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A to Z (Coda Books #2)

by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Author)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 1,812 ratings · 168 reviews

Zach Mitchell is stuck in a rut. His college boyfriend left him ten years ago, but Zach still lives in the same apartment, drives the same car, and feeds his ex-boyfriend's ungrateful cat. His Denver business, A to Z Video Rental, is struggling. He has annoying customers, eccentric neighbors, and an unfulfilling romance with his landlord, Tom. A combat boot-wearing punk wi...more

Paperback, 236 pages

Published March 5th 2010 by Dreamspinner Press (first published March 4th 2010)

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Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton

Best M/M Romance Published in 2010

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May 23, 2010 Eyre rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, gay-glbt-mm-mmf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 06, 2011 Sath rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, romance, reviewed

Zach owns and runs A to Z video rentals (hence the title). He started working there 10 years ago, for a lack of other options. Now he runs the place, but he still knows about as much about movies as he did before he started. Zach knows nothing about customer service.. or about movies. Zach doesn't even like movies. When the shop gets a new landlord, Zach thinks his luck has changed; Tom is goodlooking and suave, and he even won't put the rent up if Zach goes on a date with him... great prospects...more Zach owns and runs A to Z video rentals (hence the title). He started working there 10 years ago, for a lack of other options. Now he runs the place, but he still knows about as much about movies as he did before he started. Zach knows nothing about customer service.. or about movies. Zach doesn't even like movies. When the shop gets a new landlord, Zach thinks his luck has changed; Tom is goodlooking and suave, and he even won't put the rent up if Zach goes on a date with him... great prospects there.

Then Angelo turns up the store, he's a younger guy, with a punky dress sense, and a bit of a standoffish attitude (due to his childhood experience). Angelo gives Zach a bit of advice on how to actually run a video store, and quickly gets himself hired, and the two start off a very close friendship. Angelo seems to be desiring a bit more than that, but won't let himself go through with it, because of his waryness of romantic relationships. And Zach is just a bit too blind to see anything.

The connection to the previous 'Coda' book is when the two meet Jared and Matt from the previous book at a folk music festival, and the 4 become friends.

The book is written with a dual perspective in first person, ie a few paragraphs from Zach's perspective, then a switch to Angelo's perspective. Sometimes this can be a tricky system to use, and I didn't like it much in this book, the re-running of scenes from a diferent perspective can be just a bit boring, and Angelo's parts started off seeming a little bit forced and insincere at first. But that is probably the only thing that put me off the book..

Overall I thought it was pretty good, (although not as good as book 1), yet again it was another longer term romance, which I liked, it's good to see genuine affection forming without the insta-love trick that so many authors use. I didn't like Zach and Angelo quite as much as I liked Matt and Jared tho, but I guess I can't expect every character to live up to my expectations ;)

See my other reviews of the Coda Books series:
← #1 Promises | #3 The Letter Z →(less)

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Aug 03, 2010 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, m-m, romance-contemporary, featured

Zach Mitchell has been in a rut for the last 10 years. He stills lives in the apartment he shared with his ex. hH still has the cast his ex left behind. He now owns the video store where he got the job to hold him over until he got a real job. He's still single. Then he meets Mr. Perfect and he's a douche bag. But he did become friends with one of his customers, Angelo Green.

I like it. I like the characters and I loved the dual first person narration! Mostly because my biggest dislike (usually)...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

A to Z is called a Promises spin-off which is one of the selling factors for me. Having adored Promises, I was really excited to read the laid back romantic style of the author once again. This offering does evoke some of the highlights of the previous book but ultimately fails to live up to the same excellence due to the writing style. The alternating first person point of view is jarring and uncomfortable to read, which constantly draws the reader out of the experience. Although the c...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: everyone-loves-it-but-me, friends-to-lovers, m-m-romance, wtf-did-i-just-read, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 10, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by: Kathleen

Shelves: rainbow-gay, glbt, contemporary, romance

I really liked the story and the way it was written. There are two points of view: Zach's and Angelo's. They have two distinct voices: Zach's is more refined, like Zach himself is, cute and tidy, written in a classical third person, simple past; Angelo's is rougher, like Angelo is, very direct and colloquial, written in a raw first person, present tense. This helps give the characters their uniqueness.

