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Acclamation #2
Reclamation
Book 2 in the Acclamation series, Reclamation picks up the story of Michael and Dominic just as tragedy strikes the Butler family. Loss, heartbreak and guilt challenge the relationship between teacher and student, taking their romance off course, more so than any social conventions in their path.
Through winter and spring, through Valentine's Day, Lent and Easter, through revelations and self-discovery, will Michael and Dominic grow closer or apart?
Reclamation is book #2 in the Acclamation series. The third and fourth instalments are scheduled for release in summer and autumn 2013 respectively.
Through winter and spring, through Valentine's Day, Lent and Easter, through revelations and self-discovery, will Michael and Dominic grow closer or apart?
Reclamation is book #2 in the Acclamation series. The third and fourth instalments are scheduled for release in summer and autumn 2013 respectively.
400 pages, ebook
First published January 16, 2013
7 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Vee Hoffman
5 books100 followersAuthor, enthusiast, and handsome devil living in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 22, 2013
Vee Hoffman drops us off right where
Acclamation
left off. With Dominic's loss and Michael's helplessness at being unable to provide Dominic with comforting arms, Vee immerses us, through Michael's words, into Dominic's pain. Michael struggles with his emotions and his lack of choices as he and Dominic endeavor to maintain their relationship secret and their desires at bay.
Once again we find Michael living through the motions and awaiting the moment he can see Dominic's face again. He questions, he analyses, but in the end it is all useless. His need for Dominic is extreme. Dominic's touch, his voice, his smell, his eyes - they all make it into Michael's day-to-day thoughts. He dreams of the day he can become one with Dominic, when they can walk hand in hand without being judged.
Dominic is conflicted. Through Michael's narration we get a glimpse into Dominic's struggles. The loss of his father, even if not a surprise, brings his life upside down. As he tries to bear the strain of his loss, he distances himself from Michael and tries to be what people expect him to be. Although he never loses his faith in God and is happy being part of his church, he does question some of his religion's teachings and analyses some of its misconceptions.
In this book we get to know more about Michael. Throughout the story we are given deeper access into Michael's former self, his past relationship and his own struggles with his sexuality. We get to learn more about his likes and dislikes, but mostly we get to see a different side of Michael - his sensual side. And I have to say that it surprised the hell out of me! Playful, loving and sexy as hell, Michael, who already won my heart in the previous book, managed to burrow in deeper. From the loving way he longed to be with Dominic all the way through the final pages where he finally lets go, I loved every minute of him! Sad, lonely, scared, horny, ecstatic - Michael kept me coming back for more and in a matter of hours became one of my favorite characters of all time.
In my opinion, Dominic's character becomes more complex throughout the story. He continues to be open about his emotions, but he matures so much throughout the story that he leaves behind the simplicity that I equated with him. No longer riding the high of new-found love, he is realistic, determined in his stance and in full acceptance of his situation. From young school boy to a matured young man ready to immerse into an serious relationship no matter the consequences, his development throughout the story as seen through Michael's eyes was a treat to read.
Sorrow. Elation. Loyalty. Lust. Love.
As expected, Vee Hoffman's writing was exceptional. With excellent character development and an insightful point of view, the author managed to bring forward a profound story of everlasting loyalty and overwhelming love. Packed full with emotions from start to finish, Reclamation, the second installment in the Acclamation series, is an amazing follow-up book in the continuing story of Michael and Dominic's life.
Captivating me from the first few paragraphs with a breathtaking display of emotions from characters I had longed to visit for months, she made a mess of me before the first chapter was over. With every event that followed she broke me and once I had gotten control over my emotions she managed to astound me. By the time I had reached the halfway mark I was fully vested, no longer in Puerto Rico and freezing my ears right along with Michael and Dominic in Ashebrook. In the meantime I found myself waiting expectantly for Lent to be over with and just as Spring was making an appearance I was urging the Easter Bunny to get the hell out of town. Expectantly, I waited for that promising moment only to be torn to pieces, then be brought back together again to be melted into a puddle of goo with just a few words.
I don't know how I will make it through until the next installment is out, but I assure you that a re-read of the series will take place soon. And taking into consideration the length of these books this will not be an easy task to accomplish, but so very worth it to appease my yearning for Michael and Dominic until I am invited to visit again.
"My body, my joy, my Dominic, my love."
Once again we find Michael living through the motions and awaiting the moment he can see Dominic's face again. He questions, he analyses, but in the end it is all useless. His need for Dominic is extreme. Dominic's touch, his voice, his smell, his eyes - they all make it into Michael's day-to-day thoughts. He dreams of the day he can become one with Dominic, when they can walk hand in hand without being judged.
"I want to feel your heartbeat. I want to lean on you like I did last night, but we can't, can we?"
Dominic is conflicted. Through Michael's narration we get a glimpse into Dominic's struggles. The loss of his father, even if not a surprise, brings his life upside down. As he tries to bear the strain of his loss, he distances himself from Michael and tries to be what people expect him to be. Although he never loses his faith in God and is happy being part of his church, he does question some of his religion's teachings and analyses some of its misconceptions.
"Why do you fall in love with the impossible?"
In this book we get to know more about Michael. Throughout the story we are given deeper access into Michael's former self, his past relationship and his own struggles with his sexuality. We get to learn more about his likes and dislikes, but mostly we get to see a different side of Michael - his sensual side. And I have to say that it surprised the hell out of me! Playful, loving and sexy as hell, Michael, who already won my heart in the previous book, managed to burrow in deeper. From the loving way he longed to be with Dominic all the way through the final pages where he finally lets go, I loved every minute of him! Sad, lonely, scared, horny, ecstatic - Michael kept me coming back for more and in a matter of hours became one of my favorite characters of all time.
In my opinion, Dominic's character becomes more complex throughout the story. He continues to be open about his emotions, but he matures so much throughout the story that he leaves behind the simplicity that I equated with him. No longer riding the high of new-found love, he is realistic, determined in his stance and in full acceptance of his situation. From young school boy to a matured young man ready to immerse into an serious relationship no matter the consequences, his development throughout the story as seen through Michael's eyes was a treat to read.
Sorrow. Elation. Loyalty. Lust. Love.
As expected, Vee Hoffman's writing was exceptional. With excellent character development and an insightful point of view, the author managed to bring forward a profound story of everlasting loyalty and overwhelming love. Packed full with emotions from start to finish, Reclamation, the second installment in the Acclamation series, is an amazing follow-up book in the continuing story of Michael and Dominic's life.
Captivating me from the first few paragraphs with a breathtaking display of emotions from characters I had longed to visit for months, she made a mess of me before the first chapter was over. With every event that followed she broke me and once I had gotten control over my emotions she managed to astound me. By the time I had reached the halfway mark I was fully vested, no longer in Puerto Rico and freezing my ears right along with Michael and Dominic in Ashebrook. In the meantime I found myself waiting expectantly for Lent to be over with and just as Spring was making an appearance I was urging the Easter Bunny to get the hell out of town. Expectantly, I waited for that promising moment only to be torn to pieces, then be brought back together again to be melted into a puddle of goo with just a few words.
I don't know how I will make it through until the next installment is out, but I assure you that a re-read of the series will take place soon. And taking into consideration the length of these books this will not be an easy task to accomplish, but so very worth it to appease my yearning for Michael and Dominic until I am invited to visit again.
August 17, 2015
Quite honestly, every time I read this work (the series) my heart breaks, it mends, it soars, it hurts, it is calmed and then it happens all over again. My heart!
March 29, 2019
4.5/5 stars. This is a gorgeous love story, told through thoughtful, lyrical prose underscored by the constant simmering tension of Michael and Dominic’s forbidden student-teacher relationship. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, in this second book, VH explores a gamut of emotions that go hand in hand with all-encompassing intense love; infatuation, jealousy, insecurity, ecstasy and betrayal.
February 1, 2013
Reclamation, by Vee Hoffman, picks up almost immediately where her first novel, Acclamation, left off. In case you didn’t read my review of Acclamation, let me summarize by saying that I have rarely loved so many aspects of a story so much. Acclamation was detailed, intense, erotic, moving and realistic. Reclamation is all of those things, and more. I wouldn’t recommend reading the sequel without reading its predecessor first, but that’s okay, because trust me, you’re going to appreciate starting at the beginning with this one.
