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Tales from Ballena Beach #3
Wide Asleep
Winner! 2015 International Book Awards: 1st Place, Gay & Lesbian Fiction; 2014 Rainbow Awards: 1st Place, Gay Paranormal Fiction
Arthur Blauefee promised to stay away from Jeremy Tyler forever. But when he learns that his troubled, heartbroken ex-lover has been seduced and swindled out of his inheritance, Arthur is off to the rescue.
After rekindling their passionate affair, the starry-eyed lovers learn that Jeremy’s plight has gone from terrible to worse. Not only has Jeremy been cheated out of his fortune, he’s been framed for murder. Desperate to clear Jeremy’s name, the pair travels to Greece in pursuit of the nefarious conman Lazzaro Sforza and enters a shady world of sex rings, designer drugs, and international intrigue.
Aided by the powerful hallucinogen Sueño Gris, Jeremy journeys into his past lives. Hopscotching through time, from the Civil War all the way back to the Roman Empire, Jeremy discovers that Lazzaro has betrayed him many times before. Can Arthur and Jeremy finally trump the scheming Lazzaro, or are they doomed to repeat their ill-fated pasts?
Arthur Blauefee promised to stay away from Jeremy Tyler forever. But when he learns that his troubled, heartbroken ex-lover has been seduced and swindled out of his inheritance, Arthur is off to the rescue.
After rekindling their passionate affair, the starry-eyed lovers learn that Jeremy’s plight has gone from terrible to worse. Not only has Jeremy been cheated out of his fortune, he’s been framed for murder. Desperate to clear Jeremy’s name, the pair travels to Greece in pursuit of the nefarious conman Lazzaro Sforza and enters a shady world of sex rings, designer drugs, and international intrigue.
Aided by the powerful hallucinogen Sueño Gris, Jeremy journeys into his past lives. Hopscotching through time, from the Civil War all the way back to the Roman Empire, Jeremy discovers that Lazzaro has betrayed him many times before. Can Arthur and Jeremy finally trump the scheming Lazzaro, or are they doomed to repeat their ill-fated pasts?
407 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2014
About the author
Nick Nolan
10 books58 followersBorn and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Nick Nolan worked nights and weekends selling furniture to put himself through college. After graduation he went on to direct a group home for homeless and abused LGBT youth, and during his scant spare time began writing. Inspired by the works of authors Gordon Merrick, Paul Russell and Paul Monette, Nolan penned his debut novel, Strings Attached, the first in a planned trilogy. Shortly after its release, Strings Attached was named 2006 Gay/Lesbian Book of the Year by ForeWord Magazine, hit #1 in Gay Fiction on Amazon.com, and spent nearly a year in that genre's Top 10. Two years later Nolan's second thriller Double Bound won Book of the Year awards for Gay/Lesbian Fiction by both ForeWord Magazine and ReaderViews. Nolan's most recent work Black as Snow became the #1 selling Kindle title in the UK following its release, and spent over six weeks at #1 on Amazon USA in the simultaneous categories of 'Contemporary Fantasy', 'Gay/Lesbian Fiction', and 'Science Fiction Thrillers'. His fourth novel Wide Asleep, the long awaited sequel to Strings Attached and Double Bound, will be published in January 2014.
Nick is a die-hard car nut and an enthusiastic cook, while his longtime partner Jaime Flores is an award winning graphic designer and the principal at Monocle Design: monocledesign.com. Nick, Jaime and their two beloved dogs divide their time between a home in the San Fernando Valley and a cabin high in the mountains of California.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Nick is a die-hard car nut and an enthusiastic cook, while his longtime partner Jaime Flores is an award winning graphic designer and the principal at Monocle Design: monocledesign.com. Nick, Jaime and their two beloved dogs divide their time between a home in the San Fernando Valley and a cabin high in the mountains of California.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 8, 2014
Another winner for me! This book magnificently combines all the genres that I love in one solid and fascinating plot. Murder-mystery, historical, contemporary, damaged souls, everything all rolled into one book. Seriously, I was in my element.
Jeremy has been duped by an ex-lover who turns out to be a conman. He has no money left and is destitute, emotionally and financially. Arthur has just broken up with his partner, is alone and wondering whether previous decisions were the right ones. After taking a walk on a beach he meets Katherine, Jeremy’s Aunt, and is invited back to her place. We learn there is a shared history as he used to work for her company, Tyler Inc., but now has his own company providing bodyguards for celebrities. At their meeting, Katherine informs him of Jeremy’s plight and asks him to go and see him. What I liked straight away about this book is that you learn about the shared past that Arthur and Jeremy had. They were once a pair, but due to the age difference, Arthur decided he should set Jeremy free to be with other people of his own age. Well, this was something that Jeremy never really recovered from and sent him on a collision course with alcohol, drugs, sex, one-night stands and the wrong people. Now, to be honest I could totally understand Arthur’s fears here. The older partner always feeling that someday he will lose the younger one to a hotter and sexier guy of his own age. Especially if the age difference is almost 15 years. I would feel the same in all honesty. But Jeremy’s feelings for Arthur can’t be denied and without him the man is just a wreck. First I thought he was just some kind of playboy, but then started to realize there was more behind this guy and why he was behaving so self-destructively. The man had set himself on a one way ticket to hell.
Anyway, Jeremy’s ex-lover, Lazzaro runs off to Greece with Jeremy’s money leaving him high and dry. Arthur is now left with the job of picking up the pieces. We learn that as suspected Lazzaro is wanted by Interpol for a number of not so savoury criminal activities and has set Jeremy up as the fall guy nicely before he left. The FBI ask Jeremy and Arthur to go to Greece to set a trap for Lazzaro. This of course doesn’t go according to plan either and a whole cat and mouse game ensues. What I really appreciate in any book is a strong plot and this one definitely has all the markings of an intelligent murder-mystery and thriller. When Jeremy and Arthur are in Greece you are kept on the edge of your seat wondering whether or not Lazzaro is going to get away with it. Nick weaves an intricate plot full of lies, deceit and criminal intent to make you want to hate Lazzaro and rooting for Jeremy that he can bring the guy to justice. Loved it.
The characters are all flawed in some way and have their emotional baggage to get over which makes them real and pithy. I loved them, hated them, cried with them, felt angry at them all in equal measure. As this story is essentially set in and around LA, I must admit as a Brit some of the settings for me were very Hollywood. Villa’s on beaches and more money than you could shake a stick at. Well, at least for Jeremy until he is totally conned out of what money he had – lol!. Jeremy is also a recovering alcoholic in this story and was great to see how he manages to find the strength and will to overcome this illness. However, I must admit I have never read a book where so many characters drink wine like it’s going out of fashion – lol! They must have drunk litres while I was reading the book. One very small point that did nerve me a little though after a while was when every time they drink a glass, the wine label or type of wine and how it tastes is mentioned, it did feel a little like reading the wine list at a wine tasting convention at times. This again is purely my subjective view and the descriptions were wonderful, I’m just not the wine connoisseur, so wasn’t really able to relate or appreciate I guess. No wonder poor Jeremy had such a tough fight on his hands. The boy did marvellously battling is alcoholism all things considered!!
There is also Arthur’s illness that he has been keeping from Jeremy since they got back together and doesn’t want to burden Jeremy with it immediately. Well, they return from Greece as Arthur isn’t too well and he has to tell Jeremy the truth which puts him in a complete emotional flat spin. So after lots of nagging by friends to seek professional help to help him through all the emotional turmoil, Jeremy gives in and goes to see a Dr Studski. Dr Studski’s methods are a little unconventional and hypnotizes Jeremy and we are taken back into history by using past life regression. Now I was wondering how Nick was going to combine a contemporary murder-mystery with the historical angle and this was a plot device that worked wonderfully. Absolutely LOVED IT!
Whether you believe in past life regression or not, we are taken on a journey of Jeremy’s past lives from Ancient Greece, to the Roman Empire and onto the American civil war. This was absolutely such an intelligent and magnificent addition to the story it rounded the whole book off nicely. We learn that Arthur and Jeremy have always been lovers through the ages in various settings and Lazzaro was also there in various guises being Jeremy’s nemesis every time. Even here for each era we visit the stories are complete in their own right and bit-by-bit the whole trouble that Arthur and Jeremy are experiencing today is due to an historical loop that has been repeating itself over many lives in many settings. It is now clear that they must stop history repeating itself. I am somewhat a cynic of things like this myself, but by the end of the book Nick had me believing in the credibility of such things. I mean why not? Here it is totally believable and is worked so masterfully into the current day plot I was hooked. It was so great to see Jeremy and Arthur building their HEA based on not repeating and eradicating the mistakes of the past. This is one of the most intelligent plot devices in M/M romance I have encountered for some time. It is well written and the reader is never left confused or wondering how the past relates to the present.
Despite everything that is going on you are never left in any doubt how devoted these two men are to each other. A beautiful romance evolves, even though it does have a past, these two guys are made for each other. You know how and what they are feeling all the way. After all that’s exactly why I read books. No cardboard characters here, each character is essential to the plot and story in some way.
As with all good plots, the threads are revealed bit-by-bit, letting the reader piece things together and by the end of the book all the blanks are filled and you know what has happened, even in the two previous books Strings Attached and Double Bound. This book can be read as a stand-alone as you are given a potted history of the books and what happened to Jeremy and Arthur previously, which is great, however as I’m the sort of person who likes to read things in order and get ALL the details I just wish I had done this now. It doesn’t detract from this story at all, but I’m just really nosey like that and like to get the complete picture. I would like to have known more exactly what threw Jeremy into this personal destructive collision course with drugs, alcohol, cheap dates and why. What exactly happened in Brazil with Arthur, etc.? So I would possibly recommend the reading order for anyone like myself who are greedy for the details.
Anyway, needless to say Lazzaro gets his just rewards as with any good crime novel. Lots of surprising twists and turns on the way. Jeremy and Arthur get their HEA and the final scene in this book, if not a little Hollywood, was also a perfect finish for this story. This book was a real treat.
Jeremy has been duped by an ex-lover who turns out to be a conman. He has no money left and is destitute, emotionally and financially. Arthur has just broken up with his partner, is alone and wondering whether previous decisions were the right ones. After taking a walk on a beach he meets Katherine, Jeremy’s Aunt, and is invited back to her place. We learn there is a shared history as he used to work for her company, Tyler Inc., but now has his own company providing bodyguards for celebrities. At their meeting, Katherine informs him of Jeremy’s plight and asks him to go and see him. What I liked straight away about this book is that you learn about the shared past that Arthur and Jeremy had. They were once a pair, but due to the age difference, Arthur decided he should set Jeremy free to be with other people of his own age. Well, this was something that Jeremy never really recovered from and sent him on a collision course with alcohol, drugs, sex, one-night stands and the wrong people. Now, to be honest I could totally understand Arthur’s fears here. The older partner always feeling that someday he will lose the younger one to a hotter and sexier guy of his own age. Especially if the age difference is almost 15 years. I would feel the same in all honesty. But Jeremy’s feelings for Arthur can’t be denied and without him the man is just a wreck. First I thought he was just some kind of playboy, but then started to realize there was more behind this guy and why he was behaving so self-destructively. The man had set himself on a one way ticket to hell.
Anyway, Jeremy’s ex-lover, Lazzaro runs off to Greece with Jeremy’s money leaving him high and dry. Arthur is now left with the job of picking up the pieces. We learn that as suspected Lazzaro is wanted by Interpol for a number of not so savoury criminal activities and has set Jeremy up as the fall guy nicely before he left. The FBI ask Jeremy and Arthur to go to Greece to set a trap for Lazzaro. This of course doesn’t go according to plan either and a whole cat and mouse game ensues. What I really appreciate in any book is a strong plot and this one definitely has all the markings of an intelligent murder-mystery and thriller. When Jeremy and Arthur are in Greece you are kept on the edge of your seat wondering whether or not Lazzaro is going to get away with it. Nick weaves an intricate plot full of lies, deceit and criminal intent to make you want to hate Lazzaro and rooting for Jeremy that he can bring the guy to justice. Loved it.
The characters are all flawed in some way and have their emotional baggage to get over which makes them real and pithy. I loved them, hated them, cried with them, felt angry at them all in equal measure. As this story is essentially set in and around LA, I must admit as a Brit some of the settings for me were very Hollywood. Villa’s on beaches and more money than you could shake a stick at. Well, at least for Jeremy until he is totally conned out of what money he had – lol!. Jeremy is also a recovering alcoholic in this story and was great to see how he manages to find the strength and will to overcome this illness. However, I must admit I have never read a book where so many characters drink wine like it’s going out of fashion – lol! They must have drunk litres while I was reading the book. One very small point that did nerve me a little though after a while was when every time they drink a glass, the wine label or type of wine and how it tastes is mentioned, it did feel a little like reading the wine list at a wine tasting convention at times. This again is purely my subjective view and the descriptions were wonderful, I’m just not the wine connoisseur, so wasn’t really able to relate or appreciate I guess. No wonder poor Jeremy had such a tough fight on his hands. The boy did marvellously battling is alcoholism all things considered!!
There is also Arthur’s illness that he has been keeping from Jeremy since they got back together and doesn’t want to burden Jeremy with it immediately. Well, they return from Greece as Arthur isn’t too well and he has to tell Jeremy the truth which puts him in a complete emotional flat spin. So after lots of nagging by friends to seek professional help to help him through all the emotional turmoil, Jeremy gives in and goes to see a Dr Studski. Dr Studski’s methods are a little unconventional and hypnotizes Jeremy and we are taken back into history by using past life regression. Now I was wondering how Nick was going to combine a contemporary murder-mystery with the historical angle and this was a plot device that worked wonderfully. Absolutely LOVED IT!
Whether you believe in past life regression or not, we are taken on a journey of Jeremy’s past lives from Ancient Greece, to the Roman Empire and onto the American civil war. This was absolutely such an intelligent and magnificent addition to the story it rounded the whole book off nicely. We learn that Arthur and Jeremy have always been lovers through the ages in various settings and Lazzaro was also there in various guises being Jeremy’s nemesis every time. Even here for each era we visit the stories are complete in their own right and bit-by-bit the whole trouble that Arthur and Jeremy are experiencing today is due to an historical loop that has been repeating itself over many lives in many settings. It is now clear that they must stop history repeating itself. I am somewhat a cynic of things like this myself, but by the end of the book Nick had me believing in the credibility of such things. I mean why not? Here it is totally believable and is worked so masterfully into the current day plot I was hooked. It was so great to see Jeremy and Arthur building their HEA based on not repeating and eradicating the mistakes of the past. This is one of the most intelligent plot devices in M/M romance I have encountered for some time. It is well written and the reader is never left confused or wondering how the past relates to the present.
Despite everything that is going on you are never left in any doubt how devoted these two men are to each other. A beautiful romance evolves, even though it does have a past, these two guys are made for each other. You know how and what they are feeling all the way. After all that’s exactly why I read books. No cardboard characters here, each character is essential to the plot and story in some way.
As with all good plots, the threads are revealed bit-by-bit, letting the reader piece things together and by the end of the book all the blanks are filled and you know what has happened, even in the two previous books Strings Attached and Double Bound. This book can be read as a stand-alone as you are given a potted history of the books and what happened to Jeremy and Arthur previously, which is great, however as I’m the sort of person who likes to read things in order and get ALL the details I just wish I had done this now. It doesn’t detract from this story at all, but I’m just really nosey like that and like to get the complete picture. I would like to have known more exactly what threw Jeremy into this personal destructive collision course with drugs, alcohol, cheap dates and why. What exactly happened in Brazil with Arthur, etc.? So I would possibly recommend the reading order for anyone like myself who are greedy for the details.
Anyway, needless to say Lazzaro gets his just rewards as with any good crime novel. Lots of surprising twists and turns on the way. Jeremy and Arthur get their HEA and the final scene in this book, if not a little Hollywood, was also a perfect finish for this story. This book was a real treat.
February 5, 2014
I have read the first two books in this series as well as Black As Snow by Nick Nolan. Book 3 in Tales from Ballena Beach, Wide Asleep goes into so many details!
We are back with Jeremy( four years later) who has taken a tail-spin for the worse. Arthur has made a promise to stay away from Jeremy, but can he do that when that is where his heart truly lies? It is a surprising person that asks for Arthur's help this time.
This book takes you on a journey through history and past lives. The way it is told you are never lost and everything is very real feeling. I laughed( Carlos) and boy did a cry a few times! I can't tell you why I cried, because that would give away things that you really should just read instead!
I love the fact that Nick can take me on a trip like this and I feel as if Arthur and Jeremy are MY friends. As always Nick's research into history and past lives shines. I am a stickler about history being correct if an author uses a real life event, I am very happy to say that Nick has never made a blunder!
If you haven't read Strings Attached and Double Bound, I have to ask WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? This is a fantastic series and I am happy to say I am a dire hard fan of Nick Nolan's!
We are back with Jeremy( four years later) who has taken a tail-spin for the worse. Arthur has made a promise to stay away from Jeremy, but can he do that when that is where his heart truly lies? It is a surprising person that asks for Arthur's help this time.
This book takes you on a journey through history and past lives. The way it is told you are never lost and everything is very real feeling. I laughed( Carlos) and boy did a cry a few times! I can't tell you why I cried, because that would give away things that you really should just read instead!
I love the fact that Nick can take me on a trip like this and I feel as if Arthur and Jeremy are MY friends. As always Nick's research into history and past lives shines. I am a stickler about history being correct if an author uses a real life event, I am very happy to say that Nick has never made a blunder!
If you haven't read Strings Attached and Double Bound, I have to ask WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? This is a fantastic series and I am happy to say I am a dire hard fan of Nick Nolan's!
March 26, 2021
This is by far my favorite of the Arthur/Jeremy books. I listened to the audio version and I officially think Luke Daniels may be the best narrator in the known universe. Not just for this series but for the HoundedIron Druid Chronicles. This is the 3rd book in the Arthur/Jeremy books, but according to the author, the fourth book in the series. Black as Snow is the third, but I didn't read it and this book picks up right where Double Bound, the 2nd book, leaves off, so it's confusing. I can tell you, I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading Black as Snow. This was my favorite because it really deals with Arthur and Jeremy's relationship in a tender and unexpected way. The author dives into all kinds of existential ideas and cleverly weaves in Greek and Roman history and mythology. I really enjoyed it and Luke Daniels really just brought it to a whole new level.
October 20, 2014
This book honestly just left me confused and disappointed. I’d read the first two books in the series, Strings Attached and Double Bound, and quite liked them. Plus I really like Nolan’s writing style so although it had been four years since I read DB, I knew I wanted to read Wide Asleep. Unfortunately this time the book didn’t work for me at all. Whereas I’d loved the characters and general mystery involved in the previous books, this time the plot felt convoluted and all over the place with no cohesion. I wasn’t entirely sure what the point of the book was when I finished. The writing repetition was odd and not something I’m used to reading with Nolan’s work. Although I tried hard to suspend disbelief with the fairy tale connection, the ghosts and past life regression just made me sigh. Neither one adds to the story and in fact diluted the main theme of the mystery. Sadly this ended the series on a bad note for me and I struggled to force myself to finish the last third.
The plot starts off with Jeremy and Arthur now four years older. Arthur’s relationship has ended and now he wants to get back with Jeremy despite the age difference that once was a problem. Jeremy has had a rough time with the separation and has spiraled into excessive drinking, drugs, and money problems. Arthur has come back to save him and the two quickly get back together to fix Jeremy’s problems and finally have a happy ending. They must deal with the crooked (evil) ex-boyfriend and Arthur’s health problems along the way.
What I liked most about the book was the characterization. All the characters have significant amount of effort put in to make them seem real and three-dimensional. Some of them are classically evil and way too stereotypical but I think the correlation to the fairy tale was done on purpose. I liked that the characters are deeply flawed. Arthur constantly shields Jeremy and treats him like a son versus a lover, which prevents Jeremy from actually maturing. At the same time Jeremy acts pretty immature a lot of the book so it’s not surprising he makes poor choices as well. The two men talk a lot about honestly and full disclosure but mostly keep things from each other. This didn’t bother me so much as pointed out how flawed and multifaceted the characters were portrayed. They’re not epic lovers in my opinion, despite the lengthy attempt to say so with the past life tangent, but simply a couple that wants to be together but doesn’t quite know how to make it work.
Beyond the characters I struggled with this book. The writing is really incredible in some places but then breaks down in others. There is a lot of repetition in the writing, “hay is for horses” nonsense, and general dialogue tags that are repeated to the point that I started to notice those details instead of the story itself. I didn’t like the addition of the ghosts, the fellating sirens, or the past life regression tangents as they seemed to derail the point of the story, which supposedly is about clearing Jeremy from the illegal habits of his ex-boyfriend. Instead the story became about the daily minute of Arthur’s disease, miraculously recovered, and their house. The pace was so uneven that it was tough to read many times. It would pick up with the action of Lazarro, then slow down when there was no tension between Arthur and Jeremy, then speed up in Greece, then slow down with the illness and house renovations, and on and on.
Overall I just found the story kind of silly and not anywhere near as compelling as previous books in the series. I don’t know what the point of keeping Jeremy and Arthur apart at all was considering they immediately got back together with no resistance or drama and the external dramas of the money, illness, and illegal activity seemed almost unimportant and easily resolved. This simply wasn’t the complex well developed and engaging story I’ve come to expect from Nolan. However judging by the numerous positive reviews, I may be alone in my thinking.
The plot starts off with Jeremy and Arthur now four years older. Arthur’s relationship has ended and now he wants to get back with Jeremy despite the age difference that once was a problem. Jeremy has had a rough time with the separation and has spiraled into excessive drinking, drugs, and money problems. Arthur has come back to save him and the two quickly get back together to fix Jeremy’s problems and finally have a happy ending. They must deal with the crooked (evil) ex-boyfriend and Arthur’s health problems along the way.
What I liked most about the book was the characterization. All the characters have significant amount of effort put in to make them seem real and three-dimensional. Some of them are classically evil and way too stereotypical but I think the correlation to the fairy tale was done on purpose. I liked that the characters are deeply flawed. Arthur constantly shields Jeremy and treats him like a son versus a lover, which prevents Jeremy from actually maturing. At the same time Jeremy acts pretty immature a lot of the book so it’s not surprising he makes poor choices as well. The two men talk a lot about honestly and full disclosure but mostly keep things from each other. This didn’t bother me so much as pointed out how flawed and multifaceted the characters were portrayed. They’re not epic lovers in my opinion, despite the lengthy attempt to say so with the past life tangent, but simply a couple that wants to be together but doesn’t quite know how to make it work.
Beyond the characters I struggled with this book. The writing is really incredible in some places but then breaks down in others. There is a lot of repetition in the writing, “hay is for horses” nonsense, and general dialogue tags that are repeated to the point that I started to notice those details instead of the story itself. I didn’t like the addition of the ghosts, the fellating sirens, or the past life regression tangents as they seemed to derail the point of the story, which supposedly is about clearing Jeremy from the illegal habits of his ex-boyfriend. Instead the story became about the daily minute of Arthur’s disease, miraculously recovered, and their house. The pace was so uneven that it was tough to read many times. It would pick up with the action of Lazarro, then slow down when there was no tension between Arthur and Jeremy, then speed up in Greece, then slow down with the illness and house renovations, and on and on.
Overall I just found the story kind of silly and not anywhere near as compelling as previous books in the series. I don’t know what the point of keeping Jeremy and Arthur apart at all was considering they immediately got back together with no resistance or drama and the external dramas of the money, illness, and illegal activity seemed almost unimportant and easily resolved. This simply wasn’t the complex well developed and engaging story I’ve come to expect from Nolan. However judging by the numerous positive reviews, I may be alone in my thinking.
February 16, 2014
Upon seeing Nick had written another book with two of my all-time favorite characters in it, Jeremy Tyler and Arthur Blauefee I was eager to read this book. They both have been two of my favorite characters since the first time I read them. It did not take me time to get into “Wide Asleep” and come to the realization that I’d been waiting and looking forward to, it was like seeing a good friend you had not seen in a while and cannot believe you were not missing them more.
This story starts with years have passed and they have not been with each other and frankly were not well because of it. Within the first few chapters, I was crying and had my hopes up for things to work out. Little did I know that I would be tearing up several times while reading. It is easy to not only relate to both Jeremy and Arthur, but to feel what each of them is going through.
Nick writes real characters who are people who act like people, meaning not everyone sees or reacts to things in the same way. He is true to who the characters are as people, for better or worse he keeps them true to who they are. As always he has painted, a backdrop in which they story is set that no matter how things are going I find myself wishing I could be there in person with them.
Something about this book that enjoyed, although I do not recall with Nick’s previous books was the different storylines with characters unfolding. As they did, I knew that at some point these different characters were going to cross paths, which kept me reading not sure about how they were going to and what the outcome was going to be.
This story starts with years have passed and they have not been with each other and frankly were not well because of it. Within the first few chapters, I was crying and had my hopes up for things to work out. Little did I know that I would be tearing up several times while reading. It is easy to not only relate to both Jeremy and Arthur, but to feel what each of them is going through.
Nick writes real characters who are people who act like people, meaning not everyone sees or reacts to things in the same way. He is true to who the characters are as people, for better or worse he keeps them true to who they are. As always he has painted, a backdrop in which they story is set that no matter how things are going I find myself wishing I could be there in person with them.
Something about this book that enjoyed, although I do not recall with Nick’s previous books was the different storylines with characters unfolding. As they did, I knew that at some point these different characters were going to cross paths, which kept me reading not sure about how they were going to and what the outcome was going to be.
June 1, 2016
Audio narration - Luke Daniels - still awesome.
This is the last book of a series (at least I assume it will be at the moment) and honestly, I enjoyed it the most. I have grown to really care about the characters along the way, they were what kept me going through the second book which was my least favorite of them.
I'm not sure if I finally got used to the writing style or I became immune to it but this one, which ended up with probably the most descriptive wording, didn't bother me like it did in the last book.
The beginning of the book was a whole bunch of WTFery, but slowly as the book progressed, it started to make sense. Seeing as there was a huge amount of paranormal creeping in, that shouldn't be the case but it was. This author does extensive research into the settings and the history that he uses. It's very apparent in the details and the twisting threads he wove together. My favorite aspect ended up being how it all came together, no matter how far from everyday reality it might have been. I have even forgiven book two for making me as ragey as it did because looking back I can understand why the things that happened did especially if the author knew the overall arch he was gong for when he started with book one.
This gave me closure and left me feeling hopeful for all the characters I've grown attached to. Ultimately, I think a lot of the problems that I had with the series started because I was expecting simply fiction but this was more a love story encompassing soul mates of many kinds.
This is the last book of a series (at least I assume it will be at the moment) and honestly, I enjoyed it the most. I have grown to really care about the characters along the way, they were what kept me going through the second book which was my least favorite of them.
I'm not sure if I finally got used to the writing style or I became immune to it but this one, which ended up with probably the most descriptive wording, didn't bother me like it did in the last book.
The beginning of the book was a whole bunch of WTFery, but slowly as the book progressed, it started to make sense. Seeing as there was a huge amount of paranormal creeping in, that shouldn't be the case but it was. This author does extensive research into the settings and the history that he uses. It's very apparent in the details and the twisting threads he wove together. My favorite aspect ended up being how it all came together, no matter how far from everyday reality it might have been. I have even forgiven book two for making me as ragey as it did because looking back I can understand why the things that happened did especially if the author knew the overall arch he was gong for when he started with book one.
This gave me closure and left me feeling hopeful for all the characters I've grown attached to. Ultimately, I think a lot of the problems that I had with the series started because I was expecting simply fiction but this was more a love story encompassing soul mates of many kinds.
Want to Read
November 21, 2017$0.99 on Amazon US today, 11/21/17
October 20, 2014
3.5 of 5 stars – Nice Adventure of Getting Back Together.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks!)
Nick Nolan has given us an enjoyable mix of a lot of the things I love – Mostly about a gay romance (including timeless love carried through from previous lives), with a light touch of thriller, fantasy, historical fiction, travel, and even philosophy regarding reincarnation.
This is my first reading in this series, and even though, as might be expected, there was a point in the middle where I felt previous reads would have helped, I soon caught back up. The language was easy to read and flowed well, as opposed to it being rich and florid. And it had a nice bonus of nicely picturing Greece (like Jeremy’s lover Arthur, I’ve always wanted to go). The plot kept me involved what with the romance and the thrill of rooting for the good guys. I did think it was at times a bit too convenient or unrealistic about how quickly and completely the couple got back together, as if nothing happened for 4 years, how Jeremy suddenly stops all his bad habits without much challenge,
I liked the people – their characters were pretty well fleshed out, with flaws as well, but I thought their actions or thoughts were at times a bit unbelievable, a bit cookie-cutter, and not as realistic or as much depth which kept me from fully understanding and relating to them.
Overall, an imaginative story about two men meant for each other, finally finding their way after many lives.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks!)
Nick Nolan has given us an enjoyable mix of a lot of the things I love – Mostly about a gay romance (including timeless love carried through from previous lives), with a light touch of thriller, fantasy, historical fiction, travel, and even philosophy regarding reincarnation.
This is my first reading in this series, and even though, as might be expected, there was a point in the middle where I felt previous reads would have helped, I soon caught back up. The language was easy to read and flowed well, as opposed to it being rich and florid. And it had a nice bonus of nicely picturing Greece (like Jeremy’s lover Arthur, I’ve always wanted to go). The plot kept me involved what with the romance and the thrill of rooting for the good guys. I did think it was at times a bit too convenient or unrealistic about how quickly and completely the couple got back together, as if nothing happened for 4 years, how Jeremy suddenly stops all his bad habits without much challenge,
I liked the people – their characters were pretty well fleshed out, with flaws as well, but I thought their actions or thoughts were at times a bit unbelievable, a bit cookie-cutter, and not as realistic or as much depth which kept me from fully understanding and relating to them.
Overall, an imaginative story about two men meant for each other, finally finding their way after many lives.
March 3, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads as part of their FIrst Read program.
When I picked up “Wide Asleep” by Nick Nolan, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it a romance? Was it a suspense? Was it a fairy tale? After reading the book, I would have to say “Yes” to all three. While the story is about rekindling the relationship between Arthur Blauefee and Jeremy Tyler, it is also about overcoming the obstacles that the two men face in order to move forward with their love for each other. Arthur must overcome his worry about the age difference between them that originally caused him to push Tyler away. Arthur is also faced with a major health issue that could tear the relationship apart. In the four years the men were apart, Jeremy has become an alcoholic and he has experimented with a new designer drug that gives the user powerful hallucinations. And as if this isn’t enough, Jeremy has foolishly gotten involved with the wrong man…a man who takes Jeremy for everything he has, and then attempts to frame him for a murder. Arthur and Jeremy work with the authorities to bring Lazzaro to justice in a most satisfying manner.
Woven into the story are the visits Jeremy makes to Dr. Studski. The doctor is able to take Jeremy back into previous lives. Each regression brings Jeremy closer to understanding the relationship between himself and Arthur.
Nolan wrote a well thought out book with an engaging plot and believable characters
When I picked up “Wide Asleep” by Nick Nolan, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it a romance? Was it a suspense? Was it a fairy tale? After reading the book, I would have to say “Yes” to all three. While the story is about rekindling the relationship between Arthur Blauefee and Jeremy Tyler, it is also about overcoming the obstacles that the two men face in order to move forward with their love for each other. Arthur must overcome his worry about the age difference between them that originally caused him to push Tyler away. Arthur is also faced with a major health issue that could tear the relationship apart. In the four years the men were apart, Jeremy has become an alcoholic and he has experimented with a new designer drug that gives the user powerful hallucinations. And as if this isn’t enough, Jeremy has foolishly gotten involved with the wrong man…a man who takes Jeremy for everything he has, and then attempts to frame him for a murder. Arthur and Jeremy work with the authorities to bring Lazzaro to justice in a most satisfying manner.
Woven into the story are the visits Jeremy makes to Dr. Studski. The doctor is able to take Jeremy back into previous lives. Each regression brings Jeremy closer to understanding the relationship between himself and Arthur.
Nolan wrote a well thought out book with an engaging plot and believable characters
August 10, 2016
Title: Wide Asleep (Tales from Ballena Beach, #3) Audiobook Version
Author: Nick Nolan
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Cover Artist: The Book Designers
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Long Novel
Heat Rating: ♨♨
Book Rating: ★★★★★
This is a love story with great depth and emotion without the erotic aspects. The characters are well thought-out with depth and detail. The places where the events unfold are described in such a way that you feel like you are there with the characters. The story contains mythical aspects, deals with reincarnation, and ties in the stories of Greek mythology. The characters are destined to be together while at the same doomed to repeating their mistakes. Fortunately they are given the chance to make things right, but will they this time?
Complete Review at WoDF - Wide Asleep (Tales from Ballena Beach, #3) Audiobook Version
Author: Nick Nolan
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Cover Artist: The Book Designers
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay
Length: Long Novel
Heat Rating: ♨♨
Book Rating: ★★★★★
This is a love story with great depth and emotion without the erotic aspects. The characters are well thought-out with depth and detail. The places where the events unfold are described in such a way that you feel like you are there with the characters. The story contains mythical aspects, deals with reincarnation, and ties in the stories of Greek mythology. The characters are destined to be together while at the same doomed to repeating their mistakes. Fortunately they are given the chance to make things right, but will they this time?
Complete Review at WoDF - Wide Asleep (Tales from Ballena Beach, #3) Audiobook Version
August 16, 2014
Wide Asleep was my favorite installment in the Strings Attached series. Arthur and Jeremy make such a great couple! I also enjoyed all the sub-stories embedded within the main story. Plus, Lazzaro is a villain I just loved to hate. Nick Nolan’s writing struck a wonderful balance between a fairy-tale feel and contemporary thriller/romance (with a bit of paranormal aspects thrown in). There is not a dull moment in this one. I stayed up quite late reading as I had to find out how it ended. And I was quite happy with the ending! For those of you with Amazon Prime or Unlimited, as of the time of posting, this book could be read for free with those programs.
July 19, 2015
Hellious Good Author
I haven't enjoyed reading as great series of books than these. I have laughed, cried and got angry. This has really caught the essence of great love while making you aware of other theories, methods of understanding our short life on this earth.
To the author: Thank You
I haven't enjoyed reading as great series of books than these. I have laughed, cried and got angry. This has really caught the essence of great love while making you aware of other theories, methods of understanding our short life on this earth.
To the author: Thank You
August 8, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads as part of their First Read program.
I was a little hesitant about reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised as I really enjoyed it.
I was a little hesitant about reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised as I really enjoyed it.
March 6, 2014
I thought this book was a wonderful love story. the characters are so real.. and their emotions are so vivid. the author paints a masterpiece in your mind that rivals a picasso. I want more!!
October 29, 2014
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story although at times (for me) it seemed to drag a bit.
I enjoyed this story although at times (for me) it seemed to drag a bit.
March 27, 2015
The author did a great job of creating characters I cared about. I fell for them completely, and I really wanted to know what was going to happen to them. Excellent story, too.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
November 5, 2016
What a wonderfully powerful story of lifetimes of love.
June 25, 2024
Author Nick Nolan's enticing Ballena Beach saga began with the novel "Strings Attached," introducing privileged California teen Jeremy Tyler. In the sequel, "Double Bound," a slightly better adjusted Jeremy meets and falls in love with Arthur Blauefee, a gentleman almost fifteen years his senior, hired to protect him, who shares the same feelings but chooses to disappear from his life.
The adventures of this seemingly destined pair continue in "Wide Asleep," Nolan's latest novel of intrigue and romance that is as equally entertaining and eloquent as its predecessors, only this time with a supplemental dose of the mystical and supernatural.
Immediately following a failed relationship, Arthur unexpectedly crosses paths with Jeremy's controlling Aunt Katherine, who is partially responsible for separating the two men, and who wishes to atone for her past behavior while seeking Arthur's help with her troubled nephew. After Katherine informs Arthur of Jeremy's latest mishaps, Carlo, Jeremy's first boyfriend (and now under Katherine's employ), shares the more sordid details, including reckless alcohol and drug abuse, as well as a shady companion, Lazarro, who bilked him out of a fortune in a crooked real estate deal.
At first resistant to Arthur's offer of assistance, Jeremy is reminded of their star-crossed connection, and soon thereafter the two rekindle their unfinished romance and join forces to get even with Lazarro, who turns out to be even worse than originally suspected. Hot on his trail, the newly reconciled couple travel to Greece, where things don't turn out as planned; but separately, and more importantly, Jeremy becomes aware that Arthur hasn't been especially forthcoming about his health.
Determined to remain sober amongst the anxiety and worry (caused by Lazarro and Arthur, respectively), Jeremy begins to see a therapist, at the request of his family and friends. The non-traditional Dr. Studski's methods include hypnosis and "regression," which enables his patients to revisit past lives. Jeremy discovers that he and Arthur, as well as Carlo, Aunt Katherine, and Arthur's close friend, Margo, have lengthy histories and associations that date back to the Civil War and the Roman Empire.
Jeremy and Arthur's courtship is worthy of a novel on its own, chock full of emotional highs and lows, romantic desire, and above all, genuine affection. Throw in the transatlantic pursuit of a mysterious drug lord with sex trafficking ties, reincarnation and a potentially terminal illness, and the reader is left with no choice, after having come so far, but to root for a pleasant -- or at least promising -- outcome.
While I consider the first two books in the series well worth your time, they are not required to enjoy and partake in this illuminating, unforgettable journey. I hope to hear from Arthur and Jeremy again, yet I rest easy knowing they'll be okay, not just now but beyond, as well.
The adventures of this seemingly destined pair continue in "Wide Asleep," Nolan's latest novel of intrigue and romance that is as equally entertaining and eloquent as its predecessors, only this time with a supplemental dose of the mystical and supernatural.
Immediately following a failed relationship, Arthur unexpectedly crosses paths with Jeremy's controlling Aunt Katherine, who is partially responsible for separating the two men, and who wishes to atone for her past behavior while seeking Arthur's help with her troubled nephew. After Katherine informs Arthur of Jeremy's latest mishaps, Carlo, Jeremy's first boyfriend (and now under Katherine's employ), shares the more sordid details, including reckless alcohol and drug abuse, as well as a shady companion, Lazarro, who bilked him out of a fortune in a crooked real estate deal.
At first resistant to Arthur's offer of assistance, Jeremy is reminded of their star-crossed connection, and soon thereafter the two rekindle their unfinished romance and join forces to get even with Lazarro, who turns out to be even worse than originally suspected. Hot on his trail, the newly reconciled couple travel to Greece, where things don't turn out as planned; but separately, and more importantly, Jeremy becomes aware that Arthur hasn't been especially forthcoming about his health.
Determined to remain sober amongst the anxiety and worry (caused by Lazarro and Arthur, respectively), Jeremy begins to see a therapist, at the request of his family and friends. The non-traditional Dr. Studski's methods include hypnosis and "regression," which enables his patients to revisit past lives. Jeremy discovers that he and Arthur, as well as Carlo, Aunt Katherine, and Arthur's close friend, Margo, have lengthy histories and associations that date back to the Civil War and the Roman Empire.
