What do you think?
Rate this book
Jude in Chains
Writer Misha Tzerko, aiming to debunk 'reparative therapy' for non-heterosexuals, joins a week-long program at Stronger Wings Camp. Having lost a long-term boyfriend to the ex-gay movement, Misha seeks personal closure and an inside look at the ministry led by C. Everett Hammer III. Shockingly, he finds Jude Stone, a past acquaintance, also attending. Misha, unable to save everyone, vows to rescue Jude, no matter the cost.
130 pages, ebook
First published April 14, 2010
1 person is currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
K.Z. Snow
57 books273 followersThis says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7rt4...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 21, 2010
A must read and I'm sending out a few spoilers here for a sec. Basically Jude being in chains is like... Jude is attending this camp to make him 'straight' restricting him from his 'wanton' desires to be with men and try to make him hetero. Which in my opinion is nothing but hogwash brainwashing. Misha recognizes Jude from before while he's there posing as a straight man/journalist to bust the story wide open and get insight as a journalist into this anti gay cult for an article/expose in his magazine he works for. (Huge mouthful. I know) Once he sees Jude he adds to this with the intent of trying to redeem and salvage Jude from making the mistake of trying to change being straight while he's there while interacting with other attendees as part of his cover up.
The story takes a partial in depth look to some of what might take place and these camps, but I'm sure although this is fiction that reality is much more horrifying and harrowing.
K.Z. has done really well with this story and her characters in here are superb. She writes Misha as charming, charismatic, gutsy and hilarious not to mentions his antics makes every gay man or woman proud. The ending was unexpected and the story in and of itself blew my mind and had me laughing and the humorous events that trespass on what might seem a serious story due to its content. I've also discovered there's a few in this cult, gay men, who only went there to hook up. Funny really.
I'd say if you haven't read it yet to do so and if I could have rated it a higher number I would have.
The story takes a partial in depth look to some of what might take place and these camps, but I'm sure although this is fiction that reality is much more horrifying and harrowing.
K.Z. has done really well with this story and her characters in here are superb. She writes Misha as charming, charismatic, gutsy and hilarious not to mentions his antics makes every gay man or woman proud. The ending was unexpected and the story in and of itself blew my mind and had me laughing and the humorous events that trespass on what might seem a serious story due to its content. I've also discovered there's a few in this cult, gay men, who only went there to hook up. Funny really.
I'd say if you haven't read it yet to do so and if I could have rated it a higher number I would have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2012
Misha is in his mid twenties when he meets Jude at a coworker’s wedding. They hit it off but things do not work out for them. Jude’s having issues with self-acceptance and has overbearing parents who are not keen on the idea that their son is gay.
Several years later, Misha is devastated when his boyfriend of three years, Robbie, leaves him and checks into a reparative therapy program for “ex-gays”. Misha works as a reporter for prestigious magazine, and they want to do an expose article on this so-called ministry, so Misha seems the perfect candidate for the job. He goes undercover, posing as a heterosexual reporter, and infiltrates the ministry compound.
Once Misha is on the job, he is shocked to discover that one of the program registrants is his former love interest, Jude. Misha and Jude connect with each other, and Misha tries to learn about why Jude wants to change his sexual orientation. Although their relationship as friends blossoms, it begins to be clear to Misha that Jude has his mind made up. He is intent upon being rescued from his identity as a gay man and has no interest in being saved from the ministry.
Suddenly it is clear that Misha may have to accept the fact that he’s lost two people he cares about to this twisted self-help organization.
It came as no surprise to me that I loved this book so much. K.Z. Snow delivered another meaningful yet heartbreaking drama that packed a powerful message. It is sad—even tragic—to see how these so-called ministries prey upon the most vulnerable souls. Often they are people who’ve suffered horrific rejection and judgment from their families and social circles. They are individuals who are confused, ostracized, and have terribly low self esteem. It breaks my heart to think about the people who turn to groups like this for salvation; they seem to be willing to do anything just to be accepted—to be normal.
Jude was the lost soul in this story. He was the one in need of a hero and savior. Reserved, taciturn, sensitive, and utterly vulnerable, his sincerity and innocence were palpable. It was devastating to see the way he’d been manipulated into believing there was something substandard about his identity, especially when it was so obvious how beautiful he was.
Misha, though a bit cocky and over-confident, did not come across as being uncompassionate. Often the people who are most self-assured are the ones who lack any degree of understanding for those who have not been as fortunate. They often are heartlessly critical of the people who need them most, stating how annoyed they are by the weaker and less-confident. I loved the fact that Misha did not seem to have this sort of attitude.
