What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets of Neverwood #1
One Door Closes
Secrets of Neverwood Book One
Years ago, Calvin Ware found a refuge in Neverwood, a home for wayward boys. Now, following the death of his foster mother Audrey, he's returned to fulfill her request to restore the decrepit Victorian mansion to its former purpose.
Under the threat of repossession, Cal clashes with his foster brothers over restoration plans while fending off the unscrupulous developer who is breathing down his neck. Audrey's well-meaning presence in his dreams does more harm than good as he struggles to cope with it all. What's more, the contractor he hires to get the building up to code turns out to be Will Cabot, his high school flame.
As they begin working together, Cal finds he still has feelings for his first love. But his mistakes of years ago threaten their future, just as they ruined their past, and Cal knows he can't withstand the heartbreak a second time.
Three foster brothers are called home to Neverwood, the stately Pacific Northwest mansion of their youth. They have nothing in common but a promise to Audrey, the woman they all called mother…
Secrets of Neverwood is a multi-author trilogy; One Door Closes, The Growing Season and The Lost Year can be enjoyed either as a continuity or as standalones.
59,000 words
Years ago, Calvin Ware found a refuge in Neverwood, a home for wayward boys. Now, following the death of his foster mother Audrey, he's returned to fulfill her request to restore the decrepit Victorian mansion to its former purpose.
Under the threat of repossession, Cal clashes with his foster brothers over restoration plans while fending off the unscrupulous developer who is breathing down his neck. Audrey's well-meaning presence in his dreams does more harm than good as he struggles to cope with it all. What's more, the contractor he hires to get the building up to code turns out to be Will Cabot, his high school flame.
As they begin working together, Cal finds he still has feelings for his first love. But his mistakes of years ago threaten their future, just as they ruined their past, and Cal knows he can't withstand the heartbreak a second time.
Three foster brothers are called home to Neverwood, the stately Pacific Northwest mansion of their youth. They have nothing in common but a promise to Audrey, the woman they all called mother…
Secrets of Neverwood is a multi-author trilogy; One Door Closes, The Growing Season and The Lost Year can be enjoyed either as a continuity or as standalones.
59,000 words
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2014
2 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
G.B. Lindsey
7 books21 followersG. B. Lindsey was born and raised in California, where she earned her undergraduate degree from UC Santa Cruz before moving to Northern England for her master’s. Her first love has always been writing: as a child, she cultivated such diverse goals as becoming “a cowgirl... and a writer” or “a paleontologist... and a writer.”
Aside from her salacious ongoing affair with the horror genre, she engages in dedicated flings with sci-fi, romance, historical fiction, and short stories. Other hobbies include singing, the occasional period drama movie night, and devouring scary film after scary film. When she’s not working in kidney transplant or studying up on Arthurian myth, she relaxes at home in California with a good book and her cat, Hadrian.
Aside from her salacious ongoing affair with the horror genre, she engages in dedicated flings with sci-fi, romance, historical fiction, and short stories. Other hobbies include singing, the occasional period drama movie night, and devouring scary film after scary film. When she’s not working in kidney transplant or studying up on Arthurian myth, she relaxes at home in California with a good book and her cat, Hadrian.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 19, 2016
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is the first in a trilogy about three estranged foster brothers - all virtual strangers to one another - who are brought together following the death of their foster mother, Audrey Rasmussen. Before her death, Audrey sends a letter to each of her boys, imparting love and wisdom, but most importantly, imploring them to return to the sprawling Victorian mansion they once called home. It doesn't take long before Calvin, Devon, and Danny, each fueled by their own reasons (or perhaps chased by their own demons), come home.
Each installment in this series focuses on the story of a one brother and is written by a different author - G.B. Lindsey, Diana Copland, and Libby Drew, respectively. Over the last few years I've read a couple of series that have been written this way, but few had characters that were so entwined. Having only read the first book in this series, I can't judge yet whether approaching the series in this way was a stroke of brilliance or a disaster waiting to happen (let's hope it's the former).
My experience reading this book was a bit of a mixed bag. As the author tasked with setting up the premise of the series, establishing the personalities of the main characters and their relationships with one another, and weaving Cal and Will's second-chance-at-love story throughout, G.B. Lindsey had arguably the most difficult job of the bunch.
Unfortunately, because so much information about the characters was inferred rather than stated outright, the first two-thirds of the book felt like a bit of a slog to get through. Cal is our narrator, but the readers are only teased with the issues looming in his past. Devon's a passionate artist, but again, mostly a mystery (he literally comes and goes throughout the novel and we never discover why). Danny's young and self-centred with it. We eventually discover that he's , but his story isn't this author's to tell, and so we, the readers, are left in the dark again. And then there's the history between Calvin and Will. They were high school sweethearts, but one night something went terribly wrong and they've never spoken since. Of course, it took most of the novel to find out even that much. Any one of these details being held back from the reader wouldn't be a big deal - in fact, it would be smart storytelling - but having all of these blanks in the same novel made the story seem disjointed as the author fought to write around revealing these details too early (or at all, as the case may be).
As frustrated as I was with the first 65-70% of the novel, the last third hit pretty close to home and my empathy for the characters skyrocketed. When Calvin and Will finally become intimate with one another, the intensity of the scene was like a punch to my solar plexus. And I loved that Lindsey didn't give her characters a generic hearts and rainbows ending - it wouldn't have been true to their story. Instead, there was understanding and love and a willingness to try that was lovely all the same.
I'm very interested to see how Diana Copland tackles Danny's story and the strengthening bonds between the brothers.
Note: These stories are NOT standalones; they must be read in series order.
Each installment in this series focuses on the story of a one brother and is written by a different author - G.B. Lindsey, Diana Copland, and Libby Drew, respectively. Over the last few years I've read a couple of series that have been written this way, but few had characters that were so entwined. Having only read the first book in this series, I can't judge yet whether approaching the series in this way was a stroke of brilliance or a disaster waiting to happen (let's hope it's the former).
My experience reading this book was a bit of a mixed bag. As the author tasked with setting up the premise of the series, establishing the personalities of the main characters and their relationships with one another, and weaving Cal and Will's second-chance-at-love story throughout, G.B. Lindsey had arguably the most difficult job of the bunch.
Unfortunately, because so much information about the characters was inferred rather than stated outright, the first two-thirds of the book felt like a bit of a slog to get through. Cal is our narrator, but the readers are only teased with the issues looming in his past. Devon's a passionate artist, but again, mostly a mystery (he literally comes and goes throughout the novel and we never discover why). Danny's young and self-centred with it. We eventually discover that he's , but his story isn't this author's to tell, and so we, the readers, are left in the dark again. And then there's the history between Calvin and Will. They were high school sweethearts, but one night something went terribly wrong and they've never spoken since. Of course, it took most of the novel to find out even that much. Any one of these details being held back from the reader wouldn't be a big deal - in fact, it would be smart storytelling - but having all of these blanks in the same novel made the story seem disjointed as the author fought to write around revealing these details too early (or at all, as the case may be).
As frustrated as I was with the first 65-70% of the novel, the last third hit pretty close to home and my empathy for the characters skyrocketed. When Calvin and Will finally become intimate with one another, the intensity of the scene was like a punch to my solar plexus. And I loved that Lindsey didn't give her characters a generic hearts and rainbows ending - it wouldn't have been true to their story. Instead, there was understanding and love and a willingness to try that was lovely all the same.
I'm very interested to see how Diana Copland tackles Danny's story and the strengthening bonds between the brothers.
Note: These stories are NOT standalones; they must be read in series order.
March 14, 2015
If I didn't have to read this one in order to continue with the series I probably wouldn't have finished. It was a painful read. And not because of any topics in the book, just the book itself. I felt like I never knew wtf was going on. All this build up to what happened in their past to make the MCs so weird and hurt around each other and when we found out I was all "what?", "that's it?". But we don't know anything until like 70% so it's all just jumbled up confusion and questions. Very frustrating read for me!
June 4, 2014
Note that this is the first story in the anthology, not the one listed as #1 on Goodreads. If you want to read the Neverwood stories in order, start with One Door Closes.
Full review of all three stories in the Secrets of Neverwood anthology can be found at -
When Calvin came back to the home of his late foster mother Audrey, he had no idea what he was in for. He had inherited Neverwood, a large mansion, with two of his former foster brothers, Devon and Danny. His relationship with Devon and Danny could only be called strained. He didn't know either man that well when they were children and as adults, they aren't exactly going out of their way to get to know him. Neverwood is in major need of repair and if it's not brought up to code, it will be taken away and possibly torn down. Calvin's hope is to follow in Audrey's footsteps and take in foster children. Unfortunately, the funds aren't there to make the repairs and it looks, with every day that passes, that the large house will be taken away. An influential man in the community hopes to make damn sure of it.
Calvin's stress is increased when he comes face-to-face with the man he loved and lost ten years prior, Will.
This is a great start to an excellent anthology. While this can most definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading all three of the stories so that you can watch each foster brother as they not only find love, but are brought together as brothers to save the home their mother loved so dearly. Throw in Audrey, who in death is still trying to be there for her boys, and you get an outstanding story.
Highly recommended.
Secrets of Neverwood, the full anthology, was provided by the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Full review of all three stories in the Secrets of Neverwood anthology can be found at -
When Calvin came back to the home of his late foster mother Audrey, he had no idea what he was in for. He had inherited Neverwood, a large mansion, with two of his former foster brothers, Devon and Danny. His relationship with Devon and Danny could only be called strained. He didn't know either man that well when they were children and as adults, they aren't exactly going out of their way to get to know him. Neverwood is in major need of repair and if it's not brought up to code, it will be taken away and possibly torn down. Calvin's hope is to follow in Audrey's footsteps and take in foster children. Unfortunately, the funds aren't there to make the repairs and it looks, with every day that passes, that the large house will be taken away. An influential man in the community hopes to make damn sure of it.
Calvin's stress is increased when he comes face-to-face with the man he loved and lost ten years prior, Will.
This is a great start to an excellent anthology. While this can most definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading all three of the stories so that you can watch each foster brother as they not only find love, but are brought together as brothers to save the home their mother loved so dearly. Throw in Audrey, who in death is still trying to be there for her boys, and you get an outstanding story.
Highly recommended.
Secrets of Neverwood, the full anthology, was provided by the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 16, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
To say that I have mixed feelings about this book might be an understatement. Lindsey has a poetic and lyrical style that swept me up and painted vivid pictures with words. Cal’s emotions were clear, and since it’s emotion that drives this book, that’s a good thing. But the story, for me, felt a bit disjointed, certain aspects weren’t as fleshed out as they needed to be, and those things combined left me wanting.
This is Cal’s story, and he’s the only narrator we get. He’s a very analytical, thoughtful man, who doesn’t jump into anything without thinking it through three times first. He’s practical. He’s also very bottled up and doesn’t trust easily. He doesn’t show the emotions he feels. Cal is a bit of an unreliable narrator, which isn’t a bad thing. I felt his pain, his wariness, his desperation, and his need to make things right. I was right there with him for much of the story. However, because he was unwilling or unable to share so much, it left me feeling like I was missing key elements.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
To say that I have mixed feelings about this book might be an understatement. Lindsey has a poetic and lyrical style that swept me up and painted vivid pictures with words. Cal’s emotions were clear, and since it’s emotion that drives this book, that’s a good thing. But the story, for me, felt a bit disjointed, certain aspects weren’t as fleshed out as they needed to be, and those things combined left me wanting.
This is Cal’s story, and he’s the only narrator we get. He’s a very analytical, thoughtful man, who doesn’t jump into anything without thinking it through three times first. He’s practical. He’s also very bottled up and doesn’t trust easily. He doesn’t show the emotions he feels. Cal is a bit of an unreliable narrator, which isn’t a bad thing. I felt his pain, his wariness, his desperation, and his need to make things right. I was right there with him for much of the story. However, because he was unwilling or unable to share so much, it left me feeling like I was missing key elements.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
August 6, 2016
When Calvin Ware returns to Neverwood he feels overwhelmed. Not only does the place bring forth memories of his past but the state of the house require extensive repairs when they have limited resources. Add to that the fact that he's having a hard time relating to his foster brothers while dealing with Audrey's presence and seeing his first love once again.
As expected, the man is a mess of rambling thoughts and emotions.
I was curious about the concept of this anthology. I found it interesting that three foster brothers reunite once again to try to bring the house that once brought them shelter back to life. Add the added presence of their foster mother leading them on and I was hooked.
This first story was a bit hard to get through. Mostly because of Calvin's state of mind. He is a stickler for details so he had a tendency to ramble on and on repeatedly, which at times became overwhelming for me.
Thankfully, G.B. Lindsey managed to keep me interested throughout so that when the story picked up speed I was invested in the outcome.
Aside from the pace of the first half of the story, I think that the author did a great job in establishing the conflict that takes place throughout the anthology while still allowing the romance between Calvin and Will to blossom.
Calvin and Will were involved in high school and separated because of Calvin. Although the author made mention of their connection and how much they had come to care about each other in the past, I wish I could have gotten to experience it first hand.
Again, the pace of the story became a problem for me. There were a lot of guilty feelings and insecurities from Calvin as the story progressed, but not enough for me to truly understand the meaning behind them all. It took some time for me to understand what had gone wrong between Calvin and Will, but eventually it was revealed.
All in all, a great introduction to the anthology that revealed the main conflict and allowed a second chance in love to two individuals who had lost their way from each other.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
As expected, the man is a mess of rambling thoughts and emotions.
I was curious about the concept of this anthology. I found it interesting that three foster brothers reunite once again to try to bring the house that once brought them shelter back to life. Add the added presence of their foster mother leading them on and I was hooked.
This first story was a bit hard to get through. Mostly because of Calvin's state of mind. He is a stickler for details so he had a tendency to ramble on and on repeatedly, which at times became overwhelming for me.
Thankfully, G.B. Lindsey managed to keep me interested throughout so that when the story picked up speed I was invested in the outcome.
Aside from the pace of the first half of the story, I think that the author did a great job in establishing the conflict that takes place throughout the anthology while still allowing the romance between Calvin and Will to blossom.
Calvin and Will were involved in high school and separated because of Calvin. Although the author made mention of their connection and how much they had come to care about each other in the past, I wish I could have gotten to experience it first hand.
Again, the pace of the story became a problem for me. There were a lot of guilty feelings and insecurities from Calvin as the story progressed, but not enough for me to truly understand the meaning behind them all. It took some time for me to understand what had gone wrong between Calvin and Will, but eventually it was revealed.
All in all, a great introduction to the anthology that revealed the main conflict and allowed a second chance in love to two individuals who had lost their way from each other.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
August 16, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say this book really didn’t work for me. Calvin and Will end up dancing around each other and what happened between them years ago. There was a big build up to it and a bit disappointing when they actually got to talk about it and they still talked in round about ways. I’m not a fan of MCs that I feel pretty much lie to themselves but can’t figure it out and that was definitely what Calvin was doing.
This series is an interesting concept, why Audrey chose these 3 out of all the boys she fostered I have no idea. I haven’t read the others in the series and may try them at some point since they are all by different authors.
I have to say this book really didn’t work for me. Calvin and Will end up dancing around each other and what happened between them years ago. There was a big build up to it and a bit disappointing when they actually got to talk about it and they still talked in round about ways. I’m not a fan of MCs that I feel pretty much lie to themselves but can’t figure it out and that was definitely what Calvin was doing.
This series is an interesting concept, why Audrey chose these 3 out of all the boys she fostered I have no idea. I haven’t read the others in the series and may try them at some point since they are all by different authors.
July 5, 2014
Secrets of Neverwood is a three book trilogy with each book following one of three foster brothers: Calvin, Danny, and Devon. The brothers, who vaguely remember and feel no brotherly love towards each other, come back to their old home when their foster mother Audrey dies, leaving her run-down family home, once a grand Victorian estate, to the three. The men run afoul of a deceptive developer who will do anything to get his hands on Neverwood and must learn to work together, trusting and opening up to each as brothers, to keep the house and carry on Audrey’s legacy of taking in gay or questioning youth who have nowhere else to go. Under the overarching storyline of keeping and bringing Neverwood back to its former glory, each book deals with the men discovering Audrey is still with them in spirit, coming to terms with personal demons, and finding love.
One Door Opens is Calvin’s story. Calvin Ware is the kind of person whose mind just doesn’t stop. He’s constantly trying to get things done and often feels like the burden of responsibility wears heavy on his shoulders – not really understanding that he’s taken most of the burden on himself. As the only of her foster children to have returned to visit and help Audrey after he aged out of the home, Calvin feels like it falls onto his shoulders to fix everything and carry on his foster mother’s legacy - starting with bringing the old home up to code since the city and a shady developer named Angus are threatening to condemn and repossess the premises if it’s not. When the contractor Cal hired shows up at his door to get the repairs done, Cal is taken back to realize it’s none other than his childhood sweetheart, Will Cabot, who still makes his palms sweat and stomach clench. Already dealing with grief, an underhanded developer, and money woes, it just may be the bittersweet agony of being around his old flame that will be the tipping point for Cal.
Calvin’s mind is very cluttered and he never stops thinking, and over-thinking, and it shows in the prose, which almost has a stream of consciousness feeling at times. He takes so much on his self and the poor guy is just crushing himself with the pressure. Eventually he realizes he can lean on his brothers to ease some of the strain, but it takes him a very long time to do so.
The romance between Calvin and Will is not the burning kind, Calvin is too reluctant and self-contained for that. It takes the two men a loooong time to make any ground when it comes to reconnecting emotionally and romantically. The rest of the plot resolves (with the developer and bro-bonding) before we really get to the romance portion of the book. It was no wonder Audrey’s spirit tried to butt in and give advice in the boys’ dreams to get the two moving, although she might have done more harm than good, especially when it came to poor Will who was looking sleep deprived and a little worse for wear as the story wore on.
This book felt long, which might have been because I was waiting for some movement in the romance department or because Calvin’s tendency to over think and dwell in the past made the plot feel like it was inching forward. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but if someone’s looking for a quick read or something with action, this isn't it. It’s a romance with a more literary quality to it. Even the intimate scenes, while kind of graphic, were treated with a soft focus filter, giving those moments a softer, hesitant quality that fit Calvin’s personality to a T.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a good start to an interesting series and did a great job of telling its own story while setting up and introducing the players for the series as a whole.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
One Door Opens is Calvin’s story. Calvin Ware is the kind of person whose mind just doesn’t stop. He’s constantly trying to get things done and often feels like the burden of responsibility wears heavy on his shoulders – not really understanding that he’s taken most of the burden on himself. As the only of her foster children to have returned to visit and help Audrey after he aged out of the home, Calvin feels like it falls onto his shoulders to fix everything and carry on his foster mother’s legacy - starting with bringing the old home up to code since the city and a shady developer named Angus are threatening to condemn and repossess the premises if it’s not. When the contractor Cal hired shows up at his door to get the repairs done, Cal is taken back to realize it’s none other than his childhood sweetheart, Will Cabot, who still makes his palms sweat and stomach clench. Already dealing with grief, an underhanded developer, and money woes, it just may be the bittersweet agony of being around his old flame that will be the tipping point for Cal.
Calvin’s mind is very cluttered and he never stops thinking, and over-thinking, and it shows in the prose, which almost has a stream of consciousness feeling at times. He takes so much on his self and the poor guy is just crushing himself with the pressure. Eventually he realizes he can lean on his brothers to ease some of the strain, but it takes him a very long time to do so.
The romance between Calvin and Will is not the burning kind, Calvin is too reluctant and self-contained for that. It takes the two men a loooong time to make any ground when it comes to reconnecting emotionally and romantically. The rest of the plot resolves (with the developer and bro-bonding) before we really get to the romance portion of the book. It was no wonder Audrey’s spirit tried to butt in and give advice in the boys’ dreams to get the two moving, although she might have done more harm than good, especially when it came to poor Will who was looking sleep deprived and a little worse for wear as the story wore on.
This book felt long, which might have been because I was waiting for some movement in the romance department or because Calvin’s tendency to over think and dwell in the past made the plot feel like it was inching forward. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but if someone’s looking for a quick read or something with action, this isn't it. It’s a romance with a more literary quality to it. Even the intimate scenes, while kind of graphic, were treated with a soft focus filter, giving those moments a softer, hesitant quality that fit Calvin’s personality to a T.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a good start to an interesting series and did a great job of telling its own story while setting up and introducing the players for the series as a whole.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
September 21, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.
