Monday, December 30, 2013

Review: Family Man


Family Man
Family Man by Heidi Cullinan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I loved everything about this book.

It was just so close to me, my family. I know exactly how Vinnie feels every-time the family gets together, and Rachel for that matter. Italian families work in a funny way, we might not all get along all the time, but if one is hurting, we are all hurting.

That used to creep me out a bit, getting a phone call from a second cousin about this or that, that was going on in my life. As I grew older I learn to take that as family concern and welcome it, need it sometimes, just like Vinnie.

And nothing prepared me to read my RL cousin story in this book. It´s amazing when fiction and reality come together sometimes. And the reading experience turned into a more personal one.

I was trying to pin-point my family members among Vinnie´s LOL

We all reacted differently, that first time we meet my cousin BF, and I know that he had conversations like "do you want me to move away?" with his military brother, or "I thought about ending my life" with his parents. So seeing everything in the form of a book, that turmoil of emotions for Vinnie, that fear of facing the family and be able to live his life fully, had me texting my cousin last night just to say ILY.

A few other things I really liked about this book:

*That even tho they point out the issues with Church, and the catholic upbringing, they don't take it as a political statement, is just the way Vinnie is brought up and doesn´t define him.

*Sex is about love! YES, reading a gay boy who values sex as a connection, intimacy and love. Was sweet and perfect.

*The fight against stereotypes. Vinnie was the macho man, the Italian stallion and he was also a bottom. He never doubt it.

This book brings out the best from these two authors. They are amazing on their own and nothing below that could come out of their collab.




View all my reviews

Monday, December 2, 2013

Review: Play Me, I’m Yours


Play Me, I’m Yours
Play Me, I’m Yours by Madison Parker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



How I adored this book!!! If you loved How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, this is a book for you.
What I liked about Madison´s writing is that she made her boys be boys, teenagers dealing with teens stuff and acting like teens.
Sometimes you read YA books but the MCs voices are "old" for their age.
Here they are fresh, funny, emotional, unsure, they wear their hearts on their sleeves, they are bitchy, jealous, they kiss and make up.
They are growing up, and they dont know how. They learn as they go.
The friendships were strong, the family dynamic was real. A father that takes some time to come around, but as you see him struggle you know he loves Lucas. A mother that is too much on the cooing side, very protective. A brother, just like any other brother, you know how you can do/say anything to your brother´s and sister´s but if someone tries to harm them in any way you could kill them? Well, just like that is Mason. He is dealing with how his brother´s choices will affect his life, but he will not stand and see him get hurt.
Donovan, he just needs a hug. Someone to love him.
Alex, I knew he was going to be my favorite from the start, such a great kid.
And Zach? Well, Zach is our warrior in shinning armour...perfect for Lucas.
I love it, all of it!



View all my reviews