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And Is Never Shaken
Cassian Ford is a successful writer in his forties, established at the local university. Andy Havers is a book restorer in his early twenties who just moved to town. They have nothing in common, and yet somehow everywhere they go, they seem to run into each other. Despite a bumpy beginning-an exasperated Cassian accuses Andy of being a stalker-the gap in age, and their many other differences, a passionate romance develops between them. But just when Andy is convinced he's found true love, secrets from Cassian's past erupt into the present, and Andy realizes it might not be him Cassian wants at all....
89 pages, ebook
First published May 5, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 25, 2010
So many elements of this story piled on top of each other to make this a really good read. The same very things that brought Andy and Cassian together could drive them apart if they allowed it, which is a great trick, not often done right. The music and the quotes, some was new to me, some was familiar, added depth to the story. Watching Cassian return to life in Andy’s company, then seeing how it could possibly all go wrong, kept me turning pages.
This was a May/December story that really worked, and couldn’t have happened if Cassian hadn’t had some heartbreak in his past. I like that, when a story absolutely requires a character to be in it or else be different. Andy and Cassian had a lot to work through to become a couple, and it all might have gone more smoothly had they listened to each other better, but then, Andy’s youth and impetuous nature made that difficult, and again, nothing would have been the same without that. Win x 2.
The sex was sweet, but with a couple of weird assumptions, about who does what and what that means the receiving partner does, or doesn’t do.
What I especially loved about this was that Cassian’s erudition was an important part of the story -- and that Andy was well rounded enough to recognize and respond to things that were important to his lover. He didn’t just tell Cassian, “Turn off that irritating piano piece!” but could say, “Gnossienne #1 has always made me sad.” In a genre that contains a lot of characters more obviously sexy than academics, that’s refreshing. The author pays us readers a compliment, too, by assuming that we can either recognize Shakespearean sonnets or figure it out.
This was another story good enough to send me in search of more information. I recognized some of the pieces (Pam Singer played Meditation from Thais for me) but I didn’t understand why Gnossienne #1 made Andy so sad, until I listened to it. To save you the trouble, here’s a link to a good version.
This was a May/December story that really worked, and couldn’t have happened if Cassian hadn’t had some heartbreak in his past. I like that, when a story absolutely requires a character to be in it or else be different. Andy and Cassian had a lot to work through to become a couple, and it all might have gone more smoothly had they listened to each other better, but then, Andy’s youth and impetuous nature made that difficult, and again, nothing would have been the same without that. Win x 2.
The sex was sweet, but with a couple of weird assumptions, about who does what and what that means the receiving partner does, or doesn’t do.
What I especially loved about this was that Cassian’s erudition was an important part of the story -- and that Andy was well rounded enough to recognize and respond to things that were important to his lover. He didn’t just tell Cassian, “Turn off that irritating piano piece!” but could say, “Gnossienne #1 has always made me sad.” In a genre that contains a lot of characters more obviously sexy than academics, that’s refreshing. The author pays us readers a compliment, too, by assuming that we can either recognize Shakespearean sonnets or figure it out.
This was another story good enough to send me in search of more information. I recognized some of the pieces (Pam Singer played Meditation from Thais for me) but I didn’t understand why Gnossienne #1 made Andy so sad, until I listened to it. To save you the trouble, here’s a link to a good version.
April 19, 2012
3.5-4*
May/Dec romance between Andy a new college grad and Cassian a professor of literature.
This had a different theme going,the age difference wasn't the issue, it was Andy's uncanny resemblance to Cassians dead lover.
I really liked the MC's and the story my only niggle was the resolution and ending felt rushed, but still a sweet read.
May/Dec romance between Andy a new college grad and Cassian a professor of literature.
This had a different theme going,the age difference wasn't the issue, it was Andy's uncanny resemblance to Cassians dead lover.
I really liked the MC's and the story my only niggle was the resolution and ending felt rushed, but still a sweet read.
July 30, 2013
I wanted to get more out of it than I did
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- I love reading about characters who have heartbreak in their past finally discovering happiness. Cassian is an old soul, and he lightens as soon as Andy enters his life.
- The romance has a sweet, old-fashioned slant to it. (see cons below also)
CONS:
- There’s a lot of “telling” in the story. For example: “As they ate their breakfast, Andy saw a different version of the professor, a relaxed, warm version that seemed determined to entertain him and keep his interest.” But I want to SEE scenes like this, not just be told about them. One of the things that impresses Andy the most about Cassian is that Cassian “woos” him, which Andy recognizes is unusual and special. But we don’t actually get to see any of this wooing.
- I found the romance to be overboard on the sweet sometimes. For instance, Cassian says this to Andy early on: “Can I touch you, Andy? Make love to you until you gasp for breath? Until you gasp my name? Can I fall asleep with you and then wake up together with you and do it again?” I found this nearly unbearable, considering Cassian says this at a point in the story when the men have had only a handful of hostile run-ins and a single genial meal together…which we get to see very little of.
Overall comments: I liked the premise here, but the execution could have been much better. Everything happens too quickly with not enough explanation, and the length of the story precludes a really in-depth look at the characters. After relating the first week of the men’s relationship, the story skips ahead by five weeks. I have very little chance in believing in Happily Ever After if I miss seeing the formative weeks of the relationship.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- I love reading about characters who have heartbreak in their past finally discovering happiness. Cassian is an old soul, and he lightens as soon as Andy enters his life.
- The romance has a sweet, old-fashioned slant to it. (see cons below also)
CONS:
- There’s a lot of “telling” in the story. For example: “As they ate their breakfast, Andy saw a different version of the professor, a relaxed, warm version that seemed determined to entertain him and keep his interest.” But I want to SEE scenes like this, not just be told about them. One of the things that impresses Andy the most about Cassian is that Cassian “woos” him, which Andy recognizes is unusual and special. But we don’t actually get to see any of this wooing.
- I found the romance to be overboard on the sweet sometimes. For instance, Cassian says this to Andy early on: “Can I touch you, Andy? Make love to you until you gasp for breath? Until you gasp my name? Can I fall asleep with you and then wake up together with you and do it again?” I found this nearly unbearable, considering Cassian says this at a point in the story when the men have had only a handful of hostile run-ins and a single genial meal together…which we get to see very little of.
Overall comments: I liked the premise here, but the execution could have been much better. Everything happens too quickly with not enough explanation, and the length of the story precludes a really in-depth look at the characters. After relating the first week of the men’s relationship, the story skips ahead by five weeks. I have very little chance in believing in Happily Ever After if I miss seeing the formative weeks of the relationship.
September 6, 2010
Stars: 3.5/5
Overall:
An enjoyable tale, if not too brief. The characters are fun and come to the story with interesting history, even if nothing is fully developed. A good story, but needed more development over the six weeks they're dating.
What I liked
Awkward. I love when bedroom (and overall interaction) scenes don't go smoothly. It makes it feel more real. Andy, our PoV, is inexperienced and flustered and it plays out well without ruining the romance (or sexiness) of the moment.
Character Interactions. The conversations were delightful, the small gestures were pleasant. Andy was a fun perspective, because he normally tried not to take things too seriously, but he was obviously motivated by emotions in most things of life.
Overall story line/plot. Not the strongest I've come across, but enjoyable because of our characters.
What didn't work
The speed at which the relationship progressed was rather startling. While the "hello" to Bed speed isn't surprising, the intensity of the relationship was sudden. I understand it was going for a "love at first..err..third sight" but it felt abrupt to me. The story then skips ahead 6 weeks, never really letting us establish their relationship before the big reveal of deep, dark secrets.
Overall:
An enjoyable tale, if not too brief. The characters are fun and come to the story with interesting history, even if nothing is fully developed. A good story, but needed more development over the six weeks they're dating.
What I liked
Awkward. I love when bedroom (and overall interaction) scenes don't go smoothly. It makes it feel more real. Andy, our PoV, is inexperienced and flustered and it plays out well without ruining the romance (or sexiness) of the moment.
Character Interactions. The conversations were delightful, the small gestures were pleasant. Andy was a fun perspective, because he normally tried not to take things too seriously, but he was obviously motivated by emotions in most things of life.
Overall story line/plot. Not the strongest I've come across, but enjoyable because of our characters.
What didn't work
The speed at which the relationship progressed was rather startling. While the "hello" to Bed speed isn't surprising, the intensity of the relationship was sudden. I understand it was going for a "love at first..err..third sight" but it felt abrupt to me. The story then skips ahead 6 weeks, never really letting us establish their relationship before the big reveal of deep, dark secrets.
February 19, 2011
This is a nicely written May/December story with likable protags. The relationship develops quickly, maybe too quickly, but the premise of the past "love" which led to a big misunderstanding didn't appeal to me.
May 26, 2010
I wanted to like this book but it just did nothing for me. I couldn't care about the characters at all.
June 27, 2010
Good May-December m/m romance about a professor who keeps running into a book restorer. Will the secrets from the professor's past might be insurmountable?
July 10, 2010
A sweet, romantic insta-love with hot, well written sex. Entertaining and pleasant read.
August 14, 2010
ok, not particularly memorable
March 27, 2013
3.5 Stars
August 27, 2011
For the last chapter.
November 24, 2010
Beautiful story and like Cass so much.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews