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Maui
When Ishmael Fanning, a Florida surfer and grade school teacher, gets dumped by his partner of seven years, he relocates to the Hawaiian island of Maui. There he quickly finds himself involved with two younger men, Corey, a competition surfer, and Spencer, who works in a skateboard shop. Eventually, Ishmael must choose between Corey and Spencer, and it's not an easy decision for him to make. Spencer's not the brightest guy, but he has a sensitive side that appeals to Ishmael. Corey's a prize-winning surfer, he's got two years of college and he looks like a fashion model, but his sexual orientation troubles him. Both Spencer and Corey want Ishmael as a lover. Which guy will Ishmael choose?
- GenresGayM M Romance
37 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Martin Delacroix
36 books47 followersMartin Delacroix's short fiction appears in over twenty erotic, gay anthologies published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance Publishing, Torquere Press, Starbooks Press and Eternal Press. He has published several novels: "Loving Samuel", "Maui", "Love Quest", "Trick and Treat", "Adrian's Scar", "Jailbords", "Capable of Evil", and "De Narvaez". Martin published a short novel with a BDSM theme titled "Passion Play". And he has published five single-author anthologies: "Boys Who Love Men", "Flawed Boys", "Boys in Heat", "Supernatural Love", and "Becoming Men".
Several of Martin's titles went out of print when Noble Romance Publishing (NRP) closed its doors. Martin revised and expanded most of these books, and then re-published them through Amazon's Createspace and Kindle Direct Publishing programs. Thus, when you review Martin's books on Goodreads, you'll see the old NRP versions of certain titles, as well as the re-published versions.
Martin lives with his partner, Greg, on a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. Visit his website at http://martindelacroix.com/
Several of Martin's titles went out of print when Noble Romance Publishing (NRP) closed its doors. Martin revised and expanded most of these books, and then re-published them through Amazon's Createspace and Kindle Direct Publishing programs. Thus, when you review Martin's books on Goodreads, you'll see the old NRP versions of certain titles, as well as the re-published versions.
Martin lives with his partner, Greg, on a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. Visit his website at http://martindelacroix.com/
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 16, 2018
This is my first book by this author. And I have to be honest here. I’m not sure I would read another book by him. I wasn’t feeling the way this story was written.
I’ll just dive right into my review.
Ok.... I was all for Corey and Ishmael. Because I started to feel the connection with them in the beginning of this novella. So when Spencer kinda popped in when he did. And everything they started doing from the first night. It was a no brainer who I felt the biggest connection with.
Once Corey popped back in the picture. I just wasn’t feeling the whole Corey thing anymore. It seemed out of place. Then what Ishmael did to Spencer!
“ It’s a compatibility thing.”
You’ll understand what I mean by that if you’ve read this book! Omg... I was so upset!
Ishmael was horrible. The whole time he was with Corey I felt disgusted. He just treated Spencer the same way his ex treated him. And Corey was horrible too! There was nothing good about him.
This book didn’t do anything for me. I just felt bad for poor Spencer. And I wasn’t even feeling the sex scenes. I have a foot phobia! (I know... I’m weird!) So when Ishmael started to lick Spencer feet and between the toes... I was out! Hahaha
Yeah... that’s not my thing!
This book was not for me.
*ARC provided by NineStar Press, LLC via Netgalley*
I’ll just dive right into my review.
Ok.... I was all for Corey and Ishmael. Because I started to feel the connection with them in the beginning of this novella. So when Spencer kinda popped in when he did. And everything they started doing from the first night. It was a no brainer who I felt the biggest connection with.
Once Corey popped back in the picture. I just wasn’t feeling the whole Corey thing anymore. It seemed out of place. Then what Ishmael did to Spencer!
“ It’s a compatibility thing.”
You’ll understand what I mean by that if you’ve read this book! Omg... I was so upset!
Ishmael was horrible. The whole time he was with Corey I felt disgusted. He just treated Spencer the same way his ex treated him. And Corey was horrible too! There was nothing good about him.
This book didn’t do anything for me. I just felt bad for poor Spencer. And I wasn’t even feeling the sex scenes. I have a foot phobia! (I know... I’m weird!) So when Ishmael started to lick Spencer feet and between the toes... I was out! Hahaha
Yeah... that’s not my thing!
This book was not for me.
*ARC provided by NineStar Press, LLC via Netgalley*
March 20, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
This just wasn't a good book. Horribly unlikable characters who show no growth. Awful sex scenes and erotica that literally had me wrinkling my nose in disgust at some parts. A bare-bones skeleton of a story that hardly earns a happy ending.
I thought for a minute that this would be a M/M/M story with Corey, Ishmael, and Spencer all sort of working out their differences and coming together, but instead, Ishmael just jerked these two dudes around as he pleased and then threw a pity party when it didn't work out (I mean, Corey is insufferable and Spencer is a bonehead, but still). No chemistry whatsoever beyond Ishmael looking at their dicks and asses. There's just a tone of pervasive and cruel predatory sexuality that makes the whole romance and reading experience supremely unpleasant.
It was a short read, so no loss on my part. But I can't recommend anything about it. I won't read the author again.
This just wasn't a good book. Horribly unlikable characters who show no growth. Awful sex scenes and erotica that literally had me wrinkling my nose in disgust at some parts. A bare-bones skeleton of a story that hardly earns a happy ending.
I thought for a minute that this would be a M/M/M story with Corey, Ishmael, and Spencer all sort of working out their differences and coming together, but instead, Ishmael just jerked these two dudes around as he pleased and then threw a pity party when it didn't work out (I mean, Corey is insufferable and Spencer is a bonehead, but still). No chemistry whatsoever beyond Ishmael looking at their dicks and asses. There's just a tone of pervasive and cruel predatory sexuality that makes the whole romance and reading experience supremely unpleasant.
It was a short read, so no loss on my part. But I can't recommend anything about it. I won't read the author again.
January 15, 2018
First, I will say this. I did request this book to review because the description of the book peaked my interest. However....the story itself was a major let down for me. On all fronts The MC (Ishmael)of this book came across as…needy? desperate?flighty?
He's hurt because his partner of many years dropped him like a hot potato, so, to heal he starts anew in Maui. Here he meets a man (Corey) who...IMO, is in no way shape or form likable. Not even when he half assed comes out to him in an attempt to get him into bed.
Through Corey, he meets Spencer-who from all appearances, is a jerk. Underneath it all, he’s jealous because he’s gay, he has a friendship with Corey and until most recently, he and Corey were sleeping together. But…Corey refuses to come out and wants all his side pieces to remain just that-but he wants them to remain there and not choose to be with someone else.
So, Spencer and Ishmael begin a relationship and within a matter of DAYS they are in love. They say the words to each other. But wait! Corey comes back and “what about me?” This is when he gives that poor pitiful pathetic what about me speech to Ishmael and Ishmael eats it up like no bodies business and drops Spencer like a hot potato.
The author lost me well before this point in this novella, but for me, this sealed the deal. I could not stand Ishmael. He deserved the treatment and toss away he got from Corey and in no way should Spencer have ever given him another chance. But of course, he does.
He's hurt because his partner of many years dropped him like a hot potato, so, to heal he starts anew in Maui. Here he meets a man (Corey) who...IMO, is in no way shape or form likable. Not even when he half assed comes out to him in an attempt to get him into bed.
Through Corey, he meets Spencer-who from all appearances, is a jerk. Underneath it all, he’s jealous because he’s gay, he has a friendship with Corey and until most recently, he and Corey were sleeping together. But…Corey refuses to come out and wants all his side pieces to remain just that-but he wants them to remain there and not choose to be with someone else.
So, Spencer and Ishmael begin a relationship and within a matter of DAYS they are in love. They say the words to each other. But wait! Corey comes back and “what about me?” This is when he gives that poor pitiful pathetic what about me speech to Ishmael and Ishmael eats it up like no bodies business and drops Spencer like a hot potato.
The author lost me well before this point in this novella, but for me, this sealed the deal. I could not stand Ishmael. He deserved the treatment and toss away he got from Corey and in no way should Spencer have ever given him another chance. But of course, he does.
January 8, 2018
I didn't hate this book but there were so many UGH moments for me for some reason. Not a 2 star but not quite a 3 star for me either. It was def short and that's not a problem...not really sure I can pinpoint what my problem with it is. I love reading MM and I thought it was really going to go somewhere deep with the relationships but somehow it was just to "surface-y". I did like how Ishmael saw that he was treating Spencer like he was previously treated and glad that he got an HEA.
Book provided by Netgalley for an honest opinion.
Book provided by Netgalley for an honest opinion.
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October 16, 2018Uh, so, this was not what I was expecting, at all. Is it just me or was this more erotica than romance? Perhaps not, but the story felt so rushed and the characters just fall into bed so quickly, there was no time to enjoy anything romance-y because there was nothing romantic about their meetings etc. I don’t have a problem with that, or insta-lust, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for and since the sex fell super flat for me there wasn’t much to enjoy overall. Maybe it’s the narrative that made it feel rather clinical, the sex more robotic than hot.
Sadly, I didn’t care much for any of the main characters, which made it all the more difficult to enjoy their story. Ishmael Was okay, a bit wishy washy and whiny. Corey was cute but didn’t talk much except about surfing so I can’t really say a lot about him. The same goes for Spencer only he acted like a jerk at first - I didn’t get WHY Ishmael jumped into bed with him, other than he probably was a sexy bastard and Ishmael horny af. I mean, there wasn’t enough time to start liking the characters before they messed around and then the book was already over. Huh.
The narrative didn’t click with me, he described so many things I found unnecessary and that slowed the pace, despite it being a relatively short novella!
Still, I appreciate the time and love the author put into creating this book and its characters. I’m certain there are the right readers this book, it just wasn’t me :(
▽
Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
Sadly, I didn’t care much for any of the main characters, which made it all the more difficult to enjoy their story. Ishmael Was okay, a bit wishy washy and whiny. Corey was cute but didn’t talk much except about surfing so I can’t really say a lot about him. The same goes for Spencer only he acted like a jerk at first - I didn’t get WHY Ishmael jumped into bed with him, other than he probably was a sexy bastard and Ishmael horny af. I mean, there wasn’t enough time to start liking the characters before they messed around and then the book was already over. Huh.
The narrative didn’t click with me, he described so many things I found unnecessary and that slowed the pace, despite it being a relatively short novella!
Still, I appreciate the time and love the author put into creating this book and its characters. I’m certain there are the right readers this book, it just wasn’t me :(
▽
Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
April 29, 2010
This very short story is a tantalizing, delicious read. It packs an emotional whallop and would have gotten five stars except for the sloppy edits, especially the disjointed beginning.
"Maui" opens with three pages of backstory that should have been folded into the narrative in a more cohesive way.
However, once Ishmael arrives in Hawaii, you feel the wind, smell the sea and fall for his two hot hunks right along with him. Having spent a lot of time in Maui, all his detail of the town of Lahaina is dead-on.
I wish the story had been longer, or that the editor had taken the time to encourage the author to use a few more sentences to bring us closer to Ishmael, a fascinating, flawed man.
For example, he lands a lucrative teaching job almost the moment he arrives in Maui but we hear nothing about it. On one line he takes the job, the very next line he's grading papers. How Ishmael gets a job like that when Hawaii is in a severe economic crisis is questionable...what itsn't questionable however is Delacroix's talent. His love scenes are some of the best I have ever read. This is how real guys fall in love and get it on. His language is rich, his emotions raw.
I hope he writes another story soon but for now, I'll live with this sweet love song for a small island.
"Maui" opens with three pages of backstory that should have been folded into the narrative in a more cohesive way.
However, once Ishmael arrives in Hawaii, you feel the wind, smell the sea and fall for his two hot hunks right along with him. Having spent a lot of time in Maui, all his detail of the town of Lahaina is dead-on.
I wish the story had been longer, or that the editor had taken the time to encourage the author to use a few more sentences to bring us closer to Ishmael, a fascinating, flawed man.
For example, he lands a lucrative teaching job almost the moment he arrives in Maui but we hear nothing about it. On one line he takes the job, the very next line he's grading papers. How Ishmael gets a job like that when Hawaii is in a severe economic crisis is questionable...what itsn't questionable however is Delacroix's talent. His love scenes are some of the best I have ever read. This is how real guys fall in love and get it on. His language is rich, his emotions raw.
I hope he writes another story soon but for now, I'll live with this sweet love song for a small island.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2010
I liked this story about Ishmael, who gets dumped by his long-term boyfriend and moves to Maui to try and start a new life. Actually, I liked the way the story was told, the setting (lots of detail) and the ending. There were times in the middle of the book where I wanted to shake some sense into Ishmael.
So, even though the story is told well and I likd the ending, I just couldn't find any sort of emotinal connetion to the main character until the very end. If you're not worried about missing that connection, you will probably like the story a lot more than I did.
So, even though the story is told well and I likd the ending, I just couldn't find any sort of emotinal connetion to the main character until the very end. If you're not worried about missing that connection, you will probably like the story a lot more than I did.
August 10, 2016
This was well written short story about broken feelings, broken dreams and new future. We are all humans with same mistakes, how funny but so true.
February 19, 2019
I enjoyed this story quite a bit! Why the excitement? I have not been a huge fan of male centered relationships, especially those written by men simply because my narrow perspective was tarnished several years ago when reading a poorly written book. Martin Delacroix has redeemed the entire genre with this one novella.
Maui is the heartfelt story of what happens to the hero, Ishmael, when his longtime partner abruptly ends their relationship leaving him for another man. Heartsore, Ishmael decides that he needs a change, and going to extremes moves from one side of the country to the other, ending up in Hawaii. Once there, he eventually adapts to the locals, the more relaxed pace and starts to heal. With healing comes the capacity to love again, and naturally Ishmael being the sensitive guy that he is, is receptive to whatever life has to offer.
Mr. Delacroix is adept at depicting Ishmael's feelings throughout his book: from his painful ansgt at the broken relationship, to the feelings of loneliness he experiences when he arrives in Hawaii, alone with no friends or family. The natural progression would seem to be opening his heart to love again, and as a reader almost feeling that hopeful elation with Ishmael as he believes new love could be his was enjoyable. Watching this new relationship develop, all the steps forward and the mistakes pulling them back at times pa in full to read. The connections Ishmael forms while finding his "one" offer the reader a lesson in male/male relationships, but in a tasteful way that seems more softly erotic, rather than graphic and vulgar. All told, this was a nice little novella, and good way to pass the time.
I received a copy of this book for an honest and unbiased review.
Sent from Samsung tablet.
Maui is the heartfelt story of what happens to the hero, Ishmael, when his longtime partner abruptly ends their relationship leaving him for another man. Heartsore, Ishmael decides that he needs a change, and going to extremes moves from one side of the country to the other, ending up in Hawaii. Once there, he eventually adapts to the locals, the more relaxed pace and starts to heal. With healing comes the capacity to love again, and naturally Ishmael being the sensitive guy that he is, is receptive to whatever life has to offer.
Mr. Delacroix is adept at depicting Ishmael's feelings throughout his book: from his painful ansgt at the broken relationship, to the feelings of loneliness he experiences when he arrives in Hawaii, alone with no friends or family. The natural progression would seem to be opening his heart to love again, and as a reader almost feeling that hopeful elation with Ishmael as he believes new love could be his was enjoyable. Watching this new relationship develop, all the steps forward and the mistakes pulling them back at times pa in full to read. The connections Ishmael forms while finding his "one" offer the reader a lesson in male/male relationships, but in a tasteful way that seems more softly erotic, rather than graphic and vulgar. All told, this was a nice little novella, and good way to pass the time.
I received a copy of this book for an honest and unbiased review.
Sent from Samsung tablet.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews