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Finding Zach (Finding Zach, #1)

Rowan Speedwell

Start date: March 1, 2011

Finish date: March 31, 2011

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

May 11, 2010 Ami rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars_rating, mm-romance-or-erotica

Once in awhile, you find a book that is beautiful and touching, that when you read it, you want to know what happens (and keep turning the page) but at the same time you want to savor it. And when you finish, you take a deep breath, knowing that you have experienced a wonderful story, then you want to start reading it again, just because.

That is how this book for me. It's an emotional story, my heart breaks a lot for Zach and David. Both characters are amazing. Zach is fucked up but he is not da ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2013 Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, abused-mc

Zach survived 5 years of hell. Kidnapped, tortured and abused, his rescue was only the beginning of a new struggle. Two years later, he is back home with his family, still undergoing daily counselling and struggling to find himself and his place in the world. The one thing that he hung onto all those years was the thought of David, his best friend and the boy he loved. The boy he turned away from the hospital on his return. David is now back home and determined to once again be Zach's friend and ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2010 Elisa Rolle added it

Finding Zach is for sure one of these novels that use angst to involve people in the story, but I have to say that it has also its moment of tenderness and sweetness: in the end, the romance part is so strong that outbalance the sadness.

At 15 years old Zach was in love with David, 18 years old and his best friend since they were kids. David’s parents worked for Zach’s ones, and so they were always together, David posing as guardian angel for the younger boy; and so, when teen Zach impulsively d Finding Zach is for sure one of these novels that use angst to involve people in the story, but I have to say that it has also its moment of tenderness and sweetness: in the end, the romance part is so strong that outbalance the sadness.

At 15 years old Zach was in love with David, 18 years old and his best friend since they were kids. David’s parents worked for Zach’s ones, and so they were always together, David posing as guardian angel for the younger boy; and so, when teen Zach impulsively declared his love for David, everyone, from his parents, to David himself, thought he was too young and that he needs to grew and experience the world. They sent him for a summer vacation in Costa Rica and Zach was kidnapped and taken captive for 5 years, treated like a dog, leashed, collared and caged, and continuously raped by his captor. When he is rescued at 20 years old, he is broken and unable to return to his previous life, and so, when David asks to see him, Zach refuses, but not since he doesn’t love David, but since he fears to taint the memories he had of the young boy; the 20 years old Zach is no more the friendly and careless boy who was able to charm and overwhelm David, he is now bitter and scared of everything, and above all he is angry with the world.

On the other side, David has a sense of guilty big as an house; when Zach was kidnapped, David realized that he was in love with the boy, but as they both say after, probably if they were given the chance to live that teen love, they would have overgrown it. Instead their love was interrupted, and David felt as he had no closure; any relationship he had after that was a failure, since he was not able to forget the protectiveness he felt for Zach. When Zach comes back to them, he doesn’t need David, he is no more the young boy with the world in front of him and above all he seems to don’t consider David as his reference point. If David wants to go back in Zach’s life, he has to accept that the balance among them is changed: it’s not easy since David has always played the role of the lead in his relationship, and instead Zach now needs to be in control, to always have the freedom to come and go, and above all, to not feel constriction. Even in bed, David will have to give up the top position to Zach; they are lucky since, even if traumatized, or maybe right for that, Zach is a very careful bed partner, but in no way he can be the bottom.

A little warning to the reader: don’t feel discouraged from the first pages; at first the story is quite heavy angst, oppressive and apparently dark and without hope. This feeling will dissipate soon, and as I said, on the average there is more sweetness than angst; the relationship between Zach and David start almost as soon as they meet again, and even if it will be not an easy ride, it will be something they will do together.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615814469/?... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2011 Susinok rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, contemporary, glbt

Really amazing book. I loved it.

1 like · Like · see review

May 10, 2010 ReviewerLarissa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq-stories, contemporary-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I love and hate it equally. (this is also the reason that I'm not rating it just yet) One thing is for sure though, it frustrated the hell out of me. Even more so than reading War & Peace. How many miscommunications can you have in one book? At times it felt like David and Zach were talking passed one another rather than to one another.

But lets start at the beginning. I think this book can be divided into two parts. Zach's capture and h Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I love and hate it equally. (this is also the reason that I'm not rating it just yet) One thing is for sure though, it frustrated the hell out of me. Even more so than reading War & Peace. How many miscommunications can you have in one book? At times it felt like David and Zach were talking passed one another rather than to one another.

But lets start at the beginning. I think this book can be divided into two parts. Zach's capture and healing and the romance between Zach and David.

It was heartstopping to read about what Zach had gone through and to see how he survived. In that regard Zach is one hell of an interesting character. It is also interesting to read how he copes after his years of torment and the aniety attacks and the PTSD. Sometimes his characters was confusing as hell and not at all what you expect, but in a way that makes sense. There was a big gap in his social development too.

David is a likable character as well and it's sad to see how he blames himsself. At times I thought his actions were contradictory. Saying he would move slow because of Zach's sake but at the same time have certain expectations that he should know Zach wasn't ready for.

But in all the two have really big communication problem. *shakes head*

I also found that parts of the story didn't make sense to me. In part the journalist angle. For most of the book they did their level best to keep Zach hidden and then suddenly it's a 180. I know it was Zach's choice, but his choice of journalist didn't make sense, because Brian is one big prick.

Also the ending didn't quite make sense. It felt like somewhere in the middle of the story. Again the 180. There are still so many issues and suddenly it's 4 years later and all is good and well. I know it's not easy to write an ending and this story is already quite lenghty, but I felt a bit missing for that happy ending to take place.

Despite my reservations I liked how the author wrote this story. The writing is solid and it shows that the author really put an effort into this story. Just not entirely to my liking, but that is my problem and I recommend that you read this book for yourself ;-)
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Oct 15, 2010 Tara rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2011

If you read the blurb you know the basic story. This is the story of what happens after Zach Tyler is found. It's about him getting his life back. And it's about the people that have been waiting for him finally getting him back.

In general the story was well written and engaging, but I felt a little disconnected from David and I can't explain exactly why. Also, since we got the POV of both characters I started to get really frustrated when their problems could be solved just by talking to each o ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 Trish rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, bingo-challenge-read

very well written.

an amazingly heart wrenching story. would have given 5 stars but there was no crescendo, no high point, or pivotal moment (that i could tell) so it stayed a bit flat for me until the time that the story just ended.

p.s i also felt the family dynamic was too perfect. mom and dad were happy, kind, rich but yet really cool parents. that part seemed a bit fake for me.

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Jul 14, 2010 Julia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, quartly-gangbang-read

Engaging, a little heartbreaking, sweet and disturbing in places. This was a pretty great read. 4.5 stars. If we could do away with Brian, it would've been a 5 star read for me, but I really hated him.

...more

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