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Playing for Keeps #1
Phoenix Rising
Two dozen roses, one dozen balloons and a night with a sexy, young stripper. What a thirty-sixth birthday for Jimmy Trent. But the ultimate gift is yet to come as he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful dancer. Adam Hyland's life is in the dumps. Living in his car and stripping for his supper, he doesn't expect much when the birthday-boy invites him to stay for cake and champagne. Yet seeing the look in Jimmy's eyes, Adam dares to hope for more. Will their differences tear them apart? Or can their love take flight like a Phoenix Rising from the ashes?
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2008
9 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Gardner
31 books70 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, back before computers, before email, before the internet–Imagine that!–a book junkie was born. That was me.
Fast forward three decades to a soft spring day in 1997, and find me contentedly reading my eleventy-thousandth romance novel. Sighing, I closed the book and say, “I can do that.”
Voilà! A writer was born!
Don’t worry, I’m not going to walk you through the intervening years day by day, project by project, rejection by rejection. A journey like that would involve far more wailing and gnashing of teeth than even I, with my flare for drama, could stand.
What I will do, is tell you that over the years I have written a little of everything including: a novel-length contemporary romance, two screenplays,
dozens of flash fictions and prose poems, short stories of varying lengths, novellas and most recently gay erotic romance.
Gustave Flaubert said, “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.”
And I do. I live in a three-story Victorian with my husband, three cats and a yellow lab named Oliver. Most days I write (at least a little) and read quite a lot.
As to whether my work is violently original … achieving that goal may take the rest of my regular and orderly life.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, back before computers, before email, before the internet–Imagine that!–a book junkie was born. That was me.
Fast forward three decades to a soft spring day in 1997, and find me contentedly reading my eleventy-thousandth romance novel. Sighing, I closed the book and say, “I can do that.”
Voilà! A writer was born!
Don’t worry, I’m not going to walk you through the intervening years day by day, project by project, rejection by rejection. A journey like that would involve far more wailing and gnashing of teeth than even I, with my flare for drama, could stand.
What I will do, is tell you that over the years I have written a little of everything including: a novel-length contemporary romance, two screenplays,
dozens of flash fictions and prose poems, short stories of varying lengths, novellas and most recently gay erotic romance.
Gustave Flaubert said, “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.”
And I do. I live in a three-story Victorian with my husband, three cats and a yellow lab named Oliver. Most days I write (at least a little) and read quite a lot.
As to whether my work is violently original … achieving that goal may take the rest of my regular and orderly life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 3, 2014
A Hearts On Fire Review
THREE & A HALF HEARTS--A homeless stripper and a rich guy find love in Kimberly Gardner's "Phoenix Rising", the revised-reissued book #1 of the Playing for Keeps series.
Adam Hyland is a 22 year old, ex-ballet dancer, now homeless stripper who lives in his car. He is hired to a give tech company owner and closeted older rich guy, Jimmy Trent. The two fall into insta-lust and it snowballs into a tale of Adam sort of working for Jimmy at Jimmy's co-owned strip club, Flesh Tones.
Adam is out and proud and is friends with a BDSM club owner. This is important for anyone who plans to read this series because the friend in the MC in book #2 (I think #2 is slightly better than this book). This story has mention of BDSM, there are some fetish pictures taken but no BDSM was practiced So if BDSM isn't your thing, I think this story is safe, there is mention of bondage kink but nothing extreme.
I wish I read this story ten years ago because I'd have rated it higher. I question the editing/ revision because this story needed to lose about 20-30% of useless filler, a few characters, such as the niece, were unnecessary and there are tiny plot holes...nothing big because overall, the story was enjoyable.
The story premise is great, who doesn't enjoy a downtrodden stripper with a good heart finding their prince charming? But the timing was off. Jimmy was naive about a number of things and I liked that Adam tried to school Jimmy.
Both main characters were likeable. The sex scenes were hot. Sometimes I had to use my reality suspension rubber band to make sense of the characters' actions
The niece? She really did add any purpose to the plot. I guess you could argue shes trying to shine a positive light on stripping...but you had that in Adam. So she was unnecessary. I think the family tension between Jimmy and his brother Laton should have been the main focus because the niece fizzled out, what Laton did and the resolution was rushed.
Also, Jimmy. He's good looking, social, has money and the owner of a big penis that he knew how to use...no explanation given as to WHY he would NEED to have a FRIEND book him a stripper. Why didn't he do it himself? He might've been closeted but it was written he had numerous one night stand and weekend sex fests...hiring a stripper wouldn't be that big of a deal.
The way the dialogue meandered into weird 'What did you say? Huh? No that's not what I said. Oh' parts...unnecessary.
I liked Adam stressing the point on Jimmy coming out of the closet for himself not please Adam. I think a deal breaker for die hard romantics might be a part where one of the MC's hooks up with another guy while not officially together with the MC. Neither MC's discussed exclusivity at that point but have had sex a few times. I don't see it as cheating. It's not the usual route.
There was a minor suspense plot that also fizzles. The story ends in a HEA. I have read this author in the past and enjoy her ideas. I'll definitely check out other works from her. There is something about her main characters that are interesting.
THREE & A HALF HEARTS--A homeless stripper and a rich guy find love in Kimberly Gardner's "Phoenix Rising", the revised-reissued book #1 of the Playing for Keeps series.
Adam Hyland is a 22 year old, ex-ballet dancer, now homeless stripper who lives in his car. He is hired to a give tech company owner and closeted older rich guy, Jimmy Trent. The two fall into insta-lust and it snowballs into a tale of Adam sort of working for Jimmy at Jimmy's co-owned strip club, Flesh Tones.
Adam is out and proud and is friends with a BDSM club owner. This is important for anyone who plans to read this series because the friend in the MC in book #2 (I think #2 is slightly better than this book). This story has mention of BDSM, there are some fetish pictures taken but no BDSM was practiced So if BDSM isn't your thing, I think this story is safe, there is mention of bondage kink but nothing extreme.
I wish I read this story ten years ago because I'd have rated it higher. I question the editing/ revision because this story needed to lose about 20-30% of useless filler, a few characters, such as the niece, were unnecessary and there are tiny plot holes...nothing big because overall, the story was enjoyable.
The story premise is great, who doesn't enjoy a downtrodden stripper with a good heart finding their prince charming? But the timing was off. Jimmy was naive about a number of things and I liked that Adam tried to school Jimmy.
Both main characters were likeable. The sex scenes were hot. Sometimes I had to use my reality suspension rubber band to make sense of the characters' actions
The niece? She really did add any purpose to the plot. I guess you could argue shes trying to shine a positive light on stripping...but you had that in Adam. So she was unnecessary. I think the family tension between Jimmy and his brother Laton should have been the main focus because the niece fizzled out, what Laton did and the resolution was rushed.
Also, Jimmy. He's good looking, social, has money and the owner of a big penis that he knew how to use...no explanation given as to WHY he would NEED to have a FRIEND book him a stripper. Why didn't he do it himself? He might've been closeted but it was written he had numerous one night stand and weekend sex fests...hiring a stripper wouldn't be that big of a deal.
The way the dialogue meandered into weird 'What did you say? Huh? No that's not what I said. Oh' parts...unnecessary.
I liked Adam stressing the point on Jimmy coming out of the closet for himself not please Adam. I think a deal breaker for die hard romantics might be a part where one of the MC's hooks up with another guy while not officially together with the MC. Neither MC's discussed exclusivity at that point but have had sex a few times. I don't see it as cheating. It's not the usual route.
There was a minor suspense plot that also fizzles. The story ends in a HEA. I have read this author in the past and enjoy her ideas. I'll definitely check out other works from her. There is something about her main characters that are interesting.
November 1, 2017
3.5 stars.
I'm struggling to define my opinion on this book... :(
On the one hand, I'm a total sucker for rent boys/prostitutes and Adam was sexy and beautiful and generally yummy. Adam's a stripper/bartender with a somewhat difficult past: but he doesn't quit and he tries to still do what he loves, although in a different form.
Jim is a closeted businessman who "got" Adam as his birthday present and can't forget the beautiful, long-haired stripper even since. He tries to maintain his straight facade and, at the same time, he gets more and more attached to his lover/tenant/employee.
The book was nice, with a decent world-building and Adam and Jim were both likeable MCs but... I really couldn't get into the story. The number of convenient to the plot coincidences and that strange twist at around 85% put me a little bit off.
The sexy moments and the small touches of D/s and fetish scene were delicious, though!
All in all, Kimberly Gardner is a totally new Author to me and, TBH, I don't know if I want to read any more books by her, sorry :(
I still think it could be an enjoyable read for all the fans of modern MM Cinderfella kind of stories ;)
I'm struggling to define my opinion on this book... :(
On the one hand, I'm a total sucker for rent boys/prostitutes and Adam was sexy and beautiful and generally yummy. Adam's a stripper/bartender with a somewhat difficult past: but he doesn't quit and he tries to still do what he loves, although in a different form.
Jim is a closeted businessman who "got" Adam as his birthday present and can't forget the beautiful, long-haired stripper even since. He tries to maintain his straight facade and, at the same time, he gets more and more attached to his lover/tenant/employee.
The book was nice, with a decent world-building and Adam and Jim were both likeable MCs but... I really couldn't get into the story. The number of convenient to the plot coincidences and that strange twist at around 85% put me a little bit off.
The sexy moments and the small touches of D/s and fetish scene were delicious, though!
All in all, Kimberly Gardner is a totally new Author to me and, TBH, I don't know if I want to read any more books by her, sorry :(
I still think it could be an enjoyable read for all the fans of modern MM Cinderfella kind of stories ;)
May 19, 2015
So I had mixed feelings about this book, but in the end I ended up liking it. It started out with a bang, with Adam showing up as a stripper-gram for Jimmy, the birthday boy. They have great chemistry and spend a great night together. But then the next day happens, and Jimmy turns out to be a bit of a tool. I felt myself getting really impatient with his issues, not to mention the way he treated Adam after they start seeing each other. It wasn't until the end of the story that I started to really like Jimmy. It felt like he grew up and learned how to be his own man. He could finally be with Adam in a real way, not just having a surface relationship that pretty much revolved around sex. I loved the ending, it made up for a lot of the disappointment I felt during the middle of the book. All in all, a pretty good read.
March 23, 2009
I suppose this would be called a contemporary m/m romance with a light BDSM theme.
Adam is a stripper that meets Jimmy as a client at Jimmy's birthday party. From that night on it is a constant battle to stay true to each other (Adam is "out" while Jimmy wants a discreet romance). Adam is a struggling stripper while Jimmy is a rich businessman. I liked seeing the relationship between the characters and while I couldn't quite take to Adam pushing Jimmy away, it was apart of the story.
This is the first time I read a m/m romance where the romance was very limited. You have to understand the character's issues and see how that either makes them grow, or makes them falls.
I did like this being my first novel by Kimberly Gardner.
Adam is a stripper that meets Jimmy as a client at Jimmy's birthday party. From that night on it is a constant battle to stay true to each other (Adam is "out" while Jimmy wants a discreet romance). Adam is a struggling stripper while Jimmy is a rich businessman. I liked seeing the relationship between the characters and while I couldn't quite take to Adam pushing Jimmy away, it was apart of the story.
This is the first time I read a m/m romance where the romance was very limited. You have to understand the character's issues and see how that either makes them grow, or makes them falls.
I did like this being my first novel by Kimberly Gardner.
January 16, 2011
Love is in the air...
Quick plot summary
Jimmy is a 36 old successful businessmen leading his father company. At his birthday a close coworker pay a striper to do a one man show at Jimmy's house. Adam, 22 years old, is the one payed to dance for Jimmy. A bad knee rack his ballet career, and he try to survive dancing in striper clubs, and the last thing he want is be a keep or boy toy for some rich man, but a serie of facts will made him get close to Jimmy... and the angst will begin
The romance is not bad, but the exaggerated drama tired me at half of the book
The big problem is: Jimmy is not out of the closet. He is no deep in the damn closet neither the CSI and FBI together with a truck light would find him there... and that get in my nerves.
There will be terrible scenes, of Jimmy internal struggle to accept his homosexuality. Certainly is not an easy thing, but he really tired me with all his drama queen moments.
But not only Jimmy is the one I blame the 3 of 5 stars I'm giving to this book.
Adam was perfect, and done everything really perfect to be seeing as a nice and great guy, BUT one little thing... I can accept he don't want to be a boy toy, but at the end he will give a response to Jimmy that made me hate him.
Be independent is one thing, use phrases like "I like being on my own..." can't be the best way to finish a romance.
I'm not addicted to HEA and this HFN is not bad, but after so much angst and drama (reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally a lot of drama) I was expecting a more happy end... I think the reader deserve that after so much suffering with the main characters.
So I can't give 5 stars
but I liked (a lot) this book, so I'll give 3.And I recommend it to romance readers that do not want a heartbreaking end... if you want to cry of happiness try another romance. It's a cute end, but not at all overwhelming.
December 31, 2008
I found Jimmy more real than Adam because the latter came across overdone by an author obviously trying to portray the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold. Except that Adam isn't a whore. This isn't quite how I felt despite Adam's virtuous qualities, though. These felt unrealistic and contradictory. It was hard to believe a man in his early 20s who's stripping for the next meal, sleeping in his car, who can't afford to go to the hospital when he's injured, who fucks his latest customer when he delivers the birthday strip-o-gram would put up such vehement protests when said customer offers help - like a free apartment - or use of his Porsche, or Mercedes Sports.
A little less protesting from Adam would have gone down better or, Ms Gardner could have given me more insight into Adam earlier, shown his internal struggles earlier rather than at the end and spared me the feelings of skepticism concerning him. Jimmy is also one of those staid, dull, unassuming nice-guys that I tend not to find sexy romance novel material. Good to marry but gimme my flat out sexy men in faded blue jeans for my romance novels!
This isn't a bad story despite the inadequate characterizations but I'm not sure whether I'd try another one by Gardner.
A little less protesting from Adam would have gone down better or, Ms Gardner could have given me more insight into Adam earlier, shown his internal struggles earlier rather than at the end and spared me the feelings of skepticism concerning him. Jimmy is also one of those staid, dull, unassuming nice-guys that I tend not to find sexy romance novel material. Good to marry but gimme my flat out sexy men in faded blue jeans for my romance novels!
This isn't a bad story despite the inadequate characterizations but I'm not sure whether I'd try another one by Gardner.
November 5, 2009
I've had this book on my eBookshelf for almost a year and for one reason or another, I never got around to starting it. I'd read an excerpt which I loved and made me add the book to my "to read" list but never got around to actually reading it until this week.
What I liked about this book: I won't lie and said the cover was not the first, real reason I gravitated to this book because it totally was! But, what kept me reading was the whirlwind romance Kimberly Garnder weaves into a tapestry of conflict around the pair. Both characters are not just instantly attracted to each other, they want to be better for the other but have no idea how to do it. That, more than anything else, resonated with me. I like fallible characters. Characters who might be your neighbor, your coworker, one of your friends, thrust into a romance that takes your breath away and frustrates you all at once.
Jimmy's firmly in the closet and while that, in and of itself, should be the main conflict in the story, it's only a small part of the overall arc that leads the pair into coming to terms with what they want out of their relationship and out of each other. Gardner's prose is beautifully written and the story is gripping. My breath hitched several times during the reading. I like stories that stay with you and make you remember how you felt when you read about the main characters. Stories that bring you to tears and make you laugh out loud too. Phoenix Rising does that and more.
Summary: Two dozen roses, one dozen balloons and a night with a sexy, young stripper. What a thirty-sixth birthday for Jimmy Trent. But the ultimate gift is yet to come as he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful dancer. Adam Hyland's life is in the dumps. Living in his car and stripping for his supper, he doesn't expect much when the birthday-boy invites him to stay for cake and champagne. Yet seeing the look in Jimmy's eyes, Adam dares to hope for more. Will their differences tear them apart? Or can their love take flight like a Phoenix Rising from the ashes?
What I liked about this book: I won't lie and said the cover was not the first, real reason I gravitated to this book because it totally was! But, what kept me reading was the whirlwind romance Kimberly Garnder weaves into a tapestry of conflict around the pair. Both characters are not just instantly attracted to each other, they want to be better for the other but have no idea how to do it. That, more than anything else, resonated with me. I like fallible characters. Characters who might be your neighbor, your coworker, one of your friends, thrust into a romance that takes your breath away and frustrates you all at once.
Jimmy's firmly in the closet and while that, in and of itself, should be the main conflict in the story, it's only a small part of the overall arc that leads the pair into coming to terms with what they want out of their relationship and out of each other. Gardner's prose is beautifully written and the story is gripping. My breath hitched several times during the reading. I like stories that stay with you and make you remember how you felt when you read about the main characters. Stories that bring you to tears and make you laugh out loud too. Phoenix Rising does that and more.
Excerpt: The rain had stopped and a thumbnail sliver of moon cast silvery light over the yard. From the rear of the garage the ground sloped down. About ten yards down the slope, the manicured grass gave way to a line of trees and wild growth where the shadows grew thick and heavy.
“That’s Fairmount Park,” Jimmy said from the bathroom doorway. “It backs up to this property so there aren’t any neighbors, not unless you count the deer.”
“How far does it go?”
“The park? Miles and miles. Fairmount is the largest municipal park in the country. When we were kids we weren’t allowed back there. My mother was sure we’d wander off and she’d never see us again.”
“But you went anyway.”
“Of course we did.” Jimmy laughed. “Tell a kid not to go somewhere and that’s the first place he wants to go. I remember when Laton was in high school, he used to take his girlfriends back there and make out.”
“How do you know?”
“I followed him a couple times. You know, the kind of stuff little brothers do.”
He didn’t, because he didn’t have any brothers, but he liked listening to Jimmy talk. Knowing these little details made him feel closer to Jimmy, like they could actually be friends. “Did he ever find out that you followed him?”
Jimmy shook his head. “Are you kidding? He would have kicked my ass if he knew.”
They both laughed.
Adam let the curtain drop and stepped away from the window. “How about you? Who did you take back there when you were in high school?”
Jimmy’s cheeks flushed. “I went to boarding school in New Hampshire.”
“So you never snuck into the woods with anyone to make out?”
Jimmy’s hesitation was just enough to tell Adam there was something here. A little thrill raced through him.
“Who was he, Jim?”
Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t remember. That was a long time ago.”
Adam stepped up close. Jimmy could easily have moved away but he didn’t.
Adam slipped his hand inside Jimmy’s open collar and stroked the warm skin. Jimmy’s pulse jumped under his fingertips as Adam leaned in. “Tell me.”
There was a pause. Jimmy’s lips parted. He swallowed. “His name was Christopher,” Jimmy whispered. “Chris Daley. He was the first boy I ever kissed.”
Adam leaned closer, stopping with their lips no more than a breath apart. “You took him into the woods and kissed him?”
“He kissed me.” Jimmy’s lashes fluttered down.
“Show me how.” He didn’t know where this little game had come from or where it was going, but he liked it.
Jimmy’s hands slid around Adam’s waist. The man drew him close. He pressed against the hard length of Jimmy’s body.
Jimmy’s mouth claimed his, the kiss starting slow, the contact soft and just a little tentative, the way a teenage boy might kiss.
Adam’s fingers caressed the back of Jimmy’s neck before sliding into the close-cropped hair. He sighed as his eyes drifted closed. But when his lips parted, Jimmy broke the kiss.
Adam opened his eyes. “What—”
“He asked me if I liked it,” Jimmy said, his words slow, his tone dreamy and far away. “And I said I did. Then he put his hand on my cock.”
Adam’s breath caught. He could imagine it, Jimmy so young and unsure, never even kissed let alone had another boy’s hand on his cock. God.
“How old were you?”
“Fifteen. We were both fifteen.”
Adam slipped his hand between their bodies. With a fingertip he traced the hard length of Jimmy’s cock through his pants.
“So hard,” Adam murmured. “Were you hard for him, Jim?”
“Yes,” Jimmy breathed, “so hard…from the kiss, you know? And it was nothing really, just a kiss. But, God …” Jimmy’s hips pressed forward, silently asking for more contact.
Adam squeezed Jimmy’s prick before sweeping his thumb over the head where a damp spot on the fabric of his pants let Adam know just how much Jimmy liked this game.
“Did he fuck you and make you come?”
“I came,” Jimmy said, hips rocking against the press of Adam’s hand. “He kissed me and I came in his hand.”
April 23, 2018
Not sure how I feel about this book. I enjoyed the developing romance between the characters at the beginning of the book but by the ending, I did not feel a connection anymore. Both MC's were complex with great chemistry but I hate when the characters are unfaithful to each other. Especially after the declaration of love. One little disagreement is not a good reason to cheat. And Jimmy seemed so desperate and needy in his relationship with Adam, that he wouldn't even confront him about cheating. Adam had a few issues to work through, and he made decisions to help himself, which I'm happy he does (even though I didn't like Theo at all), but even in the end Adam was still holding back and the HFN ending is a bit disappointing. 3.5 stars
June 12, 2010
Another delicious Kim Gardner book. I swear that woman owns me. Her characters, their passion, struggles, and smexin captivate me. I think I might propose What I loved most about the book was Jimmy's raw vulnerability and Adam's resilient spirit. Fantastic read.
August 20, 2010
This was a wonderfully told story, I was hooked from the start. The story was beautifully woven around the lives of Jimmy and Adam, these two were meant for each other and were very hot between the sheets but that only made the story richer, it wasn't the focus of the book.
November 15, 2010
3.5 The first 3/4 of this book was very good and then it just fell apart for me.
March 15, 2010
***FULL OF SPOILERS***
This book is really damn good but I'm going to write my thoughts on it because I need to. After reading it I loss sleep and I'll tell you why: First I didn't think these 2 guys were/are a good pairing. For these reasons: I found Adam selfish after everything Jim was trying to do for him to keep them together because he loved him. Ok so Adam loved him to and he makes mistakes just like everyone does, but Adam got spooked and he ran from this. Then there's where they separate for 6 months time and both do screw with other guys. Jim makes proposals and gets shot down by none other than Adam. Sooo fawking frustrating!
I had thought I'd read this book and realized I hadn't so I don't know how my rating got there :laughs: But it still deserves the 5 it got. So I went back after having read the second one to see how Jimmy and Adam met. Still in the second book things haven't changed much between them and dayum I think there needs to be a happy ending where they finally are together 'together' yeah know? Jim isn't getting any younger and it feels to me like little boy Adam still wants his technical freedom and play. Am I wrong? For those that read it or will you tell me. It just feels like there's no closure yet between these two and that is that.
This book is really damn good but I'm going to write my thoughts on it because I need to. After reading it I loss sleep and I'll tell you why: First I didn't think these 2 guys were/are a good pairing. For these reasons: I found Adam selfish after everything Jim was trying to do for him to keep them together because he loved him. Ok so Adam loved him to and he makes mistakes just like everyone does, but Adam got spooked and he ran from this. Then there's where they separate for 6 months time and both do screw with other guys. Jim makes proposals and gets shot down by none other than Adam. Sooo fawking frustrating!
I had thought I'd read this book and realized I hadn't so I don't know how my rating got there :laughs: But it still deserves the 5 it got. So I went back after having read the second one to see how Jimmy and Adam met. Still in the second book things haven't changed much between them and dayum I think there needs to be a happy ending where they finally are together 'together' yeah know? Jim isn't getting any younger and it feels to me like little boy Adam still wants his technical freedom and play. Am I wrong? For those that read it or will you tell me. It just feels like there's no closure yet between these two and that is that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2012
Only two stars might be a bit hard because I liked the plot, but I just finished the book and I am completely unsatisfied with the ending.
Jimmy tries to make everything right and Adam just shuts down.
And at Stephanies wedding Adam just dismisses Jimmys marriage proposal and also says that they won't live together. If he wants his independence and his own house so badly, he could have asked if Jimmy would like to move in with him. But no, keep the distance. In my opinion they aren't even a real couple anymore.
I am a really big fan of happy ever afters and I felt so sorry for Jimmy in the end.
Jimmy tries to make everything right and Adam just shuts down.
And at Stephanies wedding Adam just dismisses Jimmys marriage proposal and also says that they won't live together. If he wants his independence and his own house so badly, he could have asked if Jimmy would like to move in with him. But no, keep the distance. In my opinion they aren't even a real couple anymore.
I am a really big fan of happy ever afters and I felt so sorry for Jimmy in the end.
July 17, 2012
Good book. Review to come.
Merged review:
I really adored this book. Adam and Jimmy may make the list of one of my favorite couples. Jimmy almost reminded me of a Mary Calmes character. Everyone didn't fall at his feet but he just had an easy going look on life. He supported Adam and did not admonish him for his profession, which I liked because that would have been more typical arguments. Adam was the one that was a little jaded. But there was insta-love, which I don't mind :)The two were sweet and hot together. I think I will even put this on my dirty talk shelf.
The book had only a little angst. It was fitting and, as usual, was a communication issue. Overall, it was a good read.
Merged review:
I really adored this book. Adam and Jimmy may make the list of one of my favorite couples. Jimmy almost reminded me of a Mary Calmes character. Everyone didn't fall at his feet but he just had an easy going look on life. He supported Adam and did not admonish him for his profession, which I liked because that would have been more typical arguments. Adam was the one that was a little jaded. But there was insta-love, which I don't mind :)The two were sweet and hot together. I think I will even put this on my dirty talk shelf.
The book had only a little angst. It was fitting and, as usual, was a communication issue. Overall, it was a good read.
September 30, 2014
I totally adored this story. I was a bit sceptical because of the many 3 star reviews, but to me, Adam and Jim were a very realistic couple with a delicious 'Pretty Woman' style love story.
True, the main conflict (Adam's conflict) did not seem like such a big deal to me, but I accept that he felt it that way.
And I just gotta admit, towards the end, I couldn't stop playing this song, it so reminded me of the book and fit the theme perfectly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRUIa...
5 stars, definitely!
True, the main conflict (Adam's conflict) did not seem like such a big deal to me, but I accept that he felt it that way.
And I just gotta admit, towards the end, I couldn't stop playing this song, it so reminded me of the book and fit the theme perfectly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRUIa...
5 stars, definitely!
May 31, 2012
I wanted to like this book... I really did. From the time I read the summary and then excerpt I was madly excited about it. Turns out I was wrong to have gotten so razzle dazzled.
The beginning of this story is terribly cliched. As it goes on there are many unnecessary misunderstandings, unfaithful encounters and general annoyance. I will admit that I am never a fan of unfaithfulness in novels but sometimes you can see a reason but this one just seemed so... again, unnecessary. I think the author was going for edgy and got annoying.
Conclusion: Read it... maybe if its on sale?
The beginning of this story is terribly cliched. As it goes on there are many unnecessary misunderstandings, unfaithful encounters and general annoyance. I will admit that I am never a fan of unfaithfulness in novels but sometimes you can see a reason but this one just seemed so... again, unnecessary. I think the author was going for edgy and got annoying.
Conclusion: Read it... maybe if its on sale?
April 19, 2013
3.5 stars
It was a good read for the most part, with some Cinderella romance, angst, the problem of coming out of the closet etc. Then both of the characters turn stupid, the book skips 6 months and I have no idea what the hell's going on, and the characters remain stupid. I may be making it sound worse than it is, but the number of times i went "Seriously? No, really, seriously?" in the last quarter was triple than in the first 3/4.
It was a good read for the most part, with some Cinderella romance, angst, the problem of coming out of the closet etc. Then both of the characters turn stupid, the book skips 6 months and I have no idea what the hell's going on, and the characters remain stupid. I may be making it sound worse than it is, but the number of times i went "Seriously? No, really, seriously?" in the last quarter was triple than in the first 3/4.
March 14, 2018
Based off of the cover and the blurb if I hadn't read this for a challenge, read a book with a mostly red cover, I probably would have never gotten to it. Luckily I really enjoyed this. but the ending was...strange, maybe HFN? There's a second book, fingers crossed I get the ending I was hoping for. I seem to be subconsciously picking books lately with miscommunication (or zero communication) and age gap themes.
January 3, 2010
The book was very much to my liking, and some details really won me over. The reason it got four stars is that it lacked emotions and that connection between the two heroes at the parts where i think it was needed most. But overall it really is one of the better ones out there.
July 18, 2010
Very good m/m romance about a deeply closeted guy who falls for a stripper who doesn't want to be anybody's dirty little secret ever again.
November 16, 2010
I enjoyed the first 3/4 pretty well...then it lost me. I can't say too much without spoilers, but I just felt like a huge disconnect occured between those parts of the story.
April 14, 2018
I really liked both characters, and the bar setting really worked. I felt like the MC's other business should have gotten a bit more attention in the plot, as it was supposed to be his main focus whereas the bar was more his brother's thing. I enjoyed the slow pace, but relative to that, the ending felt rushed. I'm also not a huge fan of the level of are-we-together-or-are-we-broken-up that this story kept having, but I'm a low angst kinda guy *shrug*
Read
May 7, 2009Young friendly gay guy, talented but poor, meets older closeted gay man, wealthy and gentle. Is another Cinderfella's story? Not quite, since our two heroes will not leave happily ever after when the clock strikes the midnight, they need to suffer a bit before.
Adam is a classical dancer that at 22 years old, after a knee injury, had to give up his dreams and lives "between" homes in his car. He sometime works as stripper and one night he is engaged for a birthday party. But when he arrives at the home of the birthday guy (a mansion truth be told), he finds out that the party is a very small one, just him and the other guy. Jimmy is a 35 years old business man, with a good work and a beautiful house, but with a lonely life. And Adam is like a dream comes true. Not that Jimmy is an ugly guy, he is quite handsome, but till now he has had a very discreet life, and only when his desires became unbearable, he walked on the dark side, but always with one night stands and no string attached encounters.
The easy part of the story is for Adam and Jimmy to become lovers, the hard part is to remain lovers. Adam is a very independent man, and even if he has the body and the behavior of a twink, he doesn't like to be a kept man and stubbornly refuses every attempt of Jimmy to help him; plus he wants for Jimmy to come out but not for him, but when and if the man feels to do that... here is maybe where Adam is mistaking: usually a man needs a very good incentive to drastically change his life.
Actually Jimmy is not so much "in the closet"; it seems that everyone around him knows that he is gay, but they play to bury the head in the sand. More than in the closet, I really think that Jimmy is a man with a problem in showing his emotions; the man is eager to please Adam, and he is always ready to admit his faults, but still he makes them. Probably Jimmy is ready for a change in his life, but he needs for a strong hand to lead him, and maybe Adam is not strong enough. Adam is young, and with issues by his own, and this could drift apart them apart if they are not willing to make some compromises.
The story is pretty long, almost 300 pages, but it flows easy and smooth. Luckily the world where both Adam and Jimmy live, is a sheltered ones, even when Adam lives in a car, he is not alone, he has friends who care for him and a place to go if he wants. So the story is not too much angst, and all in all the problems are not so insuperable.
The first long novel by Kimberly Gardner is a light comedy of good feelings, like "In & Out" or similar.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934531170/?...
Adam is a classical dancer that at 22 years old, after a knee injury, had to give up his dreams and lives "between" homes in his car. He sometime works as stripper and one night he is engaged for a birthday party. But when he arrives at the home of the birthday guy (a mansion truth be told), he finds out that the party is a very small one, just him and the other guy. Jimmy is a 35 years old business man, with a good work and a beautiful house, but with a lonely life. And Adam is like a dream comes true. Not that Jimmy is an ugly guy, he is quite handsome, but till now he has had a very discreet life, and only when his desires became unbearable, he walked on the dark side, but always with one night stands and no string attached encounters.
The easy part of the story is for Adam and Jimmy to become lovers, the hard part is to remain lovers. Adam is a very independent man, and even if he has the body and the behavior of a twink, he doesn't like to be a kept man and stubbornly refuses every attempt of Jimmy to help him; plus he wants for Jimmy to come out but not for him, but when and if the man feels to do that... here is maybe where Adam is mistaking: usually a man needs a very good incentive to drastically change his life.
Actually Jimmy is not so much "in the closet"; it seems that everyone around him knows that he is gay, but they play to bury the head in the sand. More than in the closet, I really think that Jimmy is a man with a problem in showing his emotions; the man is eager to please Adam, and he is always ready to admit his faults, but still he makes them. Probably Jimmy is ready for a change in his life, but he needs for a strong hand to lead him, and maybe Adam is not strong enough. Adam is young, and with issues by his own, and this could drift apart them apart if they are not willing to make some compromises.
The story is pretty long, almost 300 pages, but it flows easy and smooth. Luckily the world where both Adam and Jimmy live, is a sheltered ones, even when Adam lives in a car, he is not alone, he has friends who care for him and a place to go if he wants. So the story is not too much angst, and all in all the problems are not so insuperable.
The first long novel by Kimberly Gardner is a light comedy of good feelings, like "In & Out" or similar.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934531170/?...
October 2, 2014
Jimmy is a rich guy who gets a stripper, Adam, for his birthday as a gift. The two hit it off right away and despite the fact that Jimmy’s brother is Adam’s boss, they continue on a “discreet” love affair.
The turmoil comes when Jimmy must put up or shut up about coming out to his family and friends. He takes tentative steps in that direction, to keep Adam happy, and to be true to himself, but it’s too little too late.
Suddenly Jimmy is the victim of hate crimes and losing clients for his “life style choices”. And instead of coming clean to Adam and facing the trouble together, he keeps it from him and Adam leaves.
It takes months, but eventually the two end up with a HEA, or at least a very strong HFN.
**
This was a strange read for me in that I didn’t like it much at all in the beginning. Adam acted a little too slutty and Jimmy kinda treated him a little too slutty. Not much mutual respect, just attraction and both parties were suffering from some pretty low self-esteem.
I also didn’t like it that fidelity was a big issue. Technically, when things were up front and honest, no one cheated, but in the gray areas – there was some cheating… which can work out ok, but it takes some pretty serious turn around to make it tolerable for me. (I am the queen of sap. I own it, ok?) And in this case, though the three important words get exchanged and there are some fairly serious promises being made, they don’t actually even end up living in the same city as the other… sure it looks like they might… one day… but it felt very tenuous by the end of the book, and not in a cliff-hanger kind of way, but in a this-is-where-the story-ends kind of way. So…be warned, not a perfectly tied up ending.
That being said – there were some really nice parts of the book. They love each other greatly. Both MCs really grow throughout the book and it is very touching. I do get the impression that they will end up together forever when all is said and done… just not exactly by the end of the book.
If you are a fan of lots of hot sex, this is a book for you… lots and lots.
Overall, I give it a 3.5 of 5 hearts. I liked it a lot and I think if you aren’t expecting a Cinderella-type ending you will find it a good book, too.
The turmoil comes when Jimmy must put up or shut up about coming out to his family and friends. He takes tentative steps in that direction, to keep Adam happy, and to be true to himself, but it’s too little too late.
Suddenly Jimmy is the victim of hate crimes and losing clients for his “life style choices”. And instead of coming clean to Adam and facing the trouble together, he keeps it from him and Adam leaves.
It takes months, but eventually the two end up with a HEA, or at least a very strong HFN.
**
This was a strange read for me in that I didn’t like it much at all in the beginning. Adam acted a little too slutty and Jimmy kinda treated him a little too slutty. Not much mutual respect, just attraction and both parties were suffering from some pretty low self-esteem.
I also didn’t like it that fidelity was a big issue. Technically, when things were up front and honest, no one cheated, but in the gray areas – there was some cheating… which can work out ok, but it takes some pretty serious turn around to make it tolerable for me. (I am the queen of sap. I own it, ok?) And in this case, though the three important words get exchanged and there are some fairly serious promises being made, they don’t actually even end up living in the same city as the other… sure it looks like they might… one day… but it felt very tenuous by the end of the book, and not in a cliff-hanger kind of way, but in a this-is-where-the story-ends kind of way. So…be warned, not a perfectly tied up ending.
That being said – there were some really nice parts of the book. They love each other greatly. Both MCs really grow throughout the book and it is very touching. I do get the impression that they will end up together forever when all is said and done… just not exactly by the end of the book.
If you are a fan of lots of hot sex, this is a book for you… lots and lots.
Overall, I give it a 3.5 of 5 hearts. I liked it a lot and I think if you aren’t expecting a Cinderella-type ending you will find it a good book, too.
September 9, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Phoenix Rising is the first book in Kimberly Gardner’s Playing for Keeps series and is the second edition of this re-published, re-edited masterpiece.
I fell in love with Jimmy and Adam years ago—yes, years—when I first happened upon this book. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve read it nearly a dozen times. I have it pretty much memorized, and it’s likely that this won’t be the last time I read it either. Here’s the thing about this book: it’s captivating from the get-go. When Adam walks into Jimmy’s house and Jimmy’s BFF tosses some bills in his face and runs out of the house, leaving the men to get hot and heavy, the mood is set. And the mood of this book is fucking hot—in every sense of the term. From scene one a tension is coiled between Adam and Jimmy that only winds tighter and tighter throughout the entire book until it explodes. And geez… the sexy when it explodes. This story is more than boy meets boy. It’s about two guys from two entirely different walks of life who find they need each other, but also find they need to find themselves first. It’s a journey of self-discovery and of love and of forgiveness.
Adam is the star of this book. He is Phoenix, but telling you how he came to be Phoenix and who exactly Phoenix is to him and to Jimmy would give you too much of his story and I want to leave something for you to wonder about. Adam, for all his open confidence and brazen sexuality, is broken and vulnerable. He’s a throwaway. His family turned their backs on him then he caught the man he thought he loved fucking someone else in their bed. Adam depends on himself, finding it hard to even ask the handful of people he calls friends for any sort of help. And when things look like they’re getting tough or like his heart may be broken, Adam is they kind of guy to cut deep first. For Adam, this story is pauper in distress meets his prince. But instead of the prince saving him, Adam learns to save himself. Adam’s story is an empowering and beautiful of finding home when all else is lost.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Phoenix Rising is the first book in Kimberly Gardner’s Playing for Keeps series and is the second edition of this re-published, re-edited masterpiece.
I fell in love with Jimmy and Adam years ago—yes, years—when I first happened upon this book. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve read it nearly a dozen times. I have it pretty much memorized, and it’s likely that this won’t be the last time I read it either. Here’s the thing about this book: it’s captivating from the get-go. When Adam walks into Jimmy’s house and Jimmy’s BFF tosses some bills in his face and runs out of the house, leaving the men to get hot and heavy, the mood is set. And the mood of this book is fucking hot—in every sense of the term. From scene one a tension is coiled between Adam and Jimmy that only winds tighter and tighter throughout the entire book until it explodes. And geez… the sexy when it explodes. This story is more than boy meets boy. It’s about two guys from two entirely different walks of life who find they need each other, but also find they need to find themselves first. It’s a journey of self-discovery and of love and of forgiveness.
Adam is the star of this book. He is Phoenix, but telling you how he came to be Phoenix and who exactly Phoenix is to him and to Jimmy would give you too much of his story and I want to leave something for you to wonder about. Adam, for all his open confidence and brazen sexuality, is broken and vulnerable. He’s a throwaway. His family turned their backs on him then he caught the man he thought he loved fucking someone else in their bed. Adam depends on himself, finding it hard to even ask the handful of people he calls friends for any sort of help. And when things look like they’re getting tough or like his heart may be broken, Adam is they kind of guy to cut deep first. For Adam, this story is pauper in distress meets his prince. But instead of the prince saving him, Adam learns to save himself. Adam’s story is an empowering and beautiful of finding home when all else is lost.
Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.
December 8, 2014
What an absolutely lovely story. Knowing that Phoenix Rising was about the relationship between closeted gay man and an out gay man, I admittedly expected a ton of angsty drama. And while there is drama, particularly from Jim's family, it was more focused on the actual relationship between Jim and Adam. By doing so, Ms. Gardner gave the book a more realistic feel than I anticipated.
That said, I found the opening scene of this book to be extremely entertaining. I mean really? ... a strip-o-gram ... what's not to love? It has to be one of the funniest meets I've ever read. I was actually quite sad for Jimmy when he woke the next morning to find Adam already gone, but thankfully fate intervened and their paths crossed again and again until they finally agreed to give it a go. Despite their age difference, it became clear rather quickly that Adam was actually the more mature member when it came to being public about their relationship. Sadly, his maturity came from the backlash he had to deal with living as an openly gay man and as much as he wanted a public relationship with Jimmy, he didn't want it at Jimmy's professional and personal expense, which was quite indicative of how much he loved Jimmy. Jimmy's naivety came not only from being closeted, but also from his natural personality trait of thinking the best of people.
Adam and Jimmy’s personalities complemented one another beautifully and their physical chemistry was palpable. All of the sex scenes were hot, but the club scene at the end was effing HOT!!! I didn't know Jimmy had it in him. I think that what made Phoenix Rising such a lovely read for me was that Jimmy and Adam not only found each other, but they found themselves as well. As this is the first book in the Playing for Keeps series, I can only hope that the next book lets us catch up with Jimmy and Adam while giving us Jason and Benny's story. Either way, I am so looking forward to reading Bound to Please.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
That said, I found the opening scene of this book to be extremely entertaining. I mean really? ... a strip-o-gram ... what's not to love? It has to be one of the funniest meets I've ever read. I was actually quite sad for Jimmy when he woke the next morning to find Adam already gone, but thankfully fate intervened and their paths crossed again and again until they finally agreed to give it a go. Despite their age difference, it became clear rather quickly that Adam was actually the more mature member when it came to being public about their relationship. Sadly, his maturity came from the backlash he had to deal with living as an openly gay man and as much as he wanted a public relationship with Jimmy, he didn't want it at Jimmy's professional and personal expense, which was quite indicative of how much he loved Jimmy. Jimmy's naivety came not only from being closeted, but also from his natural personality trait of thinking the best of people.
Adam and Jimmy’s personalities complemented one another beautifully and their physical chemistry was palpable. All of the sex scenes were hot, but the club scene at the end was effing HOT!!! I didn't know Jimmy had it in him. I think that what made Phoenix Rising such a lovely read for me was that Jimmy and Adam not only found each other, but they found themselves as well. As this is the first book in the Playing for Keeps series, I can only hope that the next book lets us catch up with Jimmy and Adam while giving us Jason and Benny's story. Either way, I am so looking forward to reading Bound to Please.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
October 29, 2012
I liked it, but the angst made it hard to read
Rating: 6/10
Pros:
- One especially tough (physically and emotionally) character I admired a lot.
- Well-drawn, sympathetic secondary characters. Women in gay romances tend to be portrayed as one-dimensional bitches, but the women in this book felt real.
- The last sex scene is beautiful. Heart-warming, tender, emotional. A lovely breath for me, as in the chapters leading up to the scene I felt like crying because I longed so (along with one of the characters) for things to turn out well. Bravo to Gardner for making me feel so deeply about one character.
Cons:
- I couldn’t quite see why the guy I really liked, Adam, fell so hard for the other one, Jim. True, Jim has some soaring, white knight moments that made me cheer internally, but Adam falls for Jim HARD. And it’s a sad relationship for much of the book: even though the reader knows (because we’re privy to both characters’ thoughts as revealed through different scenes—well done POV, by the way) how each guy feels about the other, Adam always feels like he’s nothing more than a throwaway sex toy because Jim can’t admit his feelings.
- The two men never really seem to be a couple on equal footing. Jim is 14 years older and wealthy, and although he states repeatedly that the money situation isn’t an issue, some of his actions belie that.
- Although I understood why Gardner ended it the way she did, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending. It’s not bad; I’m just such a romantic at heart that I’m not “entirely satisfied” unless the two men are living together and set to be that way forever—you know, either married (if the book’s set in Canada) or ready to get married as soon as it’s legal in the States.
Overall comments: A good read. But if you’re susceptible to the emotions of characters and find yourself really identifying with them and feeling what they feel (all of which is true of me), you’re liable to find this book pretty difficult to read. I found much of it very painful.
Rating: 6/10
Pros:
- One especially tough (physically and emotionally) character I admired a lot.
- Well-drawn, sympathetic secondary characters. Women in gay romances tend to be portrayed as one-dimensional bitches, but the women in this book felt real.
- The last sex scene is beautiful. Heart-warming, tender, emotional. A lovely breath for me, as in the chapters leading up to the scene I felt like crying because I longed so (along with one of the characters) for things to turn out well. Bravo to Gardner for making me feel so deeply about one character.
Cons:
- I couldn’t quite see why the guy I really liked, Adam, fell so hard for the other one, Jim. True, Jim has some soaring, white knight moments that made me cheer internally, but Adam falls for Jim HARD. And it’s a sad relationship for much of the book: even though the reader knows (because we’re privy to both characters’ thoughts as revealed through different scenes—well done POV, by the way) how each guy feels about the other, Adam always feels like he’s nothing more than a throwaway sex toy because Jim can’t admit his feelings.
- The two men never really seem to be a couple on equal footing. Jim is 14 years older and wealthy, and although he states repeatedly that the money situation isn’t an issue, some of his actions belie that.
- Although I understood why Gardner ended it the way she did, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending. It’s not bad; I’m just such a romantic at heart that I’m not “entirely satisfied” unless the two men are living together and set to be that way forever—you know, either married (if the book’s set in Canada) or ready to get married as soon as it’s legal in the States.
Overall comments: A good read. But if you’re susceptible to the emotions of characters and find yourself really identifying with them and feeling what they feel (all of which is true of me), you’re liable to find this book pretty difficult to read. I found much of it very painful.
December 15, 2012
I know two stars it´s a little too harsch, and I probably soon change it at three, but I finished it right now and I am a little upset. I read Bound To Please first, so I know how good Kimberly Gardner can be.
Adam, young stripter, with complex about being poor and abandoned by his own family, meet handsome, rich and too much kind and loving man, and fall in love with him. From start he knows it isn´t easy for Jim, and that it´s the first time when Jim think about coming out, but selfishly never try imagine what Jim can feel or think, and every hasitating, every uncertainty from Jimmy´s part, who´s trying change his whole life for Adam, sees as lack of love and trust, even though this way he hurts Jimmy again and again.
I liked Jimmy very much, and I could perfectly understand him, but I can´t say the same thing about Adam. When he accused Jimmy for not beying open and don´t saying him that his first coming out have had bad consequences, I really wanted slap him and yell at him, becouse the way he is acting, I wouldn´t say him too.
Ok, I can´t do it to Jimmy, so I change it to three stars, and for hope I will some day finish those sex scenes which I have skipped now, becouse I really wasn´t in a mood for Adam´s second chance, which he didn´t deserve.
I probably shouldn´t, for a abrupt change from Jimmy - a bussinessman and discreet man to Jimmy - king of the night´s life and bdsm clubs. Becouse I really wanted to read how Adam will introduce lifestyle to Jim and book didn´t give it to me, but, well.
Adam, young stripter, with complex about being poor and abandoned by his own family, meet handsome, rich and too much kind and loving man, and fall in love with him. From start he knows it isn´t easy for Jim, and that it´s the first time when Jim think about coming out, but selfishly never try imagine what Jim can feel or think, and every hasitating, every uncertainty from Jimmy´s part, who´s trying change his whole life for Adam, sees as lack of love and trust, even though this way he hurts Jimmy again and again.
I liked Jimmy very much, and I could perfectly understand him, but I can´t say the same thing about Adam. When he accused Jimmy for not beying open and don´t saying him that his first coming out have had bad consequences, I really wanted slap him and yell at him, becouse the way he is acting, I wouldn´t say him too.
Ok, I can´t do it to Jimmy, so I change it to three stars, and for hope I will some day finish those sex scenes which I have skipped now, becouse I really wasn´t in a mood for Adam´s second chance, which he didn´t deserve.
I probably shouldn´t, for a abrupt change from Jimmy - a bussinessman and discreet man to Jimmy - king of the night´s life and bdsm clubs. Becouse I really wanted to read how Adam will introduce lifestyle to Jim and book didn´t give it to me, but, well.
September 3, 2012
Eh...not bad?
So I'm torn about the rating. Torn between a 2 and a 3. Three because the first part really wasn't that bad. 2 because the last-ish part really was. Finally settled on a 3 on Goodreads, but more as a pity vote...
So I'm torn about the rating. Torn between a 2 and a 3. Three because the first part really wasn't that bad. 2 because the last-ish part really was. Finally settled on a 3 on Goodreads, but more as a pity vote...
August 8, 2016
Still liked it the second time
I still had some issues with part of the storyline but it's a story I've enjoyed. Jimmy was a character with issues and Adam had troubles of his own. The way they came together was sweet and I liked that part of their connection. I didn't get enough of what they did talk about or discuss together. The "I love you's" came a little too quickly. Adam ended up telling Jimmy he didn't trust him enough because Jimmy didn't tell him about problems with his coming out. Jimmy was wrong in coming out just to make Adam happy, when Adam had told him he needed to do it for his own reasons. But for Adam to just completely cut Jimmy off and not even give him a chance to change his behavior, was wrong. I didn't like the way the author handled that. When they reconnected, it seemed too fast and easy. I guess we were left with a HFN, to make it more believable.
I still had some issues with part of the storyline but it's a story I've enjoyed. Jimmy was a character with issues and Adam had troubles of his own. The way they came together was sweet and I liked that part of their connection. I didn't get enough of what they did talk about or discuss together. The "I love you's" came a little too quickly. Adam ended up telling Jimmy he didn't trust him enough because Jimmy didn't tell him about problems with his coming out. Jimmy was wrong in coming out just to make Adam happy, when Adam had told him he needed to do it for his own reasons. But for Adam to just completely cut Jimmy off and not even give him a chance to change his behavior, was wrong. I didn't like the way the author handled that. When they reconnected, it seemed too fast and easy. I guess we were left with a HFN, to make it more believable.
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