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Horizons #1
Horizons
Horizons Book One
Twenty-three-year-old Clark Stevens, a popular wide receiver with a potential NFL contract, has a few problems. He's got a jealous girlfriend, a narrow-minded and controlling father, an attention problem, and an unexpected and powerful attraction to the trauma doctor—the male trauma doctor—who treats him for a broken bone.
Dr. Jody Williams is getting some really mixed signals. He can't ignore how much he wants Clark, because it's obvious Clark feels the same way. For the out and proud doctor, the solution seems very simple. For Clark, it's not! His world is not gay-friendly, and the obstacles he's faced have led him to deny his sexuality for years.
It's the Super Bowl of disasters, no matter how you look at it. In the end, Clark has to decide if he's going to stick with the only life he's ever known or take a chance on a new one with Jody.
Twenty-three-year-old Clark Stevens, a popular wide receiver with a potential NFL contract, has a few problems. He's got a jealous girlfriend, a narrow-minded and controlling father, an attention problem, and an unexpected and powerful attraction to the trauma doctor—the male trauma doctor—who treats him for a broken bone.
Dr. Jody Williams is getting some really mixed signals. He can't ignore how much he wants Clark, because it's obvious Clark feels the same way. For the out and proud doctor, the solution seems very simple. For Clark, it's not! His world is not gay-friendly, and the obstacles he's faced have led him to deny his sexuality for years.
It's the Super Bowl of disasters, no matter how you look at it. In the end, Clark has to decide if he's going to stick with the only life he's ever known or take a chance on a new one with Jody.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Mickie B. Ashling
51 books346 followersMICKIE B. ASHLING is the pseudonym of a multi-published author who resides in a suburb outside Chicago. She is a product of her upbringing in various cultures, having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East and West.
Since 2009, Mickie has written several dozen novels in the LGBTQ+ genre—which have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, and German. A lot of her backlist is “Under Construction” as she slowly transitions from traditional publishing to representing herself. Her goal is to have most of her novels back in the universe by the end of 2023.
CONTACT INFO:
Email: mickie.ashling@gmail.com
Website: mickieashling.com
Blog: mickiebashling.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mickie.ashling
Twitter: @MickieAshling
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/micki...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickieashling/
Since 2009, Mickie has written several dozen novels in the LGBTQ+ genre—which have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, and German. A lot of her backlist is “Under Construction” as she slowly transitions from traditional publishing to representing herself. Her goal is to have most of her novels back in the universe by the end of 2023.
CONTACT INFO:
Email: mickie.ashling@gmail.com
Website: mickieashling.com
Blog: mickiebashling.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mickie.ashling
Twitter: @MickieAshling
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/micki...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickieashling/
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September 1, 2016
DNF at 36%
I'm going to be kind and not rate this book, mostly because it's an ARC, and I'm feeling charitable today.
Warning: bitchy Heather ranting ahead. Read with caution.
I legit HATED this one. I hated the writing style, I hated the unbelievable story (I mean, what ER doctor tutors a random patient in literature in his spare time???), and I hated the whiny characters.
But most of all, I hated the narration by John Solo. I'm done trying books by him because of the simple fact that I just can't stand his speaking voice. He sounds like an old man, and not a very attractive one. It grates on my nerves to listen to him, and YES I KNOW I SOUND MEAN. I literally could not listen for one more minute to his voice.
DNF to save my sanity.
December 31, 2009
In this melodramatic and over the top sports romance, angst and tears are as much a part of the men’s relationship as the rampant hot sex. From the polarizing personalities to the incredulous happy ending, this story unfortunately fails to deliver an interesting or well-crafted story or romance. Characterization ran from clichés to immense emotional angst without proper context or meaning leaving the amateurish prose better suited to fan fiction. This type of story might appeal to those who enjoy an excessively angst driven story with a romanticized ending unbelievable even in the fantasy of romance stories. For those fans of the genre that prefer well written, well developed characters and storylines, you’re better suited to giving this story a wide berth.
The plot has several major holes in its construction leaving the story arc loose and unstructured. For starters, one of the main characters – Clark – is twenty-three and a junior at Cal University. He has ADD but his struggles with school were largely overlooked by professors and teachers due to his football talent. So how he is 23 (almost 24) and just beginning his third year in college without being held back or taking time off is a mystery and never explained. Furthermore the story begins in the fall a few months before Thanksgiving when Clark first breaks his arm and the football season is already over. Since college football seasons typically don’t end until close to December, why Clark’s season was already over in September/October is never explained. Presumably it was not due to the broken arm since several references are made to the season already being over at this point. These types of holes were rampant in the story as if the attention to detail wasn’t important.
Additionally the characters were very stereotypical and came across as unrealistic caricatures even amongst the admittedly romance fantasy story. There was the homophobic football obsessed family that would stop at nothing, including violence, to ensure Clark was a football star. Yet this same family denigrated Clark at every opportunity. The cliché gay friend in Lil who is flamboyantly gay and although a fun and flirty character, he came across as the author’s idea of a typical gay man rather than an important character as Jody’s close friend. And finally the obsessive stalker turned pseudo-girlfriend of convenience. None of these characters had any depth or purpose but the most superficial to progress the story.
Neither were Clark or Jody very consistent as characters. Jody is supposedly an out and proud, intelligent doctor with incredible sensitivity, strength, and self-awareness. Jody seemed to change whenever Clark was around, going from a capable and rational man to a crying, insecure, weak willed man that was willing to hide his sexuality for a lover who was afraid of coming out. While clearly the decision to be an openly gay football player is not an easy choice to make, Clark more so refused to accept he was gay and Jody allowed himself to be affected by this homophobic fear so much so it sends the unflappable doctor into crying hysterics at one point. Jody furthermore made numerous out of character comments describing himself as “a jealous queen” or “an insecure fag” and “a drama queen.” None of these comments were consistent with Jody’s character, who is described by Clark as “not even looking gay.”
Which brings me to the problems with Clark, of which there were several. He is an emotional wreck wrapped up in 6'4" of gorgeous hunk. While outwardly very masculine with a lightening quick temper and anger problems, Clark repressed all his gay desires and longings for such a long time that he was afraid to act on them even when faced with a man he desired. He seems to swing from extremes in emotion and spends well over half the book crying. Clark starts the first scene of the book crying over his injured arm and never seems to stop, despite his rough and tough upbringing, long experience in a hardened sport like football and his own repression of his homosexual desires, Clark still cries over everything and even admits that his reaction to strong emotion is to cry. Well he always feels strong emotion so he cries in just about every scene. He cries over his fears, his emotions, his anger, his desires, and his own failures. As much as this angst and melodrama may be understandable given the confusion Clark is going through, the exaggerated and overuse of drama and tears ran thin well before the story was over.
Even when Clark finally gives into his desire for Jody after sobbing hysterically again, he still continues to rebel against owning his feelings. He’s convinced that certain acts of sex will make him gay and thus after one blowjob acknowledges his orientation with the following statement:
I swallowed like a pro, never missing a beat, and I realized that it was now official. I was definitely gay.
However, he refuses to actually allow Jody to penetrate him until a much later scene where he proves his love by offering Jody the ultimate gift he has and ruminates to himself:
What a joke! Not only was I a pansy but I loved being a bottom, much to Jody’s surprise. My entire family would roll over in a collective faint if they knew how really gay I was.
This type of prose and phrasing was rampant within the book, which read not so much as homophobic but the author’s idea of how gay men related to each other and their own sexuality. This ignorance was at times painful to read and I fatigued on the poor writing well before the unduly unrealistic ending. I realize in romance stories there is a suspension of disbelief, however there is no amount of disbelief able to be suspended to follow the author’s dramatic big misunderstanding and exceedingly perfect happy ending. This easily would have been a DNF if I had that option but I did read the entire story thoroughly for this review, only to come to the over the top ending.
From the poor writing, inconsistent characters, ill-conceived plot, and rampant homophobic commentary, this book was a miss on all fronts for me. Just my opinion as always.
The plot has several major holes in its construction leaving the story arc loose and unstructured. For starters, one of the main characters – Clark – is twenty-three and a junior at Cal University. He has ADD but his struggles with school were largely overlooked by professors and teachers due to his football talent. So how he is 23 (almost 24) and just beginning his third year in college without being held back or taking time off is a mystery and never explained. Furthermore the story begins in the fall a few months before Thanksgiving when Clark first breaks his arm and the football season is already over. Since college football seasons typically don’t end until close to December, why Clark’s season was already over in September/October is never explained. Presumably it was not due to the broken arm since several references are made to the season already being over at this point. These types of holes were rampant in the story as if the attention to detail wasn’t important.
Additionally the characters were very stereotypical and came across as unrealistic caricatures even amongst the admittedly romance fantasy story. There was the homophobic football obsessed family that would stop at nothing, including violence, to ensure Clark was a football star. Yet this same family denigrated Clark at every opportunity. The cliché gay friend in Lil who is flamboyantly gay and although a fun and flirty character, he came across as the author’s idea of a typical gay man rather than an important character as Jody’s close friend. And finally the obsessive stalker turned pseudo-girlfriend of convenience. None of these characters had any depth or purpose but the most superficial to progress the story.
Neither were Clark or Jody very consistent as characters. Jody is supposedly an out and proud, intelligent doctor with incredible sensitivity, strength, and self-awareness. Jody seemed to change whenever Clark was around, going from a capable and rational man to a crying, insecure, weak willed man that was willing to hide his sexuality for a lover who was afraid of coming out. While clearly the decision to be an openly gay football player is not an easy choice to make, Clark more so refused to accept he was gay and Jody allowed himself to be affected by this homophobic fear so much so it sends the unflappable doctor into crying hysterics at one point. Jody furthermore made numerous out of character comments describing himself as “a jealous queen” or “an insecure fag” and “a drama queen.” None of these comments were consistent with Jody’s character, who is described by Clark as “not even looking gay.”
Which brings me to the problems with Clark, of which there were several. He is an emotional wreck wrapped up in 6'4" of gorgeous hunk. While outwardly very masculine with a lightening quick temper and anger problems, Clark repressed all his gay desires and longings for such a long time that he was afraid to act on them even when faced with a man he desired. He seems to swing from extremes in emotion and spends well over half the book crying. Clark starts the first scene of the book crying over his injured arm and never seems to stop, despite his rough and tough upbringing, long experience in a hardened sport like football and his own repression of his homosexual desires, Clark still cries over everything and even admits that his reaction to strong emotion is to cry. Well he always feels strong emotion so he cries in just about every scene. He cries over his fears, his emotions, his anger, his desires, and his own failures. As much as this angst and melodrama may be understandable given the confusion Clark is going through, the exaggerated and overuse of drama and tears ran thin well before the story was over.
Even when Clark finally gives into his desire for Jody after sobbing hysterically again, he still continues to rebel against owning his feelings. He’s convinced that certain acts of sex will make him gay and thus after one blowjob acknowledges his orientation with the following statement:
I swallowed like a pro, never missing a beat, and I realized that it was now official. I was definitely gay.
However, he refuses to actually allow Jody to penetrate him until a much later scene where he proves his love by offering Jody the ultimate gift he has and ruminates to himself:
What a joke! Not only was I a pansy but I loved being a bottom, much to Jody’s surprise. My entire family would roll over in a collective faint if they knew how really gay I was.
This type of prose and phrasing was rampant within the book, which read not so much as homophobic but the author’s idea of how gay men related to each other and their own sexuality. This ignorance was at times painful to read and I fatigued on the poor writing well before the unduly unrealistic ending. I realize in romance stories there is a suspension of disbelief, however there is no amount of disbelief able to be suspended to follow the author’s dramatic big misunderstanding and exceedingly perfect happy ending. This easily would have been a DNF if I had that option but I did read the entire story thoroughly for this review, only to come to the over the top ending.
From the poor writing, inconsistent characters, ill-conceived plot, and rampant homophobic commentary, this book was a miss on all fronts for me. Just my opinion as always.
July 25, 2009
Horizons has got plenty of 5 star ratings so I thought I’d best check it out. While the story begins well and there is some great smex, it was the crying that put me off. I know it’s good to be in touch with your emotions, but harden the fuck up! Maybe I am just a grumpy cow. O-o In saying that, I’d so go back and read the grubby bits cause they were rather good!
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/07/...
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/07/...
April 19, 2016
Horizons is probably one of the oldest books on my TBR list and to be honest had I known what was in story for me it would still be there ageing like fine wine...or vinegar.
Disappointed doesn't really cover it on this one. There were tears...Clark cried, copious amounts. Jody cried, not as much as Clark but it was close...did I mention Clark cried? A lot! Clark's mother cried (bit of a psycho bitch this one), his brothers cried on at least one occassion each, Nikki cried a lot...it's a rough life being an unloved stalker apparently. Jody's friend Lil cried only once or twice...I think? Did I mention Clark cried? The only person I'm fairly certain didn't cry was Clark's father. He was too bad ass to cry he just liked to bully and abuse people. Yeah, I really liked Clark's father...NOT!!!
So now that I've got that out of my system. I just want to be clear about one thing, I don't have a problem with people, real or fictitious, crying. Lord knows I've shed more than my fair share of tears. But there is a limit on how believable it is when the book you are reading has someone crying at the drop of a hat on nearly every page or so it starts to seem. In theory this should have been a good story. In execution for me it failed.
Ok I thought I could do this but I can't. Horizons is in summary one train wreck of a book and I'm feeling like this has the potential to be a train wreck of a review. I probably should have just dnf'd when I got the urge at about 40% but no, I was convinced that things would get better. I was also wrong.
The only redeeming thing in this book for me was Jody's friend Lil. I liked Lil, he was fun and over the top campy which just appealed to me, but he was also a loyal and dependable friend and had a more serious mature side that peeked out once or twice during this story. The next couple of books in this series are about him sooooooooooooooo...I'm going to take a bit of a break from here and read some other stuff and then when this book isn't so fresh in my mind I will give Lil's story a try.
Horizons was my first time reading a book by this author and as disappointing as it ended up being. I'm not prepared to say that I won't give her another try. Who knows I may really enjoy some of the other books and besides it's the only way I'm going to be able to find out if Lil is as full of awesome as I think he is.
Disappointed doesn't really cover it on this one. There were tears...Clark cried, copious amounts. Jody cried, not as much as Clark but it was close...did I mention Clark cried? A lot! Clark's mother cried (bit of a psycho bitch this one), his brothers cried on at least one occassion each, Nikki cried a lot...it's a rough life being an unloved stalker apparently. Jody's friend Lil cried only once or twice...I think? Did I mention Clark cried? The only person I'm fairly certain didn't cry was Clark's father. He was too bad ass to cry he just liked to bully and abuse people. Yeah, I really liked Clark's father...NOT!!!
So now that I've got that out of my system. I just want to be clear about one thing, I don't have a problem with people, real or fictitious, crying. Lord knows I've shed more than my fair share of tears. But there is a limit on how believable it is when the book you are reading has someone crying at the drop of a hat on nearly every page or so it starts to seem. In theory this should have been a good story. In execution for me it failed.
Ok I thought I could do this but I can't. Horizons is in summary one train wreck of a book and I'm feeling like this has the potential to be a train wreck of a review. I probably should have just dnf'd when I got the urge at about 40% but no, I was convinced that things would get better. I was also wrong.
The only redeeming thing in this book for me was Jody's friend Lil. I liked Lil, he was fun and over the top campy which just appealed to me, but he was also a loyal and dependable friend and had a more serious mature side that peeked out once or twice during this story. The next couple of books in this series are about him sooooooooooooooo...I'm going to take a bit of a break from here and read some other stuff and then when this book isn't so fresh in my mind I will give Lil's story a try.
Horizons was my first time reading a book by this author and as disappointing as it ended up being. I'm not prepared to say that I won't give her another try. Who knows I may really enjoy some of the other books and besides it's the only way I'm going to be able to find out if Lil is as full of awesome as I think he is.
August 10, 2019
What an excellent story! It was huge in its scope, but wasn't too ansgsty... the more I read by this author, the more I need :)
Also, audio version - Ashling is so incredibly lucky she scored John Solo. He is incredible and does just a perfect job with her writing - 5 huge stars for him.
Also, audio version - Ashling is so incredibly lucky she scored John Solo. He is incredible and does just a perfect job with her writing - 5 huge stars for him.
August 3, 2011
The lack of research about college football just killed it for me. There is no real "MVP" of the year in college football. Of the game and of the week, sure. Offensive players can win the Heisman, and the best overall Defensive player get the Bednarik. There are awards for the best linebacker (the Butkus Award) the best running back (the Jim Thorpe Award) and so on; but MVP no. Also anyone taken high enough in the draft for that kind of signing bonus has a full scholarship. Books, an apartment on campus, tuition, food, everything is paid for. At my alma mater even water boys and equipment managers at least got partial scholarships. You start, it's a full ride. Especially someone from a Division I school like Cal. Academic suspension doesn't work like that either. Clark should have been red shorted due to injury or something, if the author wanted to give him the season off. He would have been out two or three games.
I don't understand the initial "another Rick" stuff from Lil at all. Why would his name be used like a bad thing if they loved each other and it only ended because Rick died? And a college athlete with his eye on the prize smoking marijuana? The kid is gay not an idiot. Three words: random drug testing.
The premise looked good, but I think this may have benefitted from a beta reader who knew about college football.
I don't understand the initial "another Rick" stuff from Lil at all. Why would his name be used like a bad thing if they loved each other and it only ended because Rick died? And a college athlete with his eye on the prize smoking marijuana? The kid is gay not an idiot. Three words: random drug testing.
The premise looked good, but I think this may have benefitted from a beta reader who knew about college football.
February 1, 2018
2.5
I became a fan of Mickie B. Ashling after reading Loving Edits, which happens to be one of my fave ménages out there. Then the awesome continued with Tono, so of course I was totally down with reading Horizons the blurb sounded interesting enough, but what sounded interesting soon started to fizzle and I was left all kinds of disappointed.
Clark Stevens is a star football player at his college; he's so fantastic that the NFL is most definitely in his future. Too bad he's miserable, with his grades at failing and constantly feeling miserable all the time and Clark is at his breaking point. What he does is lash out and his temper lands him a broken arm and a date in the E.R. What Clark doesn't expect is his instant attraction to doctor Jody Williams, he's kept that part of himself buried tight and wrapped up, but now he's flirting with the doctor but Clark knows that being gay and football just doesn't go hand in hand. Yet, he keeps seeking out the company of the sexy doctor and doing this sexual tension filled dance around each other. Things get more intense when Jody decides to tutor Clark in English and their attraction cannot he denied.
Clark comes with a series of problems, a girl he sleeps with occasionally to show his heterosexuality, a father that’s more of a bully than anything else, and the fact that he feels like an idiot pretty much all the time. Alas, he has Jody a man he's a falling in love with and finally realizing how much happier he is now that he's being honest with what his body wants. Too bad he's gotta stay in the closet until he figures out how to come out without losing everything, because though his new found honesty is exhilarating letting the world know could cost him everything.
First, these guys are like the Canadian weather; one minute they're hot and the next a cool front moves in out of nowhere. They're happy and in the next minute there is tears and them having all the feels. Realistically I can understand Clark's fear of being outed when he's not ready but dude was just setting the trap for a whole bunch of hurt. Obviously, he wanted to come out so his later "lets protect Jody from my crazy father" was just a little too late cus dude was asking for it. Jody...for a doctor he is a darn fool sometimes, I get that love makes you do crazy things but I was not impressed with most of his decisions. Like yeh, these guys fuck all amazing but otherwise I just couldn't get a handle on them (cloudy with a chance of mood swings).
Mostly everyone in this book is sort of annoying with the exception of Jody's best-friend who I really liked. Clark's parents especially his dad should have called it quits with being a parent, his adult status has surely gone up in flames. Clark likable, but his constant self pity was a bit annoying, Jody also likable but easily forgettable. I just couldn't read this one without eye-roll numerous and in the end I was disappointed. Not a good read for me, but I am usually impressed with this author work so overall "it just wasn't the right read" for me.
Should You Read It? *sound of crickets* to each his own I say, this one didn't work for me but I did get through it quickly. In all honesty the pacing is good; I just didn't enjoy the overall story. HEA was too neat, in a perfect world it’s awesome but I didn't find it believable.
I became a fan of Mickie B. Ashling after reading Loving Edits, which happens to be one of my fave ménages out there. Then the awesome continued with Tono, so of course I was totally down with reading Horizons the blurb sounded interesting enough, but what sounded interesting soon started to fizzle and I was left all kinds of disappointed.
Clark Stevens is a star football player at his college; he's so fantastic that the NFL is most definitely in his future. Too bad he's miserable, with his grades at failing and constantly feeling miserable all the time and Clark is at his breaking point. What he does is lash out and his temper lands him a broken arm and a date in the E.R. What Clark doesn't expect is his instant attraction to doctor Jody Williams, he's kept that part of himself buried tight and wrapped up, but now he's flirting with the doctor but Clark knows that being gay and football just doesn't go hand in hand. Yet, he keeps seeking out the company of the sexy doctor and doing this sexual tension filled dance around each other. Things get more intense when Jody decides to tutor Clark in English and their attraction cannot he denied.
Clark comes with a series of problems, a girl he sleeps with occasionally to show his heterosexuality, a father that’s more of a bully than anything else, and the fact that he feels like an idiot pretty much all the time. Alas, he has Jody a man he's a falling in love with and finally realizing how much happier he is now that he's being honest with what his body wants. Too bad he's gotta stay in the closet until he figures out how to come out without losing everything, because though his new found honesty is exhilarating letting the world know could cost him everything.
First, these guys are like the Canadian weather; one minute they're hot and the next a cool front moves in out of nowhere. They're happy and in the next minute there is tears and them having all the feels. Realistically I can understand Clark's fear of being outed when he's not ready but dude was just setting the trap for a whole bunch of hurt. Obviously, he wanted to come out so his later "lets protect Jody from my crazy father" was just a little too late cus dude was asking for it. Jody...for a doctor he is a darn fool sometimes, I get that love makes you do crazy things but I was not impressed with most of his decisions. Like yeh, these guys fuck all amazing but otherwise I just couldn't get a handle on them (cloudy with a chance of mood swings).
Mostly everyone in this book is sort of annoying with the exception of Jody's best-friend who I really liked. Clark's parents especially his dad should have called it quits with being a parent, his adult status has surely gone up in flames. Clark likable, but his constant self pity was a bit annoying, Jody also likable but easily forgettable. I just couldn't read this one without eye-roll numerous and in the end I was disappointed. Not a good read for me, but I am usually impressed with this author work so overall "it just wasn't the right read" for me.
Should You Read It? *sound of crickets* to each his own I say, this one didn't work for me but I did get through it quickly. In all honesty the pacing is good; I just didn't enjoy the overall story. HEA was too neat, in a perfect world it’s awesome but I didn't find it believable.
December 19, 2017
I passed over this book twice because the reviews and ratings were all over the place. A good friend finally recommended it to me strongly and I finally dove into this sweet, feel good love story. Jody is a serious trauma doctor with a penchant for falling for hard luck cases. Clark is a deeply closeted college football star who arrives at the hospital with a broken arm. There is more than the usual doctor/patient relationship between the two men but both are hesitant to act on it. This leads to a well paced and beautifully written slow burn game of cat and mouse between Jody and Clark. Both men are carrying around baggage. Jody's last partner was a wealthy HIV positive guy who was always in the gossip news making Jody into a celebrity. Richard died in the end leaving Jody broken hearted and gun shy. Clark is the youngest of five sons born to terribly bigoted parents. He was diagnosed with ADD but his father refused to have Clark put on meds that would have helped him and instead told him that he was dumb and pointed Clark toward a career in football. Clark threw himself into football and excelled but also threw himself into the closet so deeply that the door miles away emotionally. A gay man cannot make it in the NFL is all that runs through Clark's mind. He even has a girlfriend who he loves as a sister for sex but Clark craves Jody and so the struggle to find a balance begins between the closet case and the out and proud doctor. Ms Ashling writing style pulled me into this story quickly. Most of the book is written primarily from Clark's POV with other dialogue between Jody and others written in the third person. I found both Jody and Clark to be wonderful main characters and liked them immediately despite the sometimes over abundance of tears. Some of the scenes were very emotional and I felt their hurt, confusion or happiness and felt a tear myself as it was hard not to become emotionally invested in their story. I thought Lil was a terrific stereotypical gay man who was the complete foil for Clark's disgustingly bigoted father. All of the secondary characters were almost as well fleshed out as Clark and Jody which isn't often seen but helped to make the story flow perfectly. There were some places in the story that Ms Ashling should have done her research better which stops me from giving the book a 5 star rating. There was a lot of sex in the book but it was well written and necessary as Clark was trying to use sex to convey the feelings that he was afraid to say out loud. The twist at the end of the book was excellent and even though I knew the HEA was coming, it was a relief to read it. I highly recommend this emotionally charged book to anyone looking for a sweet and sometimes sappy feel good love story.
July 4, 2020
Un libro che fa riflettere.
Sarà anche ambientato nel primi anni 2000 ma purtroppo la situazione non è cambiata molto.
Sarà anche ambientato nel primi anni 2000 ma purtroppo la situazione non è cambiata molto.
December 13, 2015
da www.sognipensieriparole.com
4,5 - Questo libro esce solo ora per scelta della casa editrice, ma sarebbe in realtà il primo della serie. Fin da quando ho letto "La degustazione" e "Papi" accarezzavo il desiderio di conoscere anche la storia del vichingo biondo e del suo bel dottorino. Da vari indizi sapevo che i due nel primo libro avevano già fatto scintille, e infatti questa lettura tanto attesa non mi ha delusa.
Anzi. Direi che questo è forse il libro più riuscito della serie. Certo, Grieg e Lil, con il loro Luca, mi avevano già fatto sospirare, ma Clark, il futuro campione di football, e il suo dottor Jody del pronto soccorso, sono da batticuore puro.
Di solito tendo sempre a prediligere uno dei due in una coppia letteraria (etero o gay, non importa), ma qui non potrei fare una scelta.
Da un lato c'è Clark con le sue incertezze e timidezze,con la punta delle orecchie che si fa rossa, con il suo desiderio continuamente represso, e il suo essere trattato dalla famiglia come un ritardato che deve produrre successo e soldi come compensazione; dall'altro lato, c'è un professionista più maturo, che ha già sofferto per amore, che è consapevole dei rischi che adombrano una loro possibile relazione.
Le pagine in cui il secondo s'improvvisa insegnante per permettere a Clark di superare l'esame d'inglese sono dolcissime e allo stesso tempo pervase da un delizioso gioco di occhiate da sbavo e "ti voglio/non posso".
C'è l'amore, ma c'è anche l'odio familiare, l'incomprensione, l'isolamento.
E' un romanzo intenso, che mi ha dato continue emozioni e mi ha fatto anche fremere di fronte a certi comportamenti del clan Stevens, proprio perché erano così sgradevolmente vicini a tante realtà più che attuali.
Due menzioni speciali: 1) la cover - stupenda,come tutte quelle di questa serie; 2) le scene di seduzione e passione: divine, da usare come antidepressivo (!).
4,5 - Questo libro esce solo ora per scelta della casa editrice, ma sarebbe in realtà il primo della serie. Fin da quando ho letto "La degustazione" e "Papi" accarezzavo il desiderio di conoscere anche la storia del vichingo biondo e del suo bel dottorino. Da vari indizi sapevo che i due nel primo libro avevano già fatto scintille, e infatti questa lettura tanto attesa non mi ha delusa.
Anzi. Direi che questo è forse il libro più riuscito della serie. Certo, Grieg e Lil, con il loro Luca, mi avevano già fatto sospirare, ma Clark, il futuro campione di football, e il suo dottor Jody del pronto soccorso, sono da batticuore puro.
Di solito tendo sempre a prediligere uno dei due in una coppia letteraria (etero o gay, non importa), ma qui non potrei fare una scelta.
Da un lato c'è Clark con le sue incertezze e timidezze,con la punta delle orecchie che si fa rossa, con il suo desiderio continuamente represso, e il suo essere trattato dalla famiglia come un ritardato che deve produrre successo e soldi come compensazione; dall'altro lato, c'è un professionista più maturo, che ha già sofferto per amore, che è consapevole dei rischi che adombrano una loro possibile relazione.
Le pagine in cui il secondo s'improvvisa insegnante per permettere a Clark di superare l'esame d'inglese sono dolcissime e allo stesso tempo pervase da un delizioso gioco di occhiate da sbavo e "ti voglio/non posso".
C'è l'amore, ma c'è anche l'odio familiare, l'incomprensione, l'isolamento.
E' un romanzo intenso, che mi ha dato continue emozioni e mi ha fatto anche fremere di fronte a certi comportamenti del clan Stevens, proprio perché erano così sgradevolmente vicini a tante realtà più che attuali.
Due menzioni speciali: 1) la cover - stupenda,come tutte quelle di questa serie; 2) le scene di seduzione e passione: divine, da usare come antidepressivo (!).
March 16, 2015
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Full review can be found at -
I did something with this series I never do - I read #4 (Chyna Doll) before I read the stories before it. I'm now going back to where it all began.
Horizons tells the story of Clark (a closeted football player) and Jody (a doctor who treats him after an injury). Jody is out and proud where Clark's NFL future might be in jeopardy if people find out he's gay. The sparks fly immediately between the two men and before long they are in the middle of a secret relationship. What happens if Clark's secret is made known? What if his homophobic father gets wind of the fact that he's fallen for a man and not the fakestalker girlfriend, Nikki?
Nice story, if a bit predictable. It was nice going back to the beginning to see where Jody and Clark came from. I had a few niggles with it, but nothing that really took away from my enjoyment as a whole.
Full review can be found at -
I did something with this series I never do - I read #4 (Chyna Doll) before I read the stories before it. I'm now going back to where it all began.
Horizons tells the story of Clark (a closeted football player) and Jody (a doctor who treats him after an injury). Jody is out and proud where Clark's NFL future might be in jeopardy if people find out he's gay. The sparks fly immediately between the two men and before long they are in the middle of a secret relationship. What happens if Clark's secret is made known? What if his homophobic father gets wind of the fact that he's fallen for a man and not the fake
Nice story, if a bit predictable. It was nice going back to the beginning to see where Jody and Clark came from. I had a few niggles with it, but nothing that really took away from my enjoyment as a whole.
December 17, 2013
Meh.
I wanted to like this, I really did, but in the end it just sits in the middle and is completely forgettable to me.
Horizons is about Jody, a doctor, and Clark, a popular college football player with dreams of the NFL. While Jody is out and proud, even has a license plate saying so, Clark is so far in the closet he wouldn't know what way is up. Unfortunately, Clark also has a homophobic family with means to destroy Jody, and a friend with benefits who doesn't want to let go of the benefits.
Sounds like a perfect storm, right? Well it is. The story was overly cheesy at times, and I am glad I finished it, but other than that, this didn't leave any big impressions at me. I usually like angst and twists and turns, but this was just predictable and boring, and to make matters worse, I just didn't feel the love connection between Jody and Clark, which is kind of, sort of, really important.
Overall not a bad story, just not one I'll remember come next week.
I wanted to like this, I really did, but in the end it just sits in the middle and is completely forgettable to me.
Horizons is about Jody, a doctor, and Clark, a popular college football player with dreams of the NFL. While Jody is out and proud, even has a license plate saying so, Clark is so far in the closet he wouldn't know what way is up. Unfortunately, Clark also has a homophobic family with means to destroy Jody, and a friend with benefits who doesn't want to let go of the benefits.
Sounds like a perfect storm, right? Well it is. The story was overly cheesy at times, and I am glad I finished it, but other than that, this didn't leave any big impressions at me. I usually like angst and twists and turns, but this was just predictable and boring, and to make matters worse, I just didn't feel the love connection between Jody and Clark, which is kind of, sort of, really important.
Overall not a bad story, just not one I'll remember come next week.
August 16, 2009
Love love loved this book. Just the right combination of searing romance, hot hot sex and addictive melodrama. Well written, well developed, extremely satisfying. It was maybe a little over the top at times, but that's okay. It was entertaining, and the love between these characters exploded off the page. Look forward to reading more from this author.
October 13, 2015
Whilst this got off to a slow start, the pace soon picked up and there are a fair few steamy sex scenes. It has a good lot of angst, which I love, with a HEA. Only one small thing, as someone else mentioned, I'm not sure that Clark's father and mother would have changed their opinions so completely at the end, but there you go.
Moving straight on to 'Taste' to hear what Lil has got up to!
Moving straight on to 'Taste' to hear what Lil has got up to!
September 2, 2022
https://www.letturesalepepe.com/recen...
Recensione old but gold !
4+* Se tutti gli sportivi non dichiarati, secondo me tanti, facessero quello che ha fatto il protagonista, il mondo dello sport forse aprirebbe gli occhi e pian piano la situazione potrebbe migliorare. Io ho ancora speranza.
July 11, 2013
Since Mickie B. Ashling first published Horizons four yeas ago, a lot has changed for the LGBT community in our country. While Horizons was in final edits this time around, changes were happening so fast it was hard to keep up with them. I didn’t read Horizons when it was originally released, so it was a new book for me.
Aside from some timing issues with football seasons, which I know were a pain for Mickie the first time around, I found Horizons to be an enjoyable way to spend a hot day indoors! It is the story of Clark, the local college football hero with NFL written all over his future and Jody, an ER doctor. Jody is eleven years older than Clark and has suffered the loss of a lover after a serious relationship in the past. When Clark comes into the ER in his dirty, sweaty football uniform and Jody only has ten minutes left on his shift, it works out to be a very good thing he switched back into doctor mode to treat Clark’s broken arm.
It turns out that Clark’s arm isn’t the only thing broken. His spirit has been broken by his family’s constant pressure to excel at football because he is too dumb to do anything else. He has ADD, and his father has refused to medicate him, instead treating Clark like he is stupid, and not suffering from a very treatable learning disability. Jody is able to help Clark see that he just needs to learn in a different way than his peers.
Clark has long felt an attraction to other men, but with his family hating gay people almost as much as they love football, he has been forced to bury those desires. He has a reputation as quite a player with the girls on campus. Once he and Jody begin to spend more time together, it becomes impossible to deny the attraction between them.
When the combination of family and football put their relationship on hold, Ashling does an excellent job of taking us through Jody’s feeling. She looks at each piece of the process and we clearly see how deeply the loss of Clark is triggering feelings from the loss of Jody’s first serious lover.
The over-the-top way that Clark proves his love for Jody above all else is creative and surprising. Eventually, there is even a small degree of healing with Clark’s family. There is a spin off of this book, Taste, about Jody’s best friend Lil. Jody wouldn’t have survived loving and losing and loving Clark without Lil’s support and friendship. I look forward to reading his story!
I also look forward to the day when Clark’s announcement would not be necessary. Highly recommended.
Aside from some timing issues with football seasons, which I know were a pain for Mickie the first time around, I found Horizons to be an enjoyable way to spend a hot day indoors! It is the story of Clark, the local college football hero with NFL written all over his future and Jody, an ER doctor. Jody is eleven years older than Clark and has suffered the loss of a lover after a serious relationship in the past. When Clark comes into the ER in his dirty, sweaty football uniform and Jody only has ten minutes left on his shift, it works out to be a very good thing he switched back into doctor mode to treat Clark’s broken arm.
It turns out that Clark’s arm isn’t the only thing broken. His spirit has been broken by his family’s constant pressure to excel at football because he is too dumb to do anything else. He has ADD, and his father has refused to medicate him, instead treating Clark like he is stupid, and not suffering from a very treatable learning disability. Jody is able to help Clark see that he just needs to learn in a different way than his peers.
Clark has long felt an attraction to other men, but with his family hating gay people almost as much as they love football, he has been forced to bury those desires. He has a reputation as quite a player with the girls on campus. Once he and Jody begin to spend more time together, it becomes impossible to deny the attraction between them.
When the combination of family and football put their relationship on hold, Ashling does an excellent job of taking us through Jody’s feeling. She looks at each piece of the process and we clearly see how deeply the loss of Clark is triggering feelings from the loss of Jody’s first serious lover.
The over-the-top way that Clark proves his love for Jody above all else is creative and surprising. Eventually, there is even a small degree of healing with Clark’s family. There is a spin off of this book, Taste, about Jody’s best friend Lil. Jody wouldn’t have survived loving and losing and loving Clark without Lil’s support and friendship. I look forward to reading his story!
I also look forward to the day when Clark’s announcement would not be necessary. Highly recommended.
December 7, 2015
“La realtà è che la maggior parte di noi cercano solo amore, come tutti gli altri. Vogliamo qualcuno da cui tornare a casa, che ci ascolti quando andiamo fuori di testa, da stringere durante la notte. Non siamo diversi dal resto del mondo.
La maggior parte degli etero pensa che, perché siamo gay, tutto quello a cui pensiamo è il sesso. So che ci sono uomini gay fatti così, come ci sono uomini etero che passano da una donna all’altra, ma la maggior parte di noi non è diversa da voi. Vogliamo tutti le stesse cose, Clark.”
La maggior parte degli etero pensa che, perché siamo gay, tutto quello a cui pensiamo è il sesso. So che ci sono uomini gay fatti così, come ci sono uomini etero che passano da una donna all’altra, ma la maggior parte di noi non è diversa da voi. Vogliamo tutti le stesse cose, Clark.”
May 29, 2012
I had heard there was a lot of crying in this book, but didn't take it seriously as a problem; I've enjoyed other books in which the characters cried a lot. But in this one they kept crying for no apparent reason. It was like both main characters were PMSing hardcore, and I finally just couldn't take anymore. I stopped somewhere in chapter 11 (heh).
November 9, 2013
I always enjoy sports stories. The interesting difference with this one is that the gay-phobic focus was on the family acceptance with virtually no reference to the possible team reaction. And the ADD was a great addition to the trauma that this disorder can cause for any young person, especially when it is purposefully ignored.
June 30, 2011
Not my type of read. The extremely violent homophobic family and the rudimentary writing ruined this read for me.
May 12, 2018
3.25 stars
Read
February 22, 2019Ich weiß nicht wirklich, wie ich es einordnen soll ...
***********
Meine Vorsätze halten an – wieder ein Buch vom SuB gelesen .
Heute ist es mal wieder ein Buch aus der Reihe “ich weiß nicht wie …”. Auf der einen Seite ist es eine sehr gefühlvolle und emotionale Geschichte, auf der anderen Seite fühlte ich mich durch das Buch gehetzt, so dass ich die Liebe zwischen den beiden Protagonisten nicht wirklich fassen konnte. Zudem waren mir die Meinungsänderungen zu abrupt und nicht wirklich nachvollziehbar.
Die Geschichte zwischen Jody und Clark ist von den erzählten Gefühlen her ganz großes Kino, von den Handlungen aus deren Umfeld leider weniger. Aus einem homophoben Elternhaus kommend, ist Clark sein Leben lang von seinen Eltern – hier besonders von seinem Vater – klein gehalten worden. Jahrelang hat man ihm gesagt, dass er außer zum Footballspielen nicht wirklich zu etwas taugt. Mit diesem Hintergrund, spielt er sich selbst und allen anderen ein Leben vor, dass gänzlich wider seiner Natur ist. Dies zieht er durch, bis er auf Jody trifft und erkennt, dass dieses fragile Gerüst nicht mehr lange halten wird, wenn er denn jemals zu seinen Gefühlen stehen würde.
Und genau das ist das Problem. Jody ist out und lebt dies auch so. Er hat lange Zeit mit einem der bekanntesten schwulen Männern in San Francisco zusammengelebt, bis dieser, sein Partner, verstorben ist. Warum sollte er sich auch verstecken?
Es ist grundsätzlich schön zu sehen, wie sich die Beziehung zwischen diesen beiden so unterschiedlichen Männern entwickelt, allerdings (und dies hatte ich oben schon erwähnt), gehen mir die Veränderungen zu schnell. Clark ist als schwuler “Neuling” sehr schnell für alles offen und sehr experimentierfreudig. Ich finde das gut – ohne Frage, allerdings ist es für jemanden, der noch nicht mal ganz aus dem Schrank heraus ist, doch etwas ungewöhnlich (oder ging einfach ohne wirkliche Vorbehalte von Clarks Seite über die Bühne). Dazu wird fast jedes Klischee erwähnt, dass man sich im Zusammenspiel Sport / schwule Männer / Coming out vorstellen kann.
Egal wie, mir war es mal zu viel, mal zu wenig – eben genau entsprechend der Handlung selbst.
Ich könnte hier jetzt 2, 3 oder 4 vergeben, aber das würde dem Buch aus meiner Sicht weder in die eine, noch in die andere Richtung gerecht werden, da die Geschichte grundsätzlich einen guten Plot hat. Das manche Handlungen einiger Neben- aber auch der beiden Hauptprotagonisten für mich zwischendurch nur schwer nachvollziehbar waren ist wohl eher meiner Skepsis geschuldet, denn dem Können der Autorin. Was es nun so schwer für mich macht, ist, dass dieses Buch der erste Teil einer Serie ist und ich zu gerne wissen will, was bei Lil passiert. Mittlerweile gibt es von der Serie noch 3 weitere, bisher noch nicht übersetzte Teile – ich werde mal der Dinge harren, die da übersetzungstechnisch vielleicht noch kommen …
Tja, widersprüchlich wie der ganze Leseeindruck – so wirr, wie mein Review (so kommt es mir zumindest vor) – so ist auch jetzt im Nachhinein immer noch der Nachhall der Geschichte.
***********
Meine Vorsätze halten an – wieder ein Buch vom SuB gelesen .
Heute ist es mal wieder ein Buch aus der Reihe “ich weiß nicht wie …”. Auf der einen Seite ist es eine sehr gefühlvolle und emotionale Geschichte, auf der anderen Seite fühlte ich mich durch das Buch gehetzt, so dass ich die Liebe zwischen den beiden Protagonisten nicht wirklich fassen konnte. Zudem waren mir die Meinungsänderungen zu abrupt und nicht wirklich nachvollziehbar.
Die Geschichte zwischen Jody und Clark ist von den erzählten Gefühlen her ganz großes Kino, von den Handlungen aus deren Umfeld leider weniger. Aus einem homophoben Elternhaus kommend, ist Clark sein Leben lang von seinen Eltern – hier besonders von seinem Vater – klein gehalten worden. Jahrelang hat man ihm gesagt, dass er außer zum Footballspielen nicht wirklich zu etwas taugt. Mit diesem Hintergrund, spielt er sich selbst und allen anderen ein Leben vor, dass gänzlich wider seiner Natur ist. Dies zieht er durch, bis er auf Jody trifft und erkennt, dass dieses fragile Gerüst nicht mehr lange halten wird, wenn er denn jemals zu seinen Gefühlen stehen würde.
Und genau das ist das Problem. Jody ist out und lebt dies auch so. Er hat lange Zeit mit einem der bekanntesten schwulen Männern in San Francisco zusammengelebt, bis dieser, sein Partner, verstorben ist. Warum sollte er sich auch verstecken?
Es ist grundsätzlich schön zu sehen, wie sich die Beziehung zwischen diesen beiden so unterschiedlichen Männern entwickelt, allerdings (und dies hatte ich oben schon erwähnt), gehen mir die Veränderungen zu schnell. Clark ist als schwuler “Neuling” sehr schnell für alles offen und sehr experimentierfreudig. Ich finde das gut – ohne Frage, allerdings ist es für jemanden, der noch nicht mal ganz aus dem Schrank heraus ist, doch etwas ungewöhnlich (oder ging einfach ohne wirkliche Vorbehalte von Clarks Seite über die Bühne). Dazu wird fast jedes Klischee erwähnt, dass man sich im Zusammenspiel Sport / schwule Männer / Coming out vorstellen kann.
Egal wie, mir war es mal zu viel, mal zu wenig – eben genau entsprechend der Handlung selbst.
Ich könnte hier jetzt 2, 3 oder 4 vergeben, aber das würde dem Buch aus meiner Sicht weder in die eine, noch in die andere Richtung gerecht werden, da die Geschichte grundsätzlich einen guten Plot hat. Das manche Handlungen einiger Neben- aber auch der beiden Hauptprotagonisten für mich zwischendurch nur schwer nachvollziehbar waren ist wohl eher meiner Skepsis geschuldet, denn dem Können der Autorin. Was es nun so schwer für mich macht, ist, dass dieses Buch der erste Teil einer Serie ist und ich zu gerne wissen will, was bei Lil passiert. Mittlerweile gibt es von der Serie noch 3 weitere, bisher noch nicht übersetzte Teile – ich werde mal der Dinge harren, die da übersetzungstechnisch vielleicht noch kommen …
Tja, widersprüchlich wie der ganze Leseeindruck – so wirr, wie mein Review (so kommt es mir zumindest vor) – so ist auch jetzt im Nachhinein immer noch der Nachhall der Geschichte.
September 22, 2013
Review posted on World of Diversity Fiction Reviews
3.75 Stars
I really liked this book! Horizons is an angsty story with a sweet romance. While there is nothing new about the story it captured me from the start. It has plenty of drama, some of it a bit over the top. Clark is a college athlete and gay, he has a family that would never understand his being gay and on top of that he is being looked at by NFL scouts, a league notorious for not being gay friendly, that’s two strikes against his coming out. So he stays in the closet, deeply in the closet. He has a girlfriend, Nikki, who he has known forever and kind of uses as a cover, she is in love with him but doesn’t love her. I’m not a big fan of that scenario but in this book I looked past it. Then there is Jody, a doctor that takes care of Clark in the ER when he breaks his arm playing football. Jody thinks Clark is straight, his best friend Lil lets him know that Clark has been checking him out so he’s sure Clark is gay. These two click but are very wary of getting together, neither can stop thinking about the other and they slowly begin a relationship.
For the most part I was okay with everything about this story, I wasn’t a big fan on having the female portrayed as a ditzy nasty “girlfriend” and I thought Clark’s family was a bit over the top with how they controlled and demeaned Clark (that was mostly his father) for some this will be enough for them to not like the story but the two of them learning about each other and trying to work on building some form of relationship grabbed my heart. The only other reservation I had about the storyline was the long separation that happens with Clark and Jody. Clark’s sudden disappearance with no word felt out of character but I admit I do understand he did it to protect the one he loves with good reason.
With the exception of the long separation between Clark and Jody I liked the pace of the story and I liked the different POV’s. Horizon’s is actually a very sweet romance between two very likeable guys. I recommend this to anyone that likes a story with angst that ends in a beautiful HEA. Now I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
April 13, 2012
Four and a half stars, really. It would have been five but for two little things.
I really enjoyed this story. The cover art nearly put me off - I didn't realise how much I rely on it to get me to click on a book - but the blurb was interesting and I started reading it as soon as I bought it (rather than start one of the other several hundred books I have waiting on my Kindle).
The first few pages are odd in pacing and a whole lot of 'tell' instead of 'show' which almost put me off. I think taking the slower road and showing those initial meetings between our MCs rather than just telling us they happened then picking the story up four meetings later would have been much better for the story.
Anyway, that's pretty much my only criticism until the very last pages. I loved the story. The relationship felt realistically paced, the MCs were wonderfully written and relatable, the secondary characters were fantastically rounded and real (horribly, horrifically so at times). The writing was tight and hard to pull myself away from, and the sex hot!
My only other issue with this book was the unbelievable turnabout at the end by Clark's father and mother. I get that people change but even I - a girl who WANTS everything tied up in a pretty bow at the end - don't buy Clark's dad's personality change. His mother - meh, I can let her change of mind slide because of what happens to her but his dad? Nope. That was a bit of a WTF moment for me at the very end, but ultimately I loved the story and will be looking for more from this author.
I really enjoyed this story. The cover art nearly put me off - I didn't realise how much I rely on it to get me to click on a book - but the blurb was interesting and I started reading it as soon as I bought it (rather than start one of the other several hundred books I have waiting on my Kindle).
The first few pages are odd in pacing and a whole lot of 'tell' instead of 'show' which almost put me off. I think taking the slower road and showing those initial meetings between our MCs rather than just telling us they happened then picking the story up four meetings later would have been much better for the story.
Anyway, that's pretty much my only criticism until the very last pages. I loved the story. The relationship felt realistically paced, the MCs were wonderfully written and relatable, the secondary characters were fantastically rounded and real (horribly, horrifically so at times). The writing was tight and hard to pull myself away from, and the sex hot!
My only other issue with this book was the unbelievable turnabout at the end by Clark's father and mother. I get that people change but even I - a girl who WANTS everything tied up in a pretty bow at the end - don't buy Clark's dad's personality change. His mother - meh, I can let her change of mind slide because of what happens to her but his dad? Nope. That was a bit of a WTF moment for me at the very end, but ultimately I loved the story and will be looking for more from this author.
January 6, 2015
We have college football player Clark Stevens, with the prospects of a career in the NFL. But Clark is gay, although very far in the closet, and he's suffering from ADD, and his controlling and somewhat abusive father has never let him get on meds for that.
Then there is ER Doctor Jody Williams, he's gay, out and proud. And when they meet when Clark is brought into the ER there's instant connection/attraction.
I really wanted to like this, but I just couldn't.
First the writing, it just felt weird. Like it was to fast, there was no dept and details, it was moving in too high a tempo to get any dept and emotions in. And that's even though the guys were crying like every other page. There was way to much crying. I mean I can see that the author was going for manly macho guys in touch with their feelings, but it went to far and they just turned into cry-babies.
Then there is ER Doctor Jody Williams, he's gay, out and proud. And when they meet when Clark is brought into the ER there's instant connection/attraction.
I really wanted to like this, but I just couldn't.
First the writing, it just felt weird. Like it was to fast, there was no dept and details, it was moving in too high a tempo to get any dept and emotions in. And that's even though the guys were crying like every other page. There was way to much crying. I mean I can see that the author was going for manly macho guys in touch with their feelings, but it went to far and they just turned into cry-babies.
December 22, 2014
3,5
Alors voici enfin le premier tome de la série perspective, il paraissait bien alléchant.
D’une part nous avons Jody qui est un homme qui a accepté son homosexualité et d’autre part Clark qui résiste à son désir. Clark est le personnage qui affronte le plus d’épreuves car il doit faire son coming out dans une famille peu tolérante et en plus il s’agit d’un sportif renommé. Bref rien qui ne faciliterait son coming out et une vie éventuelle avec Jody. Clark par certains côtés m’est apparu comme un peu facilement manipulé jusqu’à ce qu’il y ai enfin le déclic salvateur.
