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37th out of 72 books
—
66 voters
Hopes and Fears (Naughty or Nice)
by
Rowan Speedwell (Goodreads Author)
This title is part of the 2010 Advent Calendar: Naughty or Nice
Brian McCarthy is a cynic who hates Christmas, doesn't keep in touch with his family, and likes quick hookups and faster goodbyes. The only real relationship he's ever been in was with the subject of his best-selling book, "Caged," a young man held hostage for five years. Unfortunately, it was entirely one-side...more
Brian McCarthy is a cynic who hates Christmas, doesn't keep in touch with his family, and likes quick hookups and faster goodbyes. The only real relationship he's ever been in was with the subject of his best-selling book, "Caged," a young man held hostage for five years. Unfortunately, it was entirely one-side...more
ebook, 64 pages
Published
December 1st 2010
by Dreamspinner Press
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What a solid piece of writing this was. So much in so few pages. I devoured every word and was thoroughly satisfied at the end of this simple but substantial literary meal.
To be honest, I don't have much recollection of Finding Zach beyond that I enjoyed it when I was reading it. I do recall Brian as a pesky journalist but not his being in love with Zach. Not one bit. So I might have to reread FZ at some time or another. I would have liked H & F to be a longer story but only because both Jer...more
To be honest, I don't have much recollection of Finding Zach beyond that I enjoyed it when I was reading it. I do recall Brian as a pesky journalist but not his being in love with Zach. Not one bit. So I might have to reread FZ at some time or another. I would have liked H & F to be a longer story but only because both Jer...more
2.5
I loved Finding Zach but Brian really came across as an opportunist in that book, I wasn't really a fan. Seeing him hook up with David's ex-boyfriend Jerry was a bit too 90210-ish for me. I think Jerry deserved better!
I loved Finding Zach but Brian really came across as an opportunist in that book, I wasn't really a fan. Seeing him hook up with David's ex-boyfriend Jerry was a bit too 90210-ish for me. I think Jerry deserved better!
This short is a sequel to Finding Zach, although it does not follow the MCs from that book. It isn't necessary to read the first book before this one, although it will add a bit more depth to your understaning.
I liked the story, but let me say right now that I HATED THAT STUPID COINCIDENCE NEAR THE END. I won't spoiler it here, but it was STUPID AND UNNECESSARY.
Thanks, I feel much better now. ;-)
Other than that -- this is the story of a journalist, Brian, who has retired from active journalism a...more
I liked the story, but let me say right now that I HATED THAT STUPID COINCIDENCE NEAR THE END. I won't spoiler it here, but it was STUPID AND UNNECESSARY.
Thanks, I feel much better now. ;-)
Other than that -- this is the story of a journalist, Brian, who has retired from active journalism a...more
"Hopes and Fears" is the sequel to Finding Zach, a wonderful book in its own right. "Hopes" is quite a bit shorter - I read it in about an hour - but it was a wonderful coda to the entire saga of Zach and David. Talk about wrapping things up in a sweet package! If you enjoyed "Finding Zach," you will most definitely appreciate this heart-warming story.
MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW: (view spoiler)...more
MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW: (view spoiler)...more
The summary is enough and for once I want to just jump into my opinion, okay ^_^. Rowan Speedwell's Finding Zach is one of the most emotional and best M/M books I read this year. So, when I read the summary that this book will be about Brian McCarthy, the reporter from Finding Zach, well of course I need to jump on board and read his story.
I like Brian enough the first time -- and it is such a delight to read his own story. It's like reading an update of a long-time friend. At first, Brian comes...more
I like Brian enough the first time -- and it is such a delight to read his own story. It's like reading an update of a long-time friend. At first, Brian comes...more
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Excellent story about a man who finally faces his past so he can start living in the present and build a future. Not necessarily a Christmas story either, even thought Christmas is the trigger for what happens between Brian and Jerry.
Brian, who's the journalist from Finding Zach, is lonely, desperate and not willing to do anything more than hook up. It wasn't clear to me how deep his issues were at first, but the reasons are revealed gradually and, as horrible as they were, made a lot of sense....more
Brian, who's the journalist from Finding Zach, is lonely, desperate and not willing to do anything more than hook up. It wasn't clear to me how deep his issues were at first, but the reasons are revealed gradually and, as horrible as they were, made a lot of sense....more
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Brian was bothersome in Finding Zach, but I enjoyed reading his story in Hopes and Fears. We get see another side of him. Not so confident, and a man with issues that are revealed as the story moves along at good pace. He does have a soul. What he did in Finding Zach had an affect on him and is nicely explained in brief details.
Jerry is sweet, perceptive, and so much fun. David in FZ mourned the lost of Jerry. I see why because Jerry is just a nice guy who deserve the chance for happiness. Will...more
Jerry is sweet, perceptive, and so much fun. David in FZ mourned the lost of Jerry. I see why because Jerry is just a nice guy who deserve the chance for happiness. Will...more
I didn't read the first book in the series and this book can probably be read as a stand alone. Readers will get background info on Brian (whom I will assume surfaced in the first book) and his developing relationship with Jerry, his physical therapist.
I found the book to be quite enjoyable although I was a bit annoyed about Jerry's psychological eval. of Brian in the coffee shop(or was it a cafe...I can't remember) it was nice though that he put the issue out there and tried to help Brian so t...more
I found the book to be quite enjoyable although I was a bit annoyed about Jerry's psychological eval. of Brian in the coffee shop(or was it a cafe...I can't remember) it was nice though that he put the issue out there and tried to help Brian so t...more
2012 Review:
A Christmas short. Now, I really didn’t expect it when I started reading, since it is first person narrative from a rather grinchy guy, but this ended up being heart-warming and funny. The writing was excellent and the story engaging. Despite the way it started, in essence it was all about emotions. Love too but mostly healing up. The sex wasn’t even described in more than summation. (Good choice.)
Despite being a tying up of loose ends from a full-length novel, this story was complet...more
A Christmas short. Now, I really didn’t expect it when I started reading, since it is first person narrative from a rather grinchy guy, but this ended up being heart-warming and funny. The writing was excellent and the story engaging. Despite the way it started, in essence it was all about emotions. Love too but mostly healing up. The sex wasn’t even described in more than summation. (Good choice.)
Despite being a tying up of loose ends from a full-length novel, this story was complet...more
This is a follow-up to Finding Zach which I haven't read but you don't need to. Brian is the author who wrote Zach's book, he's now teaching in Chicago and wrenched his injured knee and goes to a physio clinic. He meets Jerry and he's instantly attracted but Jerry is clear, he doesn't do hook-ups and Brian doesn't do relationships. He also hates Christmas and is more or less estranged from his family since he came out. He runs into a drunk Jerry and ends up taking him home and Jerry starts to di...more
3.5
I loved Finding Zach and had high expectations on this one.
Despite having Zach in his life, David still felt a sense of huge loss when he realized that Jerry was finally moving on. I really felt bad for Jerry after that last phone call. He deserved somebody great and wonderful. He instead found a Grinch. The book was too short for me to learn to like Brian. I'm sure getting past his issues with Jerry's help would eventually show his potential as a wonderful partner. The book ended too soon.
I loved Finding Zach and had high expectations on this one.
Despite having Zach in his life, David still felt a sense of huge loss when he realized that Jerry was finally moving on. I really felt bad for Jerry after that last phone call. He deserved somebody great and wonderful. He instead found a Grinch. The book was too short for me to learn to like Brian. I'm sure getting past his issues with Jerry's help would eventually show his potential as a wonderful partner. The book ended too soon.
I really liked "Hopes and fears", but it was so short! Not enough time to develop the story properly, everything happened in a bit of a rush. Nevertheless, it was interesting. It showed how just because somebody has bigger problems than yours doesn't make your own smaller. How sometimes you need to look behind to find the way ahead, because we can't run from the past or our fears and the only hope to outgrow them is to have the courage to admit them and face them.
This was a really cute one that allows us to see Brian, from Finding Zach, and Jerry (who was David's ex-boyfriend in FZ) get their own HEA together. It was sweet the way Jerry helps Brian work his way through the fears he has and the way he just shuts himself off when something close to a relationship can happen. I will say that Brian was never really my favorite person in FZ. I just didn't like him but I did like Jerry. So, I'm glad he was able to get Brian's head out of his ass and show him t...more
Sweet little Christmas story follow-up of Finding Zach about Brian (the journalist). I loved Brian in that book, but I also adored Jerry even before I realized who he really was. Glad they found each other and happiness although I wish it could have been a full length novel.
I you loved Finding Zach, definitely read this!
I you loved Finding Zach, definitely read this!
I loved this book and loved Brian he didn't know what he wanted or needed until Jerry came into his life and helped him see. Jerry just got him and they were perfect for each other. I know it's going to be a good one when the book can make me cry. I would have loved for it to be longer I read it too fast:-)
I really enjoyed Finding Zach, and thought this was a really fascinating take on the character of Brian, and it didn't go in a direction I would have expected. I'm even willing to forgive the unlikely coincidence of his meeting Jerry, because it seems like they would make a good pair.
This was emotionally hard plotted story. For me, Brian was hard depressed, pessimist kind of a guy. It was good he met Jerry, because otherwise he would be miserable. In general this way good, thoughtful story. This is a story which will stay in my mind for long.
This was a fabulous follow-up to Finding Zach! It was heartwarming, solid m/m romance. It's about Brian, the journalist who wrote Zach's story and about Jerry, a physical therapist who works with Brian to heal his bad knee. They do not fall into insta-love but there is attraction from the beginning and with the fact that this is a short story and is set in the holiday time frame, the author did an excellent job in setting up what will likely become a long term relationship. And the twist about J...more
I wanted more of the main characters of Finding Zach, but I could read between the lines, fortunately.
It's like - the other characters deserved their own happiness, aye.
It's like - the other characters deserved their own happiness, aye.
Yes, I really liked it :) This is an uplifting and feel-good story, even outside of Christmas season. Now I off to finally reading "Finding Zach", jep.
Part of the Dreamspinner Press Advent Series 2010; nice plot, nice smex - good story for Christmas.
4.5 stars.
to-read
Interesting and good follow-up to Finding Zach - just wish the story was longer.
The only complaint i have about this book is that its way too short otherwise i loved it. I really really wanted this to be longer it deserved to be with such great main and supporting characters. It was touching, sweet, funny, sad, heartbreaking and HOT lol. I wasnt sure about Brian in Finding Zach didnt really like him much but in this book you get to see the man behind the journalist. I didnt even figure out that Jerry was David's ex from Finding Zach.
Feb 12, 2011
Bookbee
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
e-book,
m-m,
dreamspinner,
2013_a-z_book_title_challenge,
holidays,
2013,
contemporary,
short-stories
A short story that still manages to pack an emotional punch. Brian was a difficult character to like in Finding Zach but now, a number of years later, we see a glimpse under the protective sheath that surrounds him. I liked Jerry a lot and wish that the book had been a little longer.
4.5 stars
This is a beautiful story, not quite as haunting as Finding Zach, but an excellent addition to the series.
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An unrepentant biblioholic, Rowan Speedwell spends half her time pretending to be a law librarian, half her time pretending to be a database manager, half her time pretending to be a fifteenth-century Aragonese noblewoman, half her time… wait a minute… hmm. Well, one thing she doesn't pretend to be is good at math. She is good at pretending, though.
In her copious spare time (hah) she does needlewo...more
More about Rowan Speedwell...
In her copious spare time (hah) she does needlewo...more
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