Blink

One of the many things I love about Rick’s stories is how honest they are. It’s almost as if an undercurrent of integrity vibrates from the pages. Not to say his characters are flawless, they are as perfect as you and I. But it IS their imperfections that I find so endearing. This story is no exception. You should know that this tale is…personal. <br>It’s not simply a fictional gay romance, it is laced with reality. <br><br>While it is told in two parts by two MC’s, it flows exceptional well. The first part takes place three decades ago and felt like flashbacks or pristine protected memories brought into the light. It should also be noted that this is more of a journey than a romance. Moments become memories and memories piece us together.<br><br>The story-<br>Two young men cross paths and a connection is formed within a blink of the eye. Andy is weeks away from his wedding….to a woman. It’s not a lie that he loves her, but the life he dreams about is not coinciding with life he is living. In a lust filled moment of weakness (or perhaps truth), he brings the stranger from the train back to his place. Yet, fate intervenes and a cockblocking phone call from mother dearest derails their passion before it has a chance to reach its crescendo. Andy puts his game face on and steers himself back to the future he believes is best for him. Best. Such a double-edged sword.<br><br>I found it easy to connect with Andy. He is warm, sweet-natured and vibrant. Though he may not agree, I believe he’s a quiet, thoughtful wallflower that sparkles more than he vanishes. Carlos was everything Andy wanted. I don’t think he was at the right place at the wrong time because their magnetic attraction was significant at that precise moment in Andy’s life. As painful as it was, Andy needed that disastrous hook-up to linger, to hold on to, to cherish.<br><br>Reed is not one to shy around daring subject matter such as HIV/AIDS, religion and grieving the loss of a loved one. Per usual, they are all handled straightforward but with care. I never felt as though there was…too much or too little, it was balanced. <br><br>I felt the secondary cast was strong and I’m kinda in love with Tate.<br>Fate’s hand touches their path once more. I for one, very much believe that everything happens for a reason. You may not find the answers for years, or decades, but they eventually materialize. While it’s important to live in the moment, it’s also essential to not forget your past. We have different seasons in our life and need to treasure every one of them…every single one. Follow your heart and fate’s footprints and you will end up exactly where you are destined to be.<br><br>Thank you for sharing your story Rick and I’m overjoyed that you found your happily-ever-after.<br><br><b>*4.5<i> no-regrets</i> stars*</b><br><br><blockquote> <a href="http://boysinourbooks.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380851544i/3135102.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a> </blockquote>

Blink<br />By Rick R. Reed<br />Dreamspinner Press, 2015<br />Cover by Reese Dante<br />Five stars<br /><br />Well, this one made me cry, and not for the obvious reasons. Here’s a prime example of a book in which the love story is at the core of the narrative, but the purpose of the book is to illuminate bigger things about what it is to be a gay man. <br /><br />A brief prologue section sets up the story: in 1982, twenty-two-year-old Andy Slater sees a beautiful young Hispanic man on the Chicago El – Carlos Castillo. In spite of his upcoming wedding to college sweetheart Alison, Andy makes an assignation with Carlos. That assignation is interrupted by a phone call from his mother, and their lives move on, whatever might have been between them unconsummated. <br /><br />The bulk of the story is set in the present, thirty-three years later. And that’s all I’ll tell you, because you can guess the main point of the plot. But let me tell you, it’s not that simple. What I will tell you is that here is a romantic gay novel about two men in their mid-fifties. Both of them are happy, but not completely happy—for different reasons. Each of them has lived a life that included surviving the 1980s and 90s. For me, that’s enough to trigger some strong emotions, making me relive my own life over the past 30 plus years. It’s powerful to be acknowledged in this way in a novel, to have an author remind us that life is not always what we plan or we want. Whatever life throws at us, we do have some agency in how it plays out. To some degree, our happiness is ours to own. <br /><br />Andy Slater and Carlos Castillo are the dual narrators. They are not alone in their voyage, and we meet people along the way who illuminate and crystalize their characters. I don’t want to reveal more, because it is a pleasure to meet everybody as they appear, and to incorporate them into our understanding of these two good men. It perhaps made it more enjoyable for me to read this book because men my age (I’m actually 61) are largely ignored in modern gay fiction. So much of this narrative echoed—even indirectly—my own voyage as a gay man in a world that has changed dramatically since 1982. <br /><br />If I had one mild irritation, it was the author’s insistence on how hot and fit these two fifty-five-year-old are. This simply isn’t true for most men, gay or not. But it’s a romantic notion, and I embraced Reed’s fantasy at face value. We all remember who we were when we were young and slender and had thick heads of hair, even if nobody else does. Much of our present lives are filtered through those persistent memories, and Reed catches that beautifully. <br /><br />I seem to be a fan of Rick R. Reed’s stories. Surely, he’s an author I want to support.<br />

<br>Full review can be found at -<br><br><a href="http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/blink-rick-r-reed/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1397133335i/9235533.png" alt=" photo Potential-OTDU-Banner-9-Smaller2_zpsf0878d67.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br><br><blockquote> <i>In that instant when our eyes met, the connection was like a pulse that went straight to my heart. It lasted for only a second or maybe a bit longer, but in that short space of time, my fertile imagination pictured an entire future with this man.<br><br><br>But there's something about the guy on the train. He tugs at my heart as well as my loins. Even from the brief glances we exchange, he makes me think there's the possibility of more than just sex. He makes me think, for the first time in my life, that maybe I could love another man.</i> </blockquote><br><br><br>How many of us have looked back to another time, another place, in our lives and wondered what could have been had circumstances been different? Maybe it was a missed opportunity or maybe it's your first love. Some things you may remember fondly and others may have you living in regret for not following through on something you started. This is what happens with Andy Slater.<br><br>It's 1982 and Andy is engaged to Alison. They were college sweethearts and the next step is making their relationship official. The wedding has been planned, invitations have been mailed, and all that's left is for the couple to show up and say their vows and they can begin their lives together. That sounds like the perfect love story, right? And it would be if Andy didn't have a secret - a big secret. While Andy loves Alison deeply, he's gay. No one knows this and hell, even Andy won't admit it to himself. There's so much guilt over his feelings, his urges, that he buries them deep inside and doesn't allow those thoughts to enter his mind. If they do, he forces them away quickly.<br><br>Then he sees the stranger on the 'L' train and all those feelings he's been trying to keep hidden hit him in the face - hard. When a poorly timed phone call unfortunately - or fortunately - comes at the worst possible time, Andy is forced to make a decision that could impact him for the rest of his life.<br><br>Told in two halves, <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/24294675.Blink" title="Blink by Rick R. Reed" rel="noopener">Blink</a> begins in 1982 with the second half being the here and now. The reader is taken inside the heads of both men, as the story is told in alternating chapters with each character's point of view. Andy and Carlos aren't together on every single page and they shouldn't be. Their stories are told individually and lead to the conclusion. The author could have gone one of two ways with the ending. I'm very pleased with how everything was resolved.<br><br>Also, you have to read the Afterword. I've been reading this author's work for awhile and I'm aware that he often puts a little bit of himself and his experiences in his books. I had not read but a few chapters when I could tell this was one of those stories. Read the Afterword and you'll see what I mean.<br><br>A beautiful love story that's three decades in the making. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a beautiful love story and who doesn't mind watching the two men struggle for it along the way and not necessarily together. You'll have to read the book to see what I mean. I promise you won't be disappointed. The end result makes every single word written up to that point worth it.<br><br><br><br><i>This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.</i><br>

 <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422173543i/13466741.png" width="160" height="250" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> ....<br><br>Second chance at love when there wasn't even a first chance. An emotional read that I read as part of the Make #timetoread on National Readathon Day! It was in the US only, but any excuse to read right ;)<br><br><br><br><br><br>

Exactly the kind of thoughtful, and emotional writing I hope for in a Rick R. Reed novel, and he delivers it beautifully in <i>Blink</i>. Andy's journey, as he discovers himself, and works his way through life, is poignant and very moving.<br /><br />This story truly resonated with me, as it is somewhat similar to my own. And I can relate to Carlos, to whom a cell phone isn't second nature! Ah, those those simpler times...<br /><br />Don't worry though, even if you're not in your mid-50's, <i>Blink</i> will still deliver a punch. This is such an important time in our history, and Andy and his generation are the pioneers we need to honor and remember.<br /><br />I listened to <i>Blink</i> in audio, and I enjoyed Brian Stoddard's rich, mellow voice. Five stars for the story, and three stars for the audio performance.<br /><br /><i>an audiobook copy of Blink was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own</i>

This book just touched my heart. It was beautifully written and is still probably my favorite Rick R. Reed book (although <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/29427161.Big_Love" title="Big Love by Rick R. Reed" rel="noopener">Big Love</a> is a very close second). Do yourself a favor - read this book.

I literally just devoured this story in the blink of an eye. (Yes, pun intended!)<br /><br />What did I love most? The author's note that it was semi-autobiographical, the time span of the story, the fact that the MCs are older, the fact that I could actually relate to references to books and music, but mostly, the fact that the ending was not a given. I honestly wasn't sure if the MCs I was rooting for would finally get together or whether they would miss out on a chance for long-term happiness due to circumstances that could change in a heartbeat. <br /><br />If you thinking of reading this one. Do <u>not</u> hesitate! It's amazing.

AMAZING BOOK!!! Made me remember two particular instances in my life that I didn't take a chance to speak with a guy that we were making eyes with each other... for me though, they weren't meant to be. All the other relationships I experienced led me to my wonderful husband!!! What I really like about this book is, it is part of Rick R. Reed's own story.... the story just felt so real and probably will for a lot of people reading it. Rick R. Reed just gets better and better - not sure how that is possible, he's a gifted storyteller.

A beautifully written story of two lives that touched thirty years ago and now. The story line is strong, and the character development was true to life as you are brought right into the story. Loved the main characters. Is there such a thing as second chances with fate playing a part? These two gorgeous men in their twenties had an amazing attraction starting on the "L" in Chicago which seemed to have ended with a mother's phone call and the obvious guilt that Andy felt, who was getting married to his college sweetheart. Carlos, a gay man, left Andy's apartment with a note from Andy explaining how he felt. From that point on, their lives went their separate ways with no regrets. Andy got married, had a son who he loved more than anything, divorced, and continued the life, the gay life, he was meant to have. Carlos had met a man who he met at the HIV clinic as he was giving Harry his HIV positive results. From that point on they were together many years, happily, until Harry died of cancer in his fifties. Andy had always thought about Carlos, in his heart and mind, even after 30 years. He finally got to the point of looking for him on the internet. By chance, Andy went to a party with his son and guess who was there, Carlos. Things in life can happen in the Blink of an Eye!! The two men were now in their mid fifties, 30 years later, and found each other again. Beautiful love story that changed their lives in a Blink of an Eye. Highly recommend this story!! A happily ever after.

I enjoyed this book but it really didn't feel like a romance because the heroes didn't even met up again until almost the end of the book.<br /><br />I love the completive tone of the book as it thinks about dating as an older man. I do like that aspect of the book and all its nuances but I want more of their love story and time together. <br /><br />We end with a HFN and I think they are both worth more than that.