Sweet Honesty

The Sweet Series, Book 1

De: Joan Vassar

Narrado por: Sean Crisden, Trei Taylor

Atlanta, Georgia, 1950–Michael can’t believe his eyes as he watches the man he loves marry a woman from the back row of Mount Zion Baptist Church. When the beautiful couple is pronounced man and wife, he leaves his home in Georgia for the chance of a better life in New York City.

Alexander is just trying to exist in Queens, New York. Although his family is aware of his unnatural attraction to men, they adore him. The price of hiding his true identity from the rest of the world leads to a deep and painful loneliness for Alex, even in the bosom of a loving family.

When Michael’s life collides with Alexander’s world, both men are afraid to trust. Sweet Honesty is an African American M/M romance that provides a glimpse of black love from a different lens and time.

©2024 Joan Vassar (P)2024 Joan Vassar

A Human Experience

Being a Black man in America has its own set of difficulties. Add being a gay Black man in the 1950s and you have the makings of Sweet Honesty.

Reading M/M romance isn’t my norm, but one thing I’ve learned as a fan of Joan Vassar, her writing is thoughtful, considerate and well-researched, no matter the subject matter. Her work always leaves you with a better knowledge and sense of understanding than you had when you started. And dare I say, a better person! And Sweet Honesty… be still my heart! Oh this book is so amazing. Top Tier! Understanding the depths and complexities of self-discovery, acceptance, companionship, and family coupled with navigating the legalities and preconceived notions through the lens of Alex and Michael’s love was a beautiful, eye-opening experience. This book humanized these characters in a such a way that I feel allows this community to truly feel seen.

And can I say how Sean Crisden DELIVERED? Perfect narration! I said now how does Joan have me wanting to watch pxxn hub (for research lol) & the History channel in the same book! lol I’m lowkey jealous of Mikey because Alex is absolutely SWOONY!!! And if you’re a true fan, you know she gave us a spoiler glimpse into another series, and I so love that we got to peek inside their future. So many laughs, so many nuggets, and so much love!

This book was EVERYTHING! She absolutely nailed this.

The longing suspense was amazing!

The details within the love story along with the intimate moments were just right. Enjoyed with thoroughly

A Beautiful Story

I identified with the characters in this series and now I'm hooked, running to download the next book

the writing

the writing was intoxicating. real page turnover, mature writing skills,good storyline, excellent characters, I intend to read otherworks

PERFECTION

Joan Vassar's "Sweet Honesty” is a gem of a novel, set in the tumultuous 1950s, and is a heartfelt exploration of love in its many forms. From the innocent and pure to the strong and secure, the narrative captures the essence of what it means to truly love and be loved in a world of challenges. "Sweet Honesty" is more than just a love story; it's a tapestry woven with threads of authenticity, vulnerability, and resilience.

The story skillfully transitions the narrative from a same-sex romance to a broader awareness of personal growth and overcoming obstacles. As I read, the story became less about two males and more about the love between two individuals that encourages readers to embrace love in all its forms and challenges societal perceptions about acceptance.

The emotional depth, raw openness, passionate sensuality, and eroticism shows honest and beautiful toe curling sex scenes, belonging, devotion and the innocence of exploring life through new experiences is captivating, drawing readers into their world.

Joan Vassar's storytelling exceeds expectations, creating a rare and cherished bond between Michael and Alexander that resonates deeply. If you're looking for a book that not only entertains but also inspires and challenges you to think differently about love and relationships, "Sweet Honesty" is a must-read. Let it sweep you off your feet. It's a love-infused journey that will leave you wishing for a world as accepting and beautiful as the one depicted in the book. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

The narration:
Sean Crisden, Sir, your flowers have arrived 🌸💐🌺🌷🌼. Your performance is stellar, you have effortlessly spoken emotion and passion into these character and this story. Bravo!

Trei Taylor, Ma’am, I have been a fan and although your parts were small, this performance you gave was big. Your tone and passion put into the women portrayed the love, protection and emotion beautifully. I hope you will be the female voice for “Bitter Sweet” so your star can shine brighter.

love and stability

This narrative inspires a profound sense of hope, illuminating the possibilities of love and the promise of stability.

The writing is brilliant and brave

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when reading this novel. I anticipated from the other reviews that the writer would be a good storyteller. But I honestly did not believe she would be brave enough to care for the intimate details between the two lovers. It’s one of the things that is most frustrating about these types of novels is that when it comes to the intimacy, the author often shines away as if they are embarrassed. They can be beautifully detailed in the descriptions of environments or people feelings, or even describing a meal, but somehow become completely incapable of describing intimate moments especially between two male characters. This author, however, handles the intimacy brilliantly. She is brave and bold in her descriptions and there is indeed a sweet honesty to her intimate storytelling. Aside from this the way, she brilliantly weaves in music of the time while carefully dealing with the politics of it all was also very well done. The story and the characters are compelling and indeed it makes me want to read more of her work. No one who reads this book will be disappointed. bravo to the writer.

Beautiful Writing!!

I really enjoyed this book! The narration was perfect. I believe I found a new author to add to my list. I'm starting on the second book as we speak!!

Heartfelt Love Story

The narration was wonderful and at times a bit emotional. The story included bits of historical information many African Americans may not be familiar with, for example the “The Green Book” used for traveling.

I just have one issue - “where is book 2?”

The straight, and Family an acceptance

I really enjoyed the reader; I felt every emotion. At one point, I hoped nothing bad would happen. I was on the edge of my seat, but the writer did well by keeping it in a positive place.