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| Caught Running | 
 enlarge | Authors: Abigail Roux, Madeleine Urban
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Category: Book
List Price: $11.99
Buy New: $10.78
You Save: $1.21 (10%)
New (12) Used (4) from $10.78
Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 66368
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 236
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 0980101883
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780980101881
ASIN: 0980101883
Publication Date: December 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New. Delivery is usually 5 - 8 working days from order, International is by Royal Mail Airmail
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| Customer Reviews:
 Terrific story -- one of my favorites! June 24, 2008
Just loved the story between Jake and Brandon, and have read it multiple times. Entertaining, amusing, and a great read.
It's ADDICTIVE........a Keeper----not a throwaway.... March 27, 2008
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
((This Commentator's approach to Gay romance tales in book form: over some years I've been abuilding a modest "library" of such works. Selection is based mainly upon purchase of new stories published by favorite authors or buying based on comments/reviews provided by others of you here. Re the latter, sometimes I feel I've been steered correctly (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times I feel mislead---sometimes badly (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I'll come across the "Addictive," those that I can reread 'at least monthly' (see starred *** area, below, for a list.....and for some of the "near-Addictive"). For these special works, I'll want to share comments with you, as follows. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))
"CAUGHT RUNNING" is a grabs-you story of a lovable.....and loving.....pair. What we're given is two guys who truly define the meaning of love. There's one of em who'll surprise us by becoming the unexpected romantic and one we'll find ourselves rooting for in his ability to pull out the "Teddy Bear" in the other. Way more than most other gay couplings, these guys are really, really gonna get under your skin (you think I'm kidding!). And they'll do it so realistically that experiencing their emotions almost makes something in our chests hurt......in a good way......in a good way. In the end, "Caught Running" will have caught your breath and caught your heart.
So now, let's cool down a bit and take a little closer look at just what we've got here:
-- Our Setting: a pleasant Georgia public school----Parkview High.
-- Our Main Characters:
1. A former Parkview star quarterback, social event King, and all-round student Goldenboy----He's 'current day' Coach Jake Campbell, a guy who personifies little boy impishness, the wants to sneak up on you and pounce type, the one who'll grow up to be the heart breaker---that is, unless the "right one" comes along to tame him.
2. A former Parkview picked-on and socially unsure student whiz, "the brain"----He's 'today's' Science teacher, Brandon Bartlett. The opposite of "Coach," Brandon's that straight arrow, heart on his sleeve, what you see is what you get type......the one who'll fall hard, the one whose expectations can be easily hurt.
3. A current Parkview Principal---He's Mr. Tom Berry (listed last here, but very much far from least)---a pivotal character who we should rightfully label "The Instigator." Here we have the person who most perceptively maneuvers (no, make that manipulates) our two lead characters into the same orbit. Why, folks, without Principal Berry we wouldn't even have a story.
These are the basics, then, and things just get deeply and sweetly romantic from there.
Of special note in this memorable romance, we're given one of the most descriptively intense and breathless "anal takings" in written storydom. It, veritably, pulls you into the vortex it creates. HOW DID THESE TWO WOMEN AUTHORS DO THAT?! Plus, they give us one of the biggest, "best-est" afterglow scenes you'll ever run across. And as for those close, intense and quiet moments of two people "just being together"----you'll rarely find any other written works in this genre where those special times are so heart renderingly described. What it finally boils down to is that 'they' come as close (perhaps closer) to describing the actual process of "falling in love" than have any writers before them. How's that for a tribute? Here's to you, Ladies!
So, readers, if you've a romantic bone in your bodys, then you'll find these 2 gal-writers have given you a coupla guys you'll want to revisit time and time and time again. In other words, they'll have become just plain "Addictive."
Oh, yeah, almost forgot; this book's characters do a lot of "huffing" (No!. It's not "that".....nor is it the negative use a sick society is now turning it into). In this story's usage, it has the old fashioned meaning.......and it's interesting and really cute......you'll see what I mean when you read along.
PS--***Other "Addictive" reads: "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) // "Bareback" (Chris Owen). Some "near-Addictives: "Brokeback Mountain" (Annie Proulx) // "The Dreyfus Affair" (Peter Lefcourt) // "The Carnivorous Lamb" (Agustin Gomez-Arcos) // "Afterlife" (Paul Monette) // "Cowboy Up" (short stories edited by Rob Knight)
****
Wonderful characters. Delightful romance. March 25, 2008
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I have a wonderful time reading this one. I love both Jake and Brandon and thought the writers have done a great job developing the characters and their romance. Jake and Brandon are complete opposites yet they fall in love and intend to stick together. The previous reviewer talk about cheesy and lack of issues. But this is a M/M romance erotica. If you are a fan of this genre you will be like me looking for sweet romance, hot loving sex and happily ever after. And this one definely leaves me warm and fuzzy and much more.
Both Jake and Brandon are most appealing. They have known each other since high school, when Jake was a most sought after jock and Brandon was an intellectual nerd. But they hardly acknowledge each other those days. We are given glimpses into their pasts and how they become what they are today, teachers in their same high school and finding themselves coaching a baseball team together.
I enjoy the first half of the story alot. It is most engaging as both men dance around each other, not knowing if the other is gay, their attraction mutual, the sexual tension sizzling, desiring yet so afraid of making the wrong move. I also like the interaction among the supporting characters and as a previous reviewer comment, there is a nice brotherhood of men relationship here.
As for the the second half it is just pure lust, their sex steaming hot. Yet their romance is sweet and angsy as both initially hesitate to acknowledge their need and love for the other. Brandon is the unsecured one and understandingly so as Jake is such a hunk. The moments are most tender when they do acknowledge it and who would have thought Jake, who turned out to be a most loving man, is the one to do it first.
The ending though satisfying does leave a few things hanging. What abouth Jake's sad dependency on pain killers and his promise to Brandon to get rid of the addiction. I would love to read about these 2 men working this out and of course their new life together in another state when their relationshp could be more open.
Strongly recommended to all M/M romance fans out there.
Sexy men + sweet romance = The perfect read! March 19, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
CAUGHT RUNNING is the story about the high school jock and the unpopular science nerd reunited ten years later as teachers at their alma mater. The principal of the school "volunteers" Brandon (the nerd) to help Jake (the jock) coach baseball for a season. Since they were from two different crowds in high school and never really knew each other then, they basically have to start from scratch when they come together to coach the varsity baseball team.
The first half of the story is about the men getting to know each other as friends and co-workers, and feeling out their relationship. They share a mutual attraction, but neither knows if the other likes men. The supporting characters in this book are fabulous, and we get to see a lot of "boys being boys" interaction as the story develops. This may have been written by two women, but there's nothing girly about the story. This book oozes testosterone.
The sexual tension in this book is thick, and the chemistry sizzles. The sex doesn't happen right away, and in this case that's perfectly fine. The story is so good that I didn't even notice that the characters didn't immediately jump each other's bones. But when the sex does happen, it's sudden and intense, and it more than makes up for the lack of sex in the first half (which I promise you won't miss anyway). The first love scene is the kind that sucks all the air out of the room and raises the temperature about 20 degrees. If you're not panting by the time that first love scene ends, you probably don't have a pulse. :)
This is a beautifully simple love story. There are no evil forces, no ridiculous conflict, no far-fetched resolution. The men are sweet and sensitive and their love is tender, but the story is not mushy. It is beautiful to see Jake go from gruff, scary baseball coach on the field to cuddly teddy bear at home. Even though the men are sweet and sensitive, they're still men. They drink beer, they swear, they throw things at each other, they wear sweatpants and ratty old fraternity t-shirts, and they live on pizza most of the time because they are hopeless when it comes to domestic chores.
Whether you're a sports fan, a nerd, or just a hopeless romantic, this book is sure to satisfy.
 Pure Cheese March 10, 2008
10 out of 16 found this review helpful
Alright, so this book was okay. It's cute, and fun to read, and light and fluffy. But I bought it based on the reviews of other people from this site, and now that I've almost finished reading it, I need to write a review to dissuade others from buying it.
The book is obviously written by women. It's a lot like slash fan fiction - written by women and for women about two guys having a sexual relationship. A lot of the dialogue in the sex scenes is so cheesy it's laughable, and some of the sexual logistics that are necessary to take into account are not explored or described. I myself am a gay man, and was disappointed in the lack of any sort of mentioning of the gay community, coming out, or even previous lovers. Maybe in the last 20 pages of the book, all of these things will be addressed, but I really don't think they will. And maybe I'm biased: maybe I just prefer my gay male erotic fiction to be written by gay males, people who have been in similar situations to their characters.
It's a fun book, and if you're looking for something to read on a beach or without using your brain, this is it. But if you're looking for a believable portrayal of two men falling in love and/or lust, look elsewhere.
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