kbranfield's review
4.0
The Secrets of Neverwood anthology begins with G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes. Calvin "Cal" Ware kept in close touch with Audrey and in the aftermath of her death, he is overwhelmed by the financial burden of renovating the rundown Victorian home. Adding to Cal's stress are his strained relationships with his foster brothers, and his renewed acquaintance with his first love, Will Cabot.
One Door Closes is written from Cal's perspective but he is not an easy character to get to know. He is haunted by his unresolved relationship with Will and he finds it virtually impossible to talk about anything in his past, including the reasons surrounding their break-up. Cal's secrets are alluded to on numerous occasions, but nothing concrete is revealed until nearly the very end of the story.
Cal's interactions with his foster brothers are tense and often overshadowed by some of his bitterness for past events. He finds it difficult to ask them for help and since both men are as close-mouthed as Cal is, he has no idea what their intentions are regarding their inheritance. The tension between the men continues to mount until Cal's resentment leads to a much needed discussion about the future of the house.
Both the paranormal and romantic elements of One Door Closes are understated for much of the novel. Audrey's ghostly appearances are vague in the beginning and the reasons for her visits remain unclear until the story's conclusion. Cal and Will eventually rekindle their teenage romance but this does not occur until very late in the book.
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is a fabulous introduction to the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. I am very intrigued by the glimpses of Cal's foster brothers and I am very much anticipating their stories.
One Door Closes is written from Cal's perspective but he is not an easy character to get to know. He is haunted by his unresolved relationship with Will and he finds it virtually impossible to talk about anything in his past, including the reasons surrounding their break-up. Cal's secrets are alluded to on numerous occasions, but nothing concrete is revealed until nearly the very end of the story.
Cal's interactions with his foster brothers are tense and often overshadowed by some of his bitterness for past events. He finds it difficult to ask them for help and since both men are as close-mouthed as Cal is, he has no idea what their intentions are regarding their inheritance. The tension between the men continues to mount until Cal's resentment leads to a much needed discussion about the future of the house.
Both the paranormal and romantic elements of One Door Closes are understated for much of the novel. Audrey's ghostly appearances are vague in the beginning and the reasons for her visits remain unclear until the story's conclusion. Cal and Will eventually rekindle their teenage romance but this does not occur until very late in the book.
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is a fabulous introduction to the Secrets of Neverwood anthology. I am very intrigued by the glimpses of Cal's foster brothers and I am very much anticipating their stories.
papercranestitches's review
3.0
G.B. Lindsey's One Door Closes is the first in a trilogy about three estranged foster brothers - all virtual strangers to one another - who are brought together following the death of their foster mother, Audrey Rasmussen. Before her death, Audrey sends a letter to each of her boys, imparting love and wisdom, but most importantly, imploring them to return to the sprawling Victorian mansion they once called home. It doesn't take long before Calvin, Devon, and Danny, each fueled by their own reasons (or perhaps chased by their own demons), come home.
Each installment in this series focuses on the story of a one brother and is written by a different author - G.B. Lindsey, Diana Copland, and Libby Drew, respectively. Over the last few years I've read a couple of series that have been written this way, but few had characters that were so entwined. Having only read the first book in this series, I can't judge yet whether approaching the series in this way was a stroke of brilliance or a disaster waiting to happen (let's hope it's the former).
My experience reading this book was a bit of a mixed bag. As the author tasked with setting up the premise of the series, establishing the personalities of the main characters and their relationships with one another, and weaving Cal and Will's second-chance-at-love story throughout, G.B. Lindsey had arguably the most difficult job of the bunch.
Unfortunately, because so much information about the characters was inferred rather than stated outright, the first two-thirds of the book felt like a bit of a slog to get through. Cal is our narrator, but the readers are only teased with the issues looming in his past. Devon's a passionate artist, but again, mostly a mystery (he literally comes and goes throughout the novel and we never discover why). Danny's young and self-centred with it. We eventually discover that he's, but his story isn't this author's to tell, and so we, the readers, are left in the dark again. And then there's the history between Calvin and Will. They were high school sweethearts, but one night something went terribly wrong and they've never spoken since. Of course, it took most of the novel to find out even that much. Any one of these details being held back from the reader wouldn't be a big deal - in fact, it would be smart storytelling - but having all of these blanks in the same novel made the story seem disjointed as the author fought to write around revealing these details too early (or at all, as the case may be).
As frustrated as I was with the first 65-70% of the novel, the last third hit pretty close to home and my empathy for the characters skyrocketed. When Calvin and Will finally become intimate with one another, the intensity of the scene was like a punch to my solar plexus. And I loved that Lindsey didn't give her characters a generic hearts and rainbows ending - it wouldn't have been true to their story. Instead, there was understanding and love and a willingness to try that was lovely all the same.
I'm very interested to see how Diana Copland tackles Danny's story and the strengthening bonds between the brothers.
Note: These stories are NOT standalones; they must be read in series order.
Each installment in this series focuses on the story of a one brother and is written by a different author - G.B. Lindsey, Diana Copland, and Libby Drew, respectively. Over the last few years I've read a couple of series that have been written this way, but few had characters that were so entwined. Having only read the first book in this series, I can't judge yet whether approaching the series in this way was a stroke of brilliance or a disaster waiting to happen (let's hope it's the former).
My experience reading this book was a bit of a mixed bag. As the author tasked with setting up the premise of the series, establishing the personalities of the main characters and their relationships with one another, and weaving Cal and Will's second-chance-at-love story throughout, G.B. Lindsey had arguably the most difficult job of the bunch.
Unfortunately, because so much information about the characters was inferred rather than stated outright, the first two-thirds of the book felt like a bit of a slog to get through. Cal is our narrator, but the readers are only teased with the issues looming in his past. Devon's a passionate artist, but again, mostly a mystery (he literally comes and goes throughout the novel and we never discover why). Danny's young and self-centred with it. We eventually discover that he's
Spoiler
been in trouble with the lawAs frustrated as I was with the first 65-70% of the novel, the last third hit pretty close to home and my empathy for the characters skyrocketed. When Calvin and Will finally become intimate with one another, the intensity of the scene was like a punch to my solar plexus. And I loved that Lindsey didn't give her characters a generic hearts and rainbows ending - it wouldn't have been true to their story. Instead, there was understanding and love and a willingness to try that was lovely all the same.
I'm very interested to see how Diana Copland tackles Danny's story and the strengthening bonds between the brothers.
Note: These stories are NOT standalones; they must be read in series order.
aligroen's review
3.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say this book really didn’t work for me. Calvin and Will end up dancing around each other and what happened between them years ago. There was a big build up to it and a bit disappointing when they actually got to talk about it and they still talked in round about ways. I’m not a fan of MCs that I feel pretty much lie to themselves but can’t figure it out and that was definitely what Calvin was doing.
This series is an interesting concept, why Audrey chose these 3 out of all the boys she fostered I have no idea. I haven’t read the others in the series and may try them at some point since they are all by different authors.
I have to say this book really didn’t work for me. Calvin and Will end up dancing around each other and what happened between them years ago. There was a big build up to it and a bit disappointing when they actually got to talk about it and they still talked in round about ways. I’m not a fan of MCs that I feel pretty much lie to themselves but can’t figure it out and that was definitely what Calvin was doing.
This series is an interesting concept, why Audrey chose these 3 out of all the boys she fostered I have no idea. I haven’t read the others in the series and may try them at some point since they are all by different authors.
veronica382d1's review
3.0
Well written and enjoyable, if a little disappointing in some aspects.
I'm still not sure what Cal's issue with intimacy was, why the author created such a big lead up only to have Cal 'top', and then the hollow resolution of one night of 'sex' with Will as a solution to all his ills... the reason for which still remains a mystery.
Also why the angst with the jealousy about Devon? I enjoyed it, yes, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but in retrospect, it seemed an unnecessary plot device.
I'm still not sure what Cal's issue with intimacy was, why the author created such a big lead up only to have Cal 'top', and then the hollow resolution of one night of 'sex' with Will as a solution to all his ills... the reason for which still remains a mystery.
Also why the angst with the jealousy about Devon? I enjoyed it, yes, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but in retrospect, it seemed an unnecessary plot device.
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