Horizons

Horizons Series, Book 1

By: Mickie B. Ashling

Narrated by: John Solo

Twenty-three-year-old Clark Stevens, a popular wide receiver with a potential NFL contract, has a few problems. He's got a jealous girlfriend, a narrow-minded and controlling father, an attention problem, and an unexpected and powerful attraction to the trauma doctor - the male trauma doctor - who treats him for a broken bone.

Dr. Jody Williams is getting some really mixed signals. He can't ignore how much he wants Clark, because it's obvious Clark feels the same way. For the out and proud doctor, the solution seems very simple. For Clark, it's not! His world is not gay-friendly, and the obstacles he's faced have led him to deny his sexuality for years.

It's the Super Bowl of disasters, no matter how you look at it. In the end, Clark has to decide if he's going to stick with the only life he's ever known or take a chance on a new one with Jody.

©2013 Mickie B. Ashling (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Interesting OFY

Clark is the Berkley star wide receiver. He meets Jody in the ER when he breaks his arm. Though he’s never acted on it, Clark knows he’s gay. Jody’s out and proud. They dance around their attraction for one another for weeks until finally Clark gives in to the passion between them.

Jody is more than happy to indoctrinate Clark in the joys of gay sex, but he wants more. He wants to live and love Clark openly. Clark can’t conceive of a world where the NFL or his family would welcome him as a gay man.

When Clark’s family forces him to choose, who will he pick?

**

In the prologue Mickie Ashling explains that this story was originally written in 2002. Even in what feels like a short time, a lot has changed regarding sexuality and pro-sports. It’s not a perfect world, but it’s definitely more open than the world described in this story.

Clark is the stereo-typical closet case. He’s a “gay virgin” but he knows what he wants. Jody, however, is like no doctor I’ve ever met. He agrees to tutor Clark in English to help him with his grades. He goes out to dinner with the guy. They hang out. All of this with Clark thinking he’s fooling someone into thinking he’s straight.

I’m not sure why Clark invited his ER Doctor/tutor to Thanksgiving instead of his steady girlfriend… or at least why he thought nobody would think that wasn’t weird as hell. But he does… and his family begins to suspect. That’s when the dramatic threats and beatings begin.

On the one hand I liked this story for what it was. A coming out story and struggles of a gay football player in 2002. On the other hand I didn’t buy Jody as a realistic character. He was too gullible and did things that didn’t jive with my image of an ER Doctor (in age or position). And I didn’t like Clark or his version of being “gay” (he worries about how “gay” he is since he liked to bottom). Or how over the top crazy his family was about being gay. I was very uncomfortable with the way Jody referred to himself as a jealous queen and insecure fag. It didn’t seem to fit his “out and proud” persona and seemed inconsistent.

I also thought that the whole ADD thing was kind of tacked on and didn’t really add to the overall story, but it was nice that it finally got resolved.

This story would have resonated a bit more for me if Jody hadn’t been a doctor, but maybe another male friend and if the family would have been a bit more toned down and if there were a few less slurs and cliché’s about being gay thrown around. There were just a few too many “topics” in this story that didn’t get explored to their full potential: the age gap, the education issues, HIV, Jody’s previous lovers and Clark’s vision of what being “gay” means.

The smexy times were super hot and the romance was very sweet.

Audio

John Solo did a nice job with giving each person a unique voice. He handled the emotions and drama well.

All in all I give both the book and the audiobook a 3 of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of gay virgins, GFY/OFY, college football romances and coming out stories.

interesting book

Any additional comments?

**AUDIOBOOK REVIEW**

This was such a conflicting story. I want to say it was beautiful, but there were some seriously hard times that made me want to cry because of the hatred displayed by secondary characters.

Watching the relationship blossom between the two main characters from Doctor/Patient to Tutor/Student to lovers was really fun and sweet.

I didn't particularly care that for the fact that Jody wasn't a little more careful about protecting his heart and the fact that he accidentally hurt Clark by going to see his family, but I understood his reasons for that one at least.

Overall, it was a good story and I really enjoyed listening to it. The narrator did an excellent job with the different characters. I especially loved his voice for Lyle.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.

John Solo + Mickie B. Ashling = Fantastic

What an excellent story! It was huge in its scope, but wasn't too ansgsty... the more I read by this author, the more I need :)

Also, audio version - Ashling is so incredibly lucky she scored John Solo. He is incredible and does just a perfect job with her writing - 5 huge stars for him.

if you like a lot of drama this book is for you

I felt like I was in a Russian Roulette too much problems for my taste...
too much drama... I would rather the writer would shows one problem and stick with it .
the problems wore like at a roller coaster at parts, for me it was even funny....
maybe you will like this book better.
but I do give this book 4 stars because I like the narrator and I think he made this book better and I truly like the writer but I didn't like this specific book

I loved the two main characters

I love their relationship, but the drama with the family etc. was just too much for me. It's probably just me, I am just to emotional, my behavior would have been different. Someone did any of the crap that his father & Nicky pulled I be up for murder. 😳

pleasant Surprise

Happily this story had a bit more depth and family drama than the typical football romance making it easier to overlook some of the inconsistencies in the characters. The harshness and thoughtless cruelties of family members seemed real , but found Jody's weakness when attacked puzzling.