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Promises

Book 1 in the series:Coda Books

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'Promises' by Marie Sexton follows the story of Jared and Matt in the small town of Coda, Colorado. Jared, the only gay man in town, forms a deep connection with Matt, the new cop in town, despite Matt's initial denial of his attraction. As their relationship evolves from friendship to love, they navigate challenges such as homophobia, family dynamics, and self-acceptance. The writing style is described as straightforward and visually engaging, painting a vivid picture of the small town setting and the emotional journey of the characters.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Jared representing the openly gay struggle for acceptance and Matt portraying the journey of self-discovery amidst societal expectations.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and clean, with visual descriptions that draw readers into the setting while effectively conveying the characters' emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a 'gay for you' theme with characters navigating their identities and relationships in a small town. It examines the complexities of friendship turning into love amidst societal pressures.

Setting:

The setting is a small town in Colorado, realistically portraying the ups and downs of small-town life and the surrounding nature.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally well-crafted, maintaining emotional tension while balancing the development of the relationship, though some moments may seem rushed.
THE WHOLE thing started because of Lizzy’s Jeep. If it hadn’t been for that, I might not have met Matt. And maybe he wouldn’t have felt the need to prove himself. And maybe nobody would have been hurt...

Notes:

The story is set in a small town in Colorado called Coda.
Jared Thomas works in his family's hardware store despite being a certified physics teacher.
Matt Richards is a handsome cop who moves to Coda, sparking Jared's interest.
Jared is openly gay in a conservative town but feels conflicted about his identity.
The relationship between Jared and Matt evolves from friendship to romance, filled with mixed signals and chemistry.
The book explores themes of self-acceptance and the struggles of coming out.
Matt faces pressure from a homophobic father, complicating his feelings for Jared.
The writing includes vivid descriptions of nature, enhancing the small-town setting.
The book contains elements of humor and light drama, making it an engaging read.
Readers appreciate the slow buildup of tension between the two main characters.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are themes of homophobia and familial disapproval that may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance between Matt and Jared is central to the narrative, with numerous heartfelt moments and emotional depth.

From The Publisher:

Part of the Coda SeriesNow includes the Coda series prequel, Meant to Be Can a man who loves his small hometown trust it to love him back? Jared Thomas has lived in the mountain town of Coda, Colorado his whole life.

He can’t imagine living anywhere else. But Jared’s opportunities are limited—the only other gay man in town is twice his age, and although Jared originally planned to be a teacher, the backlash that might accompany the gig keeps him working at his family’s store instead.

Then Matt Richards moves to town. Matt may not be into guys, but he doesn’t care that Jared is. A summer camping and mountain biking together cements their friendship, but when Matt realizes he’s attracted to Jared, he panics and withdraws, leaving Jared all too aware of what he’s missing.

Facing Matt’s affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt’s coworkers, Jared fears they’ll never find a way to be together. But for the first time, he has the courage to try… if he can only convince Matt. Meant to BeJared has simple goals for his freshman year of college: make friends, lose his virginity, come out, and maybe fall in love.

He doesn’t anticipate getting caught between his friend Bryan and Bryan’s flamboyant ex. Through the awkwardness, Jared learns love doesn’t always mean sex and the most meaningful connections might have nothing to do with romance.

Ratings (2)

It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Not Interested (2)
 
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