I do think that as Misha began his assignment he had some reservations about what kind of people would willingly participate in something like this. Perhaps it is normal to pity them or possibly even look down on them in a way. But this quickly changed for Misha as he got to know the group of gay men who were enrolled in the program. They became his friends, and he reached out to several of them in ways that genuinely helped.
Yes, the story contains a moral message. Yes, it is a bit of a tearjerker. No, there are not hot sex scenes. But it is a fantastic story with a beautiful ending. Please put down your smut and trashy romance novels for an hour or two and pick up this wonderful book. It’s thought-provoking and eye-opening and a book you’re sure to remember for a very long time.
Several years later, Misha is devastated when his boyfriend of three years, Robbie, leaves him and checks into a reparative therapy program for “ex-gays”. Misha works as a reporter for prestigious magazine, and they want to do an expose article on this so-called ministry, so Misha seems the perfect candidate for the job. He goes undercover, posing as a heterosexual reporter, and infiltrates the ministry compound.
Once Misha is on the job, he is shocked to discover that one of the program registrants is his former love interest, Jude. Misha and Jude connect with each other, and Misha tries to learn about why Jude wants to change his sexual orientation. Although their relationship as friends blossoms, it begins to be clear to Misha that Jude has his mind made up. He is intent upon being rescued from his identity as a gay man and has no interest in being saved from the ministry.
Suddenly it is clear that Misha may have to accept the fact that he’s lost two people he cares about to this twisted self-help organization.
It came as no surprise to me that I loved this book so much. K.Z. Snow delivered another meaningful yet heartbreaking drama that packed a powerful message. It is sad—even tragic—to see how these so-called ministries prey upon the most vulnerable souls. Often they are people who’ve suffered horrific rejection and judgment from their families and social circles. They are individuals who are confused, ostracized, and have terribly low self esteem. It breaks my heart to think about the people who turn to groups like this for salvation; they seem to be willing to do anything just to be accepted—to be normal.
Jude was the lost soul in this story. He was the one in need of a hero and savior. Reserved, taciturn, sensitive, and utterly vulnerable, his sincerity and innocence were palpable. It was devastating to see the way he’d been manipulated into believing there was something substandard about his identity, especially when it was so obvious how beautiful he was.
Misha, though a bit cocky and over-confident, did not come across as being uncompassionate. Often the people who are most self-assured are the ones who lack any degree of understanding for those who have not been as fortunate. They often are heartlessly critical of the people who need them most, stating how annoyed they are by the weaker and less-confident. I loved the fact that Misha did not seem to have this sort of attitude.
I do think that as Misha began his assignment he had some reservations about what kind of people would willingly participate in something like this. Perhaps it is normal to pity them or possibly even look down on them in a way. But this quickly changed for Misha as he got to know the group of gay men who were enrolled in the program. They became his friends, and he reached out to several of them in ways that genuinely helped.
Yes, the story contains a moral message. Yes, it is a bit of a tearjerker. No, there are not hot sex scenes. But it is a fantastic story with a beautiful ending. Please put down your smut and trashy romance novels for an hour or two and pick up this wonderful book. It’s thought-provoking and eye-opening and a book you’re sure to remember for a very long time.
April 15, 2010
THE BLURB
Hoping further to expose the fallacy of “reparative therapy” for non-heterosexuals, writer Misha Tzerko enrolls in a weeklong program at the Stronger Wings Camp and Conference Center. He’s already lost a long-term boyfriend to the ex-gay movement—Robbie abandoned him for a straight life complete with wife—and for his own closure as well as his job at Options magazine, Misha intends to get an inside look at the ministry established by C. Everett Hammer III.
Misha is shocked and dismayed to find someone else from his past at Stronger Wings, a man with whom he shared two brief but captivating encounters. He knows he can’t save everyone in the program, but he’s determined to save Jude Stone… no matter what it takes.
THE REVIEW
This review was a challenge for me to write—I am getting that out there right up front, to be honest with all the readers here. I have recently read two books by author K.Z. Snow that I really enjoyed, so I was delighted when Wave asked me to review her latest, Jude in Chains—on the day it is released, no less! The subject of reparative therapy is one that interests me so I was particularly intrigued by this story. I was really hoping that I could come out and rave to the stars about it, but unfortunately, there are a few flaws which keep me wholeheartedly endorsing the book. But, these problems may be my issue and so I’ll try to clearly explain what didn’t work for me in this review.
The story is told from Misha (Mick) Tzerko’s first person POV. He is a writer for Options magazine and is planning an exposé of the reparative therapy program at Stronger Wings Camp. Off he goes, to a remote location in Arkansas, computer, cell phone, and tape recorder in hand. Imagine his surprise when he runs into a man he knows, Jude Stone, at the registration desk. Misha had met Jude almost three years earlier at a wedding. Although there seemed to be a spark between them at that time, Misha never followed up. Now Jude is attending a retreat, ostensibly to be “cured” of his homosexuality?
When Misha first conceived of his article for the magazine, he planned on going undercover, but when he arrives at Stronger Wings, he decides to tell the owner what he is up to, and why. For me, this was the first major plot weakness. I am not an expert on reparative therapy programs, but from what I have read, there many people who don’t believe they are legit, and thus the programs operate in a fairly secretive manner. Therefore, I don’t think it is realistic for Everett Hammer, when he learns what Misha is up to, to allow him to stay on. I think he would have very quickly shown Misha to the door. But no, Everett is fine with Misha participating in the workshops and interviewing the participants—the only thing he can’t do is attend the one-on-one counseling sessions.
Interview the participants—that was the second disbelief moment for me. Again, men who would be attending a retreat such as this are men who don’t like being gay and are trying to “cure” themselves of their “unnatural desires.” These are men who are very private (and dare I say, embarrassed) about their real selves and so I think the last thing they would be willing to do would be to be interviewed by a journalist for a magazine article. But none of that is ever addressed. A few men choose not to be interviewed but most of them willingly go along and share their thoughts with Misha.
My third problem was that the program itself seemed to have a lot of free time. Misha used this to spend time with Jude, getting to know him better—not having sex, just getting to be friends. While this made for some pleasant interludes in the story, again, I think realistically that these programs are designed to prey on the participants’ vulnerabilities by keeping them emotionally overloaded and semi-exhausted, packing their days full of various sessions and activities. I don’t think they have time to sit around and play checkers.
I probably sound like I detested this book, don’t I? But I didn’t. The writing is the high caliber I have come to expect from K.Z. Snow and the story pulled me in right from the very first page. It was after I finished reading that I began to reflect on the implausible and unrealistic plot points that bothered me and realize how much they weakened the overall story.
Now, maybe I am being too picky. This is fiction, after all, and maybe I shouldn’t be holding it to the standard of what a reparative therapy program is really like. But, since this was the environment in which the story took place, it seems important to me that the setting be presented at least somewhat realistically. Others may disagree and on that basis, may rate this book much higher than I did.
The strength of the story is in the developing relationship between Misha and Jude. While Misha is happily gay and doesn’t need to be cured of his “unnatural desires,” he still has issues that he needs to sort out. He touches on this in the story and in fact, I would have liked a bit more self-reflection on Misha’s part. Even so, it is clear that he is working on turning over a new leaf and having Jude as a partner will be a large part of that process.
There is very little sex in the book so readers eager for a smex-fest will likely be disappointed. There is a lovely romantic interlude (near the end) and a slightly over-the-top nude scene which had me chuckling. It came at the point where I had given up on believability so in that way, it worked for me.
To conclude—I give this a qualified recommendation. If you like this author and are willing to ignore a few plot holes that are big enough to drive a truck through, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you like stories about two men becoming friends and slowly falling in love, you will also probably find this a decent read. On the other hand, if you are in the mood for lots of hot sex or a true picture of reparative therapy for non-heterosexuals, then this is not the book for you. As for me—I’ve become enough of a fan of K.Z. Snow that I’ll just say, while this isn’t her best work, it was still very readable, and I am looking forward to her next offering, which I hope is coming soon.
(posted at reviewsbyjessewave, 4/15/2010)
Hoping further to expose the fallacy of “reparative therapy” for non-heterosexuals, writer Misha Tzerko enrolls in a weeklong program at the Stronger Wings Camp and Conference Center. He’s already lost a long-term boyfriend to the ex-gay movement—Robbie abandoned him for a straight life complete with wife—and for his own closure as well as his job at Options magazine, Misha intends to get an inside look at the ministry established by C. Everett Hammer III.
Misha is shocked and dismayed to find someone else from his past at Stronger Wings, a man with whom he shared two brief but captivating encounters. He knows he can’t save everyone in the program, but he’s determined to save Jude Stone… no matter what it takes.
THE REVIEW
This review was a challenge for me to write—I am getting that out there right up front, to be honest with all the readers here. I have recently read two books by author K.Z. Snow that I really enjoyed, so I was delighted when Wave asked me to review her latest, Jude in Chains—on the day it is released, no less! The subject of reparative therapy is one that interests me so I was particularly intrigued by this story. I was really hoping that I could come out and rave to the stars about it, but unfortunately, there are a few flaws which keep me wholeheartedly endorsing the book. But, these problems may be my issue and so I’ll try to clearly explain what didn’t work for me in this review.
The story is told from Misha (Mick) Tzerko’s first person POV. He is a writer for Options magazine and is planning an exposé of the reparative therapy program at Stronger Wings Camp. Off he goes, to a remote location in Arkansas, computer, cell phone, and tape recorder in hand. Imagine his surprise when he runs into a man he knows, Jude Stone, at the registration desk. Misha had met Jude almost three years earlier at a wedding. Although there seemed to be a spark between them at that time, Misha never followed up. Now Jude is attending a retreat, ostensibly to be “cured” of his homosexuality?
When Misha first conceived of his article for the magazine, he planned on going undercover, but when he arrives at Stronger Wings, he decides to tell the owner what he is up to, and why. For me, this was the first major plot weakness. I am not an expert on reparative therapy programs, but from what I have read, there many people who don’t believe they are legit, and thus the programs operate in a fairly secretive manner. Therefore, I don’t think it is realistic for Everett Hammer, when he learns what Misha is up to, to allow him to stay on. I think he would have very quickly shown Misha to the door. But no, Everett is fine with Misha participating in the workshops and interviewing the participants—the only thing he can’t do is attend the one-on-one counseling sessions.
Interview the participants—that was the second disbelief moment for me. Again, men who would be attending a retreat such as this are men who don’t like being gay and are trying to “cure” themselves of their “unnatural desires.” These are men who are very private (and dare I say, embarrassed) about their real selves and so I think the last thing they would be willing to do would be to be interviewed by a journalist for a magazine article. But none of that is ever addressed. A few men choose not to be interviewed but most of them willingly go along and share their thoughts with Misha.
My third problem was that the program itself seemed to have a lot of free time. Misha used this to spend time with Jude, getting to know him better—not having sex, just getting to be friends. While this made for some pleasant interludes in the story, again, I think realistically that these programs are designed to prey on the participants’ vulnerabilities by keeping them emotionally overloaded and semi-exhausted, packing their days full of various sessions and activities. I don’t think they have time to sit around and play checkers.
I probably sound like I detested this book, don’t I? But I didn’t. The writing is the high caliber I have come to expect from K.Z. Snow and the story pulled me in right from the very first page. It was after I finished reading that I began to reflect on the implausible and unrealistic plot points that bothered me and realize how much they weakened the overall story.
Now, maybe I am being too picky. This is fiction, after all, and maybe I shouldn’t be holding it to the standard of what a reparative therapy program is really like. But, since this was the environment in which the story took place, it seems important to me that the setting be presented at least somewhat realistically. Others may disagree and on that basis, may rate this book much higher than I did.
The strength of the story is in the developing relationship between Misha and Jude. While Misha is happily gay and doesn’t need to be cured of his “unnatural desires,” he still has issues that he needs to sort out. He touches on this in the story and in fact, I would have liked a bit more self-reflection on Misha’s part. Even so, it is clear that he is working on turning over a new leaf and having Jude as a partner will be a large part of that process.
There is very little sex in the book so readers eager for a smex-fest will likely be disappointed. There is a lovely romantic interlude (near the end) and a slightly over-the-top nude scene which had me chuckling. It came at the point where I had given up on believability so in that way, it worked for me.
To conclude—I give this a qualified recommendation. If you like this author and are willing to ignore a few plot holes that are big enough to drive a truck through, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you like stories about two men becoming friends and slowly falling in love, you will also probably find this a decent read. On the other hand, if you are in the mood for lots of hot sex or a true picture of reparative therapy for non-heterosexuals, then this is not the book for you. As for me—I’ve become enough of a fan of K.Z. Snow that I’ll just say, while this isn’t her best work, it was still very readable, and I am looking forward to her next offering, which I hope is coming soon.
(posted at reviewsbyjessewave, 4/15/2010)
April 20, 2010
Misha is a reporter on a story about a gay-to-straight camp. While there he runs into Jude, a man he met once in a bar, then again at a wedding years ago. Misha has to deal with the suspicions of the camp's owner, as well as trying to convince Jude that he is not at fault for things in his past and he shouldn't be trying to deny who he is. A powerful topic, dealt with by a deft and warm hand. There is also enough humor in the story to balance out the serious issue being addressed. Loved it!
May 8, 2010
Misha has decided to go undercover at one of the gay reprogramming camps to do a magazine article. When he arrives he runs into Jude with whom he’d had a close encounter a couple of years ago. He’s determined that Jude won’t get sucked into the program and lose himself. It’s an exposé of his time at the centre, the kind of things they do and a few of the people he meets. It’s also him spending a fair bit of time with Jude both getting to know him and trying to convince him that being gay is not a horrible thing. Okay, people who know me are aware that I have serious issues with religious intolerance in my books (a couple of DNF in there) and I was worried about this. I luvs me some KZ Snow, but I know that not all themes are for all people. Now comes the big BUT, whew, I really enjoyed this and while the owners/leaders of this retreat are intolerant, they aren’t as bad as some stories I’ve heard *shudder* and it’s not page after page of spewed hatred. I smiled often, there are some genuinely humerous moments and I felt a bit sad sometimes too for the men who so desperately wanted to be "normal". Misha’s statement to Jude "I just wish you loved who you are as much as I do." pretty much says it all. If only everyone could feel that kind of self-acceptance the world would be a kinder place. So for others like me who are thinking "Ewwww religious fundies, run, run fast!" the focus is not so much on that but on inner acceptance and exploration. I’m glad I took a chance.
October 5, 2010
Stars: 3.5/5
Overall:
Third time's the charm, right? So when Misha meet Jude again, in a gay conversion camp of all places, he knows he has to save him. But it might just be Misha who ends up being saved. This is a story you have to take with a small grain of salt, believing in that *spark* between two people that draws them together. Otherwise it's good, but not amazing; a touching story that satisfies.
What I liked
Misha isn't perfect, but he certainly is passionate about caring about Jude and wanting to save him from the "straight ideal." He's an enjoyable narrator, mixing humor and feeling as we go along. Nothing felt unrealistic or improbable and the flashbacks worked well to establish their history.
What didn't work
The only minor downside is that we don't really see what Jude would get out of the decisions he makes. This is where you have to suspend your disbelief and go with it a little, believe in soul mates or what have you. This didn't bother me and I never really considered it until I sat down to write the review.
Overall:
Third time's the charm, right? So when Misha meet Jude again, in a gay conversion camp of all places, he knows he has to save him. But it might just be Misha who ends up being saved. This is a story you have to take with a small grain of salt, believing in that *spark* between two people that draws them together. Otherwise it's good, but not amazing; a touching story that satisfies.
What I liked
Misha isn't perfect, but he certainly is passionate about caring about Jude and wanting to save him from the "straight ideal." He's an enjoyable narrator, mixing humor and feeling as we go along. Nothing felt unrealistic or improbable and the flashbacks worked well to establish their history.
What didn't work
The only minor downside is that we don't really see what Jude would get out of the decisions he makes. This is where you have to suspend your disbelief and go with it a little, believe in soul mates or what have you. This didn't bother me and I never really considered it until I sat down to write the review.
July 30, 2010
4.5 stars
The summary in goodreads is good enough for information. So jump to what I think of it. Talk about finding love in the unlikeliest of places! This is a second book of K.Z. Snow that I read this week and I'm in love with it as well. She has a way with words (for the FIRST TIME EVER, I read the word "tabula rasa" in an M/M story!) -- the way she describes the attraction of Misha and Jude (even what happened almost three years previously) is so beautiful. This story has a "social" issue in it: in form of reparative therapy to help fixing gay men. I'm not one to judge ... but let's just say that what the story here is trying to say, mirrors what I have in mind about the particular issue. I salute Ms. Snow of bringing this into her story, but doesn't make it depressing. Instead, I find this story to be tender and at times, humorous. I love both Misha and Jude as characters ...
Bravo, Ms. Snow, I think I am on my way to be one of your fans.
The summary in goodreads is good enough for information. So jump to what I think of it. Talk about finding love in the unlikeliest of places! This is a second book of K.Z. Snow that I read this week and I'm in love with it as well. She has a way with words (for the FIRST TIME EVER, I read the word "tabula rasa" in an M/M story!) -- the way she describes the attraction of Misha and Jude (even what happened almost three years previously) is so beautiful. This story has a "social" issue in it: in form of reparative therapy to help fixing gay men. I'm not one to judge ... but let's just say that what the story here is trying to say, mirrors what I have in mind about the particular issue. I salute Ms. Snow of bringing this into her story, but doesn't make it depressing. Instead, I find this story to be tender and at times, humorous. I love both Misha and Jude as characters ...
Bravo, Ms. Snow, I think I am on my way to be one of your fans.
August 14, 2012
Here in Europe you don't really hear much about Ex-Gay ministries which thankfully are not anywhere near as prevalent as in the United States. Having said that I could identify with some of the thoughts of the characters, Who hasn't wished, even if only fleetingly, that they could just be "normal"? This deals with the subject matter in a sympathetic and thought provoking manner.
January 14, 2021
Excellent book with a fresh story line.
I was so happily surprised to find this book. I love MM fiction, but the story lines are often repetitive and tired. This one is entirely new and different. It is engaging and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was so happily surprised to find this book. I love MM fiction, but the story lines are often repetitive and tired. This one is entirely new and different. It is engaging and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
February 16, 2018
Just a reminder why conversion therapy dont work. People are who they are. We should make them feel lower than they are because they are different
May 7, 2010
4 and 1/2 stars actually.
I have to admire an author that tackles a serious subject when writing a gay romance. Most authors focus mostly on the romance and hot sex but rarely deal with social or political issues that plague the gay community. I must say though, that K. Z. Snow did a great job with this story and subject matter. It’s not slanted, nor over dramatic; it doesn’t play up to or try to manipulate the reader’s emotions on this topic, which is how it could have easily gone. No, this story is a fairly in depth characterization of two men and how they personally react to and deal with the ex-gay movement and their budding relationship.
First off, like every other K. Z. Snow book I’ve read, this story focuses on character growth, which is something I really like. Misha is one of those characters who is hard to take in the beginning. He’s selfish, doesn’t really care too much about his partners feelings, screws anyone he feels like and is basically constantly on the prowl for that next fuck. But one good quality he has is that he’s very comfortable in his own skin and his sexuality.
One person has affected him deeply though, Robbie, a former boyfriend. Unfortunately, he’s the one guy that decided he didn’t want to be or wasn’t gay and went through therapy to become “straight.” This has haunted Misha and he decides to do an expose on the group doing this and to find out why it happened. So he’s not exactly a complete cad right off.
When he gets to Stronger Wings Camp to check them out for his article, he recognizes Jude but can’t place him exactly. Another testament to the fact that he was a player is that he doesn’t remember how he had met Jude until Jude reminds him that they fooled around a bit at one time. Meeting Jude pushes Misha to really want to fight for Jude’s life against the group even while he respects Jude and doesn’t aggressively push Jude to see the error of his being there. This spurs a lot of personal growth for Misha because for once he has to consider the other person and his own feelings.
Jude is also an interesting character. I respected that K. Z. Snow didn’t have him be the type who is easily manipulated. By that I mean that he has chosen to go through this course on his own even if part of it was to please his family who hate that he is gay. But what was very real here is that Jude is really struggling inside himself about his sexuality. He’s not in denial, he’s just tired of having to go against the grain and hide who he is all the time. Inside himself he really feels he would be better if he could just be like everyone else for once.
Jude is also disillusioned by the fact that most of the gay men he’s been in contact with lived a lifestyle of screwing around and not really hooking up emotionally. He thinks that’s how it always will be with gay men and it sucks for him because this is something that Jude craves, to have a meaningful relationship. This adds to his inner conflict about trying to be gay in a straight world. Yes, I can see a gay person really struggling with this if everyone in their lives were gay haters or those gay friends were very shallow. This makes Jude way more complex and real to me than if he was written black and white; in complete denial or pushed against his will.
When Misha starts interviewing Jude and really talking him about why he’s decided to go through the program, it causes Misha to think about his own life and his relationship with Robbie, which really hurt him. He also reflects on his lifestyle, how he’s living and the fact that he’s a player, which Jude says often is the reason why he’d never be with Misha. As he has more and more contact with Jude, he starts to really open up emotionally. Both he and Jude grow and change through this experience, which I liked.
About the group leader and that whole aspect of the book, again, I appreciated that K. Z. Snow didn’t make it black and white, us vs. them sort of thing. Many men are in that place because they’ve chosen it for whatever reason and Ms Snow didn’t make them all out to be misguided losers because they did. I liked that this was written from two characters’ personal experience instead of as a political or social statement in general. Yes, this issue is brought to life, but it wasn’t heavy or a downer and it represented on some level several sides to the story.
For those who might be wanting the hot sex, this book is pretty light on that. Although there are some juicy, sweet scenes. Mostly this is very quiet and real story of budding love and the feelings between Misha and Jude grow slowly and realistically stemming from communication and personal growth and not just out of convenience or personal greedy agendas.
All in all, this was a good read for me. I hope more authors will tackle these kinds of topics within the m/m genre. K.Z. Snow has shown in this story that it can be dealt with in a realistic but light way. And as ever, the writing quality is very good with a nice flow to it.
I have to admire an author that tackles a serious subject when writing a gay romance. Most authors focus mostly on the romance and hot sex but rarely deal with social or political issues that plague the gay community. I must say though, that K. Z. Snow did a great job with this story and subject matter. It’s not slanted, nor over dramatic; it doesn’t play up to or try to manipulate the reader’s emotions on this topic, which is how it could have easily gone. No, this story is a fairly in depth characterization of two men and how they personally react to and deal with the ex-gay movement and their budding relationship.
First off, like every other K. Z. Snow book I’ve read, this story focuses on character growth, which is something I really like. Misha is one of those characters who is hard to take in the beginning. He’s selfish, doesn’t really care too much about his partners feelings, screws anyone he feels like and is basically constantly on the prowl for that next fuck. But one good quality he has is that he’s very comfortable in his own skin and his sexuality.
One person has affected him deeply though, Robbie, a former boyfriend. Unfortunately, he’s the one guy that decided he didn’t want to be or wasn’t gay and went through therapy to become “straight.” This has haunted Misha and he decides to do an expose on the group doing this and to find out why it happened. So he’s not exactly a complete cad right off.
When he gets to Stronger Wings Camp to check them out for his article, he recognizes Jude but can’t place him exactly. Another testament to the fact that he was a player is that he doesn’t remember how he had met Jude until Jude reminds him that they fooled around a bit at one time. Meeting Jude pushes Misha to really want to fight for Jude’s life against the group even while he respects Jude and doesn’t aggressively push Jude to see the error of his being there. This spurs a lot of personal growth for Misha because for once he has to consider the other person and his own feelings.
Jude is also an interesting character. I respected that K. Z. Snow didn’t have him be the type who is easily manipulated. By that I mean that he has chosen to go through this course on his own even if part of it was to please his family who hate that he is gay. But what was very real here is that Jude is really struggling inside himself about his sexuality. He’s not in denial, he’s just tired of having to go against the grain and hide who he is all the time. Inside himself he really feels he would be better if he could just be like everyone else for once.
Jude is also disillusioned by the fact that most of the gay men he’s been in contact with lived a lifestyle of screwing around and not really hooking up emotionally. He thinks that’s how it always will be with gay men and it sucks for him because this is something that Jude craves, to have a meaningful relationship. This adds to his inner conflict about trying to be gay in a straight world. Yes, I can see a gay person really struggling with this if everyone in their lives were gay haters or those gay friends were very shallow. This makes Jude way more complex and real to me than if he was written black and white; in complete denial or pushed against his will.
When Misha starts interviewing Jude and really talking him about why he’s decided to go through the program, it causes Misha to think about his own life and his relationship with Robbie, which really hurt him. He also reflects on his lifestyle, how he’s living and the fact that he’s a player, which Jude says often is the reason why he’d never be with Misha. As he has more and more contact with Jude, he starts to really open up emotionally. Both he and Jude grow and change through this experience, which I liked.
About the group leader and that whole aspect of the book, again, I appreciated that K. Z. Snow didn’t make it black and white, us vs. them sort of thing. Many men are in that place because they’ve chosen it for whatever reason and Ms Snow didn’t make them all out to be misguided losers because they did. I liked that this was written from two characters’ personal experience instead of as a political or social statement in general. Yes, this issue is brought to life, but it wasn’t heavy or a downer and it represented on some level several sides to the story.
For those who might be wanting the hot sex, this book is pretty light on that. Although there are some juicy, sweet scenes. Mostly this is very quiet and real story of budding love and the feelings between Misha and Jude grow slowly and realistically stemming from communication and personal growth and not just out of convenience or personal greedy agendas.
All in all, this was a good read for me. I hope more authors will tackle these kinds of topics within the m/m genre. K.Z. Snow has shown in this story that it can be dealt with in a realistic but light way. And as ever, the writing quality is very good with a nice flow to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2010
I was hesitant to read this book because I thought it would be depressing - boy was I wrong!
Misha is a gay reporter whose last serious lover left him to persue a relationship with a woman. He's getting ready to head out to a "reconditioning program" to make gay men straight. He's going to pose as a straight reporter so that the founder will allow him to stay and interact with the clients. Right after he signs in, he runs into Jude, whom he'd met two years earlier at a wedding - it had been instant attraction but he never saw Jude again, until they meet at the program.
Jude had parental issues at the time of the wedding, and apparently they'd gotten worse. He's at Stronger Wings because he doesn't want to be gay anymore, he doesn't want his parents to be disgusted by him anymore.
The times Misha spends with Jude during the week, just talking about themselves and their pasts are so tender and sweet. As Jude fights his attraction to Misha, Misha falls harder for Jude. The interactions between Misha and the other camp "residents" are pretty funny. I especially liked Ash and Samuel. Hammer made a great bad guy - I have my doubts about him :)
Misha had a great sense of humor. Near the end of the story, Misha decides to dance, and chooses his dance partner thusly:
"She'd been eyeing me, so I figured she was an ace in the hole. Not my hole, of course, but whatever hole aces went into."
The ending was a bit fantastic, but oh, so funny. And hopeful. It was a bit open-ended but I think there's an HEA there.
I give Jude in Chains 4 out of 5 stars! I will definitely be going back for more!
Misha is a gay reporter whose last serious lover left him to persue a relationship with a woman. He's getting ready to head out to a "reconditioning program" to make gay men straight. He's going to pose as a straight reporter so that the founder will allow him to stay and interact with the clients. Right after he signs in, he runs into Jude, whom he'd met two years earlier at a wedding - it had been instant attraction but he never saw Jude again, until they meet at the program.
Jude had parental issues at the time of the wedding, and apparently they'd gotten worse. He's at Stronger Wings because he doesn't want to be gay anymore, he doesn't want his parents to be disgusted by him anymore.
The times Misha spends with Jude during the week, just talking about themselves and their pasts are so tender and sweet. As Jude fights his attraction to Misha, Misha falls harder for Jude. The interactions between Misha and the other camp "residents" are pretty funny. I especially liked Ash and Samuel. Hammer made a great bad guy - I have my doubts about him :)
Misha had a great sense of humor. Near the end of the story, Misha decides to dance, and chooses his dance partner thusly:
"She'd been eyeing me, so I figured she was an ace in the hole. Not my hole, of course, but whatever hole aces went into."
The ending was a bit fantastic, but oh, so funny. And hopeful. It was a bit open-ended but I think there's an HEA there.
I give Jude in Chains 4 out of 5 stars! I will definitely be going back for more!
May 22, 2012
I really like stories that explore the role--positive or negative--of religion and spirituality in the life of a gay man or gay couple. And Jude in Chains tackles a topic that is both interesting and horrifying: trying to train the 'gayness' out of an individual. Reparative therapy doesn't just guide the individual toward celibacy (being gay but not acting on it); instead the goal is to achieve stereotypical masculinity, which ultimately culminates in marriage and fatherhood.
This is a very unique plot and setting, and likable characters are put into an interesting set of situations. There is no bashing of Christianity in the book, as the therapy center is nondenominational. This is my first book by K.Z. Snow, and I look forward to reading more of her work. In case it matters to some, this is a first-person narrative. It's also very well written and well edited.
This is a very unique plot and setting, and likable characters are put into an interesting set of situations. There is no bashing of Christianity in the book, as the therapy center is nondenominational. This is my first book by K.Z. Snow, and I look forward to reading more of her work. In case it matters to some, this is a first-person narrative. It's also very well written and well edited.
January 4, 2016
Reviewed by Brandilyn for Prism Book Alliance. I needed a book that took place in Arkansas, so I asked around. KZ Snow mentioned that this story was set there and after reading the blurb, I decided to give it a try. I have read a couple of KZ Snow titles in that past that I adore, including Xylophone and The Zero Knot. I have not read a story that focused on reparative therapy, however. So I went into this story not knowing at all what to expect. Find the whole review at http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
September 6, 2015
Nice enough story but really light. June's story is pretty generic and strange. I kept expecting to hear he was undercover or something.
The ending was also no good. Very abrupt with very little wrapping up of the story strands. (I mean, what happened to Misha's story and The Center.) It was a light simple ending.
Overall it made me feel, meh.
The ending was also no good. Very abrupt with very little wrapping up of the story strands. (I mean, what happened to Misha's story and The Center.) It was a light simple ending.
Overall it made me feel, meh.
September 26, 2011
This was a fun book, but also had an important message.
I wish it had been longer and could have gone more in-depth!
Definitely recommend!
Just a quote I liked:
"Why the fuck did so many people despise other people who weren’t exactly like themselves? "
I wish it had been longer and could have gone more in-depth!
Definitely recommend!
Just a quote I liked:
"Why the fuck did so many people despise other people who weren’t exactly like themselves? "
June 27, 2010
Very good m/m romance about a gay journalist who attends a "reparative therapy" camp pretending to be a straight journalist.
July 23, 2010
I quite enjoyed this little novel - my first from K.Z. Snow. I'll definitely be checking her out again in the future.
October 28, 2012
3.5? Maybe a 4.
The worst part was the melodramatic title. Weirdly enough, there really wasn't a sense of urgency or anything. No sense of danger. It was all just...there.
The worst part was the melodramatic title. Weirdly enough, there really wasn't a sense of urgency or anything. No sense of danger. It was all just...there.
May 11, 2013
The romantic part was good but what I really liked was K.Z. Snow shedding light on actual social issues. I've noticed her do it in most of her books and all I can do is applaud it!
February 21, 2016
Nicely done and some great characters.
September 4, 2011
4.5 stars For the sensitive (and sensible) theme.
February 22, 2013
Very cute, if a bit lacking in depth and believability. But short and sweet and worth the read. :)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews