A lot of her books are comfort reads and all of them are rereads for me. I'm sure it's no secret that I'm a big fan of Amy Lane's and I basically love everything she writes. **Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review** Looking back at this book, I enjoyed it but feel a little disappointed because I was hoping for another slam-dunk-Amy-Lane. I loved his abashed enthusiasm for sex and his grasp of right and wrong. I got a really firm sense of who he was and what drove him. I also liked how Dawson was a fully unique character. The ending was really wonderful and the character of Dawson's dad was fabulous. I liked the straight best friend in Benji but I kept comparing the relationship between Benji and Dawson to Deacon and Jon from Keeping Promise Rock.ĭespite all of my little issues, this book has many lovely qualities.

I didn't connect with them much and felt oddly aloof towards them. I also had some trouble getting into Dawson and Jared as a couple. To compare, I usually stay up all night to finish an Amy Lane book. The kind of choppy, non-sequiturish writing was hard for me to get into, and this book took me days to finish. There were lots of little time jumps and there was almost a spazzy style to it (maybe like Dawson, the main character?). There was something about the writing in this book that felt off to me. In all fairness, I recently read two Amy Lane's that blew me away (Truth in the Dark and Christmas Kitsch) and this one just withered in comparison. I'm sorry to say that this wasn't my favorite Amy Lane. That would be a shame, because the real, fragile Jared that Dawson sees behind the curtain is the person he can see spending his life with. If he doesn’t grow up-and fast-his 'superstar' might not survive his own weaknesses. That is until Jared shows up sick and desperate and Dawson finally sees the distance between them concealed painful things Jared kept inside.

At first it's perfect: Dawson gets periodic visits and nookie from a gorgeous man who “gets” him-and Jared gets respite from the ultra-competitive world of dancing that almost consumed him. They forge a long-distance romance from their love of the theater and the magic of Denny's. His father adores him, Benji would die for him, and Dawson never doubted the safety net of his family, even when life hit him below the belt.īut nothing prepared him for falling on Jared Emory's head.Īloof dance superstar Jared is a sweet, vulnerable man and Dawson's life suits him like a fitted ballet slipper. Running his community college theater like a petty god, he and his best friend, Benji know they'll succeed as stage techs after graduation. Dawson Barnes recognizes his world is very small and very charmed.

Truth in the dark by amy lane