The Belmar Series Complete Collection

Meet Jimmy Hanlon. It's summer, 1987. Image is everything in his Jersey Shore hometown. Jimmy hasn't kept up. An overweight grandfather in his late forties, he's lost a cancerous larynx, and on top of that, A.I.D.S. has spiked fears of anyone with a questionable sexual history. In a search for companionship, he encounters a blur of bars, prejudice, familial and romantic love, misogamy, and lies. Throughout his redemptive summer, Jimmy's empathy reveals how individual compassion trumps social mores and why a heart's yearning owes no explanation.

Reviews:

"What I love most about literature is finding a character to love in the most unlikely place. As a public school librarian I read a variety of genres and books that will appeal to a variety of interest levels and age groups. Jimmy Hanlon caught my attention. Jimmy is an observer. He watches closely those around him. Jimmy's friends are each unique in their own way. As their summer unfolds there is never a dull moment! The story leaves me wanting to know more about Jimmy's life! I wonder where the next adventure will lead. Readers will find a number of ways to connect to these characters. Looking forward to next book in the trilogy."

"We are introduced to some wonderfully distressed characters in Missing You...spot on dialogue and narration (read Jimmy's dream on pages 4 and 5) . After having finished Boardwalk Man ( read Jimmy on loneliness, page 31 in Boardwalk Man) I am rereading Missing You to spend more time at the beach with Jimmy and the Belmar clan while I wait for book 3, Summer Mirrors."

"In Boardwalk Man Jimmy Hanlon faces and comes to terms with some of his demons. Mick Bennett shows us more of Jimmy's character in a very real way. In this book more of Jimmy's Irish Catholic background is explored along with more of Jimmy's past. Can't wait for book 3 and rereading the trilogy again since I blew thru the first two books not being able to restrain myself to find what happens next."