Yet another in the continuing saga of the Verona gang as they go off to college in Bloomington. Tim has always been one of the more sexually uninhibitYet another in the continuing saga of the Verona gang as they go off to college in Bloomington. Tim has always been one of the more sexually uninhibited characters and his behavior here is not surprising.
I know that these tales are set before most people were aware of safer sex practices but I do wish that safer sex was stressed a bit more, perhaps in an author's note.
Also, as a graduate of a big ten school myself I was surprised that IU triumphed so easily over the Wolverines and had trouble with the Terrapins. Also the pre-game activities of Tim on the day of his second game seemed a bit off. The Spartan football players that I knew spent Saturday mornings under the strict supervision of coaches, sharing a communal breakfast and then other pre-game activities. Walking in during a tail-gate party wasn't something they'd have been allowed to do. ...more
Just another excuse to spend time with the boys from Verona (now in Bloomington) This one deals with Marc Peralta, a somewhat later arrival to the creJust another excuse to spend time with the boys from Verona (now in Bloomington) This one deals with Marc Peralta, a somewhat later arrival to the crew. Marc is a frat boy who was a soccer player in high school and now a competitive bike racer in college. This novel made me worry a bit as the events were pretty sexual and there's not one reference to a condom in the entire book. I think that if the guys are this "active" there ought to be a bit of a safer sex bent as well. ...more
Nothing too eventful happens but its fun to spend some more tile with the boys of Verona though now it's mostly Bloomington. The easy comfortable feelNothing too eventful happens but its fun to spend some more tile with the boys of Verona though now it's mostly Bloomington. The easy comfortable feeling of spending time with friends is excellent in this one as it ends at Christmas with the new (straight) Aiden added to the cast.
The Bloomington area and the Indiana University Campus play a role here almost as important as some of the characters and the only worry I have is that I'll get fat reading about all the foods that they eat....more
One of the more enjoyable Sherlock Holmes tales. This would make a great double feature with The Hound of the Baskervilles as they both include settinOne of the more enjoyable Sherlock Holmes tales. This would make a great double feature with The Hound of the Baskervilles as they both include settings in the moors and wily machinations by the locales....more
I received an Amazon gift card and decided to use it to catch up on some of Mark's book that I'd not yet read. This was one of the lot and so far the I received an Amazon gift card and decided to use it to catch up on some of Mark's book that I'd not yet read. This was one of the lot and so far the one that I've enjoyed the most. It features the rivalry between the sons of two of Mark Roeder's characters that have been best friends since the earliest books. Here their sons start as instant rivals and, unlike their fathers, both boys are gay.
There's also a irrepressible very stereotypical gay character named Dylan that adds a bit of fun to the tale. ...more
Devon Devlin is a tortured kid who's fighting his true nature with everything he's got. His religious upbringing tells him homosexuality is wrong and Devon Devlin is a tortured kid who's fighting his true nature with everything he's got. His religious upbringing tells him homosexuality is wrong and yet he's always surrounded by gorgeous gay guys who find him fascinating.
Given that this is told from his point of view during his college years and Mark A. Roeder's earlier novels have already told us what becomes of Devon, there was little hope that this would be surprising. What I WAS hoping for was a perspective that might make him a more sympathetic character and hopefully explain some of his later development. There was a bit of that but I didn't feel that any of what happened really justified the character Devon eventually became.
I was also a bit disappointed in the way that the "Dorian Gray" character behaved. his motivations and backstory aren't known to me but his behavior in this as a stand alone novel, didn't feel well motivated.
It's been a while since I read any of Mark's other novels and it was nice to see some of the "old gang" again but this isn't his best effort....more
Another of Mark's Verona centered tales. Since Marshall plays a part the story involves the supernatural but the "secret" behind the tale was pretty eAnother of Mark's Verona centered tales. Since Marshall plays a part the story involves the supernatural but the "secret" behind the tale was pretty easy to guess. I figured it out less than a tenth of the way in.
Oddly I had to think twice before I tagged this as a gay read. Unlike all the other Mark Roeder books I've read, the main character and most of the supporting characters in this one are straight. ...more
Yet another view of country boy in the big town. Fun read but Nathan's nemesis was a bit unbelievable as to his motivations.
The young genius was a funYet another view of country boy in the big town. Fun read but Nathan's nemesis was a bit unbelievable as to his motivations.
The young genius was a fun new character and it was fun to see all the guys again in this light. I think That Mark might be turning these out a bit too quickly though. I felt that there was a real missed opportunity in this one when Jon kisses Nathan. Jon should have acted a bit hinky about it when Nathan ribs him about telling Ethan and Jon's character could have been more finely developed if we saw that he was still feeling a bit bad about rebuffing Ethan's advanced from years before....more
I love keeping tabs on the gay boys of Verona and their later adventures in Bloomington, so I'd never gotten around to reading this novel by Mark RoedI love keeping tabs on the gay boys of Verona and their later adventures in Bloomington, so I'd never gotten around to reading this novel by Mark Roeder. In some ways this is one of Mark's best.
True, none of the familiar characters are there, unless you count the town of Bloomington, Indiana which often becomes a character in its own right. But the story is enjoyable on its own. The "squirrel in a cage" repetitive thoughts that sometimes mar Mark's novels is missing as well. The narrator Chauncey seems like a likeable character and I was comfortable with him and would love to spend more time in his company.
I find Mark's novels eminently readable and in a way comfortable. Perhaps its our shared Midwestern upbringing, but there's something appealing about a book that pays so much attention to what's for breakfast, and lunch, and dinner. ...more
I'd heard of this book for years but never many details, but after reading The Giver I was curious and picked up a copy at a thrift store when I saw iI'd heard of this book for years but never many details, but after reading The Giver I was curious and picked up a copy at a thrift store when I saw it. It's a very fast read and certainly aimed at younger audiences but it's certainly worth the reading time and perhaps a suitable substitute for The Diary of a Young Girl for younger readers. ...more
Was in the mood for an M/M Ghost and Mrs. Muir but what this was was something different. It's a novella and a very quick read and the romantic bases Was in the mood for an M/M Ghost and Mrs. Muir but what this was was something different. It's a novella and a very quick read and the romantic bases are covered but one has to really want to suspend disbelief to accept this story.
Of course one can't be too demanding when reading about a love affair between a detective and a ghost but a detective who buys a house sight unseen over the internet? An entire town who basically knows "who dunnit" but haven't even followed up because the culprit was too powerful? One can call this a detective story but it's NOT much of a mystery.
There's nothing painfully wrong about this story but there's not much that rises above either. I'm not sorry that I spent time reading it but I doubt that it will be something I re-read....more
1927 and Poirot finds himself up against a quartet of supervillains (With atomic weapons no less)
Dame Agatha was ahead of her time.
This was NOT my f1927 and Poirot finds himself up against a quartet of supervillains (With atomic weapons no less)
Dame Agatha was ahead of her time.
This was NOT my favorite Poirot story. I tend to like the detective in more modest surroundings and apparently so do the makers of the Poirot TV series. This story-line went through the cuisinart before making it to TV. ...more
Fun reading some classic old tales. This collection tells tales that were first published in the 40's but several of these stories were what I recall Fun reading some classic old tales. This collection tells tales that were first published in the 40's but several of these stories were what I recall from the 60's
It's fun to revisit some simpler less dark tales of Gotham's Caped Crusaders....more
Perhaps I read this too soon after reading The Fault in Our Stars. In some ways this tale felt more organic and it's true meaning a bit deeper but I wPerhaps I read this too soon after reading The Fault in Our Stars. In some ways this tale felt more organic and it's true meaning a bit deeper but I wasn't as impressed with the dialogue. The characters do seem more down to earth and more like people that might actually inhabit the story that's told. And in some ways that was great. There are some laugh out loud funny moments in this book.
Overall I love Green's style. His main characters are "American everyman" on some level but unique in their own ways. His characters have a Huck Finn quality in that they can observe the American norm more clearly by being just outside it and yet in this modern age aren't we all just a bit outside the norm? I've watched the you-tube series World History that he narrates/hosts and one can see aspects of his personality popping up that clearly show you the roots of Augy and Colin and Quentin and many of his main characters. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
I'm not sure which Green book I'd choose as my favorite right now. Perhaps I'll update this review after some more thought. ...more
Beach volleyball pros Finn Callahan and Dexter Savage have been rivals since college. Of course that's because they're attracted to each other and thoBeach volleyball pros Finn Callahan and Dexter Savage have been rivals since college. Of course that's because they're attracted to each other and though Finn admits that he's gay (at least to himself) Dex has resolved that he's straight.
Leigh Carman has crafted a rivals to lovers tale where both guys are charming (at least to this reader) and their viewpoints and actions are ultimately understandable. However this book will NOT be for everyone. In her striving to show us what's going on in both these guys' beautiful heads she's created a bit more confusion than some will tolerate. (I was continually going back to sort out who was who) This "alternating points of view" approach can be daunting, particularly without the help from gender specific pronouns that M/F romances can rely on. And POV switching within the same chapter can make the problems even worse.
There were also a few niggling problems that I had with other aspects of the plot. Dex's "charming guy" persona didn't seem to track well with his background and Finn's physical attraction to Dex after (view spoiler)[losing his fiance (hide spoiler)] seemed a bit abrupt. It somehow made Finn less than I had pictured him.
If you can get past the confusion and aren't as picky as I am about plot details, you may well really enjoy this. Even in its present form it is a good satisfying read and both guys are charming in their own right.
The back-seat writer in me wondered toward the end how this tale might have gone if Finn had been the charming one. Dex could have easily been the better player and with his background, the stormy disposition might have tracked better. ...Or am I getting them confused again?
*** Note: A free copy of this was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review as part of the GoodReads M/M romance group's "Don't buy my love" program. ***...more
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