LOST ALONG THE WAY by Marie Sexton

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published: April 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63216-858-0
MM, Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Weblink: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6261
Obtained via publisher
Rating: 4.5



 

Daniel had no idea his parents had become hoarders. He expected a couple of weekends would be all the time he’d need to clear out their house and sell it after their unexpected deaths. Instead he finds the house crammed with boxes of stuff all needing careful sorting, his live-in lover of fifteen years withdrawing from him and unhappy, and his parents’ neighbor a man of many contradictions.

Daniel’s parents had made him choose between them and his gay lover, and he’s been perfectly happy with the man he loves until just recently. Now his life is turned completely upside down and Marie Sexton has penned an unusual, yet very logical and at times poignant story of what happens next. It breaks some of the rules of romance stories, but it breaks them in a thoughtful, almost necessary way, rather than by being provocative or simply thumbing its nose at tradition. Daniel’s love story is a little different, but it’s more powerful because of the stresses and pressures he’s undergoing. The options, the differences, and the people are what make this a riveting story, and quite definitely still a romance.

The cookbook is a neat plot method, but the people are just as much the stars of the story as the cookbook and its recipes. Daniel, Landon, and Chase are all very multifaceted and engaging characters, and there are several excellent lines of dialogue in the story.

It’s a very clean production, kudos to the author and editor.

Ms. Sexton is a talented author with a healthy backlist I’ll be checking out soon. I really liked this book.


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Never a Hero by Marie Sexton

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Date published: May 2013

ISBN: 978-1-937551-94-0

Genre: male/male contemporary romance

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon

This is another in the Tucker Springs series; all are set in the fictional Colorado town of Tucker Springs. This time Marie Sexton tackles the challenge of creating a pair in this setting.

Owen Meade is painfully introverted: between his congenitally amputated arm and his stress-induced stutter, he’s resigned himself to a life alone. He works at home, has his groceries delivered, and doesn’t go out. Besides, who would ever fall for a twenty-eight year old gay virgin?

Veterinarian Nick Reynolds has a life filled with career, three dogs, and his quirky sister June.  He’s been alone for the last five years, afraid of allowing himself to get involved with anyone.

Nick moves into the downstairs apartment of Owen’s duplex, and suddenly Owen finds himself face-to-face with a gorgeous man who doesn’t make Owen nervous, and isn’t put off by Owen’s amputation or his stutter, and seems to innately know what will put Owen at ease. Nick introduces Owen to his sister June, who also has a congenital amputation. She convinces Owen they should take piano lessons. As the Reynolds duo pulls Owen out of his shell, he’s more and more drawn to Nick, but doesn’t understand why Nick refuses to let go and act on their mutual attraction.

I’ve read all of the preceding stories in the Tucker Springs series. This installation blends seamlessly with the others, incorporating the same locations and references to the other characters without being obvious. Sexton has an endearing style that handles the topics of congenital amputation and stuttering in a sensitive manner without preaching. Owen and Nick are both well drawn, and the other characters add to the richness of the story. The pace was just right, and the ending satisfying.

I’m looking forward to more Tucker Springs stories.

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This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Never a Hero

PUTTING OUT FIRES by Marie Sexton

A Coda Valentine Story, Book 6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published: February 2011
ISBN 9781615818457
Contemporary M/M, Short Story
E-Book
Reviewed by Dawn)
Obtained by Self-Purchase


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! Matt Richards has spent the last three years with his lover, Jared Thomas and he has been happier than he ever has been. But when Valentine’s Day rolls around and his lover mentions he is unappreciated, Matt finds he needs to do something to show the man he loves that Jared is appreciated in every way by Matt. But things don’t go according to plans and chaos ensures. Can Matt salvage this Valentine’s Day before Jared is home?

I absolutely adore Marie Sexton’s Coda series and practically have read all the books repeatedly. They always make me laugh, sigh and smile. A perfect pick me up for a not so great a day in my opinion. The writing is tight, story flows nicely and the characters are the heart of the story. We met Matt and Jared in the first book, Promises, and I literally fell in love with them. They were fun, sweet, intriguing and both had a connection to one another that left me breathless. Marie Sexton delivers a story that left me giggling like mad through the entire novella. This is a perfect story for these two characters and if you have never read this series, I say run to grab it. You won’t go wrong with a Marie Sexton story.

Matt and Jared have weathered a rough beginning and now three years later, they have settled in together and Matt finds that he is falling in love with Jared more and more each day. When Jared mentions he doesn’t appreciated, Matt figures it’s time to show Jared how appreciated he is. The chaos that ensures as Matt tries to get his plans in order is hilarious and had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. The hilarious scenes perfectly capture these two characters and this is an author who knows how to let them shine on their own. There were scenes with some returning characters from the series that made me giggle as well and they moved the story along nicely. But this was about Matt and Jared and I have got to admit these two characters are a perfect fit.

PUTTING OUT FIRES is a perfect gem in the Coda series by Marie Sexton and one that you don’t have to read in order to understand the series. It gives enough background story that doesn’t make you confused and it may just make you want more afterwards. If this is your first introduction into the Coda Series, then please, grab Promises and see how Matt and Jared got together. I am hoping this author drops back into these beloved characters world again, even if it’s just a quick story to say hi for the readers. Marie Sexton is a talented storyteller who knows what her readers want and gives them that plus a whole lot more. Run-don’t-walk-to grab this author’s books and then settle in for a journey that will steal away your soul.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE LETTER Z by Marie Sexton

Coda Series, Book 3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published. May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-61581-460-2
ASIN: B003TLMNA2
Contemporary GBLT
E-Book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Self-Purchase


Zach and Angelo have settled in Coda, Colorado and found friends in Matt and Jared. When a decision between Zach and Angelo causes issues between Jared and Angelo, things turn tense between the four friends. A surprise trip to Las Vegas has Angelo hoping things are turning around but a chance meeting with Zach’s ex, Jonathon, who causes Angelo to question everything he has with Zach. Friends can be the best thing to clear an issue but also the worst thing as well. Can these four friends learn that love is different for each couple as they navigate the bonds of love & friendship?

Marie Sexton is one talented author and one I absolutely adore. When I first met Zach and Angelo in A to Z and Jared and Matt in PROMISES, I fell in love with the Coda Series. Each time I open one of this author’s books, I am transported to Coda and find myself wishing this was a real live place to visit. I bet it would be fun to see these four friends together. This is a realistic romance series that will steal your heart away from the very first page. I do recommend reading the series in order so you can follow the romance between these two couples from the beginning (PROMISES, A TO Z are the first two books). I have got to mention also, the relationships these two couples have are vastly different and the reader needs to keep that in mind that what works for one couple may not work for them when they read this series. Love is universal; it is all about seeing what works for you and your partner(s) that is the underlying theme in this series.

THE LETTER Z has a wonderful cast of characters that fairly step off the pages and I can totally relate to. Who hasn’t had an ex show up and try to stir trouble in a new relationship? The characters are what make this series so enjoyable in my opinion. They are life like, with emotions, fears and vulnerabilities that come across the pages and you will either love them or hate them. I found Angelo as wonderfully abrasive as ever. He grows on you. You can either love him or hate him but over all, he made me want to give him a cold beer and a shoulder to lean on whenever things got tense for him. I loved seeing Jared and Matt again and can’t wait for more one on one time with both couples in future books in the Coda Series.

Marie Sexton delivers a story that can be controversial to some readers yet works well in the Coda series. There are two points of views going on-Matt and Angelo. This worked really well as we got to see both sides of the story and made THE LETTER Z much more interesting. What this author shows is how each relationship is different and still quite beautiful. If you are looking for a series to explore, then I highly recommend this one. Ms. Sexton is quite a talented author and I am eager to see what happens next in Coda, Colorado. This may not be for everyone but if you give it try, keep in mind that this is a story that has a hot button issue but if you get past that, you will see the heart of what this story is all about.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

PROMISES by Marie Sexton

A Coda Series Story, Book 1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published: January 2010
ISBN: 978-1-61581-378-0 (Print)
Contemporary GBLT (M/M)
Print
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Self-Purchase


Jared Thomas loves his small town of Coda, Colorado. He lives, works and has an enjoyable life…one that is a bit lonely as well. Being the only gay man has its disadvantages as there are no single gay men to have a relationship with. Jared was fine with that until Matt Richards walks into the door and into his life. From then on, it’s misunderstandings, falling in love, secrets and a whole lot of sexual tension between the two men. Will they be able to find a way to work past everything that is thrown at them to have the relationship they deserve?

This was the first book by this author that I have read and I have to say I am hooked on her writing. PROMISES is a well written, character driven story that literally grabbed me from the first page. It had characters I fell in love with, a fast paced storyline and a few twists I sure did not see coming. Marie Sexton delivers, at times, a humorous, sexy and highly entertaining story in PROMISES.

Meet Jared Thomas. He loves living in his small town of Coda, Colorado. He has a great family, a stable job as one owner of a family run business. He was content with seeing his “booty call” man and enjoying being outside. Meeting Matt Richards was something he never anticipated. Cute, funny with a dry wit and he made Jared feel emotions he never anticipated feeling. Except Matt is straight…well that is what he thinks he is.

Matt is stuck tight in the closet and wants to stay that way in order to please everyone-his family, his job as a police officer and everyone in general. Falling for Jared was something he never expected when he first saw him. Jared is one character I would love to be friends with. He is funny, sweet and expressive plus he is out and gay to those who matter to him (namely his family and few friends). I love how this author really peeled the layers from him and Matt so the readers could see the heart of their issues throughout the story. Each time I felt like I knew the characters, another layer would be ripped open and you would see a whole new side of them. It made the story much more life like to me. There were a few secondary characters that left quite an impression on me so I am hoping the author revisits them soon.

PROMISES is more than about guy meets guy, fall in love and live happily ever after. It’s about rejection, friendship, strength, hope, desire as well as taking a risk for something you want with your whole heart. Each page I flipped led me further into this small town and the residents who live there. Ms. Sexton definitely delivers a strong story about two people finding out that falling in love was easy…now it’s about risking it all to have that forever love. Can two people find it in their hearts that they deserve that happily ever after?

Marie Sexton’s PROMISIES delivers more than a romance but strong ties to friends and family, new beginnings and knowing that, if you trust in yourself and in your partner, the world is not as scary as they thought. I have to admit though, the rising sexual tension through the storyline had me either squirming in my seat or ready to jump in a cold shower. Marie Sexton is a wonderful writer who can deliver captivating characters, a well told story and simmering sexual tension so thick, it’s a miracle the book didn’t go up in flames in my hands. I am now an eager fan ready to devour the next book in the Coda Series.

If you are looking for a story that leaves you with a smile and anxious for more, then grab PROMISES and settle in for an adventure of a lifetime. I look forward to seeing what else this author has up her sleeve for her readers in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement for the book.