Lucas and Nate enjoyed eight nights of forbidden romance at Hanukkah. Now they’re living together and reveling in the freedom. When painful betrayal shatters their happiness, can their relationship last in the light of day?
From Loose Id.

I really enjoyed reading Keria Andrews book, Love Match, which was also published by Loose Id. My tennis slash googles were firmly on! So, was looking forward to reading this new one. It’s about two young men at the beginning of their relationship and dealing with the issues of coming out, jealousy and learning to live together. The first book about Lucas and Nate is a short story so it’s nice to see a full length follow up.

For the most part I enjoyed the book, the romance was sweet and there was plenty of drama and angst. I think the portrayal of these boys rang true for me as they’re both just so young and bound to screw it up at some point. This did not make the betrayal any less heartbreaking, even if it fit within the context of the story. It didn’t make make me like it. If there is one thing in a romance that gets my goat it’s infidelity, it’s a thing I have.

Keira Andrews does some clever writing in the way she makes the reader feel for her characters. Initially I had a great deal of sympathy and understanding for Lucas. Because she very slowly reveals who Nate is and how he feels, I think it’s a little more compelling as you came to fully understand why he is the way he is and the reasons behind his actions. This made for some interesting reading, however I could not get away from the fact that these guys are young and I wondered if the romance would last in the long run. Cynic much? A contemporary romance with such young characters is definitely a difficult idea and while I am all about the hearts and bunnies, maybe there is too much of a pragmatist in me to imagine they’ll live their happily ever after. I think I’m ok with that though, I don’t think every relationship has to end with that ride off into the sunset on a glittery pony.

I cannot say I enjoyed it as much as I did Love Match, but considering the very difficult nature of this premise I think it was well written and it was nice to see the exploration of a relationship that was already in progress. I’ll be interested to see what she put out next, as I do enjoy her writing.
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/ ( )

I first met Lucas and Nate in a short story released under Christmas time last year. It was a nice story, but as always when the two characters are so nice, I regretted the fact that it was so short. Now the author writes a full lenght novel for them and it's again very nice.

Lucas is a young college student; since he was a teen he was always a lonely kid, with a very special relationship with his father, his only relative alive. But soon before he started college, his father passed away from cancer, leaving Lucas without any financial worries, but plenty alone. It was not easier for Lucas that first Christmas alone, and so he let the mother of his roommate drags him back home with them where he met her son Nate. Now let me say that Nate is the classical spoiled son of a wealthy family; he is gay but he has no courage to come out with his family and prefers to play the role of the brooding son, the dark one in opposite to his outspoken and sunny big brother. But outside his family home, Nate is not an angel, and, if I remember well, he seduced Lucas.

In this new book, Lucas and Nate decide to live together in the Village, Nate still pretending with his family that he will only share an apartment with Lucas since it's nearer to College. Living together at first seems paradise, but probably both Lucas than Nate have rushed things: Lucas is at his first sexual experience, and he is insecure and still tentative; plus he still believes to be nothing special, and he sees Nate with starry eyes, all the world turns around his lover, and when they are not together, Lucas feels lost. On the other hand, Nate probably believes that Lucas is just like him, so sure and strong, even if only outside his family home; he doesn't feel necessary to woo and reassure Lucas, since he really doesn't see any reason why Lucas hasn't to be a strong and independent man like him...

A lot of unspoken words between them lead Lucas to make a very big mistake, but I really haven't the heart to blame him in total; sure Nate wasn't cheating him physically, but in a way he was cheating the trust Lucas had in him. From his spoiled brat perspective, Nate didn't see that Lucas needed something more, not only sex and fun, but also the comfort and the reassurance of a family, the certainty that he has someone to come home to.

I like the story, maybe it has a bit too much of Christmas feeling in it (better Hanukkah), with a final scene that could be well into an Hollywood movie with James Stewart, but then, if every Christmas we sees that movies, there will be a reason, will not?

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/47...