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< Dream Boy: A Novel > < At Swim, Two Boys: A Novel > < Leave Myself Behind > < Comfort and Joy > < WINTER BIRDS: A Novel > < The Tin Star > Jim Grimsley

price：~~$2.60~~
Touchstone
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customer 's review
(Beautiful)

(It made me want to scream...)

(Dream Boy, Dream Novel)

(Achingly Beautiful)

(Amazing!)

Dream Boy is a must-read for teenagers and adults alike. Jim Grimsley's unique writing style, and careful development of this heartfelt story, is simply stunning. The end becomes surreal and dreamlike, most appropriately because the world we live in is not the world in which it should be.
The style used by the author seemed fresh and different from what I was used to reading. What I found most interesting was my own reaction to the material presented within the story, and how, without realizing it, I had been drawn deeply into the life of the character and his situation. In this regard, I consider the act of the storytelling to be a complete success.

It wasn't entirely obvious that I was reading a story, so much as experiencing the world and the emotions of Nathan. Yes, the end may seem a bit confusing, but it will make you want to scream, or cry, or yell, or even to tell Nathan's story; as it seems to be one that deserves telling and retelling.

Another plus for those who are pressed for time is that the book itself is a fast read; and can be completed in a single sitting if you have the patience for it. It delivers more value than a comparably-priced night at the movies, which might seem an abstract way to think about it but proved true in my experience.
A seriously beautiful novel whose characters live and breathe in your thoughts long after you finish reading. Quite unlike a vast majority of GLBT and coming-of-age pieces, Dream Boy creates a deeply personal yet almost dauntingly universal emotional space whose literary qualities are genuine and gripping. An absolute must-read for GLBT readers, youth, and allies alike. Too bad the evangelical / pentacostal ayatollahs have mau-maued the American publishing industry into making invisible new Gay novels such as this. Shame on their cowardice and mediocrity.
It is one of the most achingly beautiful book I have ever read in awhile. It is a story of two high school boys who discover love for one another in the rural South. Mr. Grimsley writes with soul of a poet that when he describes the attraction between the two boys, it is so palpable, I can feel it seeps through the pages and fill the empty space around me. Then it moves into this haunting scenes, slowly reaches the tense climax. The ending is poignant yet triumphant. I feel like I have been living in a dream and I feel sorry that I have to wake up
Dream Boy is an amazing novel! The novel makes you feel as if you are part of the novel. Jim Grimsley is such a great writer, i love the way he wrote this amazing novel! Grimsley made the characters so great, and loveable. I couldn't put this book down, it is everything you are looking for in a book, suspense, drama, romance.etc.etc
Great book! I have recommended it to many of my friends, all of them who loved it. Dream Boy is my favorite book.
A prizewinning playwright shares the stunning and heartbreaking story of two adolescent boys who fall in love, painfully acknowledging their homosexuality and, at the same time, trying to sustain each other as their families fall apart around them. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.PW.
Rerations
< Dream Boy: A Novel > < At Swim, Two Boys: A Novel > < Leave Myself Behind > < Comfort and Joy > < WINTER BIRDS: A Novel > freaks

< On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men > < Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America > < On the Up and Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low > < Coming Up from the Down Low: The Journey to Acceptance, Healing, and Honest Love > < Confessions of a Video Vixen > < 20 Warning Signs of Down Low Brothers > J. L. King

price：~~$2.59~~
Harlem Moon(2005-04-05)
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customer 's review
(Good trendsetter, but now we have Keith Boykin, so who needs this book now)

(All Black Woman Should Read This Book)

(on the down low)

(When Opportunity Knocks)

(real stuff)

Great when it first came out because it was such a novel issue, but if you really want something good go to Keith Boykin. thats it. JL King fails to answer the most straightforward question his book poses: What is DL? He walks around it, then does summersaults around it, then runs circles and finally wrappes it with layers of gift wrap but FAILS to answer what Down Low is. Maybe he is being down low about the definition of Down Low.
I read this book in one day...I couldn't put it down. After reading this book I was discussing it with one of my guy friends and he told me that he was actually on the down low. I suspected him long ago but after reading this book...I knew and he came clean and told me. We had a lot to talk about and this book helped me understand him and what he was going through. I was truly educated.
This book is an eye opener I think young men and women should read this book to become aware of what is going on in todays society.
Sounds like this King character is nothing more than an opportunist. I find it amazing 1) that he only decided to talk about this AFTER he had been caught/exposed; 2) that he does not condemn the behavior, and his only words of encouragement to those practicing such behavior is to "protect yourself". Even though his secret has been discovered, what says he has stopped this foolishness? Remember, he claims to have had these tendencies since he was a teen, and first acted on those tendencies when we was 19 years old! The message that he is sending is LOUD and CLEAR...He does not condemn the behavior and has no problem exploiting it for gain -- a book first, and now a "tour" with his ex-wife? Wake up PPL...He claims to be a God-fearing man, so what is Godly about the position and stand that he has made?...The Bible has a word that describes people like J. L. King;

2 Peter 2:12-15 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Every woman need to read this, If we pay attention the signs are their this is a manual for all ladies to live by...

A bold exposé of the controversial secret that has potentially dire consequences in many African American communities
Delivering the first frank and thorough investigation of life“on the down low” (the DL), J. L. King exposes a closeted culture of sex between black men who lead “straight” lives. King explores his own past as a DL man, and the path that led him to let go of the lies and bring forth a message that can promote emotional healing and open discussions about relationships, sex, sexuality, and health in the black community.
Providing a long-overdue wake-up call, J. L. King bravely puts the spotlight on a topic that has until now remained dangerously taboo. Drawn from hundreds of interviews, statistics, and the author’s firsthand knowledge of DL behavior,On the Down Lowreveals the warning signs African American women need to know. King also discusses the potential health consequences of having unprotected sex, as African American women represent an alarming 64 percent of new HIV infections. Volatile yet vital, On the Down Lowis sure to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.
“A survey by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta found that nearly a quarter of black HIV-positive men who had sex with men consider themselves heterosexual.”
—Essence

The closer a secret is kept, the more powerful the impact once it is finally revealed. Such is the case with author and activist J.L. King's intriguing look at the lives and lifestyles of black men who sleep with other men but do not consider themselves to be gay. These men live "on the down low," the "DL" for short, and their sexual activities have gained significant notice as the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in black women has skyrocketed, with the vast majority of cases coming from heterosexual sex. King is a veteran of the DL himself and his book serves partly as a social and psychological survey of the other men he has surveyed and partly as highly candid memoir. King was well regarded in his community, popular at his church, successful in his career, and married to a woman who had no idea that his secret life existed. But when she caught him in a lie and with another man, the marriage collapsed and King's long and painful path to self-awareness began. King cites the negative image many socially conservative black men have of homosexuality as an obstacle to those men being honest with their partners and themselves about who they are. Among the more intriguing elements ofOn the Down Loware the peculiar approaches men on the DL have to the sexual act, seeking a strictly physical sexual relationship with their secret male partners while remaining in more traditional arrangements with women. Whether this discrepancy is a product of scrupulously guarded secrecy and shame or the natural preference of an understudied sexual identity is one of the numerous questions raised by this book. Though the infection statistics make the DL a huge public health issue, King is neither a sociologist nor a medical professional. And while a more clinical look at this issue would be welcome, King accomplished what he set out to do: provide light and insight into a world that so many have worked so hard to keep in the shadows.--John Moe
Rerations
< On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men > < Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America > < On the Up and Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low > < Coming Up from the Down Low: The Journey to Acceptance, Healing, and Honest Love > < Confessions of a Video Vixen > freaks

< Alix&Valerie > < Blessed Twice > < Night Call > < Homecoming > < Beautiful Journey > < Remember Tomorrow > Ingrid Diaz

price：~~$5.42~~
Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company
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customer 's review
(Person's point of view)

(This One's A Keeper)

(Good from cover to cover)

(Definitely Fun Read)

(Your search for great lesbian fiction starts here.)

I really enjoyed the lives of Alix and Valerie. The way the author took turns with the narration of each of them from their own point of view was well done.
This book has an wealthy heiress, a girl who is a transfer from England, a crazy aunt and a good couple of twists.

I do not want to give away too much. Alix is going to college and studying acting and directing. She is very dark in how dresses and at the beginning her view on love and life. Valerie seems to have herself put together well and is a visual arts major.

Little do they know that they are more powerful together than apart and that family is what you make for yourselves.

Good book I recommend it and it sort qualifies as an Uber
Wow--This book gets its hooks into you from the first paragraph and won't let go. Ingrid Diaz is brilliant. Her character of Alix is extremely compelling, and the dialogue between Alix and Valerie is killer!
Don't pass this one up.
One of the best things about this book is how it held my interest from page one all the way to the end. It had been a while since I'd picked up a book and was unable to put it down until it was done. I'm not generally a fan of the romantic genre, but this story has enough intrigue in it to keep my interest.

From the start, you get the feeling that something else is going on that Alix doesn't know about. And that suspicion only builds and builds until something is finally revealed at just the right moment. The twists and turns are very well paced and the resolution satisfies expectations. The characters are fresh and above all, they feel real. There's enough humour, angst, and action throughout, and the story never drags.
I liked this book for a number of reasons. It isn't a sappy romance where the two leads find each other and live happily ever after. That's way to boring. No. This book is phenomenal because while there is a love story going on, there is a great deal of humor and angst and intrigue going on too. There is never a dull moment and none of it feels forced. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Ingrid takes you in a completely new direction that challenges all of your earlier presumptions.

I found myself unable to put this book down and reading into the wee hours of the morning because I just had to find out what happened next. I laughed out loud frequently as the witty humor adds a lot to the story line. Diaz is very good at capturing realistic emotions and thought processes and putting that on the page so the reader really feels like these characters are real. This is a great fun book and I highly encourage you to pick up a copy. It's well worth the price.

To be quite honest, I have never been able to identify with lesbian characters in books as much as I have with the ones in this book. It is a romantic story packed with funny and exciting situations as well as familiar experiences. This is the book that convinced me to stop hating reading and that I should read more books -- and that was before it was even published. I love it.
Alix Morris has spent the past seven years of her life nurturing an unrequited love for her soon-to-be-married best friend. The pain from this silent longing has settled within her like a faithful companion and she's loathe to let it go. Two nights before the wedding, she agrees to an impromptu outing to a hip night club with a friend. There she meets wise-cracking Valerie Skye who unloosens some of those painful ties. But Valerie has some secrets of her own to overcome. Can Alix and Valerie untangle their pasts and hope the fate that brought them together isn't fickle?
Rerations
< Alix&Valerie > < Blessed Twice > < Night Call > < Homecoming > < Beautiful Journey > freaks

< The Age of Innocence (Broadview Literary Texts) > < The House of Mirth (Dover Thrift Editions) > < The Great Gatsby > < The Sun Also Rises > < The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn > < Pride and Prejudice (Bantam Classics) > Edith Wharton

price：~~$15.95~~
Broadview Press
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customer 's review
(A masterpiece of emotion and obligation)

(The ambiguity of innocence)

(Love, Loneliness and the Strictures of Society.)

(Age of Pretense)

(The Petty Lives of the Rich and Prudish - A Beauty!!!)

Newland Archer, the protagonist of Edith Wharton's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, opens this story as an almost haughtily optimistic and self-satisfied young man - at the top of New York society, about to announce his engagement to the beautiful and sought-after May Welland, with little to mar what seems to be a life of uninterrupted happiness and fulfillment. Wealth, industry, friends, family, a fiancé he loves dearly....what more could a young man want from life? He can even afford to have a few radical ideas, one of them being the opinion that women should speak their minds and be genuine in their deportment and self-awareness, shaking off - just a little, perhaps - the stringent and elaborate rituals of conformity forced on them by a well-meaning but ultimately hypocritical society.

Despite the slightly smug impression we get of Archer at the beginning, it is this examination of himself that makes the reader realize there's more to him than most men of his age and class; that he possesses a sensitivity and longing for what is real, despite that reality's drawbacks, and it endears him to us. Early on he states, to the shock of his friend, that "Women should be free--as free as we are." Soon after, we get this insight into his mind as he reflects on what he sees around him in the marriages of his friends, parents, and relatives, which is precisely what he is determined to avoid between himself and May:

"What could he and she really know of each other, since it was his duty, as a "decent" fellow, to conceal his past from her, and hers, as a marriageable girl, to have no past to conceal? What if, for some one of the subtler reasons that would tell with both of them, they should tire of each other, misunderstand or irritate each other?

He reviewed his friends' marriages - the supposedly happy ones - and saw none that answered, even remotely, to the passionate and tender comradeship which he pictured as his permanent relation with May Welland. He perceived that such a picture presupposed, on her part, the experience, the versatility, the freedom of judgment, which she had been carefully trained not to possess; and with a shiver of foreboding he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material and social interests held together by ignorance on the one side and hypocrisy on the other.

.....In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs."

So, this is where Archer is in life when May's cousin Ellen comes to New York from Paris, fleeing an illustriously-placed but disastrous marriage, and her entrance into New York society is tinged with scandal. When Archer falls in love with Ellen against all his better judgment and to what he knows would be the detriment of everything he deems crucial to his happiness, it's a torturous love that nearly drives him mad.

That description may make it sound like a forgettable bit of romance, but forgettable bits of romance don't generally win Pulitzers, and the true heart of this story is about the decisions we make that shape our lives one way or another, and what kind of devastating emotional havoc the `wrong' love can wreak on a person's soul. Archer is forced down an emotionally-tormented path few of us would choose, I think, and in many ways it's both beautiful and tragic to watch his story unfold. I was incredibly moved by it.

As mentioned, The Age of Innocence won Wharton the Pulizer Prize for fiction in 1921, making it the first time a woman had ever won the award.

Exceptional writing on the cultural and individual experiences of living in post war New York society. The question is: what really represents the age of innocence-- the appearance of stability by clinging to the conformity and rituals of the closely monitored, severely judged society or following one's true desire and passion that may disgrace, even destroy you and your family. The conflicts of the characters, and the discoveries in the end are heartbreaking and beautiful.
Imagine living in a world where life is governed by intricate rituals; a world "balanced so precariously that its harmony [can] be shattered by a whisper" (Wharton); a world ruled by self-declared experts on form, propriety and family history - read: scandal -; where everything is labeled and yet, people are not; where in order not to disturb society's smooth surface nothing is ever expressed or even thought of directly, and where communication occurs almost exclusively by way of symbols, which are unknown to the outsider and, like any secret code, by their very encryption guarantee his or her permanent exclusion.

Such, in faithful imitation of Victorian England, was the society of late 19th century upper class New York. Into this society returns, after having grown up and lived all her adult life in Europe, American-born Countess Ellen Olenska, after leaving a cruel and uncaring husband. She already causes scandal by the mere manner of her return; but not knowing the secret rituals of the society she has entered, she quickly brings herself further into disrepute by receiving an unmarried man, by being seen in the company of a man only tolerated by virtue of his financial success and his marriage to the daughter of one of this society's most respected families, by arriving late to a dinner in which she has expressly been included to rectify a prior general snub, by leaving a drawing room conversation to instead join a gentleman sitting by himself - and worst of all, by openly contemplating divorce, which will most certainly open up a whole Pandora's box of "oddities" and "unpleasantness:" the strongest terms ever used to express moral disapproval in this particular social context. Soon Ellen, who hasn't seen such façades even in her husband's household, finds herself isolated and, wondering whether noone is ever interested in the truth, complains bitterly that "[t]he real loneliness here is living among all these kind people who only ask you to pretend."

Ellen finds a kindred soul in attorney Newland Archer, her cousin May Welland's fiancé, who secretly toys with a more liberal stance, while outwardly endorsing the value system of the society he lives in. Newland and Ellen fall in love - although not before he has advised her, on his employer's and May and Ellen's family's mandate, not to pursue her plans of divorce. As a result, Ellen becomes unreachable to him, and he flees into accelerating his wedding plans with May, who before he met Ellen in his eyes stood for everything that was good and noble about their society, whereas now he begins to see her as a shell whose interior he is reluctant to explore for fear of findingmerely a kind of serene emptiness there; a woman whose seemingly dull, passive innocence grinds down every bit of roughness he wants to maintain about himself and who, as he realizes even before marrying her, will likely bury him alive under his own future. Then his passion for Ellen is rekindled bya meeting a year and a half after his wedding, and an emotional conflict they could hardly bear when he was not yet married escalates even further. And only when it is too late for all three of them he finds out that his wife had far more insight (and almost ruthless cleverness) than he had ever credited her with.

Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize and the first work of fiction written by a woman to be awarded that distinction, "The Age of Innocence" is one of Edith Wharton's most enduringly popular novels; the crown jewel among her subtly satirical descriptions of New York upper class society. By far not as overtly condemning and cynical as the earlier "House of Mirth" (for which Wharton reportedly even saw this later work as a sort of apology), "The Age of Innocence" is a masterpiece of characterization and social study alike: an intricate canvas painted by a master storyteller who knew the society which she described inside out, and who, even though she had moved to France (where she would continue living for the rest of her life) almost a decade earlier, was able to delineate late 19th century New York society's every nuance in pitch-perfect detail, while at the same time - seemingly without any effort at all - also blending together all these minute details into an impeccably composed ensemble that will stay with the reader long after he has turned the last page.

Also recommended:
Wharton: Four Novels (Library of America College Editions)
Edith Wharton: Vol 1. Collected Stories:1891-1910 (Library of America)
Edith Wharton: Vol.2 Collected Stories 1911-1937 (Library of America)
Henry James : Novels 1881-1886: Washington Square, The Portrait of a Lady, The Bostonians (Library of America)
Henry James: Novels 1901-1902: The Sacred Fount / The Wings of the Dove (Library of America)
Ethan Frome
The House of Mirth
Washington Square
The Portrait of a Lady
The Wings of the Dove
I really liked Wharton's "House of Mirth" but could not stand this book. I think it was my extreme dislike of all the characters--all shallow, manipulative people who rigidly followed the aristocratic social mores of the time. The language was stilted and the social scenes boring. Read "House of Mirth" and forget this one.
"...people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except the behavior of those who gave rise to them." Edith Wharton "The Age of Innocence"

The realm of high society in 1870's New York was a world that was much more sated with hypocrisy and odious ostentation than of innocence. Most of the main characters in this classic made my stomach turn, talk about a bunch of phony, self-important, affected aristocrats. However, what really made this Pulitzer Prize winner so enjoyable for me is the main female character - Countess Ellen Olenska. What a wonderful creation! She is not the least bit pretentious (she actually treats her maid as an equal and friend) and possesses a genuine, compassionate heart of gold. She had the courage to stand alone and be her own person, despite being ostracized from her inner circle.

The story centers upon the upcoming marriage of one of N.Y.'s elite couples - Newland Archer and May Welland - and the free spirited Ellen, who has all of upper-class society in an uproar since separating from her abusive husband. For in their myopic world, divorce is not an option and most of her family and friends believe she should go back to her husband despite all the unhappiness he has caused her with his persistently perfidious ways. Ellen's arrival also abruptly shakes the fragile foundation of Archer and May's union. For when Archer first meets the Countess, his life and his future dreams suddenly change drastically. For the first time in his life, Ellen helps him see how truly trapped he is in his superficial world.

This may be a fictional novel, and it may take place in a different era and place, but the world of the privileged class hasn't changed all that much in today's American society. Bottom line, Edith's attention to detail is dead-on accurate when depicting the singular, shallow world of the elite. This is the first Wharton novel I have ever read, however, as a fan of Naturalism (i.e. Zola, Maupassant, Dreiser, Steinbeck, et al...) I knew I had to give her a shot. Needless to say, I was not disappointed in the least. I really enjoy her witty style and also the empathy she showed toward the plight of her characters, particularly her main protagonist Newland Archer and his shallow wife May.

Definitely recommended!!!

The Age of Innocence marks the pinnacle of Edith Wharton’s career as one of the finest American novelists of her era. The narrative follows Newland Archer, of upper-crust 1870s New York, whose passion for the mysterious Countess Ellen Olenska, leads him to question the very foundations of his way of life. Written in the aftermath of World War I, the novel explores the psychological and cultural paradoxes of desire in a world undergoing unprecedented transformations.

This edition includes a critical introduction and a range of appendices that contextualize the novel in terms of its modernist themes and tensions.
Somewhere in this book, Wharton observes that clever liars always come up with good stories to back up their fabrications, but that really clever liars don't bother to explain anything at all. This is the kind of insight that makesThe Age of Innocenceso indispensable. Wharton's story of the upper classes of Old New York, and Newland Archer's impossible love for the disgraced Countess Olenska, is a perfectly wrought book about an era when upper-class culture in this country was still a mixture of American and European extracts, and when "society" had rules as rigid as any in history.
Rerations
< The Age of Innocence (Broadview Literary Texts) > < The House of Mirth (Dover Thrift Editions) > < The Great Gatsby > < The Sun Also Rises > < The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn > freaks

< Fireflies > < The Draegan Lords > < My Fair Captain > < Seti's Heart > < No Going Home > < Temperature's Rising: A Midsummer's Night Steam (Midsummer's Nights Steam) > Ally Blue

price：~~$2.40~~
Samhain Publishing
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customer 's review
(Enjoyable)

(Better Than the Cover Would Indicate)

(Wonderful Fantasy)

(FIREFLIES by Ally Blue)

(Fireflies by Ally Blue)

I read the book once and then when back and re-read it, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything and I hadn't. I loved the book but I felt that the character of Braeden wasn't completely developed. For instance I don't know how old Braeden is exactly and what kind of life he led prior to his forced exile. I would have liked to see more about Evangeline (Joseph mom's) past. The story is truly enjoyable but the plot could have been developed a bit more.
Not especially original, but fairly well written nonetheless. Both characters are fairly masculine--which makes me wonder about the excessively twee cover! Anyway, there is a nice sweetness about this book that surprised me. I appreciated the restraint of the "fairy" character, and was amused by the rather coarse, but charming, half-human kid. Making him biracial was rather a nice touch; fairies probably aren't racist, and abduct people of every color!

Ally Blue is a skilled writer; all she needs now is someone with equal skill to design her book covers!
The first time Joey Vines sees Braeden Shay, a Sidhe warrior, he is five years old. Braeden tells him that he is a faery but Joey's mother has the strangest reaction before warning him that faeries do not exist and he should not talk to him again. Braeden appears in Joey's room the next night as a firefly/faery and he is enchanted and in awe of him; when he is allowed to touch his wings he is so moved the event changes his life. Braeden promises to return for him when he's ready to assume his heritage but 20 years later Joseph, who now has a pair of wings tattooed on his back to remind him of Braeden is still waiting, until one fateful day when his life is transformed. Joseph is sent home from work that day because he is unwell but on his way home there is a strange occurrence before he falls into a deep sleep and he imagines that a firefly is hovering near him.

Joseph wakes up in a cabin in the wilderness where Braeden has taken him and he meets him again but as an adult this time, and he feels that he's living his dream with one very significant difference - he's attracted to him. When they kiss and Braeden wraps his wings around him he is transported into another world, one of sensuality and desire and longing. Joseph soon finds out that faeries are not that different from human men in terms of their sexual responses and he has the most wonderful sensual experience of his life. The lovemaking between them is breathtaking, intense and magical as they both appear to weave spells around each other in a mixture of lust and a more ethereal bonding of their minds and hearts.

Braeden later tells Joseph about his heritage, that his true father is a Lord of the Unseelie Court and he is half fae with an ability to control the plant kingdom. But there is a huge storm cloud hanging over him - his father Lord Caratacus, who is bound and determined that Joseph will never fulfill his destiny of saving the worlds because Caratacus wants to have power over both the Sidhe and human realms.

This story, while sad in parts, is beautifully told as Ally Blue always paints amazing pictures with her words and her world building is brilliant. Fireflies is a fantasy setting where anyone could escape to from real life for a few hours and inhabit Braeden's and Joseph's world. The author has an amazing gift of putting her readers in the heart of the action and if a writer can make me feel that I'm right there with her characters then she has done her job. The plot is very different from her previous books and she demonstrates considerable imagination and range in setting the stage and telling this engrossing story.

In Fireflies you have to suspend belief and once you do you are totally enchanted by this story of a love that triumphs over all odds and saves two worlds that are threatened, Tir-na-nog and earth - the age old fight between good and evil. The battle between Caratacus, Joseph and Braeden is well planned and executed, with magic being an integral force in the fight. Unfortunately, there are always casualties and loss in life and although the story is somewhat dark it does have its funny moments. I never knew that wings were such an erogenous zone and that there were so many erotic uses for plant life; Ms Blue has certainly given me new erotic avenues to explore

I was captivated by the characters which is a trademark of Ms Blue as her characterizations are what set her books apart and make them so popular with fans and new readers alike. I really loved Braeden's heart and the way he was so open about his love for Joseph and even though he was a warrior you felt his emotions which were always on the surface. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasies or just a really good story.

This is a good book. If you like fairies, you will most likely enjoy this story. It is original, full of interesting characters, and has an engaging plot. Though its length keeps it from being as satisfying as a full-length novel, it is still a quality read.

I love Ally Blue's imagery. She paints beautiful pictures with her words and invokes powerful emotions. She writes deeply thought-provoking prose. Personal touches like her trademark melancholy prose and original mythology help this book to stand out among recent bland offerings from other M/M authors. Her characters really come alive and jump off the pages.

I love the character of Braeden. He's a warrior, but he's sweet and tender and obviously wants what's best for his lover. Though I didn't feel much chemistry from Joey's side, Braeden's deep expressions of love made the relationship more believable than I expected.

The climax of this story is a little abrupt, but it is interesting and it works well within the context of the story. The epilogue is a tearjerker, though, so be prepared. This is a romance so you know Joey and Braeden will get their HEA, but it is bittersweet.

I wish the story had been a little more upbeat and "fun", but it was interesting to see a more serious side of fairies and their struggles. Ally Blue somehow possesses the incredible ability to make a story deep and melanchology without being dark and depressing.

All in all, this is a nice 4-star read, likely much higher if you are a true fairy fanatic and enjoy a more somber tone. Do make a point of reading this one.
When I read about sex between faery (of the original genre, with faery wings...) I always ask to myself: how can they lay back? the wings are not uncomfortable? Sooo, a lit of magic goes away when I think so, but Ally Blue has found a really interesting alternative to the problems... but you have to read the book to know what.

Joey is an halfling fae. His father is an evil unselie, and he is fated to kill him. He doens't know nothing except that, when he was 5 years old a beautiful fae man, Braeden, has visited him and kiss him on the forehead and say "I'll come back for you, when you're ready". All right, if a beautiful man, even if he has wings, says to me he will come back, I will sure wait for him. And so does Joey. And when this gorgeous man came back, you see, Joey has to make sex with him as first thing... twenty years is a long time...

All right, tonight I'm a bit silly, but really, this is not a funny tale, au contraire, it is also a bit sad. But I like very much Joey's character, he is so naivee and he has this passion for the Braeden's wings. The rest of the book is a fight between good and evil, between love and hate, generosity and avarice. Braeden has no doubt he is fated to love Joey as Joye is fated to rescue the faery world from his evil father.

And Matt, from Love's Evolution, made a little cameo appereance... and the cover by Anne Cain is gorgeous and give you an exact idea of the two characters.
A Sidhe warrior in exile. A young man with powers he's only beginning to understand. In their hands, the fate of two worlds. A childhood encounter with one of the Sidhe sets Joseph Vines' life on a fateful course. Unable to forget the beautiful creature who promised to one day return for him, Joey spends the next twenty years learning, dreaming and waiting. Braeden Shay, a warrior of the Sidhe, has spent those same twenty years watching Joey from a distance, waiting for Joey's heritage to make itself known. When the time is ripe, Braeden steps in to protect Joey from those trying to kill him, and to help him deal with the changes turning his life inside out. During the days that follow, as Braeden teaches Joey to harness and control his newfound power over the natural world, Joey finds himself falling for the gentle, patient Braeden. Braeden, who has watched over Joey for most of his life, is already deeply in love