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Learning to Love #1
Michael & Sean
Sean and Michael are best friends from the minute they meet and become roommates. But after supporting Sean in the wake of his brother’s death, Michael finds himself questioning his sexuality and thinking about his roommate in a totally unexpected light. After all, he and Sean are straight—or so he thought. Suddenly Michael’s not so sure any more. He turns to their gay housemate, Evan, for advice. Little does he know he’s not the only one seeking Evan’s help.
Michael and Sean are both thrilled to explore their newly discovered feelings for each other, but not everyone shares their enthusiasm. When the reality of homophobia intrudes on their academic and personal lives and threatens their happiness, the adversity should draw them closer. Instead, it drives a dangerous wedge between them and puts their relationship, their futures, and their health at risk.
Michael and Sean are both thrilled to explore their newly discovered feelings for each other, but not everyone shares their enthusiasm. When the reality of homophobia intrudes on their academic and personal lives and threatens their happiness, the adversity should draw them closer. Instead, it drives a dangerous wedge between them and puts their relationship, their futures, and their health at risk.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2012
15 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Wells
162 books1,846 followersK.C. Wells lives on an island off the south coast of the UK, surrounded by natural beauty. She writes about men who love men, and can’t even contemplate a life that doesn’t include writing.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 21, 2024
2.5 Stars
I’m going to preface this review by stating that I’m a fan of K.C. Wells and the books of hers I’ve read to date. Regrettably, this particular story hit a lot of my no-no buttons, and although I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, and will share a few below, the appreciation I have towards K.C.’s writing has not changed and will not change simply because I didn’t love this one book.
This new adult story is predominantly about sexual discovery and finding first love. There is plenty of great first-time romance stuff happening here between young and inexperienced MCs Sean and Michael. The two nineteen year olds first meet as freshman housemates, who happen to hit it off immediately as fast friends. Up until this point in their lives, each boy has always assumed they were straight, that is until they begin to feel something unexpected and profound for one another.
I liked how easily Sean and Michael accepted their new feelings for one another. They embraced their sexual identities as young gay men without too much personal struggle, with anything negative that came at them being external to the relationship itself. Once they individually came to terms with their feelings, they quickly seized the day and begin a tentative new relationship together, full of first time sexual explorations that were both tender and steamy.
Seriously, the sex between these two was extremely sexy and sensual. The problem, though, was that there was way too much off it – so much so, it became a bit monotonous after a while, even as hot and steamy as it was. Although it may come as a shock to some, there really is such a thing as too much book sex, even when it’s well-written, deeply erotic book sex. I truly do believe that if half of the sex scenes were cut from this story that the plot and the pacing would have had a better flow and been noticeably more engaging.
For a good portion of this story, I enjoyed witnessing Michael and Sean’s tentative new relationship in all its stages. Unfortunately, I felt a constant awkwardness in the dialogue being used between the two, which caused a lot of cringing and eye-rolling from me throughout. I’ve read other reviews that say teenage boys simply don’t talk this way, and I couldn’t agree more, but I’ll take it one further and say that I don’t believe anyone talks this way. It simply didn’t feel authentic a lot of the time and I’d use words like corny, clichéd, and unrealistic to describe the majority of their conversations. Having said that, the intent was clear, and I did like how undeniably sweet and romantic these boys were together, regardless of how cringe-worthy their dialogue was at times.
Ultimately, my biggest issue with this story was that I felt Wells tried to throw too many eggs in one basket, overloading what should have been a simple romance plot with a bunch of extra unnecessary plot elements. There was simply too much drama for dramas sake, and certainly a few sexual exploration moments that need not have happened for the story to still have had an impact.
On top of the unwanted scenes, there was a jumble of miscellaneous stuff that happened at the end of the book that felt completely pointless to the main story. It's like Wells didn't know where to end her story, so she just kept adding stuff, like new characters and last minute romances that would appease those who took issue with those earlier scenes. During the final 20% I found myself constantly thinking, “Why is this story still going?” which isn’t a great reaction to have, right? And the ending itself? I wasn’t a fan. Everything was wrapped up at warp speed, with a shiny false bow plopped on top, and yet I was left unsatisfied.
