Every now and then a book comes along that you do not want to end… but it does anyway and you are left on a high, shaking your head and saying, “I can’t believe it just ended”. That is what happened to me when I read “Little Boy Lost: Enlightened” but I realized that it is okay because the “Little Boy Lost” books are going to be a series.
This is such a beautiful book and rings so true that you might have to pinch yourself to remember that you are reading. It is a wonderful love story about two unforgettable characters, Brian and Jamie. Brian is the typical boy next door and a good boy he is. He goes to school and he studies as well as helping his foster family. But Brian has a special secret and that is that he is in love… with Jamie, his best friend.
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
Enlightened (5 Stars) JesseWave Reviews
This is a compulsively readable book. I sat down with it the other day, intending just to skim it for this re-review, but within a few pages I was pulled completely into the story just like I was last year. Brian and Jamie are wonderful characters, beautifully drawn and realized. They experience the wonder and excitement of their first love, going through each step: a touch, a kiss, an embrace, and more. At the same time, they are terrified of what might happen to them should anyone find out about their relationship. They live in a very small town in Alabama where faggot jokes and homophobia are the norm. How do they reconcile their feelings for each other with the reality of the time and place in which they are living?
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Sunday, March 20, 2011
Enlightened - Katiebabs' Official Best Books of 2010
Katiebabs' Official Best Books of 2010: http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2010/12/katiebabs-official-best-books-of-2010.html
Enlightened - JesseWave's Reader's Favorite Gay Books
JesseWave's Reader's Favorite Gay Books (Young Adult): http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2010/10/05/readers-favourite-gay-books/
Enlightened - JesseWave's Guest Reviewer Top Picks for 2010
JesseWave's Guest Reviewer's Top Picks for 2010: (Leslie #4): http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=39207
Enlightened (Excellent) - Jenre Well Read
"Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. The themes are, as I said, a little bleak and I would class this more as a romantic drama, as the ending is nowhere near a HEA or even a HFN. However the beauty and complexity of Brian; the raw emotion; and the sympathetic look at two young men struggling with their sexuality in a town of closed-minded people, made this an engrossing read and one that I won't forget in a hurry. I am greatly looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which I think is due out soon. In the meantime if you like YA books, if you want to read a book which shows the genuine difficulties faced by gay teenagers, I urge you to read this book which gets a grade of 'Excellent'."
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Perfect Tree (B) - Brief Encounters
"Although this short is highly erotic in content, with a well written and very hot BDSM scene as its core focus, what I found most interesting was the dynamic between Jayden and Ethan. It’s obvious that they are deeply in love, and even during a ‘scene’ the love that they feel is just as important and arousing as the mechanics of the sex. "
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His Heart's Desire - Whipped Cream Reviews
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The Perfect Tree (5 Stars) - MicheleNJeff Reviews
"Although this story was quite short, I found it to be exceptionally well presented. The characters are drawn from the Forbidden Room series by the same author, and I’m now anxious to read more of this series. I think the author has a genuine understanding of the Dom/sub dynamic and writes sensually, erotically, and realistically. "
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Enlightened (Best of 2010) - Smokin Hot Books
"Ok, I really thought (hard) about what I was going to write for SHB’s end of the year wrap up. I mean heck, I already wrote my top 8 sex scenes for 2010 what else is SHB supposed to write? With the help of my trusty popular blog posts stats I give you Smokinhotbooks Favorite Posts for 2010!!!!"
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See the list
Enlightened (5 Stars) - Smokin Hot Books
"It’s not often that I get the chance to read about characters that have an innocent, unspoiled love. I can’t imagine what it would be like to hide such an essential part of who you are for fear that you would be ostracized. What must it be like, to know that deep down, what you want might be impossible? The most poignant scene of the story has to be when Brain wants to go out on a real date with Jaime. Even though they can’t appear as anything more than friends, Brian so enviously wants what normal couples don’t have to hide. Freedom to be seen as a couple. Fearful of being ‘caught’ Jaime places a sweatshirt over his armrest at the movie, so that he and Brian can hold hands without being observed."
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Enlightened (Best of 2010) - Leontine's Book Realm
2010 has also delivered me some awesome reads again, allowed me to discover some fantastic (debut) authors and though many challenges have to be faced in 2011 I hope to expand my horizon and share all the ups and downs with you.
Of course I have to give you my top 25 of 2010!
See the list
Of course I have to give you my top 25 of 2010!
See the list
Enlightened (5 Stars) - Leontine's Book Realm
"ENLIGHTENED delivers such a beautiful m/m coming of age story where I found the realism of the story something that resonated with me from beginning till end. It pretty much revolves around the daily life of Brian but the themes in this story infuse it with attention grabbing inner struggles. The blossoming of an intense first love, those tentative first sexual steps, the joy and fear that accompanies each new step and the ever present fear for discovery, it blended in to something so profound I rooted for Brian and Jamie ever step of the way. I believed whole heartedly they could achieve a happy forever together, despite, or even because of all the struggles they went through."
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Read the Review
Enlightened (Favorite) - Rikki Donovan
"Anyway, before I digress even more, I couldn’t have been more wrong with my apprehension. I totally loved this story. Looking at some of the sub-standard stuff that is sometimes being sold by the known publishers I’m at a loss as to why this story is self-published and didn’t get picked up by a publisher. Unless, of course, J.P. Barnaby chose to self-publish for other reasons. Maybe it’s the age of the two boys who are both under 18, but I have read other romance fiction with at least one partner underage, so it doesn’t seem to be a total taboo.
Brian and Jamie are very lovable boys, insecure at first, but extremely mature and grow into their relationship in a very believable way. They are ready to face the world when it comes to that and won’t be swerved by superior behaviour or irrelevant prayers, whether they come from a preacher or a parent."
Enlightened (4.5 Stars) - JesseWave
"I know that self-published books have a stigma of being poorly written and unedited. This book did not suffer from that problem and was very well done, in all respects."
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Read the review
Enlightened (4.5 Stars) - Rainbow Reviews
"Enlightened is a coming-of-age story, tender, raw and explicit. As Brian and Jamie fumble through their first kiss, "It was everything a boy’s first kiss should be. Only ... it wasn’t with a girl." And through misunderstandings and fear of discovery, they also deal with living in a homophobic small town. This is not a place where 'out and proud' has an uplifting outcome. But still, the two boys meet and the story of their mutual self-discovery is exceptional.
Ending with a cliffhanger, but one that fits within the story, the happy note is that this is only volume 1 in Barnaby's "Little Boy Lost" series. You will not regret reading this book."
Enlightened (4 Stars) - Three Dollar Bill Reviews
"Enlightened has gotten almost universally positive reviews and the story happily lives up to the hype. The author, JP Barnaby, has a great voice and the first book in a reported six book series offers an authentic and endearing teenage voice that will resonate with readers."
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Enlightened (Excellent) - Jenre Well Read
"Brian is a very sympathetic narrator. He's a real innocent, whose small town upbringing means that he knows very little about sex, or about being gay - even the internet isn't a big part of his life, leading to an embarrassing scene later in the book. His worries and fears are entirely plausible, his jealous feelings and frustration show his inexperience."
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Read the review
Enlightened (4 1/2 Stars) - Fiction Vixen
"What I was most taken with is how beautifully this story is written. J.P Barnaby captures the joy and excitement of first love and the fears that these young men are confronted with in being gay in a intolerant environment. Enlightened is a touching, and at times heartbreaking, yet wonderfully romantic tale of young love that will stay with me for some time."
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Read the review
Enlightened (5 Stars/Recommended Read) - Fallen Angel Reviews
"Little Boy Lost is a beautiful story with real-to-life characters that cause the reader to reexamine their own ideas and beliefs. The love between Brian and Jamie is heartfelt and soul deep. I was brought to tears at the end of the story, and I can't wait to find out what happens to Jamie and Brian. Thanks go to J. P. Barnaby for an incredible story; one that is definitely a must read!"
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Read the review
Enlightened (4 1/2 Stars) - Michele N Jeff Reviews
"The writing style employed by this author is beautiful, and the romantic descriptions are purely magical. The scene in which Brian and Jamie kiss for the first time is perhaps the most emotionally-charged scene I’ve ever read. In my opinion, the strength of this author lies within her ability to translate these emotions into such magnificent prose."
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