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Shine a Light
After being viciously outed by his spiteful ex-lover, Donovan “Van” MacKenzie, fallen Hollywood and Broadway star, lands on stage in a small town community theatre—and in the arms of set designer Shane Hollister. Van knows his attraction to the talented young man could seal the fate of his career, but he can’t resist having a “summer thing” while performing at The Globe. When an act of violence catches the men unaware, Van recognizes the message was really meant for him. Walking away from Shane might be the smart thing to do to keep him safe.
Shane Hollister had established himself as a Broadway set designer before his father’s accident forced him to move home to St. Charles. Needing work, Shane accepts a job at The Globe. To his surprise, the small operation equals any big city production. When Van MacKenzie signs on for the new show, Shane grabs the chance to have a summer fling with his big-screen idol, refusing to allow Van’s past to intrude.
Shane knows he has only one chance to catch a fallen star, and keep him for his own...
Shane Hollister had established himself as a Broadway set designer before his father’s accident forced him to move home to St. Charles. Needing work, Shane accepts a job at The Globe. To his surprise, the small operation equals any big city production. When Van MacKenzie signs on for the new show, Shane grabs the chance to have a summer fling with his big-screen idol, refusing to allow Van’s past to intrude.
Shane knows he has only one chance to catch a fallen star, and keep him for his own...
- GenresM M Romance
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2010
Donovan 'Van' MacKenzie comes to the small town of St. Charles to perform in the stage production of Sumner's Garden. A film and Broadway star, he's looking for a chance to continue acting while the scandal caused by his ex-lover outing him dies down. When he meets set designer Shane Hollister, Van is immediately drawn to the younger man but wary of becoming involved. Despite his reservations Van finds himself giving in to the attraction and spending the night with Shane. The next morning real life intrudes on the new lovers and Van doesn't even have a chance at a personal goodbye before heading back home.
A month later Van is on his way back to St. Charles and eager to see Shane again. But when Shane meets him at the airport he's distant and reserved, totally unlike the outgoing young man Van is used to. He's also brought along an old friend who's visiting and Van's hopes of spending time with Shane disappear. A few days later, during an emotional conversation, Shane is finally able to share with Van the reason for his distance.
Van is supportive and understanding and as the days go by their relationship deepens. They're enjoying their time together as they prepare for opening night until someone starts to cause trouble. Van is sure it's somehow connected to his past and his suspicions are proven correct in an act that almost cost him his life.
Shine A Light is an entertaining story. The plot, while a bit predictable, was still interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. Van and Shane are engaging and likable characters and I enjoyed the development of their relationship. The sex scenes are well written and pretty hot yet don't overwhelm the overall feel of the story. The supporting characters are nice additions to the story.
Van is older than Shane and worries quite a bit about the thirteen year age difference between them while Shane's concerned about their careers separating them. These are worries that any couple with a large age gap and jobs that could take them far away from each other might also have and so I felt it worked well in the story.
Overall this is a really nice, solidly written contemporary romance. It's an easy read with a satisfying ending that clearly shows the heroes hopes for a wonderful future together. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
A month later Van is on his way back to St. Charles and eager to see Shane again. But when Shane meets him at the airport he's distant and reserved, totally unlike the outgoing young man Van is used to. He's also brought along an old friend who's visiting and Van's hopes of spending time with Shane disappear. A few days later, during an emotional conversation, Shane is finally able to share with Van the reason for his distance.
Van is supportive and understanding and as the days go by their relationship deepens. They're enjoying their time together as they prepare for opening night until someone starts to cause trouble. Van is sure it's somehow connected to his past and his suspicions are proven correct in an act that almost cost him his life.
Shine A Light is an entertaining story. The plot, while a bit predictable, was still interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. Van and Shane are engaging and likable characters and I enjoyed the development of their relationship. The sex scenes are well written and pretty hot yet don't overwhelm the overall feel of the story. The supporting characters are nice additions to the story.
Van is older than Shane and worries quite a bit about the thirteen year age difference between them while Shane's concerned about their careers separating them. These are worries that any couple with a large age gap and jobs that could take them far away from each other might also have and so I felt it worked well in the story.
Overall this is a really nice, solidly written contemporary romance. It's an easy read with a satisfying ending that clearly shows the heroes hopes for a wonderful future together. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
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March 23, 2010Sincerely this story surprised me since it’s not at all the light romance I was expecting, it has some deep layers that is a joy to discover.
Van is a former big star of Hollywood, former for two reasons: first he is no more in the prime of his age, over 40 years old is no more a hit for Hollywood blockbuster, and second he was outed by a jealous ex-boyfriend, and big name star and gay in Hollywood seem not to well match. So, as many before, he accepts to play an Off-Off and again Off Broadway play for a Summer festival, so off that it’s not even in New York, but in a quiet little town, St. Charles, two hundred miles west of Manhattan.
But since the first night he goes to visit St. Charles and the Globe theatre, Van understands that he is not embarking in an amateur enterprise, and both director than set designer are really professional, and above all Shane, the set designer is also a very handsome young man, and also very gay. Perspective for a nice summer is on the horizon, but Van soon realizes that he doesn’t want only a summer fling: despite Shane’s young age, and Van’s involvement in a world that is miles away from St. Charles, Van starts to desire for something real and lasting.
Other than a nice romance and some good sex scene, the author fits in the story also some committed matter like the challenging of May / December relationship, the trust in love and in your lover, and the importance of safe sex. When Van was young he had a relationship with an older man, a man who also helped him in his rising career as an actor; it was not a bad relationship, but it’s now clear to Van that it was not love: both men involved obtained what they wanted and in the end nothing left. But despite this experience, Van has not preconceptions against a May / December relationship, and not only since he is now the December side of it: I have never felt like Van gave much importance to the age difference, maybe also helped in it by the fact that Shane is not a man with self-conscious issue and he has no real need of Van to improve in his career.
More attention I think the author gave to the trust between lovers, a notion that works in two different situations. First when it’s time to talk about safe sex and past relationships, and there is a moment that a luck of trust, or better an imprudence of one of them put in danger all their future chance of a long lasting relationship. Second when Van admits his discomfort in being the submissive partner during sex, not really for a preference in sexual position, but more for the lack of trust in his previous partners, trust them to be sensitive enough to care also for their partner pleasure.
So yes, this extended novella was really a nice surprise, once that I recommend more people to give it a try.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602728046/?...
Van is a former big star of Hollywood, former for two reasons: first he is no more in the prime of his age, over 40 years old is no more a hit for Hollywood blockbuster, and second he was outed by a jealous ex-boyfriend, and big name star and gay in Hollywood seem not to well match. So, as many before, he accepts to play an Off-Off and again Off Broadway play for a Summer festival, so off that it’s not even in New York, but in a quiet little town, St. Charles, two hundred miles west of Manhattan.
But since the first night he goes to visit St. Charles and the Globe theatre, Van understands that he is not embarking in an amateur enterprise, and both director than set designer are really professional, and above all Shane, the set designer is also a very handsome young man, and also very gay. Perspective for a nice summer is on the horizon, but Van soon realizes that he doesn’t want only a summer fling: despite Shane’s young age, and Van’s involvement in a world that is miles away from St. Charles, Van starts to desire for something real and lasting.
Other than a nice romance and some good sex scene, the author fits in the story also some committed matter like the challenging of May / December relationship, the trust in love and in your lover, and the importance of safe sex. When Van was young he had a relationship with an older man, a man who also helped him in his rising career as an actor; it was not a bad relationship, but it’s now clear to Van that it was not love: both men involved obtained what they wanted and in the end nothing left. But despite this experience, Van has not preconceptions against a May / December relationship, and not only since he is now the December side of it: I have never felt like Van gave much importance to the age difference, maybe also helped in it by the fact that Shane is not a man with self-conscious issue and he has no real need of Van to improve in his career.
More attention I think the author gave to the trust between lovers, a notion that works in two different situations. First when it’s time to talk about safe sex and past relationships, and there is a moment that a luck of trust, or better an imprudence of one of them put in danger all their future chance of a long lasting relationship. Second when Van admits his discomfort in being the submissive partner during sex, not really for a preference in sexual position, but more for the lack of trust in his previous partners, trust them to be sensitive enough to care also for their partner pleasure.
So yes, this extended novella was really a nice surprise, once that I recommend more people to give it a try.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602728046/?...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews