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The Book Of Daniel (St. Nacho's #4)

by Z.A. Maxfield (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 658 ratings · 107 reviews

Daniel Livingston is finally free. He’s come clean about his passionless marriage and moved to St. Nacho’s where he can spend time with his brother. Now he’s ready explore the endless sexual buffet being hot and rich and single has to offer.

The problem is a firefighter named Cameron Rooney who haunts his every waking thought and half his dreams. No doubt about it. Cam is g...more

ebook, 178 pages

Published August 30th 2011 by Loose Id, LLC

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Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

Best M/M Romance Published in 2011

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Feb 05, 2012 Zuyuan rated it 1 of 5 stars

I like the series but this one didn't work for me. The big picture seems too large and complicated to crammed with romance. Everyone acted like bastards, Jake a whiny brother who's very demanding while never gave anything back to his brother (which I think it out-of-character considered the previous book), while Dan a middle-aged looser who just let his life along the wrong-current. No spark-fire btw Dan and Cam. Worse was when others left Dan fought for them alone for 4 months, felt ridiculous...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Lauraadriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cried-like-a-baby, fave-authors, age-difference, lmao, love-conquers-all, loved-it, m-m, made-me-wish-i-was-a-gay-man, super-super-hot

In the words of Daniel himself...Spec-fucking-tacular! This is hands down my favorite book in this series, and for sure one of my favorites from this author.

This books was the fourth in the St. Nacho's series. St. Nacho's is a little town in the coast of California that seems to lure and keep those people that come to it running away from their old lives.

Daniel's brother Jake is the latest to find his way to St. Nacho's. Daniel after after a horrible divorce and finally coming clean with his se...more

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Sep 02, 2011 MandyM rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

3.5 stars. St. Nacho's is a wonderful place which draws in people who are damaged and hurting and makes them whole again. It's been a great setting for some of my favourite M/M books but I had some problems with this the fourth (and ?final) entry. This story is about Dan, a wealthy business man who has been injured in a car crash. He's gone through a nasty divorce and has been enjoying the wild side of coming out as a gay man. His love interest is a gay firefighter, Cam. Both these guys are play...more 3.5 stars. St. Nacho's is a wonderful place which draws in people who are damaged and hurting and makes them whole again. It's been a great setting for some of my favourite M/M books but I had some problems with this the fourth (and ?final) entry. This story is about Dan, a wealthy business man who has been injured in a car crash. He's gone through a nasty divorce and has been enjoying the wild side of coming out as a gay man. His love interest is a gay firefighter, Cam. Both these guys are players but have an unexplored attraction to each other which they disguise in hostile exchanges whenever they're together.

It's been a long time since I read St. Nacho's 3 in which these two characters were introduced. I wish I had re-read it before starting this book because I feel I missed the memo where Dan was a nice guy and had real trouble seeing why Cam liked him. Everyone was pissed off with him, his brother, the witches, Cam, his ex-wife. His behaviour didn't help, lying, blowing hot and cold in his relationship with Cam, hating St. Nacho's.

The story seemed very choppy to me, like scenes were missing that would explain Dan's actions or further his relationship with Cam. The ending where (view spoiler). Maybe if I'd seen what he went through in that month I would have felt it more. I really disliked his wife. After setting her up as the bad guy in this and the last book I had trouble seeing her as a sympathetic character who deserves all she received in the end.

I got the feeling this is the final book in the series. The sub-plot with the resort was good as a threat to the idyllic St. Nacho's, and I loved reconnecting with past characters (view spoiler).

I'm hovering between clicking on the 3 or 4 stars. ZAM is such a great writer that I might just have higher expectations of her than I do of other writers. I'm going to go back and re-read the series and I have a feeling that I'll appreciate this book a lot more.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011 DarienMoya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: z-a-maxfield, piss-of-books-of-2011, my-m-m-lovin, 2011-reads

^^SOMETIMES DANIEL NEEDS TO KEEP HIS BOOK CLOSED!^^

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS

3.5

This was one of my least favourite ZAM book ever, and it’s a part of one my fave series. This book had two of my favourite characters from the previous book, like two complete idiots. They were indecisive, contradictory, and spoiled children. I could not wrap my mind around it, and when they both acted like douches to each other, with a few words all would go back to normal.

If you have no...more ^^SOMETIMES DANIEL NEEDS TO KEEP HIS BOOK CLOSED!^^

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS

3.5

This was one of my least favourite ZAM book ever, and it’s a part of one my fave series. This book had two of my favourite characters from the previous book, like two complete idiots. They were indecisive, contradictory, and spoiled children. I could not wrap my mind around it, and when they both acted like douches to each other, with a few words all would go back to normal.

If you have no clue about the St Nachos series, I absolutely recommend that you get to know this little town. The characters are quirky, and the food sounds awesmazing (I was constantly hungry reading this book). This series is the epitome of what ZAM does best. Though I did have my issues with this story in particular, the series is not to be missed. Cam and Daniel had me a drooling from the previous book, and I was impatiently waiting for their story. I knew it was gonna be hot, and about a man healing and finding love. We got all that, but we also got shallow Cam and Daniel with their multiple personalities.

Daniel the product of a bad home life has built his way up to owning his own company and having money. He lives to protect his little brother, but over the years, he has forgotten about others in order to make a disastrous marriage work. The marriage is over and Daniel has decided to be true to himself and come out to the world. Now he’s man whoring himself around town, and he’s hardly a good person. He lies, and is unable to find happiness in anything. A car wreck has left him without the use of one of his hands, and his pity party is strong. In comes Cam the hot fire fighter with the heart of gold, who can do and say no wrong (gimme a break). Their relationship was never the best, but a friendly relationship begins that leads to more.

The inconsistencies in this book is strong, I just do not understand what happened to my Cam and Daniel. At times, I really liked them, and at most, I wanted to slap them in the head. Daniel facing his issues was a good thing, but everyone around him kept making him the bad person, as if he was this horrible guy. Honestly, I have yet to see this horrible person, sketchy and unsure yes, but horrible? Not even, close. His life has shaped him and he has every right to be wary. He is not a perfect person, and I sorta hated how they expected so much from him.

The sex between Daniel and Cam is desert storm hot, but the relationship part is a great big pot of 'you have got to be fecking kidding me'. They both have no idea what they want. One minute its not working but the next love is blooming like roses in a freaking garden. I yelled a few times 'just make up your mind already', and just when you think all is well, either Cam or Dan pulls a douche bag move. I had high hopes for them, though not completely disappointed I am also less then impressed.

Overall, I really enjoyed going back to St.Nacho’s and hearing about everyone from previous books. I liked many elements of the story (laughed my ass off a few times), but disappointed in the characters. Even though I got my HEA, I am still waiting for Daniel to bolt. In the upside, this might be the dirtiest ZA book ever; I was like “WHAT”, some very unexpected hotness. My final thoughts are that this series is not to be missed, and though it seems as if I am just hating, I honestly liked the book just wondering what the hell happened to the characters.
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Jan 24, 2013 Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm being lazy I realise, but I had to read all four books in this series, and didn't have the time to write a review of each novel as I finished it (I had to start the next in series because they are such a good read).
St. Nacho's is a small, lost-in-time, west coast town which draws people to it and they stay and find love/happiness/their life partner.
All four novels are stand alone, although characters from previous novels re-appear in the further novels. All four are extremely well written an...more

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Jan 02, 2013 DaisyGirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-romance, i-own, m-m, other-steamy, romance-contemp, other-made_me_cry, romance-firemen

4.0 Stars

Daniel Livingston has left his cheating wife, come out about being gay, and moved to St. Nacho’s to spend time with his brother, Yasha. Freedom is sweet relief and Daniel is living it up by exploring the endless sexual buffet being hot, rich, and single has to offer. Firefighter Cameron Rooney, however, gets under Dan's skin. Despite his newfound freedom, Dan finds himself wanting a life with Cameron more. But Cam is going to require a level of honesty Dan has never before sustained. In...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: Rhys Ford

Shelves: character-with-disability, contemporary-romance, favorites, glbt, m-m-romance, series, ugly-cried

“Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice.” – David Kenyon Webster

Daniel Livingston has become comfortably numb.

The remnants of childhood abuse, a lifetime of denial, a marriage that was more contract than communion, an accident that left his right arm mangled beyond use, and ultimately, a divorce that didn’t set him free as much as it sent him freefalling into the alcohol soaked end of the male flesh-pool—because the faith end of that pool was all dried up—have all served to...more “Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice.” – David Kenyon Webster

Daniel Livingston has become comfortably numb.

The remnants of childhood abuse, a lifetime of denial, a marriage that was more contract than communion, an accident that left his right arm mangled beyond use, and ultimately, a divorce that didn’t set him free as much as it sent him freefalling into the alcohol soaked end of the male flesh-pool—because the faith end of that pool was all dried up—have all served to turn Daniel into a cleverly crafted facsimile of a happy man.

But the truth is that Daniel has always been more comfortable living the lie, so much so that he’s built his entire adult life upon the foundation of artifice and has become aggressively removed from his feelings because emotions have no place in a life in which business is business and money is the illusion of contentment. Daniel’s faith is the currency he’s forfeited because he won’t gamble on the belief that there’s such a thing as happily-ever-after. And he certainly doesn’t believe he’s worthy of an honorable and decent man like Cameron Rooney.

For Daniel to be the sort of man Cam could love, he would have to grow a conscience, but that’s easier said than done when the landscape of your life has wasted under the drought of trust and the emptiness in the expectation that if you throw enough money at people you can buy your way around having to live up—or down—to their belief of who you are. That still small voice of Daniel’s has been buried six-feet under for an awfully long time, and to exhume it means to make something entirely different of himself within the place he’s been grounded for so long. The first step in cultivating this new life is honesty, and honesty begins and ends with the sacrifice of his own future to spare the future of the man he loves.

Santo Ignacio is the sort of place that embraces you if it wants to keep you, sometimes in spite of whether or not that person wants to be kept, but in Daniel’s case, St. Nacho’s has about as much use for him as he has for St. Nacho’s—which is very little. There was a time when a goldmine of real estate opportunity like this sleepy seaside community would have sent the dollar signs of potential spinning in the empty vault of Daniel’s ethics, but that was before Cam, and before Daniel came to the realization that Cam’s happiness is all he needs to make himself happy. It’s the jumping off point for Daniel to prove to Cam and the entire town that the truth has set him free, and that compassion and doing what’s right can be rewarded tenfold in the end.

The St. Nacho’s series isn’t a paper world and cardboard cut-out characters. Z.A. Maxfield has dreamt of and shared with her readers the sort of place you wish truly existed, a place where you’d want nothing more than to buy a little beachfront bungalow and embrace the bold and colorful palette of people you’d be glad to call friends and neighbors. That element of connection elevated these books to something more for me than a simple way to pass the time.

This series has been yet another addiction, and another addition to the long list of books that leave me in awe of the ability to write and create. They are stories of broken men who are healed by love, kindness, and patience. They are stories of atonement and redemption, trust and faith, truth and healing. They are eminently romantic and utterly readable, in an I-couldn’t-put-them-down kind of way.

I’m not sure if this is the end or not. There isn’t a clear set-up that there’ll be more St. Nacho’s books looming on the horizon, but I sure hope there are. I’d hate to see it end so soon.

TNA (less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, contemporary, anal-play-sex, m-m

Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

Sometimes you get what you need and not what you want. At least that seems to be what is happening for Daniel. Stuck in St. Nacho’s while he rehabs his crushed arm, Daniel can’t seem to catch a break. He unintentionally disappoints his newly engaged brother Jake, and Daniel’s on-again, off-again animosity with sexy firefighter Cam is a bumpy road. Add in a long lost dying father, more accidents than anyone should handle, and a ton of...more Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

Sometimes you get what you need and not what you want. At least that seems to be what is happening for Daniel. Stuck in St. Nacho’s while he rehabs his crushed arm, Daniel can’t seem to catch a break. He unintentionally disappoints his newly engaged brother Jake, and Daniel’s on-again, off-again animosity with sexy firefighter Cam is a bumpy road. Add in a long lost dying father, more accidents than anyone should handle, and a ton of misunderstandings and the result lands Daniel frequently in the hot seat. He keeps trying to get out of trouble but each attempt only lands him deeper in the mud.

Book of Daniel is the fourth book in the St. Nacho’s series by ZA Maxfield. Long time fans of the series will definitely want to read this one and any newcomers shouldn’t worry because each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone. In fact it almost reads better as such as frequently the characters seem to change from book to book and so reading without those preconceived ideas may actually help. Book four picks up with the story about Daniel and Cam and it’s a rocky romance. The romance between the two men runs hot and cold with numerous misunderstandings even as Daniel spends the majority of the book on his knees begging for forgiveness again and again.

Unfortunately this doesn’t always work as Daniel is painted as a selfish cad, but his actions never quite seem that way. We’re told more than shown Daniel’s supposed horrible character but I never quite bought into that. Additionally, the story throws in a lot of different plot points. There are simply too many and some don’t really make sense with the context of the story. They seem too easy and manufactured. The timeline at the end jumps around wildly without much explanation and includes pretty big leaps in logic that are difficult to follow and furthermore relate to the point of the story.

On the positive side, the descriptive quality is pretty high and pure Maxfield. The great St. Nacho’s setting that stars so well in each story is on display here and the various secondary characters easily charm once again. The writing is good and very engaging, even if the characters and their romance wasn't as much. I wish the plot had been tighter with a much more linear and cohesive storyline and characterization. This is a good book in the series but not the best. Fans of the series won’t want to miss it but newcomers may be better off starting with the real gem of the series, the first book. Still, I'm glad I read this book.

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Nov 01, 2011 Kassa rated it 2 of 5 stars

While I like the St. Nacho’s series a lot, I’m not really happy with the turn it’s taken. Of course that could just be me but this book felt disjointed, rush, and totally scattered. There wasn’t one consistent theme running throughout the book and the characters seemed to change randomly with whatever emotion they needed to express. I quite liked Daniel and Cam from the previous book but I couldn’t stand either one of them in Book of Daniel. They’re selfish, cruel, totally unforgiving, and would...more While I like the St. Nacho’s series a lot, I’m not really happy with the turn it’s taken. Of course that could just be me but this book felt disjointed, rush, and totally scattered. There wasn’t one consistent theme running throughout the book and the characters seemed to change randomly with whatever emotion they needed to express. I quite liked Daniel and Cam from the previous book but I couldn’t stand either one of them in Book of Daniel. They’re selfish, cruel, totally unforgiving, and would change at the drop of a hat. The book feels like it didn’t know exactly what direction to go but threw a few themes and concepts to see what sticks.

This time around is Jake’s brother Daniel, who was in a horrific car accident at the end of the last book. Now he and firefighter Cam are circling around each other, but not really. Daniel starts the book by making some snarky comments to Cam while trying to hide his attraction. Cam for his part calls Daniel a bunch of names and basically says he’s the scum of the earth. But that tension doesn’t really go anywhere as soon enough Daniel and Cam get together sexually. Cam waivers back and forth several times, never giving Daniel a break and assuming the worst about him each time. Daniel for his part accepts and even admits he’s a horrible person each and every time. Throw in some random side plots about Dan’s ex-wife and his father with a super rushed, everything tied up ending and that’s it.

Of course that’s a huge simplification but that’s how disjointed and random this offering feels. First the various subplots don’t meld together in any meaningful way. There is Jake and JT’s wedding that Dan is sketchy about but he comes around instantly, after he’s thoroughly lashed by everyone. There is the ex-wife subplot, which I truly hated on every level. She’s portrayed as a huge bitch in the beginning then comes around entirely to save Dan and be a figure of almost angelic niceness. It makes no sense except it helps create a temporary tension point that I didn’t understand and leave a nice ending for Dan. The father issues again were perplexing. They had some great potential to get into a real issue and something Dan could use to grow and change but it felt too quick, too wrapped up and only there to provide yet another time when Cam could call Dan names, run away and then come right back after Dan grovels.

This leads me to the problem with characterization. It isn’t consistent nor does it make much sense. Cam alternates between complacent acceptance of Dan to assuming the worst and running away. Yet I guess the sex is too good because Cam always comes back. It kind of makes no sense that Cam would be so disconnected and willing to think the worst of Dan. Dan practically and verbally lays his heart out constantly to Cam, yet that seems to have no affect. I think the story was trying to show that since Dan lies so easily it’s his actions not his words that matter but no one, not even his brother Jake, gives him any credit for anything. He can’t even do something nice without people jumping on him, which got old pretty quickly.

Jake and Dan seem to alternate as well since Dan constantly talks himself down but all of his horrible behavior must have happened in his life prior to the book. In this story, Dan is a near saint always working hard to prove himself and any small misstep is leapt upon and crucified. I like the idea of Dan being a not good person who is reformed and now worthy of love but I never got the impression he was a horrible person, only that he and everyone else thought so. Additionally Jake comes across as judgmental, cruel, and often annoying. This is a change from his character in the first book and I couldn’t understand his actions towards Dan. They didn’t seem like those of a loving brother at all.

The writing is decent and Maxfield knows how to bring St. Nacho’s to life. I really liked that someone didn’t fit there for once and made it work. There are a few editing mistakes of switched names but otherwise mostly clean. Unfortunately while the writing is good, the story jumps around without enough explanations to really work. Dan’s four months away make no sense nor does his sudden return. The back and forth and leaps in time seem arbitrary and so the story never settled into a grove that makes you want to read, at least for me. Having said that I’ll still buy and read whatever Maxfield writes so this one will likely just be the one miss in a solid series.
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Oct 13, 2011 T.A. Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth installment in Ms. Maxfield's St. Nacho's series, and I while I am hard pressed to name a favorite, I really liked this one.

Daniel is a real estate investor, going through a divorce after 12 years of marriage, stopping over in St. Nacho's after being injured in a car accident that badly injured his hand. His brother, Jake, has settled in town and is putting down roots with his soon to be husband and making a name for himself with his new bakery/cafe. Exploring his freedom with...more This is the fourth installment in Ms. Maxfield's St. Nacho's series, and I while I am hard pressed to name a favorite, I really liked this one.

Daniel is a real estate investor, going through a divorce after 12 years of marriage, stopping over in St. Nacho's after being injured in a car accident that badly injured his hand. His brother, Jake, has settled in town and is putting down roots with his soon to be husband and making a name for himself with his new bakery/cafe. Exploring his freedom with any man handy, Daniel is determined to change his ways, tell the truth, and be a better man.

Cam is a fireman, one of the two biggest players in town, and one hot man. He is also the compassionate, caring and gentle man who helped rescue Daniel from the crash that injured him so badly. He has a past of his own that brought him to the small town of St. Nacho's, which has helped soothe his damaged soul.

These two men spar with each other, and distrust each other mightily. That only serves to hide a growing attraction, but can the two men let go of their pasts long enough to make something worthwhile happen.

Ms. Maxfield has created two of her most memorable characters (and that is saying a lot!) in Daniel and Cam. These two men are both damaged by their families in ways that most men would find it hard to recover from. I found Daniel's ability to adapt remarkable, and his commitment to being an admirable man worthy of being loved so touching. Cam is a good man, but finds it hard to put his trust in one man, especially one who has been living a lie for so many years. Yet, both look deep inside and find the strength to risk and take a chance.

This series really does keep getting better and better, like fine wine. I hope Ms. Maxwell continues to build on this wonderful series of characters. I have been really impressed and enchanted (too gay? certainly not!) by her story telling, and am a fan for life. Her stories about family and acceptance rival those of Amy Lane with er "Promise Rock" series, and I cannot wait for more!

Enthusiastic thumbs up!!! (less)

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Sep 30, 2011 Kate McMurray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, m-m

I love this series and I was excited to see the new entry in it. And I liked this book, too, but maybe less so than the previous ones. I liked Dan a great deal as a character, flawed though he is, but there were two things that didn't quite work for me. First, Cam seems underdeveloped. He's maybe a little too perfect. I'm not sure that it matters in the general scheme of the novel, because the book is really about Dan and his coming into his own more than anything else. I think his arc and the w...more I love this series and I was excited to see the new entry in it. And I liked this book, too, but maybe less so than the previous ones. I liked Dan a great deal as a character, flawed though he is, but there were two things that didn't quite work for me. First, Cam seems underdeveloped. He's maybe a little too perfect. I'm not sure that it matters in the general scheme of the novel, because the book is really about Dan and his coming into his own more than anything else. I think his arc and the way that he grows over the course of the novel are very well done, though, so I don't mind that Cam is not much of a presence in the novel. (This is my roundabout way of saying that, for me, the book was about Dan and not about Dan and Cam as a couple.) Second, I think the pacing is off. Dan and Cam start off adversarial. I remembered them flirting in Jacob's Ladder, but basically, in the first couple of chapters, they hate each other, but then all of a sudden, they go out to dinner one night and they're totally hot for each other, and one very long date later, Dan is in love. I believed Dan's emotion, I totally bought that he loved Cam, but I felt like there was a scene missing or something there. Then, at the end, the narrative skips ahead four months and we get the briefest of explanations of what happened, but I felt like there was a missed opportunity there to show how Dan fixed things and how everyone in St. Nacho's (Cam in particular—did he just hibernate for four months?) reacted to what was happening.

Still, what did work for me was Dan as a character—I don't think he's as much of an asshole as he thinks he is, but it was interesting to see him work out how to be more honest, and to watch him figure out how to make amends when he makes mistakes. I also thought it was really interesting how much Dan resisted St. Nacho's, how it wasn't the haven for him that it was for the other characters in the series. And yet, an overriding theme of the novel is finding a home, which Dan does successfully by the end of the book.(less)

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Sep 29, 2011 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love ZAM's books. The St. Nacho's series is a must read. The Book of Daniel was not my favorite of the series but it is still a good book. The main characters of the book were introduced in the previous book. Both Cam and Daniel were great in book 3 (Jacob's Ladder). They were both funny (well snarky in Daniel's case). I think what disappointed me the most about The Book of Daniel was that when Cam and Daniel started dealing with their own emotional problems they lost some of that spark. But i...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Jess Candela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2011

I loved it almost as much as I expected to. I loved finally getting to see more of Cam and Daniel, and learning more about Jake's family and childhood from the perspective of his older brother. I loved seeing Daniel grow into his own, painful as that sort of growth inevitably is.

There was just one thing that really bothered me, and that was the seeming lack of resolution between Daniel and the people of St. Nacho's. Actually, there was resolution, but it just sort of seemed to magically (wave th...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Kaje Harper rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars. I was really glad to see this book was about Daniel, Jacob's brother from Jacob's Ladder. He was such an interesting character, with such conflict and potential. This was another wonderful look at the man, and many of his complexities were laid clear. Again here was a MC with real flaws who none the less is very sympathetic and will capture your heart. Two things made me down-grade this book slightly from its prequel. One is that the romantic MC's are not together as much as I would h...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Manuela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: disability, mm

The main character of this book, Daniel, was first introduced in the previous book, which was the story of his brother. I found him to be quite interesting, more than his brother Jacob, and so was his story for me. Daniel is a complicated man. He's been in the closet and married to a woman for years, and now he's finally come out as gay and enjoying the newfound freedom. But he has issues that come from his past, he has trouble being honest and he has the bad habit of throwing money at people wh...more

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May 29, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

I did really enjoy the book, but it was strangely uneven. At the end of book 3 it was clear Cam was sexually attracted to Daniel. However, when book 4 opens Cam and Daniel have a fairly antagonistic relationship. I thought this was going to make it an enemies-to-lovers story, but, on the contrary, about 45% in the plot makes a sharp swerve. Suddenly Cam and Daniel love each other deeply and the book is about something completely different.

I found the transition from "I'm going to order shrimp b...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Naoms rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: disappointing, m-m-love, read-in-2011, ebooks

This book started off great. I liked Daniel and Cam from the previous book, but unfortunately the minute they stopped their bickering they became boring.

Way too many storylines and problems for Danny. I wish they would have either focused completely on the family drama, the drama with his ex-wife or the drama with his business. Just too many issues to focus on.

I also think the characters in this book were a bit overdramatic. They become offended or heartbroken by everything. Their dialogue is al...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Kira rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, m-m, favorites

This might be my second favorite in the series (my favorite is the first one). I liked Daniel, I liked how complex he was, and I really already loved Cam from the third book, so the main couple was interesting.

The sex was hot, the plot was mostly good, and the writing was stellar like always. What I disliked about the plot that you knew from a certain point on, what the major problem would be between the characters. So it was mainly just waiting for it to unravel, and despite it was done in a wa...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Lara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lent

Ummm, did I miss something? Did I read a completely different book than some of the people who reviewed this 4th installment of the (very newly my favorite) St. Nacho's series? I don't get it. I loved the story of Cam and Daniel. I thought they were so true to themselves and who they are and yet so willing to change for the ones that they love all at the same time. They had their ups and downs, their doubts and their regrets, their moments in the darkness and their dances in the sun. I thought t...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance

I'm completely hooked on the St Nacho's series by this author and was greatly anticipating this fourth book. It follows Jake's (or Yasha's) brother Daniel who at the end of the previous book had arrived in St Nacho's and announced that he was gay and divorcing his wife. Then both he and Jake are involved in an accident where Daniel's hand is crushed. As this book starts the story is a few months on from that accident. Daniel's hand is recovering but he doesn't have a lot of movement - something...more I'm completely hooked on the St Nacho's series by this author and was greatly anticipating this fourth book. It follows Jake's (or Yasha's) brother Daniel who at the end of the previous book had arrived in St Nacho's and announced that he was gay and divorcing his wife. Then both he and Jake are involved in an accident where Daniel's hand is crushed. As this book starts the story is a few months on from that accident. Daniel's hand is recovering but he doesn't have a lot of movement - something he finds a mix of annoying and slightly revolting; his divorce has nearly gone through with only the legal wrangling to take care of and Daniel is enjoying his life as an 'out and proud' gay man by picking up numerous men for one night stands. One person who doesn't approve of this new lifestyle or Daniel's selfish actions is fireman Cam, who treats Daniel with disdain. Underneath that there's a simmering attraction between them and it takes the actions of St Nacho's own 'Witches of Eastwick' to push the two together.

Like all the St Nacho's books this one is written in the first person, in this case from Daniel's point of view. What was interesting about this was that Daniel is completely honest with the reader. He's one of these guys who is so self-assured that he knows himself inside and out, warts and all, and isn't afraid to show the reader what an unpleasant guy he can be. In many ways that's all in the past, as he tries to turn over a new leaf, put his scheming and deceitful ways behind him and try for a life of total honesty. The reader is privy to these thoughts and we see how Daniel tries really hard to take on the new mantle of 'good guy'. Unfortunately for Daniel, no one else seems to want to believe him, so he spends a good deal of this book trying to convince everyone that he's a new man. I found this a little frustrating when I knew Daniel was trying hard and everyone else was slapping him down. Unfortunately, there something about Daniel that didn't gel for me. Despite the honesty, I didn't like him much as a person and didn't 'get' him as well as I did the other heroes from this series. This left me feeling a little distanced from Daniel as a character - but may not be the case with all readers.

I did like Cam, but really, what's not to like? He's incredibly sexy, fit and hunky. Plus he's a fireman. He's also kind, considerate, takes his job very much to heart, loves horses and a champion of environmental issues. He's able to talk coherently about his feelings in a way that would make many men run to hide in the garden shed or garage - which is also the case for Daniel too. Let's face it, Cam was pretty much perfect, except when it came to Daniel when he turns into this surly, distrusting and judgemental person. If I had a potential lover who was so brutal in pointing out my faults I don't think I would have stuck around like Daniel does, but they seem to click as a couple and Daniel uses Cam's harsh treatment as a way to measure himself, meaning that Daniel changes as the story progresses. In fact, it was that change which I liked most about the story, despite feeling a little disconnected to Daniel. His total honesty and refusal to break promises lead to hard consequences, but Daniel is a better character as a result.

One thing I did like about the story and which made me smile was the way that the author uses the town of St Nacho's. In previous books the town has almost been a character to itself, but in this book that's turned on its head. Daniel really hates St Nacho's, finds it claustrophobic and insular. Instead of seeing the beauty of the place, it's welcoming people and comforting atmosphere, Daniel can't wait to get out, and most of the scenes where Daniel feels comfortable take place outside the town. It was interesting to see this view, which has been so opposite to other characters in the series, and indeed Cam. It's a stumbling block in the romance, but I felt that the way it worked out was realistically done.

Those readers who have loved this series so far are going to like this book too. Many of the characters from the previous books appear again, especially Yasha, JT and the ladies from the bakery. If you haven't read the previous books then this could be read as a standalone but I would recommend you read book 3, Jacob's Ladder, to really get a feel for how Daniel arrived in St Nacho's. Overall, I liked this book even if I didn't connect too well with Daniel. The same great writing, characters, description, and above all real heart that I've come to expect from Z.A. Maxfield's writing is in this book too and I would recommend it as a darned good read.(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Petra rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was pretty disappointed in this story as all the characters changed into people I didn't like apart from Dan and Jordan (what little we saw of him).
The theme through the previous three books was that I liked all the characters, especially once and after they got their own book. I mean even Jordan was redeemed. However, in this story I hated all the characters I had previously liked especially Jake and every single female character. they came across as judgemental and self-righteous. Cam had se...more

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Sep 19, 2011 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: firefighters, romance, m-m, series

Okay- gotta say that this is my favorite book in the series. One of my favorite aspects of this series is that it continually introduces new characters to the sleepy town of St. Nacho's but also keeps bringing back our old favorites as well. This book definitely does that and more. I was a little let down by the last book because of how I felt it ended abruptly before we know what was going to happen with JT and Jacob. But I was right in my hope that this book would tie up those loose ends and i...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Sania rated it 3 of 5 stars

I expected too much after i read Yasha and JT's book so i guess im a bit disappointed by how this one went. Dan's parts in JT's book were my favorite parts so i just kept looking out for when this book is released. I can't say i did not enjoy Dan and Cam but things really did not go as i expected and the pieces did not fall together as perfectly as they did when they first met in the previous book. Bree's parts and his dad's part where what brought meaning to this story when i would have expecte...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Brainorgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

I liked it - The love story was not particularly exciting - it was a foregone conclusion, it seems. I liked Cam, and I liked how helplessly in love with him Daniel was. Daniel's poor arm reminded me of Dick Francis's protagonist Sid Halley, with his very similar arm injury. But mostly, it's Daniel going through his transformation (which he has to do in order for upright Cam to accept him).

As always, well written, copyedited (only one usage error I could see, sooth instead of soothe for those of...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Liade rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

Great book, for me on a par with SN 1. Complex characters, both main and subsidiary. I was a little surprised about the very early "you are mine"'s and the "you make me happy"'s, but despite this life for Dan and Cam is by no means 100% straightforward. I loved that there were lots of little hitches/misunderstandings and there were dealt with one at a time. Even the foreseeable Big Crunch, though it took Four Months of Cam-and-Daniel apartness (ZAM likes to keep her protags away from each other!...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Gianthogweed rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, series, contemporary-m-m, novel-novella

My problems with this book:

- I don't get the reason for Dan's change from "I'm a free man and a slut" to "I'm the biggest Cam's fangirl. I luuuuve him sooooo much".
- Contrary to what we are told, Cameron Rooney is not Jesus Christ, nor a good man. He's a judgmental shit. I can't stand him and I rated this novel with one star instead of two because of him-- No wait, also because of Jake.
- As for Dan I don't understand, whose puppy did he kick to have to endure all that shit by the people of St....more

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Nov 26, 2011 Celine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, e-book, effing-amazing

By far the best of the series. I like Daniel, the way he thinks, his verbal diarrhoea. I love his clumsiness and his good intentions.
He's trying so hard to do the right thing and it's not always easy, he's often misunderstood... or he's rushing things and he fucks up. so human, so recognisable, you just gotta freaking love this book.

ZA Maxfields writing really appeals to me. Her way of putting emotion to words, razor sharp and spot on. She throws in a few old-skool sci-fi references...i guess w...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Tam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

This is Daniel's story. He is Jake's brother who is in the process of divorcing and exploring his new gayness to the fullest. He is also dealing with his injured arm that was crushed in the car accident in the last book. Cam is the fire fighter that saved him and is friends with Jake and JT, however Cam and Daniel seem to rub each other the wrong way, even though Daniel finds him hot, he's not interested in staying in St. Nachos or having a relationship. He's on the gay buffet. However he can't...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-read, z-2012

This was probably my favourite book from the whole series and that was largely down to Daniel. He was at a low point of his life - in the middle of a divorce and recovering from the car accident that damaged his hand - and he was starting to face up to his behaviour and the way he had chosen to live his life up to this point. Cam seemed like a nice guy but he just seemed to want Daniel to change all the time and didn't seem to have a lot of faith in their relationship. Part of it was understanda...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Aurora Alexander rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved Cam and Daniel. Three things kept me from giving this book 5 stars: 1) Too many mentions of Cooper playing, but only one (I think) of Cooper and Shawn. 2) Too much time spent on Jake and JT. 3) This line... "as long as those keen eyes kept their promise to take whatever he wanted from me -- I would let him suffocate me under the spray and die happily". Why is this a problem? Because it's too close to this line from St. Nacho's..."I gave him complete control, and he could have cut off my...more

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Quotes from The Book Of Daniel

“I grew up on a working ranch, and there was way too much to do.”

“You what? A working ranch? Like…a cowboy?”

Cam rolled his eyes. “I guess.”

“You’re a cowboy and a fireman?”

“Yes, Daniel,” Cam said dryly. “It’s almost as if I am half of the Village People, all rolled into one.” — 10 people liked it

“Whoever had covered our sidewalk with seals and signs apparently had an ax to grind, but I wasn’t worried. Whatever they wanted, I wasn’t about to let it get to me.

Nothing could feel quite so benign as a warm spring day in St. Nacho’s.

So… For some unknown—and probably unknowable—reason, the Witches of Westwick were trying to freak me out. I blew out a long, thin stream of smoke and grinned.

Cool. - Daniel Livingston” — 4 people liked it

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The Book Of Daniel (St. Nacho's #4)

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