4.5 stars
When his foster mother died, she left the old mansion to Calvin and two of his foster brothers. Unfortunately, with inheriting the mansion comes a ton of trouble and stress, the least of which is having the property being threatened with repossession. Determined to keep the mansion and restoring it to its former glory, Calvin hires a contractor to fix it up who just happens to be Will, Calvin’s high school boyfriend. With a painful past between them, it’s far from comfortable to be around each other. But Calvin has more important things to worry about like trying to figure how he can afford to pay for the repairs and keep the pushy developer from claiming the property once and for all.
I will freely admit that I when I started this book, I really had no idea what it was about. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading it and was drawn into the story right away. Calvin’s an emotional mess to say the least. Diagnosed with clinical depression, he tries his best to cope with what’s happening. At first, he’s bitter and resentful towards his brothers for having a share in the house when they didn’t seem to care one bit about what was happening or trying to help keep the mansion. As the story progresses, the brothers do what they can to save the mansion and I loved that even though they had their issues with each other, in the end, they came together to save the thing that brought them all together.
It isn’t until about the last third of the story that the relationship between Will and Calvin starts to really pick up. Up to that point, there is the underlying tension between them, the hesitance and sadness over what they once had and lost. It was interesting to see them around each other with their past as a barrier between them but I also liked that they were able to push through that. Calvin had a lot of problems to get through. One of which is him talking about his clinical depression and why Calvin did what he did all those years ago. Will wasn’t as developed as I would have liked but, in the end, I loved that he was so beaten up about what happened between them in the past and how he still yearned for Calvin and while it’s never admitted, it’s obvious they both still love each other after all these years.
I loved this book but, for me, the fact that the dream-talking with Audrey was in a different tense than the rest of the story (first compared to third person) really through me for a loop. It felt a little awkward to go back and forth, especially since it wasn’t really a dream. Not to mention for a majority of the dreams, I was confused if it was Calvin reliving memories or actually communicating to Audrey’s ghost presence.
All in all, this was a fantastic story that had two major conflicts: saving the house that reminds Calvin and his brothers of their foster mother and overcoming his awkwardness around Will and sex. I loved that Calvin was so overwhelmed and stressed but also how everything ended up working out for the better. A great first story in the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. It made me intrigued for the other brothers’ stories, definitely looking forward to them!
4.5 stars
When his foster mother died, she left the old mansion to Calvin and two of his foster brothers. Unfortunately, with inheriting the mansion comes a ton of trouble and stress, the least of which is having the property being threatened with repossession. Determined to keep the mansion and restoring it to its former glory, Calvin hires a contractor to fix it up who just happens to be Will, Calvin’s high school boyfriend. With a painful past between them, it’s far from comfortable to be around each other. But Calvin has more important things to worry about like trying to figure how he can afford to pay for the repairs and keep the pushy developer from claiming the property once and for all.
I will freely admit that I when I started this book, I really had no idea what it was about. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading it and was drawn into the story right away. Calvin’s an emotional mess to say the least. Diagnosed with clinical depression, he tries his best to cope with what’s happening. At first, he’s bitter and resentful towards his brothers for having a share in the house when they didn’t seem to care one bit about what was happening or trying to help keep the mansion. As the story progresses, the brothers do what they can to save the mansion and I loved that even though they had their issues with each other, in the end, they came together to save the thing that brought them all together.
It isn’t until about the last third of the story that the relationship between Will and Calvin starts to really pick up. Up to that point, there is the underlying tension between them, the hesitance and sadness over what they once had and lost. It was interesting to see them around each other with their past as a barrier between them but I also liked that they were able to push through that. Calvin had a lot of problems to get through. One of which is him talking about his clinical depression and why Calvin did what he did all those years ago. Will wasn’t as developed as I would have liked but, in the end, I loved that he was so beaten up about what happened between them in the past and how he still yearned for Calvin and while it’s never admitted, it’s obvious they both still love each other after all these years.
I loved this book but, for me, the fact that the dream-talking with Audrey was in a different tense than the rest of the story (first compared to third person) really through me for a loop. It felt a little awkward to go back and forth, especially since it wasn’t really a dream. Not to mention for a majority of the dreams, I was confused if it was Calvin reliving memories or actually communicating to Audrey’s ghost presence.
All in all, this was a fantastic story that had two major conflicts: saving the house that reminds Calvin and his brothers of their foster mother and overcoming his awkwardness around Will and sex. I loved that Calvin was so overwhelmed and stressed but also how everything ended up working out for the better. A great first story in the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. It made me intrigued for the other brothers’ stories, definitely looking forward to them!
June 30, 2014
My Rating: B+
My Review:
This book had a really different style to it...almost artsy, or high-literary. There was a lot that wasn't being said in the story...it was just inferred. It's difficult to explain because it was very different. It wasn't a bad different, but it did take a bit of time/reading to get used to.
As the reader you know that Cal and Will have a history, but you only get little bits and pieces of the details of that history. Also, Cal has other issues and he can feel his world unraveling as the stress in his life gets higher and higher. Like I said, so much of this is inferred...definitely all secretive and it keeps you guessing about what exactly happened although it's not hard to figure out the general details of the secrets.
This is also the first book in the anthology so it's the one setting up the relationships between the brothers vs their relationship to their foster mother and now their conflict within the town. I definitely liked the entire set-up here. The three brothers all grew up within the home, but at different times, so they barely know each other. So not only are they dealing with the loss of a woman who was very dear to all three of them, they are also learning to know each other, and trying to figure out how to save the home because there is a powerful man in town who's determined that these three men will not get to keep the home.
Then there is Will and Cal. It took forever to figure out exactly what happened between them, but there's no denying that they both still have feelings.They both just really suck at expressing them. There is so much that needs to be said between the two of them...which means that they both read way too much into the things that aren't said...and of course, they both are always reading things wrong. I liked them and their common goal of saving the house. I liked Will's job as contractor and how that puts him right in the middle of Cal's world, whether he's comfortable with him there or not. This one worked for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
My Review:
This book had a really different style to it...almost artsy, or high-literary. There was a lot that wasn't being said in the story...it was just inferred. It's difficult to explain because it was very different. It wasn't a bad different, but it did take a bit of time/reading to get used to.
As the reader you know that Cal and Will have a history, but you only get little bits and pieces of the details of that history. Also, Cal has other issues and he can feel his world unraveling as the stress in his life gets higher and higher. Like I said, so much of this is inferred...definitely all secretive and it keeps you guessing about what exactly happened although it's not hard to figure out the general details of the secrets.
This is also the first book in the anthology so it's the one setting up the relationships between the brothers vs their relationship to their foster mother and now their conflict within the town. I definitely liked the entire set-up here. The three brothers all grew up within the home, but at different times, so they barely know each other. So not only are they dealing with the loss of a woman who was very dear to all three of them, they are also learning to know each other, and trying to figure out how to save the home because there is a powerful man in town who's determined that these three men will not get to keep the home.
Then there is Will and Cal. It took forever to figure out exactly what happened between them, but there's no denying that they both still have feelings.They both just really suck at expressing them. There is so much that needs to be said between the two of them...which means that they both read way too much into the things that aren't said...and of course, they both are always reading things wrong. I liked them and their common goal of saving the house. I liked Will's job as contractor and how that puts him right in the middle of Cal's world, whether he's comfortable with him there or not. This one worked for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
April 23, 2015
I read this as part of the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. Parts of this story were a real struggle for me. I am not overly fond of reunited lovers stories and in this one I found the writing very hard to get into. For the first half of the story there were very few details about any of the characters so I had a really hard time connecting to them or caring about their problems. The two main characters spent the majority of the story avoiding each other so I didn't understand where their relationship was coming from. I thought the story got much better when we finally started getting details about the characters' pasts and when the two main characters finally started spending time together.
February 7, 2016
2.5 stars. I can't say this was enjoyable... It was too fraught to be enjoyed. Cal is a deeply complicated person with enough issues to fill a library. His love interest, Will, is someone we really don't get to know, which is a shame as he seems much more likable than Cal.
I just didn't really get what had gone on between Cal and Will until around the 75/80% mark and, by then, I really didn't care. Written well for the most part but yeah. The timing of the reveal was seriously off.
Lots of mental illness shaming here, as well. As someone that suffers from clinical depression, I was getting pretty pissed off by the end of the story. The only thing stopping me from a full rant is the fact that fictional characters do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the author.
I just didn't really get what had gone on between Cal and Will until around the 75/80% mark and, by then, I really didn't care. Written well for the most part but yeah. The timing of the reveal was seriously off.
Lots of mental illness shaming here, as well. As someone that suffers from clinical depression, I was getting pretty pissed off by the end of the story. The only thing stopping me from a full rant is the fact that fictional characters do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the author.
January 30, 2016
This is the first in a three-part series -- and it was the toughest to read. By the end of the book, I was sold on the series but you do have to work for it as a reader. The book was maybe too ambitious in introducing a lot of characters and developing a pretty solid long story arc. The protagonist's head was also a tough place to be because he was full of worries and didn't know how to reach out to others for support. I liked his love interest and the potential for their relationship enough to stick with it, and by the end of the story I was glad to have read a romance with a complex storyline. The second and third books also make it worth it to read this one. Great series!
September 8, 2015
bello,commovente e romantico,spero che il resto della trilogia sia simile.
August 18, 2018
*ARC provided by the author*
What the holy fuck was this story? Beats me. And I just finished it.
Okay, so: this is the first in a three-story series, so it's expected to not give everything out. Regardless... SOME clear picture would have been nice. I feel like, I finished reading and I still don't really know much of anything. Again, I know that the story's meant to pan out in the course of three books but you can't spend a whole book opening multiple story arcs and truly wrapping one of them- the one about the relationship between Cal and Will which, needless to say, was the LEAST RELEVANT of all: I want to know more about "The House"- as I ended up calling it in my mind; I want to know more about Audrey and her history with fostering. SOMETHING being explored/explained in depth would have been nice.
The things I do think this story got right were (predictably) regarding Cal's character: he was truly well developed, and had real depth, he felt the most human amongst the characters. The others felt more like caricatures that came somewhat alive when in contact to him. There was certain care that I deeply appreciated to the way the author handled Cal's experience regarding both sex/sexuality and mental health issues. Even through some distance, I could really relate sometimes to his experience and feelings, and that's one of the things I seek the most while reading, that empathy factor. Sometimes, poorly-handled stories make it really hard for the reader to feel for the characters. I'm glad this was not the case, so there's a huge plus to this story, all things considered.
In terms of the love story, it was both the most neglected and the most developed arc of them all: there was a reasonable dedication to painting the picture of the backstory so the reader could understand where the characters stood in present time and why, but even that was dragged a bit too much. Imagine this: if you had to have the author telling you this story face to face, it would be the equivalent of tying her to a chair and prying it out of her with several persuasive tactics.
There's slowburn (think Anyta Sunday's glorious... ANY story) and then there's torturously slow-paced stories where the reader is practically begging the characters,in her mind, to please, move it.
All in all, I felt like this one was too ambitious, wanted to say a lot of things, but ended up telling nothing much. Again, I appreciate the fact that it's the opening installment in a series, but still that doesn't excuse the vague storytelling, the weird focus on all the wrong things and the neglecting of important elements? I'm about as confused as I was when I first started reading. I do think I'll be picking up the other books, but this one left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.
What the holy fuck was this story? Beats me. And I just finished it.
Okay, so: this is the first in a three-story series, so it's expected to not give everything out. Regardless... SOME clear picture would have been nice. I feel like, I finished reading and I still don't really know much of anything. Again, I know that the story's meant to pan out in the course of three books but you can't spend a whole book opening multiple story arcs and truly wrapping one of them- the one about the relationship between Cal and Will which, needless to say, was the LEAST RELEVANT of all: I want to know more about "The House"- as I ended up calling it in my mind; I want to know more about Audrey and her history with fostering. SOMETHING being explored/explained in depth would have been nice.
The things I do think this story got right were (predictably) regarding Cal's character: he was truly well developed, and had real depth, he felt the most human amongst the characters. The others felt more like caricatures that came somewhat alive when in contact to him. There was certain care that I deeply appreciated to the way the author handled Cal's experience regarding both sex/sexuality and mental health issues. Even through some distance, I could really relate sometimes to his experience and feelings, and that's one of the things I seek the most while reading, that empathy factor. Sometimes, poorly-handled stories make it really hard for the reader to feel for the characters. I'm glad this was not the case, so there's a huge plus to this story, all things considered.
In terms of the love story, it was both the most neglected and the most developed arc of them all: there was a reasonable dedication to painting the picture of the backstory so the reader could understand where the characters stood in present time and why, but even that was dragged a bit too much. Imagine this: if you had to have the author telling you this story face to face, it would be the equivalent of tying her to a chair and prying it out of her with several persuasive tactics.
There's slowburn (think Anyta Sunday's glorious... ANY story) and then there's torturously slow-paced stories where the reader is practically begging the characters,in her mind, to please, move it.
All in all, I felt like this one was too ambitious, wanted to say a lot of things, but ended up telling nothing much. Again, I appreciate the fact that it's the opening installment in a series, but still that doesn't excuse the vague storytelling, the weird focus on all the wrong things and the neglecting of important elements? I'm about as confused as I was when I first started reading. I do think I'll be picking up the other books, but this one left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.
February 2, 2018
This book was most definitely different then what I thought it was going to be like. Honestly I am torn on whether I should rate it a three or a four because in some ways I liked it but in other ways I didn't.
This is a book about three foster brothers who inherited the home they grew up in from their foster mom. The home needs so much work done to it and very limited time to come up with the money to get it done before an investment firm called PAC Western gets their hands on it. It is all a part of an agreement their mom signed before she passed.
With time not on their side a contracting firm is called in to help the boys get the house back in order. What One of the brothers, Calvin did not expect is for his high school boyfriend Will to show up to do the work. There is so much that was left unsaid between them from before sonit is making things awkward now.
The thing is there is so much that Calvin never got to say to Will and so much more that Will never knew about Calvin. Now the question is whether or not these brothers can get done what they need to do in order to protect the home that they all know needs to be protecting. Also can Calvin and Will find their way back to one another?
This book was both god and bad. I did not like it because for the longest time through out the read I really did not know what was going on other then them needing to save the house. I liked it because about three quarters of the way through it, things started to make since to me and I finally got where the author was going with this book. So for these two reasons I was torn and did not know what I wanted to rate thhis book at. I decided to go ahead and follow what I did like about it with my rating. I just hope that the next book does not take so long to come together like his one did.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
This is a book about three foster brothers who inherited the home they grew up in from their foster mom. The home needs so much work done to it and very limited time to come up with the money to get it done before an investment firm called PAC Western gets their hands on it. It is all a part of an agreement their mom signed before she passed.
With time not on their side a contracting firm is called in to help the boys get the house back in order. What One of the brothers, Calvin did not expect is for his high school boyfriend Will to show up to do the work. There is so much that was left unsaid between them from before sonit is making things awkward now.
The thing is there is so much that Calvin never got to say to Will and so much more that Will never knew about Calvin. Now the question is whether or not these brothers can get done what they need to do in order to protect the home that they all know needs to be protecting. Also can Calvin and Will find their way back to one another?
This book was both god and bad. I did not like it because for the longest time through out the read I really did not know what was going on other then them needing to save the house. I liked it because about three quarters of the way through it, things started to make since to me and I finally got where the author was going with this book. So for these two reasons I was torn and did not know what I wanted to rate thhis book at. I decided to go ahead and follow what I did like about it with my rating. I just hope that the next book does not take so long to come together like his one did.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
November 4, 2017
Unfortunately I'm going to be a Debbie Downer about this story. The first 80% or so I really struggled with. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of the story instead of the beginning. There was a lot of history that was just touched on but never fully explained (I think maybe on purpose?) I did a lot of "WTH is going on?" Did I read this out of order missing how things started? The answer to that was no. I finally found that out around the 80% mark, things I felt I'd missed were answered. From there things really did pick up but by then I was in the I don't really care what happens or happened mode. Sadly it was too little too late.
If the beginning had been as endearing as the last 20% I'd have been a happy camper.
Update Nov 4, 2017
After having just completed reading this series I have to say it is worth the read. My thoughts on One Door Closes haven't changed but as part of the series it makes more sense. I just wish the beginning started out with the same amount of bang as the end did.
If the beginning had been as endearing as the last 20% I'd have been a happy camper.
Update Nov 4, 2017
After having just completed reading this series I have to say it is worth the read. My thoughts on One Door Closes haven't changed but as part of the series it makes more sense. I just wish the beginning started out with the same amount of bang as the end did.
August 21, 2018
This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
This was not the book for me. I felt that I was drop in the middle of the story. There are Calvin and his brother trying to restore their late mother’s home and the man working on the house is no other than Calvin’s ex, Will. It was a mystery to the reader on why they broke up but it was something really major because they avoided each other. When you finally find out it was a bit underwhelming. At the point it was revealed, I was over this story. Besides a few glances, there was no real tension. I wasn’t sure anything will happen between them. It was nearly the end before they had a real conversation. They happened but just as soon the story had ended The flow was just off for me.
This was not the book for me. I felt that I was drop in the middle of the story. There are Calvin and his brother trying to restore their late mother’s home and the man working on the house is no other than Calvin’s ex, Will. It was a mystery to the reader on why they broke up but it was something really major because they avoided each other. When you finally find out it was a bit underwhelming. At the point it was revealed, I was over this story. Besides a few glances, there was no real tension. I wasn’t sure anything will happen between them. It was nearly the end before they had a real conversation. They happened but just as soon the story had ended The flow was just off for me.
December 6, 2014
Calvin Ware grew up as a foster child in the loving home of Audrey with his other two foster brothers Devon and Danny. Once Calvin aged out of the system he left for a bigger city and gained an education and career but his life came to a stop when he received word that Audrey had died and she left the mansion to him and his brothers. Never really getting to know them, they certainly aren’t welcoming him back with open arms this time.
Through a letter she wrote she asked him to trust himself enough to fix up the house and use it for the purpose she had intended, to help others. That didn’t seem like it would be too difficult till he saw the condition of the house. Calling in a contractor was going to be his only choice, but even that choice came with drama. Opening the door to Will, the man he had a history with from school.
Calvin is going to need to learn to deal with the stress this move is causing in a healthier way than he has in the past. Knowing every penny he has is going to end up in this mansion, he is going to have to decide what he is going to do to handle his stress and other issues that he will be forced to admit.
For Will and Calvin to ever put the past behind them and find a future they are going to have to come clean with their secrets. The chemistry is there but is the love they think they feel enough to get them through the dark paths from the past. As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Calvin’s foster brothers have a past of their own that will haunt everyone involved in getting Audrey’s last wish fulfilled. When a local man is willing to use their mistakes against them to gain the mansion some serious questions are going to have to be answered.
I enjoyed this book, it was clear that Calvin was learning how to take the faith Audrey had in him and keep moving forward. His truth regarding his past was heart breaking at times but I loved seeing Will accept him and support his dreams. I look forward to the other books in the Neverwood series, the author did a great job at giving us enough information about Devon and Danny to want to know more.
Through a letter she wrote she asked him to trust himself enough to fix up the house and use it for the purpose she had intended, to help others. That didn’t seem like it would be too difficult till he saw the condition of the house. Calling in a contractor was going to be his only choice, but even that choice came with drama. Opening the door to Will, the man he had a history with from school.
Calvin is going to need to learn to deal with the stress this move is causing in a healthier way than he has in the past. Knowing every penny he has is going to end up in this mansion, he is going to have to decide what he is going to do to handle his stress and other issues that he will be forced to admit.
For Will and Calvin to ever put the past behind them and find a future they are going to have to come clean with their secrets. The chemistry is there but is the love they think they feel enough to get them through the dark paths from the past. As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Calvin’s foster brothers have a past of their own that will haunt everyone involved in getting Audrey’s last wish fulfilled. When a local man is willing to use their mistakes against them to gain the mansion some serious questions are going to have to be answered.
I enjoyed this book, it was clear that Calvin was learning how to take the faith Audrey had in him and keep moving forward. His truth regarding his past was heart breaking at times but I loved seeing Will accept him and support his dreams. I look forward to the other books in the Neverwood series, the author did a great job at giving us enough information about Devon and Danny to want to know more.
March 14, 2015
Oh boy, I am not entirely sure what to say about this one. From a character perspective, it is a worthy intro to this anthology. We get a good intro to Calvin. We get enough info about Devon to whet our appetite. Danny, however, is very much the forgotten main character in this one.
One Door Closes focuses on Calvin. Though, “focus” is a term I use loosely in this instance. I often found the prose rambling and hard to follow. I repeatedly had to re-read sections (sometimes more than once), and for someone who reads as much and as quickly as I do, that is quite a frustration. I have never used the term “purple prose” in a review before, but it the only way I can describe One Door Closes. The prose is beautiful but very inappropriate to the genre and, more importantly, to the story the author was attempting to tell.
Lindsey never explained anything. While I enjoy a story that makes me think and allows me to draw my own conclusions, one the keeps me completely off kilter and never gives adequate explanations (implied or otherwise) does not make for an enjoyable reading experience. I, also, often got the impression I was being spoken AT. I was not a part of the story, simply an unwanted observer who was made to feel like they were intruding and purposely being kept away from the meat of the story. On second thought, that statement is inaccurate. I was not being kept from the meat of the story; I was being kept from the entire thing with long, convoluted sections of telling and not nearly enough showing.
I could probably go on for another 200 words about this story, but I will just leave you with this. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed getting to know Calvin and am looking forward to Danny and Devon’s stories very much.
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
One Door Closes focuses on Calvin. Though, “focus” is a term I use loosely in this instance. I often found the prose rambling and hard to follow. I repeatedly had to re-read sections (sometimes more than once), and for someone who reads as much and as quickly as I do, that is quite a frustration. I have never used the term “purple prose” in a review before, but it the only way I can describe One Door Closes. The prose is beautiful but very inappropriate to the genre and, more importantly, to the story the author was attempting to tell.
Lindsey never explained anything. While I enjoy a story that makes me think and allows me to draw my own conclusions, one the keeps me completely off kilter and never gives adequate explanations (implied or otherwise) does not make for an enjoyable reading experience. I, also, often got the impression I was being spoken AT. I was not a part of the story, simply an unwanted observer who was made to feel like they were intruding and purposely being kept away from the meat of the story. On second thought, that statement is inaccurate. I was not being kept from the meat of the story; I was being kept from the entire thing with long, convoluted sections of telling and not nearly enough showing.
I could probably go on for another 200 words about this story, but I will just leave you with this. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed getting to know Calvin and am looking forward to Danny and Devon’s stories very much.
Find the Full review at Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
June 27, 2014
The Secrets of Neverwood anthology begins with G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes. Calvin "Cal" Ware kept in close touch with Audrey and in the aftermath of her death, he is overwhelmed by the financial burden of renovating the rundown Victorian home. Adding to Cal's stress are his strained relationships with his foster brothers, and his renewed acquaintance with his first love, Will Cabot.
One Door Closes is written from Cal's perspective but he is not an easy character to get to know. He is haunted by his unresolved relationship with Will and he finds it virtually impossible to talk about anything in his past, including the reasons surrounding their break-up. Cal's secrets are alluded to on numerous occasions, but nothing concrete is revealed until nearly the very end of the story.
Cal's interactions with his foster brothers are tense and often overshadowed by some of his bitterness for past events. He finds it difficult to ask them for help and since both men are as close-mouthed as Cal is, he has no idea what their intentions are regarding their inheritance. The tension between the men continues to mount until Cal's resentment leads to a much needed discussion about the future of the house.
Both the paranormal and romantic elements of One Door Closes are understated for much of the novel. Audrey's ghostly appearances are vague in the beginning and the reasons for her visits remain unclear until the story's conclusion. Cal and Will eventually rekindle their teenage romance but this does not occur until very late in the book.
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is a fabulous introduction to the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. I am very intrigued by the glimpses of Cal's foster brothers and I am very much anticipating their stories.
One Door Closes is written from Cal's perspective but he is not an easy character to get to know. He is haunted by his unresolved relationship with Will and he finds it virtually impossible to talk about anything in his past, including the reasons surrounding their break-up. Cal's secrets are alluded to on numerous occasions, but nothing concrete is revealed until nearly the very end of the story.
Cal's interactions with his foster brothers are tense and often overshadowed by some of his bitterness for past events. He finds it difficult to ask them for help and since both men are as close-mouthed as Cal is, he has no idea what their intentions are regarding their inheritance. The tension between the men continues to mount until Cal's resentment leads to a much needed discussion about the future of the house.
Both the paranormal and romantic elements of One Door Closes are understated for much of the novel. Audrey's ghostly appearances are vague in the beginning and the reasons for her visits remain unclear until the story's conclusion. Cal and Will eventually rekindle their teenage romance but this does not occur until very late in the book.
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is a fabulous introduction to the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. I am very intrigued by the glimpses of Cal's foster brothers and I am very much anticipating their stories.
September 9, 2016
I received One Door Closes in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is my first G.B. Lindsey read. I read this story as part of the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. G.B. Lindsey got to start the story off, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Regardless, I think it was appropriate to start things off with Cal. He wasn’t the oldest, but he was the only one of the brothers who had kept in contact with Aubrey. He came and visited and helped out when he was needed, but even his visits were sporadic and he had no clue how sick she was. He saw himself as the most logical person to take charge, even though he didn’t want to. He needed his brothers’ help, but he didn’t know how to ask and he didn’t think they were either willing or able. He had a lot to learn.
Will was his first love and readers didn’t know until near the end exactly what pulled them apart. We knew that something had happened and that Cal blamed himself for it, but it was only hinted at, never fully revealed. I kind of liked that approach. I also liked the fact that Will and Cal weren’t immediately thrown together. The connection and attraction was there, but it wasn’t acted on until the time was right. They both had a lot to come to terms with and the time span worked.
I also liked the way things developed between Cal, Devon and Danny. They also had a lot to work through and Aubrey’s influence brought them together in more ways than one. Their story is just the beginning, but it is far from over. The foundation is laid for what comes next for both the brothers and Neverwood. One Door Closes did an excellent job of starting things off and set the stage for Danny and Devon’s stories.
This is my first G.B. Lindsey read. I read this story as part of the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. G.B. Lindsey got to start the story off, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Regardless, I think it was appropriate to start things off with Cal. He wasn’t the oldest, but he was the only one of the brothers who had kept in contact with Aubrey. He came and visited and helped out when he was needed, but even his visits were sporadic and he had no clue how sick she was. He saw himself as the most logical person to take charge, even though he didn’t want to. He needed his brothers’ help, but he didn’t know how to ask and he didn’t think they were either willing or able. He had a lot to learn.
Will was his first love and readers didn’t know until near the end exactly what pulled them apart. We knew that something had happened and that Cal blamed himself for it, but it was only hinted at, never fully revealed. I kind of liked that approach. I also liked the fact that Will and Cal weren’t immediately thrown together. The connection and attraction was there, but it wasn’t acted on until the time was right. They both had a lot to come to terms with and the time span worked.
I also liked the way things developed between Cal, Devon and Danny. They also had a lot to work through and Aubrey’s influence brought them together in more ways than one. Their story is just the beginning, but it is far from over. The foundation is laid for what comes next for both the brothers and Neverwood. One Door Closes did an excellent job of starting things off and set the stage for Danny and Devon’s stories.
May 30, 2014
One Door Closes introduces readers to a home in Washington that has served as a home for gay and questioning boys. Audrey gave her boys a place where they could grow comfortably into good men. She gave them the sanctuary they needed to develop into who they wanted to be. As Audrey passes she brings three of her sons back to Neverwood to continue her work.
Calvin is the first to return to his childhood home. The home is filled with memories, many he had hoped to forget. He had his first love there and it is something he never really got over. He still thinks about all the mistakes he made with Will. Calvin still has much insecurity when it comes to all things Will. So anyone can imagine the surprise Calvin gets when it is Will that shows up on his doorstep as one of the building contractors there to make the numerous repairs in Neverwood.
I’m on the fence about how I feel about this book. I loved the story. The Neverwood history and bringing the boys back and the process of saving the home is a wonderful journey to follow. Cal’s character kept me guessing about how he would react to any given situation. I enjoyed that. He is a uniquely intriguing man. I wanted more romance. I’m not talking about actual sex scenes. I know the feelings Will and Cal share because it is written in black and white on my Kindle in the form of memories and dreams. I needed more than that. The romance felt like a rekindle of something that never went away.
I read the three Secrets of Neverwood book in the anthology that included all three tales. One Door Closes is the first story in the complete book. I am looking forward to what Danny and Devon have coming with their story of Neverwood.
Calvin is the first to return to his childhood home. The home is filled with memories, many he had hoped to forget. He had his first love there and it is something he never really got over. He still thinks about all the mistakes he made with Will. Calvin still has much insecurity when it comes to all things Will. So anyone can imagine the surprise Calvin gets when it is Will that shows up on his doorstep as one of the building contractors there to make the numerous repairs in Neverwood.
I’m on the fence about how I feel about this book. I loved the story. The Neverwood history and bringing the boys back and the process of saving the home is a wonderful journey to follow. Cal’s character kept me guessing about how he would react to any given situation. I enjoyed that. He is a uniquely intriguing man. I wanted more romance. I’m not talking about actual sex scenes. I know the feelings Will and Cal share because it is written in black and white on my Kindle in the form of memories and dreams. I needed more than that. The romance felt like a rekindle of something that never went away.
I read the three Secrets of Neverwood book in the anthology that included all three tales. One Door Closes is the first story in the complete book. I am looking forward to what Danny and Devon have coming with their story of Neverwood.
July 14, 2014
The product description and other reviews gives you a very good idea what this book is about and the idea of Audrey being a foster Mother to young gay boys appealed to me.
Although Calvin, Danny and Devon were not close while they lived with Audrey she leaves them the house after she passes from cancer and wants them to carry on helping troubles teens.
This book starts with the letter Audrey leaves Calvin... Just reading that letter heighten my emotions!
Calvin has his own psychological problems so learning to live with Two new brothers was never going to be easy. Trying to raise the money to save the house and continue Audrey's work seems impossible but the Three brothers are not going to give up without a fight and their Mother is certainly going to give a helping hand.
I found the first half of this book a little slow although I enjoyed it very much. This is the first book in the series and after finishing this book I am very excited to move on to the next book straight away! If you enjoy a great storyline with lots of twists then I highly recommend you download!
Although Calvin, Danny and Devon were not close while they lived with Audrey she leaves them the house after she passes from cancer and wants them to carry on helping troubles teens.
This book starts with the letter Audrey leaves Calvin... Just reading that letter heighten my emotions!
Calvin has his own psychological problems so learning to live with Two new brothers was never going to be easy. Trying to raise the money to save the house and continue Audrey's work seems impossible but the Three brothers are not going to give up without a fight and their Mother is certainly going to give a helping hand.
I found the first half of this book a little slow although I enjoyed it very much. This is the first book in the series and after finishing this book I am very excited to move on to the next book straight away! If you enjoy a great storyline with lots of twists then I highly recommend you download!
July 9, 2014
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5 (rounded up here)
From my review: " love the idea behind the Neverwood stories. The trilogy plot of three foster brothers, each with their own closely held secrets, is an engrossing concept, one that is easy to connect with. None of the brothers were particularly close when they lived at Neverwood and only Calvin appears to have remained in touch with Audrey after leaving foster care. Told from Calvin's perspective, you get the viewpoint of the child he was when he arrived at Neverwood and that of the returning, grieving adult. Calvin is a man on overload…"
For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-2Ea
for all my reviews, author interviews, book contests and such, visit http://ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords...
July 28, 2015
Well written and enjoyable, if a little disappointing in some aspects.
I'm still not sure what Cal's issue with intimacy was, why the author created such a big lead up only to have Cal 'top', and then the hollow resolution of one night of 'sex' with Will as a solution to all his ills... the reason for which still remains a mystery.
Also why the angst with the jealousy about Devon? I enjoyed it, yes, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but in retrospect, it seemed an unnecessary plot device.
I'm still not sure what Cal's issue with intimacy was, why the author created such a big lead up only to have Cal 'top', and then the hollow resolution of one night of 'sex' with Will as a solution to all his ills... the reason for which still remains a mystery.
Also why the angst with the jealousy about Devon? I enjoyed it, yes, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but in retrospect, it seemed an unnecessary plot device.
November 8, 2015
Troppo lento,noioso
Troppi monologhi, storie personali non approfondite
Sembra più un resoconto di una ristrutturazione e messa a punto di impresa che una storia d'amore
Che tra l'altro la suddetta storia d'amore è molto poco descritta, del resto Calvin è così apatico e antipatico....
Speriamo meglio con i prossimi due fratelli
Troppi monologhi, storie personali non approfondite
Sembra più un resoconto di una ristrutturazione e messa a punto di impresa che una storia d'amore
Che tra l'altro la suddetta storia d'amore è molto poco descritta, del resto Calvin è così apatico e antipatico....
Speriamo meglio con i prossimi due fratelli
June 5, 2014
Enjoyable reunion romance that normally I don't enjoy but this one had the men being honest about their past in a way that I liked. I have to admit I didn't love the paranormal element in novella one but by the third novella I understood it and liked it.
Read
July 16, 2014will rate and review after reading entire set
February 28, 2016
Weird ending. Okay story.
March 22, 2016
Pretty good.. Had me outright crying at points.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews