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One Thing Leads
What makes a young man go further than he ever thought he would?
Dion Bellamy is twenty-seven and studying social work at the University of Chicago. He has lived with Kenji Okamura, a construction worker, for a year and a half. Dion loves Kenji and passionately hopes Kenji feels the same, but he has never said the three big words. Then Grayson Sinclair, Dion’s schoolmate and a vivacious, oversexed playboy, comes between them.
One step at a time, barely aware where his steps are leading, Dion descends the slippery slope into a life of depravity. First, Grayson ensures Kenji is out of the way. Then he entices Dion to go clubbing with him, gets Dion drunk and high, and then takes him to a sex club, where he films Dion giving blow jobs to multiple men. He threatens to put the video online unless Dion signs a contract to work as a prostitute. Though he hardly understands how he reached this point, Dion must now figure out how to escape his fate and save himself.
Dion Bellamy is twenty-seven and studying social work at the University of Chicago. He has lived with Kenji Okamura, a construction worker, for a year and a half. Dion loves Kenji and passionately hopes Kenji feels the same, but he has never said the three big words. Then Grayson Sinclair, Dion’s schoolmate and a vivacious, oversexed playboy, comes between them.
One step at a time, barely aware where his steps are leading, Dion descends the slippery slope into a life of depravity. First, Grayson ensures Kenji is out of the way. Then he entices Dion to go clubbing with him, gets Dion drunk and high, and then takes him to a sex club, where he films Dion giving blow jobs to multiple men. He threatens to put the video online unless Dion signs a contract to work as a prostitute. Though he hardly understands how he reached this point, Dion must now figure out how to escape his fate and save himself.
230 pages, ebook
First published October 20, 2014
34 people want to read
About the author
Jude Dunn
22 books10 followersJude Dunn is an author whose work spans a number of genres, including gay romance and erotica, science fiction, thrillers and adventure stories, and mainstream fiction. He is an editor for a specialty publishing house by day, but his passion is telling tales that entertain and inspire his readers. Dunn lives in Chicago and enjoys a number of pastimes, from gourmet cooking and sampling a variety of wines to jazz and performing his own music as a local pianist. His cat, who has yet to answer to any of the myriad names Dunn has tried, keeps him company in between his always anticipated and passionate visits to Toronto to spend time with his husband of nine years. Dunn’s work is sometimes subtle, sometimes fiery, but is always an entertaining and satisfying read.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 6, 2014
One Thing Leads is about two young lovers, Kenji and Dion. They have been together for over a year. They both love each other but haven't yet said the words. As in any relationship especially young men in their early twenties they have their arguments. Kenji is a part Asian and from a poor family. He was taught at an early age to keep his feelings hidden and you don't get hurt as badly. He is the type that when they do argue he walks away and lets it blow over.
Dion is more outspoken. He is fun-loving and flirty. The two men are very committed to each other none the less. Kenji works and supports them both while Dion is in school. Its been hot and one of Kenji's coworkers gives them an air conditioner. Kenji asks Dion to get his Wealthy friend Greyson to help him pick it up. Dion invites Greyson, a very attractive and sexually forward man to dinner as payment for his troubles. He is very flirty with both Dion and Kenji and both men are attracted to him. Then as the saying goes One thing Leads...
I'm gonna start off and honestly say that iIfelt the story started a bit slowly. I did love the relationship build up of Kenji and Dion had. It's loving and you can just picture the two men and they way they look at each other. Then the story would skip around through several characters. Now having said that I do think that this buildup was very important for us to see just how committed and in love these two men are and their personalities. I also think the switching of characters was smooth enough you didn't lose focus and it delved deeply into these other characters. I myself like getting to know all the characters, not just the main ones.
The storyline is interesting and the tension both sexually and emotionally is awesome. I will warn you that near the end there is a bit of dubious consent but its well written and there is a very satisfying ending.
If you like stories with lots of characters, young love, twists, lots of tension, really hot man-sex and a happy ending this is for you!
Dion is more outspoken. He is fun-loving and flirty. The two men are very committed to each other none the less. Kenji works and supports them both while Dion is in school. Its been hot and one of Kenji's coworkers gives them an air conditioner. Kenji asks Dion to get his Wealthy friend Greyson to help him pick it up. Dion invites Greyson, a very attractive and sexually forward man to dinner as payment for his troubles. He is very flirty with both Dion and Kenji and both men are attracted to him. Then as the saying goes One thing Leads...
I'm gonna start off and honestly say that iIfelt the story started a bit slowly. I did love the relationship build up of Kenji and Dion had. It's loving and you can just picture the two men and they way they look at each other. Then the story would skip around through several characters. Now having said that I do think that this buildup was very important for us to see just how committed and in love these two men are and their personalities. I also think the switching of characters was smooth enough you didn't lose focus and it delved deeply into these other characters. I myself like getting to know all the characters, not just the main ones.
The storyline is interesting and the tension both sexually and emotionally is awesome. I will warn you that near the end there is a bit of dubious consent but its well written and there is a very satisfying ending.
If you like stories with lots of characters, young love, twists, lots of tension, really hot man-sex and a happy ending this is for you!
August 10, 2016
This is the story of Dion and Kenji. I would say they are the average couple, letting so much fall unsaid between them. They both truly love each other but are so caught up by habit and the day-to-day to take the time to tell the other how they really feel.
They are plodding along, making it but not appreciating how special their relationship really is until someone is thrown in the mix to create drama for them.
After an argument and some crazy circumstances, they find their world forever changed. They can either let what they had before slip away or choose to change what led up to their heartaches. I would have preferred that some of the effects have a more realistic feel, but I did like this story. Some of it was very touching to me.
3.5 stars
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
Dion curled his knees to his chest, sweaty, sticky, knowing what was happening, not caring in the least. He loves loves me. I know it.
And he really does love me, doesn't he? He knelt and began cleaning Dion with tender, loving strokes.
They are plodding along, making it but not appreciating how special their relationship really is until someone is thrown in the mix to create drama for them.
"That thing we do," Kenji said, "where we look at each other."
Dion looked away, "Uh-huh."
"Well, we didn't do it then."
After an argument and some crazy circumstances, they find their world forever changed. They can either let what they had before slip away or choose to change what led up to their heartaches. I would have preferred that some of the effects have a more realistic feel, but I did like this story. Some of it was very touching to me.
3.5 stars
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
November 14, 2014
3.5 stars so rounding up to 4
This book took a little while to get off the ground. Kenji and Dion’s relationship is established and shown to be solid but as the story unfolds you realize that they may not be as perfect as you first suspected. The character development happens slowly as the story introduces you to all the characters pretty much from the beginning.
As a student, Dion seems to know what direction he wants his life to take. He is very outgoing and really seems to love Kenji even though he has a hard time expressing his feelings. He is the more sensitive of the two and seems hurt that Kenji can’t express his feelings either. Because of Kenji’s upbringing and his parents past, he is more reserved and slow to open his heart to anyone. Even though they’ve been living together for 1 ½ years, they still are navigating their relationship.
At first, it was hard to follow all the characters as the story jumped around. The quick glimpses of the other characters helped build the story – albeit slowly – and helped add to the mystery of why things were happening.
Grayson is a complex character and seems to ‘steal the show’. Both Dion and Kenji appear to be under his spell. There are many twists and turns to his character throughout the book which, I believe, makes him the character with the most depth.
The supporting characters are strong and surprising. The writing is pretty good and thankfully I was happy with the ending. There are a couple of scenes in the book that were hard to read but overall it was a good story.
I definitely recommend checking out more of Jude’s work.
This book took a little while to get off the ground. Kenji and Dion’s relationship is established and shown to be solid but as the story unfolds you realize that they may not be as perfect as you first suspected. The character development happens slowly as the story introduces you to all the characters pretty much from the beginning.
As a student, Dion seems to know what direction he wants his life to take. He is very outgoing and really seems to love Kenji even though he has a hard time expressing his feelings. He is the more sensitive of the two and seems hurt that Kenji can’t express his feelings either. Because of Kenji’s upbringing and his parents past, he is more reserved and slow to open his heart to anyone. Even though they’ve been living together for 1 ½ years, they still are navigating their relationship.
At first, it was hard to follow all the characters as the story jumped around. The quick glimpses of the other characters helped build the story – albeit slowly – and helped add to the mystery of why things were happening.
Grayson is a complex character and seems to ‘steal the show’. Both Dion and Kenji appear to be under his spell. There are many twists and turns to his character throughout the book which, I believe, makes him the character with the most depth.
The supporting characters are strong and surprising. The writing is pretty good and thankfully I was happy with the ending. There are a couple of scenes in the book that were hard to read but overall it was a good story.
I definitely recommend checking out more of Jude’s work.
November 2, 2014
This was an excellent story about two men, Dion and Kenji. They have lived together for 1 1/2 years. Then Dion met Grayson Sinclair, and he thought he was wonderful and they could be friends. But Grayson got him involved in his sex club. Dion would have been lost forever if not for Kenji's love.
The author did an amazing job of keeping you hooked in the story with all the little twists. I was shocked at the turn the storyline took and how quickly everything turned worse.
The storyline was written in a very descriptive way that made you feel it was real. Dion and Kenji's story was warm and loving, I thought Grayson could be a fun addition to their lives, but didn't expect how awful it would turn out. The author did a wonderful job leading up to the main plot.
There were a lot of characters introduced very quickly at the beginning and the scenes kept changing from one place to another. It was a little confusing to start, but overall was an excellent read.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
~Sherry
The author did an amazing job of keeping you hooked in the story with all the little twists. I was shocked at the turn the storyline took and how quickly everything turned worse.
The storyline was written in a very descriptive way that made you feel it was real. Dion and Kenji's story was warm and loving, I thought Grayson could be a fun addition to their lives, but didn't expect how awful it would turn out. The author did a wonderful job leading up to the main plot.
There were a lot of characters introduced very quickly at the beginning and the scenes kept changing from one place to another. It was a little confusing to start, but overall was an excellent read.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
~Sherry
November 10, 2014
Original Blog Post: Blog Tour, eARC Review, Excerpt & #Giveaway: One Thing Leads by Jude Dunn
This is not romance. This is a story of surviving through a betrayal of trust that not only ruins one life but a whole lot of others who were swept into something they could not control.
One Thing Leads has got to be one of the most difficult reads I had to read for it scared me, and it hurt so bad when reading about what Dion and Kenji had to go through? Overall, I admit I loved the read, but it is something that is truly dark and unfortunately all I could think of was that this was so real it could happen to anyone. It could happen to our kids. To our friends. To us!
Do I recommend this? Yes.
Can I write a longer review? No.
Just READ!
This is not romance. This is a story of surviving through a betrayal of trust that not only ruins one life but a whole lot of others who were swept into something they could not control.
One Thing Leads has got to be one of the most difficult reads I had to read for it scared me, and it hurt so bad when reading about what Dion and Kenji had to go through? Overall, I admit I loved the read, but it is something that is truly dark and unfortunately all I could think of was that this was so real it could happen to anyone. It could happen to our kids. To our friends. To us!
Do I recommend this? Yes.
Can I write a longer review? No.
Just READ!
December 4, 2014
Whoa. This one's gonna stay with me a while. Grayson was just evil!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews