Sequel to FIRE BALLSCan two men with skewed self-images see their true reflections in each other’s eyes?Jerry Wallender—firefighter, surfer, and occasional nude model—knows he’s no rocket scientist. So why does he keep choosing intellectual guys who make him feel dumber? He worked his buns off to overcome his reading disability and pass the firefighter’s test, and he loves every‐ thing about the … thing about the job. Well, except for Mick Cassidy, the big, blond, hunky homophobe who harasses Jerry for being gay. But Jerry is smart enough to realize it’s not hate driving Mick, but the pain of a very unhappy upbringing.
Mick Cassidy, Firefighter Assist and Search Team, fights fires, but he can’t fight his attraction to the kindest, most generous—and sexiest—guy he’s ever met. Does that make him gay? If it does, he just might get himself killed by his gay-hating preacher father—and take Jerry down with him.
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Charming characters who both suffer through self-esteem issues, but they find in each other a hot lover and a sympathetic friend, and build confidence together.
Fast Balls is the fourth book in this series but is a standalone love story. Jerry and Mick work together and have vastly different views of the word. Jerry is out and proud and tends to lean towards guys who are more intelligent. Mick is a hunk who loves to spew hate, but in this case it might be all that he knows. When Mick realizes that his way of thinking is wrong on so many levels its Jerry who chooses to help him. Can both of these hot firefighters’ work and play together?
I really love the world that has been created and I am drawn back in by the characters.
*Contains Spoilers*
Mick came from a dangerously religious family. His father instilled an unrealistic fear that gays were not normal. They were a sin and forced you to see their ways. Mick was completely torn, angry and confused about the whole idea since he met Jerry and did not see anything but like and kindness in the man. His blossoming feeling for Jerry also forced Mick to face his own personal truth.
Jerry was dumped by his former boyfriend via text message, ended up in a slump. Jerry did not feel like he was ever smart enough to have a man like Bill. His struggles with learning caused unnecessary doubt and fear. To his surprise, Mick showed his compassion when he saw that Jerry was down and out. Naturally he was confused by it all since he knew how hateful Mick had been in the not so distant past.
Jerry and Mick appeared together at an elementary school even together and the hard shell began to crack.
The Fireman’s Ball was where everything changed for both men. Mick could no longer deny his feeling for Jerry. One intimate and honest occurrence after another and these two found themselves gradually walking into a relationship.
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Jerry also came from a background where his parents weren’t thrilled with him being gay. At seventeen, he borrowed money and left home. Needless to say, his parents were completely fine with the idea.
Add insult to injury, Mick’s father threatened to kill Mick, Jerry, and Jezebel if necessary.
Another creepy obstacle was the new firefighter, Ben Straight. He was a believer just like Mick’s father. Revealing his true colors when Jerry became injured on a call and wanted to let him die. Mick risked his life to save them both.
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There were some painful, and tearful moments. Most of all, the coming together of two men who just wished to love one another made this story that much more enjoyable.
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As a side note: Jezebel was definitely a welcomed delight to read in this story. She was kind of the glue that kept these two from walking away from one another.
Despite this being a work of fiction, there were far too many aspects that people face in real life. Always be free to love and never live in fear.
*I voluntarily read a copy of this ARC from Gay Romance Reviews for my honest review.*
Jerry is such a great guy, he thinks he isn’t smart with his learning disability but he really is smart. When we read about Mike in Fire Balls he sounded like this homophobic a-hole but in this book we get to understand more about his personality and his background and it just broke my heart and I just wanted to give him a big hug. He seems so childlike sometimes and didn’t understand about being intimate with anyone until Jerry started working with him and he started having feelings he didn’t think he should have.
This was such a wonderful story I love both of the main characters Jerry was just awesome and had such a good heart and this helped with trying to get close and understand Mike. Mike was awesome also and really sweet deep down in wanting to learn more about himself and trying to be open minded with Jerry’s help.
I most definitely recommend this book!!!!
This was so good.
Mick and Jerry were so real. All of the characters felt that way. The situations didn’t feel forced and what they had to say felt natural to the character. While the “I love you’s” came late in the story I felt they were too soon in the relationship. I would have preferred a happy for now or to have the story longer to better fit them being said.
I loved this series!! Especially the positive way Ms Lain managed intolerance and hate humanizing the people involved. The story about Jerry and Mick Is about redemption, acceptance, self-discovery and love. A sweet and endearing love story.
A other episode in the men of Laguna Beach. This one features two characters we met in previous books, Jerry and Mick.
Jerry is Rodney’s best friend and is now a firefighter. As the book begins he gets dumped via text by the guy he started seeing in Rodney’s story, Fire Balls. He is pretty upset and down on himself so when the resident homophobe at the station, Mick, slings another insult his way he loses his temper. When he goes back to the bench by his locker and slumps down Mick, who is spying on him from the hall, feels bad and goes in to talk to him. The kindness surprises Jerry and things take a turn from there.
Turns out Mick is from a deeply religious community and his father is a bible thumping, fire and brimstone, virulently anti-gay preacher. Mick has been indoctrinated since birth. And while it turns out Mick is actually a genius he is unbelievably innocent and naïve thanks to his upbringing. Jerry begins to see the good in him and helps him deal with the information disconnect he is experiencing.
While the dialog is hard to get through at points because both MCs often come often as simpletons, and there is a lot of telling as opposed to showing, the story is one that grabs at your emotions. When you fully latch on to Jerry’s background, his baggage and the emotional toll it’s taken on his self worth you just want to wrap him in a bear hug. When you understand Mick’s background you want to throat punch someone. Some secondary characters contribute to the story arc and one in particular is responsible for both big crisis moments. Unfortunately we never get a come-to-Jesus moment with him and that really bugged me as I wanted to truly see him get what he deserved.
I am really enjoying this world of Lain’s and look forward to the next book.
Fast Balls by Tara Lain was a wonderful book. It showed the enlightenment of Mick, a firefighter and known homophobe. His whole life he has been told that gays were at fault for everything but when he meets Jerry, a coworker, he starts to see that what he was told and what he sees and feels are completely different. Reading Mick rediscover himself and begin to love himself was beautiful and shows that living for yourself is more important than living anyone else’s idea of how you should live and love.
Jerry and Mick are both firefighters. Due to Micks family issues, acts like he’s straight but he’s in the closet. Jerry is a good, kind person who Mick talks down. This was a great addition to the Balls to the Wall series. Loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received from Gay Romance Reviews. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.