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Salvage Stories #1
Salvage
Five years ago, an accident fractured Gabe Cooper’s family. Believing it was broken beyond repair, Gabe and his best friend Jamie Carlson left Minnesota behind for San Diego sunshine and college. Now another crisis brings Gabe home to help his ailing father, and he finally has to face the guilt that kept him away for so long.
Scott Stark also returns to Minnesota, with his young niece and nephew in tow, shouldering new family responsibilities. While Gabe comes to grips with his past, Scott struggles to accept his present role as a substitute parent, caring for two children, each with different needs. As Gabe and Scott get to know each other, reclaiming family life almost seems possible. Only two things stand in the way of love: Gabe’s unresolved relationship with Jamie, and Scott’s plan to leave Minnesota as soon as he can. Both men will have to accept past mistakes if they want to salvage a future together, and time is running out.
Scott Stark also returns to Minnesota, with his young niece and nephew in tow, shouldering new family responsibilities. While Gabe comes to grips with his past, Scott struggles to accept his present role as a substitute parent, caring for two children, each with different needs. As Gabe and Scott get to know each other, reclaiming family life almost seems possible. Only two things stand in the way of love: Gabe’s unresolved relationship with Jamie, and Scott’s plan to leave Minnesota as soon as he can. Both men will have to accept past mistakes if they want to salvage a future together, and time is running out.
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First published September 15, 2013
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August 31, 2014
stunning.
this was written by a marvelous writer at the height of her powers.
***
one of the things that defines us as a species is our drive to create metaphor—to tell stories—to create things from the bits of other things.
i know, i know; i'm a dork. just—wait:
very nearly everything we do is an abstraction of something else. the names we give things are symbols for the things we have named. the words we use are a kind of code for the things the words mean, and when we string them together—
—magic.
human magic.
the real kind.
***
the word 'dog' is not an actual dog; it's a series of three symbols we have all agreed means 'dog.' further, we have all agreed that that word sounds a certain way, and that sound also means dog.
if you want to go the other direction, think about the letters we use to make up that word—who decided the 'd' should sound like 'duh?' why is it shaped the way it is? how cool is it that we can use that same shape to make that same sound in all sorts of—
—i am not high. i'm just really, really excited.
so yeah. abstraction. everything is an extrapolation, a symbol, a metaphor, and human speech and human writing and human storytelling is a series of them put together, which in turn form yet another abstraction, a whole other level of meaning—imagery, emotion, ideas—
—and in this way art is made.
a writer writes 'the dog barks.' and human beings thousands of miles away, long after she's dead, reading a translation maybe—they know what that means. they see a dog in their minds, and they hear it barking.
transliteration. conveying a thing from one brain to another, using feelings and images made up of millions of metaphors for things everyone understands a certain way.
it's how we tell stories. symbols.
***
con riley knows how this works, and she knows how to play with it.
months ago i reviewed her first book, After Ben:
what i saw in her writing back then was this astonishing ability to transliterate the way your mind works in grief—the so, so often retrieval of memory in loss, of the mimetic connection between smells and tastes and sounds to painful memories that savage you when you're suffering. it was terribly, terribly exciting to see, even if the device was slightly out of balance.
it wasn't perfect, but it was close. and it was like being able to read minds.
so, here we are, and she's four books on, and that skill, that talent—connecting you to the mind of another person she's created, so you identify with them, and feel what they feel, and recognize the way things happen in your own head through the inner ebb and flow of their emotions and thoughts and memories—it's...
...it's not unbalanced anymore.
now, it is perfect.
***
gabriel, her main character here—he's alive. he's human. he's real. because the way his mind works—memories of conversations, experiences, sounds, smells, all coming back at random times to inform his present state of mind—it's real. it's accurate.
and it happens just that way, doesn't it?
you're thinking of your high school crush breaking your heart twenty years ago, just as someone cute standing right in front of you today does something that could be taken a certain way, and you react well out of line—you shut them down—and the extent of your emotional response only makes sense in the context of the things you were thinking and feeling just... before... you went... totally nuts.
like that.
but then riley does one better.
she's mastered that, y'see—and now homegirl's just showing off, really: the way you or i use metaphors to convey 'the dog barks,' she uses that—the obscenely complicated and delicate dance of past memory and present experience—to create spellbinding scenes that not only build powerful imagery in your head, but blow them up and put them back together again in absolutely incredible ways.
it was—on at least three occasions—literally breathtaking.
***
when i reviewed riley's second book, Saving Sean, i had this to say:
she'd improved that skill—playing with the symbolism of memory and the process of cognition. she'd improved it so much from one book to another i found it astonishing, because the talent and ambition behind such writing had grown exponentially.
as it has, again, here.
with this book.
you're given a word—marble—and you're given another, and another, in a row, and they build an image in your mind—green marbles in a glass jar—and then some more words, more images, more ideas imbued into the marbles—who does what with them, and what that means to whom, and when—and then it all circles round at the end of a scene and that symbol—marble—means something completely different than it did at the start—something more—something incredible—and then, hundreds of pages later, hundreds of scenes like that later, you realize this author's been doing the same thing, but with entire scenes, the whole novel, and those same green marbles now mean something even greater, something so vast and so rich and so human—
yes.
yes. it's really that good.
it's like getting gay lit story for MM money.
this book is compulsively readable, and very, very recommended.
this was written by a marvelous writer at the height of her powers.
***
one of the things that defines us as a species is our drive to create metaphor—to tell stories—to create things from the bits of other things.
i know, i know; i'm a dork. just—wait:
very nearly everything we do is an abstraction of something else. the names we give things are symbols for the things we have named. the words we use are a kind of code for the things the words mean, and when we string them together—
—magic.
human magic.
the real kind.
***
the word 'dog' is not an actual dog; it's a series of three symbols we have all agreed means 'dog.' further, we have all agreed that that word sounds a certain way, and that sound also means dog.
if you want to go the other direction, think about the letters we use to make up that word—who decided the 'd' should sound like 'duh?' why is it shaped the way it is? how cool is it that we can use that same shape to make that same sound in all sorts of—
—i am not high. i'm just really, really excited.
so yeah. abstraction. everything is an extrapolation, a symbol, a metaphor, and human speech and human writing and human storytelling is a series of them put together, which in turn form yet another abstraction, a whole other level of meaning—imagery, emotion, ideas—
—and in this way art is made.
a writer writes 'the dog barks.' and human beings thousands of miles away, long after she's dead, reading a translation maybe—they know what that means. they see a dog in their minds, and they hear it barking.
transliteration. conveying a thing from one brain to another, using feelings and images made up of millions of metaphors for things everyone understands a certain way.
it's how we tell stories. symbols.
***
con riley knows how this works, and she knows how to play with it.
months ago i reviewed her first book, After Ben:
Referring to Ben too many times probably weakened the overall feel of the book, but as a device for the purposes of explaining or enriching the context of the situation, it works very nicely indeed. When you lose someone, you really do think of them as often as Theo thinks of Ben. You compare everyone to the one you lost, and everything has everything to do with them.
But in fiction, it's sometimes best to be a little bit unfaithful to the literal truth of a thing, to keep the story moving along. Some restraint here and there, with the Ben memories, would have better served the story than the (still, frankly) wonderful and amusing glimpses of the kind of crazy-charming and funny man Ben was.
what i saw in her writing back then was this astonishing ability to transliterate the way your mind works in grief—the so, so often retrieval of memory in loss, of the mimetic connection between smells and tastes and sounds to painful memories that savage you when you're suffering. it was terribly, terribly exciting to see, even if the device was slightly out of balance.
it wasn't perfect, but it was close. and it was like being able to read minds.
so, here we are, and she's four books on, and that skill, that talent—connecting you to the mind of another person she's created, so you identify with them, and feel what they feel, and recognize the way things happen in your own head through the inner ebb and flow of their emotions and thoughts and memories—it's...
...it's not unbalanced anymore.
now, it is perfect.
***
gabriel, her main character here—he's alive. he's human. he's real. because the way his mind works—memories of conversations, experiences, sounds, smells, all coming back at random times to inform his present state of mind—it's real. it's accurate.
and it happens just that way, doesn't it?
you're thinking of your high school crush breaking your heart twenty years ago, just as someone cute standing right in front of you today does something that could be taken a certain way, and you react well out of line—you shut them down—and the extent of your emotional response only makes sense in the context of the things you were thinking and feeling just... before... you went... totally nuts.
like that.
but then riley does one better.
she's mastered that, y'see—and now homegirl's just showing off, really: the way you or i use metaphors to convey 'the dog barks,' she uses that—the obscenely complicated and delicate dance of past memory and present experience—to create spellbinding scenes that not only build powerful imagery in your head, but blow them up and put them back together again in absolutely incredible ways.
it was—on at least three occasions—literally breathtaking.
***
when i reviewed riley's second book, Saving Sean, i had this to say:
over and over, you'll find yourself reading something and wondering, 'why is this here? why am i seeing this now? what about that other thing?'
the narrative loops over and around itself again and again, layered with surprising allusions, parallels, and metaphors—and you'll find that in its playful structure and clever symmetry, you've been set up just right for incredibly satisfying emotional payoffs.
she'd improved that skill—playing with the symbolism of memory and the process of cognition. she'd improved it so much from one book to another i found it astonishing, because the talent and ambition behind such writing had grown exponentially.
as it has, again, here.
with this book.
you're given a word—marble—and you're given another, and another, in a row, and they build an image in your mind—green marbles in a glass jar—and then some more words, more images, more ideas imbued into the marbles—who does what with them, and what that means to whom, and when—and then it all circles round at the end of a scene and that symbol—marble—means something completely different than it did at the start—something more—something incredible—and then, hundreds of pages later, hundreds of scenes like that later, you realize this author's been doing the same thing, but with entire scenes, the whole novel, and those same green marbles now mean something even greater, something so vast and so rich and so human—
yes.
yes. it's really that good.
it's like getting gay lit story for MM money.
this book is compulsively readable, and very, very recommended.
December 5, 2014
When you are burnt out from the breakneck pace and scratch-your-head, where-did-it-come-from "I love yous" from the typical M/M romance, just open up a Con Riley book. I promise you, it will restore your faith in M/M romances.
Thank you Con Riley for giving me a worthwhile reading experience.
"Salvage" is about a man who comes home to help his ailing father and sister with the family business of architectural salvaging. However, it is so much more than what it appears on the surface. To me, this book was about the process that each of us go through when we mature and realize that our parents are not infallible. It is about flawed people, learning to trust others, and allowing yourself to take risks.
Each character is multidimensional. I loved all of them and what they brought to the table. The author creates such lovely characters that each have a heart and a soul. From the father to the sister to even the people they met at the bar, they felt real to me.
And Con Riley has the pace of this book down pat. I love how I didn't feel rushed in the relationship between Gabe and Scott. It felt organic, natural, and anything but boring.
Sure, this book has a bit of a contemplative, melancholy feel but I love the atmosphere that Con Riley managed to create. I found this book to be beautiful and completely worthy.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Thank you Con Riley for giving me a worthwhile reading experience.
"Salvage" is about a man who comes home to help his ailing father and sister with the family business of architectural salvaging. However, it is so much more than what it appears on the surface. To me, this book was about the process that each of us go through when we mature and realize that our parents are not infallible. It is about flawed people, learning to trust others, and allowing yourself to take risks.
Each character is multidimensional. I loved all of them and what they brought to the table. The author creates such lovely characters that each have a heart and a soul. From the father to the sister to even the people they met at the bar, they felt real to me.
And Con Riley has the pace of this book down pat. I love how I didn't feel rushed in the relationship between Gabe and Scott. It felt organic, natural, and anything but boring.
Sure, this book has a bit of a contemplative, melancholy feel but I love the atmosphere that Con Riley managed to create. I found this book to be beautiful and completely worthy.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
October 15, 2013
2 stars.**DNF at 65 %. Review posted October 15, 2013
I guess I must come to terms that Con Riley’s writing and my reading tastes are no longer compatible. I just don’t know. After loving and devouring After Ben I was so thrilled to read the entire series and it is very unfortunate that the other two books of the series didn’t wow me at all. In fact, I was quite disappointed. Same goes for Salvage. A gloomy and somber atmosphere didn’t encourage me to jump around in delight. Honestly, why was it necessary to add so much drama to every character? It’s not realistic. I mean we all deal with problems now and then but each and every character of Salvage has been depicted as either sick or unhappy or whatnot. There's nothing uplifting; only problems, grudges, anger, hurt, sadness, tiredness, bad moods etc. Simply put, there's crisis after crisis.
Gabe came home because his dad suffered a One would think that should be enough, right? But no, he
And then we have Gabe’s sister who’s Mike, her love interest, is trying hard to make amends for some stupid remarks he made in high school about Gabe being gay. We know that Mike is a good guy at heart but Gabe can’t cut him some slack. He goes on giving him a hard time because it’s obviously easier than to move on and accept Mike’s apology. And then there's the mysterious Jamie who's always on Gabe’s mind even though he claims he is NOT his boyfriend. Still, it’s all about Jamie here and Jamie there for a rather long part of the plot. Ugh. You gotta move on already!
Scott…good ole Scott whose shoulders were slumping in defeat or by tiredness all. The. Time. He had to take care of two kids whose mother (Scott's sister) has to The girl wanted her mommy and was crying all the time (which was understandable) and the boy The boy needed quite a bit of care and attention. Meaning, he could be the source of many exhausting incidents, and Scott was overwhelmed and overchallenged by this situation. Still, as if he hadn’t had enough on his plate, he and the kids IMO, that situation received too much attention as well.
Then we have Gabe who wasn’t delighted with his current situation at all. Selling junk—sorry, vintage stuff--and taking care of his father was not exactly what he wanted to do after college. Besides, the situation with Jamie was upsetting and unresolved. So…you see…when you put everything together then you get a picture of a really depressing story. Somewhere along the way I just got tired of reading about their issues. As a matter of fact, reading Salvage was not a joy, it was an irritating task. To be very straightforward, the story couldn’t hold my interest and the characters didn’t appeal to me either. I was bored. End of story.
Giving up on this book saddened me because Salvage was my last book by Con Riley. There are times when you need to move on and that's what I'm doing now.
http://baba.booklikes.com
I guess I must come to terms that Con Riley’s writing and my reading tastes are no longer compatible. I just don’t know. After loving and devouring After Ben I was so thrilled to read the entire series and it is very unfortunate that the other two books of the series didn’t wow me at all. In fact, I was quite disappointed. Same goes for Salvage. A gloomy and somber atmosphere didn’t encourage me to jump around in delight. Honestly, why was it necessary to add so much drama to every character? It’s not realistic. I mean we all deal with problems now and then but each and every character of Salvage has been depicted as either sick or unhappy or whatnot. There's nothing uplifting; only problems, grudges, anger, hurt, sadness, tiredness, bad moods etc. Simply put, there's crisis after crisis.
Gabe came home because his dad suffered a One would think that should be enough, right? But no, he
And then we have Gabe’s sister who’s Mike, her love interest, is trying hard to make amends for some stupid remarks he made in high school about Gabe being gay. We know that Mike is a good guy at heart but Gabe can’t cut him some slack. He goes on giving him a hard time because it’s obviously easier than to move on and accept Mike’s apology. And then there's the mysterious Jamie who's always on Gabe’s mind even though he claims he is NOT his boyfriend. Still, it’s all about Jamie here and Jamie there for a rather long part of the plot. Ugh. You gotta move on already!
Scott…good ole Scott whose shoulders were slumping in defeat or by tiredness all. The. Time. He had to take care of two kids whose mother (Scott's sister) has to The girl wanted her mommy and was crying all the time (which was understandable) and the boy The boy needed quite a bit of care and attention. Meaning, he could be the source of many exhausting incidents, and Scott was overwhelmed and overchallenged by this situation. Still, as if he hadn’t had enough on his plate, he and the kids IMO, that situation received too much attention as well.
Then we have Gabe who wasn’t delighted with his current situation at all. Selling junk—sorry, vintage stuff--and taking care of his father was not exactly what he wanted to do after college. Besides, the situation with Jamie was upsetting and unresolved. So…you see…when you put everything together then you get a picture of a really depressing story. Somewhere along the way I just got tired of reading about their issues. As a matter of fact, reading Salvage was not a joy, it was an irritating task. To be very straightforward, the story couldn’t hold my interest and the characters didn’t appeal to me either. I was bored. End of story.
Giving up on this book saddened me because Salvage was my last book by Con Riley. There are times when you need to move on and that's what I'm doing now.
http://baba.booklikes.com
November 20, 2019
When it comes to Riley’s stories I eagerly jump in without pause. I’m to the point that I close my eyes and hold out my hand, heart hammering with anticipation. I see the title…hmmm, okay this should be interesting, something is being rescued. Then I see the cover…which has been updated (and improved if you ask me) with a man. I like this man, I don’t know why but there’s something in his eyes that calls to me and I can’t wait to meet him. I skip the blurb because, well, I don’t need it (foolish I know but you can remind me in a second). I take a deep breath and I open it. And…I’m not really sure what’s happening (ahem, and this is why there’s something called a blurb!) but I don’t care. It’s almost as if the big picture was slightly blurred and I could only see the center. Gabe Cooper is the pivot of this tale and I could see him clearly. I just couldn’t make out everything else rotating around him. Why did he leave his family five years ago? Is Jamie his best friend or boyfriend? What happened to his sister? How come his dad won’t look him in the eye? And his neighbor, what in the world is his story??
All good questions…with even better answers.
Wanna find out?
What's to like: I live in a small town and always enjoy visiting others. So, it’s no surprise I had a great time in rural Minnesota. Gabe left his hometown several years ago without a backward glance and is holding onto sharp memories. It was easier to leave and stay away when he felt unwelcome. He has missed his sister, his twin, but he struggles with her new reality. She may have forgiven him but he will never forgive himself. And bearing witness to her physical limitations is like a fresh tear to his seeping emotional wounds. But his dad needs him and his family morals burn brighter than his shame. Coop raised the twins on his own and instilled core values into his children. So when an old neighbor appears out of nowhere, frazzled and obviously in over his head, Gabe steps up to help. As my Granny would say, “he gets it honest.” Meaning, he just can’t help himself. He jumps in and throws Scott a life preserver because he is clearly drowning. Turns out this helping hand is a lot more fun and serious than he ever imagined. *sigh* I just love it when they unexpectedly fall in love.
What's to love: It was easy to love Gabe. It was obvious he has been carrying the heavy burden of remorse and the weight is wearing him down. He’s been so focused on keeping Jamie safe, he’s lost himself. Running after his sister’s accident was cowardly but at the time, it seemed the only option. There are few people he holds close to his heart and he’s already failed once, he can’t fall short a second time. However, when he is forced to come home, everything shines in a different light. Did he see things wrong before? Or only see what he wanted to? Regardless, he’s back and going to dig his heels in when he’s needed. As it turns out, he’s very much needed. Scott’s world was flipped upside down one day and it hasn’t stopped flipping. Standing in to care for his niece and nephew wasn’t on his radar until…it was the only thing. Emma and Josh will stand out and make their mark on your heart and I can guarantee you won’t forget them anytime soon. My heart ached for them and yet, I couldn’t help but feel proud of them. The struggles are real, the emotions are sharp, and love pulses from the pages. Be it neighborly, sisterly or fatherly…I felt it. Gabe and Scott are imperfect men in an imperfect situation but their love was….perfect. I loved how they came together and stayed together…and I am confident you will see the beauty in them too.
Beware of: Secrets. But never fear, they don’t keep for long. Restoration. Hearts are healed and bonds reconnect. Slow burn. Work and kids don’t always make sexytime easy but that only intensifies the moments caught.
This book is for: Anyone searching for a touching tale of two men and their journey…home.
Book UNfunk
All good questions…with even better answers.
Wanna find out?
What's to like: I live in a small town and always enjoy visiting others. So, it’s no surprise I had a great time in rural Minnesota. Gabe left his hometown several years ago without a backward glance and is holding onto sharp memories. It was easier to leave and stay away when he felt unwelcome. He has missed his sister, his twin, but he struggles with her new reality. She may have forgiven him but he will never forgive himself. And bearing witness to her physical limitations is like a fresh tear to his seeping emotional wounds. But his dad needs him and his family morals burn brighter than his shame. Coop raised the twins on his own and instilled core values into his children. So when an old neighbor appears out of nowhere, frazzled and obviously in over his head, Gabe steps up to help. As my Granny would say, “he gets it honest.” Meaning, he just can’t help himself. He jumps in and throws Scott a life preserver because he is clearly drowning. Turns out this helping hand is a lot more fun and serious than he ever imagined. *sigh* I just love it when they unexpectedly fall in love.
What's to love: It was easy to love Gabe. It was obvious he has been carrying the heavy burden of remorse and the weight is wearing him down. He’s been so focused on keeping Jamie safe, he’s lost himself. Running after his sister’s accident was cowardly but at the time, it seemed the only option. There are few people he holds close to his heart and he’s already failed once, he can’t fall short a second time. However, when he is forced to come home, everything shines in a different light. Did he see things wrong before? Or only see what he wanted to? Regardless, he’s back and going to dig his heels in when he’s needed. As it turns out, he’s very much needed. Scott’s world was flipped upside down one day and it hasn’t stopped flipping. Standing in to care for his niece and nephew wasn’t on his radar until…it was the only thing. Emma and Josh will stand out and make their mark on your heart and I can guarantee you won’t forget them anytime soon. My heart ached for them and yet, I couldn’t help but feel proud of them. The struggles are real, the emotions are sharp, and love pulses from the pages. Be it neighborly, sisterly or fatherly…I felt it. Gabe and Scott are imperfect men in an imperfect situation but their love was….perfect. I loved how they came together and stayed together…and I am confident you will see the beauty in them too.
Beware of: Secrets. But never fear, they don’t keep for long. Restoration. Hearts are healed and bonds reconnect. Slow burn. Work and kids don’t always make sexytime easy but that only intensifies the moments caught.
This book is for: Anyone searching for a touching tale of two men and their journey…home.
Book UNfunk
January 25, 2023
***Re-read 2019 [and again in 2023...just because I can] to celebrate this series being re-released in the next few weeks. If you haven't experienced Con Riley's superb writing before, you're in for a real treat!!***
Review 2013.
What a heart-warming read this was. Absolutely delish....just the sort of story to curl up on the sofa with, a box of choccies and a glass of wine (or 2) all within reach!! We had happy tears and lots of smiles, so it can only get
, a massive 
and bring on those dancing girls... 
Gabe Cooper has reluctantly returned home to Minnesota after 5 years in San Diego with best friend Jamie to help his dad out running the family salvage business...dad Coop has had a massive heart attack and obviously has to take things easy, and twin sister Ariel is non too well herself after an accident left her partially disabled...she does what she can to help out, but things are pretty strained at home.
One night a stranger knocks on the door in the middle of an awful storm, the stranger is carrying a young boy and is trying to find a young girl who appears to have run off. The stranger is worried out of his mind and the little boy is having a panic attack until Coop walks into the warehouse carrying the little girl who turned up on their doorstep soaked to the skin and frightened to death, calling for her mother.
Who is the stranger and why does he have 2 young children with him?? Why was Gabe in San Diego when he really should have been helping out at home?? What happened to Ariel?? Who is Jamie?? All these questions and more will be answered in this story....yes folks, it's an 'ah bless' story, and I absolutely loved it!!
Review 2013.
What a heart-warming read this was. Absolutely delish....just the sort of story to curl up on the sofa with, a box of choccies and a glass of wine (or 2) all within reach!! We had happy tears and lots of smiles, so it can only get
, a massive and bring on those dancing girls... Gabe Cooper has reluctantly returned home to Minnesota after 5 years in San Diego with best friend Jamie to help his dad out running the family salvage business...dad Coop has had a massive heart attack and obviously has to take things easy, and twin sister Ariel is non too well herself after an accident left her partially disabled...she does what she can to help out, but things are pretty strained at home.
One night a stranger knocks on the door in the middle of an awful storm, the stranger is carrying a young boy and is trying to find a young girl who appears to have run off. The stranger is worried out of his mind and the little boy is having a panic attack until Coop walks into the warehouse carrying the little girl who turned up on their doorstep soaked to the skin and frightened to death, calling for her mother.
Who is the stranger and why does he have 2 young children with him?? Why was Gabe in San Diego when he really should have been helping out at home?? What happened to Ariel?? Who is Jamie?? All these questions and more will be answered in this story....yes folks, it's an 'ah bless' story, and I absolutely loved it!!
July 1, 2020
I must start this review by saying that I've seen Con Riley's books up and down my timeline for quite a while. Heck, my two review buddies/co-bloggers have read 'After Ben' and were blown away. And yet, I stupidly resisted. Sure, I follow Con on Twitter, and she seems like an awesomesauce person, but I hadn't seen a lick of her writing.
Until Salvage. Which, after reading this book, means I must now do everything in my powah to get all her published books and devour them, because if THIS is the caliber of writing we can expect, Imma need to be all over her. Her books, I mean. Jeez. Pervs.
So, Salvage. Sucked me in from the start. Gabe Cooper, the prodigal son, returns to his hometown in Minnesota after his father, Coop, has a heart attack. There's some hinting at something happening in the past with Gabe's sister Ariel and Gabe's not-really-boyfriend but best friend Jamie, that has kept Gabe away for a five years, but nothing is explained (no info dump, thank all the sweet angels). So Gabe is working in his dad's architectural salvage shop, cataloging things, unpacking boxes and feeling generally rather sorry for himself, with a dollop of guilt to round out the self-pity sundae. The relationship with Jamie is touched upon, and the reader gets a feeling of unrequited love from Gabe's end, with Jamie seemingly being a hard-partying, pleasure-seeking, don't-give-a-damn-about-your-feelings narcissist. I was kind of glad that Gabe was away from him.
The relationship between Gabe and his father is a bit strained, with Gabe having some misconceptions about his father's feelings towards him, and Coop being an old coot curmudgeon doesn't help their communication. Gabe being a somewhat unreliable narrator, you can still feel the underlying love and respect, and the familial bonds that bind these two, and Gabe's sister Ariel.
Then Scott Stark appears on the scene during a huge rain storm, clutching a little boy (Josh) to him, looking for the boy's sister (Emma). We hear about his backstory bit by bit, we're introduced to the kids and we start to feel the UST between Scott and Gabe. At this point, I was glued to the pages.
The book touches on many themes, ranging from ASD to family secrets to deep-seated guilt, alcoholism, rape and the after effects, crime, gay-bashing, misconceptions, despair - there's a shit-ton of stuff going on behind the story front that in some books would have ended up in some convoluted mess. Not here. Here, the author weaves a thread of family around all the issues she brings up and creates from it a tapestry of such brilliance that at the end of the book, you sit there with this huge smile on your face, and a happy satisfied sigh leaving your lungs.
At the heart of this book, it's all about family. The one you were born in and the one you choose. It's about family stretching beyond a blood bond only. It's about things not being as they seem (a point made again and again, in very subtle ways), and how forgiveness is the greatest gift of all.
It's a wonderfully satisfying read, with a good amount of boysecksing that still never takes center stage and detracts from the emotional connections between the characters.
While Gabe and Scott might initially appear to be the main characters, their lives are so interwoven with the rest of the cast, that the lines blur and you realize that all of the characters are in major ways important to the story.
There were some funny moments that had me laugh out loud, because kids will say the darndest things, and some moments that put tears in my eyes because I was overwhelmed by the emotions Con Riley put on the pages. The epilogue was cute and brought the book to a point of closure, though I wouldn't mind seeing more of these people.
Read this book, I beg you. It's available on 9/16/13. Or better yet, pre-order it so you too can immerse yourself in its awesomeness.
I received a free ARC from the author prior to publication. A positive review was not promised in return.
Until Salvage. Which, after reading this book, means I must now do everything in my powah to get all her published books and devour them, because if THIS is the caliber of writing we can expect, Imma need to be all over her. Her books, I mean. Jeez. Pervs.
So, Salvage. Sucked me in from the start. Gabe Cooper, the prodigal son, returns to his hometown in Minnesota after his father, Coop, has a heart attack. There's some hinting at something happening in the past with Gabe's sister Ariel and Gabe's not-really-boyfriend but best friend Jamie, that has kept Gabe away for a five years, but nothing is explained (no info dump, thank all the sweet angels). So Gabe is working in his dad's architectural salvage shop, cataloging things, unpacking boxes and feeling generally rather sorry for himself, with a dollop of guilt to round out the self-pity sundae. The relationship with Jamie is touched upon, and the reader gets a feeling of unrequited love from Gabe's end, with Jamie seemingly being a hard-partying, pleasure-seeking, don't-give-a-damn-about-your-feelings narcissist. I was kind of glad that Gabe was away from him.
The relationship between Gabe and his father is a bit strained, with Gabe having some misconceptions about his father's feelings towards him, and Coop being an old coot curmudgeon doesn't help their communication. Gabe being a somewhat unreliable narrator, you can still feel the underlying love and respect, and the familial bonds that bind these two, and Gabe's sister Ariel.
Then Scott Stark appears on the scene during a huge rain storm, clutching a little boy (Josh) to him, looking for the boy's sister (Emma). We hear about his backstory bit by bit, we're introduced to the kids and we start to feel the UST between Scott and Gabe. At this point, I was glued to the pages.
The book touches on many themes, ranging from ASD to family secrets to deep-seated guilt, alcoholism, rape and the after effects, crime, gay-bashing, misconceptions, despair - there's a shit-ton of stuff going on behind the story front that in some books would have ended up in some convoluted mess. Not here. Here, the author weaves a thread of family around all the issues she brings up and creates from it a tapestry of such brilliance that at the end of the book, you sit there with this huge smile on your face, and a happy satisfied sigh leaving your lungs.
At the heart of this book, it's all about family. The one you were born in and the one you choose. It's about family stretching beyond a blood bond only. It's about things not being as they seem (a point made again and again, in very subtle ways), and how forgiveness is the greatest gift of all.
It's a wonderfully satisfying read, with a good amount of boysecksing that still never takes center stage and detracts from the emotional connections between the characters.
While Gabe and Scott might initially appear to be the main characters, their lives are so interwoven with the rest of the cast, that the lines blur and you realize that all of the characters are in major ways important to the story.
There were some funny moments that had me laugh out loud, because kids will say the darndest things, and some moments that put tears in my eyes because I was overwhelmed by the emotions Con Riley put on the pages. The epilogue was cute and brought the book to a point of closure, though I wouldn't mind seeing more of these people.
Read this book, I beg you. It's available on 9/16/13. Or better yet, pre-order it so you too can immerse yourself in its awesomeness.
I received a free ARC from the author prior to publication. A positive review was not promised in return.
October 4, 2013
This book is so beautifully written, I felt like I was actually there with the main characters watching the story play out. Salvage unfolds at such a natural pace, nothing felt rushed or out of place. More than just a romance it is a story about family, acceptance and friendship.
When Gabe returns home after 5 years to help with the family salvage business and care for his father, who is recovering from a heart attack, every relationship has seems strained. He worries about his best friend/roommate/ex-lover Jamie, who he left behind in San Diego. His relationship with his father has been tenuous and defined by a lack of communication since he left for college, shortly after an accident that severely injured his sister. An accident Gabe blames on himself.
One stormy day Gabe meets their new neighbor, Scott Stark, who also has an unpleasant family history, and has suddenly become guardian of his sister's two young children, one of which has autism. To say Scott is in over his head is an understatement as he has cannot find his niece and his nephew appears to be in the midst of a meltdown. Soon the families begin to bond, and their back stories are slowly revealed. Gabe returned to MN planning to go back home to San Diego as soon as his father felt better, but he is soon faced with the fact that he will not be leaving as soon as he thought. Scott is also living there on what he believes to be a limited stay, but that is another situation that is up in the air.
There is a slow build to the romantic relationship between Gabe and Scott, while the two men focus on their families. There are so many issues to be dealt with and they all flowed together so easily. I never felt distracted by one storyline over another and each played out very naturally and the ending fit the tone of the rest of the story.
When Gabe returns home after 5 years to help with the family salvage business and care for his father, who is recovering from a heart attack, every relationship has seems strained. He worries about his best friend/roommate/ex-lover Jamie, who he left behind in San Diego. His relationship with his father has been tenuous and defined by a lack of communication since he left for college, shortly after an accident that severely injured his sister. An accident Gabe blames on himself.
One stormy day Gabe meets their new neighbor, Scott Stark, who also has an unpleasant family history, and has suddenly become guardian of his sister's two young children, one of which has autism. To say Scott is in over his head is an understatement as he has cannot find his niece and his nephew appears to be in the midst of a meltdown. Soon the families begin to bond, and their back stories are slowly revealed. Gabe returned to MN planning to go back home to San Diego as soon as his father felt better, but he is soon faced with the fact that he will not be leaving as soon as he thought. Scott is also living there on what he believes to be a limited stay, but that is another situation that is up in the air.
There is a slow build to the romantic relationship between Gabe and Scott, while the two men focus on their families. There are so many issues to be dealt with and they all flowed together so easily. I never felt distracted by one storyline over another and each played out very naturally and the ending fit the tone of the rest of the story.
September 16, 2013
I have been trying for two days to formulate this review. It's not working, so I'm just going to gush and spill and squee and be generally obnoxious for the duration.
There truly is nobody who writes quite like Con Riley; for me, this is simply How You Write.
Con Riley does it for me on so many levels, but mostly because her writing is so darned intelligent. She doesn't write stuff on my nose, she doesn't Tell me anything, but she Shows me all, she doesn't scream at me "You get it?! You get it?! Huh?! Huh?!", no, it is so much more subtle. Also, she doesn't tell me everything at once, she doesn't dump backstories and information on me when I don't need it. Yet.
This writing just presents information as it is needed and when needed. Not a second earlier.
Con Riley has the knack of keeping me on my toes for the whole run, and there I am, thinking, just one more chapter, and then suddenly it's been two more chapters, three more chapters, four, and there's just no stopping me, I keep reading like a river in full spring snow melting water madness running from angry bulls and swimming in deep, dark oceans and it just KEEPS ME READING until my eyes bleed or drop or my iPad hits my face, or I keep on until until until until... it's done. Finished. (And then there is wailing, because. Feelings).
The book is over. (Cue more wailing).
It's finished. (Snotsobbing happens).
And by all that is holy, this was a ride and a half. I adored Gabe. Hated Jamie for almost the whole book, but—no, never mind, you read it, and tell me what you think, mkay?—and I positively fell in love with Scott. Some parts made me scream out loud, laughing like a crazy person, and some just gutted me.
How Con Riley manages to circle around so many difficult themes (ha, you want to know which ones? How about autism, rape, homophobia, handicaps, illness, alcoholism), circle and circle and never get heavy or boring or teaching. Just the softest touch, by a hand that shows me what it means to live with a child on the spectrum. What it's like to have a mother who drinks. How you live with the loss of limbs.
And it never feels like I'm being taught new things, never am I being punished for being whole, unraped, straight, happy (Yes, a lot of books try to make me feel bad about who I am, instead of showing me how other people live. I sincerely prefer the second). This book makes everything just feel like FAMILY. Like fucking family. Warm and good and comforting. Even when things are all fucked up beyond any measure I have ever had to deal with myself.
I appreciate the voice in this telling. I appreciate taking a stand, being there for your friends. Or simply for someone who really needs a hand.
Especially the little woman who stepped up at the mall to tell people to mind their own business when Scott was having a hard time, was brilliant.
And that's the low key bonus in Con Riley's story: she treats women in m/m stories like real people. Like assets. Not like asshats. (Well, some are asshats too, goes without saying).
What really amazes me is how what seems like an unimportant detail in the beginning can go and become a major point towards the end.
Brilliant writer is brilliant.
Why am I not surprised one little bit?
And I'm going to keep all of my own, personal 21 highlights to myself, because you? Need to read this one for yourself. Go slow, and enjoy the wording. Highlight the shit outta this book.
****
A free ARC of this book was given to me before publication. A positive review was not expected nor ever promised in return. And you know what? They say it is out today!
There truly is nobody who writes quite like Con Riley; for me, this is simply How You Write.
Con Riley does it for me on so many levels, but mostly because her writing is so darned intelligent. She doesn't write stuff on my nose, she doesn't Tell me anything, but she Shows me all, she doesn't scream at me "You get it?! You get it?! Huh?! Huh?!", no, it is so much more subtle. Also, she doesn't tell me everything at once, she doesn't dump backstories and information on me when I don't need it. Yet.
This writing just presents information as it is needed and when needed. Not a second earlier.
Con Riley has the knack of keeping me on my toes for the whole run, and there I am, thinking, just one more chapter, and then suddenly it's been two more chapters, three more chapters, four, and there's just no stopping me, I keep reading like a river in full spring snow melting water madness running from angry bulls and swimming in deep, dark oceans and it just KEEPS ME READING until my eyes bleed or drop or my iPad hits my face, or I keep on until until until until... it's done. Finished. (And then there is wailing, because. Feelings).
The book is over. (Cue more wailing).
It's finished. (Snotsobbing happens).
And by all that is holy, this was a ride and a half. I adored Gabe. Hated Jamie for almost the whole book, but—no, never mind, you read it, and tell me what you think, mkay?—and I positively fell in love with Scott. Some parts made me scream out loud, laughing like a crazy person, and some just gutted me.
How Con Riley manages to circle around so many difficult themes (ha, you want to know which ones? How about autism, rape, homophobia, handicaps, illness, alcoholism), circle and circle and never get heavy or boring or teaching. Just the softest touch, by a hand that shows me what it means to live with a child on the spectrum. What it's like to have a mother who drinks. How you live with the loss of limbs.
And it never feels like I'm being taught new things, never am I being punished for being whole, unraped, straight, happy (Yes, a lot of books try to make me feel bad about who I am, instead of showing me how other people live. I sincerely prefer the second). This book makes everything just feel like FAMILY. Like fucking family. Warm and good and comforting. Even when things are all fucked up beyond any measure I have ever had to deal with myself.
I appreciate the voice in this telling. I appreciate taking a stand, being there for your friends. Or simply for someone who really needs a hand.
Especially the little woman who stepped up at the mall to tell people to mind their own business when Scott was having a hard time, was brilliant.
And that's the low key bonus in Con Riley's story: she treats women in m/m stories like real people. Like assets. Not like asshats. (Well, some are asshats too, goes without saying).
What really amazes me is how what seems like an unimportant detail in the beginning can go and become a major point towards the end.
Brilliant writer is brilliant.
Why am I not surprised one little bit?
And I'm going to keep all of my own, personal 21 highlights to myself, because you? Need to read this one for yourself. Go slow, and enjoy the wording. Highlight the shit outta this book.
****
A free ARC of this book was given to me before publication. A positive review was not expected nor ever promised in return. And you know what? They say it is out today!
August 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I'm quite cold-hearted – or a glacial bitch, as some would say – so take what I'm about to say here with a pinch of salt. This book might make you cry buckets, even though it didn't do that to me.
When I say this novel was light, pleasant reading, I definitely do not mean that it's a simple, easy story. I mean that it's a difficult story, handled with an incredibly delicate hand that somehow managed to squeeze my heart without making it bleed.
Con Riley's strength lies in words. It's not the plot that had me glued to the pages – although that has its merits too – but the way it it was told.
The story unfolds over the course of a few months, not once lagging or speeding up too much.
Gabe, Scott, Ariel, Jamie and Coop's backstories are doled out in small doses, just enough at a time to keep the reader happy, but slightly obsessed and hungry for more. But what I found most fascinating about each character, Gabe and Scott in particular, is that despite a slight air of mystery around them, at least in the beginning, and the uttermost complexity of an actual human being that Riley managed to transpose here, there is a crystal clear transparency about them that had me following their thought processes, agreeing with their actions and sympathising with them even when the path they chose wasn't one I would have chosen myself; even when it seemed to me they were doing something senseless... somehow I saw the sense in it.
The romance is not, by any means, the main focus of this story of personal growth, but it's delicious, heartwarming and sexy all the same.
In a story full of issues and trauma, the love story between Gabe and Scott is the only easy and angst-free happening. It's plain to see how well they fit together right from the start, in a way that requires no words and no explicit commitment, but comes naturally and brings only joy.
The other characters are just as lovable and interesting, each of them with a clearly defined personality and a past that shaped them and changed them. In a way, most of them aren't even secondary characters, because they spend just as much on-page time as Scott. That makes this more of a choral, family-centred story – family in every sense: the one you're born with, and the one you build for yourself – and despite the fact that my tastes don't usually run in that direction, I loved it. I absolutely adored it. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Is there a way to make this any clearer or more emphatic?
The issues in this story, ranging from rape to illness, homophobia and ASD, have the potential to be very heavy and difficult to handle – for the author and for the reader.
But what I said about Con Riley's magical way with words comes into play here too, and the narration never turns preachy or oppressive.
Every plot thread, every single small detail is weaved into the plot so seamlessly that at the end, when this masterpiece of a tapestry was finished, I was left smiling, completely satisfied and speechless. Speechless. All that came out of my mouth for the next three hours was “green marbles”.
Irrealistically realistic, astonishingly beautiful, and heartbreakingly comforting.
There's probably a lot more to say about this, but other people have already written everything you need to know. I can only hope I helped someone make the decision to pick up this book, because it's worth every penny and every minute. This is the quality I hope for every time I start reading a novel.
Originally reviewed for The Blog of Sid Love, which is now dead.
When I say this novel was light, pleasant reading, I definitely do not mean that it's a simple, easy story. I mean that it's a difficult story, handled with an incredibly delicate hand that somehow managed to squeeze my heart without making it bleed.
Con Riley's strength lies in words. It's not the plot that had me glued to the pages – although that has its merits too – but the way it it was told.
The story unfolds over the course of a few months, not once lagging or speeding up too much.
Gabe, Scott, Ariel, Jamie and Coop's backstories are doled out in small doses, just enough at a time to keep the reader happy, but slightly obsessed and hungry for more. But what I found most fascinating about each character, Gabe and Scott in particular, is that despite a slight air of mystery around them, at least in the beginning, and the uttermost complexity of an actual human being that Riley managed to transpose here, there is a crystal clear transparency about them that had me following their thought processes, agreeing with their actions and sympathising with them even when the path they chose wasn't one I would have chosen myself; even when it seemed to me they were doing something senseless... somehow I saw the sense in it.
The romance is not, by any means, the main focus of this story of personal growth, but it's delicious, heartwarming and sexy all the same.
In a story full of issues and trauma, the love story between Gabe and Scott is the only easy and angst-free happening. It's plain to see how well they fit together right from the start, in a way that requires no words and no explicit commitment, but comes naturally and brings only joy.
The other characters are just as lovable and interesting, each of them with a clearly defined personality and a past that shaped them and changed them. In a way, most of them aren't even secondary characters, because they spend just as much on-page time as Scott. That makes this more of a choral, family-centred story – family in every sense: the one you're born with, and the one you build for yourself – and despite the fact that my tastes don't usually run in that direction, I loved it. I absolutely adored it. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Is there a way to make this any clearer or more emphatic?
The issues in this story, ranging from rape to illness, homophobia and ASD, have the potential to be very heavy and difficult to handle – for the author and for the reader.
But what I said about Con Riley's magical way with words comes into play here too, and the narration never turns preachy or oppressive.
Every plot thread, every single small detail is weaved into the plot so seamlessly that at the end, when this masterpiece of a tapestry was finished, I was left smiling, completely satisfied and speechless. Speechless. All that came out of my mouth for the next three hours was “green marbles”.
Irrealistically realistic, astonishingly beautiful, and heartbreakingly comforting.
There's probably a lot more to say about this, but other people have already written everything you need to know. I can only hope I helped someone make the decision to pick up this book, because it's worth every penny and every minute. This is the quality I hope for every time I start reading a novel.
Originally reviewed for The Blog of Sid Love, which is now dead.
December 22, 2013
From the beginning, I liked the mix of characters here. Gabe is a guy doing the best he can for his family. He's back home with a web of regrets and guilt and resentment and love and near-misses in his past. He's pining for Jamie, his best friend and crush since high-school whom he rooms with back in California, and whom he protects and loves, but is coming to resent for never seeing how Gabe feels. He's stuck in Minnesota, with a father he believes scorns and hates him for past misunderstandings, and a sister whose disabilities were caused by an accident he feels guilty for.
And into his life walks Scott, suddenly pressed into caring for his sister's two children, and totally overwhelmed by the responsibility and all the changes in their lives. Both men are gay, but the care of the children brings them together first, and the relationship grows at a believable pace, with plausible set-backs and obstacles.
I liked the realistic feel to the story, the characters, and the plot. Everything from Scott's family situation to the way Jamie comes back into Gabe's life was well done - neither over-angsty nor flat. The children were characters in their own right, not plot-muppets. Gabe's father became a rounded multifaceted personality as the story unfolded. This one goes on my favorites list.
And into his life walks Scott, suddenly pressed into caring for his sister's two children, and totally overwhelmed by the responsibility and all the changes in their lives. Both men are gay, but the care of the children brings them together first, and the relationship grows at a believable pace, with plausible set-backs and obstacles.
I liked the realistic feel to the story, the characters, and the plot. Everything from Scott's family situation to the way Jamie comes back into Gabe's life was well done - neither over-angsty nor flat. The children were characters in their own right, not plot-muppets. Gabe's father became a rounded multifaceted personality as the story unfolded. This one goes on my favorites list.
August 4, 2014
Quality-heartfelt writing with a comfortable voice. Always such a treat to come across a really great writer in this genre. I can't say much for the marketing team given the strange cover.
From the beginning the story has depth with a simple plot of engaging characters. A theme of co-dependency adds an element of dysfunctional conflict to the plot without being overdrawn in angst.
"Sometimes you couldn’t stop bad things from happening, no matter how hard you tried."
The physical content is realistically sexy (not so much in quantity but quality).
Gabe and Scott's first sexual encounter is explosively translated in an angry confrontation that soon melts into a desperate rub-off session..and the reader feels every urgent moan and groan..and rub-off..needing released.
The crescendo build-up of their cock grinding throughout the story finally comes to a climax near the end, but it's such a beautifully told story..you don't miss the lack of it..thereof.
From the beginning the story has depth with a simple plot of engaging characters. A theme of co-dependency adds an element of dysfunctional conflict to the plot without being overdrawn in angst.
"Sometimes you couldn’t stop bad things from happening, no matter how hard you tried."
The physical content is realistically sexy (not so much in quantity but quality).
Gabe and Scott's first sexual encounter is explosively translated in an angry confrontation that soon melts into a desperate rub-off session..and the reader feels every urgent moan and groan..and rub-off..needing released.
The crescendo build-up of their cock grinding throughout the story finally comes to a climax near the end, but it's such a beautifully told story..you don't miss the lack of it..thereof.
November 27, 2019
This was all too real for me. When people don't have time for a romantic relationship, but it finds them anyway, this is what happens. I wanted the MCs to have more alone time, alas they can't ditch the kids, or family, or work.
It's a slow-moving story. I think the first kiss was at 60% and after that they weren't all over each other either.
Even though Jamie, the best friend/crush didn't get much page time, I feel like I know him better than the other guy. There was so much reminiscing... Jamie this, and Jamie that. Ugh. Too much telling.
So overall my problem was that I found it too realistic. XD I know, I know. Usually I complain about the opposite. Well *shrugs* I like what I like.
The anticipation, the yearning, the butterflies were all missing for me here. Not very romantic.
So, not bad at all, just not what I was looking for.
It's a slow-moving story. I think the first kiss was at 60% and after that they weren't all over each other either.
Even though Jamie, the best friend/crush didn't get much page time, I feel like I know him better than the other guy. There was so much reminiscing... Jamie this, and Jamie that. Ugh. Too much telling.
So overall my problem was that I found it too realistic. XD I know, I know. Usually I complain about the opposite. Well *shrugs* I like what I like.
The anticipation, the yearning, the butterflies were all missing for me here. Not very romantic.
So, not bad at all, just not what I was looking for.
October 10, 2013
I don't know what I can say about this book really. There are too many things I could spoil with a review, so I will just say this. This book isn't just a romance. It has a really interesting plot. I loved some of the characters and some of them I didn't. When it came to the romance, yes, this book doesn't just focus on the romance. In fact, the romance wasn't the biggest aspect of it. Did I like that about the book? Yes and no. Take Jamie for example. I would have preferred more romance instead of the Jamie plot.
Most people probably ended up liking him. His character was a very sympathetic one in my mind. Sure, he had his issues. But so did Gabe. So did Scott. Neither of those characters made me want to forget his presence like Jamie did. He's the sole reason I'm not giving this book more than 4 stars. The relationship was perfect! But Jamie just ruined this a bit for me.
However, I did love the book, and most of the characters. Ariel was my favourite secondary character - loved her name, btw - and the kids were cute. Definitely a book I would recommend for people who want a really good story with a slow burning romance.
Most people probably ended up liking him. His character was a very sympathetic one in my mind. Sure, he had his issues. But so did Gabe. So did Scott. Neither of those characters made me want to forget his presence like Jamie did. He's the sole reason I'm not giving this book more than 4 stars. The relationship was perfect! But Jamie just ruined this a bit for me.
However, I did love the book, and most of the characters. Ariel was my favourite secondary character - loved her name, btw - and the kids were cute. Definitely a book I would recommend for people who want a really good story with a slow burning romance.
January 19, 2014
Con Riley writes like an old friend. Absorbing, warm and resonant, I couldn't put her down for a moment.
Salvage crept up on me. The descriptive prose distracted me, and I didn't realise how invested I was in Gabe and Scott until about halfway through.
A solid cast of supporting characters too. Gabe's relationship with his father, Coop, is particularly emotive.
A five star read I won't forget.
Salvage crept up on me. The descriptive prose distracted me, and I didn't realise how invested I was in Gabe and Scott until about halfway through.
A solid cast of supporting characters too. Gabe's relationship with his father, Coop, is particularly emotive.
A five star read I won't forget.
October 23, 2013
A well developed, and well paced romance. I love the depth to the characters, their situations, and their relationships. I love that the author avoids easy answers, soap opera drama, obvious solutions, and cartoon villains. I love how naturally paced the romance feels. There is not instant love, or abusive undertones. It's a pleasure reading such a well written, nuanced romance.
October 1, 2013
OMG, the feels!
I am a wreck right now, the feels were too much.
Just know I loved this, so very much!
Now I need to go read all of Con's other books!
I am a wreck right now, the feels were too much.
Just know I loved this, so very much!
Now I need to go read all of Con's other books!
November 26, 2022
I think I deserve stars for getting through this!
The writing is excellent, Riley can write; the mood and emotions are vivid. But this book is so bleak, there's not a single untainted moment of joy in the whole book.
It's not really a romance. When Scott and Gabe get intimate it feels awkward because we don't know Gabe. It's 77% before we even learn what he does. They barely speak. Scott spends the book straight faced, overwhelmed, frustrated... They deal with the kids not each other.
Instead it's Gabe and best friend Jaime. Alcholic Jaime whose portrayed as fickle, careless, selfish and very damaged.
Everything about the book is hard, its exhausting:
The only 'day out' is a Veteran exhibit featuring before-nightmare-after artwork.
It's well written, the characters feel real -though can you be charged with fear and keep your business and assets? (Scott's dad appears to be doing well!)- but there's nothing to balance the bleakness, no ray of hope or joy. Even the end feels like a compromise not a choice.
The writing is excellent, Riley can write; the mood and emotions are vivid. But this book is so bleak, there's not a single untainted moment of joy in the whole book.
It's not really a romance. When Scott and Gabe get intimate it feels awkward because we don't know Gabe. It's 77% before we even learn what he does. They barely speak. Scott spends the book straight faced, overwhelmed, frustrated... They deal with the kids not each other.
Instead it's Gabe and best friend Jaime. Alcholic Jaime whose portrayed as fickle, careless, selfish and very damaged.
Everything about the book is hard, its exhausting:
The only 'day out' is a Veteran exhibit featuring before-nightmare-after artwork.
It's well written, the characters feel real -though can you be charged with fear and keep your business and assets? (Scott's dad appears to be doing well!)- but there's nothing to balance the bleakness, no ray of hope or joy. Even the end feels like a compromise not a choice.
October 7, 2013
A beautifully written story! Gabe Cooper returns to Minnesota to care for his ailing father. He plans to run the architectural salvage business while his father recovers from a heart attack and then return home to San Diego. The relationships in his family are strained due to an accident years ago involving his twin sister Ariel. Gabe carries a lot of guilt and feels that his father still blames him for the accident.
Scott Stark has recently returned to Minnesota to care for his young niece and nephew as he is now their legal guardian. His family situation is also a mess with his sister’s arrest and being estranged from his father. Scott has no experience caring for children (he just met them for the first time 2 weeks ago!), which is made more difficult because his nephew is autistic. He’s at the end of his rope when he meets Gabe and his dad, Coop. Scott is staying in his family’s run down cabin next door to the salvage yard.
A friendship develops between the two men. As time passes, it develops into something more. A very sweet and slow-building relationship, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Gabe and Scott do have issues to overcome, like Scott’s plans to return to Miami with the children once their mother is released. Very real characters and emotions with a perfect ending!
Scott Stark has recently returned to Minnesota to care for his young niece and nephew as he is now their legal guardian. His family situation is also a mess with his sister’s arrest and being estranged from his father. Scott has no experience caring for children (he just met them for the first time 2 weeks ago!), which is made more difficult because his nephew is autistic. He’s at the end of his rope when he meets Gabe and his dad, Coop. Scott is staying in his family’s run down cabin next door to the salvage yard.
A friendship develops between the two men. As time passes, it develops into something more. A very sweet and slow-building relationship, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Gabe and Scott do have issues to overcome, like Scott’s plans to return to Miami with the children once their mother is released. Very real characters and emotions with a perfect ending!
October 31, 2013
Con Riley must be one of my most favourite m/m romance writers, and I mean romance....not the excuse that I label pornography.
Such a heart-warming story. Con Riley is a master of her craft. No irrelevant details in her prose, just honest, great writing.
Loved it. A definite five star read for me.
Such a heart-warming story. Con Riley is a master of her craft. No irrelevant details in her prose, just honest, great writing.
Loved it. A definite five star read for me.
October 4, 2013
Just a feel good book. A solid read..
May 12, 2015
I will not write a fan girl review of this, though it’s tingling my fingers to do just that. What I will say is this is another stellar read from Con Riley.
Salvage, what a perfect title for this. It can be taken in so many ways throughout the book but really, its definition is exactly what it is; a rescue.
Gabe needs to be rescued from his past, from his screwed up and confusing past with his best friend Jamie, the guilt he has over his sister’s accident, and the way his relationship is with his dad. Gabe is an amazing down to earth man who tries to do the right thing and take care of others. It’s the way he was raised and the way he is down deep in his soul. He really is a good guy.
Scott, his needs a rescue from his present. The care of his niece and nephew have been suddenly put up on him and he is lost in the sea of guardianship and parenthood. He is a guy who questions everything and is stubborn as hell as he has had to take care of himself for so long. So it’s obvious these two need one another right? They totally do.
I love how real the story is. There is no need to suspend any reality at all because reality is where the good stuff if. Yeah, it takes a bit for the romance to appear in this one but the family dynamics were amazing. I loved Gabe’s dad, his sister Ariel and adored Mike. Scott’s niece and nephew were exactly how kids of their age should be. Not overly smart, clever or obnoxious, they are just kids who are having a tough time settling into a new life but they blossom under the love and care of their new family.
Jamie… what do I do with you? I wanted to smack you so many times with what you put Gabe through and yet knowing you get the next book and its name – Recovery – holy hell I need to read you rstory. It’s a good thing I have already bought it and dude, it or rather you, better be good.
So of course, I loved this. The writing as usual is stellar: the love, the romance and the intimacy are amazing and comes of the page so honestly at times it felt like I was intruding on Scott and Gabe and wanted to look away to give them privacy. Thank goodness my pervy side won over my modest side and got those hot scenes with them. Let me give you a few words, full-length closet mirrors. Yup.
Salvage, what a perfect title for this. It can be taken in so many ways throughout the book but really, its definition is exactly what it is; a rescue.
Gabe needs to be rescued from his past, from his screwed up and confusing past with his best friend Jamie, the guilt he has over his sister’s accident, and the way his relationship is with his dad. Gabe is an amazing down to earth man who tries to do the right thing and take care of others. It’s the way he was raised and the way he is down deep in his soul. He really is a good guy.
Scott, his needs a rescue from his present. The care of his niece and nephew have been suddenly put up on him and he is lost in the sea of guardianship and parenthood. He is a guy who questions everything and is stubborn as hell as he has had to take care of himself for so long. So it’s obvious these two need one another right? They totally do.
I love how real the story is. There is no need to suspend any reality at all because reality is where the good stuff if. Yeah, it takes a bit for the romance to appear in this one but the family dynamics were amazing. I loved Gabe’s dad, his sister Ariel and adored Mike. Scott’s niece and nephew were exactly how kids of their age should be. Not overly smart, clever or obnoxious, they are just kids who are having a tough time settling into a new life but they blossom under the love and care of their new family.
Jamie… what do I do with you? I wanted to smack you so many times with what you put Gabe through and yet knowing you get the next book and its name – Recovery – holy hell I need to read you rstory. It’s a good thing I have already bought it and dude, it or rather you, better be good.
So of course, I loved this. The writing as usual is stellar: the love, the romance and the intimacy are amazing and comes of the page so honestly at times it felt like I was intruding on Scott and Gabe and wanted to look away to give them privacy. Thank goodness my pervy side won over my modest side and got those hot scenes with them. Let me give you a few words, full-length closet mirrors. Yup.
November 2, 2014
This book was angsty-good. Gabe has spent the last five years in San Diego with his screw up best friend Jamie, and feeling guilty and hated by his family, due to an accident that left his twin sister Ariel disabled. Now, with his dad, Coop's health failing, Gabe is back home to help out. He's really kind of hating it, until he meets his hot new/old neighbor, Scott, and Scott's niece and nephew.
This book was slow moving- no insta-love here, in the best possible way. My only real complaint was that Gabe didn't really act like a 22-23 year old, he felt more like he was at least 30, just more mature somehow. I don't know if it was taking care of Jamie all this time, or his guilt, or what, he just seemed older than his years, but in a good way. I wasn't always sure I liked Scott, but I got why he seemed so screwed up, and he ended up being a really great guy, too.
This book was slow moving- no insta-love here, in the best possible way. My only real complaint was that Gabe didn't really act like a 22-23 year old, he felt more like he was at least 30, just more mature somehow. I don't know if it was taking care of Jamie all this time, or his guilt, or what, he just seemed older than his years, but in a good way. I wasn't always sure I liked Scott, but I got why he seemed so screwed up, and he ended up being a really great guy, too.
October 6, 2013
This one was such a surprise for me. I'd read Ms Riley's Seattle series and enjoyed them... but this one was different. It was definitely angsty and I never quite liked Jamie, even after explanations, but ... wow... this story. Just wonderful. I'm a true believer now. Con Riley will be an auto-buy for me.
November 30, 2013
3.5*
I’ll start by saying that Con Riley’s writing hooked me in from the very beginning. It felt like I was sitting in a theatre and the lights were dimmed and then suddenly…you’re thrown into another world. Or perhaps it felt more like being enveloped into the scene… I don’t know how best to describe it but I just felt drawn in and entranced by this melancholy world. What a enjoyable way to be introduced to a story.
For me, what I appreciated most was the storytelling; beautifully illustrated scenes with striking details forming vivid pictures in my mind. I felt present in the scenes. The beauty was in the gentle steering of ideas towards the reader. And though there were quite a few heavy topics, these were handled with care by the author. It never felt dismissive, but rather a subtle negotiation around the edges of each issue.
Now, the story is a bit predictable: childhood love, life gets in the way, other people enter the mix, can they end up back together? And then it wraps up almost too perfectly with a sparkly bow. And admittedly, though the writing was lovely, there were some slow parts. But for those who love their HEA this’ll work a treat.
There’s not a lot of sexytime (’cause that’s not what this story is about), but when there is some action, well, it’s pretty fantastic.
Throughout the book we’re reminded to see beyond the often-overlooked things in life; things we’d sometimes push to the side or throw into the trash. It also reminds us of what’s truly important. I won’t give away the secret, but I’ll gladly take that message with me. :)
I’ll start by saying that Con Riley’s writing hooked me in from the very beginning. It felt like I was sitting in a theatre and the lights were dimmed and then suddenly…you’re thrown into another world. Or perhaps it felt more like being enveloped into the scene… I don’t know how best to describe it but I just felt drawn in and entranced by this melancholy world. What a enjoyable way to be introduced to a story.
For me, what I appreciated most was the storytelling; beautifully illustrated scenes with striking details forming vivid pictures in my mind. I felt present in the scenes. The beauty was in the gentle steering of ideas towards the reader. And though there were quite a few heavy topics, these were handled with care by the author. It never felt dismissive, but rather a subtle negotiation around the edges of each issue.
Now, the story is a bit predictable: childhood love, life gets in the way, other people enter the mix, can they end up back together? And then it wraps up almost too perfectly with a sparkly bow. And admittedly, though the writing was lovely, there were some slow parts. But for those who love their HEA this’ll work a treat.
There’s not a lot of sexytime (’cause that’s not what this story is about), but when there is some action, well, it’s pretty fantastic.
Throughout the book we’re reminded to see beyond the often-overlooked things in life; things we’d sometimes push to the side or throw into the trash. It also reminds us of what’s truly important. I won’t give away the secret, but I’ll gladly take that message with me. :)
Read
January 23, 2015DNF at 27%
No. JUST NO.
If you want to know what I felt while reading the 27% read just Baba's review .
It is pretty the same, though I didn't come so far.
Want to read
November 7, 201911/7/19 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L4V2JJ4/...
January 7, 2020
Over the years I've wondered what I would do if I suddenly became the guardian for any of my siblings' children. I've never really wanted kids, mainly because I knew I was too selfish to give up any of the things that are important to me, and being a good parent means making sacrifices for the good of the child. So, before even opening this book, just after reading the description, I knew my heart would go out to Scott and the road his life was now traveling.
Gabe came home to Minnesota six weeks ago to help his dad, Coop, and sister out after his dad had a really bad heart attack. His family has been strained for the last five years since the accident that his twin sister, Ariel, was involved in, and that Gabe and his best friend Jamie played a part in. Ariel doesn't blame Gabe but his father does and Gabe certainly does. Now Gabe is just trying to make it all work when he'd rather be home in San Diego with Jamie, although Jamie doesn't seem to have any empathy for Gabe's situation and certainly doesn't seem to be missing him. Of course, my personal opinion of Jamie wasn't very high as he struck me as self-centered and manipulative, having used Gabe since they met in the second grade. During a massive rain and windstorm, a man clutching a young boy stumbles into their family business looking for a young girl that is lost. At first Gabe and his dad don't know what to make of this situation and think the man has kidnapped these kids. When the ruckus dies down, they meet Scott, their new neighbor in the creepy old, broken-down house around the corner, and Scott's niece and nephew.
Scott has come home to Minnesota, the place of his family's shame, to care for his niece and nephew as he is their legal guardian. The whole situation has been thrust on Scott and his world is upside down since his sister was arrested. Caring for Josh, seven, is extra hard because he is autistic, and Emma, six, is just a little girl. Scott doesn't like kids and pretty much hasn't got a clue what he's doing with a niece and nephew he only met a few weeks ago. Frankly, he's overwhelmed, and when all three of them come down with nasty colds, Scott is at the end of his rope. He doesn't know how to ask for help, mostly because in his experience, no one helps others without an ulterior motive. Sad, huh?
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Gabe came home to Minnesota six weeks ago to help his dad, Coop, and sister out after his dad had a really bad heart attack. His family has been strained for the last five years since the accident that his twin sister, Ariel, was involved in, and that Gabe and his best friend Jamie played a part in. Ariel doesn't blame Gabe but his father does and Gabe certainly does. Now Gabe is just trying to make it all work when he'd rather be home in San Diego with Jamie, although Jamie doesn't seem to have any empathy for Gabe's situation and certainly doesn't seem to be missing him. Of course, my personal opinion of Jamie wasn't very high as he struck me as self-centered and manipulative, having used Gabe since they met in the second grade. During a massive rain and windstorm, a man clutching a young boy stumbles into their family business looking for a young girl that is lost. At first Gabe and his dad don't know what to make of this situation and think the man has kidnapped these kids. When the ruckus dies down, they meet Scott, their new neighbor in the creepy old, broken-down house around the corner, and Scott's niece and nephew.
Scott has come home to Minnesota, the place of his family's shame, to care for his niece and nephew as he is their legal guardian. The whole situation has been thrust on Scott and his world is upside down since his sister was arrested. Caring for Josh, seven, is extra hard because he is autistic, and Emma, six, is just a little girl. Scott doesn't like kids and pretty much hasn't got a clue what he's doing with a niece and nephew he only met a few weeks ago. Frankly, he's overwhelmed, and when all three of them come down with nasty colds, Scott is at the end of his rope. He doesn't know how to ask for help, mostly because in his experience, no one helps others without an ulterior motive. Sad, huh?
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
October 11, 2013
2.75
This has been a hard book for me to rate. While I enjoyed the style I had some issues with the characters and story. In the end, this wasn't really a book that I can recommend. What bothered me most I think was the what I perceived as the bait and switch with Jamie:
When Scott and Gabe did get together their chemistry was lovely. This story was very somber and at times I was so frustrated with the characters that it was a struggle to finish. The writing was so well done and the dialogue natural with a great flow but this was a depressing read for me despite the sweet HEA.
This has been a hard book for me to rate. While I enjoyed the style I had some issues with the characters and story. In the end, this wasn't really a book that I can recommend. What bothered me most I think was the what I perceived as the bait and switch with Jamie:
When Scott and Gabe did get together their chemistry was lovely. This story was very somber and at times I was so frustrated with the characters that it was a struggle to finish. The writing was so well done and the dialogue natural with a great flow but this was a depressing read for me despite the sweet HEA.
May 2, 2014
I loved this one. I have read all of Riley's books thus far and this one is a little bit less concerned with dealing with social issues, and more about family and guilt and responsibility (hmm, they sound awfully like social issues, don't they?)
Gabe and his twin sister have been separated for about five years. Their father Coops' ailing health has brought the guilt-ridden Gabe home to face up to what he thinks is his father's disappointment and his sister's disability. It's not quite how he thought it would be, especially when he meets up with the gorgeous, yet hopelessly burdened Scott Stark.
The relationship builds slowly, the children don't overwhelm the romance, (even when their needs are front and centre in the narrative), and the obstacles to their being together get slowly eaten away.
All the characters play significant roles and are described realistically. Mike and Coops are slowly fleshed out, but the revelation is Jamie. His story is only a conduit to Gabe, but it's a memorising portayal of someone who is self-destructing and damaged.
Really enjoyed this absorbing read.
Reread this 28/04/2014 when I found out about 'Recovery'. This is so good. Reconnected with Scott and Gabe. Still love the dog, the kids and the landscape.
Good luck wit it.
Bumping it up to 5 stars.
Gabe and his twin sister have been separated for about five years. Their father Coops' ailing health has brought the guilt-ridden Gabe home to face up to what he thinks is his father's disappointment and his sister's disability. It's not quite how he thought it would be, especially when he meets up with the gorgeous, yet hopelessly burdened Scott Stark.
The relationship builds slowly, the children don't overwhelm the romance, (even when their needs are front and centre in the narrative), and the obstacles to their being together get slowly eaten away.
All the characters play significant roles and are described realistically. Mike and Coops are slowly fleshed out, but the revelation is Jamie. His story is only a conduit to Gabe, but it's a memorising portayal of someone who is self-destructing and damaged.
Really enjoyed this absorbing read.
Reread this 28/04/2014 when I found out about 'Recovery'. This is so good. Reconnected with Scott and Gabe. Still love the dog, the kids and the landscape.
Good luck wit it.
Bumping it up to 5 stars.
August 18, 2015
4 stars
Salvage was, for the most part, a very good read. What made it better was an awesome buddy-read with Mishyjo! Mishy's review covers most of my thoughts, so I'll just link my review to hers.
Though I will add that my main gripe is that the ending felt somewhat incomplete to me. I think it's most likely because in the last chapter before the epilogue, Gabe and Scott's relationship still seemed, at least to me, to be in its early stages. The epilogue skips forward about half a year, and it seems like a lot of the relationship development was unexplored and left to the reader's imagination.
On a happy note, Emma and Josh were just precious.
Overall, my first Con Riley book was definitely promising, and I'm looking forward to reading Recovery!
Salvage was, for the most part, a very good read. What made it better was an awesome buddy-read with Mishyjo! Mishy's review covers most of my thoughts, so I'll just link my review to hers.
Though I will add that my main gripe is that the ending felt somewhat incomplete to me. I think it's most likely because in the last chapter before the epilogue, Gabe and Scott's relationship still seemed, at least to me, to be in its early stages. The epilogue skips forward about half a year, and it seems like a lot of the relationship development was unexplored and left to the reader's imagination.
On a happy note, Emma and Josh were just precious.
Overall, my first Con Riley book was definitely promising, and I'm looking forward to reading Recovery!
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