The Nothingness of Ben (The Austin Trilogy Book 1)

The author has a great writing style and you really feel drawn into the story and the lives of all the characters. Many of the interactions between the main characters seem quite realistic and authentic, but some situations tend to pull this story into the fairy tale sub-genre of romantic fiction.An up-and-coming gay elder brother is summoned from New York back to Texas when his parents are killed in an accident. He eventually takes on the role of head of family in order to look after his three younger brothers. In New York he was moving with the über rich, he was set on an enviable career track and he was attached to a boyfriend of the causes-heads-to-turn sort.Will he abandon all that for the role of substitute father to his younger siblings in the comparative backwater of Austin? Will he dump the beautiful, highly polished boyfriend for someone with grease under his finger nails? The latter, of course, has spent his life oblivious to his attraction to men and suddenly becomes gay & turned on by our hero from New York. I guess that sort of thing does happen, but it happens with startling frequency in gay writing lately.I admit that I undoubtedly have an outdated prejudice regarding the inhabitants of the great state of Texas, but the general enthusiasm by Texans and others in this story for the gay lifestyle, let alone two men holding hands and kissing in public, seems more dream than reality. Everyone from the guys down at the car repair shop to the movers-and-shakers in Austin's legal profession are all waving the Rainbow Flag.There is a vague reference to two uncles who apparently don't approve of what is going on and a minor issue of a younger gay brother being bullied in school, but otherwise everyone is falling all over one another in accepting gays. And never is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.About the only instance of in-your-face class bigotry occurs when Ben takes everyone, including his new auto mechanic love interest, to New York and the country cousin sends the NY sophisticates into giggles by referring to James Joyce as "she" and doesn't know who Manet is.Anyway, it is a pleasant story if you're not into gritty reality and if you are content with the notion that after Cinderella married the prince she fit right in at the palace where she lived happily ever.

I read this in one sitting last night, and really enjoyed it. The characters showed depth and growth over the story, and were presented as real people, humans who are unsure, full of bravado, arrogant, scared, fallible. I was initially ambivalent about the main character, Ben, as he seemed a bit too selfish to be completely likeable. However, I really grew to appreciate that he was - just as we all are - really completely human, not some plastic fictional cutout of who we think likeable people and perfect characters should be. He came across as a fully rounded "real person", warts and all. I quickly came to realise how refreshing it was to actually read a character whose motivations I CAN truly understand, because he hadn't had his rough edges and imperfections sanded down before publication.Whilst Travis was a joy to read, a character I rooted for and liked from the start to the finish, Ben's character in the end, became the star of the show, because we were given a privileged position and access to his internal motivations, as he dealt with an exceedingly difficult situation, juggled responsibilities, tried again and again to figure out what was the right thing to do, and through all of it, grew from his lazy self-categorisation as gay hotshot New York lawyer, to parent/guardian figure, brother, confidant, friend and dependable lover.With regards to the writing style, on the whole it was an easy, pleasant and well-written read. I did find, however, (and I'm almost loathe to mention it here because it is so minor, and I wouldn't want to discourage people from reading a really worthwhile book), that there was perhaps a handful of instances throughout the entire story where the writing style seemed stilted, and there just seemed to be slight oddities as I read it, perhaps with the POV, although most of the time it couldn't even pin down what struck me as odd. In the "about the author" Boney suggests his writing style is influenced by his background in theatre.I doubt the average reader would even notice any of these minor quirks, and even a pickier reader on the lookout for grammar and style, like myself, would probably find that it doesn't affect their reading of the story or detract from their overall enjoyment of the story.I really recommend this book.

I started out reading male / male romance as I did research for my own books. I'm so glad I came across this book by Brad Boney. I really enjoyed the story about Ben and Travis and the Walsh brothers. The wonderful tale of a very successful New York lawyer being called back to his home town of Austin, Texas, to take custody of his siblings was inspirational, entertaining and uplifting. Of course, it helps that he also gets the chance to meet the love of his life, Travis, a mechanic and neighbour who's been a mentor and 'big brother' to Ben's three younger brothers, Quentin, Jason and Cade. The story is one of hope, love, romance and at times, despair. But as is the thing with a true romance, there is a Happy Ever After for the couple as they work together to build their family and their new home.I loved the fact that Ben found out his brother Jason was also gay, and how he helped the younger man come to grips with it and find his own boyfriend to make him happy. The sex scenes were steamy and loving, with plenty of emotion thrown in to make it realistic.I will definitely be reading any more books that Brad writes and would definitely recommend this one to anyone.And will someone please put the lights on the house this year?This was a lovely touch and a great ending to a great story.

A great story, good writing, good characterisation and an ok plot. Reminded me somewhat of JF Smith's "Falling off the face of the earth" with its theme of self discovery, returning home and soul mates. In the section at the end of the novel, 'about the author' we learn that Brad Boney "blames his background in the theater for his writing style, which he calls 'dialogue and stage directions'." It works.The story is pacey, mostly dialogue, with a little descriptive sex. I must admit to finding the sex scene between Ben and David more than hilarious (wasn't sure if that was intential or not) but it didn't encourage me to warm to the character of David. Actually it did nothing for the characterisation of Ben either in my humble opinion, all that "Yes sir, no sir" and the foot fetish???Regardless I enjoyed the story and like the writing style of the author. A new novel due out in 2013, I will certainly purchase.

Yee haw, what a heartwarming book. Ben was a bit of a dick to start with (OK, he was a lot of a dick), Travis was a good ol' country boy (kinda reminds ya of the 'Dukes of Hazzard' don' it!), but eventually, love being what it is, you just knew that they would end up together, and the younger brothers (loved the fact that Jason was also gay) would turn out fine and dandy and start leading happy lives again once they'd finally gotten over the fact that their parents were actually dead. Colin was a good solid friend and even though I thought David was a little creepy at first, I warmed to him as well. IMHO, I have to say that as a place Texas isn't somewhere I would want to visit (too many gay stories read and too much bigotry read about), but Austin does sound a lot more tolerant than most places in the U.S. Great first book Mr Boney, and I'm really looking forward to your next one.

The story starts with a bang as Ben learns of his parents' death in a car crash and is forced, reluctantly, to confront his responsibility to care for his three younger brothers. At the heart of this tender, credible and warmhearted tale is the whole issue of family love and loyalty, as well as Ben's increasing infatuation with his new neighbour, Travis which provokes its own drama of conflicting lifestyles, expectations and self-awareness. I really looked forward to picking up the book again at the end of a working day and losing myself in its attractive characters, unfolding drama and compelling story of love between two awesome guys.

I didn't really like Ben too much, a bit of a cold fish, but then I warmed to him, he did what he had to, to take care of family, because as everyone knows, family comes first. He stepped up to the mark, dealt with adversity and got on with it, go Ben! His brothers were the nicest guys you could ever want to meet, each with their own problems. Without giving much away - cause I don't like to spoilt it - it a good read, well written and without wanting to sound too trite, heart warming. For a first book its a good one and I hope he writes a lot more and soon.