BR with Elsbeth and Susan.

Pre-read notes...review below.

Gearing up and mentally preparing myself for more beautiful writing from John Goode!

But these established visuals should help! Thanks Marco and John!


Tyler


Matt

Review:
I am utterly speechless once again. While Taking Chances takes place alongside the events of End of the Innocence, I read this book following 151 Days (the last book in the Tale of Foster High series). Honestly I am not sure either truly matters but I have to say that knowing certain events and discussions that were held in 151 Days, only made me enjoy Matt and Tyler's journey even more. These two, for me, are Brad and Kyle...but who's relationship is told as a far different journey; as they come to understand and accept who they are and what will make them truly happy, much later in life. Once again, a beautifully written novel that will forever live in my heart.

In addition to our beautiful men, shown above, my heart came to pieces by the love expressed by the fathers to these two amazing men. Just pure love for these two parental role models.
I have heard John is working on more beautiful stories, but until then I will settle for preview snippets and many rereads of this series and try to hold it together in the process.

" ( )

3.75 stars ( )

3.75 stars ( )

In Goode's End of the Innocence, one of the minor characters is Foster, Texas, sporting goods store owner Tyler Parker, who at nearly thirty was once a football star but whose pro career was cut short when his knee was severely injured. Matt Wallace, the youngest of Foster's Wallace brothers football triad, crushed on Tyler in high school and is now coming back to town for the holidays. Goode, author of the wonderful Foster High YA series, successfully veers into adult romance territory in this latest book.

Since Matt came out to his family before moving to San Francisco, his mother has been excited about fixing him up with a good man. Tyler, as far as she is concerned, definitely fits the bill. Matt, who hated life in Foster, not only doesn't want his mother interfering in his love life but dreads coming home for the holidays even though his California best friend Sophia mocks him about what could happen between him and Tyler when Matt gets there.

Tyler thinks no one knows he's gay, but the whole town, including the jock who works for him, pretty much knows and accepts Tyler for who he is. While the story is ostensibly about how Matt and Tyler find happiness with one another, it's also about lousy choices of best friends and confidants, and the horrible advice and jeering that these destructive friends use to bolster their own self-esteem at the cost of Matt's and Tyler's.

Both Tyler and Matt tried incredibly hard to appear to be straight when they were growing up, especially in high school. Unfortunately, high school, while years in the past, has left indelible marks on both of them. In order to come together successfully, both men have to readjust their self-views and come to terms with whether they care what the people of Foster, Texas, think about them or not.

While they share so much, they are completely different people. Even though he's out, Matt is still not happy with his life or himself. As his mother points out, he was miserable in high school and is still miserable, a state she finds totally unacceptable and wants, like all mothers, to change. Matt has been marking time, hoping that someone somewhere will make him happy. He's totally missed the point that the way to happiness is to be happy with himself.

Read the rest of my review at AAR (All About Romance): http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=9840 ( )