Ethan in Gold

September 30, 2013 by d.blue

Title : Ethan in Gold

Series : Johnnies, Book #3

Author : Amy Lane

Publisher : Dreamspinner Press (BUY HERE)

Genre : M/M, Contemporary

Length : 350 pages (e-book)

Published : October 4, 2013

Rating : ★★★★★

Blurb:

Evan Costa learned from a very early age that there was no such thing as unconditional love and that it was better to settle for what you could get instead of expecting the world to give you what you need. As Ethan, porn model for Johnnies, he gets exactly what he wants—comradeship and physical contact on trade—and he is perfectly satisfied with that. He’s sure of it.

Jonah Stevens has spent most of his adult life helping to care for his sister and trying to keep his beleaguered family from fraying at the edges. He’s had very little time to work on his confidence or his body for that matter. When Jonah meets Ethan, he doesn’t see the hurt child or the shamelessly slutty porn star. He sees a funny, sexy, confident man who—against the odds—seems to like Jonah in spite of his very ordinary, but difficult, life.

Sensing a kindred spirit and a common interest, Ethan thinks a platonic friendship with Jonah won’t violate his fair trade rules of sex and touch, but Jonah has different ideas. Ethan’s pretty sure his choice of jobs has stripped away all hope of a real relationship, but Jonah wants the whole package—the sexy man, the vulnerable boy, the charming companion who works so hard to make other people happy. Jonah wants to prove that underneath the damage Ethan has lived with all his life, he’s still gold with promise and the ability to love.

Review:

Have you ever loved a book so much that you want to tell everyone you know about it? About how it made you feel, all the great lines and quotes and scenes? Well, Ethan in Gold is one of those books for me.

Ethan in Gold is the third book in the Johnnies series by Amy Lane. If you are not familiar with the series, it is about the young men who work as models for a porn site called Johnnies. Each book focuses on a main character/couple but the supporting characters are just as much a part of the story. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I urge you to read all of the books in the series. They are wonderful.

Evan Costa’s life was forever changed when he was five years old. He was molested by an aide at his school, which is an awful experience in itself, but made worse by his mother’s reaction. From that moment forward she no longer will touch Evan and will not let anyone else touch him either. It is heart breaking to see how this woman treated her family, especially Evan after this happened. Luckily Evan has a wonderful therapist and is able to talk to him about anything, but the lack of touch has taken its toll and his need for touch is overwhelming. When it is suggested he join the anime club at his school he jumps at the chance. Here he is accepted and hugs are freely given. Evan bulks up and becomes the group’s protector, which furthers his sense of belonging. In return he has the companionship and touch he craves. No situation is perfect and some of the members of their group have serious problems they are dealing with too. The four closest friends, Ethan, Ryane, Curtis and Brittany share experiences that will shape the rest of their lives. Some will comfort one another and others will be devastating. When they graduate and Ry goes to college, Evan is lost. Then he finds Johnnies on the internet and sees that they are taking applications. After a successful interview with Dex, Evan becomes Ethan, the newest model at Johnnies.

The story moves forward two years in the future and we see Tommy applying for a job at PetsMart with Ethan as his moral support. Two employees are at break when they come in, Regina and Jonah. Jonah can’t believe the two gorgeous gods that have entered their space, much less that the Italian one wants to sit and talk to them. Jonah lives at home with his mom and sister Amelia (affectionately known as Melly). Melly has Cystic Fibrosis and it is a constant struggle to keep her well. Melly is sixteen and rebels against what she should do versus what she does to be a normal teenager. Her character is funny, sweet and I couldn’t help but love her. Jonah has pretty much devoted his life to helping his parents take care of Amelia but the love the siblings have for one another is obvious. Jonah is very attracted to Ethan but Tommy warns him that his friends are a bit messed up and he may not want to get involved. Ethan says the same but would like to be friends with Jonah, they both share a love for anime and it is something they can do together. Jonah would like more but Ethan does not feel he is worthy of having a relationship with someone like Jonah because of his job at Johnnies.

This is where I will stop. There is so much that happens with Ethan and Jonah and the supporting characters in this book. I really loved the way the story is set in the time frame from the previous books but it is not obvious unless you have read them. If you are new to the series, it will not leave you feeling like you are missing something (although you really need to go back and get the “whole” story – it is so worth it).

There are laugh out loud moments and the chemistry between Ethan and Jonah is wonderful to watch. Ethan is really a pretty together guy for what he has gone through. There were times I was so angry with certain characters (cough, Ethan’s mother, cough) I was livid and cried at other times. This book also has one of the most romantic scenes and quotes I have read in a long time. Totally sigh worthy.

Amy Lane is brilliant. She knows how to weave a story that pulls on all my emotions and makes me feel like the characters are my family, my friends. I felt honored to be able to review this ARC of Ethan in Gold. I devoured it, savored it and enjoyed it thoroughly! Yes, I am an Amy Lane fan. She writes beautiful, touching stories and if you have not read any of her work, you are missing out.

… and 5♥ for the most romantic love scene I have read in a while!

Go. Buy the Book!