Jeremy and Arthur's courtship is worthy of a novel on its own, chock full of emotional highs and lows, romantic desire, and above all, genuine affection. Throw in the transatlantic pursuit of a mysterious drug lord with sex trafficking ties, reincarnation and a potentially terminal illness, and the reader is left with no choice, after having come so far, but to root for a pleasant -- or at least promising -- outcome.
While I consider the first two books in the series well worth your time, they are not required to enjoy and partake in this illuminating, unforgettable journey. I hope to hear from Arthur and Jeremy again, yet I rest easy knowing they'll be okay, not just now but beyond, as well.
November 17, 2016
Well, I've just finished it, and I don't care if it is not perfect, I loved it so much. Not at once, in the beginning I was kinda angry with both Arthur and Jeremy for making such a mess out of their lives that I almost couldn't sympathize with them. Actually, picking up where I finished the review for the second book, But after a while it didn't matter. I fell in love with both of them again and felt for them through everything they had to experience.
It was beautiful. And very sad - but not depressing, not heavy - which felt good, too.
I think I really liked the stuff about reincarnation and past lives. I'm a fan of second chance stories - and while the book was a perfect second chance story by itself, those past lives also were like a string of second chances - and maybe
Oh, and I was so happy for Carlo! He deserved it so much :)
I'm so glad I read this trilogy. It was not like every moment was perfect but in the end I have such a good feeling about these books.
It was beautiful. And very sad - but not depressing, not heavy - which felt good, too.
I think I really liked the stuff about reincarnation and past lives. I'm a fan of second chance stories - and while the book was a perfect second chance story by itself, those past lives also were like a string of second chances - and maybe
Oh, and I was so happy for Carlo! He deserved it so much :)
I'm so glad I read this trilogy. It was not like every moment was perfect but in the end I have such a good feeling about these books.
March 5, 2018
So, it was okay.
This was a satisfying entry (conclusion?) for the characters in the previous entries, but the results were somehow less than the sum of their parts. The supernatural angle seemed wholly out of place. It felt as if the author had a good idea for a supernatural story of reincarnation and, rather than writing a new story with new characters, decided instead do shoehorn this angle to his previously established characters. The result is a story that is a combination of soapy melodrama (but well-done nevertheless), international mystery and tale of reincarnation. The first one is really the only part that lands and that is only if you are invested in the characters from the beginning.
This was a satisfying entry (conclusion?) for the characters in the previous entries, but the results were somehow less than the sum of their parts. The supernatural angle seemed wholly out of place. It felt as if the author had a good idea for a supernatural story of reincarnation and, rather than writing a new story with new characters, decided instead do shoehorn this angle to his previously established characters. The result is a story that is a combination of soapy melodrama (but well-done nevertheless), international mystery and tale of reincarnation. The first one is really the only part that lands and that is only if you are invested in the characters from the beginning.
June 26, 2017
2.5⭐️. What a disappointment!!! Not as good as the previous books. I found it drudgery trying to finish this book. I now wish I had finished the series with Double Bound.
June 27, 2014
Astounding Conclusion to a Great Series
Warning: You must read the first two in this series in order to appreciate this book (Strings Attached followed by Double Bound).
This one baffled me at first, but once I got over the 50% hump in the narrative, I was hooked, lined and sinkered into one of the most amazing narratives of eternal love that I have ever read. If you are a romantic and a history buff as well, this one will pull you in and not let you go--you are going to be flopping around the deck in pure joy.
The only thing I can recommend to complete my review is that you do not under any circumstances allow the three "evil" characters who dominate the second quarter of the book discourage you from plowing on. The synopsis that author Nolan provides on the review section is good enough to draw you into the second half. The love story between Arthur and Jeremy will alternately break your heart and fill you with hope--and then twist your expectations into a tornado-like second half.
My only beef with the author is that his website does not mention this book--why? This is a brilliant series, topped off by an exceptionally imaginative and totally mind-blowing ending. Do not miss this.
Warning: You must read the first two in this series in order to appreciate this book (Strings Attached followed by Double Bound).
This one baffled me at first, but once I got over the 50% hump in the narrative, I was hooked, lined and sinkered into one of the most amazing narratives of eternal love that I have ever read. If you are a romantic and a history buff as well, this one will pull you in and not let you go--you are going to be flopping around the deck in pure joy.
The only thing I can recommend to complete my review is that you do not under any circumstances allow the three "evil" characters who dominate the second quarter of the book discourage you from plowing on. The synopsis that author Nolan provides on the review section is good enough to draw you into the second half. The love story between Arthur and Jeremy will alternately break your heart and fill you with hope--and then twist your expectations into a tornado-like second half.
My only beef with the author is that his website does not mention this book--why? This is a brilliant series, topped off by an exceptionally imaginative and totally mind-blowing ending. Do not miss this.
August 20, 2014
WIDE ASLEEP is a compelling story. It is a multi-layered novel that includes history, paranormal, romance, and interesting characters.
I was particularly interested in the reincarnation angle and applaud Nick Nolan on how deftly he interwove the various lifetimes.
It was a book that I found myself pulled to when I wasn't reading it. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a great read.
I was particularly interested in the reincarnation angle and applaud Nick Nolan on how deftly he interwove the various lifetimes.
It was a book that I found myself pulled to when I wasn't reading it. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a great read.
September 29, 2014
OK book. it got a little tedious. the past life stuff was a little far fetched. I can't also help but feel there is something weird about the 19 year old Olympic/Adonis built million are falling for an older gay man. I guess I'm cynical?
September 4, 2016
4.5 stars
September 25, 2014
tried to like it but to no avail!!! It was slightly better than DB though. I guess it is just not for me.
December 26, 2014
I read the first half and thought it was too dumb to continue. Like WAY dumb.
May 28, 2015
Annnnnd one big sidestep into WTF-land. This series has not had any mystical or supernatural content until... now?? It just all seemed too contrived.
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