Title: Promises
Author: Marie Sexton
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Author: Marie Sexton
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com
ISBN: 978-1-61581-378-0
Genre: [M/M] Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph
Jared Thomas is lonely. Coda, Colorado isn’t a place a young gay man is likely to find the love of his life. In fact, the only other gay man in town is thirty years older and was once his teacher in high school. Living in the small town means living like a monk, but Jared loves being close to his family and the mountains and can’t imagine living any place else. In fact, the only time he left was to attend college, getting a degree in teaching, which has proved worthless in his homophobic hometown. Unfortunately, staying in Coda also means working in the family store and living alone, with only the possibility of occasional physical relief with another man, if he goes to another town to get it.
Newly hired Coda police officer, Matt Richards doesn’t know anything about Jared or his reputation. With common loves of professional football, hiking and mountain biking, the two men become good friends. In fact, Matt prefers Jared’s company to anyone else in town…and that includes all the single women. Despite the mixed signals he seems to be sending Jared, Matt claims he’s straight and even starts a relationship with Cherie, a woman in town, to prove it. There’s a lot standing in the way of Jared ever having a relationship with the man he loves…Matt’s affair with Cherie, his homophobic harassing co-workers at the police department, and an angry, belligerent and drunk father. Is there hope for these two men or will the outside pressures destroy their friendship and drive them apart forever?
Promises is the first book by Marie Sexton that I’ve had the chance to read and this entertaining romance was a great way to become acquainted with her writing skill. Be assured I’ll be looking for additional releases from this author in the future. Promises is written in first person…from Jared’s viewpoint, so I was often left wondering what was going on in Matt’s head and why he is doing some of the things he did. That being said, even if first person viewpoint books aren’t your cup-of-tea, I’d recommend you try this one.
There’s nothing fast moving about this well plotted book, so if you’re expecting a lust-driven rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last, then this gem of a book isn’t for you. However, if you enjoy a story that starts slowly as the men build their personal relationship, then you’ll probably enjoy this book. I’m not in any way saying that the plot is plodding or boring, far from it. In truth, it moves along at a reasonable and realistic pace; pulling in interesting secondary characters along the way, while allowing Matt and Jared to develop deep feelings for each other, before they hop into bed together.
I enjoyed seeing Matt stand up to his co-workers for Jared’s sake, and I think these scenes were some of my favorites. However, I think some of the best written were those involving Matt’s abusive father and down trodden mother, while visiting with Jared’s family over the holidays. It was so vividly described, you could almost see the disaster scene in your mind’s eye, or hear the venom dripping from the father’s drunken lips.
I’ll close before I reveal the dramatic final scenes. Rest assured that even though Matt’s buried deeply inside a huge walk-in closet, filled with obstacles, booby traps and several heavy locks, he finally manages to find his way out into the light of truth and right into Jared’s waiting arms; even if, at times, I didn’t think they’d ever get there. Read and enjoy!
Genre: [M/M] Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph
Jared Thomas is lonely. Coda, Colorado isn’t a place a young gay man is likely to find the love of his life. In fact, the only other gay man in town is thirty years older and was once his teacher in high school. Living in the small town means living like a monk, but Jared loves being close to his family and the mountains and can’t imagine living any place else. In fact, the only time he left was to attend college, getting a degree in teaching, which has proved worthless in his homophobic hometown. Unfortunately, staying in Coda also means working in the family store and living alone, with only the possibility of occasional physical relief with another man, if he goes to another town to get it.
Newly hired Coda police officer, Matt Richards doesn’t know anything about Jared or his reputation. With common loves of professional football, hiking and mountain biking, the two men become good friends. In fact, Matt prefers Jared’s company to anyone else in town…and that includes all the single women. Despite the mixed signals he seems to be sending Jared, Matt claims he’s straight and even starts a relationship with Cherie, a woman in town, to prove it. There’s a lot standing in the way of Jared ever having a relationship with the man he loves…Matt’s affair with Cherie, his homophobic harassing co-workers at the police department, and an angry, belligerent and drunk father. Is there hope for these two men or will the outside pressures destroy their friendship and drive them apart forever?
Promises is the first book by Marie Sexton that I’ve had the chance to read and this entertaining romance was a great way to become acquainted with her writing skill. Be assured I’ll be looking for additional releases from this author in the future. Promises is written in first person…from Jared’s viewpoint, so I was often left wondering what was going on in Matt’s head and why he is doing some of the things he did. That being said, even if first person viewpoint books aren’t your cup-of-tea, I’d recommend you try this one.
There’s nothing fast moving about this well plotted book, so if you’re expecting a lust-driven rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last, then this gem of a book isn’t for you. However, if you enjoy a story that starts slowly as the men build their personal relationship, then you’ll probably enjoy this book. I’m not in any way saying that the plot is plodding or boring, far from it. In truth, it moves along at a reasonable and realistic pace; pulling in interesting secondary characters along the way, while allowing Matt and Jared to develop deep feelings for each other, before they hop into bed together.
I enjoyed seeing Matt stand up to his co-workers for Jared’s sake, and I think these scenes were some of my favorites. However, I think some of the best written were those involving Matt’s abusive father and down trodden mother, while visiting with Jared’s family over the holidays. It was so vividly described, you could almost see the disaster scene in your mind’s eye, or hear the venom dripping from the father’s drunken lips.
I’ll close before I reveal the dramatic final scenes. Rest assured that even though Matt’s buried deeply inside a huge walk-in closet, filled with obstacles, booby traps and several heavy locks, he finally manages to find his way out into the light of truth and right into Jared’s waiting arms; even if, at times, I didn’t think they’d ever get there. Read and enjoy!
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