Zach is cute and clueless. At the beginning it seems that Angelo is the strong one and Zach is...more I really liked the story and the way it was written. There are two points of view: Zach's and Angelo's. They have two distinct voices: Zach's is more refined, like Zach himself is, cute and tidy, written in a classical third person, simple past; Angelo's is rougher, like Angelo is, very direct and colloquial, written in a raw first person, present tense. This helps give the characters their uniqueness.

Zach is cute and clueless. At the beginning it seems that Angelo is the strong one and Zach is more passive. Zach is older than Angelo (7 years older, if I'm correct) and he is at a point of his life where he feels he has nothing more to give and nothing more to expect. He is in a sort of relationship with Tom, who's simply using him as a sex buddy and treats him very badly, so badly you have to wonder if Zach is stupid or what.

When Angelo enters Zach's life, things begin to change for the better and slowly Angelo becomes everything to Zach: his best employee and his best friend. Zach breaks his relationship with Tom and as a consequence he faces the risk of losing his business. The book is not divided into parts, but when they move to Coda in order to start their new business, everything changes. Zach realizes that Angelo has been in love with him for a while and he embraces his love for the younger man. And here Angelo's problems begin (and what's for me the second part of the book).

Angelo has been abandoned by his mother when he was a little kid, he's grown up in foster homes, he's dropped out of school and he's been living trying to be as independent from anyone else as possible. Zach slowly makes a breach through his defenses. I had a problem with Angelo, even if I loved him to pieces, and that's the reason why I can't give 5 stars: he's 27 but he sounds like a teenager and I don't know if it's because he can't express his feelings or because he is a bit immature. I think that if someone is not used to love and being loved freely, the generosity of the feeling can be overwhelming. There's maybe some kind of selfishness on Angelo's part, but it's probably because of the shields he has to wear to protect himself. I don't know.

I really liked getting in touch again with Matt and Jared. I really loved the paragraph where Angelo talked about the different kinds of love they were giving each other, looking at Matt and Jared's relationship from the outside.

It was fascinating that Zach makes love to Angelo with extreme care and tenderness, while Angelo shows urgency and possessiveness. I think it's the trait of someone who has never had a thing and he finally has something, someone who's not used to having something for themselves. Am I writing an essay about Angelo? He's such a complex character.

The story line with Angelo's mother left me cold. I understand Angelo's reaction, but I can't understand the behavior of his mom, she abandoned him and then she came back so judgmental? I don't understand the point of making her act that way.

I enjoyed this book very much, it moved me and I felt involved in the life of its characters, maybe because they're flawed and hurt and they're looking for a chance and deserve to be, if not happy, at least happier.(less)

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Aug 22, 2010 Nichole (Dirty H) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, 2010, m-m-faves, books-i-own

I think I'm among the minority who actually liked this better than Promises. I know a lot of people were turned off by the dual first person narrative. I personally don't see how she could have written it any other way. First person is so much more intimate than third, and this was the kind of story where the characters' thoughts and feelings and experiences were more important than anything else. It would have lost so much of its impact if all or part of it had been in third person.
And Angelo's...more

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Mar 13, 2010 thelastaerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is kind of a sequel to Sexton's "Promises", but it has two different main characters. Matt and Jared from "Promises" are supporting characters who only appear half way through the story.

It's quite interesting that in both Marie Sexton's stories, she has a character who's stuck in a comfortable rut that's too easy and safe for their own good. Zach is similar to Jared in "Promises", he doesn't have a career drive, he's content to just run a video store which he doesn't care much and it's not...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Kris (KindleRomance) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, lendable-nook

I really enjoyed this story. I loved Zach and Angelo, even with all of their issues and baggage. I thought they were very engaging characters. I always enjoyed getting into Angelo's head. I liked the way the author would tell the story from one person's POV for a few pages, and then switch to the other person's. You could really get in their head. I also loved that we got to visit with Jared and Matt again. I feel like this series is one long saga with the different characters popping into each...more

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Jan 29, 2011 orannia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

This book was lovely. I was so worried about reading it because it wasn't about Matt & Jared, who I fell in love with in Promises. But then I met Angelo. It's always scary when you realize how like a character you are...it makes the book more intense and sometimes harder to read. But it's so worth it.

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Mar 05, 2013 Kukko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-gang-bang-chosen, 1-app-nook-borrowed, 2013-fave, a-contemporary, a-romance, character-business-owner, sex-mix-m-m, z-2013

I fell in love with the two MCs - Zach and Angelo. They complemented each other so well.

Zach is muddling through life without any ambition, he owns a failing video store… but he hates movies, is disorganized and lousy at customer service. Ang works two jobs, visits the video store every day, and is obsessed with movies. When Zach offers Ang a job, Ang not only transforms the video store (he is organized and is great at customer service), he also ends up changing both their lives for the better....more

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Jun 02, 2011 Bee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trigger-for-pet-peeves, m-m, romance, kindle, passion-erotica, psychic-or-clairvoyant

Zach owns a video store, but he hates movies and knows nothing about them. His customers think he's intentionally trying to piss them off when he puts their favorite romcom movies among the horror flicks, or when the guy who always rents the same movie (completely illogical btw) has to search for it in a new place every time...but in reality Zach is just that clueless. He's pretty clueless when it comes to guys as well, Angelo, one of his regular customers has tried to flirt with him for three w...more Zach owns a video store, but he hates movies and knows nothing about them. His customers think he's intentionally trying to piss them off when he puts their favorite romcom movies among the horror flicks, or when the guy who always rents the same movie (completely illogical btw) has to search for it in a new place every time...but in reality Zach is just that clueless. He's pretty clueless when it comes to guys as well, Angelo, one of his regular customers has tried to flirt with him for three weeks without him noticing. Angelo thinks that maybe it's just that Zach is straight, but when new landlord Tom asks Zach out right in front of him he realizes that Zach is just oblivious to the world around him. Eventually Angelo ends up working for Zach (Angelo is a movie buff so how can he resist the offer?) and they become friends. Angelo is grateful that Zach never picked up on his flirting, for if one thing is certain it is that Angelo doesn't do relationships. It's just too bad the mere thought of Tom and Zach together is making him insanely jealous...!

What can I say? Some books just get on your nerves even though they are kind of good. This was one of those books! I am allergic to Angelo's chapters because of the way he talks; merely thinkin' 'bout how he's chattin' in his chapters is makin' me cringe! It seriously itches everywhere when I read all those dropped consonants in writing, there are occasionally other things in his language that makes me rabid as well...and even worse is that it's so inconsistent. The words you'd think he'd shorten he doesn't and all the other words he does...just...NO!

Other little things that annoyed me were small illogic details in the story...like, what are the odds of the Video store being called "A to Z" even before Zach buys it and that he then he meets a guy named Angelo... there were more things, but I can't seem to recall them now. There were also some grammar/spelling errors too that I could have done without (i.e. you're when it should have been your). Ugh!

I sort of liked the story (view spoiler) but I was having a hard time focusing on the story because of all the little things that annoyed me to no end.

Maybe it's just me though, pretty good story so for someone less prickly than me I'm sure it's an enjoyable read!
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Feb 21, 2011 Cryselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, dreamspinner

Seeing both sides of the story as Angelo and Zach find their ways past old trauma, current ennui, and the general difficulties of staying in business and forming a couple worked well here -- the absolutely Rashomon quality made for some really intense reactions from me. The voices were absolutely distinct, their perceptions totally opposite.

Angelo was my favorite, he's a lot more self-aware, a lot smarter, and when he's working against his own best interests, he can acknowledge that and try to d...more Seeing both sides of the story as Angelo and Zach find their ways past old trauma, current ennui, and the general difficulties of staying in business and forming a couple worked well here -- the absolutely Rashomon quality made for some really intense reactions from me. The voices were absolutely distinct, their perceptions totally opposite.

Angelo was my favorite, he's a lot more self-aware, a lot smarter, and when he's working against his own best interests, he can acknowledge that and try to do something different. Most of his life he's been on the outside looking in on love, and when he might be welcomed in -- he knows where his panic is coming from. The descriptions of his fears as the little bird that flutters in his chest gives the fear a name and a way to let go of it.

A good hard smack upside the head was long overdue for Zach -- he's been sleepwalking through his life. He messed up his early love with his selfishness, he's drifted into a business he doesn't understand or care about, and how he's stayed open all these years is a miracle, and he's oblivious to what's going on around him. I was looking around for a two by four to give him that smack!

Teaming up with Angelo probably kept Zach from wandering into the side of a bus out of sheer inattention! The beauty of it that while Zach gradually becomes a thinking, considerate person, Angelo never pushes him, but lets Zach find out for himself, except where Angelo has to say something to defend his own heart.

Very nice cast of supporting characters; Zach's ex-lover needs a kick for abandoning the cat. The story arc regarding Angelo's mother was believable and the author gets cookies for not going for anything too huge. The setting was another plus for me -- Arvada is two suburbs over from me and I kept thinking of where the store is actually located, so a kind of local fun there, same with the festival in Lyons. Using the festival to let the characters intersect with Jared and Matt was a nice touch -- they could go back for Mabon.

This story engaged me deeply, you can tell if I'm starting to think up things for the characters' future -- my one big problem was wondering how Zach managed to survive before Angelo came along and dialed his brain back on.
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Sep 06, 2010 Adara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Angelo is one of my favorite quirky characters, and I love him to death for using one of my all-time favorite lines from my all-time favorite movie (Real Genius)!

Zach doesn't quite know what to do with himself around Angelo. Walking on eggshells is an understatement, because Angelo has several issues that Zach has to figure out how and when to handle to keep Angelo from bolting, and a few issues of his own. Once Zach figures it out, it's works for them.

This story is loosely related to Promises i...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica

Zach, is the owner of A to Z video rental. He feels like his life has been floating aimlessly. He is 34-years-old, he is lonely, he has no idea about the movies that he rents. Then he meets his new landlord, Tom. Zach is immediately attracted to him -- even if after awhile, his heart telling him that Tom only uses him for sex. That is when one of his customers, Angelo, walks into his life, and changes it completely.

I loved "Promises" so much, I immediately jumped into this story after I finish....more

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Apr 14, 2010 Ralph rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance

Zach Mitchell has been running A to Z video store for years. It's not exactly his dream job, but it's the only job he knows. When his new landlord Tom pays him a visit, he feels an attraction towards the man. But the only person who can see how bad Tom is, is Zach's new employee - Angelo Green.

The plot of this novel differed from most romance novels. In most romances, we only get the story of the two main characters falling in love - often at first sight. This novel doesn't have the two characte...more Zach Mitchell has been running A to Z video store for years. It's not exactly his dream job, but it's the only job he knows. When his new landlord Tom pays him a visit, he feels an attraction towards the man. But the only person who can see how bad Tom is, is Zach's new employee - Angelo Green.

The plot of this novel differed from most romance novels. In most romances, we only get the story of the two main characters falling in love - often at first sight. This novel doesn't have the two characters fall in love instantly - rather, Zach is attracted to another man way before him and Angelo even really meet. It's refreshing to see Zach and Angelo's relationship evolve from that of friends and coworkers to a full fledged relationship, with all the bumps and pot holes in between.

I also enjoyed how Angelo wasn't the perfect lover. He came with a past and many problems along with it. Their relationship isn't happy-go-lucky and the two actually have to work to keep is going, much like a real relationship. The way Sexton describe Angelo and had him speak and act got on my nerves. She says in the novel that he's 27, however during the reading he felt more like he was 16. He had immature traits like a teenager, and certainly spoke and reacted like one.

I took a few points off my rating because of the shifting POV and tenses. I absolutely hated reading from Angelo's perspective. Normally I enjoy getting both sides of the story, but this time it got on my nerves. Angelo's POV was set in present tense, rather than past tense like Zach's was. The sentences were also choppy and made me feel like I was talking with a sixteen-year-old who was trying to act tough. The shifting narrative really kicked me out of the book. Zach's POV is easily flowing and had me absorbed in the novel, but when Angelo's came along it kicked me back out.

Overall I still enjoyed this book. If you've read Sexton's preview novel, Promises, you'll most likely enjoy this one too. As a bonus for fans, Jared and Matt from Promises appear in the novel for a little while. I would definitely recommend this novel to romance lovers, especially ones looking for a change from the normal formula romances. I'm certainly glad I took the time to read this one.

** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.

You can read more of my reviews at The Dancing Dove.
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Apr 02, 2010 Elisa Ramblings is currently reading it

A to Z, the title of the book, has different meanings. It’s the name of the video rental shop Zach owns in Arvada, Colorado, a place that, more or less, stays in the middle between a little town and a medium size city. There is still the chance for a small shop like A to Z video rental to survive, it’s still possible for Zach to live with few, but it’s not for sure the place for having a successful life. And in fact, Zach came to Arvada with his former boyfriend soon after college, and when the...more A to Z, the title of the book, has different meanings. It’s the name of the video rental shop Zach owns in Arvada, Colorado, a place that, more or less, stays in the middle between a little town and a medium size city. There is still the chance for a small shop like A to Z video rental to survive, it’s still possible for Zach to live with few, but it’s not for sure the place for having a successful life. And in fact, Zach came to Arvada with his former boyfriend soon after college, and when the boyfriend left him to, maybe, find that success somewhere else, Zach instead was stuck in the place by his lack of initiative. Zach is not a bad guy but he is not a leader; he is not even aware of his good side, he is handsome and nice, and instead he considers himself “average”. Zach is someone who needs a shock to realize things, or at least for someone to tell him with simple and clear words how the things are. Now don’t get me wrong, Zach is not dumb, but he is a little bit clueless.

A to Z is also the way the author decided to set the pace of the novel: the first point of view shift from Z (Zach) to A (Angelo) and way back. Angelo is the slightly younger man who comes to work for Zach at the same moment when Zach is starting a relationship with Tom. Actually Angelo was trying to find a way to make Zach take notice of him, but as I said, Zach is not good in subtle games, and Tom instead went directly to the first base. Angelo becomes so not only Zach’s employee, but also his friend, being there to comfort him when Tom unveils to be the wrong man. It’s strange, both for Zach than Angelo it’s a first point of view, but when it’s Angelo’s time to speak, the words come to the reader in a sharper way, raw, like Angelo’s soul is bared to the reader and instead Zach is more subdued. This is right for the characters, Angelo is a foster kid, he has always had to take care of himself, he was wounded and scared, but he managed to survive; Zach instead was always sheltered by his parents, his boyfriend, even by his former employer, who upon retiring left his shop to Zach. Zach has more or less never fought for something and instead Angelo has always fought for everything.

A to Z is also the process Angelo and Zach took in their relationship: first Zach had to come to the realization that it was not Tom the right man for him but Angelo, and so Zach had to move towards Angelo and a relationship with him, and then Angelo had to understand that a relationship is something that can last, that being abandoned as a kid doesn’t mean that he will be always abandoned now, and so Angelo has to move towards Zach and a live together.

Where Promises, the previous book by Marie Sexton was good, above all for who is interested in a Gay for You themed novel, A to Z is for sure on a higher level. It’s still a very moving novel, founded almost all on two characters and their relationship, and it has a simple and quite feeling, like an homemade cake, it’s a comfort read, and for me this is a great compliment, not at all a complaint.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615814140/?...(less)

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Aug 18, 2010 ElaineY rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, mm

Zach and Angelo's book didn't even come close to Jared/Matt's or Jonathan/Cole's. At least now I know why Zach came home one day to find Jonathan had left him. Not that Jonathan himself is a firecracker but at least he had enough in him to be a good match for Cole in the end. Though, you know what? I'd have chosen Matt, da big, angry, jealous, possessive cop, for Cole. I'd likely have indigestion reading that particular story but I digress...

Zach just didn't cause so much as a blip in my romance...more

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Apr 18, 2010 Luvflix rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary

I ended up really liking Marie's way of changing between Zach and Angelo's differing points of view, worked well with the changing chapters. The relationship between the two developed nicely from start to finish, although I felt the love scenes a little rushed (especially when compared to her previous book Promises ). I now want to go back and read all of Ruby's 'visions' and see how and when they came true! Zach's first 'boyfriend' in the story was written so well, you just loved to hate him, a...more

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Aug 08, 2010 MandyM rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, kindle-lendables

This book has received many excellent reviews and deservedly so. Some comments have been made regarding the alternating first person narrative and Angelo's voice or accent. I'd like to say that the first person style didn't put me off at all. Both characters were so likeable that I wanted to know what they were thinking. We the readers knew they were in love long before they did and that really drew me in. I had to know when and how they would find out! I liked the fact that Zach's and Angelo's...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Sas rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

Fave Quote: '"Four fags watchin' football. Must be pretty fuckin' cold in hell right now.'"

- Storyline - 6/10
- Hero (Zach) - 6/10
- Hero (Angelo) - 5/10
- Chemistry - 5/10
- Steaminess - 6/10
- Sweetness - 4/10
- Secondary Characters - 9/10
- Setting - 6/10
- Details/Quirks - 4/10
- Banter/Humor - 5/10
- Ending - 5/10
- Ridiculousness - 6/10
- Annoying the shit out of me factor - 3/10
- This book described in one word/phrase - Disappointing

Yeah, so even though I wasn't a massive fan of 'Promises', 'A to Z'...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Gaylistbookreviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Video store owner Zach is oblivious to things that would make us cringe. For instance, his creepy boyfriend Tom, who I took an instant dislike to. He’s a manipulative asshole who reminds me of a former man in my life, except my ex was far more subtle about it.

Tom’s disagreeableness was so blatant, I’m surprised blinking neon signs were hanging around his neck like one of my boas, yet Zach was under his thrall for much of the book, making me question his intelligence. Really, Zach? He shows up la...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Kavisha rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars!
I found it very difficult to rate this book. Parts of the book I absolutely loved and thought were 5 star worthy but others were so bad that I hated it. I guess I did like the book overall, but nowhere near as much as I liked Promises. I did like the two main characters. There personalities were both very interesting and the story was sweet. I think the characters need to grow more into their relationship and find that the book ended with more of a HFN than a HEA, which is another reas...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Borderstar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, m-m-romance

I really enjoyed this story and it was great to see some more of Matt & Jared too. However, I couldn't give 5 stars as I felt none of the secondary characters were developed very well and Tom was a very 2D character.

I loved the first book in this series too and instantly liked Jared. I liked the fact that Zach & Angelo are not just replicas of Jared & Matt but in a different story, they had their own personalities, and ways of acting, speaking & thinking etc.

The first book in thi...more

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May 26, 2012 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, friends-to-lovers, humorous, kindle, m-m, own, read-2012

I enjoyed the way this book was written in alternating chapters from each character's point-of-view. Sexton gave each one, Angelo and Zach, very different "voices" by changing not only the speech patterns (Angelo tended to drop letters from his words and talk in a more streetwise vernacular), but also by having Zach's sections written in 1st person past tense and Angelo's written in 1st person present tense.

After this book, and a few others lately, I'm going to have to say that while 1st person...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

A to Z is the story to two guys that are a little lost. They are totally different in background and personality but yet so perfect for each other. Zach has basically been stumbling through life waiting for something great to fall in his lap. That hasn't worked out for him very well. He's at a pretty low point in his life.

Angelo was abandoned by his mother as a young child and bounced around in foster care for a while. He eventually ran away and has been on his own since then. He doesn't have r...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Tam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Zach kind of drifted into owning a video store, but he's really not much of one for movies. Angelo is kind of punky and comes into rent and gives Zach a hard time about his "system". Eventually Zach asks him to work for him and they start to become friends. There is a whole issue of Zach's new landlord who seems to think lower rent = butt secks that makes Angelo crazy as he falls in love with Zach. They go to a folk festival and meet up with Jared and Matt (from Promises) who convince Zach that...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary-romance

I was up to page 61 before I realized 'A to Z Video'... Angelo to Zach! I get it! Yay!

OK, I just loved these guys. When Zach is first describing himself in the first chapter I thought, "how are we possibly gonna like this guy?!" But he's not that same person, and we really get to know him and see him come out of his shell with Angelo's entrance. I loved seeing Zach through Angelo's eyes. I thought Zach put up with Tom a little longer than was realistic but, it was a good set up. Things were surp...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Lenore rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, pub-dreamspinner, ugh-present-tense, 2012, friends-to-lovers, fluffy-mcflufferson, major-roll-eye-moments, meh, reviewed-by-yours-truly

2.5 stars.

*This review contains mild spoilers*

I know many of my friends liked this book, but I didn't enjoy it much. One of my problems was the alternating first person POV (simple past for Zach and present tense for Angelo). It drove me nuts.

Another problem was the characters and the chemistry between them. I didn't particularly like Zach. He was kind of doormat-ey; first with Tom (seems like Ms Sexton likes to have at least one despicable caricature/character in her books. It was Matt's fath...more 2.5 stars.

*This review contains mild spoilers*

I know many of my friends liked this book, but I didn't enjoy it much. One of my problems was the alternating first person POV (simple past for Zach and present tense for Angelo). It drove me nuts.

Another problem was the characters and the chemistry between them. I didn't particularly like Zach. He was kind of doormat-ey; first with Tom (seems like Ms Sexton likes to have at least one despicable caricature/character in her books. It was Matt's father in Promises) and then with Angelo ("anything you want, Ang," "anything you like, angel," "whatever you prefer, Angelo.") You get the picture. I didn't like Angelo, either. His hang-ups were so major and his behaviour so childish, I couldn't warm up to him at all. And maybe that's why I couldn't feel any connection between them. They both needed each other, each for his own reasons, but other than that, they didn't come across as crazy about each other as the second part of the book wanted me to believe.

I didn't get why Angelo's mother had to make an appearance, either. She didn't help advance the plot of the story at all. Angelo had so many issues to resolve both about himself and in his relationship with Zach, he didn't need the added stress of his mother reappearing and wanting to play "mom" after being AWOL for twenty years. Plus, that scene in Angelo's flat when she first knocked on his door? Caught myself wondering where Jerry Springer was.

There were various typos and grammar/syntax issues. Call me nitpicky, but nothing grates on the nerves of my inner editor more than the use of "you're" instead of "your" and vice versa.

So, like I said, I can't say I enjoyed this very much. But I wasn't bored out of my mind while reading it and I liked the movie references (-Ed Wood? -Ed who? -Ed Wood, with Johnny Depp. - Is that the one where he cuts hair? - You talkin' 'bout Edward Scissorhands or Sweeney Todd? - I thought we were talking about Johnny Depp) plus it was nice seeing Matt and Jared from Promises again. And that's just about it. Hence the 2.5 stars.

(less)

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Apr 04, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

I liked this one..where Promises (book one) I would give a B+, this one is probably a B. This one isn't as intense - it just didn't deliver as much of an emotional read as Promises did..but I still really liked it.

I actually love that their story felt different from Promises. It wasn't the same retelling over again. Angelo is a different kind of guy and I liked him paired up with Zach. Their love story is quite simple really.

Really enjoying Marie Sexton's voice..onto the next.

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About Marie Sexton

Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

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Quotes from A to Z

“First, you don't have to be smart to read books. Lots of idiots read books. Trust me, the ability to read does not necessarily mean the ability to think.” — 5 people liked it

“Hey, Angelo?"
"What?"
"You wanna hang out some time?"
"You Think I got nothin' better to do?"
"It was just a thought, never mind."
"Yeah"
"Yeah, what?"
"Yeah I wanna hang out some time, see you tomorrow Zach” — 4 people liked it

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A to Z (Coda Books #2)

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