Rush

This one touched me. Deeply.I'm not sure why because the premise is nothing new; friends to lovers, one semi out boy and his football playing 'straight' friend; the required amount of angst thrown in.But somehow this one is different.It's sweet and heart warming and it made me feel.I felt for Alec and for Brandon and even for Logan. I liked him.I felt their pain and confusion. Their worry, their longing, their hopelessness.They are beautiful together. Special.It's the most YA book I've read in a while so the emphasis is on 'sweet' rather than 'hot' but it suited the story and while I'd have loved a bit of smut it didn't take anything away from the book for me.It gave me all the feels.

I couldn't really give much more on this story as the plot was incredibly deceiving. Maybe I'm being a little bit weird here but this story was meant to be centralized around a bound growing out of the building of trust and stability in a shattered young mans life. It was going well for a little while but then as soon as Brandon moves in with Alec all this gets washed away by the oppressive homophobic issues, which is all well and good but it that was the case in the first place, just write about a teen getting bullied because someone keeps calling him 'queer'. The treatment after the accident is all glossed over and within chapters Brandon is running and going to the gym and not even doing what his doctor tells him to. And then all of a sudden Alec inspires him? No. That wouldn't happen. This story could have been made longer and more compelling by the progression of building up the trust and gradually getting back on his feet. Not they move in together and Brandon is suddenly well again.

Was this my third or fourth read of this glorious book? Want a great m/m romance or to understand some of the challenges facing gay professional sports or young LGBT struggling with relationships/family/friends? Or looking for a great holiday read....Nyrae Dawn has written a novel that will not only stand the test of time but widen understanding of what it's like to love and be loved gay or straight. Highly recommended.

I am a big fan of all Nyrae's books. So was excited for this book, and i wasn't disappointed.Having met Alec and Brandon briefly met them in 'Four Summers' was intrigued to find out more.The Struggles these guys go through to find themselves and to finally accept who they are is inspiring.The fact people have to got through such a hard time just to be with the person they love and to be who they are with the worry there friends and family won't accept them, makes me really sad.I feel this is a subject that maybe not all authors would feel comfortable writing about and you can feel in this book how important this subject is to Nyrae and a massive high five for doing this subject and characters justice.

A coming of age story but with so much heart and emotion, there were tears! Told from both lead character's POV the reader really gets to know and love both Alex & Brandon, and go on the journey with them. One of the best m/m, and also one of the best stories I've read about coming to terms with your homosexuality and coming out. A definite keeper, you won't regret buying this book.

It took me a while to get used to this story because it seemed to be slow and mixed up. I carried on reading and the further into the story it got better and yes I enjoyed the story of.I'd recommend this book to anyone else who likes a good romantic novel but warn them about the boring bits at the beginning.

A beautiful story but a bit confusing at times. I had to keep going back and checking who was talking! I thought it was brave of this author to write about this subject, but it was very tastefully told. A beautiful romance.

Wow, loved this! Found it so hard to read as felt so awful for them both. Having children myself I would be devastated if they couldn't be accepted for who they were. I know I wouldn't care as long as my child was happy! Would def recommend xx

I really love this genre.What a great read!!! I laughed. I cried. and cried..... sometimes couldn't see the pages.Beautiful journey between Brandon and Alec.....coming to terms with who you are, and then letting the rest of the world know, is a tough scary step. Nyrae Dawn did it with angst, courage, love, pain, and ohhhh some really hot sexy time!!!Tears and Smiles!!

This was my first ever MM book, and it will always be dear to my heart! I re-read every few months because Alec and Brandon are like old friends, or I feel like they're almost sons to me!

I absolutely loved this novel. The way Nyrae weaves this tale of forgiveness, self-acceptance and love draws you in. I highly recommend this novel!

Quick and Easy download, Easy purchase

It's not always you get a second chance and what you do when you get it can change your life.Brandon and Alec has been best friends for a long time, but only two people except themselves know that they also have been in love with each other since they were fifteen years old.When Brandon left to play football he also left Alec and the only one he's ever loved. They haven't spoken in two years but when Brandon has a serious heart condition Alec can't stay away.This reignite the spark between them again and after spending a summer together they can't stand to lose each other again but neither one of them is out and Brandon has the extra weight of being a football team where there's always homophobic slurs in the locker room.Their struggle for love, happiness and acceptance is hard and sometimes painful but necessary if they want a life together.It always makes me so angry and sad that people has to live with this kind of pain and stress because of who they love. I hope we will see the day when this is no longer the case.

I was really excited to read this book. I love m&m and I thought " hey, a football one. SCORE!." but sadly I was let down. I felt there was no plot what so ever. No story line other than two young men struggling with being gay and coming out to their families and the world.I felt no connection between Brand and Alec at all. I actually felt more of a connection with Logan and Alec ha ha. I didn't find the sex scenes very hot or steamy or anything interesting at all. It felt forced in a way. Like that is what they SHOULD be doing. I dunno, I wanted to love it. But I just didn't. I really liked the characters on their own. Good characters, especially Alec. But lots of the time I was just plain annoyed by them both. I understand their is hardships and struggles with being gay and coming out. I have a gay uncle, I know. My grandparents didn't talk to him for a long time also, but I just didn't like the back and forth. The one moment Alec wanted to come out, then not, hen he did, then he would push Brand away. And how brand treated Alec the most upset me. In the end everything worked out for the best and it wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. I really was happy for them by the end of the book. I enjoyed the story, but didn't love it."Wherever you go, I'll follow you.""I want to be here for you. You're mine. I should be here with you. Any time I've ever needed you, you're always there."

This book is a spin off from Nyrae Dawn's "Four Summers". After I read that book I contacted Nyrae in a message expressing my appreciation for her creation of gay characters that felt like real people instead of the cliched gay characters that often populate contemporary fiction. I have friends and family that are gay so this is something that is important to me. Alec and Brandon had an authenticity that is hard to find and I really appreciated her care in crafting them. When she let me know she was writing their story I was excited and also a little nervous.I will admit to some trepidation before picking up this book. The cover seems to hint at an emphasis on steam. I always have mixed feeling about New Adult literature because it seems that it has come to mean that the steam and physical relationship between characters take precedence over the emotional connection. This always leaves me feeling a bit let down. I can't buy into a relationship having lasting ability if it is built mostly on lust. I don't mind some steam but it is often built up so that it overwhelms the emotional aspects as well as taking away from the plot. I am very happy to report that this is not the case for "Rush". Yes, there is a lot of steam. It did not, however overwhelm or take away from the other elements. It actually complemented it.That leads me to the second concern I had before beginning. I have never read a m/m romance. I was worried that by a straight woman reading it that it would feel almost exploitative, like a guy peeping to watch two girls having sex. We know how that is many guy's fantasy so somehow I worried that it would feel like that for me to read about m/m romance. I can't say for other books that have been written but for this book I am happy to report that I didn't feel uncomfortable at all.What works so well is the emotional and soul deep connection Nyrae creates between these two young men. I believed whole heartedly in their love. The lust never overshadows that, rather acts as a complement which is so rare in NA for me. It also highlights so much of what straight people take for granted in our relationships. The worries, fears and challenges for these two pulled at my heart. It is so authentic and heartfelt. I want to give examples but I think this is something best experienced by reading the book. It will make you think. Everything felt completely authentic and genuine. Even the sex scenes didn’t feel gratuitous but added to the sense of love, discovery and growth.Another thing Nyrae excels at is writing complex characters with good traits and flaws. She gets better with each of her books at letting us see the truth, for better or worse, in her characters. They flub up, they excel. They make bad and good decisions, they make selfish or uninformed choices and other times they are very selfless and caring. Sometimes they redeem themselves, or even partially so, and sometimes they do not. You’ll find those things all very true in this book.This book is going on my list of best New Adult books of all time and is one of the best books period that I’ve read in 2014. And this is coming for someone who thinks NA is okay, can be occasionally great, but has found most New Adult to be not her favorite.

This is a coming out book, but it's not your run-of-the-mill, teenagers-finding-themselves romance novel. It's so much more than that.Alec and Brandon were two boys who became "best friends" when they were only 15. Though they didn't know what they were doing, or whether what they felt was right or wrong, they remained in love with each other for years - without either one coming out and without consummating the intense love that had always bound them together.Brandon was all about football. A brilliant player with a football scholarship, he was destined, one day, for NFL fame and fortune. Sadly, Brandon believed that was all he was - defined by football, the only thing he was certain he did well, the only thing that made him special.Alec, also deeply closeted, operated out of fear. His father's constant homophobic vitriol led him to believe that his family would abandon him when they found out who he truly was. Sadly, he was right.One day, Brandon walks away from Alec, too tired to keep up the lying and fear, and terrified of giving up football. It all seemed to boil down to football or Alec. For a year-and-a-half, they didn't see each other or speak, until Brandon has a life-threatening accident and Alec rushes to his side. Brandon refuses to talk to anyone, eat or get out of bed until Alec shows up and takes him in hand. Despite their best efforts to maintain their respective closets, even that brief proximity drives them back together with the force of inevitability.They renew their relationship, though now, as adults, they can take it to its logical conclusion. They finally realize that they are meant for each other - that they are each other's "other half". They read each other's thoughts, know each other's fears, see each other's souls. They are always there when needed, no matter what.I won't spoil the book by adding much more about their torturous journey to their happily-ever-after, but rest assured, they do get there.If this sounds like melodrama, the fault is mine, not the author's. Ms. Dawn shows great insight into the conflicting and destructive demands of the closet, and the freedom and peace that come from acknowledging yourself and your truth - the world be damned. It sings from every page. It is quite surprising that a heterosexual author can speak with such authenticity of such things, but she does, without a single misstep. As a gay man, this book and these characters really resonated with me.There is a wonderful irony to "Rush", an unexpected real-life coda: Michael Sam being drafted by the NFL. Michael has proven that you CAN be gay and be an NFL player. I have little doubt that Michael went through challenges and heartbreaks not unlike those of Ms. Dawn's characters. Reading "Rush" will help you understand exactly how courageous Mr. Sam's coming-out was, and how this remarkable act of grace has changed both football and the opportunities for LGBT people, forever.Please read this book. It is so well-written, so insightful and so beautiful that you really, really don't want to miss it!

4.5 stars -- I have been looking forward to this book for what feels like FOREVER. We were first introduced to Brandon and Alec in Four Summers, and they got me right from the start. Watching them struggle with who they were in that story already had me thinking, and made me desperate to know how their story would go. And Ms. Dawn did not disappoint. This book was everything I wanted it to be and more.I've read a few m/m romances before, but a lot of my exposure has been in the more erotic genre, and so I've never really had to think about all the different little things that would affect 2 young men trying to navigate in a world that likes to think it's liberal, but is just not quite there yet. So I loved getting to tag along on their journey. It just opened my eyes to so many little things that I think I take for granted (like being able to hold my hubby's hand without worrying if people are going to glare hatefully at me).So while the base reason I loved this book is that it's a love story, and I seriously love those, I think what sets it apart is the beautiful way it dealt with all the other things that go along with a simple love story for many in the LGBT community. It was eye opening, even to someone who didn't realize their eyes weren't completely open.OK, so back to the basics: holy wow does Ms. Dawn write characters well. And not just characters, but all those tummy tingling emotions of the beginnings of love. I LOVED the few flashbacks to when they were just teenagers and first dealing with acknowledging their feelings for each other. And the chemistry in the here and now?? *fans face* Oh yeah, TOUCHDOWN!OK OK, but back to characters -- you know what I love? That neither Alec nor Brandon were stereotypes. They were exactly who they were, not what the world expects them to be. They were Alec and Brandon -- who just happened to love guys. I find that refreshing, b/c I think we get caught having certain expectations of the gay community; but that's as silly as having expectations of the straight community. Sometimes I wonder how much harder it is for people who don't fit the stereotypes to come out -- b/c people use certain traits to define "being gay", and so might be thrown for a loop when you don't have those.OK, I seriously got off topic. Again. So maybe I should wrap this up. This is a beautiful love story, with 2 flawed individuals dealing with a world that's not as it should be. I laughed. I cried (ok, bawled, that phone call to Brandon's Dad? *heart exploded*). I swooned. And I fell into a state of intense satisfaction at the end. Yup, we have a winner.

That question posed in the title of this review pretty much sums up the heart of this story for me in one succinct sentence.How do you come to terms with being gay in your late teens and early 20s when you have had it drilled into your consciousness that is wrong for your whole life? Or when so many people think nothing of throwing out things like "you're so gay" as an insult in casual conversation? Worse yet, what if one of those people is your father? Or your best friends and teammates? That doesn't even touch on random hate crimes by small minded people. This is the constant reality and struggle for both Alec and Brandon throughout the story.Rush took me several days to read which is pretty unusual for me. Ms. Dawn wrote a wonderfully emotional story that was physically painful for me to get through at times and I actually put it to the side for a day or two before I came back to it.Brandon and Alec are introduced in Four Summers, and while you can read Rush as a standalone, I really recommend reading Four Summers first because it explains so much about their backstory and history. Rush takes place several years after Four Summers- Brandon is a star college football player thinking about the NFL draft, Alec is still in Virginia and they haven't spoken in 2 years. When Brandon is injured, Alec's best friend Charlotte who is living with Brand's brother calls Alec asking him to come visit to try to pull Brandon out of the funk he has fallen into. Despite everything that has happened, Alec drops everything to go to NY to see him.Brandon is reeling from the realization that he could have just died and he doesn't have the freedom to be himself- the pressure to be the person everyone thinks he should be is getting to him and he is completely lost on where to go from here. Alec's visit showed him a glimpse of the happier person he used to be and he realizes he is at a crossroads. He decides to go back to Virginia for the summer with Charlotte and his brother Nate, hoping to find some clarity and to try to patch things up with Alec. Struggling with his own constraints and challenges, Alec is not so sure- but they fall back into an easy friendship and decide to just give themselves one last summer to see what happens.Their journey wasn't easy as I mentioned above but it was very well written and was downright heartwrenching at times. I firmly believe that love is love no matter who the parties are that are involved, and m/m books can be some of the most powerful love stories you will ever read. If you agree, grab yourself a copy of Rush and settle in for the ride.

THANK YOU Ms. DAWN for a story SOOOO RELEVANT & TIMELY! Once "ONEcomes 2KNOW (UNDERSTAND) THEMSELF[ GOD's GIFT 2 US]; we can thenACCEPT SELF without GUILT & WORRY, about WHO Will or WILL NOT CARE.BRANDON & ALEC because THEY weren't COMFORTABLE with THEMSELVESGOD brought THEM thru several 'SEASONS of PAIN'; so THEY come2 realizewhat is " REAL & ETERNALLY IMPORTANT"; they will pass LESSONS FORWARD2FUTURE TEENS.

This book is truly inspiring to anyone hiding their true self. I am in awe of the story Nyrae Dawn tells. It was heartbreaking, sweet and very emotional. I applaud her for her telling a story that I feel needed to be told. It tore me apart to read what Brandon and Alec were going through. I am a true believer in the saying, "You don't choose who to love, love chooses you."What Brandon and Alec had to face and overcome broke my heart. I think we take things for granted. Love for instance, should not be something that we have to fight that hard to have. This story shows us that life is too short to fill it with hate. Be yourself, accept those around you and remember that no matter how big or strong someone is, they still hurt.This is what I took away from this book. I have already recommended it to friends. I think Nyrae did a wonderful job with her words at pulling me in. I thought about Alec and Brandon today while I was at work. I thought of them as real people, not just characters in a book. I hurt for them, I cried for them and in the end I smiled a huge smile for what they overcame. Congratulations, Nyrae Dawn on writing such a wonderful story. I hope others read it and take away what I did from it. Life is too short. Live life to the fullest, and just be you.

Brandon and Alec have been in love for years. They had broken up two years before, to go their own ways instead of coming out of the close with their relationship. An accident brings them back together and this is the story of their struggle to hold on to their love and each other while dealing with a homophobic society. Nyrae Dawn has written a pure and beautiful love story. Their is no angst just for the sake of drama. Every aspect of this plot is totally realistic. I could completely see the dilemmas they were facing, especially with the football career aspect and the fact that they were so young that the decisions they made would affect their futures. I know that this is a New Adult book but it would have been a 5 star for me if the sex/love scenes had been more developed instead of "fade to black". I needed to feel more of the passionate connection between the characters in order to be right there in it with them. The struggles the couple faced to come out of the closet were what grabbed me the most. Overall, Well done.

I just love Nyrae Dawn - her writing just gets better and better and better. I loved this story - I've read a lot of m/m romances in the last few months and this is right up there at the top of my favorites list. She really writes the characters in a way that you can really feel their struggles, fears, hopes, joy etc...it was a roller coaster ride of emotions but it was all very real. It makes you think about how easy us straight folks have it when we don't have to worry about the smallest things like holding hands or showing affection in public - things we just kinda take for granted. So many times when reading new adult romance the "conflict" is so contrived and overdone, but in this case its very realistic and heartbreaking. I can't imagine having to lie about who I am my whole life, lie about who I love...having to fear losing your family over who you are. omg. very emotional book, but its really really good, and has a HEA!

I am already a fan of Nyrae Dawn, but to me this book is her best yet. It takes you on the emotional and spiritual journey of Brandon and Alec. I don't like to give too much away in reviews but I will tell you this: Rush is a book that should be read, that needs to be read by all. We all have our opinion on sex and religion and politics, but this subject matter is told from the heart and soul of those struggling with fear of the unknown, fear of the reticule, and fear of pain. Seeing this story through the eyes of the characters had me putting myself in their shoes and trying to feel what they were feeling, and I did. Nyrae made you feel so much for these characters and the obstacles that they had to overcome. It was written to perfection, letting you understand and relate to love and all aspects of it. It made you believe that the path of love is already made for you and that there is a soulmate out there for anyone. Love comes in all shapes, sizes, races, religions, and sexes. It's about connecting with someone and knowing they will always be by your side, no matter what and that together even the biggest hurdles of love can be leaped. Thank you, Nyrae for writing such a beautiful love story that had me crying and my heart aching but in the end, love conquers all.