Jeff Erno: Introduction and Giveaway

In fairy tales and classic romances, the damsel in distress is always saved by a dashing hero who rescues her and sweeps her away to live happily ever after. From Cinderella to Pretty Woman, we see the same story told over and over again. Those of us who appreciate romance never tire of the predictable, though unrealistic, outcome.

When I was young, I imagined myself as the damsel, and I fantasized about meeting my Prince Charming. Although I loved to read, there were few books that depicted same-sex romances. A story of a boy falling in love with another boy was a rare find.

Young adult literature is more popular today than ever before, and its appeal is not limited to teenagers. Readers of all ages appreciate young adult stories of all genres, and LGBTQ fiction is no exception. This is a new era, and today's generation of young readers have options I never enjoyed.

In spite of the fact that YA literature is featured prominently in bookstores and on websites, there are not many resources available for readers who are looking exclusively for LGBT titles. The few sites in existence today are static sites which grow quickly outdated.

A couple months ago, I began talking with other YA authors about the possibility of launching a website that would feature only LGBT young adult titles. This initial vision evolved into a project in which we compiled over 400 titles. Dozens of authors and several publishers are represented in our list, and it is still growing.

At this stage, we're ready to launch the site. My co-creators in this endeavor are Madison Parker and Jackie Nacht, both YA authors. I'm so proud of the work they've done in putting together this amazing site. Although I had the original vision, most of what you see on these pages was created by these two brilliant volunteers.

Our hopes for this site include providing an ever-evolving resource for LGBT YA literature where new releases are featured prominently and where authors can reach out to their readers through interviews, giveaways, and biographies. We have dedicated a section of our web space to focus specifically upon the issue of anti-gay bullying, a topic of which I'm very passionate.

I'd like to offer readers a chance to win a couple of my titles. In honor of our launch, I'm offering two titles. Last month, Harmony Ink Press re-released my anthology of fictional stories about bullied teens titled Bullied. This same publisher is releasing my new book You Belong With Me in February. I'd like to offer one copy of each title (the new release may not be available until around the first of February but the winner will be provided with an advanced copy as soon as it is ready). Please leave a comment and your email address below to enter the drawing. Winners will be announced January 8th!

Thanks so much for visiting the site, and I hope you enjoy what you see!

Jeff's Website: http://jefferno.com

Bullied
Every day, all over the country, teenagers struggle with the realities of bullying. Tormented, ridiculed, and beaten—simply for being who they are—these teens face alienation, humiliation, and even the explicit assertion that they have somehow brought this upon themselves, that they should just blend in. Bullied is a series of short stories exploring the world of these teens from several different viewpoints: the victim, the bully, the gay bystander, the straight friend, the concerned parent. Closeted Bryan wonders why Christian Michaelson doesn't just try to blend in if he hates being bullied so much. Star athlete David isn't a homophobe—after all, he's not afraid of anything. Jonathan, a Christian fundamentalist, must weigh the Bible against peer pressure and what he knows is right when he discovers his childhood friend is gay. Bully victim Chase Devereaux finds an unexpected ally in a brave fellow student. A single mom struggles to accept the reality that her only son is gay. Two tough gay teens are forced to confront their own inner demons when tragedy befalls a classmate they failed to help. And overweight Kirby finds the strength of character to make a friend, which leads to a lifestyle change and a chance at love. Each character grows as an individual as he or she comes to terms with what it means to be a gay teenager in America.

You Belong With Me
Wesley Harris is sixteen and openly gay, at least to his family and friends. Often bullied at school, he's shy and reserved. Wesley has a penchant for designing T-shirts, and he's a gifted artist. When Brad Johnson, one of the school's most admired jocks, moves in next door, the two boys begin to develop a friendship. It begins when they see each other through their bedroom windows and start exchanging notes. Brad has a notebook upon which he writes messages that he holds up for Wesley to read. Wesley returns the gesture. This unique manner of communication leads them into a genuine friendship in which Brad confides in Wesley the issues with which he's struggling. His parents are divorcing, his girlfriend is cheating on him, and his father is critical of everything he does. Most significantly, Brad confesses to Wesley that he thinks he might be bisexual.

Madison Parker: Introduction and Giveaway

When Jeff first approached me with his idea of starting a website devoted exclusively to promoting Young Adult LGBT literature, I instantly wanted to be involved. I love reading stories about young adults, and I love writing stories about young adults. I’ve spent most of my life in a school environment. After graduating college, I became a high school teacher, and between that and raising my own son, I’ve spent a great deal of time around young adults.

I also have a lot of sympathy for victims of bullying. My son was bullied in school for years, both verbally and physically, and it breaks my heart to know that he suffered even for a day. And I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. I know he was called a fag on a daily basis. I know kids typed nasty messages about him into their graphing calculators and passed them around class. I know he was shoved into lockers and soda machines, and that he was hit in the head with a field hockey stick during gym. And it pains me that I couldn’t stop it.

I’ll never completely understand why he was a target, but I believe it had to do with the fact that 1) he’s very artistic--he excelled in drama, art, and music, and 2) he’s always had a certain air of superiority about him and has never been shy about expressing his opinions. He’ll argue with anyone about anything. He can charm the pants off of adults, but has always had trouble interacting with people his own age.

Many people at different times in his life have told me they thought he was gay. The first time someone said that to me, it came as a shock. I was angry that someone would jump to that conclusion based on stereotypes. So what if he hated sports? It didn’t mean he was gay. He was only six years old! But I decided right then and there, that if he did turn out to be gay, I wouldn’t want him to feel bad about it. Gay/straight/bi or anything else, it didn’t change who he was; he was the same person.

In middle school, he worked at a local dinner theater doing musical productions. After rehearsal one day, I saw two men hugging intimately, and that prompted me to finally have a talk with my son about it. I didn’t ask him if he was gay. I asked him if he knew so and so was, and told him that there was nothing wrong with it. Yes, he knew. He said there were a lot of gay guys who worked there. It was dinner theater, for God's sake! We joked around about it in a light-hearted way.

In high school, he continued in drama and went through a “phase” where he painted his nails and wore makeup. I even caught him shaving his legs once. He knew what I was thinking that day, but he insisted he wasn’t gay. After high school, he moved out of the house and rented a room from a gay friend and co-worker. That, out of everything, made me question his sexuality the most. It’s one thing to have gay friends; it’s another to live with them. I wouldn't have been surprised had he come out to me.

He’s twenty-four now, and as far as I know, he’s not gay. He’s only ever had girlfriends. He’s been living with his current girlfriend for almost two years now. He even asked me once if I was disappointed that he’s not gay!

I guess my point is that I’m sympathetic to the struggles and growing pains that young people face. Heck, parents face them, too! Coming out stories fascinate me. Stories that deal with stereotypes and people who break them fascinate me as well. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Young Adult fiction, and I’m incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to be involved with True Colorz. Helping young readers connect with stories that address their hopes/dreams/fears/struggles and most importantly, showing them their self-worth, showing them they are deserving of love and acceptance, is my ultimate goal.

To celebrate the launch of our website, I am offering a free copy of my book, Sock it to Me, Santa! to one lucky commenter. Please leave a comment and your email address below to enter the drawing. Winners will be announced January 8th!

Madison's Website: http://madisonparklove.com
Madison on Twitter: @madisonparklove

Sock it to Me, Santa!
Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?

Jackie Nacht: Introduction & Giveaway

When Jeff casually mentioned the possibility of starting a Young Adult LGBTQ literature website over a group dinner, I couldn’t resist raising my hand saying, “I want in.” Now I’ll admit I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. I read the required assignments all through school but was out doing sports every spare minute I had. Then when I got to college, I became addicted to reading all genres of Young Adult and have continued ever since.

Like Madison, I was a middle school and high school teacher after graduating college. I have seen teens fear coming to school, eating in the lunch room and even scared to join an after school activity because they may be bullied then too. I don’t quite remember bullying being as bad as it is now. Maybe I was too busy with my sports or completely oblivious, but I do know it’s a festering wound in the school system now.

It became even more apparent when my nephew came out in high school. While he would say he didn’t have it too bad, he still had the awful name calling and guys walking up to him saying, “I’m okay with you being gay, as long as you don’t hit on me.” What an awful thing to say. I also witnessed our extended family tell him he is possessed and disown him. He had the love and support of his parents, grandparents, my husband and me but it still was a painful experience for him. So, if he says he had it easier than a lot of gay teens, I can’t even imagine what other LGBTQ teens are going through on a day to day basis.

That’s why I got involved in this site and why I write. I want teens just to take a break from their day. To let them know there are people out there who love and support them just the way they are. Get an hour or two away from it all, or just to find a book where they can say, “Wow I can relate to that.” That’s why I love Jeff’s idea of a site where LGBTQ teens can find a list for their reading enjoyment. It’s easy and hopefully will make a difference.

To celebrate the launch of our site, I am offering a free copy of my new release, A Snowy Winter Path. Please leave a comment and your email address below to enter the drawing. Winners will be announced January 8th.

Jackie's Website: http://www.jackienacht.com
Jackie on Twitter: @JackieNacht

A Snowy Winter Path
When Gray snowboards his way to the fork in the road, who will you choose for his happily ever after? An interactive ending.

Eighteen year old Grayson has been training hard to make it onto the Snowboard cross circuit until he hits a major growth spurt and his riding goes south. When he finds out he has an opportunity to get professional training and all is not lost, he realizes he has some tough decisions to make if he wants to make a go of being a professional snowboarder. He finds support from his best friend, Brody, and also from a most unexpected place—his brother’s training partner, Parker. While each of them help Grayson along the way, he also realizes both may be more interested in him being more than just friends. And now with his growing feelings, he needs to make a choice between the two. Who will be Grayson’s choose? An interactive ending where readers will get to choose the happily ever after.

Featured Author: John Goode

John Goode is a member of the class of '88 from Hogwarts school of wizardry, specializing in incantations and spoken spells. At the age of 14 he proudly represented District 13 in the 65th Panem games where he was disqualified for crying uncontrollably before the competition began. After that he moved to Forks, Washington where, against all odds, dated the hot, incredibly approachable werewolf instead of the stuck up jerk of a vampire but was crushed when he found out the werewolf was actually gayer than he was.

After that he turned down the mandatory operation everyone must receive at 16 to become pretty citing that everyone pretty were just too stupid to live before moving away for greener pastures. After falling down an oddly large rabbit hole he became huge when his love for cakes combined with his inability to resist what sparsely worded notes commanded and was finally kicked out when he began playing solitaire with the Red Queen's 4th armored division.

By 18 he had found the land in the back of his wardrobe but decided that thinly veiled religious allegories where not the neighbors he desired. When last seen he had become obsessed with growing a pair of wings after becoming obsessed with Fang's blog and hasn't been seen since.

Or he is this guy who lives in this place and writes stuff he hopes you read.

Connect with John Goode on Twitter @FosterHigh.

Q&A with Author John Goode:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   Sounds funny but Gayle, the owner of Nancy's diner from Tales from Foster High. She gets to see the entire town and how they interact. I think sitting back and watching Foster go through a normal day. I could get to see Brad and Kyle and Tyler and just how they go through their day.


2. Do you ever use real life experiences, people, and conversations when you write fiction or is it all from your imagination?
   
   I think every writer pulls from real people and events to build stories. I don't walk around with a notebook writing stuff down but I like meeting people and trying to see what makes them tick and they end up as archetypes in my stories.


3. What did you enjoy reading as a teenager and has your taste changed since?
   
   I grew up on comic books from a very young age and still read them today. From there is was easy to move into science fiction, Douglas Adams and Issac Asimov being some favorites. Once I made it into my teens I consumed S.E. Hinton's books and then discovered Anne Rice. Now I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman, Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.


4. We heard that you love John Hughes movies. So, if John Hughes wrote a part for you in the Breakfast Club, what kind of character would you be?
   
   I always wanted to be Ferris Bueller--he was cool, suave and could talk to the camera. With my luck I would just be a gay Ducky, which would be miserable since I can't pull off those hats he wears.


5. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   That what they are going through is normal, that gay kids all over the world are going through what they are feeling right now. That being gay doesn't make them a freak or wrong, it just makes them different. That it not only gets better, but on a long enough time line the things that seem so tragic and life threatening won't even matter to them. That we are all the hero of our own story and people can only make you feel bad about being gay if you let them.

Now Available from John Goode:

Tales from Foster High
Kyle Stilleno is the invisible student, toiling through high school in the middle of Nowhere, Texas. Brad Greymark is the baseball star of Foster High. When they bond over their mutual damage during a night of history tutoring, Kyle thinks maybe his life has changed for good. But the promise of fairy-tale love is a lie when you’re gay and falling for the most popular boy in school. A coming of age story in the same vein of John Hughes, Tales from Foster High shows an unflinching vision of the ups and downs of teenage love and what it is like to grow up gay.

Stories included:
Maybe With a Chance of Certainty
The End of the Beginning
Raise Your Glass

A Special Lost Tale of Foster High
After coming out to the whole school, Brad Greymark and Kyle Stilleno could use some downtime. They should be studying, but soon their focus wanders to the pursuit of the impossible. Together, they just might find where they belong.
A free short story.

End of the Innocence (Tales from Foster High, Book Two)
Kyle Stilleno is no longer the invisible boy, and he doesn’t quite know how he feels about it. On one hand, he now has a great boyfriend, Brad Greymark, and a handful of new friends, and even a new job. On the other hand, no one screamed obscenities at him in public when he was invisible.

No one expected him to become a poster boy for gay rights, either—at least not until Kyle stepped out of the closet and into the limelight. But there are only a few months of high school left, and Kyle doubts he can make a difference.

With Christmas break drawing closer, Kyle and Brad are changing their lives to include each other. While the trials are far from over, they have their relationship to lean on. Others are not so lucky. One of their classmates needs their help—but Kyle and Brad’s relationship may be too new to survive the strain.

Distant Rumblings (Lords of Arcadia, Book One)
Kane Vess may be gay, but he is also extraordinarily ordinary a crushing weight in Athens, Iowa, where a person s worth is measured by his uniqueness. But when he meets the school s newest student, Kane s ordinariness seems to evaporate. He is desperate to get to know the mysterious stranger and that leads him into danger. Hawk is an exile from his homeland, an otherworldly traveler with impossible abilities and a changeling bodyguard. He s generally disappointed in Earth, which seems common except for Kane. But while Hawk and Kane explore their mutual interest, the forces that made Hawk an exile are busy tracking him down. Kane s newfound feelings pull him into Hawk s shadowy fantasy world, where he learns he needs to grow up fast. Kane s life may now be extraordinary, but if he isn t careful it could cost him everyone he holds dear including Hawk.

Eye of the Storm (Lords of Arcadia, Book Two)
Kane Vess thought his life in rural Iowa was mind-numbingly boring. Then Hawk, a prince from another world, appeared and turned Kane’s life upside-down. At first Kane welcomed the adventure and the chance to be with Hawk—but then a shapeshifter named Puck kidnapped Hawk and dragged him back home.

Now Kane is caught up in another planet’s magical civil war, searching for the boy he loves in a place he knows nothing about. With the help of a gem elemental, an ice barbarian, and a clockwork woman, Kane has to find Hawk and stop Puck before he can destroy the nine realms.

Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell

Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell

Published by Jay Bell Books
278 Pages

Blurb: If the world is against you, don’t give up. Find yourself a kindred spirit. Then you can start fighting back.

They say Connor, the one with the crazy eyes and creepy scar, tried to kill his old man. Lately he’s been seen hanging out with David, the gay guy who

always eats lunch alone. They make an odd pair, the loser and the psychopath, and bad things happen to people who mess with them. Not that Connor and David are looking for trouble. Even when taking on the world, they seem more interested in each other than fighting.

Kamikaze Boys is a story about breaking the chains that bind you and using them to beat down anyone that gets in your way. Better yet, it’s about holding hands with the guy you love while doing so.

"I was staring at this guy on a street corner who kept checking his watch as if he were waiting for someone.

"The class had already moved down the sidewalk, but I pretended to tie my shoe, just because I wanted to see who he was waiting for, or if they wouldn't come. Then this other guy comes up behind him and does the whole covering your eyes and 'guess who' thing. It was so cheesy, but then the waiting guy turned around and kissed him...

"When I saw them kiss it was like my heart stopped. The whole world, which had always been confusing and weird to me, suddenly made sense. I knew then what love looked like and where I fit in."

Review: Once again Jay Bell has created a cast of characters that I absolutely adore. I love the way David has such a sense of pride, not only about who he is, but also about who his friends are. His best friend, Gordon, is perched pretty high up on the ladder of geekdom, but David never tries to hide their friendship. He could easily have ditched Gordon once he became involved with Conner, but David remains loyal to his friend. Connor is a stand-up guy as well. His affection for David, and his desire to protect him, is endearing.

There are lessons to be learned here. Revenge is often far sweeter in theory than in practice. Every time the world tries to beat these boys down, they fight back, kicking and screaming. It doesn't always turn out so well for them, but they do grow up quite a bit over the course of the year as a result of their actions.

David's father is a unique character that I found fascinating. A bit sad (okay, a lot sad), but likable despite his flaws. I wanted him to have his own happy ending.

These boys are very sweet. I fell in love with them early on, and I have no doubt that wherever they are now, they are together and they are happy.

Review by Madison

New Releases for December 2012

Featured New Releases:

See by Jackie Nacht

Published by Divine Destinies

When love allows you to see in your darkest hour. Drew has had a tough couple of months. Coming out to his parents wasn’t too bad except it hasn’t been brought up since. However, coming out to his friends his freshman year in high school is a whole different story.

His friends turn their backs on him and have become leaders in the daily tortures he has since had to endure. When a humiliation page pops up on the internet showing pictures of Drew being bullied, he decides to end it all.

Just before he takes his life, the fourteen-year-old Mason appears telling him that he will be Drew’s husband in the future and spirits are guiding him to help stop Drew from making an irreversible mistake. Mason will be advised to take Drew on a journey to see what his future would be like if he didn’t end his life. When Drew is still unconvinced, Mason will show Drew the impact his life will have on the others around him if he does end it all. Will Mason be able to show him that Drew has a future to live for and give him the guidance to help him get through his darkest hour?

The 7th of London by Beau Schemery

Published by Harmony Ink Press

After his parents and family die, Seven escapes his factory job. By wits and will alone, he survives in a London divided into the affluent Fairside and the squalor of London’s industrial Blackside, where many struggle to eke their existence out of despair. But Seven has to fight for more than just food and shelter.

All over Blackside, a secret cabal of prominent citizens and the mysterious Mr. Kettlebent are snatching children. Rumor has it a wizard is controlling the queen, and the country’s most notorious villain is the only one who wants to stop him. Seven is determined to find out why.

Hired by the criminal Jack Midnight to steal the evil wizard’s spellbook, Seven soon discovers the mystery runs deeper than he suspected. But events spiral out of control, and it isn’t long before the intrigue sweeps Seven into its deadly current.

Bullied by Jeff Erno

Published by Harmony Ink Press

Every day, all over the country, teenagers struggle with the realities of bullying. Tormented, ridiculed, and beaten—simply for being who they are—these teens face alienation, humiliation, and even the explicit assertion that they have somehow brought this upon themselves, that they should just blend in. Bullied is a series of short stories exploring the world of these teens from several different viewpoints: the victim, the bully, the gay bystander, the straight friend, the concerned parent.

Closeted Bryan wonders why Christian Michaelson doesn’t just try to blend in if he hates being bullied so much. Star athlete David isn’t a homophobe—after all, he’s not afraid of anything. Jonathan, a Christian fundamentalist, must weigh the Bible against peer pressure and what he knows is right when he discovers his childhood friend is gay. Bully victim Chase Devereaux finds an unexpected ally in a brave fellow student. A single mom struggles to accept the reality that her only son is gay. Two tough gay teens are forced to confront their own inner demons when tragedy befalls a classmate they failed to help. And overweight Kirby finds the strength of character to make a friend, which leads to a lifestyle change and a chance at love. Each character grows as an individual as he or she comes to terms with what it means to be a gay teenager in America.

Dreams of Fire and Gods: Book One by James Erich

Published by Harmony Ink Press

A thousand years ago, two factions of gods, the Stronni and the Taaweh, nearly destroyed the Kingdom of Dasak by warring for the land and the frightened humans who lived there. Then suddenly the Taaweh vanished and the Stronni declared victory.

Now, as tensions escalate between the emperor and his regent, Vek Worlen, the vek’s son, apprentice mage Sael dönz Menaük, finds himself allied with a homeless vagabond named Koreh. Together they flee the capital city and make their way across a hostile wilderness to the vek’s keep, mere steps ahead of the emperor’s assassins.

But Koreh has dreams—dreams of the ancient Taaweh—and he knows the looming war between the emperor and the vek will be nothing compared to the war that is about to begin. The Taaweh are returning, and the war between the gods may destroy the kingdom once and for all.

Sock It to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Published by Madison Parker

Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?

Something Like Winter by Jay Bell

Something Like Winter by Jay Bell

Published by Jay Bell Books
374 Pages

Blurb: There are two sides to every story. When you’re Tim Wyman, sometimes there are three. Tim hoped moving to Texas would mean a new beginning, a chance to spread his wings, but he soon finds himself falling into the same tired patterns. Until he meets
recklessly brave Benjamin Bentley. Suddenly a whole new world opens up to Tim—love, sex, warmth… home. Certain that society won’t understand what he and Ben have together, Tim struggles to protect their relationship, even if it means twisting the truth. As his lies slowly push Ben away, Tim learns that the greatest enemy can come from within. Buried beneath a decade of deceptions, Tim must claw his way to the surface in the hopes of learning to fly.

Something Like Winter, the companion novel to Something Like Summer , tells the story from Tim Wyman’s perspective, revealing new private moments and personal journeys.

Review: Something Like Winter is a retelling of Ben and Tim’s epic love story, spanning over two decades. This time, however, the tale is told through Tim’s eyes. Not only do we get to experience Tim’s emotions during the familiar events that defined their relationship over the years, but we get to find out what happened to Tim during those times when he wasn’t with Ben. We learn so much more about Tim’s motivations and his own heartaches, and we get to experience the depth of his love for Ben.

"At first the city had been a chance at a new beginning, a fresh start after the events in Kansas that now seemed small and distant. Like a sapling, Tim had sprung up out of the dirt only to find his pot was too small and cramped, that he wasn’t getting enough sun or water."

Thank you, Jay, for giving us Tim’s story. In some ways, this was a difficult read for me, because I knew when the sad parts were coming, but pressed on through the tears. It felt so much more heart-breaking this time around, now that I had a deeper understanding of why Tim made the choices he had. Even when reading Something Like Summer, I always felt sympathetic towards Tim. He was a jerk at times, but I knew underneath it all, he really loved Benjamin. I knew there was more to his story than what we were able to see through Ben’s eyes. I enjoyed learning more about Tim’s relationships with Eric and with Ryan. They really helped to define who Tim had become by the latter part of the story. I also loved that we went further into the timeline and got to see what happened after their final reunion. Their trip to Mexico City was beautifully written. This was such a wonderful love story. I highly recommend this book for anyone who doesn’t mind shedding a bucket of tears in the name of true love.

Review by Madison

Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

Published by Jay Bell Books
290 Pages

Blurb: Love, like everything in the universe, cannot be destroyed. But over time it can change. The hot Texas nights were lonely for Ben before his heart began beating to the rhythm of two words; Tim Wyman. By all appearances, Tim had the perfect body and ideal life,
but when a not-so-accidental collision brings them together, Ben discovers that the truth is rarely so simple. If winning Tim’s heart was an impossible quest, keeping it would prove even harder as family, society, and emotion threaten to tear them apart.

Something Like Summer is a love story spanning a decade and beyond as two boys discover what it means to be friends, lovers, and sometimes even enemies.

Review: Something Like Summer is a coming-of-age story and so much more. In part one, we experience life through Benjamin's eyes as he develops a growing infatuation with newcomer Tim. Both in their junior year of high school, Ben worms his way into Tim's life and they enter into a secret relationship filled with sweet highs and heartbreaking lows. In part two, we skip ahead a few years and follow Benjamin as he works on rebuilding his life after parting with Tim. Although he meets someone new and falls in love, his feelings for Tim are closer to the surface than he cares to admit, and his inevitable reunion with Tim is bittersweet. In part three, a few more years have gone by and Benjamin is once again reunited with his old friend and first love.

"Love isn't meant to be hidden away and life is too short for shame."

Love is messy and complicated. It's heart-wrenching at times and sweetly satisfying at others. Benjamin experiences all of this in his romantic relationships. This is a tragically beautiful love story with richly developed characters who are lovable, relatable, and wonderfully flawed.

If you enjoy this book, you'll definitely want to read Something Like Winter, which takes us through the same time period, and many of the same events, but from Tim's point of view.

Review by Madison

Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Published by Madison Parker
55 Pages

Blurb: Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught
dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?


Review: Ryan is a closeted gay teenager who faces a dilemma when he participates in his class's secret Santa gift exchange. As bad luck would have it, Ryan is assigned to the most outrageously flamboyant and obviously gay kid in school. Jaimie is the type of teenager that is so gay he even is a member of the school's knitting club.

The thing that really sucks about the whole secret Santa program is that the gift givers are required to make the gifts. They can't just go out and buy something, and each participant must provide three gifts. Ryan has absolutely no idea what he will make for Jaimie.

As the story progresses and the students begin to exchange their gifts, Ryan starts to learn about Jaimie. He sees a very sweet side of Jaimie he never noticed before, and before long, he really likes him.

What Ryan didn't expect, though, was the reality that being friends with the queerest kid in school has certain consequences. Ryan's not sure he is a big enough person to endure the ridicule and bullying that is likely to ensue if he is open about his friendship.

This story is short and sweet, and it warmed my heart. It also had a tiny hint of foot fetishism which I absolutely loved! And both the main characters were totally adorable. The ending is heartwarming and even brought a tear to my eye.

Definitely a five-star read!

Review by Jeff

The Zero Knot by K.Z. Snow

The Zero Knot by K.Z. Snow

Published by Dreamspinner Press
220 Pages

Blurb: Eighteen-year-old Jess Bonner is casting off pretense—and, with it, some friends from his past who aren’t particularly trustworthy. In just a few months he’ll be starting college, and it’s time for him to admit the truth: he’s gay, not bi, and only one of his
childhood buddies holds any kind of real interest for him. When Dylan Finch, aka Mig, follows his lead and puts some distance between himself and the old crowd, he and Jess give in to a mutual attraction that’s been building for years.

But navigating a fledgling relationship isn’t easy for beginners, and forces they can’t seem to control keep tripping them up: sexual appetite, personal insecurities, fear of discovery, and more. They need clarity. They need courage. Just as they’re on the verge of finding both, a vindictive act of jealousy sends one of them to jail. All their hard-won victories are in danger of falling to dust. The only way to save what they have is to recognize it for what it is...and fight for its integrity.

Review: Once again, the superior quality of KZ Snow's writing talent shines through in this very touching, heart-gripping, romantic drama. Zero Knot is a coming-of-age, coming-out, edgy and realistic romance that is heavily laced with richly textured characters and powerful, thought-provoking messaging.

Jess and Mig (aka Dylan) have been friends most of their lives. Both eighteen and fresh out of high school, their hormones are raging. When they realize that they both are crushing on each other, they have to tackle a number of obstacles in order to be together. First and foremost among their challenges are their obtuse parents, who do not seem to even have a clue that their sons are gay.

Jess also has a mouthy little brother (my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHARACTER in the story!!!) named Jared. His nickname is Red, and he is quick to blurt out everything that adults are too polite to say. This character alone would have made this book worthy of a five-star rating. Be prepared, though, because you're going to fall in love with this kid, and then you'll be bawling your eyes out. I don't want to ruin this with a spoiler, but the boy goes through a trauma. If KZ had decided to kill the kid off I'd have had to hunt her down and strangle her.

The love story was absolutely beautiful. The characters were sweet--at times sugary sweet--but flawed at the same time. I believed them and I believed IN them. I loved how the author captured the angsty emotion-driven dynamic of their first-love relationship. There was also a major hurdle thrown in, in the form of a jealous, wannabe lover. Brandon, the snarky, shallow, know-it-all, fashion queen socialite epitomized everything that I always hated about the gay community when I was 18 and emerging from my own closet. I thought he made the perfect villain.

Well, it comes as no surprise that KZ delivered another book which I now have to add to my all-time-favorites list. It's an amazing story--beautifully written and incredibly memorable. If I could give it ten stars, I would.

Review by Jeff

The Man Next Door by J. Tomas

The Man Next Door by J. Tomas

Published by JMS Books, LLC
8447 Words

Blurb: When fifteen year old Jake Allister learns the new neighbor in his apartment complex is an elderly man from Germany named Mr. Wagner, he fears the worst. The guy's old enough to have survived World War II, and to Jake's young mind, that makes him
suspect. Because Mr. Wagner isn't Jewish, Jake assumes the man must have been part of the Nazi regime who tortured and killed millions before he was born.

Jake isn't religious, by any stretch of the imagination, and neither is his mother. He had to learn about the Holocaust at school; now he distrusts anything German, including Mr. Wagner. Then he sees the old man watching him and his boyfriend Thad make out in the parking lot. Jake just knows the guy is a Nazi.

But when he finally gets invited into Mr. Wagner's apartment, Jake discovers Jews weren't the only ones who suffered during the Holocaust. For the first time, he begins to grasp the scope of the tragedy that unfurled during the war ... and what it meant to be Jewish -- or gay -- in Nazi Germany.


Review: Fifteen year old Jake is obsessed with one thing, and one thing only--spending every waking moment with his boyfriend Thad. Jake and his mom live in an apartment complex, and his boyfriend Thad is a year older than him. Thad has a driver's license and a beater car, and Jake thinks it is cool as can be.

When an elderly neighbor moves into the apartment next door, Jake is shocked to discover that the 80-year old Mr. Wagner is from Germany. He speaks with a very thick accent and looks really mean. Jake doesn't like him. He's learned about the horrors of the Holocaust in school, and he becomes convinced that Mr. Wagner is a Nazi.

Both Jake's mother and Thad try to convince Jake that he is perhaps rushing to judgment and suggest that maybe he is being prejudiced, but Jake will not hear of it. His mind is made up. Mr. Wagner is old, from Germany, and he is not Jewish. Therefore he is either a Nazi or he was a Nazi sympathizer. Jake hates him.

One day while returning from the market with his mom, they spot Mr. Wagner walking. He's carrying a heavy bag of cat litter, and Jake's mom tells him to help the elderly gentleman by carrying the bag up the steps for him. Reluctantly, Jake obeys his mother. When Mr. Wagner ushers Jake inside the apartment, Jake discovers a startling secret about his mysterious neighbor.

This short story was a bit of a tear jerker. In a few short pages it delivers a very big message about judging and unfair stereotypes. It's a story that can be appreciated not only by the young adult audience, but also by readers of all ages, gay and straight.

Review by Jeff