Sidecar

De: Amy Lane

Narrado por: Chris Patton

The year is 1987. The boys wear pink Izod shirts, the girls wear big hair, everyone has a stash box, and AIDS is just an ugly rumor rumbling like a thunderstorm from the cities. A teenage runaway wanders the side of the road, a heartbeat away from despair, and is rescued by a long-haired angel on a Harley. But that's just the beginning of their story.

Josiah Daniels wanted peace and quiet and a simple life, and he had it until he rescued Casey from hunger, cold, and exhaustion. Suddenly Joe's life is anything but simple as he and his new charge navigate a world that is changing more rapidly than the people in it. Joe wants to raise Casey to a happy and productive adulthood, and he does. But even as an adult, Casey can't conceive of a happy life without Joe.

The trouble is getting Joe to accept that the boy he nurtured is suddenly the man who wants him. Their relationship can either die or change with the world around them. As they make a home, negotiate the new rules of growing up, and swerve around the pitfalls of modern life, Casey learns that adulthood is more than sex, Joe learns that there is no compromise in happy ever after, and they're both forced to realize that the one thing a man shouldn't be is alone.

©2012 Amy Lane (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Something in this for all of US!

A throughly enjoyed this production. The characters were all likeable and endearing. And reguardless of your persuasion. this is a lovely love story.

Wow what a beautiful story!

My favorite types of stories are those that span over the lives of the characters. You feel like you know them personally and grow to love them. The author did an amazing job of bringing you right into the story where you got to live, and love right along with them. Come meet two beautiful souls who were perfect for each other as they journey through life. Absolutely perfect story and narration. I highly recommend

Beautiful

Amy lane is fantastic. Always an emotional rich story. Well worth the read. A b

WOW!

This has been a pleasure to listen to. The narrateur was great, the plot engrossing and I love how we followed the MCs through decades of time. Congratulations, Ms. Lane. Another winner!

Perfect narration

Chris Patton narrated this book perfectly. The voices matched exactly how I heard them in my head. The noises, the sound effects all of it so perfect.

So beautiful!

For the most part I’m not an Amy Lane fan. I mean her books are mostly okay to read for the moment, but rarely more than that. It’s not like I’m avoiding her books, but I don’t really go looking for them either. Before this book, the only exception was the Fish Out of Water series. So going in I didn’t have any expectations beyond an okay read.

Almost immediately I was hooked. I was feeling for Casey and the raw hand he’d been dealt in his young life. How that all changed with meeting Joe. Sidecar takes place over many years, it all starts in 1987 when Casey is only 16. Well, technically it starts with a snippet of their happily ever after in the present and then continues on with the re-telling of their romance. Anyway, when Casey was 16 he was homeless, penniless and did everything he could to survive. He was walking along a road when a man, Joe, on a bike with a sidecar stopped and offered a room and some food. Wary Casey accepted, fully expecting Joe wanting something in return.

Theirs is a romance across time. Well, at least for Casey who fell for Joe almost from the beginning. Joe took quite a few years before seeing Casey in a new light. Then again, for him to do otherwise would have felt icky – seeing as there is a 12 age gap between them. So we follow them throughout the tough beginning, where Casey slowly opens up, starts to trust, through the sacrifices Joe makes to keep Casey as a foster child. Their friendship, hardships, the laughs and sorrows. Until one day, years and years later, when it becomes more. It was honest in a way that few books are. I believed in what took place, in the characters.

Chris Patton truly brought this book to life. He made both Casey and Joe real. Made you feel what they felt. The hopelessness, the sorrow and loneliness was all there. As was the hope, friendship and the love between them. Gah, he made you feel the love between Casey and Joe. He made you love them both and travel the journey with them. Every heartbreaking moment. He had distinct voices for the different characters so it was always easy to follow along the story. Sidecar might have been my first book by Patton, but I hope it won’t be my last.

Sidecar was a beautiful love story, it wasn’t easy by any means but their hard won love was all worth it in the end.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

sweet

A sweet story spanning several decades. Worth a read. Or a listen in this case.

It made me laugh and cry

The best stories are made up of laughter and tears. this book was definitely a great listen.

Great!

Fantastic story. Amy Lane is a great storyteller. The narrator put a lot of emotion into telling this story.

One of my favorite Amy books with Great Narrator

Casey gets kicked out of his house for being gay. He ends up being a “rent boy” briefly, and the punching bag of some truckers as he hitches out of town. Just when he’s thinking about giving up he meets Joe.

Joe is a Quaker, a nurse, a biker, a bear, bi-sexual, hippie… you name it, he’s probably done it. He is easy going, big hearted and lovely. He sees Casey on the side of the road and has to – HAS TO – help him.

At first Casey is leery – he’s been burned before by men, then he realizes how truly good Joe is and then he is determined to seduce him. The only problem is he’s 16 and Joe is at least a decade older and no way is Joe going to act on anything Casey is offering.

The years go by and Joe essentially raises Casey from a precocious 16 year old to a sassy 21 year old – managing to get him through high school, first love and into college. When Casey makes one final play for Joe that ends up in a huge fight, he takes off – leaving Joe lonely and decimated.

When Casey’s father dies, Joe helps him attend the funeral and they finally admit what they mean to one another.

But – both Joe and his family know that Casey can’t give him what he most wants in life – a baby. Add to this a judgemental sister and a significant age gap and we still have some hurdles to face.

However, in the end, with miracles abounding Casey and Joe put together a family and manage to be the most rock solid team you could ever dream about.

**
Oh man. I love – love – love- this book. Joe is one of my favorite “Amy” characters. He is so steady but funny. Down to earth and sweet. Casey is equally awesome – sassy and sarcastic – always pushing buttons and never afraid to ask for what he wants.

There is some angst – it’s an Amy book for Pete’s sake – but by and large most of this book is two men building a relationship and a family and making their own pathway in life.

It was beautiful and touching and sweet and sentimental and yet the sex scenes are some of Amy’s best work!

The narrator did an AMAZING job. He makes Joe a bit growly and Casey a bit snarky and just lets you sink right in to the wonderful story Amy has given us.

I can’t recommend this highly enough – I’ve already listened to it three times – it’s just so good!

6 of 5 stars