| Title | : | A Simple Romance |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1623804329 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781623804329 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 217 |
| Publication | : | First published March 12, 2013 |
However, Skip’s hometown doesn’t just hold a loving meddling mother but also the memories of his awkward crush on a boy he met his senior year in high school. A boy he humiliated himself in front of just when it looked as if his fantasies might become reality. Finding out Paul Miller is now working at the same high school where Skip has just been hired flips his world upside down. After a heated night together, Skip is happy being friends with benefits. Paul will have to convince him love is worth the risk.
A Simple Romance Reviews
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3.5 Stars
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*3.5 stars*
Well, the title really says it all.
This was a sweet, easy breezy, low angst romance. I totally enjoyed it for what it is. I don't have too much to say about it... which is a good thing? Maybe? It didn't leave a huge mark but it was a really great light read. I have to say though, I didn't love the names of some of the characters (Skip and Monte just don't do it for me!). I love a book with a straight best friend who loves his gay guys and jokes about boning them... but is indeed straight. Very refreshing! -
Three weeks have passed since Skip’s husband cheated on him and left him. He still is struggling to accept it and to move on without breaking down. He tries to keep busy every day and not thinking about the man who supposed to spend his life with.
Three months later, Skip decides to move in his hometown with his mother and work as a teacher at his old high school.
Paul is the new physics teacher. He has a PhD in physics, but he choose to teach high school kids to be close to his mother. Paul knows how is to lose someone - his partner died of cancer several years ago. Skip knows Paul from high school, when he has a secret crush on him.
They become friends and soon after friends with benefits. They spend all the time together and soon after, this friends with benefits relationship it starts to feel to Skip like a very real relationship. Skip is scared, because this thing with Paul was supposed to be a rebound. Skip doesn’t want to trust somebody who eventually will hurt him and leave him. He is scared his heart won’t survive another betrayal.
Everything change for Skip when Paul says the “L” word and when his ex, suddenly wants him back.
I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet, sexy, funny at times and low in angst. There’s no stupid drama here, just two men who try to forget their past and move on together.
I really liked the two main characters. Paul was a sweetheart. He is loving, caring, understanding and so patient with Skip, at least until some point. He was perfect, maybe a little too perfect, but I didn’t care. I loved him! I liked the slow build relationship between them and how sweet they are with each other.
I understood Skip's reluctance to get involved with someone and I liked him too, even if he annoyed me at times.
The teasing and the funny dialogue between them is terrific and the sex scenes are really hot.
The side characters are many and I like them all – Skip and Paul’s families and Skip’s friends. Caring or funny, everyone was great.
Overall, this was like the title suggests a simple romance,a very nice one! -
Skip is reeling after being left by his partner Monty, his lover of almost a decade.
He finishes up the school year and moves back to his hometown and into his mom's house.
His fellow teacher Paul, is not only single, gay and hot, he is also the son of his mother's best friend and his secret High school crush and cause of one of his more embarrassing moments.
So, you guessed it Paul is Skip's new man, but Skip is having trouble with that, he wants Paul, but after Monty's betrayal he is very reluctant to really commit and really give this new relationship his all.
Paul is great, maybe a bit too good, he has lost his partner to illness but doesn't seem to have any problem with his feelings for Skip.
He is patient and loving until he isn't willing to wait for Skip to catch up anymore. There were no big misunderstandings or drama, it really is a nice and simple romance.
I liked this story, it's a nice, slowly evolving romance with a lot of friends and family thrown in, a cat ( who needed more on page time) and a very HEA.
My only niggle might have been that I have issues with such pushy relatives, but that's just me. -
Written December 2, 2014
2.7 Stars - Sweet, cute, nice.... just simple sweet
A Simple Romance was recommended by a friend a long time ago. It's was time for it now and I choosed the audiobook (5:36 hrs) narrated by
Nick J. Russo. A new author (and narrator) for me and a bunch of pretty happy reviews from friends.
Sweet, super-sweet !! — I'm a bit grumpy.
Sorry to say, this wasn't an M/M romance, or at least not an audiobook edition, for me. Not bad but not that good neither.
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This is the story about Skip the man who thought he had it all: a husband, a great apartment and a job as a theacer he’d always wanted. Then when his partner (husband) decides to leave him after 8 years decides Skip it’s time to move home to mom's house and his old hometown.
Paul is the goodlooking (hispanic) guy from school years now working at the same high school. The school where Skip has just been hired. Once again feels Paul as an very interesting (...hot and sexy) guy.
Skip want's it to just be a happy being friends with benefits thing. Paul want much more.
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I usually say 'good enough' about books that are not mediocre, not bad, but not particularly memorable neither. Books that are still good enough to be read (that's 3 - 3.5 stars from me). The large amount of romances easily fall into that group. Good reading or listening for the moment books. Not highly recommended, but still... You know?!
A Simple Romance wasn't bad - or bad written - or bad narrated, but it wasn't particularly interesting, unique, giggling funny, exciting entertaining or steaming hot-hot neither. Oh yes, it was kind of cute romantic but I felt hardly any of their feelings. It all felt mostly on the surface; words, sex and more words and more sex. Almost pathetic in the end. My most often so romantic heart didn't bleed for these MC’s even once.
This listening felt mostly sweet, almost sleazy, and to be honest, quite boring. I have heard and read this story a hundred times before. Puh!
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Yeah, the swede bitch is really cranky right now...
You might wonder, after these long whining wordy harangues and sentences, and yes, you're right! **Haha** Well, I am.
Possibly lost this particular romance to be listened to (kind of plain and mediocre narrated as well). - Those of you who read the A Simple Romance as an book may have been right.
I LIKE - a tiny little bit -
3.5ish stars.
eh, this book was… fine. i found myself rolling my eyes a couple of times at some of the “””jokes”””, but it was a mostly enjoyable read overall, i guess.
~minor spoilers ahead~
i did find the way Skip’s friends and mother treated him after the breakup with Paul extremely off-putting, though? like, the man was cheated on and left by his husband less than a year ago and they all get pissed off at him for being hesitant to fully commit to Paul after the way he was treated? like…. he had extremely valid reasons for being gun shy and his own mother was horrible to him for that??? a baffling writing choice.
Paul was the only character to actually react like a normal human being, to be honest. he was understandably hurt by Skip’s reluctance to commit to him, but even then he wasn’t a complete asshole about it unlike every other character in the book ffffff.
anyway! other than that, i didn’t really have any strong feelings about the rest of the book. -
Truth in advertising here.
Just a nice, simple romance between two men who used to crush on each other in high school. Each man is pretty recently out of long term relationships when they find each other again. I liked the MC's and the secondary characters. I even understood Skip's reluctance to commit himself again. I liked this and if you're looking for a sweet romance between a couple of nice guys I think you'll like this one as well. -
Very very chill story.
I liked it for being cozy and having nice characters, though Skip needed a serious kick in the butt.
My biggest niggle was Monty I think not...
But I loved the friends, I loved the family and I loved the setting. Also go Paul for being, just... Very nice.
Great palate cleanser if you've read a lot of heavy or angsty books and need a nice break:-) -
The title says it all. This really is a simple romance.
When his partner of eight years leaves him for a younger man, Skip decides to move back to his hometown to escape the reminders of the life he had built with his ex. After he gets a job at his old high school, he runs in to an old crush, Paul Miller, who is now out and still as sexy as ever. When Paul shows interest, Skip slowly begins to trust in love again.
'A Simple Romance' is the kind of book you read on a cold rainy day, with a mug of tea on the side. And it's been cold and rainy for the past few days where I live. So, I was totally in the mood for this one. Though I was listening to this on my morning and afternoon commutes, so the mug of tea was absent. But it was still a relaxing read on the train. It's got the classic feel-good charm that J.H. Knight does so well.
The narration was very well done.
Nick J. Russo blew me away with the audiobook of Amy Lane's
Racing for the Sun, so I was expecting good things. Russo is a master at clearly differentiating the character voices, and pacing the story so that flows easily.
And Monty. What a douchebag. Paul said it best.
Overall, this was a sweet and sexy read, with low angst and lots of hot lovin'. The audiobook was good too. I liked it. -
4.5 stars. Sweet, lighthearted, minimally-angsty? Totally my cup o' tea, mates!
Toss in a dash of super hottt sexytimes (like *fans self* smokin' hottt) with a spicy Spanish lover and a liberal sprinkling of humor and wit, and I just adored it. :) Definitely a feel good read with lovable main characters for whom you're rooting and a funny and lively supporting cast.
Only small thing I'd say is Skip held out a little TOO long in acknowledging his feelings for my tastes, and he really put Paul through the wringer during that time. Skip's obstinacy was a little frustrating, but I guess I could also see his side of things what with the time he'd spent marinating on the disaster of his previous relationship. Still, though...my heart ached for Paul sometimes. Good thing they got things right in the end with a really warm-and-fuzzy HEA. :) -
This book is very much what its title says it is; a simple romance. Low angst, low drama, maximum sweetness (that isn't too sugary), and short-lived conflict. Perfect for when you're in the mood for something sweet and... Well, simple.
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2.5 stars. Ok so Skip was cheated on by his husband of 8 years and goes home to regroup at his mom's house. He gets a new job teaching at his old hs where Paul (his hs crush) works and they begin seeing each other.
Paul was pretty amazing and did everything he could to make Skip feel comfortable. But Skip drove me absolutely crazy with his push/pull and his denial of an actual "relationship" with Paul. This hurt Paul a lot but he tried to give Skip time. But Skip just wasn't coming around to the idea. Skip basically treated Paul like a booty call most of the time. I DID NOT like Skip.
I could've even handled the push/pull for a bit but it wasn't resolved until THE END of the book. That's too long for this girl. Plus it was just kinda boring. Oh well you can't love 'em all. -
Very nice story. Yes, sometimes I wanted to slap Skip somewhat fierce, but on the other hand I understood what had him reluctant to commit himself again. So, overall I really liked the development and even the reappearance of Monty was handled in a fitting way. Looking forward to read more from this new to me author.
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A Simple Romance is--wait for it--a simple story about MC Skip and his struggle to find love again. Skip, a sweet, self-deprecating, cat loving guy, moves home to the East Coast after being left high and dry by his longtime partner. He runs into Paul, a tall, dark and handsome man with Latino roots that Skip knew in high school, and who (YAY!) turns out to be gay too.
The trouble is, Skip has trust issues, and he can't seem to wrap his head around the idea that somebody else might actually want to date him. Or love him. Or marry him. Or have kids with him. Or date him. Or...hmm. See how repetitive that got? Sadly, that's where things start to crumble just a skosh for this book...
So much time is spent focusing on Skip doubting himself and not wanting to label his relationship with Paul that it became frustrating--and slightly boring--to read. Skip is forever internalizing his thoughts and feelings, and that's the book's sole source of angst. I'm not saying the story needs angst, I'm just suggesting I'd personally rather it come from another character than to have to scroll through page after page after page of poor Skip kicking his own ass.
In Skip's own words:
"It's so simple--easy, ya know? Getting together with someone and falling in love and getting comfortable and, like, it's almost too simple, right?"
And Paul:
"So you figure if you complicate it enough, keep it from being easy, then it'll work out in the end?"
Right ON Paul! You should have told Skip that, like, 40 pages ago!
*wink, wink*
A few other minor annoyances, and really, I have to fault Knight's editor on this first one: Skip uses a flip phone? In 2013? There were multiple places where it mentions him "flipping his phone open." Nitpicky? Perhaps, but it had me shaking my head. I also thought it a little weird that Skip, as a 30-year-old dude, continued to live with his mom for nearly six months after returning to his hometown. I think it was used as a plot device so Skip could conveniently move in with Paul later, but it came off as kind of creepy.
Outside of that, Skip and Paul make for a nice couple. The dialogue is great, and all the supporting characters where heaps of fun, including Skip and Paul's mommas. The sexy time was perfectly sexy and very nicely written (can I get another YAY!?).
3.5 stars
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---Spoilers ahead---
This was absolutely terrible.
The first half bored me out of my mind.
And the second half was filled with Skip and his doubts… I really got tired of it. And don’t get me started on Paul with his pushy ways. You have been together for a few months, why does Skip need to make a commitment? He was married for 8 years and his husband cheated on him, give the guy a break.
And even though nothing happened with a 3rd party this really irritated me:
The kid watched them, making eye contact with Skip, who wished he could see Paul’s face to find out if he was interested or not. For his own part, he wasn’t looking for anything else tonight, but he’d never pass up an opportunity for a nuclear blow job in a bathroom stall while his lover was fucking the guy who had his cock in his mouth.
And then the mom… OMG, where does she get a right to be mad at her son for how he handled things with Paul. That is their business.
So basically everyone acted like an ass in this book.
I would have DNF-ed, but I wanted to finish it so I could rant about it in my review…
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4.0 Stars
So, have you ever seen a product review on Amazon that reads something along the lines of, "Does what it says on the tin"? Basically, as per Wikipedia: "It colloquially means that the name of something is an accurate description of its qualities."
Right, so this book is called "A Simple Romance." And that is exactly what we get here. Seriously, so sweet, so romantic, so sexy...okay, it has a little bit of angst, but what love story doesn't? Especially given Skip's history. But still...nothing over-the-top, nothing ridiculously plotted. It's just...A Simple Romance.
Thus, this book does what it says on the tin.
(Kudos to NJR for a great audio performance, too!) -
Very sweet and romantic story. I liked both Skip and Paul, but there were times that I wanted to yell at Skip to stop screwing things up. Luckily everything worked out in the end. Skip's friends and sister were fun characters and just fit with the story and called Skip on his BS. A quick little follow up sometime in the future to see how everything turns out would be nice.
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4.5 sweet stars
Seriously, this is a very good book. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The title is spot on, it is simple and a romance. I loved it. Actually read it straight through. -
A lovely simple love story with minimal angst. Honestly, if I had been Paul, I probably would have kicked Skip in the balls at some point. Paul was understanding, loving, and super patient. If you are looking for a slow and steady story with some really hot sex scenes, definitely read this story!
I will be on the look out for more stories from J.H. Knight. -
I haven't read many books from J.H. Knight, and while the blurb didn't really make me feel compelled to read this, once I finally did, I remembered how effortless it is to read Knight's writing. A Simple Romance was exactly that, and it was quite pleasing to read.
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I freaking loved this book. I might just have to add J.J Knight as an auto buy author.
Lately I've been on a dark kick and while some of those have been good nothing great and fulfilling. At the end of the tunnel was this bright light. It was NO ANGST!!! Gawd, I get so tired of the games of cat & mouse sometimes I just want two people to know what they want and get it. In this case I get why Skip was super hesitant to even acknowledge anything beyond friends with benefits with Paul. Paul is the type of men that can sweep you off your feet have you on cloud nine forever and you don't even recognize your happy in love self. Trust me I feel in love with his amazing self. I found no flaws with his character. He just cared and listened, plus he made Skip laugh. This book was so easy breezy beautiful covergirl, I loved it.
Skip was a loyal, loving domestic partner<--- His words, husband in my eyes. He was blown away with the revelation that his husband of 8 years decided to walk out on their life. No explanations, just deuces I'm out. That DICK MONTY!!! I felt Skip's pain, the hurt, betrayal, just lost. I think he was so numb that the first night turned into 4 weeks later. I understand how he could feel like. He was so strong and I really cared for this character.
Now the Supporting cast was one of the best supporting cast out their. From Maggie she was so cool, I'm telling ya'll my mother has no idea what a twink is. His sister Katie is so bad ass the car scene with the blood just Eww. Johnny & Faith rocked big time, plus Paul's big ass family. Totes Adorbs! -
A Simple Romance indeed! Simple and lovely! Skip sees his life turn up side down, when is partner ends everything with him. They've been together for ten years and it won't be easy for him to start over. At least was what he thought... but life can be that simple, and when he didn't expected it, love makes a new call in the voice of Paul!
Paul is perfect and he is exactly what Skip needs!
I loved this simple romance, well written and with an excellent development of the MC's relationship!
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Ahhhh, Paul! He was dreamy. Nothing much happens in this story other than the meeting of two soulmates.
Skip returns home after his partner of 8 years left him unexpectedly. Back home is Paul, his pending subject from high school and when they meet again is like time hasn’t gone by for them.
Skip is still awkward and Paul is amazing: he gets Skip and he knows he wants him and he doesn’t hesitate. For Skip it takes longer. He needs to take his head out of his ass to see that Paul is not Morty, he is not his rebound and he is everything he ever wanted.
Both these boys’ mothers are the most amazing matchmakers ever. I loved them.
Good steam in this everyday story and a happy ending.
Recommend! -
I liked it well enough, felt like a really good hallmark movie.
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I would have seriously thought my mother was brain damaged trying to force me into a rebound relationship with her best friend's kid.
Helen said it best IMHO. This was an okay read. Simple. The angst was legit and real. I just hated how unsympathetic everyone was to Skip, man. He liked Paul ALOT and didn't wanna fuck it up by letting his rebound issues cloud the relationship and everyone forced them together when I was completely unconvinced that an HEA was possible because it WAS a rebound. It'd've worked better for me if they'd spent some time apart and Skip really got to get his head on straight.
But I have to give 4 stars cuz i loved the guys and i obviously cared about em so that paired with the great writing itself deserves its due. -
This is one that I think benefited from the fact I did it as an audio book. The narrator, superb. Literally earned two stars all on his own. The story is simple, as another reader mentioned almost fairy tale like. The pacing of the first half is slow, mostly set up, backstory, character intro. Unfortunately this sets a breakneck pace for the relationship progression, conflict, HEA in the 2nd half. The doubt, doubt, doubt of Skip (can you imagine screaming out Skip during sex? No, me neither, authors stop this with the names; if it doesn’t roll off your lips during a moan say no) did get to be a snore. I also did not think the ex coming back into play made any sense the way it played out. Sure I got that it allowed Skip to have the closure he needed, but that’s a far trek for the proposal the ex was offering, a phone call would have done.
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J.H. Knight didn't bury the lead here. She put it right out on Front Street.
This is just a simple romance story.
Skip is heartbroken after his domestic partner of 8 years leaves him without a by-your-leave for some younger guy. In an effort to break free of the painful memories surrounding him, Skip moves across the country, back home with his mother, in order to figure out his next move, and ends up reconnecting with an old high school crush, Paul. Sexy times and only a low level of angst (thankfully!) ensue.
Additionally, the audiobook narration was really good. -
An enjoyable romance between two men who have lost their partners taking a chance. Skip has moved back to the town he grew up in to escape memories of life with the partner who abruptly left him. Paul is Skip's co-worker and HS crush, who witnessed one of Skip's more embarrassing moments. As the two get together, Skip's trust issues keep getting in the way. Add in some pushy friends and relatives who only want what is best for the two men, and you have a sweet, sexy and humorous light read.
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Overall book rating: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Loved it. Just the right amount of sweet and sugar I needed to balance my "currently reading" list. I enjoyed the slow burn and low angst. Funny and romantic. -
Really enjoyable read, no angst and funny. I love the MCs and secondary characters.
