Reviewed by Kat
This is a Series Review of Wrestling (Books 1 -3)
AUTHOR: D. H. Starr
SERIES REVIEW:
I have come to appreciate this series way more than I would have initially believed. The story of the lives of Derek Thompson and Scott Thayer and all that they have triumphed over beating adversity was both heart-warming and believable. I originally said that I would be more than happy to review this if I was allowed to read and review the entire series. I am so thankful that I made this request. Coming into the story on book three would have been an injustice to both the series and to myself. This series has followed these young men’s journey as they reached out to embrace their love for each other and seeking the needs that they both required. It was refreshing to not see cheating but to see loyalty and faithfulness, something that has been lacking lately in some of the books that I have read. If you truly love someone, you stand beside them through tough times and the good times. D. H. Starr triumphs in this spectacularly! I have just discovered that this is not the end of the series and I wait impatiently for the next in the series.
SERIES RATING: 
TITLE: Wrestling with Desire
PUBLISHER: Featherweight Press
LENGTH: 300 pages
BLURB:
Derek Thompson is a senior, a wrestler, and has a secret. He’s gay.
Scott Thayer is a new student who has just moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts from Iowa. On the first day of school Derek and Scott meet and their lives change in an instant.
As Derek and Scott discover the things they have in common, they enter into one of the closest and most loving relationships either of them has ever experienced. When unexpected circumstances threaten their relationship, they both have to make a decision. DO they protect their secret and separate? Or fight for what they want…each other?
REVIEW:
When I started this series I had not realized that the first book was YA. I had said I would do the review of the newest book if I could read and do the review on the entire series. I am not a “pick up a book mid-series” kind of reader.
I had not read a Young Adult in quite some time and it was refreshing. I have just retired from working in education, specifically High School, for many years. I was surprised and relieved to have Mr. Starr take it slowly, unlike the many rush into love and sex books that are flooding the market recently. Yes, it was like “tell him you like him” and get on to your lives at points but that is what real life in high school is like, “does he/she like me”? It is even more difficult for a young man who is extremely closeted and very active in sports. The fear of being “discovered” is terrifying for the young men who have to live and deal with our homophobic world surrounding them. Mr. Starr does a wonderful job in not only stating their fears but also in letting you in on a peak of what it is like to live with these secrets!
D. H. Starr shares with us the life of wrestling star Derek Thompson, a young very closeted gay teenager entering his senior in high school. He has only ever come out to one person in his life, his best friend Beck. Enter on the first day back to school, transfer student Scott Thayer, Derek’s walking wet dream. Beck is extremely concerned with her BFF’s instant notice of the very good looking young man that has just entered their lives. To top it off, Scott is a wrestling champion also. These two teenage men embark on a journey of self-discovery and friendship that turns to romance and love. It was a treat to accompany them on their discovery of both each other and their finally acting upon their sexual nature in a rather innocent and cautious way. It was both sweet and endearing as these two young men reach out to each other and learn to trust their gut feelings.
I appreciated the inclusion of the supporting members in this story. Derek’s parents and Beck were quite rewarding to read as was the glimpses into Scott’s mom. Scott’s father was a horror to read and endure. I am unsure what the final resolution in their lives was with his dad but it was awesome to have his mom finally stand up for Scott. What I found most rewarding was the support that they all gave to the boys.
I applaud D. H. Starr’s work and how it opens up to readers the trials that confront our gay young teenage men of today! I proudly give this book a resounding 4.5 stars! It is a fresh and real look at teenage gay life today.
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TITLE: Wrestling with Love
PUBLISHER: Ai Press
LENGTH: 244 pages
BLURB:
Derek Thompson and Scott Thayer met in high school. Facing challenges and overcoming obstacles that would make lesser young men fold, they now have the chance to forge a life together. As they enter college, they finally have the time and space to discover each other sexually and give their virginity to each other. However, in spite of the erotic thrill of exploration, there are still challenges ahead, challenges that will test their love and devotion…
While Derek wants to live as an openly gay man, Scott wishes to maintain a degree of privacy. Not only that, but another freshman, Tyrell Jackson, becomes infatuated with Derek and wants Derek for his own. In the face of these threats to their burgeoning relationship, Derek and Scott are forced to look within themselves and make difficult decisions which will change both of their lives forever.
Is their relationship strong enough to bear the strain of balancing their needs as individuals and as a couple? The only way Derek and Scott will attain their ultimate reward is by finding the courage to face their fears. Will they rise to the challenge?
Publisher’s note: This book was previously published under the title “Reward of Courage”.
REVIEW:
I have to say that I was surprised that the author took the giant leap from YA to Erotic Romance in a series but it worked for their story. I was fearful in the fact that he might have lost some readers or that younger readers might read on in the series. The story line dictated that Derek and Scott’s relationship grow more mature now that they have headed on to college.
Derek and Scott have decided to attend Boston University. Not only is it close to their families and Beck, their best friend, but it was one of the colleges that they had both applied to and been accepted. They are eager to move on to the next phase of their lives, intimacy. This should be easy because they are roommates and that will allow them to explore their relationship more. This sounds all good and easy but we have two men who not only love each other deeply, but they are both virgins. The fear of hurting the other or not doing “it” right was especially tender and sweet. I have to admit, I was also surprised by Derek stepping away from wrestling completely after it had been such a large part of his life. Then I thought about it and it all made more sense. He had what he had always wanted in life, Scott, the person that was his soul mate and partner. He is now ready to explore the life that is his destiny, an openly gay man. The problem with this is that Scott is nowhere ready to begin that part of his life. He has made the college wrestling team and still lives with the same fears that they had in high school, homophobic fears that face athletes. It was interesting to see how their lives were influenced and changed by the events that took place. The quick glimpse it how it could be when they visited New York was a treat. Seeing Scott relax after he saw how it was there and Derek embracing it opened the door for their next step. The gradual acceptance of Scott later to move more open although that was a forced part that was unfortunate, was rewarding and exciting.
There was another portion of the story involving a young man named Tyrell that was hard to read. He was so jaded and bitter. I would have liked to have him “forced” into counseling but that never works, so the story line made sense. It was so hard to see the struggles that Scott endured while trying to support Derek’s journey while also worrying about him and his personal and emotional safety. I loved how Derek’s parents and Scott’s mom were accepting of their sexual preference. They were warm and encouraging to both men and so accepting of their partnership.
I have become hooked on these two men and their journey into adulthood. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. I give this a 4.5 stars even though I still am a bit anxious about the whole YA to Erotic Romance thing.
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TITLE: Wrestling with Passion
PUBLISHER: Ai Press
LENGTH: 280 pages
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Scott and Derek’s epic passion continues into sophomore year with new challenges to face and overcome. There is one problem: How can you fight an adversary you can’t see?
Derek has always helped others, often placing himself in risky situations. Scott has lived with instability his entire life, moving from place to place, never able to set roots. Surviving the obstacles set in place by Scott’s unloving father and overcoming the threat of an unstable fellow student their freshman year, they start their second year of college believing they’ve overcome all of the barriers blocking their future happiness.
All that changes when a troubled student, Tim, enters their lives. Derek can’t help but reach out to the drug-abusing freshman. Scott can’t suppress the paralyzing fear of losing Derek, the one stable thing in his life. As they compromise their own internal needs in an effort to support each other, resentment builds and guilt festers.
Is this new obstacle, the demons that live deep inside each of them, the one that might tear them apart?
REVIEW:
We have now gone on to Derek and Scott’s sophomore year of college at Boston University. We pick up the story just before they head back. Scott has planned a surprise trip for their last days of the summer together. Summer had been hard since Derek’s mom had imposed a no engaged or married, no sex rule under her roof. The men have been used to living and loving each other for the last year and after the “attacks” on them by Tyrell they were in need of each other even more. Scott’s camping trip turned into the answer to dreams for each of them. It was a romantic and erotic escape to a desolated spot on a mountain that fulfilled each of them. You catch more glimpses into what makes Scott the way he is and how hard he struggles with how his past has impacted him.
The true treat was getting to see how Scott learned to embrace life and understand Derek even more. Music has been a strong theme and a part of what makes Derek tick. I have learned a lot about mixing music as I have never been a part of it and its workings before. It was fascinating to see how this part became a pivotal part of their story. I still struggled along with Scott in letting Derek embrace and chase his future in helping people. We have seen in all three books that Derek is aware of people’s needs and jumps to help them. His struggle with keeping Scott’s need for him to be safe and his need to reach out was rocked to the core for both of them when they were challenged with a new freshman that moved in next to them, Tim. Tim was a key force in opening their eyes to how much they needed each other, but had to learn to balance this need with their own struggles and needs. The challenge was poignant and heartbreaking at times and brought tears to my eyes as they had such a difficult time struggling to help each other, and also to learn how to effectively communicate.
I cannot wait for the next book that I have seen Mr. Starr has not only started on but is part way finished. For his fans to have waited for this segment, it must have been torturous because I know for a fact that I am not a patient reader waiting for my next book. I will be longing for it! I cannot wait to see where Derek and Scott go next as I am totally and completely captivated by these two strong, sensitive and endearing men. Another 4.5 stars for you D. H. Starr as you have me waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book!
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