Sidecar

4,5 stars.
A wonderful love story spanning over 25 years. Both main characters are very lovable in their own way: Casey the vulnerable but tough kid, that got thrown out for being gay as a teenager, and Joe, the giant with the great heart.
It was very much on the romantic side and very well written.
( )

Such a beautiful and engaging story. Absolutely loved it. Casey & Joe were both amazing, and I fell in love with them. I was tearing up at parts, smiling at parts, and loving the entire story. It was a wonderful relationship story where we really got to know both of the characters - their strengths & weaknesses, but ultimately and most importantly, their utter devotion to each other. The epilogue was positively perfect! ( )

Such a beautiful and engaging story. Absolutely loved it. Casey & Joe were both amazing, and I fell in love with them. I was tearing up at parts, smiling at parts, and loving the entire story. It was a wonderful relationship story where we really got to know both of the characters - their strengths & weaknesses, but ultimately and most importantly, their utter devotion to each other. The epilogue was positively perfect! ( )

Once my kids are older, they will probably run from the house like it’s on fire every time I start a new Amy Lane book. Why? Because I can always count on her to leave me sleep deprived and cranky. Not that I am complaining. Her books always keep me up until the wee hours of the morning because I simply can’t put them down. Sidecar was no exception.

It’s no secret amongst the Bibliojunkies that my favorite type of book is a romance. Throw in a forever boy and I am in heaven. Sidecar delivers both - an absolutely loveable forever boy (Joe Daniels) but also a beautiful romance that slowly grows over the years.

Sidecar does not contain the angst that Ms. Lane writes so well. And for that I am grateful. Even without it I found myself wiping tears off my face during little moments through out the book. With in the first two chapters both Casey and Joe become such a part of you that your heart hurts for everything they experience. The good and the bad.

Joe Daniels is pretty simple. He lived the carefree lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. But then he decided he was done. No big dramatic moment made him change. He just decided he was missing the space and quiet of where he grew up. So by the age of 27 he is comfortably living in his own home far enough away from civilization to enjoy the quiet but close enough to drive to his job at the hospital where he works as a nurse. Although a little scary looking with is broad shoulders, long hair, handlebar mustache/soul patch combo and a giant Harley, Joe is an all around NICE guy. He believes in helping people. His family taught him that it was the right thing to do. He helps his aging neighbor that lives 20 acres away; he makes friends with patients at the hospital. Even if they aren’t his patients. And he takes in strays – dogs, cats and you guessed it, kids that he finds helpless on the side of the road. He has no ulterior motives. He is just that kind of guy. Who doesn’t want this guy? He is perfect. I was imagining Aaron Eckhart a la Erin Brockovich (just change the hair color to black) while reading this. Can I just say forever boy AND totally biker hot?

But here is the thing….although Joe Daniels is the forever boy in this book, I found that I was absolutely smitten with Casey. I think that the YA reader in me was drawn to him instantly. He is so young at the beginning of this book (16 years old) and has had a pretty rough experience. He isn’t broken by any stretch of the imagination. He has an inner strength and outward feistiness that allows him to stay standing no matter what life might throw at him. His instant love and hero worship of Joe in the beginning is almost heartbreaking in its sincerity and hopefulness. I think the parts that made me cry the most were watching Casey grow up. So many of his chapters made me want to put my book down and hug my children.

There is always a risk of making the reader uncomfortable when building a romance between two people that start out with a guardian/child relationship. But that isn’t the case here. This story is so well crafted and paced that you can only cheer these two men on as they slowly reach that point where everything comes together. And when it does come together? You better watch out. Their first kiss is literally smoldering. And although the sex scenes are few, the few that are there….oh, my. My book almost burst into flames from the heat.

Watching the relationship develop and change between Joe and Casey over the span of 25 years is beautiful and romantic and heartwarming. I absolutely love books like this. They settle in and become comfort reads when I need something to brighten a gloomy day. It is a guarantee that I will be re-reading Sidecar next time I need a pick me up.

Nat ( )

A really nice and sweet story about family values and love. I also appreciated a lot that, despite the dark and sad subjects (abused children, AIDS, homophobia), the novel was not depressing and without hope, on the contrary, hope was always shining, and it was enlightening the lives of both Casey and Joe.

Since the story has an high emotional level, I think the author wanted to reassure the readers letting them know that the two main characters were destined to have an happily ever after, and so that the book starts with a jump forward, in 2012, 25 years later the beginning of the story, when both Casey and Joe are happily going back to their home, and from Casey’s words you know they spent the past 25 years together.

In 1987 Casey was a 15 years old runaway kid; from a very conservative and not supporting family, when they found out Casey was gay, they kicked him out. Casey managed his way to Northern California through tricks and dumb luck, but now he seems to have reached an alt. That is where Joe comes along, riding his motorcycle and offering shelter and comfort, without payback. Joe is from a Quaker family, and they taught him the giving without asking rule. I really liked this side of the story, basically since I didn’t know Quakers still exist and that they were so welcoming.

Joe is 27 years old and of course he not only doesn’t have an hidden agenda on Casey, he will never dream of being involved with an underage kid. Casey’s interest in Joe is obvious, but Joe is also adamant in letting Casey know that nothing could happen between them. Not since Joe is straight, he is actually bisexual and in the period Casey comes living with him, he will have both male than female partners, but since Joe wants to be family to Casey, more an older brother than a lover.

Trouble is that Casey has other ideas and he is only waiting to grow into the right man to be beside Joe, a right and honest to God man, someone who will be able to multiple love with love.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/161372568X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20