Trapped Nerves

by Drew Hunt

Mason is trapped in an elevator with his high school lover who - he thinks - is responsible for his gay bashing and disability ...

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Disability, Romance, Fiction, Gay, LGBT

132 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Having read all the decent free fiction on the net Drew could find, he set out to try his hand at writing something himself. Fed up reading about characters who were super-wealthy, impossibly handsome, and incredibly well-endowed, Drew determined to make his characters real and believable.

Drew lives a quiet life in the north of England with his cat. Someday he hopes to meet the kind of man he writes about.

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...

Reviews

[Seregil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh... I was annoyed with this story because it was all just tragic.
Parker was an idiot from beginning to end and Mason an even bigger idiot for putting up with it. The idea that some highschoolers would take him into the woods to beat him up (why not at school?) and then throw him out of a moving van (because they thought he was dead??) is a bit too much. It was a artificial plot mechanism to make things very very tragic... and why did we need the story to be so tragic?
In the end Parker has HIV, Mason is paralized and they both had pretty fucked up lives but yey! they reconnect and kiss.... That doesn't make me happy for them at all. I think it;s still pretty horrible.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I would have liked to see fleshed out into a full-length novel. It was a great story and I was pulled in by the characters. I just kept thinking how much better it would have been if we had been with them through the years they were apart instead of hearing about it after the fact. It could have been as good as The Locker Room by Amy Lane. I gave it 4 stars because of the story itself.

[MostlyDelores · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not only did I not like Parker, I don't think Mason liked Parker either. My hand was itching to smack them both (but especially Parker).

[Rebo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though the story is pretty cliche - young gay man from rich, accepting family has fling with in-the-closet jock with a secret needy side - it had the potential to be good. Sadly, the writing is poor, and the story isn't well developed; the fact that Mason is paralyzed seems like a throwaway, a gimmick, almost.

The story begins when Mason and Parker, who were lovers once-upon-time in highschool, get trapped in an elevator together. Parker doesn't initially recognize the now paralyzed Mason, although Mason instantly recognizes his former beau and remembers their time together. As a result, 90% of the story takes place in the past, with brief flashes to the present.

The writing was mediocre at best in terms of the prose--too often you're told what's happening, like you're reading a summary instead of recounting what happened. As a whole, too, the pacing is poor and the drama isn't developed well; I think it would have worked much better to have more of the present in the story, maybe even have them escaping the elevator at the beginning of the book so that they're forced to really address their issues.

I also found it disappointing the way Mason's paralysis was seemingly thrown in there in order to make him a pitiable figure. It didn't feel necessary for the story, and those who might have read this title hoping for SCI sex scenes will be disappointed, as there are none.

In general, although I found Mason to be an interesting character, I would suggest giving this one a pass.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wheels

I chose 5 stars for the sheer joy of reading a book of someone in my own situation, paraplegic in a wheelchair, gay.
The book is fast-paced and enjoyable. Suggestion for a hopefully next? Sex while paraplegic is maybe challenging, but can be very rewarding if done the right way ;)

[Deeze · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deep and moving story. Drew manages to give life to his characters so well. I admit to tearing up a time or two. Drew Hunt write real people in real situations. Definately one to add to your shelves.

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions]

didn't finish because it looks like its going to be too sad and rough... very good writing and characters though

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Doctor Mason Grant is trapped in an elevator with Parker Collins, the football hero/closeted jock that was once his secret high school lover, he flashes back to that time thirteen years ago when Mason's greatest love led to his greatest regret.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and I would recommend it to others, but at times there are some plot points that seem a bit too far fetched. Would YOU not recognize the love of your life when trapped in an elevator with him for 20 minutes just because he's 13 years older & in a wheel chair?

Also there are points where too much plot is crammed into too few pages. The flashback scenes are easily the most fun to read and seem to go on for the proper length but the present day scenes keep interrupting that flow and seem poorly constructed in comparison. The introduction of an HIV theme to the story seemed like an unnecessary afterthought.

If you can read it for the fantasy fulfillment aspects alone, you'll probably enjoy it more.

This was not as much fun as the author's other novel Something About Trevor but I look forward to checking out the author's other work.

*** Note: I was given a copy of this by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did the author have a word limit? If they did I think they ran out of words and just finished the story! It makes a great first draft but it could be sooo much better if it was fleshed out and re written. The story built at quite a nice pace to start and then it all got neatly wrapped up in a totally unbelievable 20 pages! Argh it kinda of felt like a story written to be marked and you could highlight certain bits with "could do better"! I really like the premise of the story but i hate it when characters get off scott free for an absolutely awful act and it is just brushed over Meh they did it I didn't tell anyone so meh! What? I must hold a grudge a damn sight longer than most because I have to tell you after what the MC's went through it would take more than an hour of someone saying sorry for me to forgive them!

Just needed the last quarter of the book to be written with the same fluid pace as the first three quarters. More details and thought going into and ending even an epilogue or something of how they managed and what happens next.

[Christy Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of the book looks like one of the guys from the Jersey shore is attacking cripple people in elevators.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) that is not at all what this book is about.

This novella is a mashup of to love story clichés: the jock and the and rich boy poor boy. As someone who reads fanfic, I have read my fair share of these types of stories and so I expected very little but Drew Hunt wrote it in such a way that within a few pages I lost all my reservations.

The story flashes back and forth between the young love story of two young men and the future coincidental meeting in a broken elevator, and as you read on you learn why the future Mason is terrified of his first love and is in a wheelchair.

Not wanting to give away any spoilers I can't say more than that, so all and this review by admitting I was completely surprised by the quality of this novella and the fact that it brought tears to my eyes.

[Mickelange · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could put a negative rating, I would! this book is awful! I was sick, he ruined my evening, I was depressed after reading it!
Those who have did this gay bashing are never arrested and they have a normal life, while the life of Mason is destroyed. Parker's life too, but he's a real asshole, so.... I don't care!!
Furthermore the author wants us to believe that all is forgiven and forgotten in 10 minutes!
I'm French so I can't speak to the quality of the writing, but the story is too absurd, poorly developed and full of nonsense! the book may be too short, but the end is sloppy. You can't believe in this story....
I hope I will forget this book very quickly!

[Melanie~~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Hunt's writing style and will definitely read more of his work. I liked Mason, but Parker became a little rough to read about. Of course, Mason allowed himself to be run over, so to speak, by Parker.

[Emeziel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh wow, like i've no words. Like, what sort of an idiot moron is this Mason guy? It has to be pretty up there, like waaayyy up there. Because 13 years have passed and we are treated to the same pathetic exchange. I would have preffered had he been totally indifferent. And well any sane person would have been too.
After 50 percent mark, i kept reading the book, even fully knowing how pathetic and assholish Parker was, hoping things would work out. But i lost hope by 75 percent mark when Parker just kept piling his crap mountain higher and higher. It would have needed another two hundred pages to redeem him in any satisfactory way. Sometimes a character can be so hateful that the separation between Mc's makes for a perfect HEA. I would even have preferred if Terry had come to there rescue and we would have been treated to just three lines of Terry and Masons romance because they were long term loving couple or something. Like give a guy a break, he has been through so much. Let him have some happiness. Instead he is piled together again with that same jerk to start the cycle of abuse all over again. What was the purpose the of treating us to so many pages of sob stories if we were going to end where we started. Readers unanimously hate Parker. The author might have killed him and come up with better ending ( i really like the other books by this author though)
But well, when Mason proved to have a dick for a brain, i just skimmed the rest.
It would not have mattered to me then if they were rescued or the technicians just cut the cord after that declaration of love and be done with it. Would have been an act of mercy honestly.
And STILL a better ending.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this story!! Teenage love that goes so horribly wrong it will break your heart, it's sweet, then angsty, and then tragic. A wonderful read.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot bothered me but the worst thing was the the way the ending was so abrupt and cheesy and unrealistic. Mason put up with too much of Parker's shit since the beginning and especially by the end. Parker, while his worst fear was that people might find out he was gay - so quickly ratted on Mason although all Mason ever did was try to make him happy and put up with all his shit. Even though Mason was the victim I hated him too. I hate the stupid typical american's way of thinking and honestly I am so fucking glad I'm not american because I could not put up going to a school with that shit. As for the story, as much as I hated the way it was told, it wasn't so bad... at least it was the most worthwhile thing from this whole book though I hated the way it was written.
I wanted to like it, but can't get myself to give it even two stars. I was very disappointed.

[Noughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even from other reviews you can see that this is a good book but it deals with hard issues. If you don't like hard issues don't read it, but also don't rate a good book with low rating because of that as it gives the wrong impression of the book.

I have read this some time ago and I still remember this book, characters, plot. This means a lot. It's not a book to forget. It shows the ugly face of homophobia and the consequences of that hate. I think the writing was interesting, this book feels both short and long. The raw emotion was done very good.

It is a good read, but be warned it isn't an easy read and the ending is just as happy as it can be under the circumstances.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts I liked a lot. I guess I wanted to see more at the end. I wanted to see them get together take the story from there, realizing they still have feelings for each other, but working through the problems they had. It wrapped up too quick.
Nevertheless, I still love Drew Hunt's writing, and check back often to see what he's got out that's new.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't like to read gay bashing books, it's really sad and damn complicated. And I really don't like that people are so easy to hate and hurt others. That's only proves how low humans are. But in general the story is hard but well written.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but the ending was to abrupt.

[Mary]

I won this book from First Reads and am looking forward to reading it now that I've received it. It's in my queue.

[OkayKim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was too short of a story. Needed more to be a great story.

[Nettebaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story. I'd classify it as a well written tragedy. Be prepared for sadness and anger.

[Sasha07 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5点。
冒頭から「Masonが酷い怪我を負った挙げ句、音信不通になるような別れ方をする」のが示されていて、いつそのシーンが出てくるのかドキドキしながら読んだ。
Parkerの気持ちとか立場は分かるけどちよっと身勝手過ぎて、Masonが駄メンズ好きみたいになってるのは微妙かなー。
もうちょっとParkerのいいところが見えれば、感情移入できて泣ける話だったとおもう。
話の構成は好き。

[Gwengwel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember reading it, that it's was very boring and unbelievable, but can't remember when and can't find the book.