Customer Reviews

Crossing Borders

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a love story and a coming of age - a love story between two men who made me feel that love can conquer all - and a coming of age for 19 year old Tristan. Crossing Borders is a little jewel and it was such a joy to read that when I finished the book, all 218 pages of it, I thought "that was a brilliant piece of writing".

Tristan is a very young man who realizes after yet another love affair gone awry that perhaps he's been dating the wrong sex. His latest girlfriend Viper dumps him and instead of feeling heartbroken, all he can think of is getting into her brother's pants when he delivers the bad news. He knows then that he can't delude himself any longer and it's time to check out the action from the other side of the bed. He decides to `fish' for a man to teach him the ropes about having gay sex and he develops a seemingly foolproof plan to pick up a gay guy in Borders. However, someone else sees him, Officer Michael Truax who had once given him an expensive ticket for boarding without a helmet when he was in high school. He screws up Tristan's plan to get laid by driving away the men he is attracting so that he can take him home. Michael is not about to let Tristan leave with anyone else, after all he has been checking him out since he was 17 waiting for him to grow up so that he could have that delectable body all to himself.

When they arrive at Michael's apartment he recognizes that Tristan, or Sparky as he calls him, is not at all experienced about the gay lifestyle and he takes to his new role of teacher with gusto. The sex was some of the most sensual, arousing, blazing hot like a poker just out of the fire, raunchy ... I could go on but you get the message. Neither one expects that this will turn out to be anything more than a bit of fun but things heat up between them and they start talking commitment which is when their troubles begin. Michael is very concerned about the age difference between them and wonders if he's making a mistake because they are in different places in their lives; Tristan worries about whether he is little more than a `rent-boy' or `arm candy' to Michael or Officer Helmet as he calls him, but he also has fears about Michael's safety in view of his job as a policeman. In the
middle of all the angst Michael is injured on the job and their relationship implodes.Tristan reacts to this major event in their lives by a total emotional breakdown and re-evaluation of their relationship in his own way as he makes some life changing decisions.

In Crossing Borders Z.A. Maxfield is a delightfully fresh voice among all the `noise' of the M/M romance genre. She shows great sensitivity about Tristan's first tentative steps in exploring this new (to him) territory of being gay and the mutual journey and adventure undertaken by both protags, in addition to the evolution of their romance into an adult relationship. The characters were wonderfully drawn, not just Michael and Tristan but their families as well, especially their mothers Emma and Julia, two strong women, who were so supportive. I could empathize with Julia, Tristan's recently-widowed mother, who is broken-hearted but wants him to be happy. She even jokes that Michael should repay her for the ticket he gave Tristan years ago now that they are lovers! Thanksgiving at Tristan's house with both families was a totally different experience and I laughed so hard I was crying at the entertaining prayer offered up by his brother to commemorate Tristan's coming out.

The dialogue throughout the story is exceptional. This book is wonderfully written and the author takes great care not to minimize Tristan's understanding of the impact on his future when he recognizes that in accepting this new way of life as a gay man he would in effect be giving up his dreams of the male equivalent of the white picket fence - marriage, having a family, grandchildren, even filing joint tax returns and everything that goes along with the stereotype.

Is Crossing Borders perfect? Of course not. I have yet to read a book that could not be improved by a little tweaking but this one hits all the right notes and then some. I believe that this is Z.A. Maxfield's first published book and if so, it is a great introduction to an author who I'm positive will be around for a long, long time. I can't say enough good things about Crossing Borders but I can highly recommend that you buy this book. It's a keeper.

Tristan's got issues; he knows he does. So when his most recent girlfriend dumps him but he's preoccupied with the fact that he can't stop staring at, and lusting after her brother, Tristan figures it's about time he make some changes and take the plunge into something he's been wanting to do for a while - have sex with a man. Tristan's got a plan. He sets up shop at his local Borders bookstore, collects a pile of gay lit. titles as bait, sits himself down in the bookstore's coffee bar and waits for a hook-up, someone who can show him what he's been missing. Until who should crash his little stake-out but none other than Officer Michael Truax, a.k.a. "Officer Helmet" the man who's been a persistent pain in his skate boarding butt, dogging him with expensive tickets for not wearing a helmet.

Michael has been trying to catch Tristan for years...to give him a second ticket, or so that's what he tells himself. Suddenly he's faced with his 'Sparky', all grown up -- and looking to get laid. The habit of protecting him isn't gone completely, but the opportunity is too much to resist. He figures the kid must know what he's getting into, so he takes him home. There, they carry on a cautious affair, only to find out that neither is what the other expected at all.

I know a story is really working for me when I start reading at say about 9:00 pm and wild horses couldn't drag me from the book. Well it was about 1:00 am in the morning when I finished Crossing Borders - in one sitting. What can I say, I devoured this read and absolutely loved it.

Maxfield's writing is clean, crisp, urbane and sophisticated with an equal strength in her characters and their dialogue. In Tristan she has created an incredibly intelligent, articulate, bold and witty character that practically steals the story. Tristan is one of those characters that you do not easily forget. He is younger than Michael by about ten years, yet he holds his own and then some. In Michael we get a very sympathetic, easy-going and confident character that on the surface appears to be uncomplicated. But, as the story progresses we discover that there is much more to Michael than meets the eye. I think the best part of the story for me was the dynamic between Tristan and Michael throughout the book. The very first scene in the Borders bookstore where Michael crashes Tristan's "get-laid" party has to be one of the most intelligent, incredibly clever, thoroughly entertaining, funny and verbally sexually charged exchanges between two characters that I have read in a long, long time. The scene is one of my favourites in the book.

Tristan and Michael do get together and when they do - look out! The sex in this book sizzles and scorches. Maxfield carries this urbane sophistication into the bedroom. What I found to be a breath of fresh air was Tristan's outright ownership of his sexuality. Even though he has no previous experience in being with a man and essentially comes out to, and with, the first man he sleeps with - Michael, we don't get this angst-ridden, hand-wringing that one usually has come to expect of these circumstances in gay romance. What we do get is an incredible level of maturity in Tristan's character self-exploration and self-acceptance of his sexuality. Equally, Maxfield does not succumb to the usual M/M stereotypes of tops and bottoms, alphas, betas or twinks, or the fall-back of the oft used pederastic relationship scenario of the older man and the younger boy-man. There are no labels, borders or fences imposed upon Michael and Tristan's sexual, and indeed overall relationship in this respect. Sometimes Tristan takes the lead in aspects of the relationship and sometimes it's Michael.

There is angst though and it comes in the form of Tristan's turmoil surrounding: Am I too young to be this in love? Can I handle loving a cop and all the while worry that he's going to get hurt or killed in the line of duty? Do I even want to be in a relationship where this can happen? Is this it? Is Michael the only man I will ever be with, will ever love? Am I ready for this? It also comes in the form of Michael's: I am so much in love and I'm terrified that I'm going to get burned. The metal in Tristan's and MIchael's relationship is tested in this story and yes, through some not so happy and even scary events, but in the end there is an HEA.

I wouldn't characterize Crossing Borders as a coming of age story because frankly speaking Tristan is an old soul. What I would call it is a thoroughly refreshing and delightful read that sets the bar high and left me with a huge smile on my face and really good feeling inside.

This one was a certain to-buy-book: first it's a may/december relationship and I love it, second it's a Loose Id LGBT book and with rare exception I buy all of them (but this doesn't mean that I read all of them...), third it has a young character, probably virgin, and I'm very naughty about it... Plus, and I'm sincere about that, after deciding that I would buy it, I discovered that it was the first book of one of my LJ friends (I recognized the cover) and so one more reason, since I followed all the gestation (how I missed that it would be out with Loose Id, I don't know, but my brain sometime lose a chip here and there).

When I first opened it, thinking to read it on a session before sleep, I had a little surprise: it was 300 pages long, no way I could read it in one night. And another concern was: it is enough good to keep my attention for so much pages? The answer is yes: the book is funny and compelling and if not for my body need of sleeping, I wouldn't put it down till the end. But as soon as I had the time to end it, it was my first thing in the to do list!

Tristan is a 19 years old horny guy... well, poor boy, horny maybe is a strong word, but it's exactly what he is. At fourteen years old Tristan was wondering if he liked girls or boys, but since he was a very cute boy, and girls are smarter then boys at that age, all the girls around caught him before he was able to catch a boy. And so for the next five years Tristan enjoyed the life and the girls... but now he is arrived at a point where he is able to discern, and sexual release is not the only thing he wants. He is finally ready to admit that he is attracted by men, and a man he wants... being around all that girls has taught him a lot of things, above all that the better place to drag is a bookstore. And since he wants to draw a man, what better place that the gay section?

On his very first expedition, Tristan gets lucky... maybe... since the man he hooks up is Officer Michael Truax, the young cop who patrols the neighbor and that always preaches him about being a good boy. But Michael is also a very sexy guy, 27 years old and friendly when he is not on duty. Soon Tristan is ready to forget that Michael is a cop, to enjoy the fact that he is a gay man willing to teach him a thing or two on how it should be the life of a healthy gay man. What it starts like a funny thing soon becomes the real thing, and Tristan has to decide if he is ready for it: no doubt that he is in love with the man, but he is still a 19 years old boy at his very first experience on the "dark" side... maybe he needs to consider other ways, before setting for true?

In this book there is the right dose of awareness that being a gay man today is not always simple, but luckily our two characters don't fight too much to find their way in the world; reality is there, right behind them, and sometime it makes its appearance, but all in all, it leaves them free to enjoy their love.

Michael is a very nice character. Strong, good, tender and caring... and wealthy! A good son, loving with his mother, and a good boy, always ready to offer an hand or an ear. Maybe he is not a man easy to fire up, but he is always "warm"; and he has passion inside: he doesn't deny his desires and his needs; he was attracted to Tristan since the guy was 17 years old but obviously he has never act on his passion since the moment the boy is legal and willing; but as soon as he understands that the boy is ready to be pick up, he is there in front line: no regrets on being too old or on gives him space to test his newfound sexuality, if someone needs to teach something to Tristan, it will be him.

Tristan is a joy to read. He is funny, sweet and sexy. He is clearly a boy with a great spirit and a loving family behind him. He was raised in good way, and he has strong values; he knows what is right and what is wrong; life maybe has put him in front of some obstacles (he lost his father 2 years before), but all in all he walks in steady grounds. And so he can enjoy life, and makes enjoy it also to you, with a freedom that is refreshening.

The story of Michael and Tristan is funny and sexy. There is a lot of sex, but it's always light and not angst: it is almost like you savor it with the same joy and sense of discovery that is of Tristan.

Tristan is all about having fun as a college student, but he never forgets his family, especially since his father died. Tristan is also trying to figure out why, after a long string of girlfriends offering as much sex as he wants, he is still vaguely unsatisfied. So, Tristan figures its time to take a walk on the wild side and try sex with a man and see if it's any different. So armed with The Plan, Tristan hits the neighboring Borders store and picks up just about every available gay title and sits himself down in the café to see what he can catch. However, he didn't count on Officer Helmet, the bane of his existence, being there and offering, through text messaging, no less, color commentary on all the men that approach Tristan. So as Tristan is ready to admit defeat and give up on The Plan netting him a walk on the wild side, he finds himself somehow being picked up by none other than Michael Truax - Officer Helmet!

Michael Truax has been trying to catch Tristan to give him another ticket and check him out now that he is legal and maybe give him another ticket, just for kicks. But what started as a friendly, and safe, offer to introduce Tristan into the joys of gay sex, quickly turns into something more - especially since Michael has had his eye on Tristan for a long time. But Tristan is nineteen, almost ten years younger than Michael, and Michael fears that Tristan will break his heart when he eventually leaves to experiment with other men or go back to girls. However, despite the age difference and their different lifestyles, somehow Michael and Tristan manage to make it work - for a while. Because when Michael is seriously injured on the job, Tristan isn't so sure he could survive the death of another person close to him. Can Michael convince Tristan that he is worth the chance?

Tristan is so young and not really ready to settle down - even if he is head over heels in love, but Michael is old enough that that is exactly what he wants with Tristan. Can Michael wait for Tristan to grow up a little and can Tristan trust that Michael will keep his heart safe?

I think that I have become a Z.A. Maxfield fan for life! Crossing Borders is a funny, sensual, romantic read which is, of course, scorchingly hot. Tristan and Michael pack so much emotion and sensuality into each and every encounter that you share their impatience when waiting for them to have time to be together again. Tristan is young, impulsive, impetuous and so completely charming and loyal that you will be charmed by him on his very first appearance, but the strongest trait that makes Tristan an unforgettable character is his complete earnestness with and about himself and what he wants. Michael is old enough to be cautious, and experienced enough, to guide Tristan during his exploration of his desire for men. But when love comes into the equation, Michael will steal your heart completely as he, oh so carefully, reveals this truth to Tristan and waits with baited breath for Tristan's reaction. These two and their story are so memorable and compelling that I can almost guarantee that you will be reading their story more than once and eagerly awaiting Z.A. Maxfield's next book. Crossing Borders is the perfect read when you are looking for a great romance that will heat you up, melt your heart and wring a tear or two before it's over. I Joyfully Recommend Crossing Borders - it's a book that will keep you up well into the night because you will want to finish it all in one sitting and you will resent all intrusions that pull you away from Tristan and Michael. Get Crossing Borders by Z.A. Maxfield today, you won't regret it!

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Oh, wow, what a nice surprise. A smart-mouthed skater boy hooks up with the cop that wrote him his first ticket. Too cute! The idea behind this story is adorable, the dialogue is hilarious and casual and flows very naturally, and the electricity between Tristan and Michael sizzles. This book is HOT.

The protagonists are great, the supporting characters are fun and interesting, and the story is good. The first half is better than the last half. There are a few loose threads that never get tied up, and there are a few extraneous characters and subplots that probably could have been eliminated for a smoother story, but over all this is a fantastic read.

Tristan is 19 and Michael is 28. That sounds like the setup for a story about a man and his boy-toy, but this isn't like that. Tristan is mature for his age because he's been helping to support his family since his father died. He's extremely intelligent and has a rather take-charge personality. Michael's job gives him an extremely alpha appearance on the outside, but he's more than willing to submit to Tristan on occasion. And no, this is not a BDSM story. Lovers can submit to each other without being bound or controlled.

This is a story about trust, love, and life changes. And did I mention it's smokin' HOT? Whew! I give the first half of the book 5 stars, and the second half 4 stars. I inhaled this book in one sitting, which is very rare for me. And it's 218 pages, too, which is fairly long for an e-book. Man, what an amazing debut!

There's double the pleasure here - ZA Maxfield's prose is a delight to read, very witty and sharp, but never cutting. The main theme of the story is the maturing love affair between Michael and Tristan, but her style has you following them all the way, the pace just right for the reader to enjoy the characters and still find a plot. And the other delight is the characterisation, the guys are such fun! I like especially the way she writes dialogue, one minute they're bantering with each other, next minute they're almost incoherent with emotion. Devotion might sound like a sappy word, but I don't mean that here, it describes the respect they have for each other, and there's no unnecessary angst for the sake of it - they *like* being with each other! That's refreshing in a romance book sometimes. I thought it was well balanced, too, I felt as sympathetic to each of them and their families and work situation. Tristan is cheeky and bold and outspoken, Michael is more mature, confident, protective and downright cute. Oh and the love scenes are...hot and sensitive and even more fun! :)
Now I have to go and re-read it! Enjoy!

I enjoyed Maxfield's St. Nacho series, so I bought this one based on that and the reviews. I enjoyed this one too, but it had a few shortcomings. There was very little internal drama between the leads. There was a bit of angst and hand-wringing, but no real serious interpersonal threats to their happiness. The only real threat is an external one that ends up bringing them closer together according to the formula you've read in fifty other books you've already read in this genre. Again, the book is enjoyable and delivers as far as tying the sex scenes together with a more coherent story than many other books, but don't expect it to wow you with its originality.

I read this a few weeks ago, but just thought I'd give my two cents. First of all, this is not as much of a May/December romance as some of the reviews suggested. 28 and 19 is not that much of age difference IMO. Anyway, Michael and Tristan's story is not one to be missed. What I like about it is that it's a rather realistic portrayal of a relationship. There are a couple of hills they have to climb before they can ride off into the sunset on the back of Michael's motorcycle. There's one scene towards the end that brought tears to my eyes.

Also, be aware that there is a novella sequel to Crossing Borders called What Child is This?

Nineteen year old Tristan lives comfortably with is mother and younger sister and brothers, his father died suddenly two years ago and Tristan has happily taken responsibility for his family. However not all is well with Tristan, with a reputation as a lady killer and with a string of past easy conquests under his belt, he is having doubts, especially when he calls on his latest girl Viper to learn from her brother that she has another date - Tristan is much less interested about that than he is in viewing the pronounced bulge in Viper's brother's trousers.

On a whim he decides to act on his impulses and sets himself up in the local library surrounded by collection gay novels, and waits to be picked up; all he wants is an anonymous quickie, just to see what his proclivities really are. But he gets more than he bargains for.

Office Michael Truax of the Fullerton CA Police Department has had his eye on him, ever since he issued Tristan with an expensive ticket for skate boarding without a helmet Michael has been fixated on the boy, his long, silky red hair and his adorable boyish good looks. Officer Truax, AKA Officer Helmet, is the last person Tristan expects to be his pick up, but then stranger things have happened!

Crossing Borders follows Tristan and Michael as their relationship grows into an all consuming love, a love that is threatened when near tragedy strikes, raising the question can they live and love with the fear of loss? Will Tristan let himself live with that fear, of should he call it a day?

Tristan is a beautiful creation, intelligent, caring lovingly for his younger sister and brothers, uncomplainingly helping and secretly making sacrifices for his mother, and an attentive and devoted lover to the older Michael; if there is a criticism of the character it is that he seems perfect, without fault. Michael, some twenty years Tristan's senior is equally faultless, he loves his job and believes in the LAPD motto To Protect and Serve, he truly wants to make a difference, he is caring and warmhearted. They make a perfect pair.

I found this an involving, touching and moving read, well written, and with plenty of graphic, hot bedroom scenes; in fact a little too much perhaps in the opening chapters, but as the story develops a better balance is achieved. I would have preferred to see the initially courtship less quickly resolved (I loved the pick-up scene!), Tristan does give in rather quickly, but that aside it is a beautiful story of the love between a bright, lively and quick witted boy and a thoughtful, handsome older man.

I loved this book. I've have recommended it to many and strongly suggest that you go ahead and purchase this book. For me it is a frequently revisited book that I never let go into my archive.