ADRIEN ENGLISH

I finished The Hell You Say. Wow.

First of all, I LOVE the title.

The Hell You Say

I kept thinking Jake would do something to redeem himself but noooooo. He just kept rising to the top of my literary shit list. And then that scene near the end when he pushed Adrien over. Jake rose to the top of the list after that. (And I thought Outlander's Jamie had a pretty solid spot at the top during my reading of Outlander...but I think Jake even topped that. *ducking*)
How sad was it when Adrien told his hairstylist about his breakup with Jake? There was nobody else for him to go to. At least the stylist gave him some sympathy. Poor guy needed a little fussing over.

This one mislead me, I thought Savant or his writing partner were behind the murders. Wrong!!
The relationships were really the focus of the book for me though. I have to admit I paid a whole lot less attention to the mystery in this one and a whole lot more to Adrien's relationship with his mother, new family, Jake (grrrr), and that Guy...guy.

I kinda like Adrien's new stepfather and stepsisters. The girls are pretty shallow, but I liked the way they immediately got defensive of him when the police showed up at the bookstore. Even if it their idea of defending Adrien was asking if they should call Daddy for help. The way Emma is so amused with Adrien is a hoot. And Bill seems ok, although that little chat with Adrien about his 'alternative lifestyle' was awkward. The guy's heart seemed to be in the right place, I guess I'll see how that works out. Hopefully Adrien will be able to let himself be comfortable around them. He's sadly lacking any support structure in his life.

Guy is interesting, I'm not sure how much I like him. But I like the attention he's showing Adrien, and hope it distracts Adrien away from his obsession with Jake. I know Jake is coming back in one of the next books (I've seen your siggys!!!). But for now, I'm thinking Good Riddance! :evil:

I'm not a fan of Guy. I also wonder if he pronounces his name with a French accent, making is sound like Ghee.

Yes we should delete our siggys so as not to give clues... But dammit I love those lines! I actually quite liked Guy as affected as he is - he really cares about Adrien which is what I want I love Lisa and his new family!

Omg you crass thing.
Roflmao

Crass is kind of rude I think too

Finished The Hell You Say. Man, I really want to smack Jake upside the head! Adrien deserves so much more than Jake is willing to give him. Yet I also feel really sorry for Jake, who's so obviously struggling to be something he's not instead of accepting who he is. But society being what it is, acceptance of his sexuality would also mean being forced to give up important hopes and dreams he has of having a family and being seen as a man (especially in his workplace) and the fact that he can't even tell his family, I'm guessing they're probably unlikely to be very supportive. He hates himself and is trying so hard to be someone else, but living like that never ends well.

Thanks xx and check your pm

But, at the same time b4v, Jake gave Adrien more than he ever gave anyone else.

You are right Fae and probably all he is able to give

Oh, definitely, FLF. He's given Adrien his heart... he's just not willing to admit that to himself (yet, I'm hoping, since I have another 2 books to go!) That's why I care enough about him to feel so sad for his struggles with himself. He deserves more than he's giving himself as well as Adrien, but he can't see that. I think he was into the s/m scene because he feels that it's wrong to be gay and he hates that he is and that side of him deserves punishment.

It is sad how much he hates himself.

http://alexbeecroft.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/jake-riordan-from-the-adrien-english-mysteries/

Read that one first, only after book 3!

http://alexbeecroft.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/adrien-english-interviewed-by-josh-lanyon/

This one second, also after book 3.

Don't cheat and read them early or you will spoiler yourself!

you are right b4v i also think the s/m is just him doing what he kind of thinks he deserves - dirty sex. not always bad - but the way he said to adrien he has healthy relationships with the males in his life - dad, bros and partner... not queers so sad

yeah, IMO he's using the s/m thing as punishment (even though I'm assuming he tops), not as sex play. Sad that he feels being gay is a dirty thing.

very sad the part where he is in hospital and asks partner to tell Adrien, but not for him to visit made me cry big time when Adrien went.. see i hate Kate much like i hate Layla - oh you dont know Layla yet... another series, BDB - anyway Kate has done no wrong apart from being there!

Yeah, she's just as much a victim as Adrien and Jake in the whole mess. You would think after seeing first hand the fiasco of trying to pretend and drag someone else along with Rob and his ex, Tara, that Jake would be a bit smarter about doing that to Kate. Especially if he genuinely loves her.

Can I read those two extras from FLF's links after The Hell You Say? Or is it after Death Of A Pirate King?

Well, does he genuinely love her or is he just using her?

After The Hell You Say.

Thanks FLF. I think he loves her to some degree, but he's trying to force it into a romantic love, so he's using her as well.

i think he likes her and respects her - but he is just following the rules as he sees it to get what he should get out of life - wife, kids, family unit. on his 40th when he really opened up to adrien about where he thought he would be at 40, and A says flippantly well i am not having your baby! it just broke my heart that he could get to 40 and still not embrace who he is and not try to measure up to what he thought he should be

That sounds likely, b4v.

Exactly, Swede. He's trying to push himself into the expected mold, and if he didn't, then he would miss out on being a Dad. That scene was really powerful, and when Adrien realised how his flippant remark was so painful to Jake.

Awww, my post disappeared. dang bberry!

Read back a little b4v, I jsut finished THYS too. I'm much less forgiving of Jake than you are!

I know Jake is dominant with Adrien, but since he sees gay sex as punishment I suspect he's a submissive at the S&M club.
That's my question of the hour. Is Jake a dom or a sub?

I think he is a dom. Isn't that talked about in Fatal Shadows?

yep, he's dom. All about the control, is our Jake! I think he projects onto others what he thinks he deserves himself.