Customer Reviews

Crushed

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

 

 

Nathan Gayle was looking for more than casual dating and hookups. He
was getting tired of his friends and coworkers, Tom and Cindy fixing
him up with just anyone as long as he was gay. Nathan had standards,
and those standards turned out to be an old high school classmate, Wes
Roberts, the last person Nathan expected to see at Tom and Cindy's
party. Wes changed from that short pudgy awkward kid, whom Nathan
spent a very memorable prom night with back in high school, to a well
built gorgeous man with whom he would love to relive that night with
again.

Wes was just as shocked to see Nathan, he's had a crush on him since
Nathan was freshman and he was a junior in high school. Seeing Nathan
again and knowing he wanted to rekindle what began so long ago on prom
night was a dream come true for Wes. He was so willing to give Nathan
what he wanted if not for one major obstacle, his alcoholic boyfriend
Roger.

I really enjoyed this story. There was so much to Crushed I liked,
such as the quirkiness of the characters, especially Cindy with her
meddlesome and bubbly personality. Wes and Nathan's interactions were
fun to read, not only their out loud dialogue, but also their internal
conversations and comments. Some of their expressions and actions made
me laugh out loud. Finding Nathan again was just what Wes needed, to
face up to his codependent relationship with Roger, whom I found to be
one creepy character.

Ley
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Wes has a crush on Nathan since high school. Too shy to make a move on him he has spent years lusting after the guy, seeing him fools around with other guys. Then the very last night of high school, the prom night, he has the chance to spend one night in the parking lot of the school, making out with his dream. Kisses and caresses, but nothing more and then Wes goes to college and have never seen again Nathan.

Years after Nathan is a clerkman who has grown tired of party and one stand night relationships and when he meets Wes at a friend's party, he sees the chance to continue where they have stopped that night. But Wes is on a relationship with Roger, even if things are not smooth.

Nathan is not of the idea to let this guy go. He is a very selfconsciousness guy, he knows to be handsome and nice and can't imagine a man not accept the chance to have what he so kindly gives. Sincerily, J.M. Snyder has made a very good job to not make him spoilt and nasty, because I, instead, find him beautiful, the teen dream comes true.

Wes is an average guy, gentle and nice. He is swept away by the tornado who is Nathan, but still he cares for Roger, even if later the man has begun to treat him nothing more then a convenient bedmate.

And then there is the third man, Roger. He could be the bad guy, who the reader has to hate. And instead I feel pain for him. Oh no, I don't want that Wes and Nathan don't find a way to be together, but a little part of me hopes that J.M. Snyder will find a way to give also to this man an happily ever after.

The story is all about feelings and interaptions between the three men. Sex is on the background, but it's a plus for the story, J.M. Snyder is a master in build the wait and stop it in the right moment: it has reminded me the heat between two teens who want to have all soon and are interrupted every time on the climax and set them to find soon another moment and another place...

I always enjoy Snyder's boys. They are just so lovable and intimately linked. Nathan and Wes have a one night romance during high school days. They barely know each other then though Wes always have a crush on the popular Nathan. Each goes his own way, but could not forget the other. Years later, Nathan is still searching for Mr. Right. Wes, trying hard to forget his school days crush, is in a tense and bordering on abusive relationship with a manipulative Roger who displays a mean streak when drunk.

Nathan and Wes meet in a party and there is no way they could be separated again. Nathan realizes Wes is his Mr Right. Wes has never forgotten his school days crush. Hard to believe ? Not so, because Snyder conveys her boys' feelings so well.

Roger is the problem and Wes must find the courage to break off their 8 months old relationship. In the beginning I feel impatient with Wes, wishing he will show some backbone. But as the story progresses, it is easy to understand how this sweet character grows to be so fearful of his abusive partner, certain moments sad and disturbing. It is terrifying that a person could be subtly abused without realizing it.

The story spans a few days but the prose is very engaging and Snyder tells it with so much feelings.

Wes and Nathan have a single night of passion after their high school prom that neither can forget nor replicate. A chance encounter at a friend's party years later rekindles everything and throws both for a loop.

Very good story but could have been much better. Too short and not enough detail. Another 100 pages of depth and detail would have produced a much more complete story and could well have turned a very good novel into a masterpiece.

Nathan and Wes are old High-school buddies who had a fling and meet years later at a party. But Wes is tied down into a relationship he does not really want with a slightly abusive man named Roger.
This starts out very well with the two main characters meeting up for some smooching. But the book led me to believe a confrontation was going to occur, and then it fizzled and never happened. I wanted the big bang. The fiery explosion when everything comes to a head. It didn't explode. The characters seemed to glide to an easy finish without the intense violent conflict I had felt the author set up all along.
On the whole it was a good book and the story was worthwhile. The slight over use of italics for every emphasized word got disrtracting, but that's just a minor defect in an otherwise decent story.

Okay, so I usually enjoy J. M. Snyders work, but really? 8 months? Thats nothing when you're dating and most -I repeat MOST- of my gay friends in their early 20's which I believe these guys are can't be serious about their underwear and definitely wouldn't be about a boyfriend. Hell I'm straight and I refuse to be unhappy with a man and have had no problem in the past dumping someone. Life is too short to be unhappy. Eventually I'll finish this but for now. Meh!!