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Crossing Borders #1
Crossing Borders
Two dudes walk into a bookstore…
Tristan knows he’s got issues. His latest ex-girlfriend knows it too. He can’t blame her for dumping him—even though she gets her brother to do it for her. Since he can’t stop staring at said brother’s package, he figures it’s about time to put a label on those issues. He likes guys.
He heads to a local bookstore with what he’s sure is a foolproof plan to find someone to show him what he’s been missing. But who should crash his little adventure? Officer Michael Truax, who gave him a really expensive ticket back in high school for skateboarding without a helmet.
Michael has been trying to catch Tristan for years...to give him a second ticket. Suddenly faced with “Sparky”, all grown up and looking to get laid, Michael’s protective instinct kicks in—and presents him with an opportunity that’s hard to resist. After all, the kid must know what he’s getting into, so why not?
But when a man with a plan connects with a man with a hunger, the result is nothing short of explosive.
This book has been previously published.
Product Warnings: Contains high-octane hair, a clawfoot bathtub, and a story that will make you believe in love at first sight. Okay, second sight, but who’s counting?
Tristan knows he’s got issues. His latest ex-girlfriend knows it too. He can’t blame her for dumping him—even though she gets her brother to do it for her. Since he can’t stop staring at said brother’s package, he figures it’s about time to put a label on those issues. He likes guys.
He heads to a local bookstore with what he’s sure is a foolproof plan to find someone to show him what he’s been missing. But who should crash his little adventure? Officer Michael Truax, who gave him a really expensive ticket back in high school for skateboarding without a helmet.
Michael has been trying to catch Tristan for years...to give him a second ticket. Suddenly faced with “Sparky”, all grown up and looking to get laid, Michael’s protective instinct kicks in—and presents him with an opportunity that’s hard to resist. After all, the kid must know what he’s getting into, so why not?
But when a man with a plan connects with a man with a hunger, the result is nothing short of explosive.
This book has been previously published.
Product Warnings: Contains high-octane hair, a clawfoot bathtub, and a story that will make you believe in love at first sight. Okay, second sight, but who’s counting?
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2008
73 people are currently reading
2313 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
November 20, 2013
**2.5 stars**
This is an example of a book that should have worked for me but really didn't. I like the premise of the book (I love coming of age/coming to terms with being gay stories) and the opening scene was really cute. It also had moments that were pretty funny and many moments that were very sweet. Overall, I think this book was a perfectly nice reading experience.
Then why am I hating on this book?? Well, it is actually hard for me to pinpoint exactly why this book was irritating for me but I'll try:
- I didn't like the way that Michael called Tristan "Sparky" all of the time. It was a strangely little kid sounding nickname, which kind of skeeved me out.
- I didn't like when Michael kept calling Tristan's hands "baby hands"... do I even need to explain that one??
- I felt like the character of Tristan was all jumbled. He was a skateboard punk who was smart enough to get into Stanford but helps his mom... he is feminine yet the ladies loved him... it was too mish-moshy and I never got a true sense for what he was like.
- Michael was too perfect. He helps the homeless, protects the innocent, is uber-sexy (except Hawaiian shirts are turnoff-ville, FYI), is a master wood-worker... yadda yadda yadda. There were no flaws and it didn't feel authentic.
- The instalove. . I just wasn't feeling it at all.
- The character of Edward that was brought in and then kind of faded out of importance. What was the point of him? To show that Tristan was a good guy? I thought he would have more of a role in this book.
- The cover. Please say the guys don't really look like that? Tristan does NOT look like that!
- The sex scenes for some reason all fell flat to me. They should have been much hotter but they weren't. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was Michael constantly asking Tristan to "make him fly".
The age difference wasn't troubling to me at all. In fact, I was 19 when I started dating my husband, who was 28 at the time. It was almost the same exact age difference as here. I wish I liked this one more because lots of my GR friends loved this one. It just felt off to me. ::shrugs::
This is an example of a book that should have worked for me but really didn't. I like the premise of the book (I love coming of age/coming to terms with being gay stories) and the opening scene was really cute. It also had moments that were pretty funny and many moments that were very sweet. Overall, I think this book was a perfectly nice reading experience.
Then why am I hating on this book?? Well, it is actually hard for me to pinpoint exactly why this book was irritating for me but I'll try:
- I didn't like the way that Michael called Tristan "Sparky" all of the time. It was a strangely little kid sounding nickname, which kind of skeeved me out.
- I didn't like when Michael kept calling Tristan's hands "baby hands"... do I even need to explain that one??
- I felt like the character of Tristan was all jumbled. He was a skateboard punk who was smart enough to get into Stanford but helps his mom... he is feminine yet the ladies loved him... it was too mish-moshy and I never got a true sense for what he was like.
- Michael was too perfect. He helps the homeless, protects the innocent, is uber-sexy (except Hawaiian shirts are turnoff-ville, FYI), is a master wood-worker... yadda yadda yadda. There were no flaws and it didn't feel authentic.
- The instalove. . I just wasn't feeling it at all.
- The character of Edward that was brought in and then kind of faded out of importance. What was the point of him? To show that Tristan was a good guy? I thought he would have more of a role in this book.
- The cover. Please say the guys don't really look like that? Tristan does NOT look like that!
- The sex scenes for some reason all fell flat to me. They should have been much hotter but they weren't. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was Michael constantly asking Tristan to "make him fly".
The age difference wasn't troubling to me at all. In fact, I was 19 when I started dating my husband, who was 28 at the time. It was almost the same exact age difference as here. I wish I liked this one more because lots of my GR friends loved this one. It just felt off to me. ::shrugs::
June 28, 2015
Advanced review copy of Crossing Borders provided by Samhain Publishing via Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.
This book was originally published in 2007. With me being such a huge fan of Z.A. Maxfield, I wondered why I had waited so long to read this. Then I remembered the indisputable fact about me: I'm a cover snob. Show me a lovely, sexy book cover and I'm usually all over it. Show me a book cover where I don't find the cover models attractive or where the artist has no idea of the concept of aspect ratio, and I usually turn the other way. I believe that is what happened here. The original cover features an older man and a very young looking teen. And at first glance, the older man looks like he could be graying at the temples (even though it turns out he has light blonde hair) and the boy looks 16, at best. That is the reason I didn't read this book until now. I got the whole pedophile vibe from that cover. When I saw that Z.A. Maxfield had a new book coming out and the cover featured an incredibly beautiful ginger, I was very excited. After reading the blurb and finding out this was a re-release, I decided to give it a try. No more pedophile vibes!
Tristan is a 19 year old collage student that has finally accepted the realization that he is gay. He decides to go cruising at his local Border's (hey, it's 2007 remember?) and read some gay literature with the hopes that a gay man will notice him and take him home to experience gay sex for the first time.
Michael is a late-20's police officer who once gave Tristan a ticket for not wearing his helmet while skate boarding. Even though Tristan was 16 at the time, he has been quietly pining away for him for the past two years. That got my heebie-jeebies radar going at full throttle, but this quote made me feel a bit better.
So, Michael is the guy Tristan ends up picking up at Border's and the two men start a sexual relationship. Tristan realizes that he is truly, 100% gay and both men fall head-over-heels for one another. Great sex, some hard core angst, cutesy nicknames and lots of passion prevail. Michael is ready for his HEA with Tristan and Tristan struggles with the fact that he is only 19 and can't see past the next couple of weeks, much less a lifetime. He also has a problem with Michael's job as a police officer. Michael almost died from a stab wound and Tristan doesn't know if he can cope with the fact that Michael has an incredibly dangerous job. Angst, angst and more angst. Both men had incredibly unrealistic expectations for each other. Michael is asking a teen to figure out his whole life right now and Tristan wants Michael to quit his beloved job so he can relax and not fear his death. Both of these points put a huge damper on my enjoyment of the story. This story would have been a 5 star read for me if Tristan was a bit older and Michael hadn't cave to Tristan's unrealistic demands. The hurt/healing/comfort was outstanding, the angst heart-wrenchingly delicious, the HEA was very satisfying and the sex down and dirty, just how I like it. But I can only give this one 3 stars because of the plot points that made me uncomfortable.
I know that the vast majority of my GoodRead's friends have already read this, so this is to anyone who has not read it: I can recommend this book with caution only. If age isn't a problem with you and you can suspend disbelief enough and let these boys get to their HEA in a pretty unrealistic matter.
There is a sequel to this book, What Child is This?, but I think I will wait for the re-release. I'm a cover snob, remember? And those two covers are just too much for me to handle.
Personal side note: I have been married to a police officer for 21 years. Before we even had a chance to develop strong feelings for one another, he had me go on a ride-along with him. He wanted to make sure his job wasn't a deal breaker for me before things got hot and heavy. Since then, I have ridden with him at least 20 times. My entire family has ridden with him, my daughter's friends who are interested in law enforcement and countless others. He is in law enforcement because he wants to help others (and he loves driving fast cars) and once I realized how close knit his partners are and that there was always another officer within 5 minutes (tops) of him, I was able to relax and not worry every time he went to work. In his 29 years in law enforcement, he has had two close officer friends die (one shot in a domestic, the other a car accident) and 3 fellow officers. He has been banged up in accidents (we live in Minnesota, so car accidents in the winter are a dime a dozen) had countless stitches, been attacked by a cat and several dogs and fired his gun twice. But I wouldn't change a thing. If I had any inkling of doubt when I rode with him that first time, we would have parted ways and wished each other well. And how terrible would that have been? We created a miraculous human being together (even if she is the teen-from-hell right now). Sometimes real life sucks, but we need to encourage the one's we love to follow their heart and the path that is best for them, even if that means some risk is involved.
This book was originally published in 2007. With me being such a huge fan of Z.A. Maxfield, I wondered why I had waited so long to read this. Then I remembered the indisputable fact about me: I'm a cover snob. Show me a lovely, sexy book cover and I'm usually all over it. Show me a book cover where I don't find the cover models attractive or where the artist has no idea of the concept of aspect ratio, and I usually turn the other way. I believe that is what happened here. The original cover features an older man and a very young looking teen. And at first glance, the older man looks like he could be graying at the temples (even though it turns out he has light blonde hair) and the boy looks 16, at best. That is the reason I didn't read this book until now. I got the whole pedophile vibe from that cover. When I saw that Z.A. Maxfield had a new book coming out and the cover featured an incredibly beautiful ginger, I was very excited. After reading the blurb and finding out this was a re-release, I decided to give it a try. No more pedophile vibes!
Tristan is a 19 year old collage student that has finally accepted the realization that he is gay. He decides to go cruising at his local Border's (hey, it's 2007 remember?) and read some gay literature with the hopes that a gay man will notice him and take him home to experience gay sex for the first time.
Michael is a late-20's police officer who once gave Tristan a ticket for not wearing his helmet while skate boarding. Even though Tristan was 16 at the time, he has been quietly pining away for him for the past two years. That got my heebie-jeebies radar going at full throttle, but this quote made me feel a bit better.
He pushed Tristan against the door of his truck. “I don't do this. I don't just pick up guys. I've chased you and watched you and wanted you for two years now, even though I felt like some kind of loathsome pervert because you're younger than me. If you want anonymous, this isn't it.”
So, Michael is the guy Tristan ends up picking up at Border's and the two men start a sexual relationship. Tristan realizes that he is truly, 100% gay and both men fall head-over-heels for one another. Great sex, some hard core angst, cutesy nicknames and lots of passion prevail. Michael is ready for his HEA with Tristan and Tristan struggles with the fact that he is only 19 and can't see past the next couple of weeks, much less a lifetime. He also has a problem with Michael's job as a police officer. Michael almost died from a stab wound and Tristan doesn't know if he can cope with the fact that Michael has an incredibly dangerous job. Angst, angst and more angst. Both men had incredibly unrealistic expectations for each other. Michael is asking a teen to figure out his whole life right now and Tristan wants Michael to quit his beloved job so he can relax and not fear his death. Both of these points put a huge damper on my enjoyment of the story. This story would have been a 5 star read for me if Tristan was a bit older and Michael hadn't cave to Tristan's unrealistic demands. The hurt/healing/comfort was outstanding, the angst heart-wrenchingly delicious, the HEA was very satisfying and the sex down and dirty, just how I like it. But I can only give this one 3 stars because of the plot points that made me uncomfortable.
I know that the vast majority of my GoodRead's friends have already read this, so this is to anyone who has not read it: I can recommend this book with caution only. If age isn't a problem with you and you can suspend disbelief enough and let these boys get to their HEA in a pretty unrealistic matter.
There is a sequel to this book, What Child is This?, but I think I will wait for the re-release. I'm a cover snob, remember? And those two covers are just too much for me to handle.
Personal side note: I have been married to a police officer for 21 years. Before we even had a chance to develop strong feelings for one another, he had me go on a ride-along with him. He wanted to make sure his job wasn't a deal breaker for me before things got hot and heavy. Since then, I have ridden with him at least 20 times. My entire family has ridden with him, my daughter's friends who are interested in law enforcement and countless others. He is in law enforcement because he wants to help others (and he loves driving fast cars) and once I realized how close knit his partners are and that there was always another officer within 5 minutes (tops) of him, I was able to relax and not worry every time he went to work. In his 29 years in law enforcement, he has had two close officer friends die (one shot in a domestic, the other a car accident) and 3 fellow officers. He has been banged up in accidents (we live in Minnesota, so car accidents in the winter are a dime a dozen) had countless stitches, been attacked by a cat and several dogs and fired his gun twice. But I wouldn't change a thing. If I had any inkling of doubt when I rode with him that first time, we would have parted ways and wished each other well. And how terrible would that have been? We created a miraculous human being together (even if she is the teen-from-hell right now). Sometimes real life sucks, but we need to encourage the one's we love to follow their heart and the path that is best for them, even if that means some risk is involved.
January 8, 2012
This book went straight to my favorites shelf. I loved both of these characters sooo much. Tristan is the guy you wish your son would become (at least if you're my age - a young guy reading this book will have a completely different wish.) Michael is the guy you would like him to find, if he leans that way. There is a sweetness and a back-and-forth balance to the way these two men interact. This is not an older-guy-teaches-young-guy-the-ropes story by any means. Tristan seems very self-aware and together for 19, but being the man in his family since his father's death could explain that, and he has his moments of youthful uncertainty that feel appropriate. The drama is heartfelt but not overwrought. Highly recommended.
July 11, 2015
Crossing Borders by ZA Maxfield is an age difference book between a 19 yr old and 27 yr old. The two have had an antagonistic relationship for a couple years after Michael gave Tristan a ticket while skateboarding. The two begin a sexual relationship after running into each other at Borders. Although I enjoyed it a lot, in the end I had a few mixed feelings.
What I loved:
*Tristan. He was my favorite part of the story. Loved his strength, loyalty, and humor.
*Michael. Pretty much for the same reasons I loved Tristan.
*Tristan & Michael together. They had great chemistry.
*Steam. Off the charts.
*I was happy that for the most part this was a low angst, feel good book.
What I didn't love so much:
*The insta-love. The "L" word was thrown in way too fast. Once that happened, it turned me off a bit. I knew things would move fast- just didn't realize it would be that fast.
*Also, towards the middle of the book, the story did start to slow down a bit and be a bit repetitive. Luckily though, it did pick up again.
Overall, it was sweet, sexy read. I would recommend it to readers who love age difference love stories and don't mind a couple who falls hard and fast for each other. 4 Stars
ARC kindly provided by Samhain Publishing, LTD for an honest review.
April 7, 2011
Awww, this was such a "feel good" book! Adorable H/H, likable secondary characters and a sweet story with a nice touch of drama, enough to prevent me from going into a sugar induced coma.
Tristan Phillips is a red-haired, freckled, 19-year-old college student who decides to listen to the inner voice that's been "harassing" him and find out if he's gay after being dumped by his last girlfriend. A girlfriend whose brother made him stand up to attention, I must say. So he devises the plan: go to the next Borders, pick some books in the gay lit section, park himself in the bookstore café and, using the books as bait, lure and trap some unwary and willing man to help him make up his mind about his sexuality. Tristan, Tristan, you really didn't know how things could have gone bad, did you? *shakes head*
Thankfully, even though Tristan doesn't think so, the 1st person who spots him in the café is Police Officer Michael Truaux. Officer Helmet, as Tristan calls him, is the bane of his existence since he was issued a 700+ dollars ticked for riding his skateboard without a helmet. The last thing Tristan wants is to have Officer Helmet hovering over him while he's tring to pick up his 1st guy. Alas, Michael decides to stick around once he finds out what kind of books Sparky, as Michael calls him, isreading pretending to read. Why? Just to tease Tristan? We all know that's not it, right? ;)
What follows next is the sweet development of Tristan and Michael's relationship. It doesn't take long until Tristan knows for sure that he's gay. It doesn't take long either until Tristan and Michael fall in love with each other, but there are some issues that will have to be dealt with before they can reach their HEA. Will they make it? Hey, this is Romancelandia!
Like I mentioned above, Tristan and Michael were utterly adorable. Compassionate, caring, protective, understanding, loving... and there's a slight problem: they were too perfect. Seriously, I couldn't find any fault in them. While it's nice to know people who make you wish to be your BFFs and deserve nothing but your unconditional love, that level of perfections becomes annoying after a while. Am I being too cynical here?
I also thought that the pace of the story was uneven. The 1st 2/3 of the book was all mushy, with Tristan and Michael professing their love for each other every other page. There was no conflict, not even when Tristan told his family he was gay. Okay, they weren't bigots and that was excellent, but I thought that some level of shock should have been shown there, considering Tristan had been "a pretty determined hetero" (aka "a guy who dated almost every girl in the neighborhood") before. Then, came the last 1/3 of the book: the mushiness was gone and the drama took over. That was very good, but too rushed. Those conflicts (Tristan being too young and Michael being a cop) could have been better developed, IMHO.
As for the author's writing, I really liked it. All the scenes were perfect examples of "show, don't tell". I got to know the characters by watching their behavior and interactions, not by being told who and what they were. Really good writing there, and I'll be in the lookout for this author's books from now on.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read, saved mostly by Tristan and Michael. The story had some problems, but they weren't bad enough to ruin the book. As a whole, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, but I'm bumping my rating up to 4 stars because that Thanksgiving dinner scene was just fantastic and deserves a 1/2 star on its own.
Tristan Phillips is a red-haired, freckled, 19-year-old college student who decides to listen to the inner voice that's been "harassing" him and find out if he's gay after being dumped by his last girlfriend. A girlfriend whose brother made him stand up to attention, I must say. So he devises the plan: go to the next Borders, pick some books in the gay lit section, park himself in the bookstore café and, using the books as bait, lure and trap some unwary and willing man to help him make up his mind about his sexuality. Tristan, Tristan, you really didn't know how things could have gone bad, did you? *shakes head*
Thankfully, even though Tristan doesn't think so, the 1st person who spots him in the café is Police Officer Michael Truaux. Officer Helmet, as Tristan calls him, is the bane of his existence since he was issued a 700+ dollars ticked for riding his skateboard without a helmet. The last thing Tristan wants is to have Officer Helmet hovering over him while he's tring to pick up his 1st guy. Alas, Michael decides to stick around once he finds out what kind of books Sparky, as Michael calls him, is
What follows next is the sweet development of Tristan and Michael's relationship. It doesn't take long until Tristan knows for sure that he's gay. It doesn't take long either until Tristan and Michael fall in love with each other, but there are some issues that will have to be dealt with before they can reach their HEA. Will they make it? Hey, this is Romancelandia!
Like I mentioned above, Tristan and Michael were utterly adorable. Compassionate, caring, protective, understanding, loving... and there's a slight problem: they were too perfect. Seriously, I couldn't find any fault in them. While it's nice to know people who make you wish to be your BFFs and deserve nothing but your unconditional love, that level of perfections becomes annoying after a while. Am I being too cynical here?
I also thought that the pace of the story was uneven. The 1st 2/3 of the book was all mushy, with Tristan and Michael professing their love for each other every other page. There was no conflict, not even when Tristan told his family he was gay. Okay, they weren't bigots and that was excellent, but I thought that some level of shock should have been shown there, considering Tristan had been "a pretty determined hetero" (aka "a guy who dated almost every girl in the neighborhood") before. Then, came the last 1/3 of the book: the mushiness was gone and the drama took over. That was very good, but too rushed. Those conflicts (Tristan being too young and Michael being a cop) could have been better developed, IMHO.
As for the author's writing, I really liked it. All the scenes were perfect examples of "show, don't tell". I got to know the characters by watching their behavior and interactions, not by being told who and what they were. Really good writing there, and I'll be in the lookout for this author's books from now on.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read, saved mostly by Tristan and Michael. The story had some problems, but they weren't bad enough to ruin the book. As a whole, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, but I'm bumping my rating up to 4 stars because that Thanksgiving dinner scene was just fantastic and deserves a 1/2 star on its own.
April 27, 2012
I really loved the 1st half of this book...but then it kinda fizzled for me!
What I loved:
♦ Sparky AKA Tristan. Even though I'm not into red heads, he was pretty cute and mature for a 19 year old
♦ Officer Helmet AKA Michael. He was yummy hot and oh so sexy...for a blond
♦ The banter
♦ The texting
♦ The SEX!!!
♦ Tristan’s family
♦ Michael's mom
♦ Thanksgiving prayer
♦ The tattoos
What I ended up liking:
♦ Ron
♦ The epilogue
What I was just ok with:
♦ The age difference: approximately 9 years
♦ The insta-love. They were only together for a few months...if that!!? And I tried not to let it bother me too much, but I was tempted to gag a few times.
What I hated:
♦ The cover. I put off reading this book for so long because it is so horrific
♦ The ridiculous separation
Overall, I still really enjoyed the book. Recommended!
I have no plans to read the sequel What Child Is This?
What I loved:
♦ Sparky AKA Tristan. Even though I'm not into red heads, he was pretty cute and mature for a 19 year old
♦ Officer Helmet AKA Michael. He was yummy hot and oh so sexy...for a blond
♦ The banter
♦ The texting
♦ The SEX!!!
♦ Tristan’s family
♦ Michael's mom
♦ Thanksgiving prayer
♦ The tattoos
What I ended up liking:
♦ Ron
♦ The epilogue
What I was just ok with:
♦ The age difference: approximately 9 years
♦ The insta-love. They were only together for a few months...if that!!? And I tried not to let it bother me too much, but I was tempted to gag a few times.
What I hated:
♦ The cover. I put off reading this book for so long because it is so horrific
♦ The ridiculous separation
Overall, I still really enjoyed the book. Recommended!
I have no plans to read the sequel What Child Is This?
June 30, 2016
No me ha gustado, no me he creído esa relación y si no le doy una estrella es por la cena de Acción de Gracias.
La portada un cero, parece un padre con su hijo, menos mal que han tenido el buen criterio de actualizarla hace poco.
Por lo visto, el modo bitch continúa... No tengo corazón :(
La portada un cero, parece un padre con su hijo, menos mal que han tenido el buen criterio de actualizarla hace poco.
Por lo visto, el modo bitch continúa... No tengo corazón :(
August 5, 2013
1.5 Stars
Tristan is a 19-year-old college student. He's dated girls all his life but secretly wonders what it would be like to be with a man. When his latest girlfriend dumps him, Tristan realizes that he's more attracted to her hot brother than he is broken up over the end of the relationship. So Tristan concocts a "plan" to hook up with a guy and figure things out once and for all. His "plan" is derailed by Michael, the 28-year-old cop who is the bane of Tristan's existence for constantly being on his case about wearing a helmet while skateboarding. Once Michael realizes that Tristan is looking to hook-up and Tristan realizes that Michael is gay and interested, things take off. Following their impromptu sex session, things quickly go from casual to serious to forever more. Along the way, Tristan and Michael have to face being vulnerable to loss because of their deep feelings for one another.
I didn't like this book. There, I said it. I can hear the gasps now. In my defense, let me say that I am a ZAM fan! Although her books are hit or miss for me, the "hits" are wonderful! Unfortunately, this sad puppy was waaaay off the mark. First, it was insta-love. Nuff said. Second, once the I-love-you's started flying (which was near the 34% mark), it was disgustingly sappy and flat out nauseated me. Third ... and to use that famous saying from those old Burger King commercials (I know, I'm dating myself here) ... "Where's the beef!?!" This story was much ado about nothin'. It was basically about Tristan and Michael ... having sex ... and swooning for one another. Period. That's it. In my opinion, they weren't interesting enough to carry more than a couple chapters let alone the whole book. Fourth,
Bottom-line: insta-love with nauseatingly sappy dialogue, no plot, and underwhelming characters.
Tristan is a 19-year-old college student. He's dated girls all his life but secretly wonders what it would be like to be with a man. When his latest girlfriend dumps him, Tristan realizes that he's more attracted to her hot brother than he is broken up over the end of the relationship. So Tristan concocts a "plan" to hook up with a guy and figure things out once and for all. His "plan" is derailed by Michael, the 28-year-old cop who is the bane of Tristan's existence for constantly being on his case about wearing a helmet while skateboarding. Once Michael realizes that Tristan is looking to hook-up and Tristan realizes that Michael is gay and interested, things take off. Following their impromptu sex session, things quickly go from casual to serious to forever more. Along the way, Tristan and Michael have to face being vulnerable to loss because of their deep feelings for one another.
I didn't like this book. There, I said it. I can hear the gasps now. In my defense, let me say that I am a ZAM fan! Although her books are hit or miss for me, the "hits" are wonderful! Unfortunately, this sad puppy was waaaay off the mark. First, it was insta-love. Nuff said. Second, once the I-love-you's started flying (which was near the 34% mark), it was disgustingly sappy and flat out nauseated me. Third ... and to use that famous saying from those old Burger King commercials (I know, I'm dating myself here) ... "Where's the beef!?!" This story was much ado about nothin'. It was basically about Tristan and Michael ... having sex ... and swooning for one another. Period. That's it. In my opinion, they weren't interesting enough to carry more than a couple chapters let alone the whole book. Fourth,
Bottom-line: insta-love with nauseatingly sappy dialogue, no plot, and underwhelming characters.
November 19, 2015
I was a little blown away by this one since I've read a few other books by Maxfield that didn't exactly blow my hair back. This one, though. This one I love. The chemistry between Tristan and Michael is fantastic, their back story is interesting, and the dialogue is good. The angst was at just the right level to keep the reader engaged without bubbling over the top.
October 12, 2015
ETA: link to my review Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
I'm writing a review for Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends.I'll add a link when it's available.✔
3.5 fluff-tastic stars (rounded up because the sex. Was. Hot. And plentiful.)
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'm writing a review for Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends.
3.5 fluff-tastic stars (rounded up because the sex. Was. Hot. And plentiful.)
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2020
Hahaha, kudos to the reader who had the brilliant idea to create a shelf for "ejaculations galore" because Crossing Borders definitely belongs there! These two boys have a lot of sex, and Z.A. Maxfield never repeats herself. 10 points for creativity 😏.
Seriously, I truly enjoyed the story - Tristan is a fascinating character and Mafield has a blast with him. Such a clever opening scene, and Michael's dogged pursuit of Tristan is so much fun to watch. Creative, unique, and very funny, Crossing Borders is wonderful.
The audiobook is performed by Tobias Silversmith and I always enjoy his narration. He brings the sweet with Tristan, and Michael's older, protective vibe really comes through. Nicely done!
Seriously, I truly enjoyed the story - Tristan is a fascinating character and Mafield has a blast with him. Such a clever opening scene, and Michael's dogged pursuit of Tristan is so much fun to watch. Creative, unique, and very funny, Crossing Borders is wonderful.
The audiobook is performed by Tobias Silversmith and I always enjoy his narration. He brings the sweet with Tristan, and Michael's older, protective vibe really comes through. Nicely done!
June 14, 2011
It's more like 2.5 STARS I wasn't sure about this book so I decided to borrow it (thanks Kate). I think if this was the first m/m book I'd read I'd probably like it better but for me it felt flat & somewhat cliched. Our couple is 28 year old 'officer helmet' Michael & 19 year old student, 'Sparky' Tristan. Instantly I'm put off by the ludicrous nicknames more suitable for a puppy than a grown person. The term the boy or my boy was used a lot also, which is probably OK for a 19 year old but was still annoying.
They meet cute, fall for each other instantly & have lots of sex & that's pretty much it for the majority of the time. I was surprised in fact, by how much space was given to the sex scenes which seems to take the place of actual plot & tended to drag the story down & throw off the pacing. Added to this, Tristan & Michael veer into that chicks with dicks territory too often & it's all way too mushy at times.
Then we get the typical angst associated with Michael's job & there's a crisis of faith for 19 year old Tristan where he thinks it's all too much too soon. This part made the most sense as who at 19, wouldn't question this. I was starting to appreciate the story more, but then the author completely dropped the ball at the end by having MIchael make the most cliched unbelievable decision about his career. This also negated the entire point of the tattoo & made Tristan seem like an indecisive kid not ready for a grown up relationship. Add to that the fact that the epilogue was pretty muddled & I was not left with the best impression about this book.
I will say there were a couple of strong scenes in this book. The opening & the attempted pick up at the bookstore was very entertaining & later in the book there was a funny scene at Thanksgiving. Tristan & Michael were also likable characters in the book.This saved this book from being a total dud for me.
They meet cute, fall for each other instantly & have lots of sex & that's pretty much it for the majority of the time. I was surprised in fact, by how much space was given to the sex scenes which seems to take the place of actual plot & tended to drag the story down & throw off the pacing. Added to this, Tristan & Michael veer into that chicks with dicks territory too often & it's all way too mushy at times.
Then we get the typical angst associated with Michael's job & there's a crisis of faith for 19 year old Tristan where he thinks it's all too much too soon. This part made the most sense as who at 19, wouldn't question this. I was starting to appreciate the story more, but then the author completely dropped the ball at the end by having MIchael make the most cliched unbelievable decision about his career. This also negated the entire point of the tattoo & made Tristan seem like an indecisive kid not ready for a grown up relationship. Add to that the fact that the epilogue was pretty muddled & I was not left with the best impression about this book.
I will say there were a couple of strong scenes in this book. The opening & the attempted pick up at the bookstore was very entertaining & later in the book there was a funny scene at Thanksgiving. Tristan & Michael were also likable characters in the book.This saved this book from being a total dud for me.
November 1, 2011
This is one of my favorite books. I may have to agree with Lan-dinh that the cover is not the best. It does scream teenager and way younger than Tristan is supossed to be. But still... I think the story is excellent. The dialogue realistic and the sex is hot. (in my opinion) ZA is a wonderful writer!!! I will no doubt read this over again!
April 2, 2010
Honestly, I was going to give it 2 stars, but then, I thought, the first quarter of this book is actually lovable. The story makes me giggling at some parts (like the Thanksgiving prayer). But the rest, it's just too "chick" for me. The first time I read the "I love you", is fine. But when it's repeated like in every single conversation, it's getting on my nerves, man! Not to mention when it takes chapter after chapter after chapter to describe the love making. By half the book, I start taking things for granted and just skim the pages, hoping that it'll end soon. Only the fact that it does entertain in some parts, I'm willing to give it 3 stars.
July 5, 2015
Crossing Borders was first published in 2007, with a different publisher and a very different cover. As ZA Maxfield pointed out in the Author’s note, the world was a much different place 8 years ago. People could still meet and fall in love in Borders and being gay often meant living without things like marriage and children. What’s more, being gay and a police officer was far more dangerous, although it still isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Crossing Borders was one of my first M/M reads (which I suspect holds true for many readers) and as such, it holds a very special place in my heart. It tells the story of Tristan, a college student barely discovering that he’s gay, and Michael, a slightly older police officer who’s had his eye on the young man for ages, and for several different reasons. It also offers glimpses into their very different family lives, their different backgrounds and interests, and in the process, these two men slowly find common ground and build a strong, loving life together.
Their romance is filled with both painful moments and humor, and Maxfield is one of those rare authors who can balance the two perfectly. Caring for these characters is never a problem - their preoccupations, lifestyle, values and fears soon become just as important to us as they are to them. I’ve read several novels by ZA Maxfield, and they all have superb characterization in common. What’s more, I love that the struggles of this couple were always very realistic and down to earth. There is some drama and the painful moments are truly heart-wrenching, but they always rang true to me, and each problem Tristan and Michael faced was something I could easily see happening in real life. Maxfield offered no easy fixes; sacrifices had to be made on both sides, but they all lead to a sweet and reasonable ending.
If there’s such a thing as a classic in a genre as new as M/M lit, Crossing Border definitely fits the bill. The details may be a bit outdated, but the love story within its pages is timeless. This was my third time reading it, but I think I have a few more rereads left in me somewhere down the road.
June 12, 2012
Only 17% in and I've already got problems with this one:
Firstly, within the first 1% of the book, Tristan meets a guy who is leaking so much precum, it soaks right through his jeans - WTF? I wouldn't mind that in a PWP, but honestly...hmmm...
Secondly, Tristan is supposed to be 19 years old, and out looking to 'get laid' as he puts it - but when he goes round to Officer Helmet's (snort) house, he spends most of his time admiring his wood (another snort) and soft furnishings.
Thirdly, Tristan (a.k.a. Sparky - yuk), and Michael (a.k.a. Officer Helmet - yuk) fall so madly in love with each other within two minutes they spend all their time talking to each other about how beautiful the other one is, making lemonade together, having a candlelit aromatherapy bath, and 'making love' - it's all just so twee.
Firstly, within the first 1% of the book, Tristan meets a guy who is leaking so much precum, it soaks right through his jeans - WTF? I wouldn't mind that in a PWP, but honestly...hmmm...
Secondly, Tristan is supposed to be 19 years old, and out looking to 'get laid' as he puts it - but when he goes round to Officer Helmet's (snort) house, he spends most of his time admiring his wood (another snort) and soft furnishings.
Thirdly, Tristan (a.k.a. Sparky - yuk), and Michael (a.k.a. Officer Helmet - yuk) fall so madly in love with each other within two minutes they spend all their time talking to each other about how beautiful the other one is, making lemonade together, having a candlelit aromatherapy bath, and 'making love' - it's all just so twee.
June 24, 2015
I only requested this book, because of the cover! That red head is gorgeous!!
I read this in one freaking sitting!!! I needed sugary sweetness and this is what I got. If it was not for that cover, I'd most likely not picked it up. The cover model was freaking gorgeous. That red hair! Although in the book his hair was way longer than this I would have appreciated a damn mane!
I don't think I expected this to be instant insta love! It was right off the back. I'm okay with this seeing as I'm coming off a 5 emotional book tour it seems like. This is just what the doctor ordered, insta love, sugary sweetness and age-gap! Honestly with everything that happened in this story some more over the top then others I was expecting a baby and a shotgun wedding style. I really liked Michael's character. He was seemingly perfect. He did a good job, looked out for people and genuinely was a good freaking guy. Tristan surprised me, in the beginning I didn't know what to think about him, boy he changed my mine.
I liked some of the secondary characters. Tristan was really family oriented and at his age I thought it was really selfless. It was a certain part in the story that I did not care for, when it came to Michael's job, I thought it a selfish move on Tristan's part. I feel like his feelings came first and while Michael did agree I thought that was Tristan's immaturity showing. Overall I enjoyed it, really sweet!
I read this in one freaking sitting!!! I needed sugary sweetness and this is what I got. If it was not for that cover, I'd most likely not picked it up. The cover model was freaking gorgeous. That red hair! Although in the book his hair was way longer than this I would have appreciated a damn mane!
I don't think I expected this to be instant insta love! It was right off the back. I'm okay with this seeing as I'm coming off a 5 emotional book tour it seems like. This is just what the doctor ordered, insta love, sugary sweetness and age-gap! Honestly with everything that happened in this story some more over the top then others I was expecting a baby and a shotgun wedding style. I really liked Michael's character. He was seemingly perfect. He did a good job, looked out for people and genuinely was a good freaking guy. Tristan surprised me, in the beginning I didn't know what to think about him, boy he changed my mine.
I liked some of the secondary characters. Tristan was really family oriented and at his age I thought it was really selfless. It was a certain part in the story that I did not care for, when it came to Michael's job, I thought it a selfish move on Tristan's part. I feel like his feelings came first and while Michael did agree I thought that was Tristan's immaturity showing. Overall I enjoyed it, really sweet!
February 6, 2012
I didn't know what to expect going into this one. From the cover I expected a really young guy and a really older man and a kind of skeezy hookup. What I got was a coming of age story, and a brilliantly written romance. Tristan had been sleeping with just about every female he could since he was 14, but the day his girlfriend dumps him (via her own brother) all Tristan can think about is the brother. He comes up with a plan to hook up with a guy, to find out if he was gay or not. He comes up with a plan to hook up with a guy, to find out if he really is gay or not. Plans change though, when he ends up with the last man he expects, and falls head over heels in love.
Based on the first few pages of this book, I expected Tristan to be a bit of a punk, someone I tolerated. Boy was I wrong. This guy was truly an old soul. He gave up Stanford and Georgetown to stay home and help out his mom after his dad died. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and is basically the best kid you could ever hope to have- the kind of boy moms everywhere dream about having. I thoroughly enjoyed his relationship with Michael, watching them both come to love and trust each other. I loved Tristan's mother, who, while shocked, is totally supportive.
This book was sweet, romantic and also FUNNY. Some of the best lines I've ever read were in this book, along with probably the best Thanksgiving scenes I've ever read in any book. If tofu turkey is called tofurkey, what does that make tofu duck?
Based on the first few pages of this book, I expected Tristan to be a bit of a punk, someone I tolerated. Boy was I wrong. This guy was truly an old soul. He gave up Stanford and Georgetown to stay home and help out his mom after his dad died. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and is basically the best kid you could ever hope to have- the kind of boy moms everywhere dream about having. I thoroughly enjoyed his relationship with Michael, watching them both come to love and trust each other. I loved Tristan's mother, who, while shocked, is totally supportive.
This book was sweet, romantic and also FUNNY. Some of the best lines I've ever read were in this book, along with probably the best Thanksgiving scenes I've ever read in any book. If tofu turkey is called tofurkey, what does that make tofu duck?
July 2, 2017
Wow.... just Wow! This book was just incredible. The characters, even the more minor ones were complex and interesting. I did 32 and 18... so with the main characters being 28 and 19 there was a lot of Michael and Tristan's relationship that mirrored mine. And the author got it very right. I loved both Michael's and Tristan's families. The overall storyline felt very real and believable. I would recommend this touching love story to anyone who likes to read about two men in love. Oh, and the book was good enough and since it was the author's first published book. I forgave her for the hokey, horrible line involving the Starship Enterprise. :o)
July 4, 2017
THIS is why I got KU! A great romance that took my emotions up AND down, characters I cheered for, and just a great read. I didn't skip or dnf: cover to cover, baby! Woo-HOO!
Want to read
June 30, 2017Amazon Kindle Freebie 6/30/17
November 5, 2011
Second time round, Lets see if Officer Helmet and Sparky can entertain me as much as the first time lol.
Yep they still got it lol. A perfect gentle read with humour and mild angst to keep it interesting.
But the Book shop/cafe scene is still my favorite part of the book. Oh and of course thanksgiving dinner, I could re-read that over and over lol.
But yeah the cover pic? So not working.
Yep they still got it lol. A perfect gentle read with humour and mild angst to keep it interesting.
But the Book shop/cafe scene is still my favorite part of the book. Oh and of course thanksgiving dinner, I could re-read that over and over lol.
But yeah the cover pic? So not working.
May 23, 2015
I wasn't sure whether I could actually bring myself to finish this book. After 34% I was sure that I'd give up. But I continued, despite knowing better than that--sometimes skimming through the text: during sex scenes or when it gets too boring, or too mushy, or too ridiculous.
So far, I have read about ⅔ of the book, but I've got to tell you that it feels more like torture at times... Why the hell don't I just end my misery? Hm, maybe I'm a masochist?
[*Update: It's official. I give up. I've read 84% and I can't take it anymore...]
I'm really, really not a fan of love at first sight, nor can I stand all this horrible sweet talk. This book includes both, unfortunately.
The very beginning of the book with Tristan trying to "fish" himself a man, or rather an anonymus male sex partner, at the library was quite funny and entertaining. Because of all the people he wants to meet there on his little fishing trip he has to meet Officer Helmet (real name: Michael), the very annoying officer who likes handing him tickets for skating without an adequate head protection. It was a good start in my opinion, but then it all goes to hell..
Well, in short: they go from nil to a hundred awfully fast. And they talk all the time--more than any girl would (and I'm deliberately not taking myself as the measure here). They really don't seem like guys to me, at all.
All this talking about feelings, especially all this having those feelings for each other after 10 seconds, is a total turn-off and very unbelievable. Here some of my favourite most awful and syrupy parts: (Brace yourselves.)
God, that's so completely mushy and sappy and sugary (with some of the quotes it's the time (1st date), when they were said, or the the frequency that makes them as such). There's only so much sweet talk I can take.
Another thing that I have a problem with is the amount of sex, or "love making" or "flying together" as they so sweetly refer to it. Gag.
Whether you'll like Crossing Borders or not really depends on what you're looking for in a book. If you enjoy sweet talk, guys who talk about their feelings and you don't have a problem with love-at-first-sight stories, then this book is just the book for you.
It's well-written, sweet and it can be funny, too--but nevertheless, it definitely doesn't meet my taste, at all, unfortunately.
PS:
Who the hell did give the "Yes" to THAT cover?! Boy, it's awful! Before starting to read the book, I thought this was supposed to be a father with his son. LOL.
The boy on the cover looks like 14 (at the max.) instead of 19 and the guy like 40 (at the min.) instead of 27. Seriously.
So far, I have read about ⅔ of the book, but I've got to tell you that it feels more like torture at times... Why the hell don't I just end my misery? Hm, maybe I'm a masochist?
[*Update: It's official. I give up. I've read 84% and I can't take it anymore...]
I'm really, really not a fan of love at first sight, nor can I stand all this horrible sweet talk. This book includes both, unfortunately.
The very beginning of the book with Tristan trying to "fish" himself a man, or rather an anonymus male sex partner, at the library was quite funny and entertaining. Because of all the people he wants to meet there on his little fishing trip he has to meet Officer Helmet (real name: Michael), the very annoying officer who likes handing him tickets for skating without an adequate head protection. It was a good start in my opinion, but then it all goes to hell..
Well, in short: they go from nil to a hundred awfully fast. And they talk all the time--more than any girl would (and I'm deliberately not taking myself as the measure here). They really don't seem like guys to me, at all.
All this talking about feelings, especially all this having those feelings for each other after 10 seconds, is a total turn-off and very unbelievable. Here some of my favourite most awful and syrupy parts: (Brace yourselves.)
- "I want you to be happy." and "I want to make you happy, to make you feel as good as you make me feel.." (Sappy part here? It's said on the 1st date.)
- "I have never felt anything like this before."
- "You are so beautiful." and "I've never seen anything like you before."
- "Oh baby, you..only you." - "Only me.."
- "Tristan. Love. Mine." - "Yes. Yours, yes. Yours, Michael." (One example of the many variations of this.)
- "Tonight has been like magic."
- "I Just wanted you to know that everything I'm doing with you seems sort of new and lovely and wonderful, that's all (...)."
- "Make me fly." - "Uhn...going to fly together."
- "I just felt like I had to get back to you or nothing would make sense anymore. Stupid, huh?" - "No, I know that feeling. Like the whole world’s changed, and there’s only one person in it." - "And if you can’t get to that person and touch them, it will all swallow you whole. Never felt that before."
God, that's so completely mushy and sappy and sugary (with some of the quotes it's the time (1st date), when they were said, or the the frequency that makes them as such). There's only so much sweet talk I can take.
Another thing that I have a problem with is the amount of sex, or "love making" or "flying together" as they so sweetly refer to it. Gag.
Whether you'll like Crossing Borders or not really depends on what you're looking for in a book. If you enjoy sweet talk, guys who talk about their feelings and you don't have a problem with love-at-first-sight stories, then this book is just the book for you.
It's well-written, sweet and it can be funny, too--but nevertheless, it definitely doesn't meet my taste, at all, unfortunately.
PS:
Who the hell did give the "Yes" to THAT cover?! Boy, it's awful! Before starting to read the book, I thought this was supposed to be a father with his son. LOL.
The boy on the cover looks like 14 (at the max.) instead of 19 and the guy like 40 (at the min.) instead of 27. Seriously.
June 27, 2011
Actually I read it on my Nook
I read this book awhile ago and even though I rated it, I did not write a review. I keep coming across this cover though, and every time I see it I get more and more irritated! Not only is it super cheesy, it doesn't represent what the book is about at all. It makes me mad that such a sweet, funny and touching love story is represented as some kind of skeezy smut book about a young guy and a perverted older man (IMHO).
First of all the age difference is not as extreme as depicted. Tristan is 19 years old and Micheal is 28. That's 9 years not 25! If this book was about a man and a woman a lot of people wouldn't even bat an eye over the age difference. Add the fact that Tristan is preternaturally mature, the age difference actually seems rather small. Although Micheal who is a cop, was aware of his attraction to Tristan for two years he did nothing about it and was not hanging around waiting to make his move until Tristan was of age. I don't want to give too much away, but the meeting where feelings are revealed (on both parts) is accidental and not premeditated as to setting each other up to have a relationship or sex.
When reading this book I found that my this is my vision of Tristan and Micheal.
Tristan....
Eric Stoltz, the only redheaded guy I have ever found 'pretty'.
And Micheal....
The scruffy but sexy Mark Ruffalo.
Okay, I know Micheal is supposed to be blonde, but this is who kept popping into my mind when I thought about him. Anyway, the age difference (at least as far as it looks) is much more realistic. To bad the cover could't at least portray that!
Okay, enough of my ranting. Crossing Borders is a book about real love in the face of uncontrollable circumstances. There is no backlash about 'coming out' but rather how two people navigate a relationship and try to find their happily ever after. This is Tristan's first relationship with another man and the question is whether 19 is too young to know the meaning of 'true love'. Micheal is 28 and has never been a player, all he really wants is someone he can share his life and love with. Both men fall 'head over heels' quickly and are tested in a way they can not possibly conceive of in the beginning.
'Crossing Borders' is also quite a funny book as well. Although Tristan and Micheal are the heart of the book, the supporting characters are incredibly well written. From Tristan's hilarious, obnoxious brothers to Micheal's crazy ex-hippy mother the dialogue is snappy, witty fun.
What I really find refreshing is that both Tristan and Micheal are good guys without too much angst or drama. Tristan can be a smart ass but it is clear that he is a kind, loving person who matches Micheal perfectly. Micheal is more settled and is protective (to a fault) of those he loves. In many ways Michael is as inexperienced as Tristan in matters of love. Introduced to his first sexual experience in a degrading way he has also never experienced a nurturing, loving relationship. The two come together as partners and equals there is no dominant/submissive role both men share their feelings and thoughts with each other and yes the sex is pretty hot!
You find yourself really caring for both men from the very beginning. You root for their HEA even though on paper it seems that maybe their differences are too big to overcome. Actually that is why they do work as a couple. They are individuals not stereotypes. Their similarities regarding values really is what keeps them together. They are both romantics who see in each other their soul mates and by getting to know them, the reader becomes very unlikely to disagree.
This is in no way a boring book! It has moments of real steam and heartache as well. It is one of those books that is capable of breaking your heart, but is also capable to putting it back together in a fulfilling and satisfying way. It does not end with the standard 'happily ever after' but is true to the story in the way it realistically portrays the great unknown that lies ahead. However it seems possible that they may end up together forever if not at least for a very long time.
So my advice is forget the cover and be prepared to be taken away by a love story that is sweet, sexy, heartbreaking and real.
I read this book awhile ago and even though I rated it, I did not write a review. I keep coming across this cover though, and every time I see it I get more and more irritated! Not only is it super cheesy, it doesn't represent what the book is about at all. It makes me mad that such a sweet, funny and touching love story is represented as some kind of skeezy smut book about a young guy and a perverted older man (IMHO).
First of all the age difference is not as extreme as depicted. Tristan is 19 years old and Micheal is 28. That's 9 years not 25! If this book was about a man and a woman a lot of people wouldn't even bat an eye over the age difference. Add the fact that Tristan is preternaturally mature, the age difference actually seems rather small. Although Micheal who is a cop, was aware of his attraction to Tristan for two years he did nothing about it and was not hanging around waiting to make his move until Tristan was of age. I don't want to give too much away, but the meeting where feelings are revealed (on both parts) is accidental and not premeditated as to setting each other up to have a relationship or sex.
When reading this book I found that my this is my vision of Tristan and Micheal.
Tristan....
Eric Stoltz, the only redheaded guy I have ever found 'pretty'.
And Micheal....
The scruffy but sexy Mark Ruffalo.
Okay, I know Micheal is supposed to be blonde, but this is who kept popping into my mind when I thought about him. Anyway, the age difference (at least as far as it looks) is much more realistic. To bad the cover could't at least portray that!
Okay, enough of my ranting. Crossing Borders is a book about real love in the face of uncontrollable circumstances. There is no backlash about 'coming out' but rather how two people navigate a relationship and try to find their happily ever after. This is Tristan's first relationship with another man and the question is whether 19 is too young to know the meaning of 'true love'. Micheal is 28 and has never been a player, all he really wants is someone he can share his life and love with. Both men fall 'head over heels' quickly and are tested in a way they can not possibly conceive of in the beginning.
'Crossing Borders' is also quite a funny book as well. Although Tristan and Micheal are the heart of the book, the supporting characters are incredibly well written. From Tristan's hilarious, obnoxious brothers to Micheal's crazy ex-hippy mother the dialogue is snappy, witty fun.
What I really find refreshing is that both Tristan and Micheal are good guys without too much angst or drama. Tristan can be a smart ass but it is clear that he is a kind, loving person who matches Micheal perfectly. Micheal is more settled and is protective (to a fault) of those he loves. In many ways Michael is as inexperienced as Tristan in matters of love. Introduced to his first sexual experience in a degrading way he has also never experienced a nurturing, loving relationship. The two come together as partners and equals there is no dominant/submissive role both men share their feelings and thoughts with each other and yes the sex is pretty hot!
You find yourself really caring for both men from the very beginning. You root for their HEA even though on paper it seems that maybe their differences are too big to overcome. Actually that is why they do work as a couple. They are individuals not stereotypes. Their similarities regarding values really is what keeps them together. They are both romantics who see in each other their soul mates and by getting to know them, the reader becomes very unlikely to disagree.
This is in no way a boring book! It has moments of real steam and heartache as well. It is one of those books that is capable of breaking your heart, but is also capable to putting it back together in a fulfilling and satisfying way. It does not end with the standard 'happily ever after' but is true to the story in the way it realistically portrays the great unknown that lies ahead. However it seems possible that they may end up together forever if not at least for a very long time.
So my advice is forget the cover and be prepared to be taken away by a love story that is sweet, sexy, heartbreaking and real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2011
3.5 stars.
I really really wanted to like this book a lot but it didn't work for me. I'll try to put everything in order.
First of all: horrible cover. Tristan is 19 and Michael is 27, so try to forget the creepy factor of the cover.
The beginning was funny. I think Tristan's decision to get laid by a man was a bit too sudden. By the end of the book I had the impression Tristan was far more reflexive than that. I also think that Michael's seduction was a bit too fast. I was expecting more finesse from an older and more experienced guy. I do understand that he had been pining for Tristan for a couple of years, but I was expecting more control from a cop.
Here's my problem with the book: Michael seemed younger than Tristan, more childish. It was as if there was a part of Michael's personality that wasn't developed, that didn't sound right for a man with that responsibility. When the book handled the relationship between Michael and his previous lover Ron, it was as if Ron was a sort of father to him. Tristan explained that he wasn't looking for a father in Michael and indeed he never gave that impression. In a sense it was as if Tristan was playing the father to Michael, I don't know how to explain it. Tristan was a young man who was taking the responsibility to help his family after his dad's death and he behaved like an older guy, choosing the hard way instead of the simpler one - I really liked the way he came out to his mother, for example, choosing not to hide from her what was happening to him. Michael, on the other hand, appeared less focused.
The best parts of the story were the Thanksgiving dinner, which was truly hilarious, and I really liked the way Tristan was trying not to inconvenience Michael during his recovery and how he distanced himself from Michael to look into his heart and understand where their relationship was going. I didn't feel Michael's thought were always as deep and they seemed to revolve more about sex and his want and need for Tristan than on Tristan's needs.
The epilogue was a bit dry and confused, in my opinion. It showed how things progressed for the main couple, but it was too cluttered.
The secondary characters were good, especially Tristan's brothers. I must admit that the part regarding Edward, the son of Michael's friend, was pointless in my opinion.
It was an entertaining book and I'd recommend it, but for the reasons I said before, it didn't really work for me.
I really really wanted to like this book a lot but it didn't work for me. I'll try to put everything in order.
First of all: horrible cover. Tristan is 19 and Michael is 27, so try to forget the creepy factor of the cover.
The beginning was funny. I think Tristan's decision to get laid by a man was a bit too sudden. By the end of the book I had the impression Tristan was far more reflexive than that. I also think that Michael's seduction was a bit too fast. I was expecting more finesse from an older and more experienced guy. I do understand that he had been pining for Tristan for a couple of years, but I was expecting more control from a cop.
Here's my problem with the book: Michael seemed younger than Tristan, more childish. It was as if there was a part of Michael's personality that wasn't developed, that didn't sound right for a man with that responsibility. When the book handled the relationship between Michael and his previous lover Ron, it was as if Ron was a sort of father to him. Tristan explained that he wasn't looking for a father in Michael and indeed he never gave that impression. In a sense it was as if Tristan was playing the father to Michael, I don't know how to explain it. Tristan was a young man who was taking the responsibility to help his family after his dad's death and he behaved like an older guy, choosing the hard way instead of the simpler one - I really liked the way he came out to his mother, for example, choosing not to hide from her what was happening to him. Michael, on the other hand, appeared less focused.
The best parts of the story were the Thanksgiving dinner, which was truly hilarious, and I really liked the way Tristan was trying not to inconvenience Michael during his recovery and how he distanced himself from Michael to look into his heart and understand where their relationship was going. I didn't feel Michael's thought were always as deep and they seemed to revolve more about sex and his want and need for Tristan than on Tristan's needs.
The epilogue was a bit dry and confused, in my opinion. It showed how things progressed for the main couple, but it was too cluttered.
The secondary characters were good, especially Tristan's brothers. I must admit that the part regarding Edward, the son of Michael's friend, was pointless in my opinion.
It was an entertaining book and I'd recommend it, but for the reasons I said before, it didn't really work for me.
May 22, 2016
Okay, so here's the skinny. This was actually one of the first M/M stories I ever read, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I loved the whirlwind romance between nineteen year old Tristan and twenty-seven year old Michael.
That being said, sometimes it's a good idea not to go back and revisit some stories.
The intensity of the insta-love was jarring to me with this read. The same points I loved when I first read this years ago now make me cringe a little .
But I still love the sex scenes, and the terrific family dynamics, and how much Michael and Tristan love each other and work to be with one another.
The narration itself was good, except I really didn't like the voice used for Tristan. Tristan is described as a sort of punk-skater-boi with long hair who has been banging chicks left and right before he comes to terms with his homosexuality and the voice Tobias Silversmith uses is...delicate. Almost feminine. It didn't match up with my idea for how the character would sound and that took me a long while to stop trying to force my expectation of the voice and just enjoy the narration.
I really liked Silversmith's range, tone, and emotion. Once I stopped trying to backseat-narrate I really enjoyed it.
If you like a super-sweet insta-love romance with an age difference between lovers and some really hot sexy times you should check it out.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
October 10, 2017
I felt this story was on a par with 'The Long Way Home' - absolutely delightful! Michael was the 'adult' in this partnership (at the start maybe), but Tris had had to grow up fast in lots of ways (as anyone who has lost their dad early on will tell you). He didn't want to have to go through losing someone close to him again, and was really afraid for Michael and his job as a policeman even though there didn't appear to be a lot of major crime in Fullerton. Michael could have come across as a bit of a stalker, hanging around waiting for Tristan until he was old enough to be in an adult relationship but he didn't - he was just a very caring guy who felt it was his life's mission to help people, he even loved his mum (so I can't fault him)! I thought the Thanksgiving scene around the dinner table was extremely funny, and the actual love story was handled very sensitively by the author who certainly seems to know her stuff. Well done Ms Maxfield.
November 4, 2015
What a lovely coming of age story. I really enjoyed both of these men, but Tristan (Sparky) was so much fun. Watching him angst over becoming an adult and what that means for him, his family, and Michael, made me smile and even sniffle a little.
There's plenty of sex in this book, but for the most part it felt integral to the story of a young man finding himself and coming to terms with his sexuality. If you're looking for lots of action and artificial angst, you won't find it here. This is slice of life meets coming of age in a relatively low key package.
The ending wasn't my favorite, only because the fast-forward to the future meant the reader misses out on what would have gone on between the two MCs as they come to a very important decision affecting their future. But other than that niggle, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
There's plenty of sex in this book, but for the most part it felt integral to the story of a young man finding himself and coming to terms with his sexuality. If you're looking for lots of action and artificial angst, you won't find it here. This is slice of life meets coming of age in a relatively low key package.
The ending wasn't my favorite, only because the fast-forward to the future meant the reader misses out on what would have gone on between the two MCs as they come to a very important decision affecting their future. But other than that niggle, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
May 5, 2011
Quite simply one of my favorite books. When i say i loved it as much as Notturno, those who know me, realize i adored Crossing Borders. It's terrific. : )
May 25, 2016
There were lots of things I liked about this book, and lots of things I didn't.
What I liked:
Tristan's family, and Michael's mother - they were all great and worked well in their supporting roles.
The funny moments, such as Tristan's plan at Borders, Michael's obvious interest, especially that it's not obvious to Tristan. Their banter. Tristan's blushing. The Thanksgiving dinner.
Some parts of their relationship.
The flow of the story - no major lulls, no huge time jumps until the epilogue.
The romance, for the most part.
That Tristan calls Michael "Officer Helmet". To his face. I snickered a lot whenever that phrase was used.
What I didn't like:
Michael calling Tristan Sparky all the time, and that Tristan had to keep reminding him not to. "You light me up" wasn't a good enough reason for me. Also, seriously? That was your reason, Officer Helmet?
The fact that they get matching tattoos so quickly. Slightly weirded out by that. While I somewhat understood Tristan's burning need to get his, considering the circumstances, I found it slightly creepy when Michael did it. Even if he got his first.
The irrationally quick ILYs. Seriously. Tristan is 19, and while he may be more mature due to his familial circumstances, I didn't buy it as much as I may have wanted to. Also, he only just came to the realization that he's gay, Michael is his first non-het relationship, and he's still mourning what he considers the loss of what he grew up expecting to have - marriage, kids, and such. Not that this is an issue anymore, but when this book was written, same-sex marriage was but a dream for most.
The repetitive harping on safe sex, OMG, to the point where I thought this was turning into an ad for condom use. I'm all for using condoms when having actual intercourse, het or otherwise, but your chances of catching anything bad from oral sex are so slim that the use of latex, which was emphasized over and over again in this book, was a little off-putting. Tristan wasn't a super slut - he may have had sex with girls before, but there was no indication that he didn't use condoms when he did, and there was no reason for Officer Helmet to be so adamant about latex use during oral sex. At least not to me. And the fact that Michael in one scene bites his lip to the point of drawing blood, and then Tristan kisses him, TASTING THE BLOOD - yeah... I call BS on the insistence on using condoms. HIV isn't transmitted by seminal fluid only, you know.
Ron, the ex-boyfriend/lover, family friend, whatever. First, he's introduced as a bad memory of sorts, but then he inserts himself back into Michael's life, like a worm, for a reason that isn't clear, which makes him look and feel like a creepy old man, and then he becomes buddies with Tristan and decides he has the right to dole out unsolicited advice, and then turns into the catalyst for the almost-break-up. WTF? Rude!
The cover - while it's certainly cute, it doesn't fit the image of Tristan depicted within this book. Where's the long hair? Supposedly it's long enough for a pony tail. Not what we're seeing on the cover. Meh.
********
Overall, considering this was, from the looks of it, ZA Maxfield's first published book, even if this is the same book in its revisited format, it wasn't a bad read, not at all. I can see though that the author has grown by leaps and bounds since then, and that this book shouldn't be used a measure of her writing prowess. It's uneven in parts, and, IMHO, it's not her best work. The emotions often feel either forced or utterly OTT, and I still, even after reading it twice, have issues believing the romance between Officer Helmet and Sparky.
Maybe I'm just old and cynical. *shrugs*
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return **
What I liked:
Tristan's family, and Michael's mother - they were all great and worked well in their supporting roles.
The funny moments, such as Tristan's plan at Borders, Michael's obvious interest, especially that it's not obvious to Tristan. Their banter. Tristan's blushing. The Thanksgiving dinner.
Some parts of their relationship.
The flow of the story - no major lulls, no huge time jumps until the epilogue.
The romance, for the most part.
That Tristan calls Michael "Officer Helmet". To his face. I snickered a lot whenever that phrase was used.
What I didn't like:
Michael calling Tristan Sparky all the time, and that Tristan had to keep reminding him not to. "You light me up" wasn't a good enough reason for me. Also, seriously? That was your reason, Officer Helmet?
The fact that they get matching tattoos so quickly. Slightly weirded out by that. While I somewhat understood Tristan's burning need to get his, considering the circumstances, I found it slightly creepy when Michael did it. Even if he got his first.
The irrationally quick ILYs. Seriously. Tristan is 19, and while he may be more mature due to his familial circumstances, I didn't buy it as much as I may have wanted to. Also, he only just came to the realization that he's gay, Michael is his first non-het relationship, and he's still mourning what he considers the loss of what he grew up expecting to have - marriage, kids, and such. Not that this is an issue anymore, but when this book was written, same-sex marriage was but a dream for most.
The repetitive harping on safe sex, OMG, to the point where I thought this was turning into an ad for condom use. I'm all for using condoms when having actual intercourse, het or otherwise, but your chances of catching anything bad from oral sex are so slim that the use of latex, which was emphasized over and over again in this book, was a little off-putting. Tristan wasn't a super slut - he may have had sex with girls before, but there was no indication that he didn't use condoms when he did, and there was no reason for Officer Helmet to be so adamant about latex use during oral sex. At least not to me. And the fact that Michael in one scene bites his lip to the point of drawing blood, and then Tristan kisses him, TASTING THE BLOOD - yeah... I call BS on the insistence on using condoms. HIV isn't transmitted by seminal fluid only, you know.
Ron, the ex-boyfriend/lover, family friend, whatever. First, he's introduced as a bad memory of sorts, but then he inserts himself back into Michael's life, like a worm, for a reason that isn't clear, which makes him look and feel like a creepy old man, and then he becomes buddies with Tristan and decides he has the right to dole out unsolicited advice, and then turns into the catalyst for the almost-break-up. WTF? Rude!
The cover - while it's certainly cute, it doesn't fit the image of Tristan depicted within this book. Where's the long hair? Supposedly it's long enough for a pony tail. Not what we're seeing on the cover. Meh.
********
Overall, considering this was, from the looks of it, ZA Maxfield's first published book, even if this is the same book in its revisited format, it wasn't a bad read, not at all. I can see though that the author has grown by leaps and bounds since then, and that this book shouldn't be used a measure of her writing prowess. It's uneven in parts, and, IMHO, it's not her best work. The emotions often feel either forced or utterly OTT, and I still, even after reading it twice, have issues believing the romance between Officer Helmet and Sparky.
Maybe I'm just old and cynical. *shrugs*
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return **
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