Something Like Stories - Volume Two (Something Like... 9) by Jay Bell at Jay Bell Books
Genre | Gay / Mixed Orientations / Mixed Time Periods/Genres / Romance |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 26-June-2017 |
Genre | Gay / Mixed Orientations / Mixed Time Periods/Genres / Romance |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 26-June-2017 |
The Something Like… series is drawing to a close! Before it ends, reunite with favorite characters and meet others for the first time in this special collection of fourteen stories. Highlights include Something Like Champagne, in which Marcello searches for the truth behind a drunken vision. In Something Like Bunnies, a young Jace Holden struggles with his first crush. Ben and Tim return in Something Like Memories as they debate when exactly they should celebrate their anniversary, and Jason finally makes an important decision about his future with William in Something Like Sun. Joyful reunions and tearful goodbyes await you, as do many affirmations of love, in this second volume of short stories.
'Something like Stories - Volume Two' by Jay Bell is the second volume of short stories featuring a broader and deeper look into some of my favorite characters in the series caught in a snapshot moment in their lives. Each story I revisit enhances my knowledge and understanding of the characters involved.
Something Like Infinity gives a deeper look into Senor Ross Langdon, the English teacher at Ben and Tim's high school and the challenges presented to him as a gay man 1997. He could be fired for being gay, but he stretches his influence in order to keep them out of trouble. Officer Adler of the local police comes to question him about a rash of fires that have recently been set. Officer Adler is asking Senor Langdon because he saw someone who he thought may be a suspect, yelled at him in Spanish. Ross is not happy that he's being asked to give the officer a list of names of students who trust him and thinks about this long and hard. Ultimately, he comes up with a way to prevent further fires, saving the culprit from being identified as well as, finding companionship for himself.
Although Senor Langdon does appear in one of the Something Like stories, little is known about him. This story fills me in on his life and loyalty and concern for his students. It also gives me a better idea about how a gay man lived at that time and how lonely it could be.
Something Like Turkey takes place one Thanksgiving when Ben decides to cook for his group of friends. Although Allyson offers help, Ben refuses. Cooking dinner for them is his way of letting him know how thankful he is for every one of them. The problem is, Ben seriously underestimates the amount of work, timing, and skill it takes to pull off a full course meal like the one he is planning. Reading about it in cookbooks and actually doing it are quite different. Finally, after several things go wrong, Ben asks for Allyson's help; meanwhile all his guests are waiting for the feast, blissfully ignorant to his plight. Allyson tries her best, but the meal is too far gone to “rescue”.
I really sympathized with Ben and his desire to show his friends how much he loved them by cooking a wonderful meal for them to enjoy. I've done it many years and even as an experienced cook have problems getting everything just right. Ben's heart was in the right place, but it wasn't necessary for him to prove he could feed his friends. The important thing was that they had each other. That, not Ben's cooking skills, is what is most important.
Something like Ornaments
Ben is reminiscing about Jace and Christmases past. Even though he and Tim are finally back together, the holiday is bittersweet. While decorating the Christmas tree, Ben pulls out seven of the ugliest ornaments Tim has ever seen. It turns out that Jace had purchased one every year he and Ben were together. When Tim tries to console Ben, by buying an ornament from the same artist and presenting it to Ben as an anniversary gift, it backfires on him in a huge way.
This story made me cry buckets. Any mention of Jace makes me cry for that matter. What Jace and Ben had was so special, virtually incomparable to what he could ever have with anyone else, even Tim. Some memories can't be duplicated and the goofy ornaments were a perfect example of one.
Something Like Champagne
At a New Years’ gala, Marcello thinks about Tim and how he fit into Eric's life. The story gives us more information about Tim and their relationship as well as how Marcello felt about Eric. As usual, Marcello doesn't play by the rules and, in an effort to retain something from a safe in Eric's former home, they end up in jail, ending any hope of a New Year's kiss from Ben.
Usually, stories about Marcello are light-hearted, if not plain outrageous; it makes this story especially poignant. It involves Marcello's love for Eric and his desire to be the best friend he can be which also involves watching out for Tim. Knowing the strange but loving dynamics of the relationship between Tim and Eric, Marcello is grateful that if it can't be him that Eric loves, then at least he has someone close to him who truly cares.
Something Like Hearts
Kelly and Nathaniel are perusing a contract for a project Marcello is cooking up. After months of misunderstandings, conflict, and separation, they have finally gotten on the same page and are now engaged. Kelly's modeling days are behind him; now his focus is on photography. But leave it to Marcello to maneuver his way into convincing Kelly that no one else could possibly be better for his latest project, one that involves happy gay couples. Reluctantly, Kelly agrees but instantly regrets it when he finds out who his “partner in the shoot is: Cameron Herman, Kelly's biggest nemesis and all-around conceited pain in the butt. Being the trooper he is, Kelly stoically endures the shoot. Shortly after beginning, something mysterious goes wrong. Cameron suddenly becomes ill and Nathaniel has to stand in for more than just his partner in the photographs.
Although predicable, considering Marcello's hand in it, the ending was a pleasant surprise. It showcased Marcello, Nathaniel, and Kelly's personalities to a tee. I loved the descriptions of clothing and other details about the shoot. As “wicked” as Marcello is sometimes, once again, he shows that underneath, he is a die-hard romantic.
Something Like Shamrocks
Layne Jenkins is at the weekly gay youth meeting. Layne is lonely and hopes to find someone to be with at the group. He is so desperate that he comes off as obnoxious, which certainly doesn't get him far. There is a running animosity between him and another member, Katsu. During a group exercise on respect, he and Katsu end up paired with one another. Katsu begins to tease Layne about being all talk and no action and challenges him to prove himself by producing photographic evidence of him kissing seven men. The penalty for losing is exile from the group. Layne has no idea how to go about completing the task at hand. However, he searches the city for someone willing to take a picture of him kissing another man. Layne finds it's far more difficult than he had imagined it would be.
This story had some hilarious moments, as Layne continues on his quest to find someone to kiss him. It also has some sad instances. As time grows nearer to the end of the challenge, Layne becomes desperate to complete the task on hand. Through these circumstances, Layne begins to realize that getting some action is not all it is cracked up to be.
Something Like Bunnies
Jace Holden is writing an essay in high school about what he wants to be when he grows up. As always, Jace's mind is going in all kinds of directions at once, coming up with sometimes ridiculous professions. His mom comes in and announces that they are soon to have a guest, an exchange student from Italy. Gianni turns out to be more than they bargained for. He is a handsome man in his early twenties with a thick accent and the familiar double-cheek kiss greeting which is a surprise to Jace and his family. Gianni's English slip-ups, such as “donkey” for “dog” and “sky scratchers” for “sky scrapers”, that Jace graciously corrects are endearing. Yet, Gianni is so different not only in how he talks, but in his clothes and other attitudes Gianni exudes sensuality. Jace is thrown into conflict because he's turned on by another man. When Gianni tells Jace that he wants him to come to Italy, it stirs something inside of him. He realizes that he's far more attached to Gianni than he expected and doesn't know what to do about it.
I'd never thought of a pre-gay Jace so I had to backpedal a bit. I'd also never considered that he had ever loved anyone but Victor and, later, Ben of course. Finding out that Gianni was the first one to steal Jace's heart was enlightening.
Something Like Flowers
Now that Ben and Tim have officially adopted him, this year will be Jason Grant's first Mother's Day to celebrate. Being raised in the foster system, he' hasn't had a real mother to honor. Seeing all the happy families around him makes Jason profoundly sad. In order to help Jason, Michelle takes it upon herself to find where Jason's mother is buried, hoping it will help bring him a sense of closure. For the first time in twenty years, Jason has a place to visit his mom.
Jason has always been a sad character for me. I loved that Ben and Tim took him in, albeit with a little help from Jace on the other side, but for a long time, Jason seemed destined to be alone. Michelle's gesture made a world of difference for him. It helped Jason put the past behind him and have a brighter outlook about the future.
Something Like Memories
A conversation with a couple who are clients at the gallery triggers a long-standing issue in Tim's mind. What date is his anniversary with Ben? He goes to the only person he thinks will be able to clarify it, Allyson. During the conversation, Allyson lets slip that Ben kept a diary and that that would hold a clue as to what date to pick. Against her better judgement, she finds Ben's diary and gives it to Tim to read. Having access to Ben's most private thoughts sends Tim back to when he and Ben first met and a myriad of feelings come with it.
This was a very sentimental story reminding me of better times in Ben and Tim's life. It reminds me that true love never dies.
Something Like Sparks
Harold is contemplating a letter his mom read to his dad every year about what makes a perfect husband. He and his boyfriend Calvin are headed to his parents’ cottage for a vacation. They came from totally different backgrounds but it doesn't stand in their way of being together. Harold is trying to decide whether or not to propose, using his mom's letter as a guide. He compares Calvin to his mom's ideals and he seems to be matching every one. Harold loves Calvin so much that sometimes he can't breathe and wants to be with him forever but things don't always turn out the way we want them to.
Although I learned a lot more about Harold and Calvin, particularly why Harold is gun shy about a relationship, this was a very depressing story with a sad ending. It's my least favorite of them all.
Something Like Sun
After some time and a lot of soul searching Jason is on his way to visit William. William hurt him badly when he chose his job over being with Jason, but the fact is, Jason still loves him and is willing to forgive and forget. William is grateful that Jason has decided to come because he loves Jason as well. It is not an easy thing to leave him and go halfway across the country to continue his job of search and rescue, but, this time, William hopes that Jason will want to stay. But doing so, Jason will have to give up Ben and Tim and all his friends. He doesn't know if he is ready to do that.
I was happy to read this story because I was sad when I read Jason and William's story in the series. Although I don't know if I am a big enough person to do what Jason did, I admire him for following his heart.
Something Like Cake
It's Caesar’s birthday and he's all set on celebrating it with Mia, a woman he recently met in a speed dating event. Since Mia mentioned to Caesar that she likes guys who like guys, Caesar decides the perfect way to celebrate it would be to have a threesome. When Mia arrives, she is appalled at the idea. The truth is, he's a different kind of person. After a conversation with Marcello, Caesar comes to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with his polygamous tendencies; the problem is, he has not been honest about his preference, which has caused a lot of heartache to people romantically involved with him.
I don’t like Caesar but it's possibly because I don't understand him. This story attempts to explain how he thinks and feels and that his intention is not to be selfish or hurtful, it's just that he thinks differently than I do.
Something Like Braaains
It is Halloween night and Ben and Tim are all ready for the trick or treaters, but the weather is not. It's terrible out there and Tim tells Ben no one is going to come and he will probably end up eating most of the candy. Ben, the eternal optimist, declares that they will still visit even though the weather is rough. They “celebrate” by cuddling up on the couch with Chinchilla and watching Jason's favorite movie “Night of the Living Dead'. Much later, the doorbell rings. Tim opens it to see a drenched werewolf who says trick-or-treat. Their visitor's name is Victor and he has an odd story about breaking down a few miles from there. Things continue to get really strange and scary for the rest of the night.
This story was an original way to include Victor, Jace, and Ryan into a spooky Halloween story; one that seems so real that I had to wonder what was going on.
Something Like Samson
From the moment he is born, Samson is aware of everything around him, especially the humans in his life and the impact that they have on him. He makes observations about all the humans he lives with and that even when they are happy they are rarely satisfied. He feels the emotions of all of them and tries, in his kitty way, to sort through it all and figure them out. Sampson is very adaptable, especially for a cat. Sampson has many people and experiences in his life, but is happiest with Jace who he decides must be a “mother” because he takes such good care of everyone.
My heart was heavy all through this story, partly because Sampson had so much wisdom to impart to his people, but they couldn't hear him. Life was a lot simpler than they were making it and he wished he could do more to make them happy. The ending, although it gutted me, was absolutely perfect.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook and print |
Length | Collection/14 short stories, 479 pages |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 09-April-2017 |
Price | $3.72 ebook, $17.99 paperback |
Buy Link | https://www.amazon.com/Something-Like-Stories-Two-Book-ebook/dp/B06Y23H5B5 |