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Skipping Stones
Leo wants nothing more than to leave Paris, the City Of Love, to escape the memories of a disastrous affair. The artist is soured on love and down on his luck, and he doesn’t even have the money for a plane ticket.
Leo knew his best friend Mark understood heartbreak. When he phones Mark with his sad story, the man offers Leo the money to return to the U.S. and asks him to help out at a resort he co-owns with his own former lover, Reed.
Although Leo has never met Reed—the poster boy for heartbreaker of the century—he feels like he knows him, given the letters Mark wrote over the years, pouring out his heart about Bad Boy Reeds’ lecherous adventures and insensitivity. And Leo also can’t help but resent Reed. Not only had the guy repeatedly broken Mark’s heart, but he’d stood between Leo and Mark, preventing them from ever being together.
Now, Leo is convinced that he has Reed all figured out, but when the gorgeous, red-hot computer engineer unexpectedly comes home, Leo is completely unprepared for the man who supposedly raked Mark over the coals. And soon, everything gets turned upside down, which might make Leo’s recovery from a broken heart impossible this time around, plus destroy a long-time friendship in the process...
Gay / Contemporary / The Arts / Voyeurism
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2010
72 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Manly
242 books265 followersI write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t written and told stories. When I’m not writing, I’m dreaming about writing, doing something wild and adventurous, or trying to make the world a better and more open minded place to live in. I adore beautiful men, and I know I’m not alone in this! Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 16, 2010
This story held my attention throughout and the relationships between the men, whether as friends or lovers, are well written and interesting. The plot is simple without being too predictable and I liked the development of the characters as they overcame their past mistakes and look forward to a happy loving future. While there are a lot of emotional ups and downs in this book it does have a sweet HEA ending and I am happy that I read it.
Complete review posted at Rainbow Reviews.
Complete review posted at Rainbow Reviews.
May 5, 2010
I loved this book. It touched me deeply and was so full of mystery and surprises that at times I felt like I was the stone being skipped across the water. Amazing.
It's really hard to write a review for this book without spoiling the surprise effect and marvelous twists. I liked the fact that I got to see all three men's point of view (that was one of the first surprises for me, by the way). While Leo is the main character and his voice is dominant, I got to see enough of Mark to see where he was coming from. Reed, on the other hand, is a story unto himself and you'll have to read the book to understand what I mean.
Broken hearts, a gamut of human emotions, hope and disappointment swept me along in one of the most amazing stories about human nature I have read in a while. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try and understand their fellow human being better. It's a lesson in the role that perceptions and assumptions play in our lives - and their potential consequences.
It's really hard to write a review for this book without spoiling the surprise effect and marvelous twists. I liked the fact that I got to see all three men's point of view (that was one of the first surprises for me, by the way). While Leo is the main character and his voice is dominant, I got to see enough of Mark to see where he was coming from. Reed, on the other hand, is a story unto himself and you'll have to read the book to understand what I mean.
Broken hearts, a gamut of human emotions, hope and disappointment swept me along in one of the most amazing stories about human nature I have read in a while. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try and understand their fellow human being better. It's a lesson in the role that perceptions and assumptions play in our lives - and their potential consequences.
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July 15, 2010This is an example of gay “modern” romance; it’s for sure a romance, it’s about love and expectation, but it’s also modern since there is no the concept of sex indissolubly linked to love. Sex is something physical, for sure it’s also about love, but sex can be also comfort, sex can be lust and obsession.
Leo is a young American artist living in Paris; until he was in love with Pierre, an handsome French businessman, Paris was a wonderful city, full of possibilities, odours and colours. Now that Leo has discovered that Pierre is married and a cheater, Paris is grey and rainy and Leo wants to be back home. Mark, his childhood best friend and Leo’s first crush, offers him a job as handyman in the fancy gay resort he is managing in Florida; Mark has a similar experience as Leo, he was in love with Reed, the owner of the resort, but Reed didn’t love him back, and now Mark is pining waiting for the few times in the year Reed comes back in Florida.
Of course, as soon as Leo arrives to the resort, also Reed chooses to pay one of his exceptional visits; Leo is ready to hate him, on Mark’s account, but indeed Reed is handsome, kind and somewhat sad; Reed draws Leo like a moth to the light, and even if Leo knows that there will be the drama, he is unable to resist.
There is a complex game of snap: Mark loves Reed and uses Leo to make Reed’s jealous; Reed is not at all jealous and wants Leo; Leo has sex with Mark to comfort him on loosing Reed, but loves Reed; Adrian, another guest at the resort, loves Mark but pushes him in Reed’s arms since he knows he can’t really have him… In the middle of all of this, Leo is supposedly in love with Pierre, he was in love with Mark when they were young and maybe is wishing to rekindle the flame, and lusts after Reed; plus, he is not blind and is able to see how handsome and clever Adrian is, so even him is another possible player in the game of above.
I like Leo’s attitude, even when he is heartbroken, he is honest enough with himself to admit that, even if he is swearing off men, in a love relationship perspective, he is not a liar, and he admits that he still wants sex; sex, as I said, is a comfort for the body, and a good healer for the heart. Indeed, Reed is a rebound love, but on the contrary of most of these types of lovers, he makes an even deeper impression on Leo’s heart of the lover he is trying to forget. Leo indeed is really young, and as all the young people, he is able to heal for a broken heart faster and sooner than older men.
I also like that, even if Leo knows that having a relationship with Reed he will face drama and trouble with Mark, he is so madly in lust/love with him that he doesn’t care; he is like a willing participant on a crash test who doesn’t care knowing there will be a crash, what it counts is the excitement and satisfaction he will find in the race.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602727910/?...
Leo is a young American artist living in Paris; until he was in love with Pierre, an handsome French businessman, Paris was a wonderful city, full of possibilities, odours and colours. Now that Leo has discovered that Pierre is married and a cheater, Paris is grey and rainy and Leo wants to be back home. Mark, his childhood best friend and Leo’s first crush, offers him a job as handyman in the fancy gay resort he is managing in Florida; Mark has a similar experience as Leo, he was in love with Reed, the owner of the resort, but Reed didn’t love him back, and now Mark is pining waiting for the few times in the year Reed comes back in Florida.
Of course, as soon as Leo arrives to the resort, also Reed chooses to pay one of his exceptional visits; Leo is ready to hate him, on Mark’s account, but indeed Reed is handsome, kind and somewhat sad; Reed draws Leo like a moth to the light, and even if Leo knows that there will be the drama, he is unable to resist.
There is a complex game of snap: Mark loves Reed and uses Leo to make Reed’s jealous; Reed is not at all jealous and wants Leo; Leo has sex with Mark to comfort him on loosing Reed, but loves Reed; Adrian, another guest at the resort, loves Mark but pushes him in Reed’s arms since he knows he can’t really have him… In the middle of all of this, Leo is supposedly in love with Pierre, he was in love with Mark when they were young and maybe is wishing to rekindle the flame, and lusts after Reed; plus, he is not blind and is able to see how handsome and clever Adrian is, so even him is another possible player in the game of above.
I like Leo’s attitude, even when he is heartbroken, he is honest enough with himself to admit that, even if he is swearing off men, in a love relationship perspective, he is not a liar, and he admits that he still wants sex; sex, as I said, is a comfort for the body, and a good healer for the heart. Indeed, Reed is a rebound love, but on the contrary of most of these types of lovers, he makes an even deeper impression on Leo’s heart of the lover he is trying to forget. Leo indeed is really young, and as all the young people, he is able to heal for a broken heart faster and sooner than older men.
I also like that, even if Leo knows that having a relationship with Reed he will face drama and trouble with Mark, he is so madly in lust/love with him that he doesn’t care; he is like a willing participant on a crash test who doesn’t care knowing there will be a crash, what it counts is the excitement and satisfaction he will find in the race.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602727910/?...
January 23, 2014
I really liked this one, but like most it had a few problems. Our MC falling apart after the break-up, I get getting upset but you don't ruin the rest of your life. I know Felix and Jacques were barely in this novel but I hate them, what they have is not love.
But my main problem is Mark, I have never met a more manipulative and sniveling character yet. The worst part is that the author tried to redeem him. I was rooting that he didn't get his HEA. Mark is spoiled and stalkerish, he doesn't deserve anything.
The plot between the 2 MC's is your typical D.J. Manly novel. Our MC that narrates initially dislike the other. He also never understands the other MC due to them being able to mask their emotions. They have sex twice before a separation. Then comes in the miscommunications that keep them seperate before they finally get their HEA.
But my main problem is Mark, I have never met a more manipulative and sniveling character yet. The worst part is that the author tried to redeem him. I was rooting that he didn't get his HEA. Mark is spoiled and stalkerish, he doesn't deserve anything.
The plot between the 2 MC's is your typical D.J. Manly novel. Our MC that narrates initially dislike the other. He also never understands the other MC due to them being able to mask their emotions. They have sex twice before a separation. Then comes in the miscommunications that keep them seperate before they finally get their HEA.
June 27, 2010
I started out liking this book about a young artist who retreats from Paris after the end of an affair and seeks shelter with his best friend, who's part owner of a gay friendly resort in Florida. Alas, by the end of the book, I wanted to slap the three main characters.
May 8, 2010
Wow just wow!! I loved this book.
March 6, 2016
2.5 Stars
If you're looking for lustful romance, and angst then this book will do.
Storyline - was promising, had potential.
Characters - were disappointing. 1)Leo wasn't so appealing to me. He seemed immature and naive at times. 2)Mark was a good friend to Leo, but he was rather a liar and shady with other matters. He's obsessed with Reed, and it continues to drive him to act like a moron. 3)Reed seemed disconnected initially. He had this aura of mystery about him despite the impression given about him in the beginning. For a moment I felt for him, once you find out what truly happened. Ultimately, I couldn't sympathize for any of them, especially Mark.
Romance - was weird, twisted in some way. The relationships portrayed here were NOT good. They all seemed lustful romance, and no real romance. (There is this couple who are friends of Leo in France. They're constantly and consistently on and off because the one keeps cheating on the other. Dafuq!? Have some self-respect!) I wasn't convinced with the love shown here. All I saw are people obsessed with another person, and for shallow reasons. Yeah, we all like a fantasy, the hot gorgeous man, but we get that in nearly every book. I was looking for more content in the characters, but sadly they were shallow, at best too.
Hotness - probably the saving grace of this book. If this were lacking then this would have easily been a boring and frustrating read. The characters were hot, and the sex were hot.
If you're looking for lustful romance, and angst then this book will do.
Storyline - was promising, had potential.
Characters - were disappointing. 1)Leo wasn't so appealing to me. He seemed immature and naive at times. 2)Mark was a good friend to Leo, but he was rather a liar and shady with other matters. He's obsessed with Reed, and it continues to drive him to act like a moron. 3)Reed seemed disconnected initially. He had this aura of mystery about him despite the impression given about him in the beginning. For a moment I felt for him, once you find out what truly happened. Ultimately, I couldn't sympathize for any of them, especially Mark.
Romance - was weird, twisted in some way. The relationships portrayed here were NOT good. They all seemed lustful romance, and no real romance. (There is this couple who are friends of Leo in France. They're constantly and consistently on and off because the one keeps cheating on the other. Dafuq!? Have some self-respect!) I wasn't convinced with the love shown here. All I saw are people obsessed with another person, and for shallow reasons. Yeah, we all like a fantasy, the hot gorgeous man, but we get that in nearly every book. I was looking for more content in the characters, but sadly they were shallow, at best too.
Hotness - probably the saving grace of this book. If this were lacking then this would have easily been a boring and frustrating read. The characters were hot, and the sex were hot.
December 26, 2010
Leo is a young artist with a broken heart, after finding out that his lover is actually a married man. Accepting an invitation from his friend, Mark, Leo flies to Florida to a gay-friendly resort that he co-owns with a former lover. While never meeting Reed, the former lover, Leo thinks he knows the man from all the letters Mark has written him -- and he cannot help to resent the man who has walked all over his best friend's heart. Until he meets Reed, and finds out that there is a story that Mark keeps secret about the relationship.
I'm struggling to make a coherent opinion. The thing is, I just cannot connect with any of the characters NOR feel sympathetic enough. The secret about the real reason for Reed's behavior to Mark is intriguing enough to keep me going but truthfully, all I want is just to smack all three guys.
I surely cannot think of Reed as charming, Mark comes to me as manipulative and (at times) pathetic bastard, and Leo ... well, fine, Leo is nice enough but still, I find that his "white lie" for being attracted to Reed and not really tell Mark about it, when he THINKS that Mark (his friend) is still in love with Reed, is a sad excuse.
I'm struggling to make a coherent opinion. The thing is, I just cannot connect with any of the characters NOR feel sympathetic enough. The secret about the real reason for Reed's behavior to Mark is intriguing enough to keep me going but truthfully, all I want is just to smack all three guys.
I surely cannot think of Reed as charming, Mark comes to me as manipulative and (at times) pathetic bastard, and Leo ... well, fine, Leo is nice enough but still, I find that his "white lie" for being attracted to Reed and not really tell Mark about it, when he THINKS that Mark (his friend) is still in love with Reed, is a sad excuse.
July 3, 2012
Never ever again. I managed to get to page 89 and then it was simply to much. This book was utter horror of bad romance. Frankly said moron number one (Leo) was an artist and utter hysterical whiny shit who fucked around with married man and after prolonged affair he discovered that his wealthy friend had second life wife include...what did he do? Stopped to work and did nothing at all, when money were over he went back to States to meet moron number 2 (Mark) who fucked with man who was dashing and simply oblivious to sappy romance, considering it too stupid or unmanly or whatever which suited his macho man appearance. So two morons bottoms and one macho man top were locked in some lake resort and that is the plot right? Sex yes it was mentioned there, but who wants it anyway. The plot yes attempt but went to the drain with constant self-loathing of two moronic drama queen and macho man exhibitionism. Bad as it states. Tossing it to the garbage bin.
May 6, 2010
I really ended up loving this in the end but it seriously pissed me off when the author got his facts about where this was located wrong. Nothing annoys me more than reading about my hometown and it being wrong. Even if it's in 'fiction'.
September 27, 2010
Couldn't get into it, perhaps because I wanted Leo to be more assertive and make things happen instead of having things happen to him and then having to deal with them. In any case, I couldn't connect to him. Loved Reed though and I'd like to see him in another story.
June 9, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. Lately the books of D.J Manly didn't satisfy me as much as they knew to. But with this one
Manly really wrote awesome book.
I recommed it, ^^ totally Woahh
Manly really wrote awesome book.
I recommed it, ^^ totally Woahh
June 24, 2010
This was a rather difficult read for me because of Leo's immaturity. I always prefer a protagonist I can count on not to be an idiot, and Leo didn't meet that standard.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews