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Dan Corazon is a man with a secret. Stevie Sanger is fighting a past that won't leave him alone. They want each other from the moment they meet, and that attraction quickly blossoms into something deeper, something that could become permanent. But first, they need to overcome all the obstacles in their way. Dan's fear of his own nature, Stevie's belief that he's not good enough for Dan. The unresolved pieces of Stevie's past. Building the relationship they both want may be a challenge too big for either of them. But nothing worth having is ever easy.
210 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2006
5 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Ally Blue
88Ìýbooks449ÌýfollowersAlly Blue penned her first tale at age eight, relating the breathless terror of her little sister’s not-quite-fatal encounter with a bee in the backyard. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with storytelling. She now writes gay romance of all flavors, and has recently branched into writing her first love: horror. She continues her neverending quest to scare herself. She is not a hippie or a brain surgeon, no matter what her kidsâ€� friends say.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 8, 2009
I love Ally's writing style. She can really get to the heart of her characters, and the stories that she writes are always interesting. They always keep me glued to the book until the last page.
Dan Corazon is a hard working, level headed, sexy man that hides his homosexuality from others. He is afraid of what his friends will think and how others will judge him. When he and a friend are out and about and hear yelling from an abandoned building, Dan immediately decides to investigate. When he comes across a young man who is tied to a bed and severely beaten, his protective nature comes out, and he rescues him.
Steve (Stevie) Sanger is known as Sunshine to his customers. As a male prostitute, he is successful because of his "sunny" smile that lights up the room when he does it. He has been through a lot in his young life, and prostitution seemed like the only option for survival. When he was beaten, raped and left for dead by the John, he was suprised to see an angel come to his rescue. When he wakes in the hospital and meets Dan officially, he is immediately smitten with him, but knows that because of his tragic and dark past, Dan is too good for him and they can never be.
When Dan and Stevie meet at the hospital, Dan is shocked to find out that Stevie won't press charges against the John because of fear not only from the perp, but by his pimp. After talking with Stevie, Dan's protective streak comes out again, and he offers Stevie a place to stay. Safe.
Dan and Stevie soon become friends. Stevie's low self-esteem and Dan's fear of being outted, keep their attraction then love for they feel for one another at arms length. The sexual chemistry they have for one another sizzle off of the pages. But, will they be able to overcome all of their problems and be together? Is Steve still in danger from the John that hurt him and the Pimp that was willing to put Stevie's life on the line?
I love this book. I have read it several times and it holds a permanent place on my keeper shelf. The emotional depth that both characters have for one another is quite beautiful. Plus, the sex is pretty hot too! It is easy to root for Dan and Steve. I like that forgiveness and the hope of true love is always on the back of the characters minds. It really is a sweet, beautiful story!
****added as as afterthought
I almost forgot to mention that Stevie is more flamboyant than most heroes. Flamboyant heroes appeal to me because there isn't many heroes like that written out there. (that I have read...maybe I am wrong) I liked him. I liked the personal growth he and Dan go through. I liked the way he was proud of being gay, this of course made him totally opposite than Dan, but that is one of the great things about these two. They are opposites, but they suit one another.
Dan Corazon is a hard working, level headed, sexy man that hides his homosexuality from others. He is afraid of what his friends will think and how others will judge him. When he and a friend are out and about and hear yelling from an abandoned building, Dan immediately decides to investigate. When he comes across a young man who is tied to a bed and severely beaten, his protective nature comes out, and he rescues him.
Steve (Stevie) Sanger is known as Sunshine to his customers. As a male prostitute, he is successful because of his "sunny" smile that lights up the room when he does it. He has been through a lot in his young life, and prostitution seemed like the only option for survival. When he was beaten, raped and left for dead by the John, he was suprised to see an angel come to his rescue. When he wakes in the hospital and meets Dan officially, he is immediately smitten with him, but knows that because of his tragic and dark past, Dan is too good for him and they can never be.
When Dan and Stevie meet at the hospital, Dan is shocked to find out that Stevie won't press charges against the John because of fear not only from the perp, but by his pimp. After talking with Stevie, Dan's protective streak comes out again, and he offers Stevie a place to stay. Safe.
Dan and Stevie soon become friends. Stevie's low self-esteem and Dan's fear of being outted, keep their attraction then love for they feel for one another at arms length. The sexual chemistry they have for one another sizzle off of the pages. But, will they be able to overcome all of their problems and be together? Is Steve still in danger from the John that hurt him and the Pimp that was willing to put Stevie's life on the line?
I love this book. I have read it several times and it holds a permanent place on my keeper shelf. The emotional depth that both characters have for one another is quite beautiful. Plus, the sex is pretty hot too! It is easy to root for Dan and Steve. I like that forgiveness and the hope of true love is always on the back of the characters minds. It really is a sweet, beautiful story!
****added as as afterthought
I almost forgot to mention that Stevie is more flamboyant than most heroes. Flamboyant heroes appeal to me because there isn't many heroes like that written out there. (that I have read...maybe I am wrong) I liked him. I liked the personal growth he and Dan go through. I liked the way he was proud of being gay, this of course made him totally opposite than Dan, but that is one of the great things about these two. They are opposites, but they suit one another.
December 19, 2013
I'm actually surprised at how much I ended up not liking this story. I started off enjoying it, as completely cliched as it was. The story is about an innocent, "hooker with a heart of gold" who falls for a closet-case do-gooder who rescues him from his life of prostitution.
I have read many stories that are variations of this theme but this one was over-the-top. Stevie was beyond perfect. He was a sweet, helpful, flawless soul who oddly carried no emotional scars from his time being abused as a rent boy. It just rang incredibly false to me. To top it off, this storyline is insta-love central, which is always a big pet peeve of mine.
The progress of this book went like this for me:
First 40%- Mildly annoyed yet entertained
40-60%- Too much rote sex (I actually skimmed SEX (whaaaa???))
60-80%- Silly relationship drama
80-100%- Predictable ending
I'm leaving this book feeling let down. I didn't hate it, and I can see why some people enjoyed it, but I was certainly in a hurry to finish it.
I have read many stories that are variations of this theme but this one was over-the-top. Stevie was beyond perfect. He was a sweet, helpful, flawless soul who oddly carried no emotional scars from his time being abused as a rent boy. It just rang incredibly false to me. To top it off, this storyline is insta-love central, which is always a big pet peeve of mine.
The progress of this book went like this for me:
First 40%- Mildly annoyed yet entertained
40-60%- Too much rote sex (I actually skimmed SEX (whaaaa???))
60-80%- Silly relationship drama
80-100%- Predictable ending
I'm leaving this book feeling let down. I didn't hate it, and I can see why some people enjoyed it, but I was certainly in a hurry to finish it.
March 9, 2009
Oh, I loved this book! How can you not love Stevie and Dan? :) So sweet and so hot and so much angst...sigh...it was wonderful. Can you tell I just finished it? LOL.
Shellie wrote a great review, and all I have to say is that I completely agree with her. This one's a keeper.
Shellie wrote a great review, and all I have to say is that I completely agree with her. This one's a keeper.
March 11, 2009
OMG! I loved this book! I have no good excuse why I put off reading it. Dan is such a sweet hero. I cheered for him throughout the book. I wanted to nudge him along to finally tell Stevie how he feels about him.
Who can resist Stevie? He and Dan were perfect for one another. They brought out the best in each other, and I loved them!
Who can resist Stevie? He and Dan were perfect for one another. They brought out the best in each other, and I loved them!
October 13, 2011
3.5
Dan a closeted construction worker rescues Stevie, a rent boy, after a John rapes and beats him and leaves him in an abandoned building.
Dan and Stevie fall in love, but of course it can't be that easy, can it?
Dan has to come out of the closet and Stevie needs to believe he is worthy of Dan's love.
Throw in a revenge seeking ex, a horrible murderous pimp and you get a pretty good story!
Dan a closeted construction worker rescues Stevie, a rent boy, after a John rapes and beats him and leaves him in an abandoned building.
Dan and Stevie fall in love, but of course it can't be that easy, can it?
Dan has to come out of the closet and Stevie needs to believe he is worthy of Dan's love.
Throw in a revenge seeking ex, a horrible murderous pimp and you get a pretty good story!
Want to read
August 18, 2013Dan Corazon is a man with a secret. Stevie Sanger is fighting a past that won't leave him alone.
oho! 'corazón' is Spanish for 'heart.'
'sang' is the Latin root word for 'blood' in both French and Spanish.
oho! 'corazón' is Spanish for 'heart.'
'sang' is the Latin root word for 'blood' in both French and Spanish.
January 14, 2013
3.5 Stars.
When Dan met Stevie by rescuing him after a sadistic john left Stevie lying injured and helpless, he didn't know that his entire world was about to change. Dan is a gay man, deeply in the closet. When Stevie enters his life, he may just be the catalyst Dan needs to change things up.
Both characters were simultaneously likable and annoying, as both were stubborn to the degree of almost being TSTL. Yet they both have hearts of gold beneath their flaws and it's their saving grace. The plot is fairly predictable, with unsurprising issues arising, as well as some solutions being almost too easy. The bad guys are also predictable as are Dan's staunch friends. But the gay couple running a bookstore almost steal the story at times - they were quirky and had some great dialogue.
All up, this is a fairly quick and light read, with just enough angst and emotion to make it slightly above average. Perfect to keep you entertained when complexity of plot is the last thing you need.
When Dan met Stevie by rescuing him after a sadistic john left Stevie lying injured and helpless, he didn't know that his entire world was about to change. Dan is a gay man, deeply in the closet. When Stevie enters his life, he may just be the catalyst Dan needs to change things up.
Both characters were simultaneously likable and annoying, as both were stubborn to the degree of almost being TSTL. Yet they both have hearts of gold beneath their flaws and it's their saving grace. The plot is fairly predictable, with unsurprising issues arising, as well as some solutions being almost too easy. The bad guys are also predictable as are Dan's staunch friends. But the gay couple running a bookstore almost steal the story at times - they were quirky and had some great dialogue.
All up, this is a fairly quick and light read, with just enough angst and emotion to make it slightly above average. Perfect to keep you entertained when complexity of plot is the last thing you need.
February 25, 2011
3.5 stars
It's hard to review this one because I'm honestly not quite sure how I feel about it. I mean, I liked it but it felt like there was something missing from it and I'm not quite sure what it is. :-/
I loved Stevie. I liked how he's been dealt a crappy life but he's still able to find pleasure in some things. He's broken, that's for sure. He hides behind a mask that everyone thinks is just a love for life but in reality it's just a mask. It's not until Stevie meets Dan that his mask starts to fall away and he actually enjoys life again. He's flamboyant, sweet, and kind. He has hopes and dreams, loves helping people and because of that, you can't help but love Stevie, too. Dan is more reserved. He's in the closet and doesn't like being the focus of attention which becomes a problem for Stevie and Dan's relationship because Stevie just doesn't care what other people think and does whatever he likes. But, they both love each other enough to work through Dan's fear.
I'll be honest, I liked the first half better than the last half. I don't know why because the first half was just a bunch of misunderstandings between Stevie and Dan and that kind of thing normally annoys me but once they got together, the story just wasn't as good to me. I mean, it was still good because if it wasn't I probably wouldn't have finished it in one go like I did but like I said earlier, there was just something missing and I kind of knew what was going to happen in the end (without even cheating like I normally do lol) so it wasn't as appealing. I'm probably confusing everyone lol. The storyline was good, though. I liked how Dan was nice enough to give Stevie a home and time to straighten out his life. It was interesting to see Dan work through his feelings for Stevie and stepping out of the closet. I really liked John and Evan, Stevie's bosses. John was just so funny and way more flamboyant than Stevie but I liked him. Actually, Dan and Stevie are kind of like a younger version of John and Evan since John and Stevie are flamboyant and Dan and Evan are somewhat private.
Overall, this was a good book. Ally Blue fans will no doubt like it but to me it just seemed a little off and I still can't figure out why. Lol
It's hard to review this one because I'm honestly not quite sure how I feel about it. I mean, I liked it but it felt like there was something missing from it and I'm not quite sure what it is. :-/
I loved Stevie. I liked how he's been dealt a crappy life but he's still able to find pleasure in some things. He's broken, that's for sure. He hides behind a mask that everyone thinks is just a love for life but in reality it's just a mask. It's not until Stevie meets Dan that his mask starts to fall away and he actually enjoys life again. He's flamboyant, sweet, and kind. He has hopes and dreams, loves helping people and because of that, you can't help but love Stevie, too. Dan is more reserved. He's in the closet and doesn't like being the focus of attention which becomes a problem for Stevie and Dan's relationship because Stevie just doesn't care what other people think and does whatever he likes. But, they both love each other enough to work through Dan's fear.
I'll be honest, I liked the first half better than the last half. I don't know why because the first half was just a bunch of misunderstandings between Stevie and Dan and that kind of thing normally annoys me but once they got together, the story just wasn't as good to me. I mean, it was still good because if it wasn't I probably wouldn't have finished it in one go like I did but like I said earlier, there was just something missing and I kind of knew what was going to happen in the end (without even cheating like I normally do lol) so it wasn't as appealing. I'm probably confusing everyone lol. The storyline was good, though. I liked how Dan was nice enough to give Stevie a home and time to straighten out his life. It was interesting to see Dan work through his feelings for Stevie and stepping out of the closet. I really liked John and Evan, Stevie's bosses. John was just so funny and way more flamboyant than Stevie but I liked him. Actually, Dan and Stevie are kind of like a younger version of John and Evan since John and Stevie are flamboyant and Dan and Evan are somewhat private.
Overall, this was a good book. Ally Blue fans will no doubt like it but to me it just seemed a little off and I still can't figure out why. Lol
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October 10, 2013Very disappointing read!
I absolutely agree with this review:
Stevie knows Dan likes him, but instead of offering the same patience back for Dan to come out, Stevie goes and hooks up with some college stud for sex. How exactly was that supposed to encourage Dan to open up whatever feelings he had for Stevie? Not to mention the fact that Stevie spent more time getting laid by someone he admits to not liking instead of looking for a job or trying to communicate better with the guy he likes. Was Dan supposed to ~*magically*~ give in to that too without encouragement? It just makes Stevie seem so ungrateful and stuck up.
This!
I wished Dan would stop being a doormat and just find someone else.
Oh and I just hate the hordes of meddling friends and family members which were in abundabce here :/
I absolutely agree with this review:
Stevie knows Dan likes him, but instead of offering the same patience back for Dan to come out, Stevie goes and hooks up with some college stud for sex. How exactly was that supposed to encourage Dan to open up whatever feelings he had for Stevie? Not to mention the fact that Stevie spent more time getting laid by someone he admits to not liking instead of looking for a job or trying to communicate better with the guy he likes. Was Dan supposed to ~*magically*~ give in to that too without encouragement? It just makes Stevie seem so ungrateful and stuck up.
This!
I wished Dan would stop being a doormat and just find someone else.
Oh and I just hate the hordes of meddling friends and family members which were in abundabce here :/
August 8, 2008
I think this story is heartwarming and really touching. Sure, there are a lot of sex scenes in the middle part, but I have read many of erotic heterosexual romance and I don't mind. Though it has some cliché portrayals of gay men but oh, the idea of the story is just so wonderful. I have my heart out there for Dan and Stevie and I feel so happy and relieved with the (happy) ending it has.
November 8, 2011
This was a nice, easy read but somehow felt superficial. I would expect Stevie to have had a whole wealth of emotions about his situation, including anger and betrayal and frustration and pain and some PTSD. So his reactions seemed monotonic and a little plastic. I never sympathized with him the way I wanted to.
October 7, 2010
This book had a lot of potential to become a favourite and it started off with a great setup to be a fantastic novel but... Stevie made it hard for me to fall in love with the story, or more specifically, with him. After he's rescued by Dan, Dan offers to let him live in his place rent free, buys him new clothes and gives him an unlimited time to find his life with no pressure. Stevie knows Dan likes him, but instead of offering the same patience back for Dan to come out, Stevie goes and hooks up with some college stud for sex. How exactly was that supposed to encourage Dan to open up whatever feelings he had for Stevie? Not to mention the fact that Stevie spent more time getting laid by someone he admits to not liking instead of looking for a job or trying to communicate better with the guy he likes. Was Dan supposed to ~*magically*~ give in to that too without encouragement? It just makes Stevie seem so ungrateful and stuck up. Even with him being raped at the beginning, all my sympathies for him pretty much faded after reading exactly how long he dated the college dude. I spent more than half the novel just hoping Dan would find someone else to piss Stevie off or just come to his senses and put his foot down to say 'enough! I'm not a doormat!'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2011
Dan rescues Stevie after he’s been beaten by one of his johns. At this point I could tell how the rest of the story would unfold. Stevie constantly in need of a savior.
Dan immediately moves Stevie into his home and struggles to fight his growing feelings for him. He doesn’t have any problems or concerns about Stevie’s sorrid past, but is worried about what his friends and coworkers would think of him if they knew of his sexual orientation.
Stevie knows Dan has feelings for him but instead of waiting for him to figure out if he’s going to act on them he gets involved with someone else. This new guy that he gets involved with is controlling and very much like Stevie’s johns.
Stevie and Dan, when they were on the same accord, where a cute couple. Dan was a bit more likeable than Stevie, because Stevie seemed to always be in need of saving. Stevie doesn’t have much depth to him either. The story was well written but the characters were lacking. I intend to give this author another try.
Dan immediately moves Stevie into his home and struggles to fight his growing feelings for him. He doesn’t have any problems or concerns about Stevie’s sorrid past, but is worried about what his friends and coworkers would think of him if they knew of his sexual orientation.
Stevie knows Dan has feelings for him but instead of waiting for him to figure out if he’s going to act on them he gets involved with someone else. This new guy that he gets involved with is controlling and very much like Stevie’s johns.
Stevie and Dan, when they were on the same accord, where a cute couple. Dan was a bit more likeable than Stevie, because Stevie seemed to always be in need of saving. Stevie doesn’t have much depth to him either. The story was well written but the characters were lacking. I intend to give this author another try.
April 9, 2010
Going up to 3.5 because of readability.
I think this book should either have been shorter or longer. If shorter, the lack of believability of some scenes would not have been as obvious. If longer, the author would have had the chance to develop those questionable scenes so they worked.
I definitely like Dan and Stevie. And the author showed some real courage going into difficult subjects like male prostitution. But motivations were forced, time was compressed, and the psychological and emotional impacts of abuse were basically ignored. To ask a reader to believe that Stevie could emerge from horrific abuse and basically be ready to have sex again within a day or two is straining my credulity too far.
Nevertheless, I actually enjoyed this book, even while shaking my head. It could have been so much better, but it's an "easy" read, really.
I think this book should either have been shorter or longer. If shorter, the lack of believability of some scenes would not have been as obvious. If longer, the author would have had the chance to develop those questionable scenes so they worked.
I definitely like Dan and Stevie. And the author showed some real courage going into difficult subjects like male prostitution. But motivations were forced, time was compressed, and the psychological and emotional impacts of abuse were basically ignored. To ask a reader to believe that Stevie could emerge from horrific abuse and basically be ready to have sex again within a day or two is straining my credulity too far.
Nevertheless, I actually enjoyed this book, even while shaking my head. It could have been so much better, but it's an "easy" read, really.
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January 23, 2023Dan saves Stevie and feels an immediate emotional connection "But this was the first time trouble had ever walked into his life with honey-gold curls and eyes like the summer sky and the sweetest smile he had ever seen. Just walked right in, reached down inside him and made him feel things he'd never felt before." But Dan is not out and hides his feelings.
Stevie, after rejection from his family and a hard life on the streets, does not feel worthy of being loved. "God, Dan," he whispered. "I love you so much. I wish I was good enough for you."
This was a nice story with a happy ending. 3.5 stars.
Stevie, after rejection from his family and a hard life on the streets, does not feel worthy of being loved. "God, Dan," he whispered. "I love you so much. I wish I was good enough for you."
This was a nice story with a happy ending. 3.5 stars.
March 2, 2013
3.5/5 stars. I almost gave this one four stars, but I had a couple of reservations in doing so...
September 20, 2013
I really struggled to finish this one ... although the story line was a bit cliché and predictable, I think my main issue was that it was written in a really clunky and sophomoric way that detracted from the reading experience and made it a chore rather than a pleasure ... I've enjoyed other books by this author so I hope she takes the time to polish this one up and re-release at a later date because I think it has the bones of a good, sweet story but in it's current form, isn't a worthwhile read.
December 27, 2012
The writing of this book was not bad, it was just extremely lazy. There was no attempt to develop a relationship between the two leads, it just popped up out of no where. Also in terms of plot, things just happened to the characters, but they had no reactions beyond surface ones. This was extremely frustrating to read because I think there was a good book in there but author failed to put in the work for it. This book pretty much pushed all my wrongs buttons.
February 15, 2013
I loved the story line but the story didn't flow as well as other books I've read from this author. Painful but sweet story about a rent boy and his savior falling in love and trying to find a way to be together.
July 15, 2009
Yum.
This was one of the most romantic stories I have ever read! It was perfect. Great characters, and an extremely compelling love story. Loved every minute of it. :)
This was one of the most romantic stories I have ever read! It was perfect. Great characters, and an extremely compelling love story. Loved every minute of it. :)
March 21, 2011
Just re-read this book and remembered very clearly why I LOVE vintage Ally Blue. The angst, the emotional connection, the brocken characters...*sigh* Perfect!
September 11, 2012
Rather short, but a very sweet story. Some of it challenged my ability to suspend my disbelief, but other than that, it was good.
September 14, 2013
★★� 1/2.
October 23, 2013
Meh. I love a good "hooker with a heart of gold" story but this one fell flat for me. Every character was just too perfect and I hate that.
March 4, 2019
Good, straight-forward "pretty lady" kind of story. I really do enjoy this author.
October 16, 2012
Didn’t blow me away, but it’s a nice read
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Dan, despite his paralyzing fear of admitting he’s gay, is a perfect storybook hero. He hasn’t known Stevie for more than a couple of hours before he’s offering to take Stevie in, nurse him back to health (emotionally and physically), and give him anything and everything he could ask for. And then later in the story, Dan comes to Stevie’s rescue once again and becomes even more white-knightish.
- Although Dan and Stevie are attracted to each other right away, they don’t jump right into a sexual relationship. Another character comes into the picture and conveniently distracts Stevie for a while, which only serves to make Stevie and Dan want each other MORE…Dan because he’s jealous and Stevie because the other guy just isn’t Dan. I relished the ensuing love-triangle drama.
- Because it takes the two main guys such a long time to get together, all of their sex scenes are sweet and emotional and heartwarming.
- There are quite a few perceptive and supportive secondary characters who help to coax Dan out of the closet and let him know that they love him regardless of his sexuality. I also loved one character in particular who serves as a confidant for Stevie rather than Dan.
CONS:
- Compared to other stories I’ve read recently, there’s not a lot of depth to the characters here. This is a fairly short book (200 pages), and much of it focuses on the negative external circumstances that force Stevie and Dan apart. As a result, the romance--although certainly sweet--didn’t strike me as especially well fleshed out.
- I found some of Blue’s descriptions, particularly in the sex scenes, to be similar/repetitive enough to be annoying. The characters� knees, for example, are rarely made of flesh and bone: they’re made of rubber or jelly or other similarly flimsy materials that give out at the first hint of sexiness.
- Throughout the book, there’s an abundance of sentences, especially within dialogue, that contain no subject at the beginning. Examples: “Know what you mean,� “Don’t wanna ever let you go,� etc.
Overall comments: This isn’t one of the best m/m books I’ve read, but I liked it. Blue’s writing is smooth and allows for quick, semi-mindless reading, and the characters in this story are likeable guys. Stevie does go through some awful experiences, but they didn’t overwhelm me the way they did some other reviewers; I didn’t find those scenes overly detailed or long.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Dan, despite his paralyzing fear of admitting he’s gay, is a perfect storybook hero. He hasn’t known Stevie for more than a couple of hours before he’s offering to take Stevie in, nurse him back to health (emotionally and physically), and give him anything and everything he could ask for. And then later in the story, Dan comes to Stevie’s rescue once again and becomes even more white-knightish.
- Although Dan and Stevie are attracted to each other right away, they don’t jump right into a sexual relationship. Another character comes into the picture and conveniently distracts Stevie for a while, which only serves to make Stevie and Dan want each other MORE…Dan because he’s jealous and Stevie because the other guy just isn’t Dan. I relished the ensuing love-triangle drama.
- Because it takes the two main guys such a long time to get together, all of their sex scenes are sweet and emotional and heartwarming.
- There are quite a few perceptive and supportive secondary characters who help to coax Dan out of the closet and let him know that they love him regardless of his sexuality. I also loved one character in particular who serves as a confidant for Stevie rather than Dan.
CONS:
- Compared to other stories I’ve read recently, there’s not a lot of depth to the characters here. This is a fairly short book (200 pages), and much of it focuses on the negative external circumstances that force Stevie and Dan apart. As a result, the romance--although certainly sweet--didn’t strike me as especially well fleshed out.
- I found some of Blue’s descriptions, particularly in the sex scenes, to be similar/repetitive enough to be annoying. The characters� knees, for example, are rarely made of flesh and bone: they’re made of rubber or jelly or other similarly flimsy materials that give out at the first hint of sexiness.
- Throughout the book, there’s an abundance of sentences, especially within dialogue, that contain no subject at the beginning. Examples: “Know what you mean,� “Don’t wanna ever let you go,� etc.
Overall comments: This isn’t one of the best m/m books I’ve read, but I liked it. Blue’s writing is smooth and allows for quick, semi-mindless reading, and the characters in this story are likeable guys. Stevie does go through some awful experiences, but they didn’t overwhelm me the way they did some other reviewers; I didn’t find those scenes overly detailed or long.
October 7, 2012
Ally Blue is one of of a only a few writers who does not live in a fake, all-white world. This queen of angst creates multicultural and multiracial characters who are not the miserable stereotypes one so often sees. She creates characters from various backgrounds, and then proceeds with her story.
The only stereotype in Easy is Stevie, a very flamboyant rent boy who is on a downward spiral--runaway, drug use, rejected by his family, violence, prostitution. Stevie has reached an all time low as a virtually enslaved sex worker, subjected to abusive johns, trapped by a slimy pimp.
In rides Good Guy, Dan, who rescues Stevie after a violent trick gone bad. Dan takes Stevie home, nurtures him. But wait--Dan is so deep in the closet, he can't think straight.
Both Dan and Stevie are sweet hearted characters, I always like that. The UST between them was almost unbearable, everyone could see it and smell it! The secondary characters in Dan and Stevie's lives were also warm and supportive. In contrast to the evil johns, homophobic construction workers, monster "boyfriend", and brutal pimp--villains all. Blue makes her good guys great and her bad boys lousy. I wish the name of this book was Sunshine! Well done, effortless Ally Blue. Predictable but worth a read.
Blue deserves credit for not whitening her worlds into a blizzard of Euro Americans. Writers who,set their works in urban areas might want to take note of the variety and diversity of the people there, and not make a big weird deal out of it. Thanks, Ally!
The only stereotype in Easy is Stevie, a very flamboyant rent boy who is on a downward spiral--runaway, drug use, rejected by his family, violence, prostitution. Stevie has reached an all time low as a virtually enslaved sex worker, subjected to abusive johns, trapped by a slimy pimp.
In rides Good Guy, Dan, who rescues Stevie after a violent trick gone bad. Dan takes Stevie home, nurtures him. But wait--Dan is so deep in the closet, he can't think straight.
Both Dan and Stevie are sweet hearted characters, I always like that. The UST between them was almost unbearable, everyone could see it and smell it! The secondary characters in Dan and Stevie's lives were also warm and supportive. In contrast to the evil johns, homophobic construction workers, monster "boyfriend", and brutal pimp--villains all. Blue makes her good guys great and her bad boys lousy. I wish the name of this book was Sunshine! Well done, effortless Ally Blue. Predictable but worth a read.
Blue deserves credit for not whitening her worlds into a blizzard of Euro Americans. Writers who,set their works in urban areas might want to take note of the variety and diversity of the people there, and not make a big weird deal out of it. Thanks, Ally!
February 17, 2017
A part in the middle really tore me up because it also happened to me and was very painful. Very Well Done and it's one of my favorites in her collection.
September 20, 2009
Easy was aptly titled, for it indeed was an easy read, and by that I mean that it flowed well and held my interest. This was the first book by Ally Blue that I'd read, and I was not disappointed.
The central character Dan is a construction worker who finds his love interest Stevie tied up and abandoned in a deserted building. Dan rescues him and takes him home, and in the process discover that poor Stevie was working as a prostitute and had been abused and beaten by one of his johns and basically left for dead.
Dan struggles, though not over the fact that Stevie has a sordid past, but rather with his own coming-out issues. He is deeply closeted and fears judgment and rejection from his friends and family. Although he is strongly attracted to Stevie, he focuses solely upon helping the young man to overcome his past.
In the process of Stevies metamorphisis, Dan himself also undergoes significant change. He becomes so enamored by this captivating, unpretentious, and sincere young man, that he can barely think straight (pun intended).
Well the rest is obvious. They fall in love, but of course they do face some serious challenges. Will Stevie ever be able to love and forgive himself for his past? Will Dan be able to overcome his own internal homophoia?
The book was remarkably well-written, and the characters were believable and interesting. The plot made sense and included suspense, romance, and erotica.
Overall, I loved the book and highly recommend it.
The central character Dan is a construction worker who finds his love interest Stevie tied up and abandoned in a deserted building. Dan rescues him and takes him home, and in the process discover that poor Stevie was working as a prostitute and had been abused and beaten by one of his johns and basically left for dead.
Dan struggles, though not over the fact that Stevie has a sordid past, but rather with his own coming-out issues. He is deeply closeted and fears judgment and rejection from his friends and family. Although he is strongly attracted to Stevie, he focuses solely upon helping the young man to overcome his past.
In the process of Stevies metamorphisis, Dan himself also undergoes significant change. He becomes so enamored by this captivating, unpretentious, and sincere young man, that he can barely think straight (pun intended).
Well the rest is obvious. They fall in love, but of course they do face some serious challenges. Will Stevie ever be able to love and forgive himself for his past? Will Dan be able to overcome his own internal homophoia?
The book was remarkably well-written, and the characters were believable and interesting. The plot made sense and included suspense, romance, and erotica.
Overall, I loved the book and highly recommend it.
August 4, 2011
Dan is a construction worker, who happens to be deep in the closet. Stevie is a prostitute who goes by the name Sunshine. Dan finds Stevie in an abandoned building after a particularly brutal session with a "customer" and takes him in. Love soon blooms between them, but life is never easy, especially when Dan doesn't want to be public with their relationship. Even more problematic, Sunshine's pimp wants him back - and will stop at nothing to recover him. The story is a little predictable, but still keeps a reader turning the pages.
Though Stevie is a cliche - a very effeminate, slightly stereotypical gay man - his character is fun and light-hearted, despite the horrors in his life. His character makes the book great, because you just can't help but love him and root for him to be happy. This novel reminded me of the movie "Pretty Woman," only with a male instead of female. A "hooker with a heart of gold," that's Stevie. Only Stevie must endure the tragedy of violation and pain in a way that is not often found in romance fiction. And his knight in shining armor isn't rich, and must overcome his own insecurities before he can look beyond himself. The sex between the two is more tender than hot, but just as enjoyable. And Dan'd best friend is a well done minor character that helps move the story along and provide some humor.
This was wonderful, touching, sad, and so much more. Easy is one of Blue's best novels and I am happy to rebuy it now that it's available in print.
Though Stevie is a cliche - a very effeminate, slightly stereotypical gay man - his character is fun and light-hearted, despite the horrors in his life. His character makes the book great, because you just can't help but love him and root for him to be happy. This novel reminded me of the movie "Pretty Woman," only with a male instead of female. A "hooker with a heart of gold," that's Stevie. Only Stevie must endure the tragedy of violation and pain in a way that is not often found in romance fiction. And his knight in shining armor isn't rich, and must overcome his own insecurities before he can look beyond himself. The sex between the two is more tender than hot, but just as enjoyable. And Dan'd best friend is a well done minor character that helps move the story along and provide some humor.
This was wonderful, touching, sad, and so much more. Easy is one of Blue's best novels and I am happy to rebuy it now that it's available in print.
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