30 of 32 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Christmas Story, December 6, 2010 By R.J. Scott has outdone herself once again with this newest book. Zach Weston is a 17 year old throwaway, beaten severely by his homophobic father and kicked out of his home at gun point when he refused to join the army. Alone, starving and cold, Zach is rustled out of a beautiful Christmas dream while sleeping on a snow covered bench by Officer Ben Hamilton. It's Christmas Eve and Ben takes pity on the poor boy by taking him home for hot food and a warm bed instead of to jail. Zach's life will never be the same after Momma Hamilton embraces him. But what can Ben do for this boy? This book surpasses even my favorite R.J. Scott book Oracle. Anyone interested in The Trevor Project needs to read this amazing and heart warming book of love, acceptance and compassion. I whole heartedly recommend this book you won't be disappointed. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful 3.0 out of 5 stars A feel-good, curl-up-beside-the-fire read, December 23, 2010 By At the risk of seeming Grinch-like at this time of year, I found The "Christmas Throwaway" by RJ Scott [Silver Publishing, 2010] a bit too saccharin for my taste.
The premise of the story is that Zachary Weston, an almost-eighteen-year-old castaway, thrown out by an abusive, homophobic father, takes refuge in a small town with a small police force and young cop (Ben Hamilton) who happens to be gay.
Moved by the young lad's plight and the spirit of Christmas, Hamilton takes him under his wing and under the protection of his family--most particularly his nurturing mother. Zachary is readily accepted by all, except for Jamie--Ben's married brother--who quite reasonably has some reservations about bringing a total stranger under his mother's roof. Other members of the supporting cast are Ellie, Ben's younger sister; Mark his long-standing, best friend, and Melanie--Mark's wife and the town doctor.
After considerable toing and froing the inevitable happens, and Ben and Zach fall in love. The issue of Zach's previous home life is also resolved--quite surprisingly in the end.
Overall assessment
Journalistically, this is a well-written story. The premise, although somewhat lacking in originality, is also well-developed with some interesting plot twists here and there. Where it suffers, however, is in a noticeable lack of any real tension or drama. The characters are just too cloyingly nice to one another, and what tension there is comes across as mildly contrived.
Nonetheless, it is a feel-good story with likable characters and a happy ending, and if are looking for a good curl-up-beside-the-fire read, then this is a book for you. Three-and-one-half stars. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story, December 15, 2010 By Wonderful feel good Christmas story, makes you wish for more cops like Ben in real life to help kids like Zach. I also really liked that writer did not turn it into romance too quickly, it would have just robbed the story of the "right Christmas spirit" to borrow RP's expression :-).
It was nice to see Ben remembering that he is a cop who decided to help abused kid first, even if the age difference between them is significantly less than what I saw in many romances and when romance eventually develops over the years, it is so very lovely. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, November 28, 2011 By This review is from: The Christmas Throwaway (Paperback) "The Christmas Throwaway" by RJ Scott is one of the most sweetest books I've read i love all things gay and this book is just amazing. Zach is rustled out of a beautiful Christmas dream while sleeping on a snow covered bench by Officer Ben Hamilton. It's Christmas Eve and Ben takes pity on the poor boy by taking him home for hot food and a warm bed instead of to jail. Zach's life will never be the same after Momma Hamilton embraces him. Ben as of now is straight but this boy can change his mind. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Quick read-Good Story, October 7, 2011 By This review is from: The Christmas Throwaway (Paperback) Just happened to see this book listed and decided I liked the story line because I do not believe kids should be mistreated for any reason--and the thought of a kid being kicked out of his home because he did not live up to his father's expectations is totally unbelievable that a parent would do something like that--I believe there are some people out there who are truly nice like the family that takes the main character in. Brought me to tears several times--I highly recommend this book Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars The Christmas Throwaway -Great Story, August 30, 2011 By The Christmas Throwaway is a wonderful story with sympathetic characters, interesting situations & very good plot development. The main guy is a young teen thrown out of his home because he is gay. His feelings & emotions are realistic & those who befriend him also are well described. Empathetic & understanding too. One wishes that any thrown out young person could also find a loving home as the hero in this story does, I enjoyed reading it very much. ~ Eldon Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, June 25, 2011 By When I first got the book I thought that maybe it would be short and sweet and kinda dull, but after I started to read it I fell in love with the charachters and the story. The whole fact that there are people out there even if it is in a story warmed my heart. I fell head over heals in love wtih Zach. And when Ben came into the picture I just fell more in love with him. The way the story is, it really makes you want to go on with the story. I couldnt put it down. I highly recomend this book, and have let a few of my friends read it and they too and fallen in love with Zach and Ben. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Strong characters and heartfelt emotions elevate this tale., January 18, 2011 By I have to give this about four stars. I really liked the story. It has some nice character development and verbalizes some strong emotions from the characters very well. The pacing seems a little off at later points in the novel, but it still works well as a whole and has some scenes that truly stand out.
Zach is 17 years old and gay. When "treatments" didn't work, his father threw him out. It's two days before his 18th birthday, Christmas Eve, and all Zach wants to do is try to grab a little sleep on a bench in a churchyard. It's snowing, cold, and he has only minimal clothing (thankfully they're in Virginia and not Wisconsin). Officer Ben Hamilton comes along, finds Zach, and doesn't have the heart to bring him into the station or even force him on his way. He takes him to his mother's house where he is cared for by his family, and it's there that Zach starts to find a place for himself in the world.
A rather simple tale, but nicely executed. I mentioned that the pacing seems off later in the novel. The story does move at a leisurely pace, with many chapters covering only a few days, but then makes some jumps later where it's many months later. That's about the only negative I can find to this story. The positives greatly outweigh the slight unevenness in the telling.
There have been only a few stories I've read where there was nothing notable worth mentioning. Even in stories you may consider not very good, there could be passages that strike a nerve. A piece of prose that's creative, a play on words that's particularly clever. This story has that in its opening. An interplay between Zach dreaming of a warm cozy Christmas while he's freezing on a bench, and the voice of Ben telling him he can't sleep there. It works and it sticks in your memory.
The author does an admirable job of making Zach feel like a 17-year-old. He's been traumatized and trust doesn't come easily to him. He suffers panic attacks and is deeply flawed. Yet he still possesses that youthful naivete that tells him in two days, when he turns 18, he'll be an adult and all will be well. Those around him know better, and it takes him time to figure it out himself... that he has nowhere to go, but doesn't need to since these loving people care for him and will help. Ben is wonderfully written as a caring cop who soon realizes he has an attraction to Zach, but is also too responsible to allow anything to become of it. He's about six years older, after all, and a police officer. Even when Zach turns 18, he refuses to act on his attraction. Zach is someone in his care, and as long as he's caring for Zach, he'll never take advantage of the situation.
It's a sweet loving tale and is quite enjoyable and memorable. I'm glad it's a part of my library. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Present, January 1, 2011 By This was my first ebook purchase ... not knowing what to expect, I couldn't stop reading! The story was magical to me, I wanted to be both characters. I only wished it was longer. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and beautiful Christmas Story, December 2, 2011 By So I guess a couple of things you should know about me are that I was CFO for a residential treatment center for abused adolescents for the past ten years, and that I am a gay man. Some of the kids were gay, some not. All had suffered some level of abuse - mental, physical, sexual. These were 12 - 17 year old kids, most of whom were abandoned or neglected, beaten, raped, prostituted out. We were one step down from psychiatric hospitalization, and some of the stories I could tell you...you cannot imagine. Really.
And I loved so many of these kids. The boys and the girls. But there were a few special kids, and one in particular, who was a throwaway,a young person tossed out of their homes for being gay, or for getting on a parent's nerves, or whatever, but tossed out with nowhere to go and usually no money. Mom and dad not in the picture anymore, thank God, but he and his sister were...thrown away... like some of us would throw away garbage. This particular young man had a lot of issues, and his life was hard, but he and I bonded over my dog (we could bring our pets in and he learned empathy from working with pets, and he loved my lab Samantha). He was 15 or 16, and just opening up about his sexuality, and just a beautiful and kind and sweet young man and if I could have adopted him I would have in a freakin minute.
Anyway, that is my background.
So, in this fantastic, stunningly crafted tale of humanity and hope, Zachary is a 17 year old throwaway. A young man tossed out of his home for being gay, beaten and broken, a little over a week before he turned 18, with just a few dollars in his pocket and the clothes on his back. The week before Christmas, Zachary's dad drives him out from home at gunpoint.
Ben is a police officer, working back in his hometown, fresh out of college, coming back home to work to make a difference and to keep the people in his town safe. And he chances upon Zachary, asleep on a bench in front of the local church, exhausted and tired, on Christmas Eve. When he sees this fragile young man, something in him makes him take the young man home for a meal, a shower and a warm bed, rather than rousting or arresting him.
When Ben takes him to his mother's home, Zachary sees what family can be - loving, fun, sharing, looking out for one another rather than being afraid, beaten and controlled. Will Zachary find the strength to take a stand for himself and what he wants in life? And will the budding attraction between Ben and Zachary bloom into something special?
RJ Scott has written a touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming story of hope, giving and receiving, and Christmas miracles. I was so deeply touched by the delicate, sentiment here - pure Christmas spirit without the glitter or schmaltz, tenderness without overkill. I read this novella last year, and loved it. When I brought it back up from my archive this year, I was reminded how truly special this story is.
And, to finish my story from earlier, this beautiful young man who I began to love, like a son, ran away right before Christmas from our facility, and I only saw him one more time. He was prostituting himself, living with an older man who was his pimp. When I approached him, he was strung out, looking for a fix, and recognized me. His come on stuttered to a stop, and he took off before I could get the words, "Let me help" out of my mouth.
Not all throwaways find a home.
If you can, spare a prayer for him this Christmas.
Tom
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas Read, January 4, 2011 By I bought this book for my kindle 2. I loved the book. Dont liet the price fool you. It is well written and you can feel the emotion expressed by the characters. I recommed this to anyone that wants a book you cant put down. I read this in two sitting. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Heartwarming Story, January 2, 2011 By I loved this book, its perfect for not only Christmas, but all year round. The story is simply a small town sherif picks up a young runaway on Christmas Eve, and instead of arresting him he takes him home to his mum, gives him a home and helps him decide what he wants to do with his life. Love blossoms between them but in such a way that doesn't impact the integrity of the story. It's a heartwarming story and I can't wait to read more by this author Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, December 29, 2010 By First off I have to say kudos to the author for handling a difficult subject matter with dignity. You most certainly gave Zach a wonderful voice and it was refreshing to read a wonderful storyline that will stay with me for quite some time.
I won't go into details because that would only ruin the novella for others. But with solid writing, good pacing and memorable characters with heart, how could any fan of m/m romance go wrong?
I look forward to reading more from this author. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved The Book But, December 19, 2010 By I really did like the book and it was a nice tear jerker book. Brian who is a rookie cop in town finds Zach asleep and freezing on a bench on Christmas eve. Brian takes Zach in and offers him warm place to sleep, warm clothes and a hot meal. Zach was thrown out into the streets by his brutal military dad who tried to beat the gayness out of Zach. Brian who is also gay takes Brian under his wings and eventually they fall in love, you could see that coming. Anyway, I enjoyed the book so much that I read it all in one sitting but the only complaint I would have is the last few pages of the book went to the graphic sex which I don't think did anything for the book in general. I think that part made a perfect book a bit trashy but I still gave it five stars. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet enough to cause cavities, March 4, 2012 By This was a really sweet little story. I loved the premise & the characters. It was nice that despite the word length, Scott allowed the romance to develop over time & didn't rush the HEA. I liked that the bad guy got what he deserved & the good guys won. It was a tad saccharine. It was a tad clichรฉ. But I enjoyed reading it despite that. I wouldn't say the book was brilliant but it was a nice feel-good, quick & easy read. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying read, November 14, 2011 By This review is from: The Christmas Throwaway (Paperback) Reviewed by Emmarae Review copy provided by purchased for pleasure
Zach's father tried to "turn him straight", and he didn't do it gently. Ben finds him skittish and hungry sleeping in the snow on a bench. I liked that Zach was a tall guy in this. Though he was gaunt from abuse, he wasn't the stereotypical "little guy" victim. His character grew up a lot in the book, and the author allowed him to mature before entering into a relationship with his rescuer. I had some problems with this book, but it was still a lovely read.
The book is a little too shiny for a story of abuse. The author wrote some great character into Zach, but at times things didn't match up to someone who'd endured years of physical and mental abuse. I was a bit confused because we learn Zach's story in bits and pieces. That's usually fine, but I found myself backing up to check things often. Ben's family is fabulous and really carry the book.
I guess the book was short and things had to be glossed over. I liked the family part of this book a great deal more than any relationship between Ben and Zach. They went well together, but the chemistry wasn't there for me. I guess it's hard to build chemistry or sexual tension with an underage victim of abuse. That would have been a huge turn-off. You can have confidence that Zach's character matured before anything happened between him and Ben. The sex is graphic, however without the chemistry the it wasn't as erotic as you might be expecting. I think this story would appeal more to people who read non-erotic fiction if the end was softer.
I do like the ending though. The book isn't two months of recovery followed by a torrid affair with a cop. A great foundation is built with a loving home for most of the book, then each chapter jumps forward in time to significant events. All the loose ends are addressed. I love a great family story. In the end, you're left with assurance that Zach will develop into quite the man, and they'll live happily ever after surrounded by friends and family in a picture perfect town. Which is what we all want in fiction, isn't it? Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas winner!, October 17, 2011 By RJ Scott has created a heartwarming gay romance involving two characters of different ages. Zach is a teenager who has run away from an abusive, and Ben the caring cop who takes him under his wing ang gives him shelter over Christmas. Ben's loving family and the small town where the action takes place are as much characters in this novel as the two main protagonists. As is appropriate for the age difference, the two men delay consummating their relationship, and so the sexual tension is high, but does not translate directly into gratituous sexual action. The manner in which their love develops is truly touching. A winner of a book, and just right for a Christmas stocking! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful movie, June 8, 2011 By This review is from: The Christmas Throwaway (Paperback) I got the Kindle edition of this book, and loved it. It was a perfect story of love, and the generous spirit of giving. The characters all seemed very real to me, and I like that the romance wasn't rushed. I highly recommend this story. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming, April 26, 2011 By Very good story involving a runaway kid and the young policeman who found him outside a church on Christmas Eve and actually took in. The writer developed their relationship and growing affection in a good pace. I could almost find myself being accepted as a member of that loving family. The "sex" part doesn't appear until a bit later in the story. I somehow wish the other minor characters would have more stage time in the store: the doctor, her husband, for instance. I recommend this book if you are looking for something that is not sensational and yet comforting. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars pretty good, March 21, 2011 By I enjoyed the read. I felt the author did a pretty good job with the story. Nothing really to complain about here. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Romance around Christmas. A True Christmas Miracle!, December 23, 2010 By This was my first RJ Scott book. First the story is very realistic in that it could happen. Also Ben not just jump into romance because he wanted it. He wanted it to last and be real. I think if more people were open to giving and love then they may receive something even better in return. This book was an easy read and I could not put it down. I rad it all in one night. I will be looking for more RJ Scott books tonight. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars A story with the right Christmas spirit!, December 12, 2010 By For me this story is not so much a romance as a story of compassion and love for mankind. The beginning of the story is beautifully written and really tugs at my heart. Zach's dream as he sleeps in the freezing cold in a church yard is beautiful writing. Who will take pity on this homeless underage teen and truly save him? Enter Ben, a young police officer with a big heart. Ben could have delivered this underage teen to the authority. But no, he brings Zach into the folds of his loving family and helps Zach to heal. Right this defies credibility. Noone will go to that extend to help a stranger in real life, reasons brought up realistically by Ben's own suspicious brother. But this is the type of story we need. Zach's fears, innocence and plight as a gay teen is convincingly expressed here. I also like the developing romance between Zach and Ben which spans a few years. The spirit and the message this story tries to convey surely deserves a 5 stars. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, good feelings..., February 7, 2011 By A sweet story with all the trappings of romance. Would that runaways and street kids all had this kind of resolution to their problems. Just a good escapist story. I enjoyed it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars good read, January 22, 2011 By Enjoyed this one very much. I read a great deal while traveling but only write reviews that are five stars as I don't have time for anythingless. This book I found to be very well put together, and researched, there might have been a few bumps or places I might have said maybe, but in general and as a whole, I love it and will recommend it to others. I am a member of the Aspen Book Club in Colorado, the Brooklyn Hatters Book Club, "The Manhattan Book club" the European book club and the Linnenbach Readers (Book) club. I have to say that I am on the move, on the road so often that read has become an outlet and using Amazons reader a great way to reduce the hours, 5 cheers to this author, I am very happy with this book and will recommend it to others. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Not much to add, except ..., January 7, 2011 By I found this to be a sweet story that was a quick, entertaining read. No heavy plot here but the writing is solid and the main characters, Zach and Ben, are quite lovable. Four stars because it left me saying, "Awww, I really liked that" at the end. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
3.0 out of 5 stars didn't quite work for me, October 27, 2012 By Zach Weston comes from a horrific place and is rescued, really like a puppy, by Ben, the newbie cop with a heart of gold. It's not that it's badly written, it wasn't. It's just that it was too sweet for me, even with the Christmas theme. And I was worried about how young and vulnerable Zach was, and how insta love Ben was. This is a very sweet (almost treacle) gentle romance but it didn't quite work for me. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
2.0 out of 5 stars T'is the season for disappointment, October 18, 2012 By I really, really wanted this to be the Christmas book of the year, but I'd also like peace on earth and good will toward men. That isn't likely to happen either. For a first effort this story is a good try, perhaps a very good try. That said, it is clearly the work of a young author who is still lacking in the ability to create a believable time line. The books print is either double or triple spaced so the reader may well be disappointed in both the quality and quantity of read. A good editor would have worked on this problem before allowing it to be published, but that didn't happen. There are grammatical errors throughout that can be easily overlooked, but the deathblow comes at the end. Had this story been written by a gay male the book would have read much differently and the timelines would have been vastly different. Instead, our young lady author offers us her vision of what a first gay love might be like. If only she knew, this would be a much more complex story and perhaps a move believable one. I urge the writer to keep going, but to include more research the next time. A lot more. Looking for light read? Go for it and let's encourage this author. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Must Read, September 22, 2012 By This review is from: The Christmas Throwaway (Paperback) I absolutely loved this book! If you like LGBT type literature, this one is for you. It's a heartwarming story that is beautifully written - a true love story! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
5.0 out of 5 stars A FABULOUS BOOK!, May 29, 2012 By This book is really one of my favorites after I read it. The beginning had me all teary. Zach's background is really sad. A crazy homophobic father and a weak mother... and all those beatings he got that are engraved on his back had me teary so many times. The author really did a good job at grabbing my emotions. The compassionate love between Zach and Ben was so deep and heartfelt. It doesn't matter if they are six years apart because for Zach, Ben will always be his comfort and the one to always be there for him. Definitely recommend this book to readers out there :) Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
4.0 out of 5 stars Was OK, March 16, 2012 By This book was an OK afternoon read, being as it was not really very long. I found it pretty typical, if rather in the form of a "wet dream" book. It was not at all realistic, and I doubt that in realy life any of the people in this book would have been so accepting as the deputy's family and friends were. But it was sweet and it was a love story in the form of a gay romance novel. Not what I would actually call literature, but a cute read. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No |