From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Come Unto These Yellow Sands

Josh Lanyon

Start date: May 1, 2013

Finish date: May 31, 2013

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2013 Natasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hello-officer, boys-who-like-boys, favorites, cray-zay-ending, loveable-characters, serious-sexual-tension, trying-not-to-cry, tormented-main-character, realistic-characters, oh-my-god

Lanyon has taught me that I had a real soft spot for recovering addicts.

Oh, Swift! You just can't win!

Spoilers Everywhere!
Spoilers here, there, spoilers in jars next to here and there!

I'd like to think I'm moderately well versed in the ways of Josh Lanyon books now, since I've been practically shoving the words into a blender and injecting them into the juiciest vein I can find, lately. I can't get enough. It's an addiction on it's own. That being said, this is one of my favorite Lanyon books. I ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2012 Ilhem rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, mystery

Don’t go there for the mystery, there is barely one and it is developed and resolved in one scene.
Don’t expect much steam, the MCs are at odds during the first part of the book and frequently apart.
Don’t count on a developing contrary romance to angst over. Both MCs are openly gay, they’re settled in a convenient relationship, they usually don’t lie to each other and they don’t agonize over their romantic feelings.

Then what?
Swift’s characterization did it all for me, kept as it is on the edge of Don’t go there for the mystery, there is barely one and it is developed and resolved in one scene.
Don’t expect much steam, the MCs are at odds during the first part of the book and frequently apart.
Don’t count on a developing contrary romance to angst over. Both MCs are openly gay, they’re settled in a convenient relationship, they usually don’t lie to each other and they don’t agonize over their romantic feelings.

Then what?
Swift’s characterization did it all for me, kept as it is on the edge of a writing precipice but never falling over. The story is told from his POV and is always precariously close to being too pathetic, always within a hair’s breadth of what could be an insufferable self-pity trip if it wasn’t skilfully balanced.

No assault of witty retorts, Swift is basically without any shell, but a humorous touch here and there and the funny chapters’ beginnings contribute to balancing the angst, because angst there is.
It comes from the hard truth that even if Swift has stayed away from cocaine for six years, there is no such thing as full recovery and when the craving hits, it hits without warning and hard. His helpless hunger squeezed my heart and Barry’s relapse teared it up.
Swift is self-centered but he’s fighting hard and his focus is as much necessary as revealing of the relentless fight against addiction.
He is wallowing in his past but he tries to help someone else and he loves Max who doesn’t show saintly resignation when Swift messes up and offers tranquil strength when it’s needed. Max utters the most painful word of this story but when the romance shows its comfort face, how sweet it is!

Max smoothed the thin skin between Swift's shoulder blades.
"This is where your wings used to be."

Hurt/comfort stories often have me rolling my eyes or seething with anger because there is something indecent in hammering pathos without restraint.
Well done, it pushes all my buttons and Come Unto These Yellow Sands worked beautifully for me.

...more

13 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2013 Steelwhisper rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, erotic-romance, ptsd, crime-thriller, 5-brilliant, m-m, cozy-mystery

A wonderful gay romance. For me one of the best.

9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Sam rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-romance, josh-lanyon, have-re-read

It's official. I can't get enough of Josh Lanyon's work. Another wonderful story that has left me wanting more of the main characters. Sometimes I really hate it when a story ends. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 19, 2015 Mich rated it liked it

Shelves: m-m, gr-friend-recommended, favorite-author

Well. 3 stars I think?
All in all, it was a decent book. I wouldn't call it a mystery or romance.
It ended completely abruptly, with no epilogue and no series to follow it up. I know this is Lanyon's style but it didn't work for me here.
I really loved Swift's character. And I think I could have handled this as a standalone if it were like 200 pages longer. There was sooooooo much more story to tell.
Anyways. I love Lanyon. I enjoyed Swift. They can't all be 5 stars. ...more

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