See the rest of my review at: http://bibrary.blogspot.com/2013/02/r...
See the rest of my review at: http://bibrary.blogspot.com/2013/02/r...
April 4, 2014
This second installment continues exactly where the first one ends, and develops the difficulties in the hidden relationship between Michael and Dominic. It's been a great story to read, where the MCs get deep in their feelings, and the sex, that I thought wasn't going to be very present in this series, I don't know why, is pretty hot and explicit. My only complaint, as in the first one, is that the first person narrative, sometimes addressing to the reader, seems a bit odd for my taste, and the excess of words that Michael puts in his thoughts, even when he is having sex with Dominic, distracts the attention on the action, and it makes the book longer than needed.
January 30, 2013
(A small confession before the real review - I am known for falling in love very, very deeply with artists / books, and I have fallen very, very deeply for Acclamation.)
I thought I was in pain reading chapter one, as Dominic's pain unravels. I thought I smelled trouble by chapter two, as Michael's intuition sent red flags left, right and centre. By chapter four, I was crying my eyes out and spouted off quotes to my boyfriend until I was banned from reading out loud in our front room for the foreseeable future.
By Valentine's Day though, my life was right again, misunderstandings between Michael and Dominic were clearing out and their love story was back on the right path. I could breathe again, and my boyfriend got to watch football in silence while I smiled nonstop.
I guess this is really personal review, but that's what this book, this series brought out of me.
(Now, where's book 3??)
I thought I was in pain reading chapter one, as Dominic's pain unravels. I thought I smelled trouble by chapter two, as Michael's intuition sent red flags left, right and centre. By chapter four, I was crying my eyes out and spouted off quotes to my boyfriend until I was banned from reading out loud in our front room for the foreseeable future.
By Valentine's Day though, my life was right again, misunderstandings between Michael and Dominic were clearing out and their love story was back on the right path. I could breathe again, and my boyfriend got to watch football in silence while I smiled nonstop.
I guess this is really personal review, but that's what this book, this series brought out of me.
(Now, where's book 3??)
June 22, 2017
I am absolutely in love with this story. It took me quite a while to buy this second book in the series because I don't really like the writing style, but I'm so glad that I did afterall. This story has me by the balls and made me think about religion and being different. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me hot.
September 24, 2022
Perfect
This is the perfect love story. Michael and Dominic’s feelings for each are so open and raw. I lulled myself into thinking I knew where their journey was taking me. But I didn’t know. I don’t know. I’ll know when I get there. But I do know this, it’s a 5 star journey.
This is the perfect love story. Michael and Dominic’s feelings for each are so open and raw. I lulled myself into thinking I knew where their journey was taking me. But I didn’t know. I don’t know. I’ll know when I get there. But I do know this, it’s a 5 star journey.
February 28, 2014
I didn't enjoy this book as much as Acclamation, the first in the series. This book covers the 4 month period from the death of Dominic's father until the day after Easter. The school year is not yet over, although Dominic has his plans made for life after graduation.
In the first book, I felt the love story between Michael (the teacher) and Dominic (student) was very mature, cerebral, and actually quite restrained despite the fact that they did have sex. The focus seemed to be more on the emotional and intellectual aspects of their relationship, which is what made the taboo nature of their romance seem less disturbing. I normally do not like significant power and/or age gaps between MCs, because it frequently seems so exploitative, but I totally bought it in the first book.
So I wasn't sure quite what to make of this book. Michael's flaws are not just revealed; he dwells upon them at length. He was a serial cheater who was never faithful to a boyfriend, even Scott, whom he mourned for three years before meeting Dominic. He can be cruel, and feels justified in doing so. He can be manipulative. And what started as gently introducing the virgin Dominic into the joys of sex and sensuality becomes more like pushing his boundaries for Michael's pleasure. Sex was a lot more selfish in this book. The focus was more on the physical/sexual aspects of the relationship in this book, and I wasn't comfortable with it because Dominic is still a student living in his mother's house, their affair is still prohibited, and the power gap remains undiminished. The anticipation of having anal sex preoccupies both Dominic and Michael throughout the book, and the fact that the book ends just after they finally do makes it feel like Dominic losing his virginity was the only point to the story. I don't feel that either character grew in these few months, or that their relationship became deeper -- Michael had some epiphanies about his own past actions and wishes to reform in some ways, but I just didn't believe that he actually did or even could.
The writing is still very nice, but it doesn't have the same Victorian era feel as the first book did. Easier to read, perhaps, but not as moving. I spent more time wanting the narrative to hurry up and move on instead of admiring how lovely it was as I did in the first book. That being said, I plan to continue through the rest of the series, because I really want to see where things go, and there are tantalizing glimpses of several different ways things can all go wrong. Their secret will have to come out eventually, and I am sure it will be devastating but I want it to hurry up and happen so they can come out stronger on the other side!
In the first book, I felt the love story between Michael (the teacher) and Dominic (student) was very mature, cerebral, and actually quite restrained despite the fact that they did have sex. The focus seemed to be more on the emotional and intellectual aspects of their relationship, which is what made the taboo nature of their romance seem less disturbing. I normally do not like significant power and/or age gaps between MCs, because it frequently seems so exploitative, but I totally bought it in the first book.
So I wasn't sure quite what to make of this book. Michael's flaws are not just revealed; he dwells upon them at length. He was a serial cheater who was never faithful to a boyfriend, even Scott, whom he mourned for three years before meeting Dominic. He can be cruel, and feels justified in doing so. He can be manipulative. And what started as gently introducing the virgin Dominic into the joys of sex and sensuality becomes more like pushing his boundaries for Michael's pleasure. Sex was a lot more selfish in this book. The focus was more on the physical/sexual aspects of the relationship in this book, and I wasn't comfortable with it because Dominic is still a student living in his mother's house, their affair is still prohibited, and the power gap remains undiminished. The anticipation of having anal sex preoccupies both Dominic and Michael throughout the book, and the fact that the book ends just after they finally do makes it feel like Dominic losing his virginity was the only point to the story. I don't feel that either character grew in these few months, or that their relationship became deeper -- Michael had some epiphanies about his own past actions and wishes to reform in some ways, but I just didn't believe that he actually did or even could.
The writing is still very nice, but it doesn't have the same Victorian era feel as the first book did. Easier to read, perhaps, but not as moving. I spent more time wanting the narrative to hurry up and move on instead of admiring how lovely it was as I did in the first book. That being said, I plan to continue through the rest of the series, because I really want to see where things go, and there are tantalizing glimpses of several different ways things can all go wrong. Their secret will have to come out eventually, and I am sure it will be devastating but I want it to hurry up and happen so they can come out stronger on the other side!
February 17, 2014
3.5 stars
I still love the story of these two characters, but the writing style diminished my enjoyment again. My eyes frequently wandered off the pages, and at one point I even found myself distracted by basketball on TV (I hate watching basketball). It just failed to hold my attention for long periods of time.
The narrator is a very intellectual person, which I can appreciate. I even married someone like him. The problem intellectuals can sometimes run into, however, is taking so long to say or explain something that the listener loses interest. This happens a lot with my husband. Many times I'll ask him a question and tell him to limit his answer to 5 sentences or less, and he never even comes close. I don't think Michael would be able to do it either.
Despite my trouble becoming immersed in the story, I still want to continue reading the series to find out how it's all going to play out.
I still love the story of these two characters, but the writing style diminished my enjoyment again. My eyes frequently wandered off the pages, and at one point I even found myself distracted by basketball on TV (I hate watching basketball). It just failed to hold my attention for long periods of time.
The narrator is a very intellectual person, which I can appreciate. I even married someone like him. The problem intellectuals can sometimes run into, however, is taking so long to say or explain something that the listener loses interest. This happens a lot with my husband. Many times I'll ask him a question and tell him to limit his answer to 5 sentences or less, and he never even comes close. I don't think Michael would be able to do it either.
Despite my trouble becoming immersed in the story, I still want to continue reading the series to find out how it's all going to play out.
February 6, 2013
My review of Reclamation can be found on my web site.
September 28, 2013
I read the last chapter 3 times. i found it hot and exhilirating! I adore this series.
100/100 STARS!
100/100 STARS!
January 4, 2014
Dominick and Michael, thank you for bringing me into 2014 with the first read of the year... ::fanning myself::
dnf
September 4, 2015DNF at 44%. Will come back to it later. All the sweetness is making me sick.
September 23, 2023
This second book was a bit slow, It all happens in a few months, I cant lie it was long but read it in a day. The story continues with Dominic and Michael going through a rough patch after Dominic dad dies. Dominic is going through so many emotions and Michael wants to be there for him , a lot of things happen, This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Gotta say I liked how Michael gets along with Dominics mom Renee, although I am just waiting for them to come clean to her. Dominics 18 in this book.
December 10, 2017
5 'I adore these two. Everything about there journey is believeable. Their inner struggles, their outward ones. Their desire, their growing love. The ever present forbidden nature to their relationship and the lies and deceit. It's all just frigging amazing' stars.
November 2, 2013
4.5 stars - This book gives us the immediate aftermath of the events which closed the first one, and that was welcome to me as a reader. The relationship between Michael and Dominic goes through changes. Dominic is coping with his father's death, with the strain of trying to be everything expected by all the people around him. He's struggling to figure out what his sexuality means for him in the Catholic community he loves. He pushes Michael away at times, questioning what they are doing together. He never doubts his faith, but he questions his church and his role in it. And as a teen in school, he deals with the pressure of being watched by the often nosy and unforgiving society of his peers. This is a hard book for Dominic.
Eventually Michael and Dominic find their footing, with their relationship becoming deeper, both more physical and more emotional. They are loving, sensual, sometimes playful. (And with Dominic over eighteen, the sex in this book is far more heated. And more frequent. A few times I felt like it was too much on page.) They are also, perhaps because their relationship relies a lot on texting, very good at saying how they feel. There are some gorgeous statements of emotion here.
Their love plays out against a looming backdrop of disaster. These pressures give an added poignancy and intensity to the interaction of the two men. We are given a lot more background on Michael in this one, helping us understand his hot-and-cold emotional reactions and his fears. Dominic faces family stress and pain in a way that shows him emerging from boyhood into an enviable maturity, but there are still flashes of the child in him and Michael is his support and guiding star at those times. As Dominic turns eighteen, the relationship is no longer illegal (although it was previously, due to Michael's position as Dominic's teacher.) But it still would devastate Dominic's mother, and have very serious consequences for both of them.
At any moment, this love could be ripped apart by discovery. And even if they manage to escape that, Dominic is going off to university in the fall, and that separation is at the back of their minds. And frankly, there were a few times when I got impatient with Michael, because he seemed to alternate between talking about this as a forever-love, and then acting as if he expected it to end in disaster and wouldn't fight it. I became more concerned with Dominic in this book, despite his growing maturity, because of that impending crisis and the fact that this has been his first and only love. Michael's narrative revelations about his past, and his self analysis, are oddly inconsistent, revealing an insecurity that has led to past bad decisions. At times he's beautifully supportive, at others he pushes Dominic away for oddly nebulous reasons. Hurt for both of them is the stormcloud on the horizon, but I felt potentially worse for Dominic.
I found this book even more gripping than the first, with less of a tendency to wander into long introspective details, and less direct addressing of the reader. I was very invested in the characters, and the relationship.
But I will say here, that I wish I'd stopped with this book, for now. The third book, Intimation has a cliff-hanger ending, and one that I found painful. Everyone's take will be different, but I would have chosen not to read book 3 without book 4 available.
Eventually Michael and Dominic find their footing, with their relationship becoming deeper, both more physical and more emotional. They are loving, sensual, sometimes playful. (And with Dominic over eighteen, the sex in this book is far more heated. And more frequent. A few times I felt like it was too much on page.) They are also, perhaps because their relationship relies a lot on texting, very good at saying how they feel. There are some gorgeous statements of emotion here.
Their love plays out against a looming backdrop of disaster. These pressures give an added poignancy and intensity to the interaction of the two men. We are given a lot more background on Michael in this one, helping us understand his hot-and-cold emotional reactions and his fears. Dominic faces family stress and pain in a way that shows him emerging from boyhood into an enviable maturity, but there are still flashes of the child in him and Michael is his support and guiding star at those times. As Dominic turns eighteen, the relationship is no longer illegal (although it was previously, due to Michael's position as Dominic's teacher.) But it still would devastate Dominic's mother, and have very serious consequences for both of them.
At any moment, this love could be ripped apart by discovery. And even if they manage to escape that, Dominic is going off to university in the fall, and that separation is at the back of their minds. And frankly, there were a few times when I got impatient with Michael, because he seemed to alternate between talking about this as a forever-love, and then acting as if he expected it to end in disaster and wouldn't fight it. I became more concerned with Dominic in this book, despite his growing maturity, because of that impending crisis and the fact that this has been his first and only love. Michael's narrative revelations about his past, and his self analysis, are oddly inconsistent, revealing an insecurity that has led to past bad decisions. At times he's beautifully supportive, at others he pushes Dominic away for oddly nebulous reasons. Hurt for both of them is the stormcloud on the horizon, but I felt potentially worse for Dominic.
I found this book even more gripping than the first, with less of a tendency to wander into long introspective details, and less direct addressing of the reader. I was very invested in the characters, and the relationship.
But I will say here, that I wish I'd stopped with this book, for now. The third book, Intimation has a cliff-hanger ending, and one that I found painful. Everyone's take will be different, but I would have chosen not to read book 3 without book 4 available.
April 24, 2014
This is book #2 of a series and must be read in order.
I received a free review copy courtesy of the publisher.
Dominic and Michael continue their secret relationship between pupil and teacher in this, the second book of the Acclamation series. After tragedy strikes Dominic at the end of the first book, he has to learn to cope with his grief. Michael is no stranger to losing a loved one, and yet he watches as Dominic shows a darker side of himself. Worse, the other students at school are starting to suspect Dominic is gay. Will Michael and Dominic be able to keep their relationship alive and under the radar?
Reclamation has the same excellent writing style we saw in the first book. Everything is richly detailed, from Michael's life as a teacher, to his feelings and thoughts on Dominic. In this book we get to see a little more of who Michael is outside of his relationship and his other friends, including his dead lover's mother Makoto, a very forward Japanese woman who says exactly what is on her mind. We get to learn about Michael's poor relationship with his father as well.
This book is a much more difficult read than the first one. While the first book details the warm glow of falling in love, Reclamation deals with the darker themes of losing a loved one, anger in the face of grief, and first time sex. Dominic and Michael argue for the first time, which was a very painful moment as Dominic throws everything in Michael's face.
This book is also a lot more sexual. Knowing that Dominic wants him, Michael is a lot more confident in his approach. The sex scenes are well-written, but at times I felt the entire focus of the book (especially the second half) was Dominic losing his virginity. The author teases the reader by having Dominic hold out on sex over Lent, and while it is a milestone in their relationship, I felt there was a little too much importance placed on the act of penetration. The final scene was sweet and loving, but there were times in the middle where I just wanted them to get on with it. Their reasons for holding back seemed arbitrary at best, especially since they seemed to skirt around the rules and engage in phone sex and other sexual acts whenever they felt like it.
I also wasn't particularly fond of the drug scene. While in real life I don't care what people do in their personal time, I felt like Michael was too eager to make Dominic stay even though he wanted to leave. A piece of me started to question if Michael's influence on Dominic really is a good thing for Dominic in the end. It was the only time in the series so far where the age difference between the two protagonists bothered me.
Despite my minor complaints, this was still an excellent book, just not a five star read based purely on the content. Not every relationship can be happy all the time and sex is a big deal for a lot of people. I do wonder where the third part will take the pair, especially as Dominic is set to attend Oxford and someone in this book finds out about their relationship. The cracks in their secrecy are starting to show and I'm looking forward to the next part with baited breath.
This review was cross-posted to Infinite Love.
I received a free review copy courtesy of the publisher.
Dominic and Michael continue their secret relationship between pupil and teacher in this, the second book of the Acclamation series. After tragedy strikes Dominic at the end of the first book, he has to learn to cope with his grief. Michael is no stranger to losing a loved one, and yet he watches as Dominic shows a darker side of himself. Worse, the other students at school are starting to suspect Dominic is gay. Will Michael and Dominic be able to keep their relationship alive and under the radar?
Reclamation has the same excellent writing style we saw in the first book. Everything is richly detailed, from Michael's life as a teacher, to his feelings and thoughts on Dominic. In this book we get to see a little more of who Michael is outside of his relationship and his other friends, including his dead lover's mother Makoto, a very forward Japanese woman who says exactly what is on her mind. We get to learn about Michael's poor relationship with his father as well.
This book is a much more difficult read than the first one. While the first book details the warm glow of falling in love, Reclamation deals with the darker themes of losing a loved one, anger in the face of grief, and first time sex. Dominic and Michael argue for the first time, which was a very painful moment as Dominic throws everything in Michael's face.
This book is also a lot more sexual. Knowing that Dominic wants him, Michael is a lot more confident in his approach. The sex scenes are well-written, but at times I felt the entire focus of the book (especially the second half) was Dominic losing his virginity. The author teases the reader by having Dominic hold out on sex over Lent, and while it is a milestone in their relationship, I felt there was a little too much importance placed on the act of penetration. The final scene was sweet and loving, but there were times in the middle where I just wanted them to get on with it. Their reasons for holding back seemed arbitrary at best, especially since they seemed to skirt around the rules and engage in phone sex and other sexual acts whenever they felt like it.
I also wasn't particularly fond of the drug scene. While in real life I don't care what people do in their personal time, I felt like Michael was too eager to make Dominic stay even though he wanted to leave. A piece of me started to question if Michael's influence on Dominic really is a good thing for Dominic in the end. It was the only time in the series so far where the age difference between the two protagonists bothered me.
Despite my minor complaints, this was still an excellent book, just not a five star read based purely on the content. Not every relationship can be happy all the time and sex is a big deal for a lot of people. I do wonder where the third part will take the pair, especially as Dominic is set to attend Oxford and someone in this book finds out about their relationship. The cracks in their secrecy are starting to show and I'm looking forward to the next part with baited breath.
This review was cross-posted to Infinite Love.
June 25, 2015
2.5 stars Basically this felt kind of like a filler book. I was hoping for more development but it ended up being a very long winded love letter. I was emotionally prepared for my boys to be discovered and couldn't wait to see how the author decided to tackle that conflict. Would they be caught in the act? Would they confess to Renee? Would Dominic go off to Uni with none-the-wiser and they would pretend it started later? How would Renee react? But alas, apparently there is another (or more?) books. I'm debating whether to continue on. As I said, I want that final conflict! I need to know! But I just don't know if I can do another rambling Michael stream of consciousness.
And while I love how much Micheal loves Dominic, the waxing poetic got quite dramatic at times.
And while I love how much Micheal loves Dominic, the waxing poetic got quite dramatic at times.
Read
February 12, 2013I enjoyed this second part as well, I must admit that I like it even more than Acclamation. We get to know the characters better, more background story and perhaps the most important, we get to see some of their weaknesses as well which makes them even more realistic.
I also found the narration to be more easily flowing; sometimes in Acclamation it felt a bit heavy, but in Reclamation the language is clear out.
Looking forward to the next part!
I also found the narration to be more easily flowing; sometimes in Acclamation it felt a bit heavy, but in Reclamation the language is clear out.
Looking forward to the next part!
January 3, 2014
I absolutely love this book. As soon as I finished this I proceeded to read the rest of the series not stopping until they were all read. The writing took me to places in the world I've never been and made me look at parts of myself I'd never seen. This series will always be on my favourites list. And want to forget it all so I can discover it again. These characters will stay with me for a long time.
January 25, 2013
I enjoyed this book but was hoping for more. Compared to the first book, acclimation, the story here did not progress very much. I'm hoping for more with the next one.
January 18, 2014
I tried, but I had to stop halfway through. Way too dramatic for me. It just started feeling icky.
March 9, 2015
Even better than the first...well the story keeps going..can't stop AM LOSING SLEEP VEE..
August 23, 2016
If I could I would give whole Milky Way for this book. So intense, so beautifully written. I cannot enjoy it more.
did-not-finish
January 18, 2015DNF at 50%.
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