really an erotic work masquerading as a romance. And what I have come to realize, is that I want to experience good fiction that utilizes gay characters. I bought this book with some preconceived ideas and hopes that were not met.
The lesson to be learned here is: if you want good fiction, then get good fiction, not erotica. If you want good erotica, then buy good erotica . . . not this book!
July 7, 2010
Wow, this was a wicked read! I don’t normally read books with this much angst, but since it was a K.A. Mitchell book and I’ve loved everything else of hers I’ve read, I thought I would give it a try. Yes, there were points I wanted to hurl my ereader into a wall and I really wish I could have reached in and slapped the characters on more than one occasion, but ultimately, I really enjoyed it.
This story is about how tragedy can effect a couple, even ones devoted and in love and how sometimes you have to fight to keep what you really want. Sean and Kyle have been together for six years when the book begins and in that time they have been the perfect happy couple. That is, until Sean decides to play gay hero extraordinaire at his high school one morning when a teenage shooter comes in, endangering him, the rest of the faculty and the students. Sean manages to disarm the teenager, but not without first getting shot himself. The story focuses on the after effects of his bravery and how coming that close to death effected not only him, but his partner and how the decisions they both made after the incident causes a relationship full of love, to be one rife with tension and anger. Despite all of it though, the two men genuinely love one another and want to be together.
This was a hard book to read at times and I did have to put it down and come back to it more than once, but it was well worth it!
This story is about how tragedy can effect a couple, even ones devoted and in love and how sometimes you have to fight to keep what you really want. Sean and Kyle have been together for six years when the book begins and in that time they have been the perfect happy couple. That is, until Sean decides to play gay hero extraordinaire at his high school one morning when a teenage shooter comes in, endangering him, the rest of the faculty and the students. Sean manages to disarm the teenager, but not without first getting shot himself. The story focuses on the after effects of his bravery and how coming that close to death effected not only him, but his partner and how the decisions they both made after the incident causes a relationship full of love, to be one rife with tension and anger. Despite all of it though, the two men genuinely love one another and want to be together.
This was a hard book to read at times and I did have to put it down and come back to it more than once, but it was well worth it!
April 7, 2013
Ugh, these boys were so frustrating!!!
Sean and Kyle were both stubborn idiots and equally wrong in what caused their relationship to crumble. I felt they handled things pretty realistically compared to most of the romances I read. All their problems were initially triggered by a near death traumatic event; prior to that they had an untested perfect relationship for 6 years. Troubles were bound come about. Yes, they stumbled pretty badly for a bit but were able to figure things out in the end. I believed in their love and refused to give up on them! Plus, their smuttiness was a hot bonus.
Now, I'm kinda curious about what kinda trouble Tony and Jack will get into in Not Knowing Jack. I hear Jack has some secrets!
Sean and Kyle were both stubborn idiots and equally wrong in what caused their relationship to crumble. I felt they handled things pretty realistically compared to most of the romances I read. All their problems were initially triggered by a near death traumatic event; prior to that they had an untested perfect relationship for 6 years. Troubles were bound come about. Yes, they stumbled pretty badly for a bit but were able to figure things out in the end. I believed in their love and refused to give up on them! Plus, their smuttiness was a hot bonus.
Now, I'm kinda curious about what kinda trouble Tony and Jack will get into in Not Knowing Jack. I hear Jack has some secrets!
October 15, 2010
I felt like i was put thru the wringer! Emotionally I was all over the place from tears to wanting to bash heads together. The story of Sean and Kyle's relationship had it's normal ups and downs that I could relate to so well. It was frustrating to see them shut each other out. Oh, and when Sean tells Kyle to just leave??? Or when Kyle tells Sean "Fuck. You." and hangs up on him? I wanted to scream at the book and just tell them "would ya just sit down and talk it out like ADULTS???"
When a book hits me like that, means I felt a part of it all. Real life situation, great writing and a loving story makes this a recommended read.
When a book hits me like that, means I felt a part of it all. Real life situation, great writing and a loving story makes this a recommended read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2010
Sean and Kyle have killed me today. I loved this book!! I wanted to slap Sean and Kyle and tell them to get their acts together. Love is taken for granted all the time. It is the couples who can say, you see this, we overcame this struggle. We were broken, stupid, and hurt, but OUR LOVE overcame all of that. I loved that Sean and Kyle didn't take the easy way out. It would have been so easy to walk away for good, but love is wonderful!
January 26, 2013
Saw this recommended by another reviewer and decided to chance it. A novel of decent length, takes much longer than a couple of hours to read. Great love story with a happy ending. Found the graphic sex scenes went on too long and as such, felt the ending was rather rushed. This is the editor's fault however, as the writing is actually very good. All in all, one I would recommend.
July 13, 2011
Another really good m/m romance by Mitchell that had me crying pretty hard more than once. After becoming famous after being wounded during a school shooting, will Sean be able to return to his regular life with his partner of six years, Kyle? Recommended, but keep the tissues handy.
December 28, 2012
Two men, one an architect, one a school teacher find their lives and their relationship of six years disrupted following a school shooting tragedy that casts one of them into the role of hero and both of them into roles that they are unprepared for. Any event like the one described here changes people but will the two people who are at the center of this story be able to change and yet maintain the kind of perfect relationship that they've crafted?
Remember your first full enjoyable beer? Not the sip of your aunt's that had you swearing you'd never touch the stuff again, ever. Not the last one you had after a long day outside in the sun. I mean your first full beer where you decided you actually enjoyed the complex combination of tastes and knew that you'd be ordering it again, not due to peer pressure but simply because you'd acquired an appreciation for the combination and the experience. In some ways this book had me recalling that experience. This book is an odd compounding of styles that I found enjoyable and sometimes a bit off-putting at the same time. The prose bits and the story that they told were good and could have almost carried a book on their own. The sex scenes were graphic and kinda hot in their own right as well, but this book is a combination and is for a more developed palate. It's an odd combination of the two that not everyone is going to be comfortable with at first. The sex scenes were as graphic as any I've ever read but while reading them my head was often too involved in the plot to ever get fully into the eroticism. The plot-line was compelling on its own but depended on the sex so much that without it the book would have felt incomplete. And yet my mind (and my sense of taste) hasn't gotten used to this combination yet.
I did enjoy the book and it was worth the reading time. But at times I wanted there to have been more character development and at times I wanted there to be a less compelling plot-line and more mindless copulation. Still while this mix wasn't something that I'm currently entirely comfortable with, it does seem like the kind of thing that I'll enjoy more as my mind acclimates.
Not every book will be to every taste but one should sample this one themselves before deciding one way or the other. The prose is well written and clear. And, it's head and shoulders above much of the self published dreck that's currently out there. By all means, check it out and decide for yourself.
Remember your first full enjoyable beer? Not the sip of your aunt's that had you swearing you'd never touch the stuff again, ever. Not the last one you had after a long day outside in the sun. I mean your first full beer where you decided you actually enjoyed the complex combination of tastes and knew that you'd be ordering it again, not due to peer pressure but simply because you'd acquired an appreciation for the combination and the experience. In some ways this book had me recalling that experience. This book is an odd compounding of styles that I found enjoyable and sometimes a bit off-putting at the same time. The prose bits and the story that they told were good and could have almost carried a book on their own. The sex scenes were graphic and kinda hot in their own right as well, but this book is a combination and is for a more developed palate. It's an odd combination of the two that not everyone is going to be comfortable with at first. The sex scenes were as graphic as any I've ever read but while reading them my head was often too involved in the plot to ever get fully into the eroticism. The plot-line was compelling on its own but depended on the sex so much that without it the book would have felt incomplete. And yet my mind (and my sense of taste) hasn't gotten used to this combination yet.
I did enjoy the book and it was worth the reading time. But at times I wanted there to have been more character development and at times I wanted there to be a less compelling plot-line and more mindless copulation. Still while this mix wasn't something that I'm currently entirely comfortable with, it does seem like the kind of thing that I'll enjoy more as my mind acclimates.
Not every book will be to every taste but one should sample this one themselves before deciding one way or the other. The prose is well written and clear. And, it's head and shoulders above much of the self published dreck that's currently out there. By all means, check it out and decide for yourself.
February 11, 2013
Talk about one big book of angst....I loved it!
Established couple of 6 years Sean & Kyle were tooth achingly happy nothing seemed to ever make waves in the relationship until one day shots were fired and everything changed!
I was exhausted by the time I finished this book. K.A. Mitchell did an amazing job giving us details of their everyday life without it being to wordy. As I was reading I felt pain when Sean did or was tired after a trip up the stairs or even pissed the same time Kyle was. I found myself agreeing more with Kyle than Sean on just about everything...not that Sean was a bad person, I just felt Kyles side was were I should be. (I wouldn't be surprised if most people sided with Sean).
We get to go on this emotional roller coaster of these two men fighting to get back to their happily ever after. It's not a fluffy, unicorns & glitter type read....it's more hurt, jealously, anger, guilt and some rough sex. If you're willing to ride this roller coaster with these men you will not be disappointed!
Oh and I just have to say...Can't wait to read about Tony & Jack. And Brandt is a total Douche!
Established couple of 6 years Sean & Kyle were tooth achingly happy nothing seemed to ever make waves in the relationship until one day shots were fired and everything changed!
I was exhausted by the time I finished this book. K.A. Mitchell did an amazing job giving us details of their everyday life without it being to wordy. As I was reading I felt pain when Sean did or was tired after a trip up the stairs or even pissed the same time Kyle was. I found myself agreeing more with Kyle than Sean on just about everything...not that Sean was a bad person, I just felt Kyles side was were I should be. (I wouldn't be surprised if most people sided with Sean).
We get to go on this emotional roller coaster of these two men fighting to get back to their happily ever after. It's not a fluffy, unicorns & glitter type read....it's more hurt, jealously, anger, guilt and some rough sex. If you're willing to ride this roller coaster with these men you will not be disappointed!
Oh and I just have to say...Can't wait to read about Tony & Jack. And Brandt is a total Douche!
December 19, 2010
WOW! Where do i begin.. I Loved this book was really good..BUT WOW you need tissues and it pull you in so many ways,it was a roller coaster of emotions!!
They Boys were so stuborn i wanted to SCREAM at times!!
I hated when Brandt came into it, I wanted him to Leave!!
Eventually he did, thank god!! I love there best friend Tony and Jake! Cant wait to read about them :)
Sean and Kyle were Perfect for each other, but they just had a few issues to sort out before there HEA!! And I was on Kyles side all the way, apart from when he Kissed Daniel!!!!
All in All i recommend this book to every one, You will Laugh, Cry you will get so MAD you will put it down walk away but return to it cos you need to read more..LOL..
I big shout out to Marisa,Heather M, and UK for getting me to read this one!!
Thank you, Luv you guys :)
They Boys were so stuborn i wanted to SCREAM at times!!
I hated when Brandt came into it, I wanted him to Leave!!
Eventually he did, thank god!! I love there best friend Tony and Jake! Cant wait to read about them :)
Sean and Kyle were Perfect for each other, but they just had a few issues to sort out before there HEA!! And I was on Kyles side all the way, apart from when he Kissed Daniel!!!!
All in All i recommend this book to every one, You will Laugh, Cry you will get so MAD you will put it down walk away but return to it cos you need to read more..LOL..
I big shout out to Marisa,Heather M, and UK for getting me to read this one!!
Thank you, Luv you guys :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2011
I had kept this off my list for a long time because I usually dislike stories about established couples. I love the whole falling in love, first kiss, new relationship feel and I often feel cheated out of it when I jump into the middle of a relationship. Nevertheless so many people said such good things about this book that I finally added just to see what the hype was all about. Well I can see that is a good book with good writing and has characters with depth but it just didn't really float my boat. But more for a personal preference thing than a bad writing/bad story thing. In the end, I am glad I read it because I would always have wondered. I am giving it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
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