Fall Into The Sun by Val Kovalin
I really loved this friends to lovers story. It was very well written, the use of flashbacks, I thought was done BRILLIANTLY, and gave the story so many layers, it was just GOOD.
Bobby Gallegos and Alejo Sandoval had been in love since they were six years old. They were soul mates, they knew it too. But life, family obligations, religion, fear, circumstances, all got in the way. At 40 years old after they had finally found a way to be together (if only as friends with benefits) it was time to decide who they would be to each other permanently.
I had to think a lot about this book. Both Bobby and Alejo are Latin (Mexican-American). Being Latin I am always very critical about how Latins are portrayed in books or novels. With this book I had to ask myself, was this story just a bunch of stereotypes? Or was this just honest? I had to go with honest. The reality is that in the Latin culture being Catholic is not just your faith, it is part of who you are. Our major life milestones revolve around sacraments, there is not even a choice. You are born, you are Catholic. The grip of the Church is not an easy one to escape. Family obligations in our culture are not something you move on from, oh no no, who you are as a son, a brother, a father it defines the measure of who you are as man. Add homosexuality to a culture that is fueled with expressions like "a Real Man","Men being Men" (which most times involves they notches on their bedpost) and you get a recipe for exactly what Bobby and Alejo had to go through. But at the same time, there is deep and intensely fierce love in our families, and people who will show a love so unfettering and unconditional that is almost miraculous. Bobby and Alejo got that too.
This was both Bobby's and Alejo's story, we get to know both of these men well. Who is talking to us though is Bobby, for the most part we see things through his eyes. Bobby's family had many problems, his father and two of his brothers ended up in a life of crime, and died violent deaths. His other brother struggled with alcoholism, and a gambling addiction. His mother was bitter from all the hardships she endured. Despite all this Bobby knew who he was, he loved Alejo, and was not afraid to let that take his life where it had to go. He was not willing to let the love of his life go, over fear of his family's rejection. Thing was that Bobby had a lot less to loose, all he could do was better.
Alejo was from a good family, very religious, he was the only male son. He lived to make his parents proud of him. Like the good Latin boy he was, he lived and breathed to get approval from his mother. The fear of seeing hate or repulsion in his family's eyes drove him to turn his back on Bobby.
At 18 Alejo broke up with Bobby, drove him away, told him he didn't want him anymore. It broke Bobby's heart, so much so that he had to leave New Mexico. He went to Houston, became a successful attorney, and tried hard to forget Alejo. Alejo married, ran his family's business, had kids, he tried to forget Bobby too. They never could.
So, we meet up with Bobby at 40, waiting for Alejo at a hotel in Albuquerque. For about a year they have been reunited, and have been doing the fuck buddy thing. But they both know that it's HELL OF A LOT MORE than that. They are meant to be together, and they've already wasted too much time.
Alejo is divorced, his kids have grown up, and Bobby, he has reached a place in his life where being with his man, fully and openly, is the only thing he wants.
I really loved the times where the story goes back to show us Bobby and Alejo's history, we see how they met, how they hurt each other, how they healed each other, how they drifted apart, how they found each other again, their passion for each other when they were together as lovers...Just what THEY have always been. Two men meant to be together.
This book was fantastic. I loved it. Not much to complain about for me really. There was a little bit of drama, which was what prompted the desperately needed 'Wake Up Call". That was done well and precisely. So, no bother at all to me. One thing that might be bothersome for some people is the sense that Bobby was always willing to give more than Alejo. Took whatever he could give him, that Bobby gave too much and got back too little.
Maybe that is true, but at the same time a 40 year old man should be able to make up his mind regarding what he is willing to live with, and what he is not. Alejo was more important to him than anything, and his devotion and steadiness finally got him what he wanted. Alejo became the man Bobby knew he could be, and he did it because of HIM.
Completely Recommend this one.
Bobby Gallegos and Alejo Sandoval had been in love since they were six years old. They were soul mates, they knew it too. But life, family obligations, religion, fear, circumstances, all got in the way. At 40 years old after they had finally found a way to be together (if only as friends with benefits) it was time to decide who they would be to each other permanently.
I had to think a lot about this book. Both Bobby and Alejo are Latin (Mexican-American). Being Latin I am always very critical about how Latins are portrayed in books or novels. With this book I had to ask myself, was this story just a bunch of stereotypes? Or was this just honest? I had to go with honest. The reality is that in the Latin culture being Catholic is not just your faith, it is part of who you are. Our major life milestones revolve around sacraments, there is not even a choice. You are born, you are Catholic. The grip of the Church is not an easy one to escape. Family obligations in our culture are not something you move on from, oh no no, who you are as a son, a brother, a father it defines the measure of who you are as man. Add homosexuality to a culture that is fueled with expressions like "a Real Man","Men being Men" (which most times involves they notches on their bedpost) and you get a recipe for exactly what Bobby and Alejo had to go through. But at the same time, there is deep and intensely fierce love in our families, and people who will show a love so unfettering and unconditional that is almost miraculous. Bobby and Alejo got that too.
This was both Bobby's and Alejo's story, we get to know both of these men well. Who is talking to us though is Bobby, for the most part we see things through his eyes. Bobby's family had many problems, his father and two of his brothers ended up in a life of crime, and died violent deaths. His other brother struggled with alcoholism, and a gambling addiction. His mother was bitter from all the hardships she endured. Despite all this Bobby knew who he was, he loved Alejo, and was not afraid to let that take his life where it had to go. He was not willing to let the love of his life go, over fear of his family's rejection. Thing was that Bobby had a lot less to loose, all he could do was better.
Alejo was from a good family, very religious, he was the only male son. He lived to make his parents proud of him. Like the good Latin boy he was, he lived and breathed to get approval from his mother. The fear of seeing hate or repulsion in his family's eyes drove him to turn his back on Bobby.
At 18 Alejo broke up with Bobby, drove him away, told him he didn't want him anymore. It broke Bobby's heart, so much so that he had to leave New Mexico. He went to Houston, became a successful attorney, and tried hard to forget Alejo. Alejo married, ran his family's business, had kids, he tried to forget Bobby too. They never could.
So, we meet up with Bobby at 40, waiting for Alejo at a hotel in Albuquerque. For about a year they have been reunited, and have been doing the fuck buddy thing. But they both know that it's HELL OF A LOT MORE than that. They are meant to be together, and they've already wasted too much time.
Alejo is divorced, his kids have grown up, and Bobby, he has reached a place in his life where being with his man, fully and openly, is the only thing he wants.
I really loved the times where the story goes back to show us Bobby and Alejo's history, we see how they met, how they hurt each other, how they healed each other, how they drifted apart, how they found each other again, their passion for each other when they were together as lovers...Just what THEY have always been. Two men meant to be together.
This book was fantastic. I loved it. Not much to complain about for me really. There was a little bit of drama, which was what prompted the desperately needed 'Wake Up Call". That was done well and precisely. So, no bother at all to me. One thing that might be bothersome for some people is the sense that Bobby was always willing to give more than Alejo. Took whatever he could give him, that Bobby gave too much and got back too little.
Maybe that is true, but at the same time a 40 year old man should be able to make up his mind regarding what he is willing to live with, and what he is not. Alejo was more important to him than anything, and his devotion and steadiness finally got him what he wanted. Alejo became the man Bobby knew he could be, and he did it because of HIM.
Completely Recommend this one.
Fire Balls by Tara LainOMG This was too CUTE!!!!
I loved this book. Loved the characters!! LOVED!
Rodney Mansfield is a man that lives exactly like he wants to. He could care less what the world thinks of him, how he looks, how he dresses...He is who he is. Much like the Honey Badger, he is BADASS, and he just takes WHAT HE WANTS. He's an artist, a karate master, an OUT and proud gay man. He is outspoken, extroverted and for the most part oozes confidence. Except with one thing. His enormous crush on 'the most beautiful man he has ever seen', Hunter Fallon. The object of Rod's desires is a firefighter, nice guy, and soooo out of his league. Rod is convinced that his tiny puny fairy self could never catch a man like that. In that, he doubts himself.
One day while Rod is out for a run, Hunter happens to stop by a booth where Rod is exhibiting his work at an art festival. Hunter is impressed by Rod's paintings, and introduces himself. He is also also interested in Rod's friend Jerry. A surfer dude with a big heart, but not much to say. Jerry seems interested in Hunter too, so they start going out. As poor Rod's heart breaks.
Hunter has been living his life to make his dad happy. His career choices, even the men he picks to date are dictated by what he thinks will please his father. He has always avoided men like Rodney. Too LOUD too NOTICEABLY GAY. A guy like Jerry that is who he should be interested in. Except Rod is the one he really wants, Rod is the one that can give him what he's been missing.
These men were ABSOLUTELY great together, I loved the dynamics between them. The chemistry was SIZZLING and when they got their shit together, and finally took the plunge...CUTEST FRIGGIN THING EVER!!! Now I know people are gonna be all up in arms about some stuff that goes down...But it was not bad enough for me to enjoy this couple any less.
It was funny, cute, hot, sweet, surprising, and did I mention HOT?
Recommend. People MUST know Rodney!
Rodney Mansfield is a man that lives exactly like he wants to. He could care less what the world thinks of him, how he looks, how he dresses...He is who he is. Much like the Honey Badger, he is BADASS, and he just takes WHAT HE WANTS. He's an artist, a karate master, an OUT and proud gay man. He is outspoken, extroverted and for the most part oozes confidence. Except with one thing. His enormous crush on 'the most beautiful man he has ever seen', Hunter Fallon. The object of Rod's desires is a firefighter, nice guy, and soooo out of his league. Rod is convinced that his tiny puny fairy self could never catch a man like that. In that, he doubts himself.
One day while Rod is out for a run, Hunter happens to stop by a booth where Rod is exhibiting his work at an art festival. Hunter is impressed by Rod's paintings, and introduces himself. He is also also interested in Rod's friend Jerry. A surfer dude with a big heart, but not much to say. Jerry seems interested in Hunter too, so they start going out. As poor Rod's heart breaks.
Hunter has been living his life to make his dad happy. His career choices, even the men he picks to date are dictated by what he thinks will please his father. He has always avoided men like Rodney. Too LOUD too NOTICEABLY GAY. A guy like Jerry that is who he should be interested in. Except Rod is the one he really wants, Rod is the one that can give him what he's been missing.
These men were ABSOLUTELY great together, I loved the dynamics between them. The chemistry was SIZZLING and when they got their shit together, and finally took the plunge...CUTEST FRIGGIN THING EVER!!! Now I know people are gonna be all up in arms about some stuff that goes down...But it was not bad enough for me to enjoy this couple any less.
It was funny, cute, hot, sweet, surprising, and did I mention HOT?
Recommend. People MUST know Rodney!
I've been wanting to read Fall Into the Sun and I just found out about Fire Balls today(saw it on ARE). In fact I commented to Brad about it after a post he did for Chicks & Dicks today. Since I hadn't read it I wasn't sure if it was good or not. Glad to hear you liked it. I'll be getting both of these. Thanks for the review.
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