Love’s Trials (Book 2)

Overall 4 Stars
Narrator 5 Stars
Story 4 stars

Narrator: Walker Williams
Trope: Hurt/Comfort

This time it’s not a sexual assault, it’s drugs and how they affect colleges, such as the one that Colin works on. While not as sensitive of a topic as the last book, it is still a very serious issue. In fact, Colin is shot on the job, while protecting a student from a drug lord.Although we see Nate and David in this book, the story primarily focuses on Joshua and Colin. We watch their relationship strengthen and grow under daily events, then struggle with the aftermath of Colin’s shooting.

We all know Colin is stubborn, so seeing his pride take a MAJOR hit at how vulnerable he is now that he’s dependent on others to help him do even basic things, is not a surprise. However, seeing how Joshua stood up for himself in the last book, I was a little surprised he caved so many times. That said, he was affected by the shooting, as well. It was hard to see then struggle so much.

This is the second book in the series, and should be listened to in order. I found this book to be more emotionally challenging this time. I’m not entirely sure why, but it was, for me anyway. It was good to spend more time with these men, even under these circumstances.

Walker Williams did another great job bringing this story to life. He did a great job capturing the many emotions of the characters.

Love’s Glory (Book 3)

Overall 4 stars
Narrator 5 stars
Story 4 stars

Narrator: Walker Williams
Trope: much needed/deserved HEA

FINALLY our lovely men get to the part of their story where the drama and angst are low. I’m thrilled because my heart has been through the wringer with these guys. My emotions needed a reprieve.

This story picks up where we left them, in Love’s Trials. Colin is still stubborn, and not happy about his recovery or working the desk. He’s really trying to come to terms with everything and doing so much better than he was in the last book. He’s now applied to law school, and we find our favorite couple getting married! We also follow them to Ireland, as they have their honeymoon. While there, Colin finally begins to really come to terms with his sister’s suicide. Joshua is by his side, 100%.

I have enjoyed my time with these beautiful men. The writing throughout the series was consistent, as were the characters. I felt their characters remained true to how they were first written to now. Which is always my preference. There’s nothing more disappointing than a major shift in a character’s behavior or mannerism that’s unexplainable.

Walker Williams was the perfect choice to bring this series to life. I’ve enjoyed listening to him give a voice to each character. He really brought the story home.

About the Author

My name is Janice Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA. I have two children and three grandsons. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called ‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifty’s, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knew that there was something hot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.

I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.

Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.

My second contemporary gay romance novel, Love’s Trials followed Colin and Joshua on their journey as men and as a couple. The readers who fell in love with them in Love’s Magic were thrilled to see their romance continue to grow and blossom, but were forced to watch our beloved boys go through some pretty traumatic trials in this book, trials which nearly shattered their relationship. But their love proved stronger than any troubles in the end and they now move forward into the happiness they know they deserve.

In Love’s Glory, Colin and Joshua bask in the happiness that eluded them in Love’s Trials. If you’re looking for a book filled with anger, fear, and anxiety… look elsewhere. Love’s Glory is about just that… the glory of love and the continued growth of these two extraordinary men and the amazing friends who are a large part of their lives.

I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I’m not writing, I’m traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving, and enjoying my life here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

Social Media Links

Audible Profile | YouTube

Blog/Website | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon Author Page

Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here