Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 120
November 6, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Take Me With You When You Go
Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven
This modern-day epistolary novel captures the terror, rage, and despair of children who face emotional and physical abuse at home. It's a compelling read, with unexpected plot twists that are organic to the action as it develops and not just sleight-of-hand. We care about Bea and her brother Ezra, and we participate in their emotions. It's a page-turner that I read at one sitting. I struggled when deciding how to score this book. It lacks verisimilitude. Ezra and Bea speak in nearly the same voices, and they are not the voices of fourteen- and eighteen-year-old people. The length of the letters and the language they use are not true-to-life. But if a book keeps you on the edge of your seat, surprises you, and delights with its language, then I cannot deny it top marks.
https://amzn.to/3EPiAmf
comments
This modern-day epistolary novel captures the terror, rage, and despair of children who face emotional and physical abuse at home. It's a compelling read, with unexpected plot twists that are organic to the action as it develops and not just sleight-of-hand. We care about Bea and her brother Ezra, and we participate in their emotions. It's a page-turner that I read at one sitting. I struggled when deciding how to score this book. It lacks verisimilitude. Ezra and Bea speak in nearly the same voices, and they are not the voices of fourteen- and eighteen-year-old people. The length of the letters and the language they use are not true-to-life. But if a book keeps you on the edge of your seat, surprises you, and delights with its language, then I cannot deny it top marks.
https://amzn.to/3EPiAmf
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: TAD
TAD by M.D. Neu
This was a wonderful story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the angel of death and the drag queen/hairstylist's lives, especially when it covers an entire life span (get tissues, you'll need them). Although it covers some very tragic events in real life, they were portrayed with care. We have TAD, the angel of death, wanting to diminish the amount of death in catastrophic events which cost him his wings and to be sent to live life on Earth as punishment. Then we have Doug, who cares so much about humanity that when he meets TAD he can't pass by without giving the smelly, dishevelled man a hand, thinking him a homeless man, which he was at the time. Bringing TAD to the salon to give him a makeover, Doug then brings him home where TAD spends years watching Doug ruin his life with alcohol and drugs. This friendship continues throughout the decades until Doug's final days. What a beautiful tale this was. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written story. This is also my first MD Neu book and I'm looking forward to reading others from this author.
https://amzn.to/3GWQuY7
comments
This was a wonderful story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the angel of death and the drag queen/hairstylist's lives, especially when it covers an entire life span (get tissues, you'll need them). Although it covers some very tragic events in real life, they were portrayed with care. We have TAD, the angel of death, wanting to diminish the amount of death in catastrophic events which cost him his wings and to be sent to live life on Earth as punishment. Then we have Doug, who cares so much about humanity that when he meets TAD he can't pass by without giving the smelly, dishevelled man a hand, thinking him a homeless man, which he was at the time. Bringing TAD to the salon to give him a makeover, Doug then brings him home where TAD spends years watching Doug ruin his life with alcohol and drugs. This friendship continues throughout the decades until Doug's final days. What a beautiful tale this was. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written story. This is also my first MD Neu book and I'm looking forward to reading others from this author.
https://amzn.to/3GWQuY7
comments
November 5, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Bent Not Broken
Bent Not Broken by Z. Allora
Stefano lives an unsatisfied life with a head filled with the voices of prejudice and hatred from his Italian/catholic family including a homophobic brother. At least his other siblings have joined another all inclusive church and accept him as he is. Riku is a man who gives subs care and comfort at the end of a scene but has never found 'The One' he'd want to spend a life with. Until he meets Stefano. While Stefano considers himself hetero, he eventually finds comfort at the hands of Riku who asked him for a trial of 6 months to be his sub. A strong friendship develops until Stefano admits his feelings for the other man are natural and true. As with every Z Allora's book I've read, this one is yet as entertaining as the others. Well written and entertaining.
https://amzn.to/3wvVHl7
comments
Stefano lives an unsatisfied life with a head filled with the voices of prejudice and hatred from his Italian/catholic family including a homophobic brother. At least his other siblings have joined another all inclusive church and accept him as he is. Riku is a man who gives subs care and comfort at the end of a scene but has never found 'The One' he'd want to spend a life with. Until he meets Stefano. While Stefano considers himself hetero, he eventually finds comfort at the hands of Riku who asked him for a trial of 6 months to be his sub. A strong friendship develops until Stefano admits his feelings for the other man are natural and true. As with every Z Allora's book I've read, this one is yet as entertaining as the others. Well written and entertaining.
https://amzn.to/3wvVHl7
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Weekend at Bigfoot’s
Weekend at Bigfoot’s by Addison Albright
Amazingly beautiful and a fun tale to read. This was quite entertaining and endearing. The writing was spot on with amicable and very much likeable characters, even the grumpy ones. I was surprised to find out who Bigfoot was. Indeed a fun story to read.
https://amzn.to/3CQ0KyP
comments
Amazingly beautiful and a fun tale to read. This was quite entertaining and endearing. The writing was spot on with amicable and very much likeable characters, even the grumpy ones. I was surprised to find out who Bigfoot was. Indeed a fun story to read.
https://amzn.to/3CQ0KyP
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Hide Your Love Away (IF I FELL #1)
Hide Your Love Away (IF I FELL #1) by Mia Kerick
Great age gap story. I enjoyed watching the two MCs relationship develop. Both have suffered their own heartaches, Cole because of the sacrifices he endured for his son, Timmy for having cold parents who ignored him most of his life. There's a conflict with another student at the university and a bit of 'catch your breath' when their relationship came to light and Cole's son was not okay with it. In the end, all was resolved. Overall, an enjoyable story.
https://amzn.to/3GVYYyD
comments
Great age gap story. I enjoyed watching the two MCs relationship develop. Both have suffered their own heartaches, Cole because of the sacrifices he endured for his son, Timmy for having cold parents who ignored him most of his life. There's a conflict with another student at the university and a bit of 'catch your breath' when their relationship came to light and Cole's son was not okay with it. In the end, all was resolved. Overall, an enjoyable story.
https://amzn.to/3GVYYyD
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Noble and the Nightingale (The Sisters of Sarras #1)
The Noble and the Nightingale (The Sisters of Sarras #1) by Barbara Ann Wright
Adella and Bridget are a delightful couple with unmistakable chemistry, and as is always the case with Wright, the world-building is superb.
https://amzn.to/3mLujMo
comments
Adella and Bridget are a delightful couple with unmistakable chemistry, and as is always the case with Wright, the world-building is superb.
https://amzn.to/3mLujMo
comments
November 4, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Fade Out (Boystown #13)
Fade Out (Boystown #13) by Marshall Thornton
I'm rating this one as a solid 40 - Best of in the Mystery . Robert B Parker couldn't have written a better PI. This was like a visit to Chicago of the 80's, speaking as someone who lived there ... and I'd like to hand this to younger gay men who really have no idea what the AIDS plague was like. I do hope Nick Nowak got his fresh start and is still around - older, having made a life for himself, and maybe even happy.
https://amzn.to/3mIM2UL
comments
I'm rating this one as a solid 40 - Best of in the Mystery . Robert B Parker couldn't have written a better PI. This was like a visit to Chicago of the 80's, speaking as someone who lived there ... and I'd like to hand this to younger gay men who really have no idea what the AIDS plague was like. I do hope Nick Nowak got his fresh start and is still around - older, having made a life for himself, and maybe even happy.
https://amzn.to/3mIM2UL
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: We Cry The Sea (The Moth and Moon)
We Cry The Sea (The Moth and Moon) by Glenn Quigley
Incredibly well written and engaging story. I couldn’t stop once I began reading it.
https://amzn.to/3CKn4Kp
comments
Incredibly well written and engaging story. I couldn’t stop once I began reading it.
https://amzn.to/3CKn4Kp
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Midnight Man
The Midnight Man by Kevin Klehr
Very good debut novel. Intriguing and thought-provoking. A+.
https://amzn.to/3q9r5V8
comments
Very good debut novel. Intriguing and thought-provoking. A+.
https://amzn.to/3q9r5V8
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Conned (The Bureau #6)
Conned (The Bureau #6) by Kim Fielding
A wonderful mystery with complicated turns and corners with a twist I wasn't expecting at the end. A nice and entertaining story to read. The characters are mostly likeable, with some being completely mysterious. I truly enjoyed how the friendship between Abe and Thomas developed, leading to their romance. The plot ran smoothly bringing the reading through an up and down an adventurous roller coaster. I've enjoyed Fielding's stories for quite some time now. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3q5o9cj
comments
A wonderful mystery with complicated turns and corners with a twist I wasn't expecting at the end. A nice and entertaining story to read. The characters are mostly likeable, with some being completely mysterious. I truly enjoyed how the friendship between Abe and Thomas developed, leading to their romance. The plot ran smoothly bringing the reading through an up and down an adventurous roller coaster. I've enjoyed Fielding's stories for quite some time now. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3q5o9cj
comments
