OFF CAMPUS (Bend or Break, Book One)
By Amy Jo Cousins
Blurb:
Everyone’s got secrets. Some are just harder to hide.
With his father’s ponzi scheme assets frozen, Tom Worthington believes finishing college is impossible unless he can pay his own way. After months sleeping in his car and gypsy-cabbing for cash, he’s ready to do just that.
But his new, older-student housing comes with an unapologetically gay roommate. Tom doesn’t ask why Reese Anders has been separated from the rest of the student population. He’s just happy to be sleeping in a bed.
Reese isn’t about to share his brutal story with his gruff new roommate. You’ve seen one homophobic jock, you’ve seen ’em all. He plans to drag every twink on campus into his bed until Tom moves out. But soon it becomes clear Tom isn’t budging.
Tom isn’t going to let some late-night sex noise scare him off, especially when it’s turning him on. But he doesn’t want any drama either. He’ll keep his hands, if not his eyes, to himself. Boundaries have a way of blurring when you start sharing truths, though. And if Tom and Reese cross too many lines, they may need to find out just how far they can bend…before they break.
The first book in the Bend or Break series from Samhain, OFF CAMPUS will be released on December 30th, 2014! You can add it to your shelf at Goodreads, or pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo or iBooks!
Excerpt:
“Not that I don’t appreciate the view, babe, but what the hell?”
Tom stood up and turned so fast that his head spun and he put out a hand to steady himself. The kid who’d moved up right behind him jerked back and pulled his hands up in front of his chest, his head leaning back even farther. Almost as if he thought Tom was coming at him.
The kid so clearly didn’t want to be touched that Tom yanked his hand, about to grab the guy’s arm for balance, back to his own shoulder and then had to catch himself before he stumbled and tripped over his own feet.
“Sorry,” he muttered, not entirely sure what he was apologizing for. Probably for being here, which by the look on the kid’s face, was not cause for a happy happy, joy joy party.
His roommate, he assumed, grimaced and waved a hand in the air as if to say, Ignore please.
His roommate, he assumed, grimaced and waved a hand in the air as if to say, Ignore please.
He looked at Tom for a minute, not saying a word. Finally he raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly from Tom to the half-opened duffle on the floor, wrinkled clothes spilling out like the stuffing from an old couch with a split in the seat.
Tom looked back at him. Caught himself leaning forward and drifting into an upright snooze after a moment and stood up again.
What were they talking about?
“Dude.” The kid waved a hand in front of Tom’s face. Wake up, guy. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”
Oh right. Introductions.
“I’m your roommate.” He couldn’t tell if it was shock or irritation on the kid’s face. What the fuck was his name again? They’d put it on the sheet with the rest of the info, while apologizing that they didn’t have a single for him like most of the Perkins students enjoyed, but all Tom could remember was 23B. Damn. Way to make a good impression. “Sorry. Tom.” He stuck his hand out.
“Aww, hell no.” The kid had the grace to look a little abashed when Tom took a step back at his vehement denial. But he didn’t back down. “I do not have a roommate. The dean promised me a single. I’ve been here for three days. Nobody told me anything about a roommate.”
Tracy and Mari's Review:
**This book was provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review**
Tracy: After his father is sent to prison, for a Ponzi scheme, Tom is left homeless and having to fend for himself. He drives a cab, sleeping in his car for months before he is able to save enough money to return to college. All he wants is to keep his head down and finish his degree so he doesn't have to scrape and scrimp to get by in life. Tom lives in a state of exhaustion traveling back to Boston every weekend to drive a cab, barely sleeping those 48+ hours he is gone. He has to make enough money to pay for his next semester of school. Tom lives in fear of the paparazzi tracking him down and making his life a living hell again. He feels unjustly guilty and responsible for his father’s crimes. He refuses to accept any type of financial help from anyone because he doesn’t feel he deserves it.
After being traumatized the previous semester, Reese is promised a single room in a dormitory for older adults attending college. Imagine his shock to walk in and discover Tom in HIS room. No matter what the paperwork, Tom holds says, he wants Tom gone!! He is not going to share his room especially not with some Jock!!
Tom attempts to try and get a room change, but to no avail. Reese decides if he won't leave on his own, he will run him off by parading guy after guy into their room for hot, loud sex, leaving Tom to sit outside the door listening. This doesn't deter Tom or push him to move out. In fact Tom is very turned on by his roommate’s escapades.
Reese eventually accepts that Tom isn't going anywhere and they finally start to tolerate each other. They play a back and forth game. Every time Reese begins to open up and starts to cross lines he feels he shouldn't have, he disappears for a few days. Finally Tom doesn't want to fight the attraction he feels for Reese anymore, so he goes after what he wants. Reese wants Tom as well, but he is out and proud and refuses to settle for a closet case like Tom.
These two young men are both very broken and over the 8 months they spend together we see them fall in love and help each other begin the healing process. I loved that Tom was so caring when it came to Reese. He instinctively knew when and how to touch Reese and when to back off. He knew how to allow Reese to remain in control of the situation, as not to get spooked. I loved that Reese wanted Tom enough to keep their relationship closeted on campus. And I love that Tom loves Reese enough to finally come out of the closet.
Mari: I absolutely agree with you, Tracy, these two boys were just perfect for each other, in their own broken way. Both had gone through hell and back and it wasn’t an easy road for them as they helped each other heal. Tom was my favorite of the two, though. He was so intent on making things right, on helping Reese as much as he possibly could, always putting the younger boy’s needs above his own and not letting him push Tom away. Not when he was feeling so much for him already. Reese gave Tom the focus he needed to start living again, not merely existing, driving himself into the ground as he tried to scramble for every bit and penny to pay his tuition without the help of anyone else.
It wasn’t easy for either of them, though. Actually, it had to get worse until it started getting better. Until Tom finally allowed himself to ask for help, and even then, when things started looking up for him, he couldn’t allow himself to start healing until he sort of hit rock bottom, pushing Reese away. I loved that he could rise from that, though, and allow himself to grow and heal and love himself and others, without his misplaced guilt running him down. Never mind, that he proved himself to Reese by actually doing something about coming out of the closet.
Tracy: This book seemed to take a long time to get to where it was going, but Amy held me captivated and turning the pages. I was never bored or skimmed ahead. I was up until 3am, when I just couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, reading this book. Then back at it again first thing the next morning. I read it in less than 24 hours and was sad when it was over. Amy takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Sadness, happiness, laughter, anger, and even Awe moments. The chemistry and connection between these two characters was electric. I felt the love they shared between them radiating off the pages of this book. Tom and Reese are smoking hot together.
Mari: It took me a bit longer to read, but I was equally captivated by these boys. It was truly a rollercoaster, running the gamut of emotions throughout the book. I laughed and cried and was in awe at Amy’s talent at making us care so much for her characters.
Tracy: The secondary characters in the book were so good. I loved Reese's dad, and Steph, but NO ONE was as funny or entertaining as Cash!! He kept me in stitches, but was also a true friend to Tom and eventually Reese. As much as a Douche as Jack was to Tom, I can’t wait to read his book!! I have a ton of words that could describe this book... but the biggest one that comes to mind, BOOK HANGOVER!!
Mari: Cash was awesome, I agree! I wouldn’t mind reading a book starring him, I wouldn’t even mind if it were M/F. ;) *hint hint nudge nudge* Steph and Reese’s dad were great, too. And Jack, well, he was every bit Tom’s evil nemesis, and got what was coming to him, but as Tracy said, I would love to read his book and see how Amy can redeem Jack in our eyes.
All, in all, this was a fantastic story. I don’t know how many times I told Tracy as I read that I just wanted to cuddle Tom or that I was laughing at Cash’s antics, or that I felt bad for all Reese went through, and of course, how sad I was when I finished and there wasn’t more of their story to read. This is definitely one of those stories that remain with you for a long time and that I, for one, will read again and again.
Tracy and Mari's Rating: 5 Hungover Stars!!!
About the Author:
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Disclaimer: The images used for the teasers are not property of the Bayou Book Junkie.
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