At the end of the day, I must keep reminding myself that this was K.C.'s very first novel. It's clear she's developed her skills so damn much since this came out that I can’t help but be impressed with how far she’s come as an author. So, although this one had its issues – boy, did it ever – I won’t let it deter me from seeking her stories out in the future. Let’s just call this a personal miss and move on, shall we?
I’m going to preface this review by stating that I’m a fan of K.C. Wells and the books of hers I’ve read to date. Regrettably, this particular story hit a lot of my no-no buttons, and although I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, and will share a few below, the appreciation I have towards K.C.’s writing has not changed and will not change simply because I didn’t love this one book.
This new adult story is predominantly about sexual discovery and finding first love. There is plenty of great first-time romance stuff happening here between young and inexperienced MCs Sean and Michael. The two nineteen year olds first meet as freshman housemates, who happen to hit it off immediately as fast friends. Up until this point in their lives, each boy has always assumed they were straight, that is until they begin to feel something unexpected and profound for one another.
I liked how easily Sean and Michael accepted their new feelings for one another. They embraced their sexual identities as young gay men without too much personal struggle, with anything negative that came at them being external to the relationship itself. Once they individually came to terms with their feelings, they quickly seized the day and begin a tentative new relationship together, full of first time sexual explorations that were both tender and steamy.
Seriously, the sex between these two was extremely sexy and sensual. The problem, though, was that there was way too much off it – so much so, it became a bit monotonous after a while, even as hot and steamy as it was. Although it may come as a shock to some, there really is such a thing as too much book sex, even when it’s well-written, deeply erotic book sex. I truly do believe that if half of the sex scenes were cut from this story that the plot and the pacing would have had a better flow and been noticeably more engaging.
For a good portion of this story, I enjoyed witnessing Michael and Sean’s tentative new relationship in all its stages. Unfortunately, I felt a constant awkwardness in the dialogue being used between the two, which caused a lot of cringing and eye-rolling from me throughout. I’ve read other reviews that say teenage boys simply don’t talk this way, and I couldn’t agree more, but I’ll take it one further and say that I don’t believe anyone talks this way. It simply didn’t feel authentic a lot of the time and I’d use words like corny, clichéd, and unrealistic to describe the majority of their conversations. Having said that, the intent was clear, and I did like how undeniably sweet and romantic these boys were together, regardless of how cringe-worthy their dialogue was at times.
Ultimately, my biggest issue with this story was that I felt Wells tried to throw too many eggs in one basket, overloading what should have been a simple romance plot with a bunch of extra unnecessary plot elements. There was simply too much drama for dramas sake, and certainly a few sexual exploration moments that need not have happened for the story to still have had an impact.
On top of the unwanted scenes, there was a jumble of miscellaneous stuff that happened at the end of the book that felt completely pointless to the main story. It's like Wells didn't know where to end her story, so she just kept adding stuff, like new characters and last minute romances that would appease those who took issue with those earlier scenes. During the final 20% I found myself constantly thinking, “Why is this story still going?” which isn’t a great reaction to have, right? And the ending itself? I wasn’t a fan. Everything was wrapped up at warp speed, with a shiny false bow plopped on top, and yet I was left unsatisfied.
At the end of the day, I must keep reminding myself that this was K.C.'s very first novel. It's clear she's developed her skills so damn much since this came out that I can’t help but be impressed with how far she’s come as an author. So, although this one had its issues – boy, did it ever – I won’t let it deter me from seeking her stories out in the future. Let’s just call this a personal miss and move on, shall we?
October 7, 2013
4.5 *
Having discovered K C Wells and loved the two books I've read I went and checked out her others, discovering the ' Learn To Love ' series so it was a no brainer purchase of all three at once, ( I'm an impulsive all or nothing buyer! ) and I wasn't disappointed at all.
Completely different to the first two, as its set around a group of college students this was still a very sexy read but it was also very sweet and romantic too. Two straight students Michael & Sean first meet when they have to share a house with three other students ... Evan, who is openly gay, Julia, the only girl and Adam who is a troublemaker from the start with his homophobic attitude. They all become great friends apart from Adam who not long into the story is asked to leave the accommodations when his nasty comments about Evan become intolerable and this leads to big trouble down the line when he finds out about Michael and Sean becoming a couple too.
The friendship between Michael & Sean quickly starts to turn into something far deeper especially when Sean suffers a terrible loss and Michael becomes his rock. The two of them, at separate times, go to Evan to ask his advice as they realise their feelings are becoming more romantic than just friendship and with Evans ' unusual ' help they realise they are falling for each other and not straight at all! This is Michael & Sean's love story and theres no doubt these guys are soul mates but Evan, who I really liked, plays a big part in their lives and the relationship between the three of them as they become mates begins to grow deeper than just friendship and this leads to a one off threesome that some readers weren't too happy about, personally I thought it was explained and handled very well throughout the story, it wasn't done in an underhanded way because they tell each other everything so I didn't see it as cheating, it was consensual and when it happened it didn't bother me in the slightest. I saw it as something the three of them had to get out of their systems and loved that even after it occurred, it just cemented the deep loving friendship they felt for each other even more. I guess you need to read the book to see which side of the fence you lie on in and of course everyone's opinion is personal and I respect that.
It is K C's first book and yes there is no doubt that as time has gone on her writing style has improved a hell of a lot but personally I still think this is a really lovely story and you can see the promise of whats to come from her, shining out of this book. I really did come to love each one of the guys including Julia and there are some quite serious and poignant issues dealt with over the course of the story including coming out to your friends and family, the upset of parental rejection and violence brought on by homophobia. On the other hand this is also full of romance, love and the other side of the coin ... A mum who embraces her sons sexual preferences with nothing but love and support and who I thought was a lovely balance for the negative things happening to the boys.
So now Im really looking forward to Evans story and the rest of the series. Another Keeper and another highly enjoyable read. Lovely!
Having discovered K C Wells and loved the two books I've read I went and checked out her others, discovering the ' Learn To Love ' series so it was a no brainer purchase of all three at once, ( I'm an impulsive all or nothing buyer! ) and I wasn't disappointed at all.
Completely different to the first two, as its set around a group of college students this was still a very sexy read but it was also very sweet and romantic too. Two straight students Michael & Sean first meet when they have to share a house with three other students ... Evan, who is openly gay, Julia, the only girl and Adam who is a troublemaker from the start with his homophobic attitude. They all become great friends apart from Adam who not long into the story is asked to leave the accommodations when his nasty comments about Evan become intolerable and this leads to big trouble down the line when he finds out about Michael and Sean becoming a couple too.
The friendship between Michael & Sean quickly starts to turn into something far deeper especially when Sean suffers a terrible loss and Michael becomes his rock. The two of them, at separate times, go to Evan to ask his advice as they realise their feelings are becoming more romantic than just friendship and with Evans ' unusual ' help they realise they are falling for each other and not straight at all! This is Michael & Sean's love story and theres no doubt these guys are soul mates but Evan, who I really liked, plays a big part in their lives and the relationship between the three of them as they become mates begins to grow deeper than just friendship and this leads to a one off threesome that some readers weren't too happy about, personally I thought it was explained and handled very well throughout the story, it wasn't done in an underhanded way because they tell each other everything so I didn't see it as cheating, it was consensual and when it happened it didn't bother me in the slightest. I saw it as something the three of them had to get out of their systems and loved that even after it occurred, it just cemented the deep loving friendship they felt for each other even more. I guess you need to read the book to see which side of the fence you lie on in and of course everyone's opinion is personal and I respect that.
It is K C's first book and yes there is no doubt that as time has gone on her writing style has improved a hell of a lot but personally I still think this is a really lovely story and you can see the promise of whats to come from her, shining out of this book. I really did come to love each one of the guys including Julia and there are some quite serious and poignant issues dealt with over the course of the story including coming out to your friends and family, the upset of parental rejection and violence brought on by homophobia. On the other hand this is also full of romance, love and the other side of the coin ... A mum who embraces her sons sexual preferences with nothing but love and support and who I thought was a lovely balance for the negative things happening to the boys.
So now Im really looking forward to Evans story and the rest of the series. Another Keeper and another highly enjoyable read. Lovely!
September 2, 2015
Yes, some may say sugary sweet, I say really romantic....in fact Michael and Sean remind me of Jared and Alex in Diane Adams' series 'The Making of a Man' which I absolutely adored, although a) they're English and b) they're the same age. 4.5 stars and a blooming great
Sean and Michael have started university in Manchester, both on the same language course. They both like the same things...going so far as to finish each other's quotes from the film 'Blazing Saddles'. They seem to be very well suited, and their other housemates, especially Evan who is gay, and Julia are convinced that the guys belong together; the remaining housemate Adam however is not a very nice person...in fact he's a complete git, who is very anti-Evan and whose behaviour gets worse the longer he resides in the house with the others. Let's fast forward a little....
All is not well on the home front for Sean whose family live on the Isle of Wight. He gets a phone call to say that his brother David has been killed, and understandably falls to pieces...Michael proves to be complete rock for Sean, and even travels back to the Isle of Wight with him for the funeral. Sean's mum defers to his dad in most things, and as for Sean's dad, well he's a farmer and as far as he's concerned, the wrong son was killed...David was quite content to take over the farm whereas Sean has no interest in farming and has loftier ambitions...he's an excellent linguist and sees his future lying there. After a really awkward and upsetting stay on the island, Sean and Michael head back to Manchester to continue their studies.
The guys realise that they're falling for each other, and after both of them seek advice from Evan because of their feelings for one another (and the fact that they're not used to feeling like that about another guy)...oh, and let's not forget the fact that they're virgins, they at last start dating. Evan is slightly jealous...he fancies both of them, Julia is over the moon about it, and Adam, well Adam is absolutely disgusted, and starts mouthing off about faggots, gays and queers and being pretty nasty about it. It gets to the stage where he actually threatens Evan several times and the other housemates take action and report him to the housing committee. Needless to say, things start to go downhill for the housemates from that point on.
Here endeth my review.....book 2 picks up where book 1 finishes, and I can't wait to see what happens.
December 29, 2012
2.5 stars. The weird three-way relationship made me a little uncomfortable. Evan felt intrusive rather than supportive and his moaning about wanting to find his Prince Charming felt off when, in the next moment, he was inserting himself into Sean and Michael's relationship. I wanted to like him, but I just couldn't.
I think I disconnected from this book when it became clear there would be a threesome at some point then by the time Sean and Evan got it on while Michael was lying bruised and beaten in hospital, I was skipping and skimming.
It started out as a love story and ended up more like porn without much plot.
I think I disconnected from this book when it became clear there would be a threesome at some point then by the time Sean and Evan got it on while Michael was lying bruised and beaten in hospital, I was skipping and skimming.
It started out as a love story and ended up more like porn without much plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 24, 2023The story was interesting and the characters were ok but there was a lack of believability. The characters were all too nice, too sweet and I found myself struggling to differentiate them as their personalities seemed the same.
Sometimes the dialogue did not seem very natural, I couldn't imagine young men speaking to each other in that way. A bit of overkill on the endearments too....sweetheart, baby, honey, sweetie.
The storyline did tackle some sensitive issues and kept me interested but strangely I felt a bit disconnected emotionally, perhaps due to the writing style. - even thought the characters were all into hugs and talking about emotions, it felt a bit flat.
However, even with these flaws, it was an ok book, it just didn't quite live up to its potential. 3.5 stars
Sometimes the dialogue did not seem very natural, I couldn't imagine young men speaking to each other in that way. A bit of overkill on the endearments too....sweetheart, baby, honey, sweetie.
The storyline did tackle some sensitive issues and kept me interested but strangely I felt a bit disconnected emotionally, perhaps due to the writing style. - even thought the characters were all into hugs and talking about emotions, it felt a bit flat.
However, even with these flaws, it was an ok book, it just didn't quite live up to its potential. 3.5 stars
December 7, 2012
I had high hopes here. I ended up finding the characters really flat and 2D. I really didn't like Evan, and I was lost when Sean betrayed Michael, and then betrayed him again. ANd then when Michael was totally OK with it. It was so sweet my teeth hurt, and when I needed some yelling and angst, it wasn't there. I want to say Ill try book 2, but Evan is really annoying and I didn't like him.
May 30, 2013
It was too smooth, too predictable, too much sex, some development didn't fit the characters of first-love-newbies and I think, if I didn't buy the sequel already I wouldn't read it.
December 3, 2013
Good book, but I could've done without all of the 'long hair' visuals. Reminds me of Jesus and kinda squicks me out. : )
February 25, 2014
2.5 Stars
Confession time: K.C. Wells' books are a guilty pleasure. I know that I'm going to get some hot man-on-man lovin', some angst, and a whole lotta romance. Having said that, this one was ... um ... uh ... freaking over the top ridiculous. Why?
First, the characters are in college so they're young but they are also extremely immature. Second, their college house is a gay man's love nest minus the testosterone. There's not an once of testosterone to be found. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Alpha junkies? Move along! You ain't getting your fix here. Third, this story is super sweet. No, let me say that again: SUPER. SWEET. I'm talking diabetic inducing insulin shock. It was ... frankly, nauseating at times. Lastly, the .
Bottom line: not my fave by KCW but I'm hooked on her stuff so I'm moving on to book 2.
Confession time: K.C. Wells' books are a guilty pleasure. I know that I'm going to get some hot man-on-man lovin', some angst, and a whole lotta romance. Having said that, this one was ... um ... uh ... freaking over the top ridiculous. Why?
First, the characters are in college so they're young but they are also extremely immature. Second, their college house is a gay man's love nest minus the testosterone. There's not an once of testosterone to be found. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Alpha junkies? Move along! You ain't getting your fix here. Third, this story is super sweet. No, let me say that again: SUPER. SWEET. I'm talking diabetic inducing insulin shock. It was ... frankly, nauseating at times. Lastly, the .
Bottom line: not my fave by KCW but I'm hooked on her stuff so I'm moving on to book 2.
October 24, 2014
Dammit this book sucked me in. This was my first KC Wells book and it was like the guilty pleasure of reading Danielle Steel back in college - I should know better, but just try to tear it out of my hands. The story was by turns sweet, sexy and funny, but also had a serious side dealing with rejection and violence as Michael and Sean come to terms with their newly discovered sexuality and love for each other.
I really ended up liking the characters and the story had some weight to it. After I got over these 19 year old characters alternately talking like 30 somethings or 15 year olds, and being the nicest guys in the world, it was really a sweet story of first love and friendship with tons and tons of hot sex. I especially liked roommate Evan, whose story I will be reading next.
I really ended up liking the characters and the story had some weight to it. After I got over these 19 year old characters alternately talking like 30 somethings or 15 year olds, and being the nicest guys in the world, it was really a sweet story of first love and friendship with tons and tons of hot sex. I especially liked roommate Evan, whose story I will be reading next.
August 20, 2013
I was fascinated to be reading a debut novel that was so very good! The writing was wonderful and I truly felt I was reading an established author. I was drawn to a story about young men, just starting out in college, discovering themselves and their sexuality. It was easy to care about Michael and Sean and that feeling grew throughout the whole story.
Michael grew up one of three children, the only boy, with a single mom after his father died. He's mostly a city boy whose mother raised him to be open-minded and accepting of everyone. He's come to university to study linguistics and he's sharing a house with four other students. Sean grew up the eldest of two boys to a farming family on the Isle of Wight. Money left to him by his grandmother is what's financing his education. His dad wanted Sean to follow in his footsteps and be a farmer, so saying no to his father simply added to the strain that relationship has always had.
Michael and Sean end up being roommates and discovering how much they have in common: movies, books, viewpoints, and neither has ever had a girlfriend, and they develop a very strong friendship. When Sean's little brother is killed in an accident it's Michael who is there for him and becomes his rock pulling them even closer together. Their housemates, Julia and Evan, are wonderful, Evan being out and proud. Their only discord is the other housemate, Adam, a raging homophobe who makes all their lives miserable until they file a complaint and Adam is forced to move.
When both Michael and Sean start to view the other in a sexual manner, they each, individually turn to Evan, their Fairy Godmother, for advice. What commences when they both admit to being attracted to one another is incredibly sweet. Two virgins discovering love at a healthy and slow pace is very tender and romantic. It was also seriously hot as Michael and Sean became more and more adventurous. Unfortunately, real life was bound to intrude with Michael getting hate phone calls and when they go to Sean's home over Easter, they get outed and Sean's father throws him out and disowns him. And, so, the tests of their love begin with each of them struggling in a violent, vicious, and narrow-minded world, wanting only to love each other in peace. Thank goodness for Evan, the very best of friends.
I very much enjoyed this story. It is loving and sweet with moments of out of this world hotness. It's a beautiful story about two men finding themselves and each other. A story not to be missed.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Michael grew up one of three children, the only boy, with a single mom after his father died. He's mostly a city boy whose mother raised him to be open-minded and accepting of everyone. He's come to university to study linguistics and he's sharing a house with four other students. Sean grew up the eldest of two boys to a farming family on the Isle of Wight. Money left to him by his grandmother is what's financing his education. His dad wanted Sean to follow in his footsteps and be a farmer, so saying no to his father simply added to the strain that relationship has always had.
Michael and Sean end up being roommates and discovering how much they have in common: movies, books, viewpoints, and neither has ever had a girlfriend, and they develop a very strong friendship. When Sean's little brother is killed in an accident it's Michael who is there for him and becomes his rock pulling them even closer together. Their housemates, Julia and Evan, are wonderful, Evan being out and proud. Their only discord is the other housemate, Adam, a raging homophobe who makes all their lives miserable until they file a complaint and Adam is forced to move.
When both Michael and Sean start to view the other in a sexual manner, they each, individually turn to Evan, their Fairy Godmother, for advice. What commences when they both admit to being attracted to one another is incredibly sweet. Two virgins discovering love at a healthy and slow pace is very tender and romantic. It was also seriously hot as Michael and Sean became more and more adventurous. Unfortunately, real life was bound to intrude with Michael getting hate phone calls and when they go to Sean's home over Easter, they get outed and Sean's father throws him out and disowns him. And, so, the tests of their love begin with each of them struggling in a violent, vicious, and narrow-minded world, wanting only to love each other in peace. Thank goodness for Evan, the very best of friends.
I very much enjoyed this story. It is loving and sweet with moments of out of this world hotness. It's a beautiful story about two men finding themselves and each other. A story not to be missed.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 4, 2013
Meh ... Sean & Michael came across as much younger than 18 which just annoyed me ... add in the overly-saccharine & sophomoric writing style & I found myself skimming the book ... blurb sounded good but it didn't do it for me at all.
July 4, 2015
Exclamation points! Exclamation points everywhere! It's like everyone's yelling at everyone else! I had the almost irresistible urge to cover my ears! And that's weird!
February 25, 2014
4.5 stars - It's official. I completely love KC Wells. I wish I could write the kind of stories she writes. They are just so sweet and romantic, expressing the kind of love that I'm pretty sure I will never get tired of reading about.
It took me a while to get around to reading this book, but only because it's not generally a theme I like. GFY isn't often my thing and the blurb certainly read like a GFY type story. Except it's not, and when I started this I was pleasantly surprised by that and by the direction of the story. I was willing to start reading this because it's a KC Wells novel, but I stayed because of the beautiful friendship - which then develops into a wonderful romance - between Michael and Sean. I was hooked almost from the very first page and instantly fell madly in love with the two MCs, as well as Evan and Julia.
The ONLY reason this loses half a star is because of a particular scene towards the end. Don't get me wrong, it was hot and really well written, but that's not something I particularly enjoy. It sort of took me by surprise. While I really loved Evan and am eager to read his own story in book 2, I just really wasn't sold on that particular part of the story. One other tiny thing that bugged me (I'm sorry to admit this!) is the use of pet names. I don't know why, because I usually LOVE pet names in my romance novels. But for some reason, it didn't always feel right here, or it felt like they were overused. And like I say, I really hate saying that! BUT it really wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of the story.
Otherwise, this book was damn near perfect for me. It was cheesy and corny and totally full of mushy, cute, sugary-sweet romance - and I don't even care. That's always been something I've really enjoyed reading, and KC certainly delivered the goods here. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
It took me a while to get around to reading this book, but only because it's not generally a theme I like. GFY isn't often my thing and the blurb certainly read like a GFY type story. Except it's not, and when I started this I was pleasantly surprised by that and by the direction of the story. I was willing to start reading this because it's a KC Wells novel, but I stayed because of the beautiful friendship - which then develops into a wonderful romance - between Michael and Sean. I was hooked almost from the very first page and instantly fell madly in love with the two MCs, as well as Evan and Julia.
The ONLY reason this loses half a star is because of a particular scene towards the end. Don't get me wrong, it was hot and really well written, but that's not something I particularly enjoy. It sort of took me by surprise. While I really loved Evan and am eager to read his own story in book 2, I just really wasn't sold on that particular part of the story. One other tiny thing that bugged me (I'm sorry to admit this!) is the use of pet names. I don't know why, because I usually LOVE pet names in my romance novels. But for some reason, it didn't always feel right here, or it felt like they were overused. And like I say, I really hate saying that! BUT it really wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of the story.
Otherwise, this book was damn near perfect for me. It was cheesy and corny and totally full of mushy, cute, sugary-sweet romance - and I don't even care. That's always been something I've really enjoyed reading, and KC certainly delivered the goods here. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 8, 2012
Learning to Love: Michael & Sean is an amazing debut book by KC Wells. The main characters, Michael and Sean, are college roommates who believe themselves to be straight but slow to embrace dating and finding a woman who interests them. They become best friends, then discover that they are attracted to one another, and ultimately fall in love.
There are secondary characters who are well developed and the house that they all share is a great tool used well by the author to bind their stories together. Evan is sweet and funny as Michael and Sean’s Gay Sex Coach. These two boys are naïve and even ignorant about sex to the point they haven’t indulged in Internet porn, which Evan takes great delight in introducing to our eighteen-year-old virgins. Their female housemate is only in the story intermittently as a buffer when things go badly. Their straight housemate Adam is the villain of the piece and he is a menace.
This is an enjoyable book with elements of humor, love, pathos, heartbreaking loss, grief, excitement, danger, and anxiety. I’m looking forward to reading more by this new but already accomplished author. KC Wells is one to watch.
Please see my complete review and enter the drawing to win a copy of the book on December 9, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
There are secondary characters who are well developed and the house that they all share is a great tool used well by the author to bind their stories together. Evan is sweet and funny as Michael and Sean’s Gay Sex Coach. These two boys are naïve and even ignorant about sex to the point they haven’t indulged in Internet porn, which Evan takes great delight in introducing to our eighteen-year-old virgins. Their female housemate is only in the story intermittently as a buffer when things go badly. Their straight housemate Adam is the villain of the piece and he is a menace.
This is an enjoyable book with elements of humor, love, pathos, heartbreaking loss, grief, excitement, danger, and anxiety. I’m looking forward to reading more by this new but already accomplished author. KC Wells is one to watch.
Please see my complete review and enter the drawing to win a copy of the book on December 9, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
April 6, 2013
3.5 Stars
A super sweet story about two college roommates who discover their sexuality, true friendship and love.
Full review with spoilers can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A super sweet story about two college roommates who discover their sexuality, true friendship and love.
Full review with spoilers can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 8, 2013
I had a especially high hopes for this story but I was extremely disappointed. Ok so overall the romance between Michael and Sean was really a very sweet connection but the sex was too much. I also did not like the threeway sexcapade between the two of them and their roommate. I did not understand why that was written into the story. Isn't Evan's story in the next book?? I am going to read that book by the way and I hope its better than this first book.
November 3, 2013
DNF for me. I wanted to like this, and I have read several things from this author that I really, really enjoyed but this was just completely unbelievable with two 18 year olds talking the way they did and acting the way they did. It was just too sweet and then too much sex, and I had to put it down. Still, I have enjoyed everything else from this author so it won't stop me from trying future books from her.
April 23, 2015
Sean and Michael became best friends when they became roommates. What I liked about this book was it was not quickly into bed and then have a relationship. They were friends then became lovers. They took it slow. I liked most of the other people they shared the house with. I didn't like was how much angst there was. I don't know if I will read the rest of the series.
March 23, 2013
Would have gave it more but did not like the threesome.
February 16, 2014
That three way totally killed this book for me,espcially when Evan confessed his falling in love with Micheal.
July 1, 2016
I'm pretty sure I got a cavity while reading however that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite Wells book but I'm going to immediately continue with the series.
March 21, 2013
Wanted to like it. Really did. But.... Too much sex. Too much 18-19 year old virgins talking like wannabe porn stars OR 15 year old girls. It's definitely a good effort for a first book, but it screams "straight woman writing what she thinks gay teen romance should be". It would actually have been a much more believable story if it had been a lesbian couple/threesome instead. No boys that age are this lovey-dovey all the time.
The most realistic part was the threesome aspect, that I can see young gay boys trying out. The rest? TWO couples even? Not so much. Most likely not reading the second book, unless very short of stuff to read.
Still, good writing, okay characters, hot sex if that's what you're looking for.
The most realistic part was the threesome aspect, that I can see young gay boys trying out. The rest? TWO couples even? Not so much. Most likely not reading the second book, unless very short of stuff to read.
Still, good writing, okay characters, hot sex if that's what you're looking for.
March 10, 2016
I believe this is Well's debut novel and the first in the series. Michael and Sean are students attending university in Manchester and are assigned to the same housing accommodations. Both are virgins and just beginning to explore their sexuality.
Sean has to face his family's reaction to his being gay and, Michael is the victim of a hate crime. This has sweet and fluffy moments, a threesome and over use of the word love but, it also has two young men who working together both in and out of bed.
Sean has to face his family's reaction to his being gay and, Michael is the victim of a hate crime. This has sweet and fluffy moments, a threesome and over use of the word love but, it also has two young men who working together both in and out of bed.
June 26, 2013
This has to be one of the cutest, then sad, then hot, then cute and sweet books I have ever read. I loved the supporting characters and I cannot wait to read Evan’s book next. I was in love with Michael’s mum in about 1 sentence.
Learning to Love: Michael & Sean was a delight to read. I went to sleep happy! Thank you K.C Wells for an amazing book – I will be reading the second one when I get home.
I also have to say that the way this book is set out makes it a joy to read.
Learning to Love: Michael & Sean was a delight to read. I went to sleep happy! Thank you K.C Wells for an amazing book – I will be reading the second one when I get home.
I also have to say that the way this book is set out makes it a joy to read.
December 4, 2012
To me the characters' reactions were unrealistic. I would have expected more arguing or fighting in some of the scenes. Anything but the "I forgive you for everything because I love you." that you get. Grr. The character of Evan just annoyed me to no end.
May 24, 2015
This book was not much to my taste as there was so much sex that didn't move the story forward. I felt like we were seeing the same situation again and again and again with no character or story development. I skipped a bunch of scenes for that reason.
February 20, 2013
Loved it....the story of Sean and Michael is sweet and hot and I'm looking forward to the next book about Evan and Daniel!
October 8, 2014
DNF at 58%. I tried to push through because I paid for the book. I couldn't do it.
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