Out of Frame
In Focus
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4.2 • 6 Ratings
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
Romance trades the open road for the high seas in the latest from the
author of Focus on Me and Trust the Focus...
Perpetually shy, Quinn Mathers is content to remain in the shadow of his brash best friend Jess Hartman. But before their college graduation, he and Jess have planned one last hurrah: a spring break Caribbean cruise.
And it won’t be just any cruise. On board are members of the reality show Trip League, which follows young twenty-somethings on adventures around the world. Since the show’s beginning, Quinn has been fascinated by J. R. Butler, with his amazing body, warm eyes, and killer grin. Unfortunately, he’s straight—or so the world thinks.
At nineteen, J. R. signed a contract to play straight for the show, and there’s no way to get out of it now. Yet with each passing day, Quinn and J. R. find it harder to keep their hands off each other and to keep out of the camera’s frame. But when the lens finally focuses on them, J. R. must decide if he’s willing to risk his career by admitting his bisexuality, and Quinn must determine if he's bold enough to stand in the spotlight with the man of his dreams...
Praise for the In Focus Series
“Erickson displays fantastic writing. She brings the road trip to life and delivers banter and sizzle with ease.”—RT Book Reviews
“Credible characterizations and a sensitive ear for the ways men talk about love and sex make this a delectable summer read.”—Publishers Weekly
“This author writes the best sexual tension and sex scenes.”—Smexy Books
Customer Reviews
Freedom Takes Trust - and a Big Jump
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
⭐ ⭐ Provided by NetGalley in Exchange for an Honest Review ⭐ ⭐
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
Young Adult male, shirtless, behind a slightly watery foreground, gives no indication what the story may be about - other than him. Synopsis is inviting.
Looking Deeper:
J.R. is "the token black kid" on a reality show, portrayed as straight and angry at the world. Nobody but his agent knows he's bisexual and he signed a contract that prevents him from acting out of character. Quinn knows they're more to him than all that anger, has seen small glimpses of it shining through in microbursts - or is that just wishful thinking brought on by his crush on the buff black beauty? Quinn and his best friend, Casey, embark on a Caribbean Cruise during the Spring Break of their final year of college. They'd been best friends since childhood and Quinn will soon have to make some big decisions. One big adventure together seemed like a great way to close out their era of growing up together. The cast of "TRIP LEAGUE" (think Road Rules and The Real World) are ending their season on the same cruise.
J.R. (Jay) had an extremely warm and caring side. He took the less-than-ideal role to help support an ill sibling. He came to Quinn's rescue after a castmate was an a-hole. But the cameras loved making him look like the bad guy. Forced to hide who he was and lie to everyone daily took a toll on him. Quinn's a quiet, shy, and repressed guy by nature and design. Gay and out did not caused many issues, it stemmed more from his overbearing, overprotective parents. Their chemistry was natural and fun to read as it developed from the gift of Sea-Bands. Secondary characters included Casey, the show's cast, and the leads' family members. The Epilogue brought all the guys from In Focus together for a week's vacation. Colin, FOCUS ON ME, #2 is Casey's brother and Riley (FOCUS ON ME) served as Landry's (TRUST THE FOCUS, #1) fake boyfriend. They'd all since become friends. Dialogue and interaction was very good. The plot was pretty full and somewhat dimensional; although, to be honest, I was expecting a few more things to happen that never did... the use of said emergency services (phone call from parents), port calls. Megan Erickson's writing style is always pleasantly smooth. Other than Jay wanting to come out and be free of his lie, there was not a lot of conflict in this one. Predictability was low. The conclusion was solid and satisfying.
Overall, it was another enjoyable read from Ms. Erickson and eagerly await Levi's book (OVEREXPOSED, #4), due out later this year (September 2016).
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4
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Out of my mind
This is the 3rd book in the In Focus series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading the series in order.
JR is happy to be at the end of his contract. He has had to hide from the world, and does not feel much like himself anymore. If there was not so much at stake, he could come forward.
Quinn is excited to be on a cruise with his best friend. It is time for him to have fun and let loose. He has been playing it safe for far too long.
The attraction is immediate - the sparks are all over when JR & Quinn are in the same orbit. JR has secrets that can torpedo this before it even gets started. Quinn wants to be loved and is looking for "the one." Can it really be a man who hides?
This series is such an amazing bunch of stories so far. This book had me really FEELING each page. I could not put the book down, either. What a great addition to the series.