Tag: Bold Stroke Books

Guest Review: The Secret of Othello by Sam Cameron

Posted September 25, 2012 by Ames in Reviews | 2 Comments

Ames’ review of The Secret of Othello by Sam Cameron.

Main Character: Denny and Steven Anderson
Love Interest:
Series: Fisher Key #2
Author: Website|Goodreads

A shooting star streaks across Fisher Key’s skies. Natural phenomenon or secret military satellite? For Steven Anderson, any mystery is a welcome distraction. He’s vowed to avoid all the island’s pretty girls until the SEALs approve his waiver request. Unfortunately his libido—and the girls—have other ideas. Meanwhile, Denny Anderson is busy wooing the boy of his dreams. If he plans things right, he won’t be the only virgin entering the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Too bad every romantic rendezvous is ruined by misunderstandings, interruptions, and pesky tourists. As the days get hotter, the twins are drawn into an underwater race against time, tide, and treason. Suddenly, true love is the least of their problems. Under the waves, no one can hear you scream…

The Secret of Othello picks up where Mystery of the Tempest left off. Denny has come out to his family and he and Brian are now seeing each other. Denny has only a few weeks left until he leaves for the Coast Guard Academy. Steven has also come clean about his failing the vision test to get into the training to become a SEAL. He did submit a waiver, so he’s on pins and needles waiting to hear back about that. In the meantime, he’s going to stay away from girls, since they’re nothing but Trouble. And Brian…because of the events of Mystery of the Tempest, his going to MIT is not exactly a sure thing anymore. So with the last few weeks of summer, all the guys have something going on. The last thing they need is to start snooping around after some spy satellite weather ballooon…whatever the government is saying that thing was that was shooting through the sky.

I was looking forward to read more about Denny and Steven because I wanted to know how things would turn out for them. But things start off a bit rocky. One night, during a storm, a tree falls through the roof in their bedroom, resulting in them living on a friend’s boat while their parents take over the suite above their mom’s bookstore. Brian and his mom are living in a hotel room and Brian wants to be there for his mother, so him and Denny aren’t connecting as often as they’d like. Also, Denny and Steven’s aunt has come to town and she’s not exactly accepting Denny’s orientation…something Brian wants him to step up about. And Steven, trying to stay away from girls results in three of them ganging up on him! LOL

I like how the mystery builds up throughout the story. Everyone sees something shooting across the sky and it’s alluded to a few times…and it’s always on the back burner but not really taking center stage. But as the story unfolds, so to does the mystery. And then boom, everything comes together at once and all the odd things that are happening start to make sense and then someone is in danger. I liked it, thought it was well balanced because I don’t like when the mystery overtakes the story.

However, I did not like how things ended between Brian and Denny. I liked the tension that was there between them, the restaurant scene and Denny’s reaction to what he saw and Brian’s reaction to Denny’s reaction. *sigh* I love that stuff. But the book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, emotionally. If that makes sense.

Overall, I’m giving the Secret of Othello a B-. I enjoyed it, but that ending…I don’t want to wait for resolution!

..and that’s your scoop!

Buy the book: B&N|Amazon|Books on Board|Kobo
Book cover and blurb credit: http://www.goodreads.com

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Guest Reivew: The Perfect Family by Kathryn Shay

Posted April 26, 2011 by Tracy in Reviews | 2 Comments

Tracy’s review of The Perfect Family by Kathryn Shay

Seventeen-year old Jamie Davidson doesn’t think being gay should be such a big deal…until he comes out to his parents and friends. Even as Jamie celebrates no longer needing to hide his true self and looks forward to the excitement of openly dating another boy, the entire Davidson family is thrown into turmoil. Jamie’s father Mike can’t reconcile his religious beliefs with his son’s sexuality. His brother Brian is harassed by his jock buddies and angry at Jamie for complicating all their lives. Maggie, his mother, fears being able to protect her son while struggling to save her crumbling marriage. And Jamie feels guilty for the unhappiness his disclosure has caused. Every member of their “perfect family” must search their hearts and souls to reconnect with each other in this honest, heartwarming, and hopeful look at the redemptive power of love and family.

This is the coming out story of a teen who lives in what appears to be the perfect family but the coming out throws the family into turmoil and at times it feels like it will never get any better.

Jamie decides that it’s time to tell his parents that he’s gay. He’s known about his sexual orientation for a while but since he never met anyone he wanted to date he kept the information to himself. When he does finally meet someone that he falls for he knows it’s time. But the coming out isn’t anything like he thinks it will be. His mother is in total support of him being who he is but his father has such a hard time because of his religious beliefs. The Catholic Church believe that homosexuality is a choice not something you’re born with and though the dad loves his son he’s not sure how to handle things. The father’s priest tries to help but it seems as though the dad, Mike, gets more confused about how to handle the situation. Then when the brother, Brian, finds out he calls Jamie names and has a hard time dealing with his brother, his family, his teammates and friends at school.

The story gives us a little insight into everyone’s points of view but the mom, Maggie, seems to be the central pov of the story. Maggie’s trying to keep her family together but it’s just so hard because Jamie’s homosexuality seems to affect every single thing they do. Maggie and Mike’s marriage hits the skids and though Brian tries at times to understand his brother he has a really hard time with it.

The book, I think, really showed us some incredible insight into how rough a coming out can be on not only the person who is gay, but their family, friends and community. There is acceptance on some fronts and on others abandonment and hate. It’s a tough road and I think that Ms. Shay covered the issues so well. I especially liked how every part of Jamie’s life was touched upon. We got views from friends, school mates, teachers, counselors, extended family members – it was just very comprehensive and I loved that the story didn’t only focus on the 4 family members.

While not an easy book (emotionally) to read at times it was very good and one I’m glad I read.


Rating: 4 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Bold Stroke Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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