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Change #2
A Change of Scenery
After losing a promotion he should have gotten, construction project manager Conway Danvers gets outta Dodge - heading to a small town to change his life. He is not at all prepared for the attraction he feels when he meets Stephen Rydell - the sexy, elegant garden shop owner.
Con doesn't want to feel anything for Stephen - not desire, not attraction... but southern gentleman Stephen can be very determined when he wants something.
Con doesn't want to feel anything for Stephen - not desire, not attraction... but southern gentleman Stephen can be very determined when he wants something.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2011
2 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Cartwright
15 books112 followersJM Cartwright is the alter ego of a polished professional who works all the time. Well, maybe not all the time... but paying the mortgage and buying dog food keep JM pretty busy.
JM dreams of the Appalachians and someday sitting on the veranda overlooking 100 acres of paradise.
JM dreams of the Appalachians and someday sitting on the veranda overlooking 100 acres of paradise.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 24, 2011
3.5 stars
This is a second book in "Change" series by JM Cartwright, THOUGH, it can be read as stand-alone because it has nothing to do with the 1st book. It's a nice, angst-free story. While Con rejects/denies that he's gay at first but the story doesn't really drag on up to the point where he becomes hostile or pushing Stephen too hard, you know? He realizes quick that he wants Stephen in his life and he will deal with being gay. So yep, pretty angst free.
There are some cute moments, like when Con tries to get Stephen to talk to him by making a woman up and order flowers for the woman FROM Stephen's store (yes, Stephen is a garden shop owner). That makes me smile. Though the ending is funnier -- very married couple vibe.
It's a nice read, though does not really emotionally engaging, perfect for in-between serious read
Warning: fisting scene. I think this author enjoys writing one, because there's also a fisting scene in the first book.
This is a second book in "Change" series by JM Cartwright, THOUGH, it can be read as stand-alone because it has nothing to do with the 1st book. It's a nice, angst-free story. While Con rejects/denies that he's gay at first but the story doesn't really drag on up to the point where he becomes hostile or pushing Stephen too hard, you know? He realizes quick that he wants Stephen in his life and he will deal with being gay. So yep, pretty angst free.
There are some cute moments, like when Con tries to get Stephen to talk to him by making a woman up and order flowers for the woman FROM Stephen's store (yes, Stephen is a garden shop owner). That makes me smile. Though the ending is funnier -- very married couple vibe.
It's a nice read, though does not really emotionally engaging, perfect for in-between serious read
Warning: fisting scene. I think this author enjoys writing one, because there's also a fisting scene in the first book.
July 26, 2011
Con works in construction in Chicago and when his promotion is denied in favour of an owner's relative, he's tired of the games in the big city and takes a job working for a smaller city in West Virginia. His first day there he runs across a guy with a flat tire and reacts oddly because he's straight, has always dated women. However as chance has it, his apartment is over Stephen's shop. He determined just to be friends with Stephen but the first time he gets him alone they are all over each other. However he quickly runs and Stephen realizes he's got a closet case on his hands. The question is, how long is he willing to put up with the hot/cold Con, even if he caves to the he-man attitude regularly. I liked that Stephen FINALLY grew a spine. He was much more patient than I likely would have been. When Con wasn't thinking about if he was "gay", he was sweet in that alpha-male guy, when he started thinking about he was an ass. Thankfully he figured it out and it was a sweet story with touches of humour and some sexy bedroom times with a D/s edge.
April 28, 2011
This story was just bleak. Lacking. It was also SO-O-O boring, i had to skip some major parts.
I didn't like this Con character. His "I'm always in charge" attitude got old pretty soon. His mantra was "I'm not gay. No, of course I'm not. I'm straight, of course I'm", while all he could think about was to fuck a guy in the ass. Seriously? That's supposed to be A Tough Guy - Manly-man's behaviour? Really? P-h-lease! I really had the urge to take a handkerchief and wipe the snot off his face.
This lonely star goes to Steven. Good guy. I was relieved that he stood his ground and held his head high while and after interacting with Con.
And one more thing. 187 pages???? I was ready to shoot someone by reaching the page #100. Way too long. Way too boring.
My verdict - don't read it. Just DON'T.
I didn't like this Con character. His "I'm always in charge" attitude got old pretty soon. His mantra was "I'm not gay. No, of course I'm not. I'm straight, of course I'm", while all he could think about was to fuck a guy in the ass. Seriously? That's supposed to be A Tough Guy - Manly-man's behaviour? Really? P-h-lease! I really had the urge to take a handkerchief and wipe the snot off his face.
This lonely star goes to Steven. Good guy. I was relieved that he stood his ground and held his head high while and after interacting with Con.
And one more thing. 187 pages???? I was ready to shoot someone by reaching the page #100. Way too long. Way too boring.
My verdict - don't read it. Just DON'T.
February 26, 2011
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about a construction project manager who's frustrated by his job in Chicago, so he takes a job in a small West Virginia town.
maybe-some-day
May 19, 2011maybe someday but the fisting scene sounds disgusting
See Lori K's review
See Lori K's review
May 23, 2013
I was entertained and nothing drove me nuts. Loved big bad Con but was getting frustrated with his denial when it all came to nothing anyhow. No angst or drama in this one just a sweet read.
May 19, 2014
2014 Re-read:
I experienced an intense moment of joy when I misread the last word as unicorns. <3
Strange thing. I’ve long since felt that “suck it” is too impersonal, and “suck me” would be the much better and probably mentally healthier alternative. But “suck him” in reference to one’s own penis is seriously the worst kind of divorce from the body part and objectification of it and the partner’s actions. Guess it kinda makes sense here given the situation, but it really puts me off.
Lotion and latex. Bad combination.
Strangely enough the contrast between the two protagonists really worked for me. It’s not unbalanced and it’s not just lip service when Stephen thinks about how he is in control by submitting. Speaking of, the sex works for me as well, even if it’s not my kink. Here it’s simply an extension of the characters.
They’re both imperfect, but in such a perfect way. And it is more than just a random quirk to add colour.
So yeah. I really enjoyed this one. Not perfect but a story with solid development.
2011 Review:
It was nice again.
These books are not flimsy ware, they’re solid. But I am seeing patterns. Thankfully (not because it was bad, just because repetition sucks) there were no kids in this one, but it did have a dog.
I liked the protagonists. Again we have a powerful top and a slightly more stereotypical bottom, but in this case the advantage lay in having the top (straight and confused) be the main focal character. Sure, it ended up split fairly evenly because this author just can’t stay away from female-replacement viewpoint, but that’s still much better than the other two books, which were definitely biased there.
And yeah, calling it a female replacement is a bit harsh. I’ve definitely read books where it was way more pronounced. In this case I probably wouldn’t even comment on it if this wasn’t my third book by this author in (almost) a row.
With that said, I really did not need (another) step-by-step description of fisting. Le sigh. Apparently to this author this interaction expresses the utmost amount of intimacy and that is why the story proper here basically ended with that scene. The epilogue was nice. I’m just saying we didn’t have to have those details there. The book would have worked without that as a full scene too.
But yeah. If nothing else, reading these books was comfortable. It’s not a bad thing in a book.
The mid-rise apartment building was coming along, despite the challenges brought on by the economy and the constant battling with the unions.
I experienced an intense moment of joy when I misread the last word as unicorns. <3
Strange thing. I’ve long since felt that “suck it” is too impersonal, and “suck me” would be the much better and probably mentally healthier alternative. But “suck him” in reference to one’s own penis is seriously the worst kind of divorce from the body part and objectification of it and the partner’s actions. Guess it kinda makes sense here given the situation, but it really puts me off.
Lotion and latex. Bad combination.
Strangely enough the contrast between the two protagonists really worked for me. It’s not unbalanced and it’s not just lip service when Stephen thinks about how he is in control by submitting. Speaking of, the sex works for me as well, even if it’s not my kink. Here it’s simply an extension of the characters.
They’re both imperfect, but in such a perfect way. And it is more than just a random quirk to add colour.
So yeah. I really enjoyed this one. Not perfect but a story with solid development.
2011 Review:
It was nice again.
These books are not flimsy ware, they’re solid. But I am seeing patterns. Thankfully (not because it was bad, just because repetition sucks) there were no kids in this one, but it did have a dog.
I liked the protagonists. Again we have a powerful top and a slightly more stereotypical bottom, but in this case the advantage lay in having the top (straight and confused) be the main focal character. Sure, it ended up split fairly evenly because this author just can’t stay away from female-replacement viewpoint, but that’s still much better than the other two books, which were definitely biased there.
And yeah, calling it a female replacement is a bit harsh. I’ve definitely read books where it was way more pronounced. In this case I probably wouldn’t even comment on it if this wasn’t my third book by this author in (almost) a row.
With that said, I really did not need (another) step-by-step description of fisting. Le sigh. Apparently to this author this interaction expresses the utmost amount of intimacy and that is why the story proper here basically ended with that scene. The epilogue was nice. I’m just saying we didn’t have to have those details there. The book would have worked without that as a full scene too.
But yeah. If nothing else, reading these books was comfortable. It’s not a bad thing in a book.
September 1, 2013
I read this during my J.M. Cartwright phase, after genuinely liking Brainy and the Beast and not-very-much liking The Trouble With Angel. After the latter, I didn't have the highest expectations for this story, but I thought, I should give it a try. And I wasn't disappointed, nor completely pleasantly surprised by this book - I'd say it resides firmly in the middle of my liking scale between the other two.
J.M. Cartwright seems to have a certain liking for controlling characters - Conway Danvers, one of the MCs in this story, certainly fits the bill perfectly. He's just moving to a different town to take on a new job, when he meets Stephen, the owner of the garden store right beneath his apartment. Con has little problem with a bit of sex, especially when the sparks fly as high as between these two, but admitting to anyone he works with aloud that he's gay? That's a big nono for him. So he starts on a rollercoaster drive for them both, sometimes hot, sometimes cold, always the one who wants to be in charge, in the bedroom at least.
But, and that's the big difference here for me, Stephen is no walk-over. He has no problem with giving up control during sex, but he won't be flung around forever, that's for sure. At some point Con will have to decide what's more important, the way the world sees him or Stephen.
I thought, the sex in this story was pretty hot and I liked Stephen and Con well enough (Stephen is definitely my favourite here!!), but they didn't stay with me for long like other characters in other books have done. They seemed a bit too two-dimensional to me for any sort of stronger feeling about them.
This was a solid three stars read for me - enjoyable, easy and quick to read, but nothing spectacular.
J.M. Cartwright seems to have a certain liking for controlling characters - Conway Danvers, one of the MCs in this story, certainly fits the bill perfectly. He's just moving to a different town to take on a new job, when he meets Stephen, the owner of the garden store right beneath his apartment. Con has little problem with a bit of sex, especially when the sparks fly as high as between these two, but admitting to anyone he works with aloud that he's gay? That's a big nono for him. So he starts on a rollercoaster drive for them both, sometimes hot, sometimes cold, always the one who wants to be in charge, in the bedroom at least.
But, and that's the big difference here for me, Stephen is no walk-over. He has no problem with giving up control during sex, but he won't be flung around forever, that's for sure. At some point Con will have to decide what's more important, the way the world sees him or Stephen.
I thought, the sex in this story was pretty hot and I liked Stephen and Con well enough (Stephen is definitely my favourite here!!), but they didn't stay with me for long like other characters in other books have done. They seemed a bit too two-dimensional to me for any sort of stronger feeling about them.
This was a solid three stars read for me - enjoyable, easy and quick to read, but nothing spectacular.
February 17, 2014
A Change of Scenery is a delightfully fun and lighthearted read. I liked Con and his willingness to stand up for his convictions and move across country to start a new life. It's a nice beginning look at the strength of his personality. And the man is strong-willed with a capital S and used to getting his own way too. Sometimes a little too much... but Stephen likes dominant men...at least in the bedroom. Then there's Stephen. I love his southern gentlemanly charm and his strange, quirky sayings...all of which I've heard before but not in years.
On the surface you might think that this is a gay-for-you story but as the story progresses, you realize that Con's been hiding his true feeling for twenty years. That he had a gay relationship before. Watching his denial and ultimate progression out of the closet one stuttering step at a time was handled well and went on just long enough without being annoying. And without Stephen killing him for being an idiot.
Okay...Here it is in a couple of sentences. The characters are likable and well developed, I loved the vividly described locale, Buck the dog was a great addition, the sex between Con and Stephen was blistering hot and the story moved along at a nice, smooth pace. That's it. Get the book and read it.
On the surface you might think that this is a gay-for-you story but as the story progresses, you realize that Con's been hiding his true feeling for twenty years. That he had a gay relationship before. Watching his denial and ultimate progression out of the closet one stuttering step at a time was handled well and went on just long enough without being annoying. And without Stephen killing him for being an idiot.
Okay...Here it is in a couple of sentences. The characters are likable and well developed, I loved the vividly described locale, Buck the dog was a great addition, the sex between Con and Stephen was blistering hot and the story moved along at a nice, smooth pace. That's it. Get the book and read it.
August 27, 2012
I liked it but I didn't love it. Con is frustrated with his career in Chicago and decides to try being a big fish in a small pond for a change. Stephen lives in WV already and meets Con on his way in to town and there is instant chemistry. The big conflict is that Con is closeted, almost in denial, and Stephen doesn't want to take a step backwards in life to move forward with Con. Unfortunately there just wasn't much conflict. So the story was a little flat for me. Also I really wanted more time spent developing the relationship between the two men instead of establishing their sex life.
February 11, 2012
A CHANGE OF SCENERY is a character-driven novel, and the characters are well developed. This is a consistent skill of Ms Cartwright, and makes me look forward to each new story she writes. The plot of this book is gentle, following the developing relationship between Con and Stephen. Con discovers what Stephen already knows: the people that matter don’t really care whether he is gay or straight as long as he is a good man. This is a very enjoyable love story.
See my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (Feb. 12, 2012)
See my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (Feb. 12, 2012)
September 6, 2011
I had to fight with myself to get this book finished. I just didn't like Con or the way he treated Stephen, or his whole attitude of "I'm NOT gay...but I want to have sex with Stephen like whoa." Yeah, that got old real fast. Too much one step forward, two steps back.
April 17, 2011
4.5 Ravens. A Change of Scenery by JM Cartwright is an absolutely delightful romance. Charming characters, highly erotic sex, and a tight plot fully engage the reader and keep the plot moving at a fast pace. To read the rest of this review, please visit http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=...
August 23, 2011
I don't think this author is for me. I've read the first two and the characters and relationship dynamic is not my style. No thanks on the jerk wad tops. I stopped book 1 early and this wasn't much better.
December 30, 2016
I cute quick read that took little or none brain cells and at the moment I have none to spare. It had a bit of angst as Con come to terms of being gay. Stephen was a saint and a bit on the dramatic side. Just like I like my southern men.
April 15, 2013
Conway was an ass to Stephen treating him like a dirty little secret but hounding him at the same time. He redeemed himself at the end but the way he talked down to Stephen bugged the hell outta me. Bit disappointing after Change of Tune and Trouble with Angel.
September 23, 2011
Although part of the Change series this story can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it despite the fact that Con got on my nerves quite a bit. A nice read overall.
March 1, 2011
3.5 stars
May 29, 2011
2 - 3 stars.
January 23, 2012
I loved Stephen, he was such a great character.
Con took me awhile to like, but when he accepted who he was...I loved him:-)
I loved this story!
Con took me awhile to like, but when he accepted who he was...I loved him:-)
I loved this story!
August 12, 2012
A good book, with a relentless pursuer. I have hoped that they would take more time to get together but alas it shouldn't be.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews