No Apologies [Kindle Edition]

Tibby Armstrong (Author)

Book Description

Genre: LGBT Contemporary

Cheerful and friendly, Aaron Blake has never met a puzzle that intrigues him more than brooding Greg Falkner. He wants to get to know his roommate, but it seems the only way past his shell is through it. When a reluctant friendship turns into a budding romance, can the two keep their feelings secret from their classmates? Or will their newfound love destroy them both?

Or so goes the story screenwriter Greg Falkner spins for audiences and his longtime partner, Aaron Blake, in No Apologies. Loosely based on their lives together, the film rocks Hollywood with its blatant portrayal of two teenagers falling in love and coming of age in a world that struggles to accept them, while they in turn struggle to accept themselves.

At the end of the evening, will Greg’s risky venture break a relationship that’s already foundering? Or will the real-life Greg and Aaron also find their happily ever after with No Apologies?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices, violence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fast paced page turner full of powerful emotion. ~ Alex Beecroft

... Every page resonates with a collage of exquisite emotion ... I loved this story. It took my breath away. ~ A.J. Llewellyn (Read the full review on GoodReads.)

Ms. Armstrong really outdid herself with this wonderful story and she's quickly becoming a must-read author for me. ~ Bella at Fallen Angel Reviews (5-Angel Recommended Read!)

The writing was amazing. Tibby Armstrong in just two books has made my "click to buy" author list. ~ Michelle K. Canada at Another Look Book Reviews

"No Apologies" is the first book I have read by Tibby Armstrong and I am now a devout follower. ~ Doug at Night Owl Reviews (5-Star REVIEWER TOP PICK!)

From the Back Cover

Aaron Blake has never met a puzzle that intrigues him more than brooding Greg Falkner. He wants to get to know his roommate, but it seems the only way past his shell is through it. When a reluctant friendship turns into a budding romance, can the two keep their feelings secret from their classmates? Or will their newfound love destroy them both?

Or so goes the story screenwriter Greg Falkner spins for audiences and his longtime partner, Aaron Blake, in No Apologies. Loosely based on their lives together, the film rocks Hollywood with its blatant portrayal of two teenagers falling in love and coming of age in a world that struggles to accept them, while they in turn struggle to accept themselves.

At the end of the evening, will Greg's risky venture break a relationship that's already foundering? Or will the real-life Greg and Aaron also find their happily ever after with No Apologies?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 523 KB
• Print Length: 267 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1611183871
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Loose Id LLC (April 12, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0056C0AEI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,743 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Told Romance July 7, 2012

By Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

Write down this name, Tibby Armstrong, and don't forget it. I'll admit, I have a cache of "go to" authors, ones I will always buy their books no matter what because I know I'm going to get my money's worth and get a great story. Until I started reviewing for Guilty Pleasures, I'm ashamed to admit I didn't branch out very much. Mainly because when I did, I was disappointed 70% of the time. Since starting at Guilty Pleasures, my "go to" author list has tripled and I'm very happy to add Tibby Armstrong to that list. Today, I'm reviewing her book, No Apologies.

I've never read a book like No Apologies before and that's not a bad thing. While I guess it could be called a coming of age story about two young men who attend the same boarding school, it's not really that. You see, their story is told through a film written by one of the men, Greg Faulker. He's basically written and produced this movie as a love letter to his long time partner, Aaron Blake. The problem is Aaron is tired of waiting for Greg to admit his homosexuality. He's tired of being Greg's dirty little secret. He's tired of being ignored and he's decided that he just can't do it anymore. Greg realizes that it might be too little, too late but he's determined to make Aaron understand how he feels. The book opens with this look at Aaron and Greg ten years after high school and then we flash back as we "watch" the premier of Greg's movie.

Because of the way this book is written, we really don't see a lot of the Greg and Aaron of today. Instead we see Greg's version of their life at school and soon after. He admits it is part truth and part fiction. We see them struggling with their growing feelings towards each other, facing ridicule and abuse from fellow students and teachers, Greg dealing with some serious issues at home, and Aaron coming out to his parents.

I can't even begin to explain the range of emotions I had while reading this book. At times I was scared for Greg and Aaron, I cried, I laughed, and I was horrified and I was happy. To say that Tibby packs a punch when she writes is understated. I honestly can't even verbalize how much this book touched me. I had to keep reminding myself that this was fiction because what I really wanted to do was scoop these two young men up and bring them home and show them how parents treat their children, no matter what!

While this is a beautifully told romance story, it isn't typical because the situation isn't typical. Yes, there is quite a bit of sex but for the most part it was done secretly. There was also kind of a D/s vibe running through their relationship but it wasn't truly D/s. They struggled for control and figuring out what each other needed. While Aaron had experimented with a couple of girls, Greg never had which is why I found it interesting that he was the one having issues with "coming out". Aaron however was very sheltered but yet had a very dominant personality. I really enjoyed watching them coming to terms with what they meant to each other.

No Apologies is a book that I know I will revisit again and again. It's not an easy book to read, I can almost guarantee you will be emotional while reading it. But, I hope that by the time you get to the end you'll know just how special this book truly is. I'm giving it 4.5 stars only because I would have like a little more time with Greg and Aaron as the adults they are today. That being said, I'll tell you that we do see more of them as adults in book two, Acting Out!

4.5 Stars

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual and very well written book September 23, 2011

By Sirius VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I could not put this book down. I really appreciated how the writer framed the story of Aaron and Greg in two different fictional realities and how different and at the same similar their stories end up to be. There is so much chemistry, so much raw passion between "movie" Aaron and Greg and we get to know and see that "real" guys do have this passion in their hearts. I had a lot of fun reading it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving without leaving characters in the dust. September 27, 2011

By Beth

Format:Kindle Edition

No Apologies is a hot page turner that has many different layers - from the cultural blindness to LGBT life of many queer folk to the insight into the pressures inherent in single sex educational institutions, this relatively short work covers a vast territory of culture and emotion in a very tight package.

The characterization is solid, the passion raw and brutally honest. This is an excellent read all the way around. Tibby Armstrong avoids many of pits falls of genre writers, presenting a unique voice.

More About the Author

Tibby Armstrong loves meeting kindred bibliophiles like you wherever she travels!

Writing stories with strong relationship threads, Tibby enjoys her romance with a healthy helping of steam. Currently she is branching out with an urban fantasy series as well as a time travel romance series.

Favorite novels include Maria V. Snyder's "Poison Study", C.E. Murphy's "The Queen's Bastard", Nalini Singh's "Angel's Kiss", Charlaine Harris' "Southern Vampire" series, Connie Willis' "Bellwether", Elizabeth Moon's "Vatta's War" series, Kathleen Woodiwiss' "Shanna", and Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

You might wonder at such a long list, until you consider that Tibby is also a librarian. Please visit her profile on GoodReads and share what you love. She's always looking for a new book to devour!