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Echoes of Us
For Rylan Blake, love only complicates his life. It's easier not to be attached to anyone. After a disastrous trip home, Rylan and his best friend, Maggie, head back to Chicago to meet their new roommate, Jade Marin, and prepare for their final year of college.
A common love of music draws Jade and Rylan together. They compose songs, and at Maggie's urging, post their work online. The videos go viral and a music producer discovers them. Rylan begins to fall in love with Jade, but instead of running from Jade, he embraces the new feelings.
But hitting it big isn’t alway a good thing, especially when it comes with a price. Rylan and Jade sign a contract with a large music company but they must keep their relationship hidden. At first, it’s a game, but as their fame grows, Rylan feels forced to choose: Does he stay and live a lie or walk away from the fame and money—and Jade.
A common love of music draws Jade and Rylan together. They compose songs, and at Maggie's urging, post their work online. The videos go viral and a music producer discovers them. Rylan begins to fall in love with Jade, but instead of running from Jade, he embraces the new feelings.
But hitting it big isn’t alway a good thing, especially when it comes with a price. Rylan and Jade sign a contract with a large music company but they must keep their relationship hidden. At first, it’s a game, but as their fame grows, Rylan feels forced to choose: Does he stay and live a lie or walk away from the fame and money—and Jade.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2013
6 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Teegan Loy
21 books85 followersTeegan Loy began writing a long time ago. Notebooks filled with ideas were stacked around the house. One day, she sat down with renewed ambition and something fantastic happened: she completed a story.
Now most of her time is spent writing, but she takes an occasional break to go to the movies, where she imagines her stories on the big screen. She also enjoys watching hockey, filling her IPod with music and driving her daughter around town to various activities.
Now most of her time is spent writing, but she takes an occasional break to go to the movies, where she imagines her stories on the big screen. She also enjoys watching hockey, filling her IPod with music and driving her daughter around town to various activities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 20, 2013
3.5 stars
Rylan Blake has just returned from a disastrous trip home and he and his best friend, Maggie, meet their new roommate, Jade Martin. It’s their last year in college, Rylan doesn’t do relationships, and he just wants to relax and have fun with his friends. It’s not long, though, before Rylan and Jade develop feelings for each other and realize they share a love of music.
So this was cute and easy, and I think if you are fans of One Direction or shipping your favorite musicians, TV stars, movie stars, etc.; you’ll like this. It’s a pretty straight-forward story. A newly single Jade starts to explore his feelings and attraction towards men, Rylan is determined not to fall for Jade and keep people at a distance, and, yet; they fall in love over a guitar, a journal and singing.
Their friend Maggie uploads a video of them performing on YouTube and their popularity takes off quicker than either could believe and neither takes the time to really think about what they want out of their talents and lives. They have the pressure of hiding their sexuality and attraction. Their manager forcing them to have Maggie and Rylan’s sister, Kelli assume fake girlfriend roles. There’s the lack of privacy, the non-stop touring, the complete turnaround from their previous lives. It would be a lot for anyone to take on, but it’s more than Rylan can bear at times. He has to decide what’s more important to him.
So let me just say I LOVED the beginning of this and that first image of Jade against his car I could visualize it clearly and wanted that boy myself. The initial bonding and late night chats were great, as well. I even liked it when Rylan and Jade first realized they sounded great together and one was better at lyrics and the other writing the music.
But then it started to drag for me…majorly. It was less relationship aspects and more the play-by-play of how two early 20’s something guys became famous and had lots and lots of girls after them. And look, I ship people all the time, but the way it was described in here was so creepy and invasive and it made me kind of think about how it must feel from the other side…it was pretty gross to be honest. I know most people do it in fun and don’t take it seriously, but some…oh some. NEwayyysss, so yeah, the plot started to drag but it definitely picked up in the last third. I thought the way the author handled Rylan’s sanity slipping was done beautifully. The reader can fully understand that no matter how much Rylan loves music and Jade, that everyone has a breaking point. The lack of communication also played out superbly. Most of the time lack of communication or The Big Misunderstanding drive me bonkers, but in this case, it all made sense. It was pretty heartbreaking and the ending was all sweet kitten balls, so I’m happy.
A little side note: there was SO MUCH SEX in this book. I get they are horny, young dudes and especially as they toured I understood that they were so frantic in their intimate moments because they got no time alone together or they were angry together, but it just felt a little too much. I wouldn’t call this porn without plot by any means, but I could have done with less naked times.
Oh and Kelli and Maggie rocked, so kudos to nice females in a book. The family plot line came full circle and was a very nice touch.
Overall, this is a cute story and I’m looking forward to more from this author.
Rylan Blake has just returned from a disastrous trip home and he and his best friend, Maggie, meet their new roommate, Jade Martin. It’s their last year in college, Rylan doesn’t do relationships, and he just wants to relax and have fun with his friends. It’s not long, though, before Rylan and Jade develop feelings for each other and realize they share a love of music.
So this was cute and easy, and I think if you are fans of One Direction or shipping your favorite musicians, TV stars, movie stars, etc.; you’ll like this. It’s a pretty straight-forward story. A newly single Jade starts to explore his feelings and attraction towards men, Rylan is determined not to fall for Jade and keep people at a distance, and, yet; they fall in love over a guitar, a journal and singing.
Their friend Maggie uploads a video of them performing on YouTube and their popularity takes off quicker than either could believe and neither takes the time to really think about what they want out of their talents and lives. They have the pressure of hiding their sexuality and attraction. Their manager forcing them to have Maggie and Rylan’s sister, Kelli assume fake girlfriend roles. There’s the lack of privacy, the non-stop touring, the complete turnaround from their previous lives. It would be a lot for anyone to take on, but it’s more than Rylan can bear at times. He has to decide what’s more important to him.
So let me just say I LOVED the beginning of this and that first image of Jade against his car I could visualize it clearly and wanted that boy myself. The initial bonding and late night chats were great, as well. I even liked it when Rylan and Jade first realized they sounded great together and one was better at lyrics and the other writing the music.
But then it started to drag for me…majorly. It was less relationship aspects and more the play-by-play of how two early 20’s something guys became famous and had lots and lots of girls after them. And look, I ship people all the time, but the way it was described in here was so creepy and invasive and it made me kind of think about how it must feel from the other side…it was pretty gross to be honest. I know most people do it in fun and don’t take it seriously, but some…oh some. NEwayyysss, so yeah, the plot started to drag but it definitely picked up in the last third. I thought the way the author handled Rylan’s sanity slipping was done beautifully. The reader can fully understand that no matter how much Rylan loves music and Jade, that everyone has a breaking point. The lack of communication also played out superbly. Most of the time lack of communication or The Big Misunderstanding drive me bonkers, but in this case, it all made sense. It was pretty heartbreaking and the ending was all sweet kitten balls, so I’m happy.
A little side note: there was SO MUCH SEX in this book. I get they are horny, young dudes and especially as they toured I understood that they were so frantic in their intimate moments because they got no time alone together or they were angry together, but it just felt a little too much. I wouldn’t call this porn without plot by any means, but I could have done with less naked times.
Oh and Kelli and Maggie rocked, so kudos to nice females in a book. The family plot line came full circle and was a very nice touch.
Overall, this is a cute story and I’m looking forward to more from this author.
February 19, 2014
Echoes of Us was a huge and very unexpected surprise.
After the initial shock and disappointment at the use of insta love and the fact that these two are music stars without a bad boy attitude, Teegan Loyshowed me that I can still LOVE a book that is not perfect in all the things.
It was a slow burn, a slow and long way to that point where my heart was crying silent tears and I couldn't believe she was doing that to me.
Rylan is the type of guy that never puts his feelings on the line, except he does, so much it hurts. He has to put up with his parents rejecting him, or at least he thinks they are. He feels he is not good enough, always a disappointment to them.
He meets Jade, and even when he tells himself he is not going to go there, he does and falls in love like never before. These two make an amazing couple, they complement each other so well. Jade jumps right into the relationship even though this is the first time he feels attracted to a man.
The journey into their relationship is one that I loved reading, how carefree Jade was, and how that carefree attitude pushes Rylan to relax and enjoy the ride.
It is not just about their love, it’s about their music too. And all their struggles as they reach the top.
I don’t want to give much more away. I can tell you that you will need your kleenex. I can tell you that you will truly love the secondary characters, these female roles that surround them are strong and reliable; I wish I had a Maggie in my corner sometimes!
I love a book that can still surprise me, I love a book that is not full of cliches. I love an author that grabs an idea and makes it her/his own, showing me something different and unique.
It was the pace, it was the characterization, it was the relationships between the characters..
I´m glad I picked this book and I hope you will give it a chance to surprise you too.
Reviewed for Gay List Book Reviews
After the initial shock and disappointment at the use of insta love and the fact that these two are music stars without a bad boy attitude, Teegan Loyshowed me that I can still LOVE a book that is not perfect in all the things.
It was a slow burn, a slow and long way to that point where my heart was crying silent tears and I couldn't believe she was doing that to me.
Rylan is the type of guy that never puts his feelings on the line, except he does, so much it hurts. He has to put up with his parents rejecting him, or at least he thinks they are. He feels he is not good enough, always a disappointment to them.
He meets Jade, and even when he tells himself he is not going to go there, he does and falls in love like never before. These two make an amazing couple, they complement each other so well. Jade jumps right into the relationship even though this is the first time he feels attracted to a man.
The journey into their relationship is one that I loved reading, how carefree Jade was, and how that carefree attitude pushes Rylan to relax and enjoy the ride.
It is not just about their love, it’s about their music too. And all their struggles as they reach the top.
I don’t want to give much more away. I can tell you that you will need your kleenex. I can tell you that you will truly love the secondary characters, these female roles that surround them are strong and reliable; I wish I had a Maggie in my corner sometimes!
I love a book that can still surprise me, I love a book that is not full of cliches. I love an author that grabs an idea and makes it her/his own, showing me something different and unique.
It was the pace, it was the characterization, it was the relationships between the characters..
I´m glad I picked this book and I hope you will give it a chance to surprise you too.
Reviewed for Gay List Book Reviews
June 14, 2015
I dunno, this started good, I liked all the characters, but I felt they exchanged "I Love Yous" too fast, after just a few weeks of knowing each other, when they don't seem to have REALLY learned much about each other. Then the music stuff happened, it seemed really fast to stardom, and I'm not a fan of the couples having to date other people for show. With all the slash fic surrounding bands like One Direction and tv shows like Teen Wolf, I don't know if I really see the need for all the cover stories these days. Still, the writing style was good, so I'll likely be trying more stories by this author.
May 22, 2017
4.5 stars. Lovely! This book hit me right in the sweet spot and I was a red-eyed mess by the end. My only quibble was that I would have liked to see a bit more groveling from Jade in the end. :D
Second read: 3 years later, this is more like a 3.5 star read for me. Still hit me in the feels, but I can also see the cliches and under-developed characterisations.
Second read: 3 years later, this is more like a 3.5 star read for me. Still hit me in the feels, but I can also see the cliches and under-developed characterisations.
June 4, 2015
Lots of emotions in this book. Grab your tissues before you start. I read this in one day and hated to see it end !
Want to read
October 31, 2013I really hope this isn't 1D fanfiction... again, DSP... *side eyeing you so hard*
February 20, 2014
Echoes of Us was a huge and very unexpected surprise.
After the initial shock and disappointment at the use of insta love and the fact that these two are music stars without a bad boy attitude, Teegan Loy showed me that I can still LOVE a book that is not perfect in all the things.
It was a slow burn, a slow and long way to that point where my heart was crying silent tears and I couldn't believe she was doing that to me.
Rylan is the type of guy that never puts his feelings on the line, except he does, so much it hurts. He has to put up with his parents rejecting him, or at least he thinks they are. He feels he is not good enough, always a disappointment to them.
He meets Jade, and even when he tells himself he is not going to go there, he does and falls in love like never before. These two make an amazing couple, they complement each other so well. Jade jumps right into the relationship even though this is the first time he feels attracted to a man.
The journey into their relationship is one that I loved reading, how carefree Jade was, and how that carefree attitude pushes Rylan to relax and enjoy the ride.
It is not just about their love, it’s about their music too. And all their struggles as they reach the top.
I don't want to give much more away. I can tell you that you will need your kleenex. I can tell you that you will truly love the secondary characters, these female roles that surround them are strong and reliable; I wish I had a Maggie in my corner sometimes!
I love a book that can still surprise me, I love a book that is not full of cliches. I love an author that grabs an idea and makes it her/his own, showing me something different and unique.
I´m glad I picked this book and I hope you will give it a chance to surprise you too.
Reviewed by Connie
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
After the initial shock and disappointment at the use of insta love and the fact that these two are music stars without a bad boy attitude, Teegan Loy showed me that I can still LOVE a book that is not perfect in all the things.
It was a slow burn, a slow and long way to that point where my heart was crying silent tears and I couldn't believe she was doing that to me.
Rylan is the type of guy that never puts his feelings on the line, except he does, so much it hurts. He has to put up with his parents rejecting him, or at least he thinks they are. He feels he is not good enough, always a disappointment to them.
He meets Jade, and even when he tells himself he is not going to go there, he does and falls in love like never before. These two make an amazing couple, they complement each other so well. Jade jumps right into the relationship even though this is the first time he feels attracted to a man.
The journey into their relationship is one that I loved reading, how carefree Jade was, and how that carefree attitude pushes Rylan to relax and enjoy the ride.
It is not just about their love, it’s about their music too. And all their struggles as they reach the top.
I don't want to give much more away. I can tell you that you will need your kleenex. I can tell you that you will truly love the secondary characters, these female roles that surround them are strong and reliable; I wish I had a Maggie in my corner sometimes!
I love a book that can still surprise me, I love a book that is not full of cliches. I love an author that grabs an idea and makes it her/his own, showing me something different and unique.
It was the pace, it was the characterization, it was the relationships between the characters..
I´m glad I picked this book and I hope you will give it a chance to surprise you too.
Reviewed by Connie
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
June 26, 2018
3.8 stars!
When your wildest dream comes true and you have the all world in your hands, BUT you have to hide who you are to keep going... Is it worth it?!
When Fame, Sucess and Money come hand in hand with the risk of Losing the one you Love... Is it worth it?!
Rylan and Jade will have to figure it out.
***********************************
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't feel realistic.
The Love happend too quickly, the feelings didn't grow slowly with time... this is pretty much Instalove (and Instalust) here. Still, Rylan and Jade together were Sweet, Intense and HOT.
The family drama and the way it was resolved was Beautiful and it did pull on my heartstrings and make me feel Lots, BUT again it wasn't the most realistic (at least in my opinion)... unfortunetly people don't change their mind and ideias that quickly.
And the sucess of the MCs, their going from common people to popular star idols happend way too quickly too!
IMO this book would be better if it was longer... more pages would allow a slower development of the characters and their feelings. A double POV would have been great too... I would have liked to see/know more of what Jade was actually thinking and feeling.
BUT, still, there were parts of this book that were heartbreaking, and some parts that were really sweet. And I really liked Maggie, I think she was a great, supportive, friend.
So, I did FEEL quite a bit with this book and that was why I thought of giving it a 4 star rating, but I honestly think it's more of a 3.8 rating from me, though I did enjoy this book.
When your wildest dream comes true and you have the all world in your hands, BUT you have to hide who you are to keep going... Is it worth it?!
When Fame, Sucess and Money come hand in hand with the risk of Losing the one you Love... Is it worth it?!
Rylan and Jade will have to figure it out.
***********************************
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't feel realistic.
The Love happend too quickly, the feelings didn't grow slowly with time... this is pretty much Instalove (and Instalust) here. Still, Rylan and Jade together were Sweet, Intense and HOT.
The family drama and the way it was resolved was Beautiful and it did pull on my heartstrings and make me feel Lots, BUT again it wasn't the most realistic (at least in my opinion)... unfortunetly people don't change their mind and ideias that quickly.
And the sucess of the MCs, their going from common people to popular star idols happend way too quickly too!
IMO this book would be better if it was longer... more pages would allow a slower development of the characters and their feelings. A double POV would have been great too... I would have liked to see/know more of what Jade was actually thinking and feeling.
BUT, still, there were parts of this book that were heartbreaking, and some parts that were really sweet. And I really liked Maggie, I think she was a great, supportive, friend.
So, I did FEEL quite a bit with this book and that was why I thought of giving it a 4 star rating, but I honestly think it's more of a 3.8 rating from me, though I did enjoy this book.
September 22, 2015
Absolutely loved this book
It was sweet, frustrating, beautiful and gut wrenching.
Awesome characters ... Rylan and Jade are two yummy guys.
Best line I have read in ages ...
"I like to think I fall in love with the person, not the
gender."
It was sweet, frustrating, beautiful and gut wrenching.
Awesome characters ... Rylan and Jade are two yummy guys.
Best line I have read in ages ...
"I like to think I fall in love with the person, not the
gender."
January 13, 2014
This was such a cute little sweet read .. I sure did need it after my awful Hot Head experience today!
May 1, 2020
“Life is an echo. What you send out - comes back...Radiate and give love and love will come back to you.” ~ Life Quotes
Ryland has a good heart, but, all too often, it gets broken. His family puts undue pressure on him to be what they think he should be instead of letting him be himself. The stress of hiding who he is is wearing him down, making him feel worthless and stressed. Ryland doesn’t even want to be around them. It doesn’t help that his ex cheated on him, then married the girl he got pregnant. Ryland decides that he is better off alone and will never again put his heart on the line.
When Ryland and his best friend and roommate, Maggie, come back to college after a trip to his hometown, Ryland is particularly upset. , In a heated argument with his parents, he has come out to them with disastrous, but predictable results, leaving Ryland feeling even more “wrong” than before. Since his ex was also their roommate, they had to find someone else to rent his room. Ryland has promised Maggie that, no matter who the new person is, Ryland will not become involved with them. When they get there, Jade, the new renter is waiting for them. Ryland has spent the entire trip steeling himself against not being attracted to whomever is coming to live with them. However, when he sees how gorgeous Jade is, Ryland knows he is in trouble. Almost without his consent, he starts doing things with and/or for Jade. Jade is so amicable that it’s simply not possible to stay away from him. Eventually, Ryland learns that Jade is a musician who plays guitar, sings, and composes his own lyrics. Since Ryland writes music as well, it gives them one more thing to bring them together. As much as Ryland is trying, his attraction to Jade continues to grow. He doesn’t say anything to Jade because he assumes Jade wouldn’t return his feelings.
Jade is thrilled to get a place that is so nice, especially after breaking up with his crazy ex-girlfriend. One of the first things Ryland helps Jade do is drive to his ex’s house to pick up the rest of his things. Otherwise, she said she would destroy them. Ryland is as surprised as anyone when he volunteers to go with Jade. Jade is clearly grateful for his help and support. Over the past few weeks, Jade becomes a comfortable part of their “family”, helping with chores, cooking, shopping, etc. Maggie loves him and is happy to have another friend around with whom she can hang out. It seems Jade had always thought of himself as straight, but there's something about Ryland that makes him question his sexuality. When Jade discovers that Ryland is into music as well, he insists that Ryland show him what he’s written. Together, they pour over each other’s songs, polishing them until they are ready to be performed. Their eccentric neighbor’s husband was a musician and has an entire studio downstairs. Together, they make a tape that goes viral. Before they know it, they are being signed by a producer and start touring. There is only one catch and it is a big one: Jade and Ryland have to hide the fact that they are lovers. The loving relationship that Jade and Ryland have nurtured, is now their biggest roadblock to success and the strain of pretending is causing their relationship to fracture.
Each of the characters had their own distinct flavor, giving the plot more depth and interest. Jade and Ryland were so sweet together, although I was a bit shocked by the lightning speed with which Jade moved when he finally decided he wanted Ryland. It seemed a bit unrealistic. Maggie was wonderfully loving and eccentric as was their next-door neighbor and even her cat, Molly had quite the “cattitude”. The story has a wonderful lesson of setting priorities and following through on them, as well as a theme of “love conquers all”. Thanks, Tegan, for a nice, easy to read, uplifting tale.
Ryland has a good heart, but, all too often, it gets broken. His family puts undue pressure on him to be what they think he should be instead of letting him be himself. The stress of hiding who he is is wearing him down, making him feel worthless and stressed. Ryland doesn’t even want to be around them. It doesn’t help that his ex cheated on him, then married the girl he got pregnant. Ryland decides that he is better off alone and will never again put his heart on the line.
When Ryland and his best friend and roommate, Maggie, come back to college after a trip to his hometown, Ryland is particularly upset. , In a heated argument with his parents, he has come out to them with disastrous, but predictable results, leaving Ryland feeling even more “wrong” than before. Since his ex was also their roommate, they had to find someone else to rent his room. Ryland has promised Maggie that, no matter who the new person is, Ryland will not become involved with them. When they get there, Jade, the new renter is waiting for them. Ryland has spent the entire trip steeling himself against not being attracted to whomever is coming to live with them. However, when he sees how gorgeous Jade is, Ryland knows he is in trouble. Almost without his consent, he starts doing things with and/or for Jade. Jade is so amicable that it’s simply not possible to stay away from him. Eventually, Ryland learns that Jade is a musician who plays guitar, sings, and composes his own lyrics. Since Ryland writes music as well, it gives them one more thing to bring them together. As much as Ryland is trying, his attraction to Jade continues to grow. He doesn’t say anything to Jade because he assumes Jade wouldn’t return his feelings.
Jade is thrilled to get a place that is so nice, especially after breaking up with his crazy ex-girlfriend. One of the first things Ryland helps Jade do is drive to his ex’s house to pick up the rest of his things. Otherwise, she said she would destroy them. Ryland is as surprised as anyone when he volunteers to go with Jade. Jade is clearly grateful for his help and support. Over the past few weeks, Jade becomes a comfortable part of their “family”, helping with chores, cooking, shopping, etc. Maggie loves him and is happy to have another friend around with whom she can hang out. It seems Jade had always thought of himself as straight, but there's something about Ryland that makes him question his sexuality. When Jade discovers that Ryland is into music as well, he insists that Ryland show him what he’s written. Together, they pour over each other’s songs, polishing them until they are ready to be performed. Their eccentric neighbor’s husband was a musician and has an entire studio downstairs. Together, they make a tape that goes viral. Before they know it, they are being signed by a producer and start touring. There is only one catch and it is a big one: Jade and Ryland have to hide the fact that they are lovers. The loving relationship that Jade and Ryland have nurtured, is now their biggest roadblock to success and the strain of pretending is causing their relationship to fracture.
Each of the characters had their own distinct flavor, giving the plot more depth and interest. Jade and Ryland were so sweet together, although I was a bit shocked by the lightning speed with which Jade moved when he finally decided he wanted Ryland. It seemed a bit unrealistic. Maggie was wonderfully loving and eccentric as was their next-door neighbor and even her cat, Molly had quite the “cattitude”. The story has a wonderful lesson of setting priorities and following through on them, as well as a theme of “love conquers all”. Thanks, Tegan, for a nice, easy to read, uplifting tale.
November 20, 2017
This one was very enjoyable. I don't know what I was expecting but this was better. I was a little leery when we got the very fast "I love you"s but this story wasn't so much about how they fell in love as much as how they stayed that way. These boys had an exciting but pretty harsh ride and I loved every minute of it.
November 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. I wanted a few questions answered about Jade's past and would have liked to have had his POV, but overall a really sweet read.
January 22, 2019
3.85 stars
June 3, 2019
Too much INSTA-LOVE for me, but I can see the appeal.
January 27, 2014
Love and money don’t always mix well.
Rylan Blake and his best friend and roommate, Maggie, return home from a disasterous trip to see Rylan’s family to meet their new roomate, Jade. Rylan is fresh off of a break up with their last roomate and coming out to his family, so his mood is understandably gloomy. Rylan promised Maggie after his last faux pas that he would keep his hands off the new roommate.
Jade Marin is fresh off of a break up with his girlfriend as well. He is oh so sexy and sweet and Rylan has a little trouble with his ‘hands off’ policy, so Jade makes the first move. The two become much more than friends and roommates very quickly, and bond over a shared love of music. When Maggie puts one of their songs on youtube it’s an huge success and the pair become insanely famous almost overnight.
But with fame and money come the good, the bad and the ugly. In an attempt to keep up appearances, their new manager adds a girlfriend clause to their contract, add attaches them with a guard dog in the form of a homophobic driver. Thankfully they make quick work of the driver, but Maggie and Rylan’s sister posing as their girlfriends ends up going too far. Maggie is getting hate mail from die hard fans, and Rylan’s sister is cracking under the pressure of standing up as Jade’s arm candy. All Rylan wants is to go back to the way things were, when Jade could sit next to him on the couch writing music and link their ankles together in a show of love and affection. But Jade’s eyes are glassy with the promise of fame and the expectation of riches. Will he choose the lime light and the money? Or will he follow his heart and choose Rylan?
This is a coming of age emotional story about two young men that found their soul mates early on in life. But face the very real danger of losing each other when one of them loses sight of what’s important. Loy did an amazing job of conveying Rylans inner turmoil to the reader. He struggles with having to pretend he is straight and hide his love for Jade from the public eye. When Rylan made the impossible choice to leave it all behind, and Jade as well if he couldn’t just be happy just loving Rylan, my heart broke for him. And then on top of all that he has to face family tragedy as well.
A little dark and extremely emotional, but the love that these two have for each other literally jumps off the pages. You will be drawn into their story and feel their pain with them. And let me just say, Loy balanced the pain with some pretty hot sex. I wasn’t kidding when I said Jade made the first move, and it set the stage for their relationship going forward. When they go at it in a supply closet at a venue, then come out wearing each other’s shirts, they come out in more ways than one!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for MM Good Book Reviews*
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
Rylan Blake and his best friend and roommate, Maggie, return home from a disasterous trip to see Rylan’s family to meet their new roomate, Jade. Rylan is fresh off of a break up with their last roomate and coming out to his family, so his mood is understandably gloomy. Rylan promised Maggie after his last faux pas that he would keep his hands off the new roommate.
Jade Marin is fresh off of a break up with his girlfriend as well. He is oh so sexy and sweet and Rylan has a little trouble with his ‘hands off’ policy, so Jade makes the first move. The two become much more than friends and roommates very quickly, and bond over a shared love of music. When Maggie puts one of their songs on youtube it’s an huge success and the pair become insanely famous almost overnight.
But with fame and money come the good, the bad and the ugly. In an attempt to keep up appearances, their new manager adds a girlfriend clause to their contract, add attaches them with a guard dog in the form of a homophobic driver. Thankfully they make quick work of the driver, but Maggie and Rylan’s sister posing as their girlfriends ends up going too far. Maggie is getting hate mail from die hard fans, and Rylan’s sister is cracking under the pressure of standing up as Jade’s arm candy. All Rylan wants is to go back to the way things were, when Jade could sit next to him on the couch writing music and link their ankles together in a show of love and affection. But Jade’s eyes are glassy with the promise of fame and the expectation of riches. Will he choose the lime light and the money? Or will he follow his heart and choose Rylan?
This is a coming of age emotional story about two young men that found their soul mates early on in life. But face the very real danger of losing each other when one of them loses sight of what’s important. Loy did an amazing job of conveying Rylans inner turmoil to the reader. He struggles with having to pretend he is straight and hide his love for Jade from the public eye. When Rylan made the impossible choice to leave it all behind, and Jade as well if he couldn’t just be happy just loving Rylan, my heart broke for him. And then on top of all that he has to face family tragedy as well.
A little dark and extremely emotional, but the love that these two have for each other literally jumps off the pages. You will be drawn into their story and feel their pain with them. And let me just say, Loy balanced the pain with some pretty hot sex. I wasn’t kidding when I said Jade made the first move, and it set the stage for their relationship going forward. When they go at it in a supply closet at a venue, then come out wearing each other’s shirts, they come out in more ways than one!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for MM Good Book Reviews*
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July 6, 2014
Never once did Rylan Blake feel as though he fit into the small farming community where he was born. The moment his college acceptance letter arrived Rylan began mapping out his life in Chicago and never looked back. He was also lucky enough to gain a roommate who would become his best friend, Maggie Mae Stewart.
When their third roommate leaves and a new one join the students Rylan is instantly smitten and the feeling is apparently mutual. Jade Marin happily turns in his ‘straight’ card for time in Rylan’s arms. They also share a love of music, using lyrics written by Rylan, and Jade’s skills with a guitar to entertain Maggie in their basement. She talks them into putting their music on YouTube where they become an unexpected hit.
The lovers gain a following and begin playing clubs in the city. Soon after a music producer from Hollywood comes calling. The record deal they’re offered is lucrative and heady. The only negative stipulation – they hide their relationship. At first it’s not a problem because they are busy in the studio, but once they hit the road it begins to wear on them, especially Rylan who’s never before hidden his sexual preferences. Jade loves the spotlight and he’s willing to do just about anything to stay on top and in the closet. At the breaking point will Rylan choose to keep the love of his life in the shadows for fame and fortune or walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime?
Emotions run high in Echoes of Us and reads like a dream. Rylan, Jade, and Maggie embark on a wild journey that hits every button and more. The lover’s explosive relationship fans flames hotter and higher in every consecutive chapter. Some issues slip into place somewhat easily, but Echoes of Us is honestly heartfelt and heartwarming. I Joyfully recommend Echoes of Us for all the excellent highs and lows these lovers experience.
This book was reviewed by Lisa for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
When their third roommate leaves and a new one join the students Rylan is instantly smitten and the feeling is apparently mutual. Jade Marin happily turns in his ‘straight’ card for time in Rylan’s arms. They also share a love of music, using lyrics written by Rylan, and Jade’s skills with a guitar to entertain Maggie in their basement. She talks them into putting their music on YouTube where they become an unexpected hit.
The lovers gain a following and begin playing clubs in the city. Soon after a music producer from Hollywood comes calling. The record deal they’re offered is lucrative and heady. The only negative stipulation – they hide their relationship. At first it’s not a problem because they are busy in the studio, but once they hit the road it begins to wear on them, especially Rylan who’s never before hidden his sexual preferences. Jade loves the spotlight and he’s willing to do just about anything to stay on top and in the closet. At the breaking point will Rylan choose to keep the love of his life in the shadows for fame and fortune or walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime?
Emotions run high in Echoes of Us and reads like a dream. Rylan, Jade, and Maggie embark on a wild journey that hits every button and more. The lover’s explosive relationship fans flames hotter and higher in every consecutive chapter. Some issues slip into place somewhat easily, but Echoes of Us is honestly heartfelt and heartwarming. I Joyfully recommend Echoes of Us for all the excellent highs and lows these lovers experience.
This book was reviewed by Lisa for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
April 23, 2015
I usually don't like angst-filled stories, except when the book is about a band. I don't know why, but I loved the hell the characters in this book had to go through to be together. The second half of the book was great, I couldn't put it down. I'm just a sucker for these kinds of stories, when two people are totally in love but can't be together because they are in the same band. This book made me emotional on more than one occasion.
The reason I didn't give it five stars was the characters. I didn't like a single one of them. Rylan was extremely self centered. Jade was pretty one dimensional, mostly because we never got any back story on him. Kelli and Maggie just cared too much about Rylan and Jade. It's like their entire life revolved around Rylan and Jade and their success and their happiness. Rylan's family was just ridiculous. At first they acted like they didn't even want to see him anymore and then they were suddenly all so happy to see him. The last 10 pages were hilarious. I think every single character apologized to Rylan within the course of two pages. The happy ending was a bit too overdone.
The story and the characters had a lot of flaws and were flat out silly in some parts, but I liked the over all plot so much that I tried to ignore the issues and was successful for the most part. If you like hot boys in bands, you should definitely give this book a try.
The reason I didn't give it five stars was the characters. I didn't like a single one of them. Rylan was extremely self centered. Jade was pretty one dimensional, mostly because we never got any back story on him. Kelli and Maggie just cared too much about Rylan and Jade. It's like their entire life revolved around Rylan and Jade and their success and their happiness. Rylan's family was just ridiculous. At first they acted like they didn't even want to see him anymore and then they were suddenly all so happy to see him. The last 10 pages were hilarious. I think every single character apologized to Rylan within the course of two pages. The happy ending was a bit too overdone.
The story and the characters had a lot of flaws and were flat out silly in some parts, but I liked the over all plot so much that I tried to ignore the issues and was successful for the most part. If you like hot boys in bands, you should definitely give this book a try.
November 23, 2013
Loved almost all of the characters even the ones at the beginning who were not written in a great light (I can't like Andy or whatever his name was). The last 80 or so pages had me teary eyed and gave me heart pangs but I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved that Rylan did what he had to, to remain true to himself. Maggie was awesome throughout for championing him and caring for him. It was fun learning about Rylan's back story but I'm a bit sad to see that reader's never really got Jade's whole story and what was going on with his family.
I wouldn't mind if the author one day decided revisit these characters.
I wouldn't mind if the author one day decided revisit these characters.
July 31, 2016
I loved this book, and some times I hated it. The story was told in an ok pace, but sometimes is was slow. So slow that I found my self wanting to skip forward to a more fast paced section. The story was sweet, but lacked in some parts. The hot scenes were not that hot... But I loved it. There was something irresistible about this book.
I normally have a hard time with books with a first person narrative, and to some extent that was something that bugged me, but not enough that I didn't enjoy the read. I would have loved for a more nuanced picture of Jade and his POV would have helped me a lot.
I normally have a hard time with books with a first person narrative, and to some extent that was something that bugged me, but not enough that I didn't enjoy the read. I would have loved for a more nuanced picture of Jade and his POV would have helped me a lot.
January 9, 2014
Overall, this was a fast paced read that moved fairly quickly. I loved the secondary characters, especially their next door neighbor, Mrs. Morgan. I adored her. We do get our HEA, and it was really sweet all the way around. Rylan’s family issues come full circle, which was an unexpected treat.
See the entire 4.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire 4.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
November 13, 2014
3.75 stars. I really like Rylan in this story. I hated Jade, I felt like this story went too fast, like they fell in love too quickly. The conflict was knee-thigh level at best (if you can imagine standing in a pool). This was definitely a heart string tug. I felt like the story also had too many people. I never got a clear picture of some of the things that went on. I liked it for the romance not so much the actual story. It had potential but it just fell short for me a little bit.
February 26, 2016
4,5 stars. I felt the boys fell in love a bit too quickly, especially for Rylan who was protesting he'd never fall in love, but the last pages left me teary eyes (admittedly, it doesn't take much for me to get teary eyes). I wish we could have known more about Jade since the fact that he wants to continue hiding his relationship with Rylan feels tied to his family, but we never find out about them.
Want to read
November 20, 2013Sounds Similar to Catch My Breath - M.J. O'Shea.
2 Guys meet and fall in love prior to their rise and fame and are forced to hide their feelings by the recording company as well as take fake girlfriends. Eventually having to choose between each other and their success.
I'm interested to see what this author can do, I'm hoping it is just a cheap carbon copy.
2 Guys meet and fall in love prior to their rise and fame and are forced to hide their feelings by the recording company as well as take fake girlfriends. Eventually having to choose between each other and their success.
I'm interested to see what this author can do, I'm hoping it is just a cheap carbon copy.
December 16, 2013
Story plot is about two guys who met fall in love. And its about realizing that they can make great songs and sing them together.
There singing career was a little bit to "lucky" from my point of view and there love did not convince me.
So story plot is between good and simple. My reading time was not waisted.
There singing career was a little bit to "lucky" from my point of view and there love did not convince me.
So story plot is between good and simple. My reading time was not waisted.
October 7, 2014
5 'Amazing RHeartJ' stars.
I absolutely loved this NA/MM/Rockstar read.
Well written, easy to read and amazing characters.
Has all those sweet, butterfly moments, sizzling chemistry and really intimate beautiful moments aswell. Throw in angst, grief and all the struggles of hiding their true selves and we have a HIT!
IHeartR&J! Adore them! Loved this book!
I absolutely loved this NA/MM/Rockstar read.
Well written, easy to read and amazing characters.
Has all those sweet, butterfly moments, sizzling chemistry and really intimate beautiful moments aswell. Throw in angst, grief and all the struggles of hiding their true selves and we have a HIT!
IHeartR&J! Adore them! Loved this book!
June 7, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. This book was a surprise...more than my expectations. It was sweet,cute mm romance with little bit of angst sprinkled over. Some scenes just tug at your heart in the story.You can't go without liking the main characters (Rylan and Jade) as well as almost all the secondary characters. A feel good read. :) I would definitely check out other books by this author.
February 7, 2017
Wow , my emotions are all over the place right now, like I cried so much.
This author writes some damn beautiful love stories.
I love happy endings and somewhat predictable plots and lots of kissing and cuddling and cute talented boys and like aww how adorable.
Nothing but love for this book and author. Great book.
This author writes some damn beautiful love stories.
I love happy endings and somewhat predictable plots and lots of kissing and cuddling and cute talented boys and like aww how adorable.
Nothing but love for this book and author. Great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2014
I loved this book. Jade and Rylan were on a wild ride to fame and I loved it. I felt like I was being swept away with them. Rylan's frustration with Jade and the whole hiding made me feel such sympathy for him. And the reconnection with his father was heartbreaking. Great story.
September 4, 2016
Linear, un-nuanced, expository writing of a story that's not very realistic. It's Rylan and Jade against the world, and then they turn on each other as well. Definitely a few hot scenes between the men, but otherwise not a stand-out book.
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