Leur parcours sera semé d’embûches, et même si certaines sont malheureusement logiques et abjectes, parfois j’ai eu la désagréable impression que l’auteure n’avait pas exploité comme il le fallait ces événements.
Cela n’enlève rien au charme de la romance entre ces deux hommes mais réfrène un peu mon plaisir de lecture.
J’ai bien aimé ma lecture ponctuée de passions et de drames mais je n’en ai pas été ému autant que je l’aurais pensé. Cela reste pourtant un bon livre avec une histoire touchante sur le coming out dans le monde du sport. J’ai beaucoup plus apprécié Tigres et démons dans le genre, je dois avouer.
Alors voici enfin le premier tome de la série perspective, il paraissait bien alléchant.
D’une part nous avons Jody qui est un homme qui a accepté son homosexualité et d’autre part Clark qui résiste à son désir. Clark est le personnage qui affronte le plus d’épreuves car il doit faire son coming out dans une famille peu tolérante et en plus il s’agit d’un sportif renommé. Bref rien qui ne faciliterait son coming out et une vie éventuelle avec Jody. Clark par certains côtés m’est apparu comme un peu facilement manipulé jusqu’à ce qu’il y ai enfin le déclic salvateur.
Leur parcours sera semé d’embûches, et même si certaines sont malheureusement logiques et abjectes, parfois j’ai eu la désagréable impression que l’auteure n’avait pas exploité comme il le fallait ces événements.
Cela n’enlève rien au charme de la romance entre ces deux hommes mais réfrène un peu mon plaisir de lecture.
J’ai bien aimé ma lecture ponctuée de passions et de drames mais je n’en ai pas été ému autant que je l’aurais pensé. Cela reste pourtant un bon livre avec une histoire touchante sur le coming out dans le monde du sport. J’ai beaucoup plus apprécié Tigres et démons dans le genre, je dois avouer.
May 10, 2018
I am shocked that I, once upon a time, deemed this to be a four-star-read?! After re-reading this yesterday I totally have to change my rating here -- although I usually stick with a rating once given.
So, this was pretty much one of the first M/M Romance books I ever laid eyes on, and I liked it, back then. (Lack of comparable books and age, I totally blame it on those^^)
So yeah, I liked it then. Not so much, anymore. Too whiny main characters, literally. It's like these characters start crying every 10 minutes for lack of better things to do. Even when having a really bad emotional day while PMS'ing I totally cry a hundred times less than those teary-eyedsupposedly tough & manly guys. Cry babies, more like it.
Not to mention the clichéd, over-the-top plot and the evil, homophobic, controlling monsters that are Clark's parents, the crazy, obsessed, dependent stalker-ex-girlfriend Nikki (a character with no credibility at all, even without the sudden redeeming turn she takes at the very end of the book), or the very convenient, unbelievable, almost-out-of-nowhere HEA. Duh.
So, this was pretty much one of the first M/M Romance books I ever laid eyes on, and I liked it, back then. (Lack of comparable books and age, I totally blame it on those^^)
So yeah, I liked it then. Not so much, anymore. Too whiny main characters, literally. It's like these characters start crying every 10 minutes for lack of better things to do. Even when having a really bad emotional day while PMS'ing I totally cry a hundred times less than those teary-eyed
Not to mention the clichéd, over-the-top plot and the evil, homophobic, controlling monsters that are Clark's parents, the crazy, obsessed, dependent stalker-ex-girlfriend Nikki (a character with no credibility at all, even without the sudden redeeming turn she takes at the very end of the book), or the very convenient, unbelievable, almost-out-of-nowhere HEA. Duh.
December 1, 2015
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Non ho ancora letto "La Degustazione" ma ne ho sentito parlare talmente bene che non ho potuto non leggere il primo romanzo di questa serie. La storia è allo stesso tempo semplice e complicata: semplice come l'innamorarsi di due persone, complicata poichè i due sono due ragazzi e ci sono in ballo molte cose oltre ai sentimenti.
Tra Clark e Jody basta uno sguardo per accendere una forte attrazione ma Clark è una stella nascente del football, con una famiglia a dir poco omofoba, ed ha sempre represso i suoi veri sentimenti e desideri. Aggiungiamoci poi che il ragazzo soffre di una grave forma di deficit dell'attenzione e che il padre non ha mai voluto farlo curare facendogli credere di essere stupido.
Come dicevo inizialmente è una storia che tocca molti aspetti delicati: omofobia, accettazione, malattia... ma pur parlando di tutto questo si sofferma sopratutto sulla dolcissima (anche se difficile e travagliata) storia d'amore tra due ragazzi diversi per scelte, vocazione e carattere ma uniti da un sentimento impossibile da spezzare.
Non ho ancora letto "La Degustazione" ma ne ho sentito parlare talmente bene che non ho potuto non leggere il primo romanzo di questa serie. La storia è allo stesso tempo semplice e complicata: semplice come l'innamorarsi di due persone, complicata poichè i due sono due ragazzi e ci sono in ballo molte cose oltre ai sentimenti.
Tra Clark e Jody basta uno sguardo per accendere una forte attrazione ma Clark è una stella nascente del football, con una famiglia a dir poco omofoba, ed ha sempre represso i suoi veri sentimenti e desideri. Aggiungiamoci poi che il ragazzo soffre di una grave forma di deficit dell'attenzione e che il padre non ha mai voluto farlo curare facendogli credere di essere stupido.
Come dicevo inizialmente è una storia che tocca molti aspetti delicati: omofobia, accettazione, malattia... ma pur parlando di tutto questo si sofferma sopratutto sulla dolcissima (anche se difficile e travagliata) storia d'amore tra due ragazzi diversi per scelte, vocazione e carattere ma uniti da un sentimento impossibile da spezzare.
April 21, 2009
This story hits all the right buttons. Everyone is good looking, there is a handsome doctor (Jody) with a tragic previous relationship, a hunky footballer (Clarke) with homophobic parents and brother, but also other supportive brothers, a bimbo girlfriend=f... buddy while he is in denial.
Jody and Clarke meet in ER when Clarke is injured in a game. (Luckily we do not need to know the rules of football to enjoy this book.) Sparks fly but are ignored - more or less - they meet again in ER - and conversation ensues which reveals Clarke has ADD and is going to fail his English paper which means he won't pass his course and so won't be able to play football either. Jody offers to help tutor him and it goes on from there. There is a very good HEA after a lot of angst. I am hoping Mickie that you go on to write about Lil, a secondary character in this story. I became quite attached to him!
It is the sort of tale I like where we see many facets of character, have a plot that is more than 2 lines long, and an ending that is more than an HEA in that it shows how their lives might progress.
Jody and Clarke meet in ER when Clarke is injured in a game. (Luckily we do not need to know the rules of football to enjoy this book.) Sparks fly but are ignored - more or less - they meet again in ER - and conversation ensues which reveals Clarke has ADD and is going to fail his English paper which means he won't pass his course and so won't be able to play football either. Jody offers to help tutor him and it goes on from there. There is a very good HEA after a lot of angst. I am hoping Mickie that you go on to write about Lil, a secondary character in this story. I became quite attached to him!
It is the sort of tale I like where we see many facets of character, have a plot that is more than 2 lines long, and an ending that is more than an HEA in that it shows how their lives might progress.
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