Review: Loved Nathan
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 20, 2012
Oh God, I loved Nathan. I really enjoyed this book but, so help me, if I have to read about another father being in ICU and dying I'm going to stop reading books (at least for a while). I read while on the treadmill (several hours a day) and I hate crying while I am on the treadmill and it's become a nasty habit with stories like this getting me where it hurts. Anyway, at least that scene didn't dwell for too long (lost my dad last June so it's still raw in my mind). This story revolves around Nathan and Quinn, two lifelong friends. Their fathers grew up together and Nathan and Quinn were born the same year and were friends from birth. They did everything together even losing their virginity to each other BUT (and isn't there always a but) Nathan didn't want to be gay (like he had a choice) and wanted what his (very wealthy) parents had - a nice house, a husband/wife relationship dynamic, children, white picket fence etc. etc. etc. and he knew he could never have it with Quinn (or so he thought). So, on graduation night, after they gave each other their virginity, Nathan ran away.Turns out Nathan joined the Marines, stayed in 4 yrs, married some woman, divorced her, moved back home (when he had gone to the police academy and then offered a position back in TN... Quinn's dad was the town sheriff) and met and married his second wife. He didn't want to take over the family business which was another reason for running away. Quinn, on the other hand, went off to TX to start his music career in roadhouses. He moves to Nashville and becomes successful but, in a bid to forget what he can't be (because he, also, does not want his dad to find out that he's gay) he becomes quite the slut and humps just about anything (human), both men and women... mostly strangers. And he's high most of the time. He also happens to get some addict pregnant. His music's really taking off and he's hit rock bottom. He decides to get help and goes to rehab. His daughter is born. The addict kills herself so he ends up with a daughter who he palms off on a nanny.Quinn's mother died when he was young. She died of mumps complications. Nathan caught mumps off her and ended up sterile. His second gets really pissed off when she finds out Nathan is sterile and divorces him and takes him to the cleaners (gets all his inheritance money). She also happened to have seen Quinn kissing Nathan on their wedding day (not that Nathan reacted because he didn't. He'd wanted his marriage to work out).At the start of the story Quinn's dad has been shot and is dying in ICU. This tale, of two men who really should never have been apart but who really had to be in order to find their ways back to each other and into acceptance of what they wanted and needed, is beautiful. I didn't like the rape scenes (though the rapes weren't described during the time of the crime but as a memory coming back) and the carving and violence were tough to read. Just loved this story and the two men, Nathan in particular. Also liked Nathan's family and the fledgling relationship between his sister and the FBI guy. Wonder what the sequels will bring. Loved the ending.