Throwback Thursday

Welcome to my very first ever edition of Throwback Thursday!! Before I consider myself a writer (because I still have trouble with that) I consider myself a reader first and foremost. I discovered the world of m/m by accident, as many of us do. My cousin had talked me into reading Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and I kind of fell in love with the paranormal world–believe it or not, the homoerotic attraction in those books neither persuaded me nor dissuaded me to look elsewhere for man on man action. It was what it was. So after I finished that series, I devoured her Merry Gentry series (some of you may have heard me tell this story before) and when I was finished with it, I was bereft without anything vampire/werewolf/cat shifter/sexy beast related to read. So I followed my lonely heart to Google where I searched for Hamilton’s next release to no avail, then I decided to search for books similar to hers. I needed something to read and I need it now. I happened upon this blog–don’t ask me the name I couldn’t remember the name if I tried–that listed thousands of erotic paranormal romance novels. I was in. I clicked through a few, reading blurbs here and there until I happened upon a vampire series (Master Chronicles by Jamie Craig) with a hero named Gideon and heroine (I thought) named Jesse. Much to my chagrin, scene two in the alley where Gideon loses control because of the Obsidian and becomes a slave to his lust and attacks a very willing Jesse turned out to be much different than I expected. It was the beginning of my love affair with the m/m world. That was nearly five years ago.

In the past five years, I’ve read some a-freaking-mazing books and they are worth another read. You may or may not have read them. I can guarantee, if I share them, I’ve probably read them more than once. I’m going to try to share some that are maybe lesser known, or at least lesser talked about, as well as those that we all love and adore and still talk about on a regular basis.

So for week one… I’ve thought long and hard (I have to be careful not to cross paths with my other identity on this subject) and have decided on… Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown

Dear Sue, you break my heart. It’s not a secret that I keep from this author–the love/hate relationship I have with this book. Don’t let my words fool you, I very much love you. There’s such a tug of war of emotions throughout this story and a rollercoaster ride on top of that, that I felt dragged through the ringer by the end. And I loved every second of it.

Nothing Ever Happens is the story of Andrew–a gay man trapped in a marriage he never wanted because of his religious zealot, overbearing mother– and Nathan, the new next door neighbor. Problem one: Nathan is married. Andrew and Nathan strike up a quick friendship and Andrew finds himself falling for his handsome, charming neighbor. Enough that when Nathan discovers his truth, he’s not exactly put off, though he’s not clamoring to have a sleepover either.

Nathan is young and newly married, but something in his life is missing. Something he finds with Andrew, though he doesn’t understand it. As months pass, watching Andrew give himself to other men twists something deep inside Nathan. And when a night out leads to an unexpected encounter Nathan doesn’t know whether to run scared or follow his heart. Although he’s not exactly sure what his heart is saying.

As months turn into years, secrets and deceits break hearts and shatter dreams, Nathan and Andrew journey through a friendship and relationship full of heartbreak, tears, love, and desire, wrought with deception by other lovers and meddling from outside forces. For an attraction and need so strong, something always seems to stand in their way, preventing the love they so desperately have for one another. In a quiet neighborhood, on a quiet street where nothing ever happens, Andrew and Nathan’s worlds will be rocked and their lives will never be the same.

And that’s not even half of it. These guys are all of a mess and a half. Andrew is just a good guy who wants to do the right thing. I think for the most part he loves his mom, which is how he came to be in the situation he’s in. His wife… well… in the end, she’s not all bad, but she doesn’t make it easy for him. Andrew breaks my heart. He wants to do what’s best for his kid and his family, but he’s so unhappy. Then Nathan comes along and flips his world upside down. Nathan kind of breaks my heart because he had no intention of falling for Andrew. It just happened. And when his wife figures it out… We’ll just say I’m not her biggest fan. In fact, she’s the accumulation of everything I despise in female characters in m/m fiction. She’s conniving and deceitful and horrible all while wearing an innocent, pretty face. Ugh. But Nathan–naive, gullible Nathan–falls for it. It’s something I both adore and dislike about him. There are so many time I wanted to yell at him to man up, but then I’d see his need to take responsibility and understand. He couldn’t win.

This story spans years and years. It’s a lifetime for these guys and it’s gut-wrenching. This author does a wonderful job walking readers through the ups and downs without causing disinterest. The ups and downs, the twists and turns are captivating. I was glued to the pages in hopes of Andrew’s and Nathan’s happily ever after. And trust me, whatever happy they have by the end, they work for it. I am enamored with the telling of this story. It’s such a beautifully written, heartfelt story. I still feel the emotions when I simply think about it. That’s how wonderful it is.

If you’ve not read Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown I suggest you pick it up. You can find it at Amazon, ARe, B&N, Dreamspinner Press, and other ebook outlets.

And that is the conclusion to our very first TBT! Thanks for joining me!!